559: My Cockpit Rebuilding #09 – Modified Parking Brake

The picture on the right is a parking brake module I bought from Desktop Aviator many years ago.  It didn’t even come with a decent brake handle. The device was kept in the storage until I “discovered” it when I was looking for something else.

Although it is trivial, I told myself that it should add fun to my system — I finally recalled that was the idea I bought it originally.
But then I found it too big to fit into the location under my yoke.  So I opened the case to check out if it could be modified.

Luckily it is possible since the housing is wasting an awfully lot of space with just one tiny circuit board and a pull-push knob inside.

After some searching, I eventually picked a dental floss picks plastic box as the new case for it.

News: Navigraph FlightSim Survey 2019 Results

What is the most popular flight simulation software? How many are planning to get the upcoming Microsoft Flight Simulator? How much do flight simulator enthusiasts spend on hardware and software every year?  Check out the results from Navigraph who conducted the survey in 2019 if you haven’t done so.

543: MS FS Strikes Back – Update

Here’s further notes from Brian regarding the coming MS Flight Simulator:

Xbox is the Microsoft games “umbrella”, the new MS Flight Simulator WILL run on Windows 10 “under” the Xbox “app”. Windows 10 users (running the May 2019 update) can install the beta of Microsoft’s revamped Xbox app from https://www.xbox.com/en-US/xbox-app. Microsoft Flight Simulator will arrive on Xbox One and PC {in 2020?}, and will be included for Xbox Game Pass subscribers. So, buy the new FS and pay MS an annual fee for Xbox game pass…

542: MS FS Strikes Back !?

The following MS Flight Simulator Trailer is notified by Brian, my friend.  It is awesome and hope that it could be played and set up as the old FSX.

519: Now I Fly 3D Occasionally

After the cataract surgeries last month, the vision of my eyes suffers from slight splitting when looking at lighted objects, among which the computer display is the worst of all (similar as shown in the image but not as serious).

The doctor says the side-effect is normal, and the brain needs times to adapt to the artificial lenses newly implanted — thanks goodness, it is getting better now.

So in the first two weeks after the surgery, my main pastime was watching TV, in order to give my eyes some rests as well as training to adapt to the new lenses.

One day while turning on the TV, I spotted there is a

482: Logitech FIP Driver Migration

Some friends email me saying that they are interested to know how I upgraded (“migrate” I think is more accurate) my Saitek drivers to the Logitech version.   Again, as mentioned a few times, such a migration is not necessary if the Saitek drivers are working fine.

Anyway, it does no harm if anyone want to keep up with the Logitech version.   But ensure to AVOID using version 0.8.144.0 as it has error.   Version 8.0.132.0. is fine, which I am currently using.

Followings are the steps I took for the migration:

479: Time to Move On

FSX Times in January was a bit quiet after the Christmas and New Year holidays because there were many things happening to my flightsim system.    For one, I have “upgraded” the FIP driver from Saitek to Logitech version.

Truly, back in last August, I mentioned in my Post 447 that the “new” Logitech drivers are in general the same as the “old” Saitek drivers.   “Upgrade” is not necessary and it is still valid.

However, as my new X-Plane gauges were developed under the Logitech plugins; and the number of my FIP gauge users running the Logitech version are steadily growing, the switch, to me based on my own situation, is inevitable.

This also means that all my existing installers and utilities have to be upgraded accordingly — so that they will not only fit for the previous Saitek and SPAD.neXt installation, but also good for the new Logitech setup.

I am glad that all works are completed after weeks of intensive programming.

It’s time to move on.

 

469: My Latest Nvidia Setting

Thanks to all who shares their ideas about adjusting refresh rate to reduce micro-stutters in my last Post.  Frankly speaking, I didn’t really pay any attention to adjust it until recently.

And after a second thought, although I said the trick doesn’t have any effect on my rig, I think it could still be a candidate solution to those who have the issue.

For those who are interested, following is the Nvidia Settings (under native 60Hz refresh rate) I’ve been using in the last few months.

468: A Probable Micro-stuttering Cure

Micro-stuttering is one of the most severe headaches to almost all flightsimmers and it is not easy to cure.   If have a 4K monitor or a 4K TV, you may try cutting its refresh-rate from 60Hz to 30Hz.

I didn’t invent the trick.   I was told by a friend, who found the trick on the Internet.   Probably some of you knew it or even tried it already.

Is it a panacea or just another placebo?