PilotEdge Forums

Hello,

Newly instrument rated IRL, and back on PE to practice my new skills. Last night I was flying Jason Chandler's Arrow in X-plane, and I noticed that it's very hard to read the altimeter setting off the face of the instrument. Unlike in FSX, there doesn't seem to be a way to "mouse over" the adjustment knob and get a more readable tooltip that shows the current setting. As a result, I wasn't able to adjust my altimeter when ATC gave me an updated setting. Has anyone else had this problem? Is there some shortcut in X-plane for seeing the current altimeter setting, or entering a new setting(such as popping up a text box and typing the desired setting into it)?

Thanks,
Jesse

If you're flying V9.7 or V10 32 bit you can use a plugin called ViualAltimeer which displays the setting for you as you adjust the knob. Or in 3D cockpit mode, you can zoom in to view the dial.

I have the VisualAltimeter plugin if you can't find it on the org. It definitely comes in handy!

Unfortunately, I have the third option, Xplane 10 64-bit >_< Is it already confirmed that VisualAltimeter doesn't work with this version? If not, I'll download it and give it a try.

Unfortunately not a software solution, but... I use saitek radio panels which makes it really easy to adjust comms/nav/altimeter/xpdr/etc. -- by physical manipulation and not having to use the mouse. The current setting is shown clearly on an led display. Requires the xsaitekpanels plugin, which is available for 32/64-bit.

I'm really enjoying the SimAvio add-on. I bought it primarily because I really needed a functioning Garmin 430W (use one in real life), but have found that all of the instruments are much easier to read and to set. The 182 panel I'm using has a digital altimeter where you just push the buttons.

jdoggchief wrote:Unfortunately, I have the third option, Xplane 10 64-bit >_< Is it already confirmed that VisualAltimeter doesn't work with this version? If not, I'll download it and give it a try.

You must be flying Windows, then. I'm flying on a Mac and we can't fly 64 bit on PE.....yet.

I have the Saitek Radio Panels and I have to say I wouldn't fly without them! I can't imagine tuning the radios in the sim window since I've been flying with them. I have two Radio Panels, the Multi Panel and the Switch Panel along with the TPM module, throttle quadrants and rudder pedals. If I had to give it all back and keep only one thing, I would keep a Radio Panel for sure.......but I'm not giving up any of it!!!!

I put a digital altimeter setting on the Chandler Warrior a few years ago for the same reason using PlaneMaker (took about 20 secs). Here's a video from a while back (2010, before we launched):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SwfGvW-d6VI

This is the advantage of gauges over plugins for basic functions that can be done by a stock gauge...you don't have to worry about plugin compatibility!

Great, thanks for all the help. I'll look into learning how to use PlaneMaker, and I'll also look into the radio panels and SimAvio as well.

You can display the altimeter reading by going to Data Inputs and Outputs and ticking the right-most box under the category, "System Pressures"

I just use a python script called DialMagnifier. It displays all the instruments as I change them on the screen, then fade off the screen until I make another change.