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Main => Builders Discussions => Topic started by: Andrew 737 on May 14, 2014, 11:09:07 AM

Title: Just Wondering About Ground Services
Post by: Andrew 737 on May 14, 2014, 11:09:07 AM
Hi Guys

Has anyone ever used AES in a Wideview  configured system?

The system is 4 pc's - 1 server, 3 wideview clients for scenery. Just wondered if anyone could give me a heads up before I go installing?

The main problem is how to get multiple copies of AES running at exactly the same time.

Thanks
Title: Re: Just Wondering About Ground Services
Post by: Andrew 737 on May 15, 2014, 02:03:31 PM
Really?

You pioneers out there - has no one done this!
Title: Re: Just Wondering About Ground Services
Post by: Trevor Hale on May 16, 2014, 09:32:48 AM
Sorry Bud, I don't know anyone doing that.
Title: Re: Just Wondering About Ground Services
Post by: Andrew 737 on May 16, 2014, 11:06:23 AM
Hi Trevor

No probs - I thought it may be a big ask.

The whole ground services thing is really entertaining.

Thanks anyway :)
Title: Re: Just Wondering About Ground Services
Post by: blueskydriver on May 16, 2014, 04:12:46 PM
Hi Andrew,

So, what happens when the default tow truck/pushback tug in FSX shows up or works in your setup?

John
Title: Re: Just Wondering About Ground Services
Post by: Andrew 737 on May 16, 2014, 10:29:27 PM
Hi John

The defaults work - there is the option to sync them via WideView. I don't use airport vehicles though, because they pop up here and there rather than just at my plane. This impacts Perf a bit.
Title: Re: Just Wondering About Ground Services
Post by: Sean on May 17, 2014, 12:05:35 AM
Have a word with Ian Sissons. Last time I was there, he was using AES with wide view. It was a while ago and things may have changed, but I recall not liking something about it (can't remember what!).
Title: Re: Just Wondering About Ground Services
Post by: Andrew 737 on May 17, 2014, 12:13:02 AM
Quote from: Sean on May 17, 2014, 12:05:35 AM
Have a word with Ian Sissons. Last time I was there, he was using AES with wide view. It was a while ago and things may have changed, but I recall not liking something about it (can't remember what!).

Hi Sean

Wow thanks for this, I don't know Ian (I know of him) so I will wait and hope he reads this post.

Thank you for the input - greatly appreciated.
Title: Re: Just Wondering About Ground Services
Post by: Sean on May 17, 2014, 09:36:24 AM
Drop him an email, he's really loves helping people out. Drop my name in if you like.
Title: Re: Just Wondering About Ground Services
Post by: Andrew 737 on May 17, 2014, 12:07:24 PM
Thank you Sean, I will do :)
Title: Re: Just Wondering About Ground Services
Post by: dc8flightdeck on May 18, 2014, 08:06:52 AM
Ive never tried AES, but did the same on a network with GSX ground sevices. It syncs fine over the network, but some of animation is lost on the clients.  The marshaller is rigid and no longer has moving arm or legs. The turn signals dont work on the follow me truck.

But it much better with GSX than without it. I used a voice recognition program for the interface. On the FO audio panel, selecing ground intercom disables the headset and hand mics communication to PilotEdge and changes the mics to interface with the voice recognition software for controlling GSX.

The other issue is, you have to configure the voice software for a specific parking spot before the flight starts, so its limited to one parking selection at the end of a flight.

I just realized I dont have video of us talking to GSX, but here is a link to an old out of date video that shows a bit of GSX being used with button activation in the cockpit.

http://youtu.be/9hotit9vwUU (http://youtu.be/9hotit9vwUU)
Title: Re: Just Wondering About Ground Services
Post by: Andrew 737 on May 18, 2014, 12:08:28 PM
Hello

I'm talking about running 3 instances of either GSX or AES at the same time.
Title: Re: Just Wondering About Ground Services
Post by: rhysb on May 18, 2014, 12:42:01 PM
Andrew,

On your AES request. I will give you a simple answer: It can't be done! You can't get AES to work or sync on multiple machines.

Ian Sissons only has AES running on the forward view so if you taxi at an airport you cannot see the marshallers or any AES vehicles except in the forward view.

Sorry to disappoint you but have explored it all myself.

