FSUIPC v4.233 & PMDG 744X Feedback (Caution Dialup)

[jordanal]

Hi Pete,

Spent most of the morning tweaking various thing with my FSXsp2 setup along with your latest FSUIPC beta. All seemed to be working well here. No wind fluctuations on this end. This was with ASXsp2 default settings without Graduated Visibility or Fog layer, and max layers set to 20.

Below are the pertinent settings I used in FSUIPC and some screenshot that I think came out rather well. Thanks again for your dedication to the hobby. You're scholar and a gent!

Regards,

Al Jordan

======================================

FSUIPC4.ini (v4.233 beta):

...

SuppressCloudTurbulence=Yes

MaxIce=-4

MinIce=-4

UpperWindGusts=No

SuppressWindTurbulence=Yes

WindTurbulence=No

SuppressAllGusts=Yes

MaxSurfaceWind=0

WindLimitLevel=200

WindDiscardLevel=400

WindAjustAltitude=No

WindAjustAltitudeBy=2000

WindSmoothing=Yes

WindSmoothness=-2

WindSmoothAirborneOnly=Yes

...

WeatherReadFactor=2

WeatherRewriteDelay=10

...

TemperatureSmoothness=0

SuppressWindVariance=Yes

TurbulenceRate=1.0

PMDG 744X Approach into Honolulu

[jordanal]

[jordanal]

[jordanal]

[Pete Dowson]

Spent most of the morning tweaking various thing with my FSXsp2 setup along with your latest FSUIPC beta. All seemed to be working well here. No wind fluctuations on this end. This was with ASXsp2 default settings without Graduated Visibility or Fog layer, and max layers set to 20.

I see you have all the turbulence and other wind effects disabled, so your smooth wind results are understandable now. I'm hoping that with the changes in 4.233, which you are using, you won't really need to do that.

I see you also aren't using the Temperature smoothing. Did you find your TAT jumping about like others? I can't see whether you are using the QNH smoothing or not.

Below are the pertinent settings I used in FSUIPC and some screenshot that I think came out rather well.

Nice set of pix. Thanks! The frame rates look okay too. May I inquire as to what hardware you are using? WinXP or Vista?

Regards

Pete

[jordanal]

I see you also aren't using the Temperature smoothing. Did you find your TAT jumping about like others? I can't see whether you are using the QNH smoothing or not.

That was by accident. I noticed as I was pasting the ini settings that I didn't have them on. I wish I had for freedback purposes. Too much tweaking today and they got overlooked. I have this Honolulu approach saved so I can restart it anytime. Maybe tomorrow afternoon EST with these settings turned back on.

May I inquire as to what hardware you are using? WinXP or Vista?

Sure, the FSXsp2 PC is an overclocked E6700 on a Asus P5K-E with 4GB of Corsiar RAM in WinXPsp2 and a EVGA Nvidia 8800GTS (640mb) GPU. Running two Western Digital 10Krpm hard drives, one for FSX dedictated. The addons such as Radar Contact and ActiveSkyX are on a generic AMD PC (Vista) across a Wide-client/Simmconect 1Gb LAN. Scenery addons include XGraphics, GEX, UTX, WoAI and MRAI AI traffic.

Regards,

AL

[Pete Dowson]

the FSXsp2 PC is an overclocked E6700 on a Asus P5K-E with 4GB of Corsiar RAM in WinXPsp2

I'm planning a new PC at present, and I'm looking at overclocking -- not by me, mind. I want it done by the supplier so I can blame them! ;-). What's the clock speed you got up to, then? The supplier I'm looking at uses water cooling and gets a Quad up to 3.75. I've read you can push to 4 GHz.

Is the 4Gb memory fully used? I thought you could only use 3 Gb with 32-bit windows -- 2Gb for programs and the rest for Windows?

I'm seriously thinking of asking for Vista64. I don't much like Vista, but reports seem to suggest that the 64-bit version is solid. It'd be up to my supplier to make sure they had the drivers, obviously.

Best Regards

Pete

[jordanal]

I'm looking at uses water cooling and gets a Quad up to 3.75. I've read you can push to 4 GHz

My E6700, now somewhat outdated, is running fine at 3.2Ghz with an upgraded HSF. Yea, I've ready plenty of people are overclockin' near 4GHz on air with the new Intel procs.

