We received the following from Tarmack:

(You guys with VPC OLR 2.1 will be able to click the link to see the picture below.)
===================================================

If you care to count carefully there are 15 monitors in this picture working in synch with various software and hardware products. The most difficult monitor to see is the one that is just to the right of the GoFlight hardware console on the very right side of the screen. Since 12 of these monitors are TFT in nature...and since that particular monitor is a TFT...the extreme angle of the camera shot is precluding the normal brightness of that Sony monitor. The other monito that just barely makes the "scene" is on the far left...there are 3 monitors producing a left side view extended from the main forward view just above the primary PFD display.

The outside views of FS2002 are produced by 3 computers each running a Matrox Parhelia video card...two of those computers are running in dualhead mode and the main server computer is running in triplehead mode. Those 3 monitors are the right side of the instrument glareshield/MCP panel...the center view of that same panel and then the left view that shows the window division from the main window to the forward left window from the Capts' perspective. That left view is just above the FSFlightMax radar display.

Just below the outside views is the 747 MCP hardware from Aerosoft Australia....as it AWAITS the purchase and delivery of the EICAS and EFIS units. Hi Andrew!!! Grin.

The interior portion of this cockpit has...from left to right....a "look down" view of FS2002 and the Jeppessen SimChart program. Next in line to the right is the FSFlightMax radar display...and then the next three monitors have the PM instruments....and finally the 4th display has the PM QuickMap Display.

Above the QuickMap display is the RazorsEdge AirPlan software running via WideFS....and of course the smallest display is the Rob Howard CDU hardware. You can also see the GoFlight DOUBLE rack of hardware....what you can't see is the GoFlight UPPER rack that gives the landing light switches.

All 3 FS2002 computers with their 7 monitors are running in Virtual cockpit view...each computer has its own joystick to enable a quick alignment of horizons and virtual instrument panel matchups.

Once the cockpit computer/sytems are up and running.......the mouse, the mice, the meeses...NEVER get touched!! Everything is done by GoFlight, and or the PFC throttle quadrant and Jetliner yoke.....not to mention the Smith's CDU hardware interface.

In the past week, since this system got the extra computer and monitors....I have run multiple flights of 12 hours or more on transpacific crossings to Tokyo from Detroit and New York with no lockups or shutdowns at any time. The OS is WinXP and I have the very latest drivers of ALL of your software and hardware.

I am certain that I have exceeded $15,000.00 in expense for this setup.....but the MAJOR expense is always the computers and monitors and NOT the products that drive them. I cannot thank each of the developers out there that make this all possible enough.

Regards,

Mel Ott

• RE: From Mel: Because you can!,Tarmack, 21:15z, 10-02-02
  • RE: From Mel: Because you can!,James, 21:45z, 10-02-02
  • RE: From Mel: Because you can!,Ben_Chiu, 23:22z, 10-02-02
    • RE: From Mel: Because you can!,vgbaron, 00:45z, 10-03-02
  • RE: From Mel: Because you can!,Mike_Greenwood, 03:38z, 10-04-02
    • RE: From Mel: Because you can!,James, 16:38z, 10-04-02
    • RE: From Mel: Because you can!,TD, 11:49z, 10-05-02
• RE: From Mel: Because you can!,TD, 22:59z, 10-02-02
• RE: From Mel: Because you can!,Simtech, 07:29z, 10-03-02
  • RE: From Mel: Because you can!,Tarmack, 10:11z, 10-03-02

Ben,

Thanks for posting my pride!

Now....all I have to do is to be CERTAIN that the WIFE does not READ the COST. Grin.

Regards,

Mel

Hi Mel,

Nice one I'll catch up eventually <LOL>.

Regards,

James (CONman) Anderson
*** The plane in front is a Boeing ***

-= VPC OffLine Reader 2.1 =-
Registered to: James Anderson
-OLR.PL v1.80-

Mel:

> Now....all I have to do is to be CERTAIN that the WIFE does not READ the
> COST. Grin.

Ah, now you've blown the illusion. Here we were thinking you were married to the most understanding woman in the world! Then again, regardless of the price, I'm sure that she's seen what you're up to and I'd say still deserves the title "most understanding woman in the world!"

Best!

Ben

-= VPC OffLine Reader 2.1 =-
Registered to: Ben Chiu
-OLR.PL v1.80-

>
> Ah, now you've blown the illusion. Here we were thinking you were
> married to the most understanding woman in the world! Then again,
> regardless of the price, I'm sure that she's seen what you're up to and
> I'd say still deserves the title "most understanding woman in the
> world!"

Well now, Ben - it might just be that when Mel's got his head in that rig he's not under HER feet . Just kidding, Mel ..

Vic

Of All the Things I've lost, I miss my mind the most!

