FDS CDU with PSX Questions

[Mariano]

Hi,

I am considering purchasing an FDS 747 CDU. Should any of you have one at home, could you please help me with the following questions?

1- Can the CDU display a monochromatic (green) screen as in the 744?

2- Does the PC running the CDU need to have its video card resolution set to 800X600, or does the CDU have its own, onboard video card that needs to be adjusted to 800X600?

3- Can the CDU be ran from the same PC running PSX without any video issues (since PSX will be running at a much higher resolution)?

4- Does the CDU need it's own Navigraph files, or does it use PSX for all its information?

I am looking at the PDF manual, but I am a bit confused. My next stop will be the FDS forum, but I thought I might ask here first.

Thank you in advance.

Mariano

[GodAtum]

The FDS CDU is just another monitor connected to your PC, runningdrivers from http://www.tekworx.com/downloads.php

You can display whatever you want on it. You should run PSX and move the layout so it only shows the CDU portion.

I connect mine to my PC GPU using a VGA cable.

[Mariano]

Thanks, GodAtum.

So, basically, I can run PSX with my regular layout in my large monitor while still running the FDS CDU from the same PC?

Just want to make sure that I don't have to compromise my normal layout in order to match and fit the PSX CDU screen into the FDS screen.

All I want is to connect the CDU to my regular PSX setup and go.

Can you tell that I'm a bit confused? ;-)

Best regards,

Mariano

[garys]

Yes its very easy to setup. In my case I use a USB video adapter for the graphics output and a separate instance of PSX (Client) set up on the pc.

[emerydc8]

Mariano,

There is a downloadable driver that you should set to start when Windows boots up. My display is all green and I'm driving it with a VGA cable coming from one of my video cards. I use the same computer to drive my PSX server, visuals (3 x 38" screens), PFD and ND. I think the resolution is individually adjustable, but I don't recall it being an issue at all. Beware of USB video adapters -- they sometimes don't play well with others (DataLink comes to mind). I don't use any of the Nav updates -- just whatever PSX comes with. Like Gary said, the setup is not difficult, even for a novice like me. Once you set it up as a separate instance of PSX, all you do is start it like you would the other instances and it is always in the same spot on the CDU.

Jon

[Jeroen Hoppenbrouwers]

Mariano,

There are several ways to kill this cat. Think of it in terms of 'I want to drive a separate new small monitor off my PC' and you are in the correct mind set. If your PC already can drive such a new monitor, you're all set. If not, you will want to add a new video output, and a USB one will do fine as long as it works and you can test this with any other monitor before even purchasing the MCDU.

As in real world avionics, this MCDU is dumb as anything, it has most certainly not even a built-in navigation database! It is not in any way more than a remodeled monitor and keyboard, that need full PSX support to do anything.

The driver is to connect the keyboard internally to PSX, so you don't need to give up your real keyboard.

You also want to start another instance of PSX on this PC, the display of which has been shrunk to be just one of the MCDU displays, and then move this to the new monitor using standard Windows procedures. This PSX slaves to the Master and is not taking up much resources, don't worry. MCDU traffic is pretty much nil compared to everything else.

Hoppie

[Mariano]

Thank you very much for all the information.

I am planning on running it from a gaming laptop. It does have a connection for an external monitor, but I can't recall if it has a VGA output (I know it has an HDMI one - I'm not home, so I can't check). Does it definitely need to have a VGA output?

I understand that I will need to run two instances of PSX on the same PC, one of which will be shrunk to become the CDU screen. Is this correct? Can a PC run two PSXs at once?

As you can see, I'm way out of my league, here. Does the CDU come with step-by-step instructions for dumb people?

Do you know if FDS has OK customer support in case I run into trouble trying to make it work?

Thank you again and best bregards,

Mariano

[jb747]

Yes.  The FDS CDU uses a VGA input.  If you have any issues with setting it up let me know.  You can run multiple PSX screens using one copy of PSX by using different layouts.  I don't have a link to Hardy's instructions but did incorporate them into another document that is used to turn up PSX on the FDS trainers.  If you want a copy email me jboe(AT)q.com

Cheers,

Jon

[Hardy Heinlin]

There are two things in the FDS CDU:

• FDS screen

• FDS keyboard


The FDS screen shows a selectable part of the PC monitor. You can select whatever is on your PC monitor, be it a photo of ma and the kids, or a section of the PSX flight deck. E.g. when the PSX flight deck changes its colors, the FDS screen will show the same change; it shows the same pixels that the PC monitor shows.

The FDS keyboard actuates the CDU keys in PSX; i.e. the keys of CDU L, C, or R as selected by the user. When a FDS key is pressed, the corresponding CDU key in PSX is animated as if it was clicked by the mouse. The control is linked by the PSX main network. When a CDU key is animated in PSX, PSX will calculate the respective consequences in the 744 systems inside PSX.

In the FDS CDU there's no database, no 744 system model whatsoever. The FDS CDU shows PSX screen pixels, and actuates PSX CDU keys. That's all. The CDU software, its electrical model, route memory, brightness logic, its registration with other subsystems like FMCs, ACARS, CMC, its malfunction simulations etc. pp. sit in PSX.


|-|ardy

[Mariano]

Thank you, gentlemen. Very informative.

Should my laptop not have a VGA output, is there another way to make the FDS CDU work? Can an HDMI output be converted to USB via an adapter and cable?

Jon, I sent you an email (thanks).

Best regards,

Mariano

[Jeroen Hoppenbrouwers]

https://www.amazon.com/Moread-Gold-Plated-Projector-Chromebook-Raspberry/dp/B00SW9JI9A/ref=sr_1_4?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1533426465&sr=1-4&keywords=hdmi+to+vga&smid=A27VPIZROR8N4S

$8

(plenty of others available, too -- this is just hit #1)

[Mariano]

Thank you!

That makes this CDU  purchase a lot closer to reality.

Best regards,

Mariano

[emerydc8]

FWIW, I am using either an HDMI or DVI to VGA converter to drive my FDS CDU. My video card has three different ports. I think they are VGA, DVI and HDMI. I just checked and it is definitely not hooked to the VGA port, so I am using a converter coming off the middle port (either DVI or HDMI). I have had zero problems with the CDU. You will have to download the FDS-CDU driver from Tekworx and set it up so that it starts along with Windows, so it will be in your tray at the bottom right of your screen. There is a configuration menu and you can select Aerowinx. I think Project Magenta is in there too. Configuring it is intuitive -- even for someone as technically challenged as me.
Jon

[Jeroen Hoppenbrouwers]

DVI looks like this:

[Mariano]

Thanks, Jon.

Looks like I'll be going the HDMI-to-VGA route as well.

Glad to hear it has been working just fine for you.

Best regards,

Mariano