SA-WXR installed and running but how do you...

[Ray Proudfoot]

Hi all,

Finally got my key from Florian and have installed SA-WXR. Despite a lot of reading and searching I cannot find out if it's possible to tilt the radar up and down using either the CDU controls or via specialist PM commands in FSUIPC. The SA-WXR user manual describes assigning the tilt up and down controls to FMC LSK keys on the CDU but doesn't say how to do it.

I run SA-WXR minimised on another PC and don't want to have to get it the focus and then press function buttons. Surely there has to be a more sophisticated way?

Any advise appreciated. :D

[PeterH]

Hi Ray,

that´s a permanent problem, I´m afraid, as Florian had changed the command structure but forgot to implement the tilt commands into the new structure. The commands in the CDU do not work too.
There is a rather complicated way of the tilt now and the old way using F7; F8; F9 function keys.
In order to set the tilt in Sa_wxr I use FSUIPC button control (key sent). It is rather slow, but no other way is possible Imho.
Months ago I have placed a request about this in Florian´s forum but no reply at all.
Unfortunately I have to state: the service for Sa_wxr is rather lousy.


Best rgds

Peter

[Ray Proudfoot]

Thanks for your reply Peter. I do have a registered copy of FSUIPC. Can you advise what selection I should make and what parameters need supplying to get Tilt Up, Tilt Down and Tilt Reset working?

I agree his support is pretty poor. Shame really because he's clearly a clever bloke. Just lacking motivation perhaps? :(

[PeterH]

Hi Ray,

here´s my wideclient.ini excerpt of the relevant part for using FSUIPC´s "key sent" commands to control Sa_Wxr Tilt running on a client PC:
; -----------------------------------------------
[User]
KeySend1=89,16,run6
KeySend2=89,24,run6
KeySend3=118,16,run3;F7 Tilt +
KeySend4=118,24,run3
KeySend5=119,16,run3;F8 Tilt Reset
KeySend6=119,24,run3
KeySend7=120,16,run3;F9 Tilt -
KeySend8=120,24,run3
UseSendInput=Yes
Log=Errors+
RunReady1=c:\Fsbus\Fsclient.exe
CloseReady1=YES
RunReady2=c:\pmSounds\pmsounds.exe
CloseReady2=YES
RunReady3=c:\SA_WXR\sa_wxr.exe
CloseReady3=YES
RunReady4=c:\UPPER_EICAS\UEICAS.exe
CloseReady4=YES
RunReady5=c:\Lower_Eicas\LEICAS.exe
CloseReady5=YES
Run6=C:\programme\Teamspeak2_RC2\TeamSpeak.exe
Close6=yes
AllowShutDown=Yes
; ===============================================

In FSuipc you have to select the "Key sent" command and as Parameter you need to set the corresponding number as used in the wide client.ini.
E.g. "Key sent 3" is for pressing and "Key sent" 4 for releasing the button.

Hope this helps a bit.

Cheers

Peter

[Ray Proudfoot]

Many thanks Peter. I'll put the relevant lines into mine. However slow it is it has to be better than pressing function keys with SA-WXR having the focus.

Cheers.

[Norbert-EDDV]

Hi Ray,
I watched this thread with a lot of interest and finally also purchased sa_wxr for my PM-737-cockpit.
It seems that it is a good software and the most difficult handling is to receive the key by looking in all simmer-forums for Florian Praxmarer.
So can you please tell me where you found him to remind him for looking into his sa_wxr-purchasing-mailbox?
Thank you
Greetings from Germany
and 'hello' to anybody in my first forum post
Norbert

[Ray Proudfoot]

Hi Norbert,

Florian was having problems with his original email and now has a new one. He's posted it on a locked topic on his forum. Unfortunately the simflight forums server is down at present so I can't post a link. Once the server problems are resolved you should find it. He should then contact you.

Whilst he creates some good software his support is appalling. Anyone can have email problems but there's no excuse for not visiting your own support forum.

Good luck and welcome to the PM group.

