Aircraft config and question

[blueskydriver]

Bob, do you think PMSystems is causing this, in the past it never has because MCP didn't need it. Maybe, you could post all your PM.ini files.

Patt, you should post all of yours as well. Trevor found those other problem items for you this way, so maybe a comparison with Bob's would help.

The only other thing I would guess is your network speed along with the MCP's ms timing is conflicting and causing these oscillations. What is weird you had it working on March 18th, 2018, but it started going wrong between now and then? What changed since the 18th?

John

[Bob Reed]

Bob, do you think PMSystems is causing this, in the past it never has because MCP didn't need it. Maybe, you could post all your PM.ini files.

Patt, you should post all of yours as well. Trevor found those other problem items for you this way, so maybe a comparison with Bob's would help.

The only other thing I would guess is your network speed along with the MCP's ms timing is conflicting and causing these oscillations. What is weird you had it working on March 18th, 2018, but it started going wrong between now and then? What changed since the 18th?

John

I do not think it is PMSystems. I will post my MCP.ini file and any other files that anyone wants to look at. I think it is in the settings for up down left right timing. I can not remember what it is called and I have shut the cave down for the night.  I will post in the morning. I think what they believe is the AT causing issues is just the AT trying to keep up with the aircraft. As the aircraft swings left right or up down the worse the oscillations become as the autopilot tries to correct.

[Patt737]

Good evening everyone.

It is very nice to have an exchange with you.
And besides it's fast.

We must thank those who take their time to help others.
For that I thank you.

To return to our sheep, as we say at home ......

'' I do not think it is PMSystems ''

I agree with you PMSystems has nothing to do with our problem, but I wanted your opinion.

""Patt, you should post all of yours as well. Trevor found those other problem items for you this way, so maybe a comparison with Bob's would help""

It's a good idea to publish our files, as I return to the cockpit.
I would take the files ini mcp / cdu.

'' The only other thing I would guess your network speed along with the MCP's timing is conflicting and cause these oscillations.

Actually it could be an interesting track.
But how can we fix the problem ?
The pc CDU is very old and we think to replace it at the end of the year, by a newer one.
But this one has only one task to control the cdu.

'' What is weird you had it working on March 18th, 2018, but it started going wrong between now and then? What changed since the 18th? ''

Yes indeed we had solved part of the problem.
There was no more left right swing.
But the plane landed before the runway.
But for all the tests to be the same we limit
the speed of approach to 150 knots.
But once the speed reaches below 150 the oscillations come back.

I do not understand why we can not use p3d's AT as we did with FS9 ?
Did you do special things to make it work ?

Do you use IOCP ?

See you soon.

Patt

[Bob Reed]

Hmm I forgot to post my ini... After dinner. I did nothing special to make it work. The auto pilot in P3D is not aircraft specific. It is a system wide thing. As you have done I could get the oscillations to stop at higher speeds but when I would slow down they would come back. I am sure this is in the timing settings. Again I will post my MCP ini settings. I think..... 

[Bob Reed]

Ok, here it is the MCP ini file.
APBankFactor= 85
APPitchFactor= 30

These are the settings I have been slowly tinkering with to get my aircraft to fly as desired.  APBankFactor= 85 is the one I have worked with the most. In my sim it works backwards to how I thought it worked. I set it to 30 and the aircraft was much worse. So then I took it to 75 and that was much better. I have slowly taken it up to 85. I am very happy with how it works now.
So here is the rest of the ini

[Project Magenta MCP]
Build#519

[Display]
Title=On
Menu=Off
WindowName=MCP (Active) Press Ctrl-L for Logger, Esc For Menu
Topmost=Off
FSWindow=Off
Minimized=On
                              / Starts up minimized
NoMinimize=Off
                              / Doesn't minimize MCP on double-click

[User]
Log=Off
SerialLog=Off
                              / To log the serial communication
CycleMilliSeconds= 40
                              / Speed of the MCP cycle, ideally
                              / set to 50-70 ms
Top= 0
Left= 0
                              / Top/Left coordinates of the MCP
                              / program
Width737= 15495
Height737= 2490
Width747= 15390
Height747= 3120
Width777= 15390
Height777= 3150
                              / Heigth and width of MCP for the
                              / various types
MCPType=737
Intervent737=On
                              / Enables SPD intervention buttons
                              / for the 737
ClassicEFISSel=Off
                              / When set to On, ND modes are selected
                              / with the old method, when set to
                              / Off, 8 modes are selectable...
                              / APP/VOR/MAP/PLN ARC and CTR
DelayMouseClick=On
                              / if mouse reaction is too fast,
                              / you can delay it setting this flag
                              / to On
Font=mcpfont
FontFactor= 1.27

