Phoenix V1.04 Now Ready [Archive]

Tetley

Jul 14, 2007, 06:10 PM

Hi Louie

The preset control profiles are only really there to get you started easily, and I'm sure they'll add a lot more makes by the time the 1.04 goes into final release.

When you created your profiles, was your transmitter calibrated correctly (did all the red bars move up and down fully when you move your sticks)?

Also did you try out the new Quick Wizard control profile setup? Just click "New" in the "Your Controls" menu, call it "Hitec Optic 6", then select "Quick Setup" and follow the onscreen instructions. I just tried it myself and its really very easy.

If you have any problems just fire the boys at Phoenix an email and I'm sure they'll get straight back to you.

support@phoenix-sim.com

Jim.

LouieB

Jul 14, 2007, 06:13 PM

I am through with Phoenix.

LouieB

Jul 14, 2007, 08:35 PM

I am through with Phoenix.

Harv

Jul 14, 2007, 08:48 PM

Well, Phoenix still is not ready for prime time ...

At least two models have the throttle reversed...

Check your settings. They work perfectly for me.

...please terminate the individual that approved the vertical writing...

...please find a professional programming team!

Enough already. No need to start with death threats and blanket insults.

Besides, I thought you didn't care anymore anyways.

LouieB

Jul 14, 2007, 08:54 PM

Phoenix has been uninstalled from my P.C.

I am through with Phoenix.

Towser

Jul 14, 2007, 09:39 PM

bye bye Louie, Bye bye...

Wmacky

Jul 14, 2007, 11:18 PM

See ya!

BTW, I'm having quite the issue too. Seconds after running the sim, my mother shuts down with an internal alarm going off. Don't really think it's directly related to the sim, but rather the horsepower required is overheating the Processor.," doesn't do it web surfing. I had this problem 2 months ago. and had to blow out the dust, which fixed the issue. I don't think it's gotten that dusty inside again in 2 months. Any utilities to monitor the processor around?

archiebald

Jul 15, 2007, 01:41 AM

Looks like I missed Louie throwing his toys out of his pram. :D

I posted ths in the other thread, but I suppose that will die now that a new one has been started on 1.04.

"Just downloaded it and tested it here too. I am in a hotel room in Istanbul at 3:00 in the morning!!

Looks excellent, love the crunching noises when you crash but I found my notebook that ran 1.03c with all the bells and whistles turned on now struggles a little. Must have been on the edge before. However, if I turn off antialiasing and sun hilights, it runs fine. I am looking forward to getting home now and seeing it perform on my desktop.

As far as I can tell, all my earlier gripes have been answered. Great Stuff.

But, regarding the new website, it doesn't display properly in Firefox. (Well, it wouldn't be me if I wasn't griping about something now would it??)"

kuebler

Jul 15, 2007, 04:36 AM

Is there a specific reason, why (almost) all models are now missing the colors? The whole thing now looks very pale.

Or may I have set something wrong in the settings? But I use the defaults :confused:

archiebald

Jul 15, 2007, 04:42 AM

Well I've played around with it more and I really like several of the features.

1) Vortex lift loss is really working well. Moreover, if you set up wind and then make a tailwind approach, it really feels perfect. 10/10!!

2) The aborted auto recovery is much more realistic now. The engine and rotor spools up nicely.

3) Did I mention I loved the crash noise. Sounds just like my ground level boom strike I had a few weeks ago. I hope no helicopters were actually injured in the making of that sound effect :D

4) Multi-blade rotors are now working more as I expected when gyro stabilization is turned off.

5) Love the variable wind.

I am now looking forward to the Mini Titan E325 so I can practise before christmas comes.

A big pat on the back to all the hardworking guys (and girls?) at Runtime.

BTW, I found the problem with the frame rates it was just the sun glows and night glows feature. It obviously is not supported on my notebook (not surprising I guess). With these off, I was able to run all other features at high with no difference in performance from before.