[Ray Proudfoot]

Simflight forums are up again. Here's the link to the announcement of Florian's new email address... http://forums.simflight.com/viewtopic.php?t=61489

[Norbert-EDDV]

Hi Ray,
thank you for this adress. It worked fine and now I just received the licence file.
Greetings
Norbert

[PeterH]

Hi Norbert,

did you see this msg yet:

"Hi!

Since florian.praxmarer[at]direkt.at seems to on some black lists now, and a have

a.) heavy spam attack since mail is used in a lot of adress books
b.) its some published on INET and so used by hackers

i would like to ask you to use

florian[a_t]addongauges.com

for licensing.

I will upgrade the licensing text of SA_WXR asap

Florian"

Best rgds from EDDM

Peter

[Norbert-EDDV]

Hi Peter,
yes, this is the only adress which is working.
But I do not understand why Florian doesn't make any changes in his setup procedure.
Thanks
Norbert

[Ray Proudfoot]

Hi Ray,
thank you for this adress. It worked fine and now I just received the licence file.
Greetings
Norbert

Hi Norbert,

That's good. Enjoy the radar! :)

Cheers,
Ray.

[PeterH]

Hi Norbert,

probably he has other, more valuable, interests to persue than SA_Wxr, which is an "old product" by now.

It´s not good at all to stop activities (support) in the middle and still sell the product. May be he can´t do it by whatever reason. At least he should let us, his paying customers, know.

Best rgds

Peter

[Ray Proudfoot]

I've just sent an email to Florian asking him to answer the question on his forum regarding SA-WXR and FSX. He say's "it works with FSUIPC4" but I tried last night and SA-WXR couldn't link to FSX. So as far as I'm concerned it doesn't work. Maybe some parameters need changing?

If he persists in not answering questions publicly I'll ask him if he's interested in supporting his applicaton any more. To sell an application and not support it is not in the public interest. All it means is he can earn money with minimal effort.

[Peter Dowson]

I've just sent an email to Florian asking him to answer the question on his forum regarding SA-WXR and FSX. He say's "it works with FSUIPC4" but I tried last night and SA-WXR couldn't link to FSX.

I don't know of any reason why it shouldn't. I'll see if I can try it here, but I'm not in an easy position to do so right now due to interim testing and debugging changes. Maybe you could enable IPC read and write logging (FSUIPC's logging tab, left-hand side) and send me the log of it "not linking" please? Don't run any other FSUIPC clients, as I can't distinguish between them any more and the log would get too big.

Please be sure to close FSX before Zipping the log. Thanks.

[LATER]

Never mind -- I found a copy I could try on one of the machines which I could WideFs to FSX. I tried SA-WXR version 1.2.0.1, which didn't connect because it appears to be checking for version 3 of FSUIPC -- or maybe it doesn't like the version of FS it sees. Either way it is merely looping reading the FSUIPC and FSX version numbers (part of the FSUIPC_Open call).

Oddly the EXE which is Version 1.2.0.1 comes out of a Zip lnamed 1_2_2.

Is there a later version? Is there a place from which to download updates?

I'll chat to Florian about this in any case.

Regards

Pete

[Ray Proudfoot]

Hi Pete,

Thanks very much for looking into this. I have version 1.3.00 modified on 6 June 2006. I downloaded it from SimMarkets. I can send it privately if you wish.

I hope you have better success contacting Florian that I did.

Cheers,

[Peter Dowson]

Thanks very much for looking into this. I have version 1.3.00 modified on 6 June 2006. I downloaded it from SimMarkets.

I can't find a way to download updates without buying it again! Strange, you'da thought I'd known there was an update available somehow. Florian does chat with me sometimes but somehow "oh, is there a new version of SA_WXR out at all?" doesn't come up.


I can send it privately if you wish.

Yes please. no rush ... but I like to keep up to date. I do have a valid license, just no place to get the update that I can find!


I hope you have better success contacting Florian that I did.

We developers have our own ways. But, yes he must be really busy someplace -- he was offline most of the day. Maybe he's got a day job too. ;-)

Best Regards

Pete

[PeterH]

Hi Pete,

there´s a version 1.3 available. Can mail it to you if needed.

Best rgds

Peter

[Peter Dowson]

there´s a version 1.3 available. Can mail it to you if needed.


