Seriously impressed!
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It was suggested to add my apology to the, ill advised, original post.
Default A humble apology
First of all I want to say that I did not intend to be rude or offend any of those who obviously worked for such a long time to get this program put together. I do have issues where my mouth starts moving before my mind kicks into gear. I was only putting my frustrations out.But I did say that I will take everyones advice. I’m not the ass my last comment made it sound like.
I assumed I was in dogfight mode due to the firing funnel that was showing.
I went through the setup along with the keystroke list. I wanted to make sure that I would be able to do the basics in Fighter Sweep, and Moving Mud. I have used both of those as training to understand how the real missions would go.I spent approximately 5 hours trying to get the the system set up, between not having the correct app, torrent, and the first .zip file I downloaded being corrupted, and the ever present “you must restart your computer for these changes to take efffect”. I do admit that there are so many more moving parts than I found to be in F4AFand I was expecting every thing to be the same.
When I went through the keystroke file, I did make changes that should have taken effect, and about a thousand more that I do not understand yet. As for doing my due diligence, I did read about the new system, I went through the FAQ’s, and read some of the forum that would apply to those like me that are new to this particular program. But no, I didn’t read the hundreds of pages that are with HMS.I owe, and am apologizing for my comments. I have earned the scorn of all the other users of the sim, this forum, and the developers.
I will not slink away from the approriate comments from each of you, but I do understand if you wish that I leave this forum. I will leave it to the members and moderators to decide what is appropriate.I do humbly apologize.
I did ask for and was given help earlier when I could not get the .zip file to download. The advice was exactly what I needed for that.
I am not using this as an excuse, but to let you know a small bit about me. I was injured in an IED blast in May 2007 in Ramadi, Iraq. My doctors recommended I do a new hobby, learn a new language, or anything else that would help the wires in my brain to reconnect, and start growing new pathways. I chose Falcon 4 because I had flown Falcon 3 a couple decades earlier. I have the book for F4AF, printed cheat sheets with the keystrokes listed, and I printed out chapters so I could carry them with me to read when my wife would be driving us somewhere. Mostly to learn about the flight characteristics, weapons, electronics, avionics, etc…maybe I didn’t do my due diligence on the new system, but I have read just about everything I could get my hands on for F4AF. My “issue” is that my short term memory is very short, I get frustrated very easily, and as I said earlier, my mouth starts moving before my brain starts thinking.
Now that you may understand a small bit about what caused my disrespectful rant, I will answer all questions put to me, and will listen to all advice I can get. I very much wanted an updated version of the game. I was “commissioned” in 2008, I flew as much as I could back then and was pleased when the next portions came out, and I was very pleased to find that there were those who wouldn’t let the community die out. After flying, working with the training modules, working on getting my HOTAS profiled I would be off on another project in life and would only fly a few times a month, and that was only the training exercises. But while away from flying I would lose what I had learned about flying. I would go through this type of yoyoing back and forth between flying and other things, and then needing to refresh myself.
Now that winter is approaching I have been looking for more inside stuff to do. I dusted off my flight controllers, dusted out my computer tower, and started flying again.I’m not sure where I first saw the video trailer for this sim, but I wanted to get it to see what is like to fly a more realistic set up.
And this is what leads up to my apology for being an idiot and an ass. Again I most humbly apologize.My equipment:
Saitek X52 HOTAS
Windows Home 7 Premium 64-bit OS with Intel Core 2 Quad CPU Q9300 @2.5 GHz
8GB RAM
My monitors are HP w1907, with the wide monitors I have had some issue with running video at the Monitors recommended resolution. I ran the res in F4AF at a 4:3 ratio, if I ran it any higher the screen would squish in and I had to be right up on the monitor to see anything, including the MFD’s
For video I installed NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 Ti.
Currently I have started using Mad Catz X52 Pro Flight profile editor.I think that covers every thing that was commented about.
Does anyone else have any questions or should I just go away? -
Sorry dmjohnsnx2, I’ll explain further. I thought of editing your first post with a link to your apologies post. People who want to know what you were on about will read the first post, and go straight to the last one without knowing you apologized.