Tetley

Jul 15, 2007, 09:40 AM

Just to make sure you all know

1.04.b [beta] Update available

To take into account some customer feedback on the recent 1.04.a update, this update has now been advanced to version 1.04.b. Please download this update now from the downloads section.

http://www.phoenix-sim.com/downloads.htm

Lots of fixes already

Also, to change wing rock and stall on fixed wing see the attached pic, adjust it to your liking to feel like your own aircraft.

Cheers.

Jim

archiebald

Jul 15, 2007, 10:39 AM

Dang!! You guys work fast, and at the weekend too!!!

I see the web page is displaying properly in Firefox now as well.

Tetley

Jul 15, 2007, 11:14 AM

:D

Jim.

Shinigami

Jul 15, 2007, 06:24 PM

Wow, and now 1.04.c is out, you guys are fast!

waltj2k

Jul 15, 2007, 09:59 PM

Towser

Jul 16, 2007, 12:19 AM

Just made a great sim even better - thanks guys. Only one gripe - the helis and general senery is a little dark on a couple of the fields, the major one being the flying field. I think this ones needs it's brightness put back to the original version.

Thanks though to everyone involved, Jim, Ade and the Phoenix Crew.

burnside

Jul 16, 2007, 03:43 AM

WOW - what an upgrade - thanks Phoenix

burnside

Jul 16, 2007, 03:44 AM

...by the way louie - my cheap ass transmitter wasnt in the list - but ive got a brain instead so phoenix is for me!!

archiebald

Jul 16, 2007, 03:46 AM

Thought Id try the beta. Downloaded the program.

I get an error half way though the program intializing. Then I get the microsoft error report, then it shuts down.

Any tricks to getting this installed?

Suggest you email the support at phoenix and be prepared to give them all details of your OS, PC specs etc.

But, it could be simply a corrupted download. Might be worth trying to re-download and see what happens.

archiebald

Jul 16, 2007, 03:56 AM

Message To Jim and the guys at Phoenix,

I realize you guys must have been burning plenty of midnight oil already but....

Has any thought ben given to the suggestion I made about having a dedicated support forum on the Phoenix website? It would be far more efficient for your customers rather than have them trawling around all the other RC boards for information. Also, it would surely be easier for the support team to monitor.

Other than that, right now I guess here at RC Groups seems to be the place with most information and users. Am I correct?

CyCrow

Jul 16, 2007, 11:05 AM

Visual:
* Rotor discs hide windsocks, check z-buffering and draw order.
* If an engine fails on the Grumman Goose, the exhaust keeps coming from the dead engine, not from the live one.
* After engine failure in multiengined planes, the live engine can be throttled like an electric, stopping the prop completely.
* At slow speed, the tail rotor on at least the T-Rex 450 rotates slower than the main rotor. Reversed gear ratio?

Controller:
* If you put gear and flaps on the same switch, you can't have both the tilt-rotor and planes with both flaps and gear work right (ok in 1.03). Please reverse one, so flaps and gear are down, and tilt rotor is tilted up, in the same direction. Or allow separate reversing for all, but make sure all planes are consistent.

Modelling:
* The non-heading hold helicopters seem a bit too sensitive in the tail, seem to need more gyro sensitivity. Also, they are not limited by max piro rate. (By design?)
* It is possible to fly most aerobatic helis with a damaged tail rotor. A little bit of forward speed seems to stabilize the tail enough to fly around without piroing. Too large effective tail area? Autorotating with damaged tail rotor works fine.
* The sport jet "explodes" if 70m/s is exceeded. Speeds up to over 100m/s and becomes uncontrollable.

None of these are showstoppers, and the flight model feels improved. Good job!

ETA:
Suggestion for more failures:
* Add tail rotor belt failure and/or slippage.
* Add stripped CCPM servos.
* Add single aileron servo failures.
* Add governor failures.
* Add retract failures and asymetric flap deployment.
* Maybe overspeed and flutter for some models?

// CyCrow

waltj2k

Jul 16, 2007, 11:35 AM

Suggest you email the support at phoenix and be prepared to give them all details of your OS, PC specs etc.

But, it could be simply a corrupted download. Might be worth trying to re-download and see what happens.

I did attempt to install twice. However it was from the same download.

