New ultra realistic Heli simulator (Heli-x) just released

[Spacemarine]

A new ultra realistic Heli simulator has just been released. This simulator aims at being more realistic than everything else that exists today. I've just tried it and it works really great. It runs on both Windows and Linux (I've tried it under both systems, it worked directly out of the box)

So far I'm very happy with it. And here's the best Part: It's completely free!!

You can get it at http://www.heli-x.net/vision_e.shtml

Andre

[beer-man]

what's you system spec's

[rcbrust]

When I run it, it opens a DOS window, some stuff flashes by and then it closes it. That's it. Anybody else get this?

Randy

[nemo_uk]

When I run it, it opens a DOS window, some stuff flashes by and then it closes it. That's it. Anybody else get this?
which one did you download ? the one with Java (125MB) or without (100MB) ? Do you have java installed already (you can check here (http://www.java.com/en/download/installed.jsp))

If you are starting out flying helicopters it is definitely a step up from FMS, when you get it work ;) pretty good considering it is free.

[Spacemarine]

what's you system spec's

I'm running Windows XP and Kubuntu 7.10.

If Heli-X doesen't work the way it's supposed to do, it's most likely your missing or old Java installation.

In that case you should check your Java installation with the link nemo_uk gave or download the version where Java is already included.

If that didn't help, you should check if you have new 3D Drivers (especially OpenGl) for your Graphics Card installed.

In the German RC Forums there are numerous threads about Heli-x, lot's of people are already using it and it works for nearly everyone. Very strange that you can't get it running.

Andre

[bluesky123]

Very strange that you can't get it running.
I can't even download it! The download stalls at about 20%...
:(

[beer-man]

I tried it both ways,(w/ & w/o java) I installed the lastest java and it bogs down to where I cant even get it setup. I work on computers and I'm an mcse, I have tried linux yet. But I don't think it's worth it since HelisimRC works.

[ApachePilot]

How do you get the multiplayer to work?

[Malc C]

I was going to try this, but having read all the above, think I'll steer clear. My system is nice and stable now and I want to keep it that way :)

Sounds like the developers need to do more work to work "out of the box" on more than one computer :) :) :)

[hannson]

very good looking sim ... and its for free.... :D

[guest_jo]

Yes it´s working nice.
What I don´t understand:
Even if I switch it to fullscreen I see the windows taskbar on bottom and it hides the heli-x info bar where you can see windspeed and other things.
Does anyone run it in real fullscreen ?

[Malc C]

Ok to be fair I downloaded the sim and had a look. It seems to run from the folder rather than actually install itself and embed itself in windows, and running the batch file resulted in no errors. I too get the menu options at the top and windows task bar in full screen mode, rather than all the menus and task bar bein hidden as with other sims.

Changing flying sites seems to take ages once selected, and on some the illusion of 360 degree vison is somewhat distorted - just take a look at the pylons in Dornbirn - one leans to the left the other to the right - whilst this is obviouslty something to do with how the backgrounds are made, and may be only applicable to that field, it just don't seem right.

The physics seem good, and on par with Clearview, and for my level of flying, AFPD. I'm sure we can get some better comparison by someone who fly's 3D and has access to more top end sims.

The best part is that its "currently" free, and is leap and bounds over FMS which, up until now has been the only free sim that seems to get recommended on these forums. It will give Clearview a run for its money, which even at $40 seems hard to recomend given the quality and feel for Heli-X.

The real strength will be in the support it gets. If people are able to make models, scenes etc easy enough, and the developers keep updating it with suggestions from the users then I'm sure it will go from strength to strength. At that point if I was a manufacture of any of the top end sims (Phoenix, XTR, AFPD, G3/4 etc) I would be seriously concerned on the impact Heli-X will have on sales of my products

[Malc C]

Uhmmm maybe I shouldn't of been so quick with my mini review.....

Its crashed on me twice when I change models.. the sound of the helicopters is very basic and IMO doesn't reflect the comments on the website about being true to life, and certainley not as realistic as AFPD.

I did like the auto configuration option of the controller, but didn't like the mix with keyboard and joystick (ie you have a joystick option for pitch, but not for throttle, unless you assign a button to idle up).

Its still good though, but run it with the sound off !

[beer-man]

Malc C, have you tried helisimrc is free, stand alone, runs great but has no sound.

I think my problems asre from my video card. I'm planing to try it on my other system later tonight.

http://www.marksfiles.net/HeliSim/index.htm

[daybyter]

It runs ok here. I'm able to fly and the flight characteristics are good. But I'm using a unichrome onboard graphics adapter which is far from the 128MB adapter, which is recommended. I guess I've to get me a NVidia card. OS is Gentoo Linux with a USB adapter from eBay and a Futaba FX-18.
Support is great in the German forums so far.

[HoverBovver]

I used to have reflex xtr a while back and the physics are....well actually quite nice. The helis fly pretty realistically IMO.
Its a long way from beating the big boys though and this is a long way from being a thoroughly realistic flight sim. The heli graphics models are ok'ish but not the best, the sounds are rubbish, there doesn't seem to be a way to really play with the mixing in the sim, interaction with the ground is far from accurate (all surfaces are flat), there's no object collision, no flight training facilities and only photo scenery - no 3D.
Overally its a nice trainer for heli's and can't really complain as its free.

It won't affect the big name brands but I imagine it might kill clearview.
The only thing clearview has that this hasn't is the water effects and planes but I found none of the planes in clearview flew right at all.

[Deserteagle]

What controllers are you using with it. It runs fine at 1600x1200 with anti set to 16 and looks nice. But I've tried to use all of my dongles with it and can't get it to reconize a controller yet. I have the dongle's for phoenixrc, esky and wasp v3 but these all seem to be the same usb with a circuit board in them. I do have one that plugs into my com port but can't get it to run either.