Thanks ... Ray said he would too, but there's no harm in receiving two if you both get around to it! ;-) I can't find it anywhere on line. petedowson@btconnect.com.

I'm still waiting for Florian to get back to me about the checks it appears to be making, either on the FS or FSUIPC version, which are stopping it getting past the initial queries on FSX. Maybe he'll have a little time to look over the weekend.

Thanks,

Pete

[Ray Proudfoot]

Hi Pete,

I'm sending you v1.3 now. Hope you get it okay and manage to contact Florian.

Cheers.

[Peter Dowson]

I'm sending you v1.3 now. Hope you get it okay and manage to contact Florian.

Got it. Thanks.

I'll let you know ;-)
Pete

[PeterH]

Pete, you´ve got mail!

Best rgds

Peter

[Tim]

He is available. He posted a reply at DA Thursday.

http://www.digital-aviation.de/ewpforum/viewtopic.php?t=3671


Tim

[Ray Proudfoot]

He is available. He posted a reply at DA Thursday.

http://www.digital-aviation.de/ewpforum/viewtopic.php?t=3671


Tim

Thanks Tim. I've posted a message asking him if he would answer my message in the Addon Gauges forum.

[Peter Dowson]

Hi Ray, et al,

Florian has just fixed the FSX problem and posted 1.4 in this thread:

http://forums.simflight.com/viewtopic.php?t=61525

I've just tried it and it does work. The problerm did seem to be simply an FS version check.

Regards

Pete

[Ray Proudfoot]

Everyone,

Florian has released a new version of SA-WXR that is compatible with FSX. You can download it here http://forums.simflight.com/viewtopic.php?p=382115#382115

Thanks to Pete D for background dialogue with Florian and to Florian for providing it.

Cheers,

[Ray Proudfoot]

Hi Pete,

I think we must have tested it at the same time! Nice that he appears to have made it public for no charge. He just needs to change the version number in the title bar.

Thanks for your involvement and getting the problem resolved so quickly.

Regards.

[PaulEMB]

Many thanks to Ray and Pete for solving this - I had the same problems, but it was low on my list of outstanding issues, and Florian was too busy to answer my mails to support.

I'll try it out when I get home tomorrow.

[Bob Reed]

Hi guys. Any news on the problems you where discussing on the tilt and so forth? Has this been fixed?

[Ray Proudfoot]

Hi guys. Any news on the problems you where discussing on the tilt and so forth? Has this been fixed?

Hi Bob,

I haven't had time to try this yet. Don't think Florian has changed anything so only SendKeys will work.

[PeterH]

Hi Ray,

SendKeys is only necessary for the tilt agle and reset. All other commands working nicely via the offset with the "new" commands.

BR

Peter

[sas550]

I found this over at addon gagues forum:


<TABLE class=forumline cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=3 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=row1 vAlign=top align=left width=150>

</TD><TD class=row1 vAlign=top width="100%" height=28><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD width="100%">http://forums.simflight.com/templates/subSilver/images/icon_minipost.gif (http://forums.simflight.com/viewtopic.php?p=382444#382444)Posted: Tue Apr 24, 2007 1:37 pm Post subject: </TD><TD vAlign=top noWrap>http://forums.simflight.com/templates/subSilver/images/lang_english/icon_quote.gif (http://forums.simflight.com/posting.php?mode=quote&p=382444) </TD></TR><TR><TD colSpan=2><HR></TD></TR><TR><TD colSpan=2>Hello again.

I wish this report frees many people from a trouble.

Specifications of tilt setting of SA_WXR may be different from a manual.
It is written in a manual as follows.

+-------------+-----------------+
|Command Value| Function |
+-------------+-----------------+
| 17 |Set Tilt positive|
+-------------+-----------------+
| 18 |Set Tilt negative|
+-------------+-----------------+

However, I used only positive setting.
For example, I write an order like next, and please test it.

15=P1,8,Cx31006D01,x003C0001
16=P1,8,Cx01006D00,x11
17=P1,9,Cx41006D01,xFFC40001
18=P1,9,Cx01006D00,x11

I think that a good result was provided.