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Enough with the apologies dude, let’s move on to talking about the sim now
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Yes, that’s the point. It would avoid that people “insult” the OP when the point is now gone. Unless the thread gets locked, after all we can talk about the sim anywhere.
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Agree. So, what do you need? Your HOTAS is pretty popular, have you checked that subforum?
https://www.benchmarksims.org/forum/forumdisplay.php?52-Saitek
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and am curious about the printed manuals from Tiffy. Are they worth getting, or does the manual change often enough that it would be like one in the Army, constantly adding and removing pages.
They will change in the future, next revision is 4.34. Unfortunately it won’t be possible to add the corrections in separate pages, so they will need to be reprinted when the new version comes.
If that’s a problem I suggest you stick to PDF. These are easy to update -
I have a X52 as well. I followed the \Docs\Key Files & Input\Device Setup Guides & Profiles\Saitek X52\Saitek X52 - DX Setup Guide.pdf, it gave me everything I needed. I never got to make the ministick work, but I prefer using a hat anyway. For now at least.
From that point, I made the setup I felt the most comfortable with as I went through BMS-Training.pdf .
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Agree. So, what do you need? Your HOTAS is pretty popular, have you checked that subforum?
https://www.benchmarksims.org/forum/forumdisplay.php?52-Saitek
I used the link and saw what was there, but have not had time to sit in front of my controls. I’ve been on my iPad while reading the thread. I am going to try to get some time this evening. I’ve got 5 acres of property and chores to get ready for winter months. I will get to it ASAP.
I went to the link and looked through it. I didn’t realize the last post on that thread was 2012. I went through the beginning steps in the DX profile and got confused after it started talking about numbers and code. I don’t understand the computer codes that are entered in these files.
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I think something is forgotten along the way. Spending hours, days, years to learn is what makes the simulator fun and satisfying. I liked to set my HOTAS to be a good compromise between reality and effectiveness. I liked to read, try, learn and fail because I have a feeling of self-progression, and most of all, the feeling there is a still a lot of room and time to improve. I’m not doing it because it is how the job is supposed to be done. I already have my lot of that every day. If “bad sides” are nothing more than “bad sides”, then I suppose we already all have our own to deal with.
If, or as soon as, BMS is not a source of enjoyment anymore, it should be let aside for some time. And certainly not be a pretext to yell at the team.
OP, taking this opportunity to suggest that you link your apologies on top of your very first post. New readers miss them, and they’re worth the read.
I agree. I would be interested in how much people read the manuals/related documentation compared to flying the Sim. For me the advantage is that I can read the manuals in the commute, and then when life allows me I can fly. It does feel like homework though sometimes…
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I often feel like I dont get enough flying time. I would estimate I have spent between five and ten times as much time reading manuals and documents related to fighter aviation, as I have flying BMS. That is with a logbook time of more than 600 hours of BMS - though note that is air time, wheels up to wheels down, rather than the 3D time which is logged by BMS’ logbook.
There is just so much stuff to study about aerial combat. Even just four key manuals that I go back to repeatedly take so much time (AFTTP3-3.5, P-825, 1F-16CM-1, and 1F-16CM-34-1-1). Then you add in supporting documents such as the AFI 11 series instructions, and it keeps adding up…
Its not really felt like homework to me. Reading about intercepts for example, or the fuel system in the viper for another, has always felt like its own reward.
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I often feel like I dont get enough flying time. I would estimate I have spent between five and ten times as much time reading manuals and documents related to fighter aviation, as I have flying BMS. That is with a logbook time of more than 600 hours of BMS - though note that is air time, wheels up to wheels down, rather than the 3D time which is logged by BMS’ logbook.
There is just so much stuff to study about aerial combat. Even just four key manuals that I go back to repeatedly take so much time (AFTTP3-3.5, P-825, 1F-16CM-1, and 1F-16CM-34-1-1). Then you add in supporting documents such as the AFI 11 series instructions, and it keeps adding up…
Its not really felt like homework to me. Reading about intercepts for example, or the fuel system in the viper for another, has always felt like its own reward.