Is the 4Gb memory fully used? I thought you could only use 3 Gb with 32-bit windows -- 2Gb for programs and the rest for Windows?

Correct, 3GB seen by WinXP 32bit. But I am running a modified boot.ini and the FSXsp2 exe is now large_address_aware by default, so it does help.

I'm seriously thinking of asking for Vista64.

I've been running Vista 64bit as my wide-client PC just to get used to it, but I wouldn't run FS on it yet. Maybe after Vista SP1 hits the streets and the knowledgeable hardware guys decide exactly what needs to be stripped out to make it lean, fast processing machine. I think I'm running a total of 22 processes on my WinXPsp2 machine and that it what makes it so fast for FS.

Regards,

AL

[John Veldthuis]

the FSXsp2 PC is an overclocked E6700 on a Asus P5K-E with 4GB of Corsiar RAM in WinXPsp2

I'm planning a new PC at present, and I'm looking at overclocking -- not by me, mind. I want it done by the supplier so I can blame them! ;-). What's the clock speed you got up to, then? The supplier I'm looking at uses water cooling and gets a Quad up to 3.75. I've read you can push to 4 GHz.

Is the 4Gb memory fully used? I thought you could only use 3 Gb with 32-bit windows -- 2Gb for programs and the rest for Windows?

I'm seriously thinking of asking for Vista64. I don't much like Vista, but reports seem to suggest that the 64-bit version is solid. It'd be up to my supplier to make sure they had the drivers, obviously.

Best Regards

Pete

I am using a Q6700 Quad at standard and get good rates. Have it locked at 26FPS and get that all the time in the dropping to around 18 on the ground. Have everything nearly full including water 2.x, autogen, etc. I have just now put in another 2GB memory and with Vista Ultimate it is reporting as having 3.58GB memory. I have a 8800GTX card.

[Pete Dowson]

I am using a Q6700 Quad at standard and get good rates. Have it locked at 26FPS and get that all the time in the dropping to around 18 on the ground. Have everything nearly full including water 2.x, autogen, etc. I have just now put in another 2GB memory and with Vista Ultimate it is reporting as having 3.58GB memory. I have a 8800GTX card.

Autogen too, eh? That's a real killer on my current machines. Your results bode well then for the PC I have my eye on. Are you using Vista32 or 64?

Regards

Pete

[Pete Dowson]

FSUIPC 4.234 is now up and waiting for you. The main change is that it tries much harder to eliminate the silly spurious thin wind and temperature layers.

Regards

Pete

[jordanal]

Roger that, noted this latest version :!: I hope to test it using the same approach tonight.

Pete, Can you reply with the specific settings (names from the GUI) that you would like me to have either on or off?

Thanks...

AL

[Pete Dowson]

Pete, Can you reply with the specific settings (names from the GUI) that you would like me to have either on or off?

Wind smoothing on, your choice of values.

Don't check (or uncheck) wind "suppress: turbulence, gusts, variance", and uncheck Cloud "suppress turbulence.

Set QNH and OAT smoothing to taste. These are on the Miscellaneous tab.

Everything else is your choice.

Thanks,

Pete

[jordanal]

Test FSUIPC4 v4.234 Beta + WeatherSet2 on Wide-client:

PMDG Boeing 747-400X - Air France

Cruise @ 40K 145nm from destinaion PHNL - Full VNAV descent

1) IAS rapid decrease while passing through 33K (1 time)

2) No Wind speed or direction fluctuations noted from 40K down through 12K (VNAV descent)

3) Wind smoothing (direction) was easily noted (very nice slow change)

4) Rapid fluctuations of wind-speed b/w 5Kts and 12kts; descending final from 1K to 500ft MSL (smoothed before touchdown)

5) Full AP landing was smooth with constand wind direction

6) Conclusions - Good beta version - borometer smoothing needs to be tested by full trans-atlantic crossing (this is where I've always seen this problem)

Regards,

AL

FSUIPC4 v4.234 ini settings:

======================

History=Z3KA5T8JXGGM3VKXUZSD7

GraduatedVisibility=No

LowerVisAltitude=0

UpperVisAltitude=25000

UpperVisibility=10000

MinimumVisibility=0

MaximumVisibilityFewClouds=0

MaximumVisibility=0

MaximumVisibilityOvercast=0

MaximumVisibilityRainy=0

SetVisUpperAlt=No

VisUpperAltLimit=0

ExtendMetarMaxVis=No

OneCloudLayer=No

CloudTurbulence=No

CloudIcing=No

GenerateCirrus=No

SuppressCloudTurbulence=No

MaxIce=-4

MinIce=-4

UpperWindGusts=No

SuppressWindTurbulence=No

WindTurbulence=No

SuppressAllGusts=No

MaxSurfaceWind=0

WindLimitLevel=200

WindDiscardLevel=400

WindAjustAltitude=No

WindAjustAltitudeBy=2000

WindSmoothing=Yes

WindSmoothness=-2

WindSmoothAirborneOnly=No

DisconnTrimForAP=No

ZeroElevForAPAlt=No

ThrottleSyncAll=No

WhiteMessages=Yes

ShowPMcontrols=No

SpoilerIncrement=512

MagicBattery=Yes

RudderSpikeRemoval=No

ElevatorSpikeRemoval=No

AileronSpikeRemoval=No

ReversedElevatorTrim=No

ClockSync=No

ClockSyncMins=5

ClearWeatherDynamics=No

FixWindows=No

OwnWeatherChanges=Yes

TimeForSelect=4

LoadFlightMenu=No

LoadPlanMenu=No

PauseAfterCrash=No

ZapSound=firework

ShortAircraftNameOk=Yes

TCASid=Flight

TCASrange=40

AxisCalibration=No

DirectAxesToCalibs=No

ShowMultilineWindow=Yes

SuppressSingleline=Yes

SuppressMultilineFS=No

AxisIntercepts=No

WeatherReadFactor=2

WeatherRewriteDelay=10

ProcessGlobalWeather=No

SimConnectStallTime=1

AdvDisplayHotKey=192,8

FixControlAccel=No

ZapAirRange=1.5

ZapGroundRange=0.25

PressureSmoothness=20

TemperatureSmoothness=100

SuppressWindVariance=No

TurbulenceRate=1.0

Tested Metar (ASXsp2) Live Download: Default settings +Disable Graduated Visibility +Disable Fog Layer +Max Cloud Layers = 20

==============================================================

PHIK 042253Z 06013KT 10SM FEW029 SCT039 SCT050 24/18 A3009 RMK AO2 SLP188 VCSH RMK INTERPOLATED

PHNL 042320Z 050024 06011G17KT P6SM VCSH SCT025 BKN045 FM0500 06010KT P6SM SCT025 BKN050 FM2000 06014G20KT P6SM SCT030 BKN050

Destination (PHNL):

PHIK 042253Z 06013KT 10SM FEW029 SCT039 SCT050 24/18 A3009 RMK AO2 SLP188 VCSH RMK INTERPOLATED

PHNL 042320Z 050024 06011G17KT P6SM VCSH SCT025 BKN045 FM0500 06010KT P6SM SCT025 BKN050 FM2000 06014G20KT P6SM SCT030 BKN050

No alternate station specified...

Winds aloft by waypoint:

Winds aloft by waypoint:

Waypoint 	6K		9K		12K		18K		24K
		30K		34K		39K		44K		49K
CKH		121@05(14)	116@05(11)	148@06(1)	222@06(-11)	257@11(-23)
		238@28(-39)	242@35(-50)	251@67(-55)	256@54(-61)	257@24(-72)
HNL		121@05(14)	116@05(11)	148@06(1)	222@06(-11)	257@11(-23)
		238@28(-39)	242@35(-50)	251@67(-55)	256@54(-61)	257@24(-72)
PHNL		121@05(14)	116@05(11)	148@06(1)	222@06(-11)	257@11(-23)
		238@28(-39)	242@35(-50)	251@67(-55)	256@54(-61)	257@24(-72)

WeatherSet2 Images During VNAV Descent and full ILS AP landing

=======================

[Pete Dowson]

4) Rapid fluctuations of wind-speed b/w 5Kts and 12kts; descending final from 1K to 500ft MSL (smoothed before touchdown)

I see that there were gusts listed for the surface wind up to 3000 at this time, disappearing. According to your WeatherSet2 pix.