Thanks

Rhys B
Title: Re: Just Wondering About Ground Services
Post by: Andrew 737 on May 18, 2014, 01:23:05 PM
Quote from: rhysb on May 18, 2014, 12:42:01 PM
Andrew,

On your AES request. I will give you a simple answer: It can't be done! You can't get AES to work or sync on multiple machines.

Ian Sissons only has AES running on the forward view so if you taxi at an airport you cannot see the marshallers or any AES vehicles except in the forward view.

Sorry to disappoint you but have explored it all myself.

Thanks

Rhys B

Thank you for the info Rhys - greatly appreciated
Title: Re: Just Wondering About Ground Services
Post by: Sean on May 19, 2014, 12:12:27 AM
That's what I remember about Ian's. The traffic disappears once it leaves the front view.
Title: Re: Just Wondering About Ground Services
Post by: ian@737ng.co.uk on May 19, 2014, 12:45:28 AM
Bugger me, now i'm going to have to set fire to it because the views dont 'cut the mustard' :)
The only real way to do this is to set up multiple views by adding
extra video outputs and setting these up as forward/left and forward right.    Then that way you will not loose the traffic.
Rgds

Ian
Title: Re: Just Wondering About Ground Services
Post by: dc8flightdeck on May 19, 2014, 03:56:44 PM
Quote from: Andrew 737 on May 18, 2014, 12:08:28 PM
Hello

I'm talking about running 3 instances of either GSX or AES at the same time.

That is exactly what I did with GSX. In the video the pushback sequence is all GSX on wideview.

The video I posted is showing GSX on a 4 computer network with wideview. The simulator in the video has a server running but not visually displaying GSX because the two server monitors are displaying the HSI and radar screen repectively.

When you see the bus, baggage carts, and marshaller in the video, all are being displayed on wideclient computers. The left monitor is client #1, center three monitors client #2, right monitor is client #3. I have a copy of GSX on each of the 4 computers and as you can see in the video it works over wideview, but the video doesnt specifically show is how GSX looses some of the animation features that I previously described.

So in summery, GSX does work over a network, but with some animation lose. The ground service vehicle are visible across all the wideview computers as they drive around. I wouldnt fly without it.

Title: Re: Just Wondering About Ground Services
Post by: Andrew 737 on May 19, 2014, 11:20:56 PM
Quote from: dc8flightdeck on May 19, 2014, 03:56:44 PM
Quote from: Andrew 737 on May 18, 2014, 12:08:28 PM
Hello

I'm talking about running 3 instances of either GSX or AES at the same time.

That is exactly what I did with GSX. In the video the pushback sequence is all GSX on wideview.

The video I posted is showing GSX on a 4 computer network with wideview. The simulator in the video has a server running but not visually displaying GSX because the two server monitors are displaying the HSI and radar screen repectively.

When you see the bus, baggage carts, and marshaller in the video, all are being displayed on wideclient computers. The left monitor is client #1, center three monitors client #2, right monitor is client #3. I have a copy of GSX on each of the 4 computers and as you can see in the video it works over wideview, but the video doesnt specifically show is how GSX looses some of the animation features that I previously described.

So in summery, GSX does work over a network, but with some animation lose. The ground service vehicle are visible across all the wideview computers as they drive around. I wouldnt fly without it.

Hi Justin

Very interesting indeed - I have a few questions if that is ok?

Where is the video to which you refer buddy?
How do you instruct each copy of GSX to run at precisely the same time?
Can you describe the feature loss a bit more please?

Thanks a lot

Andrew

EDIT - Justin, I must have missed something previously, I just read your first post again - please ignore this post for now - appologies there mate.
Title: Re: Just Wondering About Ground Services
Post by: Andrew 737 on May 19, 2014, 11:36:04 PM
Quote from: Andrew 737 on May 19, 2014, 11:20:56 PM
Quote from: dc8flightdeck on May 19, 2014, 03:56:44 PM
Quote from: Andrew 737 on May 18, 2014, 12:08:28 PM
Hello

I'm talking about running 3 instances of either GSX or AES at the same time.

That is exactly what I did with GSX. In the video the pushback sequence is all GSX on wideview.

The video I posted is showing GSX on a 4 computer network with wideview. The simulator in the video has a server running but not visually displaying GSX because the two server monitors are displaying the HSI and radar screen repectively.