I edited FSUIPC.INI and wrote in it.
This read over Advanced Users.doc of FSUIPC again and hit.
Please test it once by all means.
And please tell it about the result.
I wait for a nice report.

Motoyasu Hattori
Gifu Japan
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

I have tested it and it works flawless when assigned to a joybutton. Just change the first digits to suit the order in wich the button presses are sorted in fsuipc.ini. The digit 8 in the two first lines and 9 in the third/fourth line is the button numbers. They obviusly have to be changed to your button number.

There are some hints in the "Fsuipc for advanced users" section that covers additonal fs controls added by Fsuipc.

I'm using iocards so now I have to find a way to translate this into sioc code and mill myself a nice little panel.

[Ray Proudfoot]

I've now added the following to my FSUIPC.INI to control the tilt commands for the SA_WXR gauge. If anyone knows how to change to "Control to repeat while held" I'd appreciate it.

85=P2,8,Cx41006D01,xFFC40001
86=P2,8,Cx01006D00,x11
87=P2,10,Cx31006D01,x003C0001
88=P2,10,Cx01006D00,x11

These apply to my CH Pro Throttle known to FSUIPC as Joystick 2 - hence P2. I'm using buttons 8 and 10.

Just a word of advice. If you view these commands via the FSUIPC interface it will tell you multiple commands are assigned to this button. That is quite normal as two commands have to be sent. One for the tilt command and a second to clear the buffer to allow subsequent commands to be sent. I think that's how it works.

[sas550]

Try to assign a button with something and check the buttons ini line. Then go back to the fsuipc ui and assign the repeat while held function to the same button. Then back to the ini line and see what's been changed and if it's possible to apply on the tilt lines. Haven't tested it but it might work

I haven't figured out yet how to translate this to sioc code. So now I have the Off/wxr/Wxr+T, GCS and OFP on a panel driven by iocards while I have wired one button from my CH throttle to the same panel for tilt.

Question: Are You using sa_wxr through PM or as a standalone radar? Because on my setup (PM) the response time on the ND is very slow while it's immediate on the radar itself. It takes several seconds before the tilt values change on the ND. Might be my setup that needs some tuning.

[Peter Nielsen]

Guys,

I am reading this with lots of interest as I have the SA WXR as well and am a bit confused (dumb).. if i understand correct i need to edit the FSUIPC cfg file and the Wideclient cfg file.

another thing is the PM Get WX programme. I understand that this one should not be running, however PM get WX is the programme which shows the ATIS in the Acars function on the CDU so how does this impact?

Peter

[Ray Proudfoot]

Try to assign a button with something and check the buttons ini line. Then go back to the fsuipc ui and assign the repeat while held function to the same button. Then back to the ini line and see what's been changed and if it's possible to apply on the tilt lines. Haven't tested it but it might work

I haven't figured out yet how to translate this to sioc code. So now I have the Off/wxr/Wxr+T, GCS and OFP on a panel driven by iocards while I have wired one button from my CH throttle to the same panel for tilt.

Question: Are You using sa_wxr through PM or as a standalone radar? Because on my setup (PM) the response time on the ND is very slow while it's immediate on the radar itself. It takes several seconds before the tilt values change on the ND. Might be my setup that needs some tuning.

Hi Anders,

Thanks. I'll investigate. I'm running it through PM on the ND. I agree the display is slow to update but it's better than how I did it before by having to press Function keys on another PC whilst SA-WXR has the focus.

It's not helped by having SA-WXR on one PC, FS on another and PM on a third. I might move SA-WXR to the same PC as PM or even FS which should help keep delays to a minimum. The delay is certanly not several seconds though - maybe 1-2 secs maximum.

Cheers,

[Ray Proudfoot]

Guys,

I am reading this with lots of interest as I have the SA WXR as well and am a bit confused (dumb).. if i understand correct i need to edit the FSUIPC cfg file and the Wideclient cfg file.

another thing is the PM Get WX programme. I understand that this one should not be running, however PM get WX is the programme which shows the ATIS in the Acars function on the CDU so how does this impact?

Peter

Hi Peter,

No, you only need to edit the FSUIPC.INI file located in the modules folder.