6) Conclusions - Good beta version - borometer smoothing needs to be tested by full trans-atlantic crossing (this is where I've always seen this problem)

Shame there appears to have been no turbulence in either wind or cloud settings to test that aspect. But still, it is very encouraging. Thanks.

Regards

Pete

[Pete Dowson]

I tried to reproduce the wind direction swings without success. But in the process i spotted a couple of areas where I could improve things somewhat.

So, please move on to version 4.235 for further tests.

This is becoming a daily thing, isn't it? It's certainly a lot of work!

Regards

Pete

[jordanal]

Testing v4.235 beta. New flight in PMDG 744X from Pittsburgh (KPIT) to Chicago (KORD) over a cold-front with live ASXsp2. Unfortunitly, I experienced two back-to-back CTDs about 150nm from KORD while cruising @ FL380. No sudden wind-shifts noted or drastic IAS changes from within the 744X up until this point. I don't know what's going on with the two CTDs. It's been ages since I've had any of those.

AL

[Pete Dowson]

Testing v4.235 beta. New flight in PMDG 744X from Pittsburgh (KPIT) to Chicago (KORD) over a cold-front with live ASXsp2. Unfortunitly, I experienced two back-to-back CTDs about 150nm from KORD while cruising @ FL380. No sudden wind-shifts noted or drastic IAS changes from within the 744X up until this point. I don't know what's going on with the two CTDs. It's been ages since I've had any of those.

Ouch! That's a really big ouch!

You are also getting weather with far too many wind and temperature layers! I don't like the look of those at all.

No logs or anything up to the point of the crashes?

When you say "CTD" do you mean "crashes" or literally exactly what we used to mean -- crashes to desktop with no sign of anything left, no message, no window, no complaint from Windows?

If there was a message or report, I need the information from it, please. The details like Module and Address, and of course type of error -- access violation or what?

Regards

Pete

[jordanal]

No logs or anything up to the point of the crashes?

FSUIPC.log at the point of the last crash. I have no proof that this was caused by this FSUIPC beta. This was a new flight to a seldom used airport KORD.

********* FSUIPC4, Version 4.235 by Pete Dowson *********
Reading options from "E:\MS Flight Simulator X\Modules\FSUIPC4.ini"
User Name="*** Provided ***"
User Addr="*** Provided ***"
FSUIPC4 Key is provided
WideFS7 Key is provided
Running inside FSX (SimConnect Acc/SP2 Oct07)
Module base=61000000
Wind smoothing fix is only partially installed
DebugStatus=255
       47 System time = 17:51:25
       47 FLT UNC path = "\\ALCOMP\C\Documents and Settings\jordana\My Documents\Flight Simulator X Files\"
       47 FS UNC path = "\\ALCOMP\E\MS Flight Simulator X\"
     1000 LogOptions=00000001
     1000 SimConnect_Open succeeded: waiting to check version okay
     3937 Running in "Microsoft Flight Simulator X", Version: 10.0.61472.0 (SimConnect: 10.0.61259.0)
     3937 Initialising SimConnect data requests now
     3937 FSUIPC Menu entry added
     4015 c:\documents and settings\jordana\my documents\flight simulator x files\Baron - Williamsport - Default.FLT
     4015 E:\MS Flight Simulator X\SimObjects\Airplanes\beech_baron_58\FSD_B58TC.AIR
    22547 E:\MS Flight Simulator X\SimObjects\Airplanes\PMDG747-400\B747-400.AIR
    22547 C:\Documents and Settings\jordana\My Documents\Flight Simulator X Files\KPIT-KORD.PLN
    22547 Weather Mode now = Custom
    22547 c:\documents and settings\jordana\my documents\flight simulator x files\Pittsburg to Chicago - PMDG 744X KLM - Midflight.FLT
    51047 System time = 17:52:16, FSX time = 13:26:03 (18:26Z)
    51187 Aircraft="PMDG747-400 KLM"
    62297 Advanced Weather Interface Enabled