When you see the bus, baggage carts, and marshaller in the video, all are being displayed on wideclient computers. The left monitor is client #1, center three monitors client #2, right monitor is client #3. I have a copy of GSX on each of the 4 computers and as you can see in the video it works over wideview, but the video doesnt specifically show is how GSX looses some of the animation features that I previously described.

So in summery, GSX does work over a network, but with some animation lose. The ground service vehicle are visible across all the wideview computers as they drive around. I wouldnt fly without it.

Hi Justin

Very interesting indeed - I have a few questions if that is ok?

Where is the video to which you refer buddy?
How do you instruct each copy of GSX to run at precisely the same time?
Can you describe the feature loss a bit more please?

Thanks a lot

Andrew

EDIT - Justin, I must have missed something previously, I just read your first post again - please ignore this post for now - appologies there mate.

What a fantastic sim - superb :)

Goodness knows how I missed the video, I must have had a 'blonde' (no offence to anyone guys, just a joke) moment!

Ok so I'm struggling to understand How you instruct each copy of GSX to run at precisely the same time?

Thanks Justin
Title: Re: Just Wondering About Ground Services
Post by: dc8flightdeck on May 20, 2014, 02:38:50 PM
Hey now, Im blonde!  8)

All I did was to install a copy of GSX on each PC. Wideview takes care of the rest, no extra effort needed.

You loose GSX articulated movements on the client computers, like seeing the marshaller give hand signals. His hands do not move on the clients. When the marshaller walks his legs do not move, he just slides along the ground.

honestly, a lot of what you visually loose is not visible from the cockpit anyway, you have to place a monitor in an "outside" view to notice most of the missing animations. one would be the luggage moving from the vehicle into the cargo hold.
Title: Re: Just Wondering About Ground Services
Post by: Andrew 737 on May 20, 2014, 11:05:23 PM
Hi Justin

I'll give this a go - thanks for the info bud, greatly appreciated.
Title: Re: Just Wondering About Ground Services
Post by: dc8flightdeck on May 21, 2014, 04:15:00 PM
Now that I think about it, I do also have wide traffic installed. Im not sure if that has an effect on GSX or not. This is installed for FSX.
Title: Re: Just Wondering About Ground Services
Post by: Andrew 737 on May 21, 2014, 11:05:36 PM
I too have Wide Traffic Installed :)

Thanks for the tip though, this is the sort of thing that can drive one mad!
Title: Re: Just Wondering About Ground Services
Post by: sstusek on May 22, 2014, 12:44:07 AM
Hi,
this post is interesting, I am also using system with 4 pc's - 1 server, 3 wideview clients for scenery.
I was thinking how to use AES on wideview clients... without success!
First I thought I could control AES on multiple computers with AES Remote. This small program provides AES control from a client PC. It turned out that AES control is limited to send commands only to a single PC(IP)! Too bad, it would be very easy and straight forward solution if AES commands could be send to multiple computers. To do that AES control program should be modified...

Your question ..."how to get multiple copies of AES running at exactly the same time"... got me thinking again. How about mouse and keyboard sharing software like Hotkeynet, Input Director, Synergy or...
Some of the programs, so I've read, have sort of "mirror mode", which can mirror mouse and keyboard, just mouse, or just keyboard on networked computers.
That might do the trick to get multiple copies of AES running at exactly the same time?
I would have tried it myself but right now my system is not operational because I am upgrading some of my computers.

Regards,
Simon
Title: Re: Just Wondering About Ground Services
Post by: ckovoor on August 16, 2014, 08:02:57 AM
Hi,
I operate a WidevieW+WideTraffic-X based network of 11 pc's, in which the Server generates 2-D cockpit panels of various payware aircraft, 7 Client pc's generate the out-of-cockpit-window scenery views across a 182 deg-fov, 1 Client pc generates an external locked spot view, and 2 more Client pc's are used as Instructor Stations (running weather, EFB and flight-planning add-ons, and now, AESRemote).
I used AutoHotkey-L to open 8 instances of AESRemote (concurrently) at my remote pc (Instructor Station 2). Each was linked to one of my Client pc's generating scenery. Continuing with Autohotkey I applied appropriate key presses to activate the various AES functions across the Clients. The various ground activities including jetway extension/retraction, though not actively synchronised by WidevieW/WideTraffic, appeared to progress synchronously on the clients, because they were activated simultaneously (via the appropriate hotkey on the Instructor Station pc).
I can share the .ahk code and the method, if anyone is interested.
Regards,
Chakko.

