Traffic Optimizer for P3D v4

Seems like LM broke the SP1 SimConnect interface in v4. They hope to fix it in next release.

Anyway because of it Traffic Optimizer (v1914) does not work with P3D v4. Until LM fixes it, here's a new version (v1915) which use SP2 SimConnect  and works fine:

http://www.mediafire.com/file/2kd5an6o448qi3d/AirTrafficManagerFSX-P3D_Radar_v1915.zip

Don't forget to install SP2 SimConnect from:

<P3D Install Dir>\\redist\Interface\FSX-SP2-XPACK\retail\lib\SimConnect.msi

Various versions of Traffic Optimizer

There are two primary versions of Traffic Optimizer (ok, actually 3 but lets leave the 3rd one out for now):

1. For FSX, FSX-SE (Steam Edition) and P3D

http://www.mediafire.com/download/zmdftsy127jgux2/AirTrafficManagerFSX-P3D_Radar.zip

This is version you should try first. It is based upon FSX-SP1 version of SimConnect, 10.0.61242.0,  and hence should work for majority of the people including FSX-SE.

In case you have issues running it, please try re-installing SimConnect from:

...\Lockheed Martin\Prepar3D v2\redist\Interface\FSX-SP1\retail\lib

or from the FSX SDK folder:

...\Microsoft Games\Microsoft Flight Simulator X SDK\SDK\Core Utilities Kit\SimConnect SDK\LegacyInterfaces\FSX-SP1

or for FSX-SE:

...\steamapps\common\FSX\SDK\Core Utilities Kit\SimConnect SDK\LegacyInterfaces\FSX-SP1


2. For FSX-SE (Steam Edition)

http://www.mediafire.com/download/d6b10dn3mqkc70h/AirTrafficManagerFSXSE_Radar.zip

This one is for FSX-Steam Edition only. You should try this if the first one does not work. This is based upon FSX-SE's SimConnect version - 10.0.62615.0.

In case you have issues running it, please try re-installing SimConnect from:

...\steamapps\common\FSX\SDK\Core Utilities Kit\SimConnect SDK\lib


Note: These are the only two download links and they always point to the latest versions (FSX/P3D - 1.9.1.3 and FSX-SE - 1.9.1.2 as of now).

Finally the 3rd version was based off LM's P3D SimConnect. I don't think its really needed so I won't be releasing/managing it.

P3D v3.2: Solution for Large fonts in ATC / GSX / ProATC X and other windows

With P3Dv3, Adobe Scaleform is being used for user interfaces like menus, ATC Window, and Simconnect created menus by other apps like GSX, ProATC X etc.

However on high DPI displays, e.g. 4k on Win10, the fonts on the ATC / GSX windows are quite small. As part of the P3D SDK, LM has provided the UI files for developers to customize these interfaces. Using those I have created a modified version which shows large fonts.

Instructions:
1. Download and unzip the attached file, you will get MenuWindow.swf.
2. Navigate to Scaleform directory under your P3D installation folder
3. Backup the existing MenuWindow.swf
4. Copy the file from 1 here.

http://www.mediafire.com/download/prtkmma7lt22426/MenuWindow.zip

Note: Tested with P3D v3.2 only

AT&T Network Client error - "VPN server list could not be obtained from the server (RIG0420E)"

If you get this error, one reason might be an in-correct password, but in my case it was because I had upgraded my hard-disk. I had to re-enter my password to get it to connect again (un-check use stored credentials once). Looks like the HDD is used to generate some sort of key to store the password, or something like that, so you need to re-enter the password if you change your hard-disk.

AT&T Client could do with an more accurate error message though...

Traffic Optimizer for FSX/P3D

Traffic Optimizer and FSX-SE

Some people have reported issues while running the optimizer with FSX-SE. While I did buy the SE, I haven't got around to install it and test. Till I get around to that, please search the original FSX and P3D threads over at avsim for possible solutions.

The most common solution was reinstalling SP1 Simconnect from:

...\Lockheed Martin\Prepar3D v2\redist\Interface\FSX-SP1\retail\lib

or from the FSX SDK folder:

...\Microsoft Games\Microsoft Flight Simulator X SDK\SDK\Core Utilities Kit\SimConnect SDK\LegacyInterfaces\FSX-SP1

Also some people reported that they could not access the link:

http://www.mediafire.com/download/zmdftsy127jgux2/AirTrafficManagerFSX-P3D_Radar.zip

This link does work. Some companies, including where I work, block mediafire website. So that might be the issue. I would suggest accessing it from your home network.

I do have a minor update which gives better AI distribution in large airports, but I have got around to releasing it. I hope soon...

I'd be happy to answer any questions here directly. 

The maths of discounting - courtesy Myantra / Jabong

An pair of shoes cost 2495 at MRP, and are being sold at a discount of 30%. So how much will you finally pay?

2495 - 2495*30% = 2495 - 748.5 = 1746.5

Pretty simple, right? Apparently Myantra and Jabong disagree. In their maths you will actually pay 1934.

Which is actually a discount of 22.5%.

The thing is that they show this 30% discount on the product page, but add up VAT at checkout. So while the product page will show 30% discounted price of 1746, the final checkout will show 1934. Normally all this is fine, as the customer knows finally what is paying.

But the issue is that if the item is not discounted, then the price you see on the product page is what you will pay on checkout. So if the product page shows 2999 at MRP, then that's the final price you pay.

Myantra / Jabong will claim that they bear the VAT if there is no discount, so some such logic. This is immaterial to the customer.

This practice is patently misleading. If you claim 30% discount, then that's the price the customer should pay.

Note that Flipkart, Amazon or Ebay don't do this. They actually list the price you finally pay.

So why can't Myantra/Jabong do the same? Why can't they just list the actual price payable by the customer? Is it too much maths?

PMDG 777 FPS Improvements

The PMDG T7 is finally out of the P3D but performance is quite below average. For example my system gives me 40fps with Aerosoft 320, but only 24fps with PMDG 777.

So here are few tips to get more juice out of it.

Note that I use Lenovo Y510p notebook with 4700MQ@2.8GHz with GT755M in SLI. YMMV.

Of course, backup the original files without fail before you do these modifications.

1. Change panel resolutions 

Edit the panel.cfg (Prepar3D v2\SimObjects\Airplanes\PMDG 777-200LR\panel) to make these changes.

Look for VC section from [VCockpit01] to [VCockpit40]. In each one these is this entry:

pixel_size=1024,1024

Halve these values from 1024 to 512, so that you have:

pixel_size=512,512

You can halve all 40, but I think its enough to just halve the large values like 1024 and 512 to 512 and 256 respectively. Note that one VC section has both values different, e.g. pixel_size=1024,512, so that should be halved to pixel_size=512,256.

2. Replicate Pilot's panel's to Co-Pilot

In the same panel cfg, look for [VCockpit04]. This contains Pilot's and CoPilot's MFDs.

Look for gauge03 line. In this line change the word RIGHT_INBD to LEFT_INBD.

Look for gauge04 line. In this line change the word RIGHT_OUTBD to LEFT_OUTBD.

Now co-pilot MFDs will render same as Pilot.

Note you can also change CoPilot and Center CDUs to render as Pilot's CDU in [VCockpit10], change R and C to L. Not sure if this makes much of a  performance difference.

After these two I get 27fps, up from 24fps. About 10-15% increase.

Same tips should work for FSX version also.

Enjoy!