[VNAV]
DescentSpeedControl=On
                              / when set to off, pilot controls
                              / speed with the throttle

[Aircraft]
[PM BOEING 737-800 ALASKA AIRLINES SPIRT OF SEATTLE1]
[\\FSX-PC\LOCKHEED MARTIN\PREPAR3D V4\SIMOBJECTS\AIRPLANES\PROJECT MAGENTA 738\PMX737-800.AIR]

MinIAS= 0
                              / Minimum selectable airspeed
DefaultIAS= 110
DefaultAltitude= 10000
                              / Default Speed and Altitude select
                              / on startup
AutoHDG=On
AutoVS=On
                              / Will automatically select the current
                              / HDG and V/S when mode is engaged
MachAltitude= 0
                              / Will automatically switch to MACH/IAS
                              / when this altitude is crossed (e.g.
                              / 23450), 0 disables
AutoCRS=Off
                              / When set to ON, VOR/LOC will *not*
                              / go into intercept ARM mode first
AllowStabTrimOverride=Off
StabTrimDeflect= 6000
                              / Disconnects A/P when Elevator or
                              / Aileron is moved more than the
                              / deflection value (default 6000)
                              / This option needs to be enabled
                              / via bit13 offset 0x50A - monitor
                              / bit13 0x5528 for current setting
StabTrimOverrideActive=Off
                              / This sets the option above to always
                              / be active
Rollout=On
                              / MCP will steer the aircraft during
                              / the rollout phase after an autoland
DisableAdd20Kts=On
                              / Will not add 20 Kts to speed during
                              / TOGA if set to On
AllowAPOnGround=On
                              / Allows engaging AP on the ground
NoModeAfterTOGA=On
                              / Doesn't automatically enable FLCH
                              / after TOGA mode
UsePanel=Off
                              / Set to On if the FS panel or remote
                              / programs are used for MCP interaction
PushButton=Off
                              / Enables the use of the pushbutton
                              / for SPD, ALT and HDG
SpeedProtect=Off
                              / Enables speed protection for A/P
                              / modes
SELCurrentSpeed=On
                              / MCP will take the current speed
                              / when any speed mode is engaged
                              / for the first time
TerrAlt=Off
                              / Alternate Terrain Mode
Flare= 50
                              / Altitude above ground at which
                              / the flare is initiated during autoland
N1ref= 99.6
N1TOref= 99.6
N1GAref= 90
N1CLBref= 93
N1CRZref= 97.1
ThrRedAlt= 1500
                              / Defaults used for reference thrust
                              / and thrust reduction altitudes,
                              / only if no CDU detected
MaxROC= 9000
MaxROD= 9000
                              / Maximum rate of climb/descent
ClimbThrustLimiter=Off
                              / Limits the climb thrust increase
                              / if the speed increases too much
                              / during FLCH/LVLCHNG climbs
Climb2000Spd=Off
                              / Climbs with SPD mode during FLCH/LVLCHNG
                              / of less than 2400 ft
FlightIdle= 10
ApproachIdle= 15
                              / Min Idle Value for Flight/Approach
                              / (default 10% and 15%)
UsePMAutobrakes=Off
                              / Enables the PM Auto Brake, do not
                              / use the FS autobrake system at
                              / the same time
DisableAutobrakes=Off
                              / Switches Off Autobrakes below 30
                              / Knots, both for PM and FS AutoBrake
                              / System
DisableBrakes=Off
                              / Disables the writing of any brake
                              / valuesof the MCP for Rollout -
                              / this is *not* the Aurobrake System,
                              / if you use PM autobrake, then this
                              / has to be off
BrakeFactor= 100
                              / Brake factor in percent, default
                              / 100%
BrkDiscPark=On
                              / Brakes disconnect Parking Brake
ParkNeedsBrk=Off
                              / Parking Brake Needs Brakes to be
                              / Pressed to engage
TrimMin=-1
TrimCtr= 0
TrimMax= 10
                              / 737 Trim Gauge Min/Ctr/Max
UsepmNavSounds=On
                              / Will not write Nav Sound flags
                              / to FS Offsets but to Project Magenta
                              / Offsets
StbySets1200=Off
                              / Will set transponder to 1200 when
                              / standby is selected
SwapCRS=Off
                              / Swaps CRS 1 and CRS 2