I will try another download this evening.

I wil also email support with my system specs. Machine runs FMS and Real Flight just fine.

Pointy

Jul 17, 2007, 02:40 AM

First off I wanted to thank Phoenix for their fantastic support, they replied to my emails very quickly, even on Sunday! :eek: Great job!

There may be a problem with the 1.04 installer, not installing correctly if you don't have Phoenix installed in the default place (I have mine on my D drive). I had all sorts of weird errors, until I did a fresh install last night. I patched to 1.03 then let the 1.04 installer install to the default program files folder, manually copying and overwriting files after it had finished.

Now it works perfectly.

Regards,

Les

CHCHGSR

Jul 17, 2007, 06:57 AM

I just checked the phoenix website - hey hey UPDATE - Download and install, very cool so far.

To the team of PhoenixRC - Thanks

CatchmyCorsair

Jul 17, 2007, 06:28 PM

Lovin the new update! Mine actually runs BETTER with BETTER graphics! :)

One thing I will say, I find the PA Katana very hard to fly/3D. It's really twitchy. Completely opposite from the AcroMaster.

I also found hovering on the big gasser Yak 54 to be easier. Rudder authority just wasn't there in the last version. Now it's great!

Nice job!

Shinigami

Jul 18, 2007, 12:22 AM

Using the latest update 1.04d, I notice when flying the big planes like the Yak, once you get up to about 63mph if you give a sharp elevator input it will reset the model instantly. Yeah, maybe it's simulating wing failure, but I would think it would break the model apart and wait the 3 seconds or whatever before resetting. Also, everything still says it's 1.04c in the sim, however I notice the latest changes for d (wind sock visible through rotor disc, etc.) so I know it's just a label issue.

Other than little issues like that, it's looking to be a solid update.

Shinigami

Jul 18, 2007, 01:15 PM

Well, it looks like they've already fixed the two problems I mentioned :D Great work guys!

Tetley

Jul 20, 2007, 02:52 PM

Hi All,

Ok v1.04F will be up on the site in about an hour, the 104e was pulled due to a calibration issue on a few tx's, and the floating target has been fixed!.

All the Aircraft downloads now use a 'double click' installer, so once you download them goto C:\Documents and Settings\MyDocuments\PhoenixRC
And just double click them to install!, this folder also contains your variants, recordings and screenshots.

Please remember that your old variants will not work in v104 due to physics changes so you will have to remake them.

If your 104 is acting odd reinstall 103 right over 104, then install the new 104f
this should fix things up!.

A big thanks to everyone for the bug hunting so far your doing a great job!.
This should be the last version update for at least a week now unless something nasty happens!, but please do keep emailing any bugs found to support@phoenix-sim.com.

Cheers all

Jim Lacey.

Daedalus66

Jul 20, 2007, 03:09 PM

That answers the question I was about to ask. Ever since last night (i.e., about 18 hours ago) I have been trying to download the latest version (1.04e) but got:

This update is currently undergoing maintenance - please wait at least 30 mins before refreshing your browser.

Looking forward to trying out 1.04F as soon as it's available.

Cheers

CatchmyCorsair

Jul 20, 2007, 07:42 PM

RMS

Jul 20, 2007, 07:51 PM

Anyone having problems with getting the B17 to work? Lost the old Cap232 also.....just have the Orange one now. No big deal. Best $150 I have spent in this hobby in 25 years.

RMS

Jul 20, 2007, 08:10 PM

Just downloaded "f"...............B17 works

Tetley

Jul 20, 2007, 08:49 PM

Is there an option in the "edit aircraft" menu that will increase the roll rate on planes?

I've noticed all the 3D gassers are slow rollers. (maybe that's realistic, I don't fly gas) But even the AcroMaster is sluggish. I try to do some blenders and they are very boring, not violent at all.

Snaps on the gassers and AcroMaster are also very slow.

Hi, go into edit and increase the a/ron travel to 50-55 mess around until its to your liking :D.

You could also re calibrate just in case you didn't get full travel on the 1st calibration.

Jim.

