Pete Dowson

Not arrived here. Did you send to petedowson@btconnect.com? Can you try again? It may be tomorrow now before I can take a look. Regards Pete

Can't you simply disable or override your virus checker? It shouldn't stop you doing things you want to do with your own computer. I don't know any system like that. And surely you are not telling me that the virus checker stops you downloading but not receiving email copies of exactly the same file? That's a bit of a waste of a program isn't it -- surely the need is more vital in emails which you may receive involuntarily rather than in downloads which you are deliberately choosing? It seems to be designed backwards! Regards Pete

Sorry. My files are signed and secure. They are also compressed and encrypted. There's no virus. Your virus checker is giving a false reading. I cannot help, you have to sort out your virus checker or disable it. Regards Pete

4.02 not 44.02? ;-). Many years before we get to version 44! Anyway, my first reaction is AAAARRRRGGGGHHH! I assume your FSUIPC4 is not user registered? In my haste to stop the horrible 5-30 second delays suffered by some of those with third party security programs installed, I deliberately stopped the unregistered version of FSUIPC4 intercepting and forwarding axis controls -- thinking, of ocurse, that those were only of use to registered users, using the Joystick Calibration facilities. However, it is indeed possibly that part of that same interception facility is used by the PFC driver for throttles, and maybe some other exes. Grrr. This is a problem I shall have to think about before rushing into a solution. Each time I help one person I harm someone else. I need to slow down. Look out for a 4.021 or so soon. If I can't fix this today, I'll find a copy of 4.01 and place a link to it in the announcements. I cannot even look at present, sorry, I am off for a couple of hours. Regards Pete

FSUIPC4 only ever adds its menu entry ("FSUIPC", not "Add-Ons") once, and that is upon initialisation. It never deletes it. Something else must be going wrong, and, in fact, it must be an FSX bug. Can you show me any FSUIPC4 logs? A simconnect log might be useful too. you'll find instructions on how to get one of those eariler in this thread, I think. if not get back to me. Regards Pete

Thanks. Meanwhile I have been testing here too. On my slower development PC, where I have Norton active both as Antivirus and Firewall, I can see a degradation in FSX performance of atount 20% (15 down to 12 fps, for example). It is hard to jusge because the frame rate varies so much all the time, but that seems like the average. On a separate, more powerful, PC, with no firewall or antivirus software installed at all, and even with the default WinXP stuff disabled, I am still getting some measurable degradation. Not as much -- maybe 15% or so. The lowest FPS I saw was similar with or without FSUIPC4, but the peaks were certainly less with FSUIPC4 installed. This was certainly more than was noticeable durring Beta phases. I am quite cooncerned about this, as never in the seven years of FSUIPC have I ever been able to measure any consitent degradation caused by its installation. I don't like it at all. I shall tackle my Microsoft contacts about it, and also look at potential work-arounds. Short of hacking into the FSX code as in previous releases (something I am really loathe to do now), the could look at polling the gauge / panels interface for the more frequently changing values, instead of getting them via Simconnect. None of this is easy nor quick though. I shall study it and pursue the Microsoft folks about it and see what can be done. Hmm. I expect there's too much invested in the current methods. I think the best I can hope for is for the same interface to work more directly from an in-process program like FSUIPC4 (and of course the gauges which will be forthcoming which may also start using SimConnect for the extra data it can provide). Currently I face the same problems as any external Simconnect application would. Regards Pete

Okay. This is on client PC on your network, I assume? Have you registered WideFS? It won't work until you register. Of course! You aren't forced to use WideFS just because you install FSUIPC4! Whatever gave you such an idea? You can't even use WideFS unless you pay for it and register it using the Key you then receive Please tell mer how you are getting so confused so I can put it right. WideFS is only for folks with Networks who want to extend the FSUIPC interface to their other PCs! What WideFS program? It's a package with two parts, a Server and a Client. You already have WideClient (on your Client PCs I hope!). The latest WideServer is built into FSUIPC4, as it clearly says. All you need to do it to pay for it, register it, and, possibly, enable it -- on the About+Register options in FSUIPC4 you will see an "enable/disable" button once you register. Please do refer to the User Guide. I write the documentation and even include pictures to answer these sorts of questions. Regards Pete