[Input]
MouseWheel=On
MouseWheelInvert=On
                              / Allows you to 'turn the knobs'
                              / of the MCP using the mouse wheel,
                              / you can also invert the direction
FSBusWriteBack=Off
                              / Will write back Speed and V/S values
                              / to offsets 0x5406 and 0x540C respectively

[Autopilot]
APProjectMagenta=On
                              / Enables the PM autopilot and overrides
                              / the FS autopilot

APBankFactor= 85
APPitchFactor= 30
                              / Autopilot pitch and bank factors,
                              / the higher the value, the larger
                              / the corrections

DynamicPitch=On
                              / Enables the PM autopilot and overrides
                              / the FS autopilot
DynamicUseLoHi=Off
DynamicPitchLow= 5
DynamicPitchHigh= 19
                              / Dynamic pitch will use low (close
                              / to 100kts) and high (close to 350
                              / kts) values

DynamicPitchTAS=Off
                              / Currently Disabled
AltAcqDiv= 4
                              / Altitude Divisor VS/this = capture
                              / alt difference

                              / Project Magenta Autopilot for Pitch
                              / and Bank modes

[Hardware Connections]
                              / Enter Comm port the device is connected
                              / to, please do not use this if you
                              / do not have any hardware connected
                              / e.g. enter = 2 for COM2:

                              / Precision Flight Controls MCP hardware
                              / www.flypfc.com
PFCComm= 1
PFC9600=Off
                              / Important, the PFC9600 flag should
                              / be set to OFF for normal use, currently
                              / it is just for testing purposes
CautionThroughPass=Off
                              / PFC Caution Button pressed are
                              / not handled, but passed through
                              / to 0x5534

                              / For CPFlight 737 MCP hardware www.cpflight.com
ForceHardwareLight=Off
UseInstLight=Off
IgnoreBattery=Off
                              / Ignores pmSystems battery and FS
                              / Avionics (Battery)
IgnoreAvionics=On
                              / Ignores only FS Avionics (Battery)
DisableFSMessage=Off
                              / Disables sending messages to FS
                              / Window
NoMenu=Off
                              / Removes Menu access and close button
PauseMetric=Off
                              / First Officer Meters Pushbutton
                              / sets Pause
CargoReset=Off
                              / Cargo Buttons used for FS reset
                              / via Instructor Station (CP Center
                              / Console only)
CargoPause=On
                              / Cargo Button used for FS Pause
                              / (CP Center Console only)
CPFlightIP=
CPFlightPort= 0
                              / CP Flight IP Address and IP Port
                              / (default 4500)
CPFlightComm= 0
                              / CP Flight Comm Port
CPFlightIO=On
                              / Set CPFlightIO=Off to *disable*
                              / digital and analog input/output
DisableMIP=Off
                              / Set DisableMIP *disable* CPFlight
                              / MIP handling (e.g 737 sixpack troubleshooting)

                              / For FDS G1 Hardware Communication
FDS_G1_Comm= 0
                              / Flight Deck Solutions FDS Glare
                              / On/Off
FDSGlare=Off

                              / For Daken IFS Hardware
DakenSkys_IFS_Comm= 0

                              / FSC MIP Hardware
FSCMIPComm= 0
FSCMIPInvertGear=Off
      /Inverts Gear Direction
FSCMIPInvertSixPack=Off
      /Inverts both Sixpack Anunciation Lines