CatchmyCorsair

Jul 20, 2007, 10:16 PM

Hi, go into edit and increase the a/ron travel to 50-55 mess around until its to your liking :D.

You could also re calibrate just in case you didn't get full travel on the 1st calibration.

Jim.

Thanks for the quick response, I'll give it a try.

I wasn't sure if it was aileron inertia or travel.

RMS

Jul 20, 2007, 10:56 PM

Shinigami

Jul 20, 2007, 11:26 PM

Crazy question but I have to ask.......... The performance airplane, "Shuriken", is it a real model that is available? I like it. Did a lot of searches on the web but couldn't find anything. Looks a lot like an Extra to me but a lot of the Extras, Edges etc look the same.

Thanks, Rick

Seems to be based on a Katana by the wing shape. Check out the wing on the 3dhobbyshop Katana - it has the same sort of wing fillets.

Neil_J

Jul 21, 2007, 04:02 PM

Does anyone use Phoenix inside a virtual machine? I'm running Ubuntu Linux and need a sim I can run inside VirtualBox or VMware with a WinXP image. I'm getting rid of Realflight G3.5 as it won't work with my DX6/7 and I hate their cheap controller. Realflight doesn't work at all when virtualized. I'm hoping that Phoenix will.

Greg_Granville

Jul 22, 2007, 02:27 AM

1.04f - nice work. Fixed wing and Helicopter physics both seem much improved. Graphics seem more detailed and smoother. Overall, it just feels more "real" than before. I love being able to so easily edit the stalling behavior. That's a BIG one.
Helis now sink when forward motion slows (translation lift). Feels even more real than XTR.

Can't get smoke to work... One of those temporarily removed features in the beta version ?

microflite

Jul 22, 2007, 10:48 PM

This is not directly related to the software itself but
Folks, I was planning on getting the Phoenix from tower. However it
lists futaba square and JR plugs. I have a futaba 8U controller. Does
the JR plus fit the futaba 8U series? The connector at the back is
a 9-pin round DIN.connector.

thx.
-m

archiebald

Jul 23, 2007, 02:10 AM

microflite,
Phoenix does have a DIN adapter suitable for your Tx. I know because I have one that I use with my old 8U.

Phoenix On Line Shop (http://www.ekmpowershop4.com/ekmps/shops/phoenixrc/index.asp?function=DISPLAYCAT&catid=8)

You need the "Futaba/Hitec DIN" type

Whether Tower stocks it however, is another matter.

JR Tx's do not require an adapter. The stereo mini jack plug on the end of the USB dongle lead plugs in directly. All the adapters use a female stereo mini jack connection

wiggy742

Jul 23, 2007, 06:00 AM

Does anyone notice a strange engine buzzing from flying any electric heli? The noise only happens when at distance and doing some tight turns at altitude. It has only started since Version 104. I have tried all a,b,c, up to f and all seem to have the same issue.

Steel Butcher

Jul 23, 2007, 11:36 AM

I get that erratic noise too,similar to someone mixing up a batch of margaritas. Doesn't seem to happen when blade flapping noises should be present.

microflite

Jul 23, 2007, 12:49 PM

Archie, Thanks for the info. I dont know of any place to get the
adapter locally.

I'm pretty good at soldering. Do u have any idea where I can
ge the pin connection diagram so I can wire one up. Actually if I may
trouble you to tell me what the 2 connectors are on the adapter
pigtail and which pin maps to which, I would *really* appreciate it.

-m

microflite,
Phoenix does have a DIN adapter suitable for your Tx. I know because I have one that I use with my old 8U.

Phoenix On Line Shop (http://www.ekmpowershop4.com/ekmps/shops/phoenixrc/index.asp?function=DISPLAYCAT&catid=8)

You need the "Futaba/Hitec DIN" type

Whether Tower stocks it however, is another matter.

JR Tx's do not require an adapter. The stereo mini jack plug on the end of the USB dongle lead plugs in directly. All the adapters use a female stereo mini jack connection

archiebald

Jul 23, 2007, 07:28 PM

microflite,
Sorry - I have never personally played around with pinouts but this might be of some help http://www.mftech.de/buchsen_en.htm If you compare the Futaba DIN connection to the JR stereo jack connection, then I think you have it.