Don't run the PM Get Weather program. SA-WXR reads actual wx inside FS. You do lose the ATIS facility in the CDU but as that weather was not up to date it doesn't really matter.

Cheers,

[Trevor Hale]

I sent my key request off last Saturday, and still have no response. It is kind of Funny actually, Like Russian Roulette :)

[Peter Nielsen]

Hi Peter,

No, you only need to edit the FSUIPC.INI file located in the modules folder.

Don't run the PM Get Weather program. SA-WXR reads actual wx inside FS. You do lose the ATIS facility in the CDU but as that weather was not up to date it doesn't really matter.

Cheers,


Tks Ray,

But this is not entirely correct, the wx displayed on the acars is spot on both with VATSIM and with Active Sky wx..:D

[Bob Reed]

I sent my key request off last Saturday, and still have no response. It is kind of Funny actually, Like Russian Roulette :)

Hi Trevor, did you send to the right address?

[Trevor Hale]

To the florian at addongauges.com

I think Ray said that was the one that we needed to use now.

[Ray Proudfoot]

I sent my key request off last Saturday, and still have no response. It is kind of Funny actually, Like Russian Roulette :)

Hi Trevor,

Here is his email address florian@addongauges.com

His support is not the best is it?

Cheers,

[Ray Proudfoot]

Tks Ray,

But this is not entirely correct, the wx displayed on the acars is spot on both with VATSIM and with Active Sky wx..:D

Oh well, 1 out of 2 ;)

[Trevor Hale]

Just got my license file today! Rofl. Only took a week and a half. Right on!

Trev

[Bob Reed]

Just got my license file today! Rofl. Only took a week and a half. Right on!

Trev
So do you want a little cheese to go with that wine? Just kidding.... Not good support after he gets your money....

[Trevor Hale]

Like the US and CDN Postal service I guess.... Better Late then never.. LOL

[Ray Proudfoot]

I received a licence to install SA-WXR on the same PC as that running PM thinking it would speed up the tilt actions programmed via FSUIPC.INI.

I'm surprised to report it hasn't made the slightest bit of difference. Each key press takes around 2-3 seconds before the ND display is updated to show the tilt value.

In computing terms this equates to eons! I wonder why it's so slow when all my other button commands via FSUIPC go through in a flash! :(

[Trevor Hale]

Ray, I would imagine the keysend is going fast, but SA_WXR is taking it's time to process the keysend.

Does that make sense? When i get mine working, I will let you know how slow it is.

Trev

[JBaymore]

Actually, sounds like packets getting sent on the network but no acknowledgement of receipt so that the next packet gets sent. Sounds like something is "holding" the LAN for a period and interfering with communications.

best,

..................john

[Ray Proudfoot]

Thanks Trev. If you press F9 whilst SA-WXR has the focus the values change quite quickly so the communication is fine with everything on one PC. Actually with SA-WXR running on my laptop using the F9 key was still efficient.

The problem seems to be sending data to SA-WXR from a button on the FS machine via WideFS / the network, for it to process that data and to send the relevant info back via the same path to FS.

We all know FSUIPC/WideFS and probably the network comms is pretty efficient (otherwise WideFS would be affected) so it does point to processing within SA-WXR.

Florian is obviously skilled in creating such a program but I wonder if anything can be done to speed up the data flow? Pity really, it has a monopoly for this type of utility.

[Peter Nielsen]

Gents,

I used to run the SAWXR on the same pc as the Magenta CDU but it slowed the entire CDU down to a crawl, I now migrated it to the PC running Magenta CPT ND, but i cant get it to work, guess it cant find the Net Dir.. this is my old cfg file any hints?


Alternate Window Name = BFMSCDU
TitleBar visible = 1
Focus Change Event = 1
Bitmap Export Directory = C:\games\CDU\NetDir
Disable Output when in Bitmap Export Mode = 1
Get PM Range = 1
Simulate current PM WX Mode = 1
Set PM Update Rate = 7
Autostart = 1

And talking about the ND's lately i am seeing lots of stuttering and loss of FPS on the ND's when Fixes and or Terrain are active, this did not happen before.

