Velocity XL: cannot change G3X CDI source to GPS when starting cold and dark
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I can't figure out how to change the CDI source from VOR to GPS when I start cold and dark. If I create the exact same flight plan on the World Map, using one navaid and then an RNAV approach to a nearby airport, if I start from the runway the flight plan shows up correctly on the G3X and the 750, and on the G3X it starts with GPS as the source:
However if I start cold and dark, I'm stuck in VOR mode:
When it's in that state and the CDI Source button is grayed out, I can go into the G3X flight plan screen and mess with the sources (flip to Internal, GPS, seems to work there) but then the flight plan is out of sync between the G3X and 750. Now the approach doesn't show up anymore on the G3X, the path is direct to the destination airport.
I found that when I his ESC (Options screen) and Restart at this point, when the sim reloads now the G3X CDI Source is GPS, and I can select the first waypoint on the 750 and it selects it also on the G3X and updates it on the map, so now they're in sync. It's a workaround but it took me a while to figure out and it seems like they're not quite happy talking to each other.
By the way, what is the difference between the Internal and External GPS? External doesn't seem to work well, they appear out of sync, so I'm not sure when/if you're ever supposed to use that.
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Unfortunately, I think I will be asking this question with increasing frequency, but is this MSFS 2020 or 2024? If it's 2024, then I make no guarantees for the avionics right now. I have received recommendations regarding the avionics from their respective developers in 2024, but none of them have been implemented yet.
If this is 2020, everything was working as expected last time I tested the new G3X with the PMS50 GTN. The External GPS mode should be used all the time, and should be enabled by default, I believe. That means the G3X (and autopilot) is receiving its navigation data from the GTN, which is capable of approaches and more complex procedures than the G3X. If you want to do simple flight planning on the G3X without approach or holding procedures, then you can enable Internal GPS mode. When in External GPS mode, the navigation mode (GPS/VLOC) can only be toggled from the GTN. Does that comport with what you're seeing? Let me know if any of that cleared things up for you, and if you have any more questions.
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@Black-Square said in Velocity XL: cannot change G3X CDI source to GPS when starting cold and dark:
Unfortunately, I think I will be asking this question with increasing frequency, but is this MSFS 2020 or 2024?
This is 2020.
If this is 2020, everything was working as expected last time I tested the new G3X with the PMS50 GTN. The External GPS mode should be used all the time, and should be enabled by default, I believe. That means the G3X (and autopilot) is receiving its navigation data from the GTN, which is capable of approaches and more complex procedures than the G3X. If you want to do simple flight planning on the G3X without approach or holding procedures, then you can enable Internal GPS mode. When in External GPS mode, the navigation mode (GPS/VLOC) can only be toggled from the GTN. Does that comport with what you're seeing? Let me know if any of that cleared things up for you, and if you have any more questions.
So in these screenshots, if it says "External" there, that's already in External mode, correct? I didn't toggle the mode to get into this situation, that's the default. So apparently, in some cases, perhaps with certain flight plans, in cold and dark mode, I get this situation where Internal mode is stuck on VOR on the G3X and the button is disabled and I can't change to GPS (I believe when it's working, the button is colored brightly and you can toggle between GPS and VORs). Reloading the flight seemed to clear that issue when I tried it a couple of times this morning. I remember seeing this issue before and this is as far as I've gone characterizing it thus far, before on a few occasions I just noticed they were out of sync.
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Working only off your screenshots, the G3X appears to be in External GPS mode in both screenshots, with the CDI source button appropriately greyed out in both circumstances, prompting you to use the button on the GTN to toggle the CDI source. That being said, if you do continue to have issues, make sure your GTN is as up-to-date as possible, because I have found that small issues like this can miraculously appear and disappear between version updates.
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@Black-Square > use the button on the GTN to toggle the CDI source.
That's what I was doing wrong. I thought it would work both ways, but I simply needed to switch it on the 750. Thank you.
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Glad to hear it was an easy solution. I thought that might be the case, but I try not to assume the simplest solution, lest I insult the intelligence of my users when I'm the one not thinking very hard!
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@Black-Square said in Velocity XL: cannot change G3X CDI source to GPS when starting cold and dark:
Glad to hear it was an easy solution. I thought that might be the case, but I try not to assume the simplest solution, lest I insult the intelligence of my users when I'm the one not thinking very hard!
I work in support. You can never rule out the simplest solution, at any level of intelligence. :)