This may also help (from a competitor :D ) http://www.reflex-sim.de/reflex-sim/shop/catalog/faqdesk_index.php?faqPath=15_35_45_47

For this, you need to "reverse" things for a female stereo mini jack
http://www.reflex-sim.de/reflex-sim/shop/catalog/faqdesk_index.php?faqPath=15_35_72
http://www.reflex-sim.de/reflex-sim/shop/catalog/faqdesk_index.php?faqPath=15_35_45_36

You can order it internationally from the Phoenix web shop you know.

Or an alternative such as
http://www.rc-circuits.com/Interface%20Adapters.htm#null

And more pinout info
http://www.rc-circuits.com/Transmitter%20Connector%20Pinout.htm

archiebald

Jul 23, 2007, 07:30 PM

wiggy742

Jul 23, 2007, 08:22 PM

Wiggy, I got the same.

Have you emailed Phoenix support?

Hi archie
I did earlier and they said this:
"Hi Paul

This is the new tail-rotor whine which has recently been introduced. We will be working to refine the new physics further over the coming month, and this will also be looked closely at.

Best Regards

PhoenixRC Support"

Hope this clears it up!

Towser

Jul 23, 2007, 10:12 PM

I'm still having problems with setting the gyro on channel 5 - if I put it to rate mode, the heli rotates about 1000 mph, but heading hold is acting normal. I've tried reversing the channel, but its still the same. Any tips out there for this?

archiebald

Jul 24, 2007, 12:00 AM

Towser,
which heli?

I leave channel 5 unmapped personally and fly the helis as they are set up in the settings screen.

But, if you are going to switch to rate mode then I would think you also need to set up revo mixing on your Tx - just as in real life.

Towser

Jul 24, 2007, 07:22 PM

Thanks for the info archiebald.
I think it's on most of my helis I fly - trexs, bizzard50, sythe... I hadnt thought of revo mixing - I will give it a try in a day or too.
Cheers.

rjfon1

Jul 24, 2007, 08:18 PM

Enjoying 'f', but I must say I was dissappointed that the police/ambulance version was changed to coast gaurd. I've been it it a few times for work and could relate to the scheme.

Does anyone have problems with the sea-ranger? I have all the latest updates up to f, but when I load it states "This aircraft not compatable with this version of phoenix. Please update etc etc etc".
PS:I haven't been flying for a number of months, but using phoenix is certainly giving me a bit of confidence to actually fly the aircraft next time, instead of just doing 10 tanks of hovering.
Rob.
Melbourne Australia.

Towser

Jul 25, 2007, 06:27 AM

Yep - I cant get that heli to load either, and there's a few others too that dont work. (Cant remember off the top of my head - will do a list later)

microflite

Jul 29, 2007, 02:12 AM

Thanks Archie, this really help. I can wire up a conn
myself.

-m

microflite,
Sorry - I have never personally played around with pinouts but this might be of some help http://www.mftech.de/buchsen_en.htm If you compare the Futaba DIN connection to the JR stereo jack connection, then I think you have it.

This may also help (from a competitor :D ) http://www.reflex-sim.de/reflex-sim/shop/catalog/faqdesk_index.php?faqPath=15_35_45_47

For this, you need to "reverse" things for a female stereo mini jack
http://www.reflex-sim.de/reflex-sim/shop/catalog/faqdesk_index.php?faqPath=15_35_72
http://www.reflex-sim.de/reflex-sim/shop/catalog/faqdesk_index.php?faqPath=15_35_45_36

You can order it internationally from the Phoenix web shop you know.

Or an alternative such as
http://www.rc-circuits.com/Interface%20Adapters.htm#null

And more pinout info
http://www.rc-circuits.com/Transmitter%20Connector%20Pinout.htm

CHCHGSR

Jul 29, 2007, 07:42 PM

Does anyone have problems with the sea-ranger? I have all the latest updates up to f, but when I load it states "This aircraft not compatable with this version of phoenix. Please update etc etc etc".