                              / FSC Throttle Hardware Comm
                              / http://www.flightsimulatorcenter.com
FSCThrottleQuadrantComm= 0
FSCNOTMotorized=On
FSCTQMotorDisable=Off
      /Disables the motorization of the throttle
FSCTQTrimMotorDisable=Off
      /Disables the motorization of the trim
FSCTQTrimSpeed= 30
      /Sets trim motor speed 0 min 255 max (default 30)
FSCTQInvertTrim=On
      /Inverts Trim Motor Direction
FSCTQInvertTrimWheel=Off
      /Inverts Trim Wheel Direction (when stab trim disconnected
FSCTQTrimOffset0= 177
FSCTQTrimOffset10= 88
      /Offsets Trim Indicator for Trim 0 and Trim 10
FSCTQInvertSpoiler=On
      /Inverts Spoiler Potentiometer Direction
FSCTQInvertSpoilerMotor=Off
      /Inverts Spoiler Motor Direction
FSCTQCalib= 0
      /UnCalibrated=0 - Calibrated=1 - Mixed=2 - Diff=3 - 2SameAs1=4 - useAdjust=5
FSCTQAdjust= 0
      /Adjusts Throttle 2 position by X
FSCSplArmPos= 212
      /Sets Spoiler Arm Position
FSCRevPct= 15
      /Travel of reversers before they are activated, min 15%, default 35%
FSCThrottle1Min= 19
FSCThrottle1Mid= 0
FSCThrottle1Max= 155
FSCThrottle2Min= 19
FSCThrottle2Mid= 0
FSCThrottle2Max= 148
FSCReverser1Min= 0
FSCReverser1Max= 82
FSCReverser2Min= 0
FSCReverser2Max= 84
FSCSpoilerMax= 199
FSCSpoilerMin= 15
FSCSingleThrottle= 0
FSCSingleReverser= 0
FSCThrIntervent=On
FSCTQMotBuffer= 13
                              / Top and Bottom Buffer zone to switch
                              / off Throttle Motors (default 13)

                              / FSC Throttle Hardware Ver 0

                              / Cockpitsonic EHID
                              / http://www.cockpitsonic.com
EHIDComm=Off
                              / Can be set to 'On', 'Off', 'localhost'
                              / or IP Address


                              / ELAN MCP hardware
ElanComm= 0
ElanBaudRate=
                              / Please leave ElanBaudrate empty
                              / unless you know what you are doing(!)

                              / Aerosoft 747 MCP hardware www.mcp747.com
AerosoftComm= 0
AerosoftFPV= 14
AerosoftDHRST= 0
                              / Defines the action (offset 0x4F4)
                              / of the Aerosoft FPV button or DH
                              / Reset button, e.g. 14=FPV, 6=CTR
/EicasButton1=???
                              / You can define the action (offset
                              / 0x4F4) of each of the 10 EICAS
                              / buttons by setting the corresponding
                              / value here (e.g. EicasButton1=71,
                              / EicasButton10=87)

[EPIC]
DisableRemoteMCP=Off
                              / Set to on to disable input from
                              / other programs using these offsets
                              / via FSUIPC
                              / Syntax: input type = joystick,
                              / axis


[Extra]
NoFSCOptions=Off

[Patt737]

Good evening bob.

Thank you for publishing the ini file.
I'm going to my cockpit at the end of the week and I'll give my ini files.

Just a few questions:

Which version of pm do you use (build 518?)
Can you publish the ini du cdu?

I would like to put them in my place to compare the behavior of the plane.

Do you think we need to start a complete installation again
of cdu and mcp because our programs have been installed for a long time?

Thank you.

Patt

[Bob Reed]

Good evening bob.

Thank you for publishing the ini file.
I'm going to my cockpit at the end of the week and I'll give my ini files.

Just a few questions:

Which version of pm do you use (build 518?)
Can you publish the ini du cdu?

I would like to put them in my place to compare the behavior of the plane.

Do you think we need to start a complete installation again
of cdu and mcp because our programs have been installed for a long time?

Thank you.

Patt

I just shut the airplane down, but later I will post the CDU ini. I do not think a reinstall is necessary. I am using 519 and 518. There are a couple parts of the software not available in 519 so that is why the difference.

[Patt737]

Hello everyone and hello Bob.

I did not have time to try.

I had taken a few days of vacation.

I think we will resume testing this weekend.
Do you still agree to communicate me your CDU ini ?

If so, thank you very much.

See you soon for the results.

Patt

[Bob Reed]

Hello everyone and hello Bob.

I did not have time to try.

I had taken a few days of vacation.

I think we will resume testing this weekend.
Do you still agree to communicate me your CDU ini ?

If so, thank you very much.

See you soon for the results.

Patt

Yes I will post!

[Patt737]

Good evening Bob and good evening to all.

Still no published file?

It does not matter because we have finally solved our problem.

1) In the file PMX7378 there is a pdf file installation.