+1
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about the printed manuals from Tiffy. Are they worth getting, or does the manual change often enough that it would be like one in the Army, constantly adding and removing pages.
I would recommend uploading the documentation to Google Drive or some other cloud based storage so you can access them on a tablet or via web browser from anywhere. I have them in my Google Drive as well as in Acrobat Reader for the tablet. Searching the PDFs is much faster than flipping through the paper manual. I think it’s also less intimidating than staring at a series of manuals 3 inches thick. On the tablet you can also adjust the brightness or flip to white on black text which might be easier on your eye(s). The money for printing and binding the manuals would be better spent getting TrackIR or another headtracking system, upgrading your monitor, or for a donation to a BMS charity. I regularly fly with my tablet in front of me as an electronic knee board. You can have airbase radio freqs and TACAN channels right there, or if you’re dedicated a full mission card. Also if you’re in a single player Tactical Engagement it is easy to freeze the sim (shift-P) and fiddle with the avionics in real time while referencing the training documentation (I wouldn’t recommend freezing the sim in the campaign as strange things might happen). This is a great way to learn as you reinforce what you’re reading by doing things in the pit and getting instant feedback.
For your monitor, BMS is very flexible at displaying various resolutions and aspect ratios. Whatever settings are available for Windows, you can choose for BMS. You’re going to want to use every one of those pixels. If it’s still showing a strange aspect ratio or squishing the image, check the on-monitor controls for something wonky.
I think the MFDs are about 5" square in real life. There’s apparently a good web site at www.xflight.de/pe_org_doc.htm . My work blocks non-US domains so I can’t check it out now.
Good luck,
-Rabbit
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I would recommend uploading the documentation to Google Drive or some other cloud based storage so you can access them on a tablet or via web browser from anywhere
https://www.benchmarksims.org/forum/showthread.php?23315-BMS-4-33-Documentation
thanks for the recommendation, but the docs are available in paper from lulu, in pdf from the link above and they are as well placed in your doc folder
I could add them to a dozen other media, but ppl will still look for them anyway.
So i believe the 3 ways offered currently are already enough and hard to maintain for the doc team !
btw, 2 of the 3 way already offered allow PDF and tablet reading, so you are covered - you don’t need google drive -
I talked my wife into letting me ‘borrow’ our 35" security monitor to be able to see better. I still have my w1907 monitor as well.
I have put all (Ithink) the manuals on both of my tablets. I just emailed them to myself so I would have the same on all devices.One issue I see already is that the resolutions are going to give me an issue the 35" will work for my main screen til we get our new TV, then I will have a 55" flight monitor.
I’m not a programmer by any means so I will take all the advice I can get. To destress I tried a flight in F4AF, but I can’t control what screen it comes up on. Do you, or anyone reading this know how to control what screen I want to use?
If I could get the HDMI cable in the plug in on my video card I could have 3 monitors, basically having 2 19" MFD’s.Is there someone I can pick thier brain on this aas I have many questions and I’m embarrased about the title of this thread.
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I’m fairly certain the moderators would allow you to start a new topic.
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Many, many years ago I used the Falcon 4.0. But the resolution was low.
My Thrustmaster F22 Pro, and the TQS throttle and the FCLS foot pedals I have sold, because with the newer faster computers, without DOS, it is hard calibrating them, with the 25 pins plug.
But now with the BMS it is a feast again. It is really an enormous improvement. I have bought again a Thrustmaster joystick.
The original Falcon4.0 CD got lost in a fire, but I could download the version now. Luckily I still have the very big manual.
On the backside it has printed Microprose.
I know a lot of flight sims software (my first was on the Sinclair 48K Spectrum) but I never saw a Falcon by Atari.
I was the first who imported the Sublogic Flight Simulator for the Commodore 64 in the Netherlands.