********* WideServer.DLL Log [version 7.235] *********
Blocksize guide = 4096 (double allowed)
Date (dmy): 05/02/08, Time 17:52:23.160: Server name is ALCOMP
    15218 Initialising TCP/IP server
    15218 Initialising IPX/SPX server
    15218 IPX/SPX socket() failed [Error=10047] Address family not supported by protocol family
    15218 Failed to start IPX/SPX Server
    15218 Initialising UDP/IP server
    16015 Broadcasting service every 1000 mSecs
    17828 Incoming connection Accepted ok (skt=8964) TCP
    17828 Connected to computer "MAINCOMP" running WideClient version 6.757 (skt=8964) TCP

When you say "CTD" do you mean "crashes" or literally exactly what we used to mean -- crashes to desktop with no sign of anything left, no message, no window, no complaint from Windows?

Correct, crash-to-desktop. Nothing, nada. In less than a second I'm staring at my desktop and taskbar. No error window or report offer.

I don't see anything really unusual in the logs above. Mabye you do. I will try the same flight (restart midflight) again tomorrow evening EST after reverting back to prior version to see if the CTD is repeatable. Any particular version? I have most of the recent betas back to the last full version.

Regards,

Al

[Pete Dowson]

crash-to-desktop. Nothing, nada. In less than a second I'm staring at my desktop and taskbar. No error window or report offer.

Ouchthe worst king. I hate those!

I don't see anything really unusual in the logs above. Mabye you do.

Ah, you aren't doing the smoothing logging and weather . Sorry, I see I forgot to ask for this so far in this thread. There are about 5 concurrent threads on this stuff, it is hard to keep track!

Rather than post a lot of pix, try this:

First edit the FSUIPC4.INI file, adding

Debug=Please

to the [General] section.

In FSX, before you get to anything that from past experience you think might show a problem, save a flight, then go to FSUIPC's Logging tab and enable Weather logging AND enter the number '67' in the box for "Extras", below. This sets special debugging logging data on. Carry on the flight till the problem has definitely passed, then go back to the Logging and turn both off again (Extras to 0).

Zip up the Log plus the saved FLT, WX, FSSave files and send to petedowson@btconnect.com, please. Don't need any wideFS logs.

If the CTD is down to me it might be necessary to run with all this logging enabled anyway till we track it down.

Regards

Pete

[jordanal]

Understand all. Will do when I get home from work tomorrow. Bedtime now, can't hang with you 24/7, LOL ;) You never, ever sleep! LOL...

[Pete Dowson]

Understand all. Will do when I get home from work tomorrow.

Please get version 4.236 first. I *think* I've fixed a couple of things, at least.

Pete

[jordanal]

Please get version 4.236 first. I *think* I've fixed a couple of things, at least

Understand. Do I still do the logging instructions above as well, or just try .236 and see what happens?

[Pete Dowson]

Please get version 4.236 first. I *think* I've fixed a couple of things, at least

Understand. Do I still do the logging instructions above as well, or just try .236 and see what happens?

Unless you find it slows things down too much (and I don't think it will), best to have the logging enabled so that if you do get something fishy happen you don't need to repro it. But don't send e stuff unless there is a problem, please! ;-)

Assuming I've fixed what I think I've fixed, the only things left to resolve are the heading deviations in the PMDG 747 within turbulence (I've now reproduced this and got PMDG involved, so no need to send more on that), and the reported occasionally sudden large wind direction changes, which I've never been able to repro and make no sense to me so far.

Regards

Pete

[jordanal]

I'm happy to report that I did NOT have a CTD this time using FSUIPC4 v4.236 beta. I had the requested logging facilities enabled but don't feel the need to send them to you unless you want them. I restarted the log about half-way through the scenario so there are two ~21MB FSUIPC.log files.

I restarted the same flight from yesterday, Pittsburgh to Chicago, about midflight (cruising @ FL380) and made it all the way into O'Hare, which with my AI traffic load, is beast. I also had ASXsp2 enabled again but parsing the same metars from yesterday to try and keep the situation as close as possible to yesterday's CTDs. I noted the same number of wind-layers, which you mentioned yesterday. I also curiously noted, that WeatherSet2 seldom reported any cloud layers although cloud-layers popped in and out of the scene as the sim progressed. This was true on v4.235 as well, being the first time I had used this utilitiy.

Regards,

Al