Rob.
Melbourne Australia.

i'll check mine later today and check.....

Cheekers

Aug 04, 2007, 01:13 PM

I stopped using Phoenix early this year after two brand new Futaba 6EXAS transmitters fried while connected to the USB dongle of that sim. Too bad because at that time I felt that Phoenix had the absolute best looking graphics of any sim on the market. I then switched over to Aerofly Pro Deluxe, another excellent sim.

Now half a year later, I was able to hook up a non-computer Futaba radio to try out the latest updates and patches.

Version 1.04 adds more the the Phoenix experience and the graphics still remain top notch in the industry. They are unmatched in terms of the realism of how everything looks. Unfortunately, I'm not as impressed with the actual simulation's qualities (as far as fixed wing aircraft go, I don't fly helis).

1) Planes breaking apart - I always liked this feature in Aerofly, it serves as a visual reminder that a hard crash can leave you with pieces of your work scattered all over the place. That said, I find the implementation of it in Phoenix highly unrealistic (AFPD does it a bit better, bit could also use a tweak here here or there). The foamies and balsa-based planes I fly do not come apart that easily! I have crashed covered balsa planes into the ground wing first at high speeds and survived almost unscathed, certainly not in pieces. Many of us push the envelope with the newer aircraft and it's reasonable to expect that dragging the wing of a high performance plane on the ground will not result in the aircraft breaking up into many pieces.

2) More models needed. I currently have more than 180 models I can fly in AFPD. Some are of planes that I actually own and fl very much like them. Others may look different from a plane or two that I own, but they fly like it so I use that model to practice moves. The point is, because I have more choices in AFPD, I am able to utilize it more as a preparation and training tool for planes I actually own.

3) Simulation realism - A lot of the planes in Phoenix don't feel at all like the real thing. It's as if something vital is missing from the physics of it all. This is true to some degree of other sims I have tried (Clearview, FMS, AFPD, FSOne, RealFlight) but I find Phoenix, while not the worst, quite a bit behind several of the others. I thought at first that it might just be me, but a friend of mine who also flies and had not tried a sim before tried both Phoenix and AFPD at my place and came away feeling much the same as me.

Towser

Aug 04, 2007, 08:24 PM

Is it me, or have the Trex 600, Knight50 and Buzzard 30 and 50 become more powerfull? They dont seem to bog like they used too.

glucoseboy

Aug 13, 2007, 11:25 PM

version 1.04g released.

Many new models added,

Trex Nitro, Mini titan, to name a few

Shinigami

Aug 14, 2007, 09:54 AM

I noticed the phoenix site has a demonstration and tutorial pack for download now, pretty cool. One small issue, when viewing the control stick movements on the heli demo flights, no rudder inputs are being displayed on the controller (mode 2). Fixed wing rudder inputs show up fine. Anyone else see this?

gregw

Aug 17, 2007, 05:10 AM

Just saw that 1.04h (beta) is now ready for download at: http://www.phoenix-sim.com/downloads.htm

Huub

Aug 18, 2007, 03:46 PM

The 104 h patch is again altered in minor fields. (some people had flap setting troubles)

I had some major troubles after update 104g.
A lot of e mails and a pleasant contact by telephone as well solved my trouble.

In the end it turned out my on board sound chip drivers were corrupted.
I love the updates and enjoy Phoenix RC since the day I got it.

Now I have experienced myself that the support is really second to none.
When i expressed my thanks the humble reply was that every costumer should have a good working version of phoenixRc as it was intended to work.

Hats off to those guys! :)

Huub

Aug 18, 2007, 04:02 PM

One small issue, when viewing the control stick movements on the heli demo flights, no rudder inputs are being displayed on the controller (mode 2). Fixed wing rudder inputs show up fine. Anyone else see this?

I thought so as well at start.
Some movements are just tiny...

Check out the hovering (basics and the file hovering) and draw the progression bar fast forward and/or backwards (left mouse click and draw).
I see rudder movement here. (mode2)
Not as clear on every demo, must be settings of the transmitters?

Regards,

Huub