So would I be. I cannot tell from your log, but it looks like a case of a Key being written incorrectly. It seems to be ASV6 (going by the process ID 2712 in the Log). It has one built in -- it should be writing it. I'm not sure why the same problem appears twice in your log either. Something seems to be messing things up a bit. No, the AIR file cannot access FSUIPC anyway -- the log is identifying ASV6 by the Process ID 2712. But possibly the panel loaded for that aircraft is causing a problem, though I don't understand how. Do you ever get it with other aircraft? On the second instance: 43500 Client Application: "ASv6" (Id=2712) 43500 G:\Flight Simulator 2004\Modules\ASv6\ASv6.exe 43500 Product="ActiveSky 6" 43500 Company="HiFi Simulation Software" 43500 Illegal write attempt: offset C800, size 1024 [P2712] 43500Program or module not accredited for use with this unregistered FSUIPC 48078 ### IPC Message processed in 6390mSecs ### 57563 Program [2712] "ASv6" access registration is okay it is odd that (a) the program appears to be Opening the FSUIPC link again, and (b) it fails by accessing C800 before it sends the access key, 9 seconds later, which is then accepted. I seem to remember something similar reported, something to do with ASV6's threads operating at different speeds and getting things in the wrong order occasionally? It may not actually have been ASV6, but it may be worth your while searching a bit. also see if you have the very latest update to ASV6 -- it may have been something noted and fixed. Please also check it with FSUIPC 3.709, available in the announcements above. Finally, for more information, you could enable IPC Read and IPC Write logging in FSUIPC's logging tab. That will make a much bigger log, so it will need Zipping and sending to petedowson@btconnect.com. That will show me precisely the order in which ASV6 is doing things, and the validity of the key it writes. Regards Pete

Good question. I honestly don't know. The arrangements are all done by SimMarket, and the processes are all automated so I don't know what they will accept. Can you try for the bundle and see if you get the bundle discount? Do this via the WideFS booth so that it has more chance of checking you as a qualifying customer. Let me know. If it works well and good. If it doesn't you can either go ahead or cancel out, I think, and then if you are unhappy I can write to the manager and ask exactly his intentions for such cases. To me it would seem reasonable to get a bundle discount as, after all, by buying FSUIPC and WideFS separately you paid full whack for each, but it is possible that the software behind the sales booths don't have such a sophisticated linkage and only see recent FSUIPC or WideFS or Bundle. Regards Pete

You do not need to register FSUIPC to use ASV, that is true. WideFS is a different facility, for those with Networks. It is certainly not necessary for ASV6. All versions of WideFS for the last three years have had to be registered to be used. It isn't a function of an application access. With so much to do, I always like to be to the point. I am not one for idle chit-chat. I'm sorry you don't like my style. Yes, that is exactly correct. Correct. You don't need a registration for FSUIPC4 unless you want to use the user facilities in FSUIPC. this has always been the case for FSUIPC3 too. Now how do you derive that from anything I've said? That is most certainly not true and never has been. It is made quite clear that is not the case, as you yourself have just asserted. How do you get so mixed up on this? I don't understand. Regards Pete

Changing over from the direct access methods I used in FS2004 and before to using SimConnect, which is an asynchronous interface using, of all things, TCP/IP, I was certainly rather worried about the affect this would have on performance -- not only the frame rate impact, but also the latency (delay between things changing and applications seeing them change, and vice versa for inputs to FS). However, I have been pleasantly surprised by how well it works, and without measurable impact on the three systems I've tried it on. This has also been confirmed by others during the Beta testing. Your symptoms do sound suspiciously like another possible effect from third party security software. I've already written up three probably more immediately noticeable effects which have been resported so far and which have been proven to be due to antivirus, firewall or privacy software hooks and settings. Check the latest readme and the "Important" announcement above. Maybe you have discovered another? With that in mind could you please tell me exactly what security software you have installed, and then see if disabling it, or even (temporarily) uninstalling it, restores your performance? Regards Pete

Right. I will replace it at some stage, but it is in fact 4.02 -- if you run FSX you'll see it identified correctly in the "About+Register" options page, and also in the Log file. It identifies itself correctly to attaching appliocations too. It seems, somehow, that the Properties-Version information wasn't updated in the Resources. I don't quite understand why. It's something I'll need to cross-check in future builds. Maybe my VS2005 settings doesn't have all the correct files listed for change-checks. The coincidence in size isn't surprising. Most compiled modules come out at an even multiple of some value, not sure what. The version 4.015 you had is "almost" 4.02 -- I think the only differences are the additional offsets mentioned in trhe changes. Thanks for heads up! Pete

No. sorry. Not sure what happened there. I'll re-check the link and rebuild in needed. Stand by please! Pete

Okay, I'm back earlier than I expected. As it looks like the link from Enrico's hotel room wasn't good enough to complete the upload to the "Dowson" page yet, I've made 4.02 available through a link in the Announcement above. This is temporary until I'm sure the Schiratti link is correctly operational. (A lot of other sites link to there so it is important that it works). Regards Pete

Yes. Didn't you even look at the FSUIPC options (in the Add-Ons menu in FSX). Did it not say it was unregistered? When it is registered it will say so, then you can enable it and disable it on that first options page. Even if you have a casual glance at the log you supplied and displayed here (see above), it clearly shows Didn't you spot this clue either? Please refer to the User Guide, supplied as a PDF in the ZIP and also as a DOC installed into the modules folder. It does tell you these things. With FSUIPC4 and WideFS7 you can even disable WideFS, change the parameters (now in the FSUIPC4.INI file) then re-enable it without closing FSX. That too is explained. Regards Pete