-= VPC OffLine Reader 2.1 =-
Registered to: Vic Baron
-OLR.PL v1.81-

>>Now....all I have to do is to be CERTAIN that the WIFE does not READ the
COST. Grin.<<

I showed my bride that setup of yours...she's a good sport and gave me two options. 1, go ahead, or 2, .... I chose that latter...call me weak <g>. I guess my 3 monitor setup will have to do for now

--Greenie
**6 miles SSE KSJC**

-= VPC OffLine Reader 2.1 =-
Registered to: Mike Greenwood
-OLR.PL v1.80-

Hi Mike,

>> I chose the latter.. <<

Chicken or what <LOL>

Regards,

James (CONman) Anderson
*** The plane in front is a Boeing ***

-= VPC OffLine Reader 2.1 =-
Registered to: James Anderson
-OLR.PL v1.80-

I showed my bride that setup of yours...she's a good sport and gave me two options. 1, go ahead, or 2, .... I chose that latter...call me weak <g>. I guess my 3 monitor setup will have to do for now

2= spend the rest of your life sleeping on the couch and eating cold food out of a can?

The Techbabe saw the picture of Mel's setup, just rolled her eyes (no, they are not glass, BaDUMP-BUMP) and shook her head. If I can't convince a woman who thinks the latest iPAQ and newest Motorola phones are cool; who thinks iMacs are cute and necessary.... Looks like I am going to be settling for a one monitor, one computer system.

"TD - Virtual FAA investigators are on line 2, AGAIN!!!"

showoff...

"TD - Virtual FAA investigators are on line 2, AGAIN!!!"

Mel,

Absolutely stunnnnnnnnnnnn-ing!

Question. Your very most front view. Are two monitors providing the straight ahead front view? Or are they somewhat angled? If they are both straight ahead views, how in the world did you accomplish this. The reason I ask is I was always under the impression there were (5) basic view types.

View 1. -90°
View 2. -45°
View 3. 0°
View 4. 45°
View 5. 90°

If you were to stretch View 0 across two screens, it seems that there would be a dead spot in the center (where the runway line is) and/or the horizons would not line up because the front view is not disproportionate (sp?) to the 45's. Am I making any sense here? Would love to hear what you have to say because I have been trying for a long time to accomplish what perhaps you have finally done.

Robert G.

Robert,

In the views contained with in the picture that Ben posted....the main FS2002 view of the server computer has its output on 3 screens, via using a Matrox Parhelia video card.

The video card outputs to the monitors in a 3,1, and 2 arrangement. Hence, the "center" or middle view is on monitor 1, the left side view is on monitor 3, and the right side view is on monitor 2.

Leaving the middle of the runway right in front of me....and NOT having it split in the middle of two monitors as you thought.

And it gets better!

While your assumption is correct in the
View 1. -90°
View 2. -45°
View 3. 0°
View 4. 45°
View 5. 90°

...area.....those views CAN be "adjusted" in TWO ways.

The easiest is by using the Virtual Cockpit, on all computers, mode that allows you to make the view "angle" in almost INFINITE amounts via your joystick hat button. This method allows you to MANUALLY/PHYSICALLY adjust your views on OTHER computers that provide the additional outside views while running in Slew mode and linked to the server via Luciano Napolitono's WideView software.

The more difficult and time consuming way, BUT IT CAN BE DONE AND HAS BEEN DONE, is to configure each panel.cfg file of the airplane you are using by the insertion of these commands into the panel.cfg file.........

==============================

VIEW_FORWARD_DIR= 2.0, 0.0, -49.0
VIEW_FORWARD_ZOOM=1.00
=================================

That particular panel.cfg file commands are in my Dell 2.0ghz computer that runs the Left side views and that always runs in Slew mode and WideView....when I configure to NOT run in Virtual cockpit mode. The "-49.0" command line puts the outside views in proper alignment with the main server computers projected views. The first command in that 3 command line of "2.0" places the HORIZON in the alignment with the server computers horizon viwes.

It is not that hard of a "trial and error" method to align ANY airplane with a nosewheel....it does get MORE time consuming with a tail dragger........like the DC-3.

I have found it an easier job by putting the panel.cfg files with their "shortcuts" on my web computer......that sits at the very back of my home cockpit.....and that is NOT a part of that home cockpit. From this view perspective I have the "big picture" from behind. Grin.

I simply TRY a new number combination....and then SAVE the panel.cfg file back to the computer under adjustment from my web computer, via the LAN connection.....then go UP to the cockpit and re-load the SAME airplane.....that reloading of the same airplane allows the new panel.cfg view statements to be loaded.......and when the new view is presented...it will "jump" to the new values.

I will usually "park" my server computer on a runway that has at a perpendicular angle...such as Chicago Midway...runway 31 and Runway 4 intersect nicely for this purpose. With the server computer sitting at that intersection and pointing straight ahead on Runway 31....when I see the left side client computer...putting its view right down the middle of runway 22........I know I am there!!!

Regards,

Cap'n Tarmack