Draft: Sky Demon with P3Dv5 and P3Dv4

[John Fee]

Sky Demon is a payware, real world GPS mapping tool. It is used live by general aviation pilots to plan, plot and fly light aircraft in visual weather conditions (VMC). It employs accurate visual flight rule (VFR) charts which it updates regularly in accordance with UK aviation regulations.

Sky Demon can also process positional information from flight simulators by means of GPSout (FSUIPC registered) or similar. The method for FSX-SE posted here someyears ago unfortunatelydoes not work for P3Dv4 or P3Dv5. 

The P3D method described here allows both v4 and v5 sims to connect with Sky Demon running in a separate PC/laptop. I cannot promise it will work for you. There are many steps in this method. None of them are difficult I think, but like flying itself mistakes are unforgiving. Beware typos, misspellings, wrong information, etc!  Sky Demon will not link with P3D if you get anything wrong.

Remember to save all your changes.

 

My LAN

Server PC:  P3Dv5 (and v4) on G:\ with  Windows 11 home on C:\

Client laptop (Dell): Windows 10 Pro 2009.  Sky Demon.exe installs itself in Program Files (x86)\SkyDemon.

Workgroups must be the same. This is vital.  Check before going any further!

Wired connections (wireless may work).

 

Requirements (https://www.fsuipc.com/)

FSUIPC6 (registered). Check latest version, 6.2.2 as I write.

WideFS7 is needed for WideClient. It allows Server to Client connection across your LAN. This is free if you have a registered copy of FSUIPC6. In that case you will have received codes for both. Install WideFS7 in a separate folder in your Client machine – I use C:\users\john\WideClient.

Make a desktop shortcut for WideClient.exe on your Client, non-flying computer, and run it.  The WideFS icon will appear on your taskbar. The program does nothing at all apart from connecting the two machines.

GPSout – scroll down and download the .zip to your Downloads folder.  Unzip/extract to your main P3Dv4 or v5 folder. Two GPSout files should be present: GPSout.dll and GPSout.ini. The .ini file needs to be configured (see below). Do not confuse this with the GPSout entries in the FSUIPC6.ini.

 

Virtual serial ports (VSPs) must be installed on the server. There is a utility  included in GPSout but I could not make it work. Instead I use a payware VSP program from Eltima Electronics. It  costs around £80 annually for a single licence, and this is all you need. There is a trial period. 

 

Sky Demon – there is a free 30 day fully functional trial – then £129 first year, £99 annually thereafter.  Given the accuracy of the charts covering all of Europe (it does a lot more) it is a bargain. Certainly, it is worth a free try.

 

Not Add-on.xml

If you already have FSUIPC6 installed, check if there is a file called add-on.xml in your P3D add on folder. The default location for this is the Documents directory called ‘Prepare3D v4 Add-ons' or 'Prepare3D v5 Add-ons'. If the add-on.xml file is present, FSUIPC6 must be uninstalled (Control Panel, Programs and Features) and reinstalled. N.B. If you wish to retain your joystick and other assignments see below.  

 

Reinstallation/Installation

FSUIPC6 should not be installed in the P3D folder. Use any non-Windows folder or create one, e.g. C:\FSUIPC6.

During the install, there is an option to use the add-on.xml method, or the old .dll and .ini method. Uncheck the add-on.xml option and proceed.

 

Configuration of .ini files

Copy your backed up FSUIPC6.ini file into your new FSUIPC6 folder and click to overwrite.  This will keep your existing assignments.

           FSUIPC6.ini: 

               Scroll down to

 

[GPSout]

             GPSoutEnabled=Yes

Port=WideFS

Speed=19200  //4800 is ok, but use fastest speed if there are several sentences

Interval=2000

PosTo6Decimal=Yes

SimModeIndicator=No

Sentences=RMC,GGA,GSA

 

[GPSout2]

GPSoutEnabled=Yes

Port=

Speed=19200 

Interval=2000

PosTo6Decimal=Yes

SimModeIndicator=No

Sentences=

 

 

[WideServer]

 

WideFSenabled=Yes

AdvertiseService=1

Port=8002

Port2=9002

[Client Names]

1=(your client name)

 

GPSout.ini 

This file and GPSout.dll are in my P3Dv5 (and v4) main folder.  I am an intuitive learner, not a developer. So, I do not know if this is correct procedure, only that it works.

Apart from these settings, there is a lot of information in this file.

             [GPSout]

Sentences=RMC, GLL, GGA

Interval=1000

Port=COM8

Port2=COM9

Speed=19200

PosTo6Decimal=Yes

 

CLIENT machine

 

Configure WideClient.ini (previously installed from WideFS7)

            [Config]

            Port=8002

            Port2=9002

           (no changes till)

            ServerName=(enter yours)

            Protocol=TCP

 

         Below  [Sounds] add

            [GPSout]

            Port=COM8

            Speed=19200

 

In Sky Demon:

Under Setup menu

Navigation options, click on Legacy Device Connectivity at the bottom of the screen. Select ‘I have a Garmin handheld device’.

 

Third Party Devices

Leave all boxes unchecked.

Set Port to COM9    Baud to 19200 (use 4800 if this does not work).

 

 

Go Flying

Check that WideFS is running.

Click on menu item ‘Connect to RS232 GPS Handheld'