No. Actually I did say "is being made available" which means I shipped it off to Mr. Schiratti. I must have missed him. Being Saturday evening I expect he's out. Maybe he'll put it up when he gets back later tonight, or else it'll be tomorrow. If it isn't up tomorrow morning I'll temporarily put it on the FTP site here. [LATER] Ahajust heard from Enrico. He's at an FS conference in Paderborn. He's going to do the business from his hotel room, so you should see it soon. don't froget to refresh toyr web page! I'm off for the rest of the evening too now. g'night! Pete

Ah, right. Glad you found it! Pete

There's a good discount on SimMarket fpr those who purchased in the last six months. Pete

I been messing about here trying to make FSX behave differently when the ATC window is showing, and I cannot. The view options programmed on my twin rockers are for VIEW_FORWARD_LEFT VIEW_FORWARD_RIGHT VIEW_LEFT VIEW_RIGHT in that arrangement, with VIEW_RESET sent on release of each. This is the same as the default programming of the Shift+NUM keys on the keyboard. In 2D cockpit mode they do exactly what I want -- an instantaneous view to the direction specified. In VC mode they pan instead, which I don't like -- but then I don't use VC. In the PFC driver I provide two different default settings for those rockers. If you go to PFC options, Yoke Buttons page, you'll see 2predefined sets" 1 and 2 selectable. Set 1 uses panning and is better for VC use, set 2 is the set I use which operates as I describe above. This is pretty much the same as in FSX as it was in my FS2004 PFC.DLL. Either way, I can get no difference in behaviour just because the ATC window is showing -- logically it wouldn't make any sense for the presence of that window to change the effect of controls, and, indeed, it doesn't do so as far as I have tested (on two separate PCs now). Regards, Pete

ErYou must enter the email address too! Pete

Note: I deleted the duplicated thread to avoid confusion. I 've never seen a Cirrus II with a hat switch -- my Cirrus is the same as the Jetliner, with two separate rocker switches which I do use for snap views (i.e direct views forward left, forward right, left, right, and all returning to front on release). Can you tell me what FS controls are programmed on your hat? You can do this easily by enabling Event logging in FSUIPC4's logging options, then using the hat and checking the FSUIPC4.Log file. You could also see if you get the same effect when using the keyboard. I think the Shift+Arrow keys should give the same results. I am pretty sure the view controls operate differently in 2D panel mode compared to VC mode -- that was also true in FS9 -- unless you set "pan_in_cockpit_mode=1" in the [Controls] section of the main FS CFG file. Maybe there's a bug in FSX which is changing the way the controls operate when the ATC window is present? Seems a bit odd. Certainly there's no way either PFCFSX or FSUIPC4 knows that the ATC window is open and they therefore won't be actually changing the way your buttons operate. If you can confirm now you've programmed this hat (if it isn't the same as my rockers) I'll look here to see if there's any workaround, or whether it needs reporting to MS as a bug. Regards, Pete

I understand that, but until Microsoft can come up with a fix for Simconnect that gets around all these problems, assuming they case, it looks like the only way is to uninstall then install one which is reported to work. certainly, for a firewall, the default WinXP one works. For Antivirus I know norton works (I use it myself), but there appear to some freeware ones which work too -- AVAST and AVG are two mentioned in the threads, though i think you have to do something with the privacy settings in AVAST. No. It seems that in many case the way the hooks are implanted in the system does the damage. Maybe there are settings in the individual products that would alleviate or even cure the problem, but it's all a bit hit and miss till we get some guidance about what is going on from Microsoft. Although the workaround for the joystick delays in FSUIPC4 may suit you at present, there will be more and more products using Simconnect and some of these are going to suffer with similar problems too. In a sense you are lucky only having the slow joystick symptom, there are those where Simconnect simply blocks (doesn't work at all) and even the one that crashes to the Blue Screen Of Death as soon as you start FSX. Regards Pete

Must be some sort of clash on startup. Regards Pete

You can do that anyway, in either of two ways: 1. Undock the FS window, and drag it to wherever. The font colour and size can't be changed this way though. 2. Run the free utility "Showtext" which you will already have, as it was part of the Advdisplay ZIP. That does allow many more options. Actually, that reminds meI need to make ShowTest available for FSX users in the downloads above. Thanks, Pete

There's no fix at present as it either needs something doing in FSX's simconnect to get around the assorted vagaries of third part security software, or for everyone to uninstall their security software and use only proven working products (working with simconnect, that is!) What anti-virus, firewall and privacy software are you using, and have you tried changing its settings or even uninstalling it? Temporarily I made a work-around in FSUIPC4, which unfortunately also stops you using it for joystick calibration, and that change will be included in the next official version, 4.02, this weekend. I'm busy putting it together now. Please check the Schiratti "Dowson" page later tomorrow, or maybe Sunday, latest. Then, edit the FSUIPC4.INI file. Add the line: NoAxisIntercepts=Yes anywhere in the [General] section Regards Pete