Looking at Microsoft Flight Simulator FSX and the X-Plane 10.50, the Falcon BMS 4.33 is an tremendous good sim. A very good well-done job! -
No, but microprose did not survive long after F4.0 was released. Their IP was sold off, and for a while Atari was the owner of the F4.0 IP. Recently this has changed, and now Retrosim is the owner of the IP. Folks have been using Tommo interchangeably, as Tommo owns Retrosim.
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I’m embarrased about the title of this thread.
It is nice to see a FNG that took the responses to the OP in stride and noticed that you were the one in error. That has been the bane of many a FNG is to get frustrated and instead of asking for help or asking what you are doing wrong to lash out and blame the sim. Have seen that happen SO many times and it gets old since we can just look at the post and start counting up the ways in which the poster FUBAR’d.
To any FNGs reading this post PLEASE don’t attempt to take out your frustrations in a post like the first one as you will get hammered and rightfully so. ASK for help and it gets given. Blame the sim for your lack of knowledge? I’m getting out the popcorn.
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I think I was just having a bad day. I spent too long in the military with multiple deployments to not recognize when I don’t know something. As I understand my lack of knowledge on this sim, I am trying to get instructions and help from this community.
I have the manuals and have printed out the Falcon BMS Keyboard Layout (QWERTY/US Int.) but I’m not sure where to find the the .pr0 file that goes with the layout. I tried the X52.pr0 profile and didn’t see anything in it.
And yes, I have been looking through the forums.
I’m not a programmer and I don’t understand the DX file system. It sounds like it is supposed to be easy, but I don’t understand running the file lines into the DX numbers.
Since a lot of the comments I’m seeing are a couple years old I’m not sure if I can get reply’.I have also gone back to flying F4 while I’m doing my studying BMS Falcon. I do know I need a lot more flight hours. I see most of the senior members have been on this for years and with the vids I’ve watched are great flying.
I looked at the BMS Viperdrivers and realized how much I really, really don’t know.I will continue to strive to be a sim pilot sometime down the line, but I do need help.
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I have the manuals and have printed out the Falcon BMS Keyboard Layout (QWERTY/US Int.) but I’m not sure where to find the the .pr0 file that goes with the layout. I tried the X52.pr0 profile and didn’t see anything in it.
And yes, I have been looking through the forums.
I’m not a programmer and I don’t understand the DX file system. It sounds like it is supposed to be easy, but I don’t understand running the file lines into the DX numbers.
Since a lot of the comments I’m seeing are a couple years old I’m not sure if I can get reply’. …John, it sounds like you’re confusing two different things that may, or may not, work together depending how you’re setting up your HOTAS and Keyboard. The default keyboard layout IS a DX layout …. keys are mapped directly to BMS commands and will work without a Saitek pr0 file.
The *.pr0 file is a Saitek profile file. It is, usually, user created. It basically acts as an interface between and input device (like a joystick) and a program (like BMS) to virtually press keys on the keyboard. It is a keyboard emulation program. For instance, you pull the trigger, the Saitek profile sees that ‘pull trigger = press F’ (what equals what is the info in pr0 file) so it sends a keyboard ‘F’ to BMS. The BMS keyboard layout has the ‘Fire Gun’ command associated with the ‘F’ key and the gun fires.
With DX you ‘cut out the middle man’. You link the trigger directly to the ‘Fire Gun’ command. Pull the trigger, the gun fires. No 3rd party key emulator; no virtual key press on the keyboard.
In any case, a command (called a ‘callback’) has to associated with an action (pressing a keyboard key or a HOTAS button/switch). This is the actual, proper ‘Fire Gun’ callback: SimTriggerSecondDetent.
Depending on your need, there can be a time where you ‘mix and match’ Saitek programming (pr0 file) with BMS programming (DX). The kinds of setups run the gamut from nearly 100% Saitek to run the HOTAS to 100% DX to run the HOTAS … and many mixed variations in between. It depends on personal need and preferences.
All of this together … the association of BMS commands to the HOTAS and the keyboard … comprise your keyfile.
What keyfile are you currently using and have you made or downloaded a pr0 file? I strongly recommend going with a keyfile that someone has made and shared. Start with that as a basis for customization. There should be several X52 keyfiles available.