Peter

[Bob Reed]

Hello Peter. Is this dirctory Bitmap Export Directory = C:\games\CDU\NetDir on the machine that SA_WXR is running on now? I don't think it is but that path points to a local directory on that machine. Go into one of your PM programs and get the netdirectory from that. This should get it up and running.

[Peter Nielsen]

Hi Rob,

you are correct, the cfg file i enclosed was the old one, and SA WXR used to be on that machine which also has the CDU and the netdirectory..

Now im trying to run it form the pc that runs the ND's..

[Bob Reed]

I don't think it works that way, the instructions say not to do that...

[Ray Proudfoot]

As a follow-up to my earlier message about slow updates in the ND when pressing buttons assigned to tilt down and tilt up I've discovered that when a button is pressed the value in the SA-WXR display is changed virtually immediately.

The problem appears to be getting that info to the ND. If Florian was more responsive I'd post the question on his forum but as things stand there appears to be more chance of a response from Elvis!! :cry:

Cheers,

[sas550]

The problem seems to be sending data to SA-WXR from a button on the FS machine via WideFS / the network, for it to process that data and to send the relevant info back via the same path to FS.


Hi Ray and others. I don't think the problem is to send data to sa_wxr from fsuipc. Because on my setup (sa_wxr on cdu pc) I have cdu window on top of sa_wxr and when I minimize the cdu so that I can see sa_wxr screen there's an immediate respons to the buttons I'm pressing while the info on the ND is lagging a couple of seconds.

[Ray Proudfoot]

Hi Ray and others. I don't think the problem is to send data to sa_wxr from fsuipc. Because on my setup (sa_wxr on cdu pc) I have cdu window on top of sa_wxr and when I minimize the cdu so that I can see sa_wxr screen there's an immediate respons to the buttons I'm pressing while the info on the ND is lagging a couple of seconds.

Hi Anders,

Looks like you just missed my latest message. I agree with your findings. :D

So how do we fix it? :sad:

[sas550]

Sadly both software developer involved seems to have more important things to do. :(

[JBaymore]

So the issue seems to be in the "hooks" that are in place to connect the network data flow between the two separate programs. Both programs work in stand alone mode. This interface gets the data from one program to the other and vice versa. Sounds like, as I mentioned above, there is a "handshaking" issue between the two and the data gets "held" for a long time.

SO... the real question is WHO developed these hooks? The folks from PM.... or the SA_WXR developer? That would be ther person who needs to fix the code.

best,

..................john

[Bob Reed]

Has anyone tried playing with the PM update setting in the SA_WXR software? Maybe this will help?

[Ray Proudfoot]

Has anyone tried playing with the PM update setting in the SA_WXR software? Maybe this will help?

Good idea Bob. I tried changing the update value from 6 to 2 but it makes no difference to time taken for the tilt value to change in the ND. I think, reading the docs, it relates to how often the weather radar is updated.

[Trevor Hale]

LOL, Just so you all can get a laugh. I installed my .lic file he sent me, and the program doesn't recognize it..

How bout them apples :)

I will wait another week for a response from Florian I guess :)

[JBaymore]

LOL, Just so you all can get a laugh. I installed my .lic file he sent me, and the program doesn't recognize it..

How bout them apples :)

I will wait another week for a response from Florian I guess :)

Trevor,

You did note that the lic file is specific to the machine that you GENERATED the code on, didn't you? You can't generate the code running the program on machine A... get the code...... and then install it on machine B .... without getting a NEW code.

Archaic protection scheme!

Just guessing here. ;)

best,

......................john

[Peter Nielsen]

I don't think it works that way, the instructions say not to do that...


Bob, you saying it HAS to run on the same Pc as the CDU??? but i dont want it there as the machine is the slowest on my network.?

Ideas?


Peter

[Trevor Hale]

Trevor,

You did note that the lic file is specific to the machine that you GENERATED the code on, didn't you? You can't generate the code running the program on machine A... get the code...... and then install it on machine B .... without getting a NEW code.

Archaic protection scheme!

Just guessing here. ;)

best,

......................john

LOL, I know the code that was sent to Florian is from the same computer I installed the key on, if thats what you meant.