[comp.sys.ibm.pc] MicroSoft Flight Simulator 3.0

RWMIRA01@ULKYVX.BITNET (Rob Miracle) (07/14/88)

I have a question about the new flight simulator.  I have read on the package
that it supports VGA graphics.  Does any one know if it supports the MCGA 256
color mode?  Please no discussions on resolution vs. colors, I just want to
know if I am going to get better graphics on my Model 30.

Thanks in advance,
Rob Miracle
----
Rob Miracle                Bitnet    : RWMIRA01@ULKYVX or RWMIRA01@ULKYVM
Programmer/Analyst-II      CompuServe: 74216,3134   GEnie Mail: MIRACLERW
Computing & Telecomm.      INTERNET  : rwmira01%ulkyvx.bitnet@cunyvm.cuny.edu
University of Louisville   UUCP      : ...psuvax1!ulkyvx.bitnet!rwmira01

mintz@hpindda.HP.COM (Ken Mintz) (07/14/88)

> In defense of the developer, your video board should have been tested
> for IBM compatibility!  You can't expect program developers to have
> one of every so-called "compatible" on the market.

  Good point.  In fact, not even all IBM VGAs are 100% compatible with IBM VGA!
  For an explanation and a compatibility comparison of several VGA boards, see
  this week's (?) PC Magazine ... I think it has a VGA board on the cover.
  (Thumbnail explanation:  IBM makes 2 VGA boards for PS/2 systems, and they're
  not 100% compatible!)

Ken Mintz

kg0r+@andrew.cmu.edu (Kenneth Gober) (07/23/88)

Here is a list of (what I regard to be) some of the more interesting graphics
modes supported by Flight Simulator 3.0:

PS/2 320x200 16 color
PS/2 320x200 256 color
Hercules InColor 720x348 16 color
VGA 640x350 16 color

It also has support for the EGA (320x200 and 640x350) as well as LCD display
support, the standard CGA support (RGB, mono, composite), and a hook for custom
drivers.

Kenneth Gober
kg0r@andrew.cmu.edu

PS.   Does anyone know if earlier versions of FS listed frequencies for NDBs
(non-directional-beacons) on the included charts?  Apparently, 3.0 doesn't (but
my Commodore 64 SubLogic FS II charts do)

ray@micomvax.UUCP (Ray Dunn) (07/30/88)

In article <1217@micomvax.UUCP> ray@micomvax.UUCP I wrote:
>In article <UWtxkpy00Xc7I2c0c3@andrew.cmu.edu> kg0r+@andrew.cmu.edu (Kenneth Gober) writes:
>>.....
>>PS.   Does anyone know if earlier versions of FS listed frequencies for NDBs
>>(non-directional-beacons) on the included charts?  Apparently, 3.0 doesn't
>>(but my Commodore 64 SubLogic FS II charts do)
>
>These frequencies are listed in the readme.doc file on the disk!
>

It occurs to me that this info is in a readme file, it may have not always
been supplied by MS, so the following is from the readme.doc file, copied
without permission:

ADF Information:
  The following Non Directional Beacons (NDB's) can be tuned with the
  ADF radio.

  Area                    Location        North   East    Frequency
  -----------------------------------------------------------------
  Chicago                 Deana           17239   16536      350
                          Dwight          16874   16406      344
                          Ermin           17128   16598      332
                          Glenview        17295   16605      269
                          Kedzi           17135   16648      248
                          Veals           16369   16496      407

  New York & Boston       Babylon         17064   21190      275
                          Block Island    17352   21749      216
                          Brainard        17542   21384      329
                          Chup            17612   21328      388
                          Conda           17023   21068      373
                          Huder           17100   20992      378
                          Escondido       14928   6181       374
                          Swan Lake       15309   6108       257

  Seattle & Tacoma        Carney          21385   6433       274
                          Elwha           21775   6331       260
                          Gray            21256   6455       216
                          Kitsap          21407   6470       206
                          Mason Co        21350   6337       348
                          Nolla           21425   6591       362
                          Renton          21351   6612       353