Title: Re: Just Wondering About Ground Services
Post by: sstusek on August 17, 2014, 11:29:30 PM
Hi Chakko,

So you managed to synchronize AES over multiple PC`s with AES Remote, this is brilliant. I thought that the answer lies somewhere between the AES Remote and sort of key clone program  ;) .
Of course, I am interested in details... I see that you need one instance of AESRemote runing for every scenery client to which they relate (IP) and Autohotkey to send the synchronized commands to AESRemote.

Regards,
Simon
Title: Re: Just Wondering About Ground Services
Post by: sstusek on August 19, 2014, 04:29:53 AM
Hi Chakko,

Thank you for the detailed information. I will give it a tray.

Regards,
Simon
Title: Re: Just Wondering About Ground Services
Post by: dc8flightdeck on August 19, 2014, 07:13:26 PM
Thats a cool idea.  I might try that to get some other functions to work as well :)

Quote from: ckovoor on August 16, 2014, 08:02:57 AM
Hi,
I operate a WidevieW+WideTraffic-X based network of 11 pc's, in which the Server generates 2-D cockpit panels of various payware aircraft, 7 Client pc's generate the out-of-cockpit-window scenery views across a 182 deg-fov, 1 Client pc generates an external locked spot view, and 2 more Client pc's are used as Instructor Stations (running weather, EFB and flight-planning add-ons, and now, AESRemote).
I used AutoHotkey-L to open 8 instances of AESRemote (concurrently) at my remote pc (Instructor Station 2). Each was linked to one of my Client pc's generating scenery. Continuing with Autohotkey I applied appropriate key presses to activate the various AES functions across the Clients. The various ground activities including jetway extension/retraction, though not actively synchronised by WidevieW/WideTraffic, appeared to progress synchronously on the clients, because they were activated simultaneously (via the appropriate hotkey on the Instructor Station pc).
I can share the .ahk code and the method, if anyone is interested.
Regards,
Chakko.
Title: Re: Just Wondering About Ground Services
Post by: ckovoor on August 31, 2014, 01:15:57 AM
Hi,

For those interested in this topic, I have developed a 3rd version of this code AESmultiple.v31.ahk, and for those who do not wish to install AutoHotkey, a standalone executable AESmultiple.v31.exe which I have uploaded to the following dropbox links:
.ahk version: https://www.dropbox.com/s/5fug1m0jrbiebvz/AESmultiple.%20v31.ahk?dl=0 (https://www.dropbox.com/s/5fug1m0jrbiebvz/AESmultiple.%20v31.ahk?dl=0)
.exe version: https://www.dropbox.com/s/61zsfz9lwic4xpt/AESmultiple.%20v31.exe?dl=0 (https://www.dropbox.com/s/61zsfz9lwic4xpt/AESmultiple.%20v31.exe?dl=0)
Instructions: https://www.dropbox.com/s/z18ywsebo0iv1fz/AESmultiple.v31_Instructions.txt?dl=0 (https://www.dropbox.com/s/z18ywsebo0iv1fz/AESmultiple.v31_Instructions.txt?dl=0)

The features of this new version:
(1) Starting the script opens a window listing the hotkeys needed for operation.
(2) To setup AESmultiple for your system, apply a Hotkey which opens a sequence of input boxes, where you enter the total number of your clients, their names and IP addresses. These are written into an .ini file created in the working directory, so this hotkey need be run only once.
(3) The program plans the layout of AESRemote windows on your desktop and will warn you if there is insufficient room.
(4) Hotkeys as before to activate individual AES functions, to activate jetway retraction, and to close all open instances of AESRemote.
(5) You need to ensure that the unpacked AESRemotePack folder downloaded from Aerosoft is in the same working directory as the AESmultiple.v3 script.

I have tested the script successfully with a maximum of 9 open instances in a monitor size of 1366 x 768 pixels, and 16 instances within 1920 x 1080.

Thank you for your interest.

Chakko.