Mel, Wanted to take a second and thank you for the lengthy reply to my earlier question. You obviously put some time into that response and its well appreciated.
I think you've sold me on the Parhelia. In fact I expect to order one the early part of this week. A question of curiosity. Have you played with the MS AI aircraft at all since you received your Parhelia'a? I was wondering if the planes will now stay in sync as they traverse from one screen to another. I know using WidevieW they would fall out of sync.
Again, thanks for the great and informative post.
Robert
>> Capt. Tarmack earlier wrote:
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<<
Mel,Forget the question regarding AI traffic as I now realize it would since your expanding the main front view across (3) monitors.
I have another question which I'm hoping you might have an answer to:
____________________________________________________________
This question addresses using a Parhelia card to drive a display across (3) large screen TV's.
I understand that the Parhelia can "drag" the image across (3) PC monitors. Here is what I want to do and know if it is possible.
I do not wish to use the TV out function on the Parhelia card. What I intend to do is this:
THIS IS WHERE I'M ASSUMING AND NEED TO KNOW IF I'M RIGHT AND IF THIS WILL WORK:
I understand the Parhelia card has (3) outputs for each monitor. I would like to connect (3) TV scan converters, devices which allow computer signals to be viewed on TV's. From the (3) Parhelia outputs, I would like to connect a scan converter to each output and then run them to the (3) TV's. (WILL THIS WORK?????)
Currently I'm using a GeForce4 video card. A VGA cable connects from the video card output to the scan converter. Then the scan converter connects to the TV by way of a S-video cable. It works great. My thought here was that if I had a Parhelia card with (3) outputs, I could connect all (3) outputs to TV's using (3) scan converters since each of the Parhelia cards (3) outputs would be generating a computer signal.
Again, before I purchase this video card, will this work? And if so, do you see any problems?
Thank you,
Robert