It contained these lines:

'' Whether you use the MCP or CDU to set the AP factors (default):
PITCH FACTOR: 30 ROLL FACTOR: 75
N.B. Pitch and Roll factors are not relevant when using the default FS AP mode ''

That's what we had done ....

But it is also what caused the oscillations.

Today we use the basic data of the mcp and everything is working properly.

2) When we were doing updates we did not delete the ini file.
    And when we compared with the bob file we realized we were missing lines.

So we redid all the updates to re-create an ini file for each install.

Now our plane is very stable and landed correctly.

We have two other questions:

1) Have you had problems with eicas with the latest update
windows 10?

2) Which command line (cdu or mcp) activates the request of the 2 autopilots for an automatic landing.

Thank you for your help.

Patt.

[Patt737]

Hello,

I'm a little bit surprised.

Why is there no more answer here?

Patt.

[blueskydriver]

Hi Patt,

Please don't get upset with the timeliness of members replying, it's that time of the year where a lot of people spend more time with their families and/or other outdoor activities...in other words, it's the slow period for flight simulator builders.

I am sure Bob will post his file soon enough. As for me, I cannot help much right now because my sim(s) are in total disarray; however, I will have some major changes coming in the next few weeks...HOORAY!

In the mean time, please hang in there as others will chime in soon. How about you making some YouTube videos of things that are happening and how you're fixing them...it would be a great help for others.

Kind Regards,

John

[Patt737]

Hello,

I understand.

But the last message from bob is from May 01, 2018.

It is normal to enjoy family and holidays.

But can not anyone answer me on this question?

2) Which command line (cdu or mcp) activates the request of the 2 autopilots for an automatic landing.

Yours sincerely.

Patt.

[Bob Reed]

Hello,

I understand.

But the last message from bob is from May 01, 2018.

It is normal to enjoy family and holidays.

But can not anyone answer me on this question?

2) Which command line (cdu or mcp) activates the request of the 2 autopilots for an automatic landing.

Yours sincerely.

Patt.

Hi Patt. I do tend to layoff the sim in the summer time as it makes my house way too hot. I am slowly getting back into the game now. How is your sim doing and did you find an answer to this question?

[Trevor Hale]

1) Have you had problems with eicas with the latest update
windows 10?

2) Which command line (cdu or mcp) activates the request of the 2 autopilots for an automatic landing.

Thank you for your help.

Patt.

Hi Pat, I don't run Project Magenta on Windows 10 so therefore couldn't answer this question, but I will answer that I can't answer this. 

#2. In order to couple the "2 Channel autoland" you need the following.
#1 Both NAV1 and Nav2 Must be tuned to the ILS.  #2, Both Course Knobs set to the correct approach course. #3. LOC mode until Established and before you fly over (you must be underneath it) the G/S Press Approach mode and press the second channel CMD on the MCP. PFD May Display (NO AUTOLAND) But will change on approach to LAND2 If successful.
Trev

[Pantu]

Hi Patt,

Unfortunately I´m running the EICAS on Win7, therefor can´t comment. However I noticed that the "throttle bug" N1 (green V) is missing. Even though THROTTLE BUG = ON is set  in the pfd.ini.
No clue why 

May I anyway throw in my 2ct worth concerning Autoland with PM.

Concerning Autoland I found this:
Just in case you haven´t seen this, old but nevertheless still valid, on mycockpit.org:

http://www.mycockpit.org/forums/showthread.php?t=14382&highlight=autoland

Another thing is that, depending on your aircraft.tx in the CDU Types Dir, you will see on the PFD FMA either CMD only when in autoland mode, provided Trevor´s hints are all set accordingly, or you may see "Land2" and later "Land3".
This depends on what´s been set in the a.m. aircraft.txt file (at the very end of file)
It´s obviously a Boeing option. Therefor you my change it according to your liking:

Aircraft.txt example from PM´s flight model B737-800 for P3Dv4:

Original setting showing CMD only:
ACMD1=CMD
ACMD2=FD
ACMD3=CMD
ACMD4=CMD     
ACMD5=SINGLE CH

Mod this if required to:

ACMD3=LAND2
ACMD4=LAND3


Hope it helps you a bit further.

Best rgds and always 3 greens

Pete

[Trevor Hale]

What amazing Information.  Thank you all!
Trev

[Bob Reed]

Pete! Thanks for the post! Looks like good stuff I give it a look...