  San Francisco           Casa Diablo     16854   6298       260
                          Chandler        16661   5751       344
                          Columbia        17267   5759       404
                          Pigeon Point    17166   4988       286
                          Proberta        18340   5500       338
                          Reiga           17287   5292       374
                          Sparks          17875   6213       254

Other radio and nav information contained in the file:

==========================================
"Squawk" code and Transponder:
  Air Traffic Control (ATC) does not request a squawk code, as stated in
  the manual on page 39; but the transponder can be tuned as described.
==========================================
NAV/COM  Frequency Changes and Additions:
  (ILS/VOR)  110.50   Chicago-O'Hare Intl. (Runway 27R)
             108.70   Martha's Vineyard (Chart indicates 108.2)

  (ATIS)     124.70   Buchanan (Concord, CA)
             128.50   Oakland South (CA)
             118.85   San Francisco International (CA)
==========================================
Runway Correction:
  Champaign, Ill      31, 13.
==========================================
Navigation Correction:
  Flying from John Wayne to Riverside (CA), use 244 degrees, not 215
  degrees as suggested by the map.
==========================================
OAKLAND Airport Coordinates:
  The coordinates in the manual (17367N & 5129E) place you east of the
  runway.  To line up on runway 9R, use coordindates 17366.0452N
  5123.9249E Heading 090.

-- 
Ray Dunn.                      |   UUCP: ..!{philabs, mnetor}!micomvax!ray
Philips Electronics Ltd.       |   TEL : (514) 744-8200   Ext: 2347
600 Dr Frederik Philips Blvd   |   FAX : (514) 744-6455
St Laurent. Quebec.  H4M 2S9   |   TLX : 05-824090

ray@micomvax.UUCP (Ray Dunn) (07/30/88)

In article <UWtxkpy00Xc7I2c0c3@andrew.cmu.edu> kg0r+@andrew.cmu.edu (Kenneth Gober) writes:
>.....
>PS.   Does anyone know if earlier versions of FS listed frequencies for NDBs
>(non-directional-beacons) on the included charts?  Apparently, 3.0 doesn't
>(but my Commodore 64 SubLogic FS II charts do)

These frequencies are listed in the readme.doc file on the disk!

I have just received my MS FS 3.0 and am using it with an EGA, on a 16Mhz
386 machine.

I was impressed with FS before, but this is *really* *really* good.
Definitely the best home computer entertainment program I have seen.  There
is obviously weeks and weeks of entertainment and education to be scheduled
in somehow!!

-- 
Ray Dunn.                      |   UUCP: ..!{philabs, mnetor}!micomvax!ray
Philips Electronics Ltd.       |   TEL : (514) 744-8200   Ext: 2347
600 Dr Frederik Philips Blvd   |   FAX : (514) 744-6455
St Laurent. Quebec.  H4M 2S9   |   TLX : 05-824090

jcmorris@mitre-bedford.ARPA (Joseph C. Morris) (08/01/88)

In article <1222@micomvax.UUCP> ray@micomvax.UUCP (Ray Dunn) writes:
>"Squawk" code and Transponder:
>  Air Traffic Control (ATC) does not request a squawk code, as stated in
>  the manual on page 39; but the transponder can be tuned as described.

Nit-picking time: you don't "tune" a transponder except in the avionics shop;
what you're doing is setting a 4-digit _octal_ number which is transmitted
in response to a radar interrogation.  It's a common problem trying to teach
student pilots that there aren't displays with "8" or "9".  A long-standing
joke has the following appearing on an FAA written examination:

(123)  You have contacted Departure Control following takeoff.  The controller
       instructs you to squawk 2158 and ident.  You should:

   (a)  Set the code dials on your transponder to 2158 and press the "IDENT"
        button.
   (b)  Same as (a) but ensure that the transponder is operational by using
        the built-in "TEST" function before pressing "IDENT".
   (c)  Respond with a "SAY AGAIN" request.
   (d)  Laugh.

The (genuine) correct answer would be (c), since 2158 isn't a possible answer.
To the joke, of course, the answer is (d).

Joe Morris