Oh yeah where are these german forums at?

[HoverBovver]

I'm using a usb gamepad and it didn't seem to see at first till I went through the auto-configuration.

[bluesky123]

What controllers are you using with it
I've just flown it with USB v.4 interface from MileHighWings. Works well, calibration dialog is pretty straightforward--it takes care of channel assignment, which often confuses people. Only one thing was strange: until I assigned IdleUp switch, there was seemingly no control--the heli just sat on the ground. With IdleUp assigned to one of the keyboard keys, everything started working.

[guest_jo]

I´m using the G3 controller. Works perfect, configuration was self-explaining,
very good indeed !!

[Spacemarine]

Only one thing was strange: until I assigned IdleUp switch, there was seemingly no control--the heli just sat on the ground.

Just take a look at the README.txt :)

[IPFlyer]

Who ever RTFMs? :)

[Malc C]

Only one thing was strange: until I assigned IdleUp switch, there was seemingly no control--the heli just sat on the ground. With IdleUp assigned to one of the keyboard keys, everything started working.

Glad I wasn't the only one that experienced this !

IMO most newbies are advised to set up pitch and throttle curves before using idel up when learning to fly helicopters - this was why I was looking for the mapping for a throttle channel :rolleyes:

As for the sound, seems to be a simple loop that runs over and over and over... (yawn) and has no change in pitch or volume regardless of where the heli is. There is some collision detection - but its not as refined as the other sims.

Since my first "review" I'm in agreement with the others, in that the big boys can breath a sigh of relief, but as this is free, Clearview could be under threat.

[serendpt]

Heh yeah I had the same issue with the throttle until I read the README file. I find it rather surprising that they didn't include throttle control right from the start. I'm sure they have their reasons for this, but I do hope they work towards including this feature. All in all, I'm quite pleased with it (especially considering the price!) and wish them well!

[hotairflyer]

I have use FMS a lot and this is definitly better. Not quite as good as Clearview IMO, the models dont move as smoothly. Down low its fine, but when I get higher they seem to jerk across the sky in steps not smoothly. For the price I will use it over buying Clearview, though I am probably going to have to bite the bullet and buy Phoenix to really get the realism I want.

[steelgtr]

No workee in Vista? Dos window flashes by and that's it! Java passes test?


bob

[steelgtr]

When I run it, it opens a DOS window, some stuff flashes by and then it closes it. That's it. Anybody else get this?

Randy


Same here in Vista. java checks out ok.


bob

[HoverBovver]

right click the executable and under one of the tabs ensure 'run as administrator' is clicked. works for me in vista.

[steelgtr]

right click the executable and under one of the tabs ensure 'run as administrator' is clicked. works for me in vista.


did that. still no go. the .bat file right?



bob

[Slyster]

This is all I get.... with a 4 channel USB controller... No motion.. nothing.. totally deal.. menus work.. but that's it.

[HoverBovver]

did that. still no go. the .bat file right?



bob

I had difficulty getting clearview to work on vista which also uses java....I messed around with directory permissions, applying full control to various directories - stuff like that - and eventually got it to work. I suspect a similar issue but I couldn't say for sure exactly what i did to make it work :confused: .
Heli-X worked straight away for me but I guess that's because of the work I did to get clearview to work.

[HoverBovver]

This is all I get.... with a 4 channel USB controller... No motion.. nothing.. totally deal.. menus work.. but that's it.

Thats a weird picture...can't make that out at all.
As far as the usb pad is concerned you have to go through the auto configuration button on the controller configuration screen, assign your analogue pad to the relevant axis and the most important thing is to assign a button to idle up which you then reverse so idle up is on all the time.

[danielw]

Than you so much to the the guys that developed HELI-X!
A really neat sim! especialy because it's done with java!
Im running it on Fedora 8, was a bit worried it wouldn't run to smoothly because of my old P4 1.7 machine, with ATI Radeon 9600 graphics card. on 1024x768 with 8x anti-aliasing it runs at 40 fps, which is plenty fast enough, and it looks really good to!

I really hope they release it as open source software, i think itll grow really quickly into a sim that will be some competition for the likes of Realflight and such!

I havent flown it to much(still at work), but so far the actual simulation bit seems pretty good to!

Was really easy to set up
-make sure jre is installed and working
-configure/calibrate your joystick through your OS
-and assign at least the idle up functions in the configure->controller menu in the game

Finally a RC Heli sim that you don't have to have windows to play!

[steelgtr]

vista: try compatabilty mode, XPSP2. worked


bob

[flyx]

It works fine in Vista. It might be the vedio card combo on your PC.
I get the flashing screen in FMS with Nvidia but no problems with
Heli-x.

However, I did found myself in a stick situation.lol
It all has to do with my Vedio card. I'm runing it on a laptop.
v6000 1 G ram , 64trion, go-G6150. It's an intergrate card, so I
can't yank it out or add a different card...it's set on too low.lol
only at 68mb...out of posisable 256mb.lol
I'm not a PC buff..but I think I need to go into the Bio to change it.
Until I get brave..lol or take my PC to the doctor.

My vedio card and sound card combo, had always had a slight clitch.
Every so often when i use the window midia player to play an song, it'll
make a scratch sound or stick at the begining..then play okay.
Since the sound in Heli-x gose in a loop..that's what cuasing
some of my poor sound or screen sticking every so often.
So far my PC manufacture have yet to fix that clitch.
And it's showing it a little bit more when i use heli-x.

I did this...I resized the skybox images down and run it in a small window..
all of the stickness went away. This dosn't look as sharp as the
2048x2048 images of course..but it's do able. You just have to
adjust the model's postioning in the XML file so it sets or starts
at the good position as defualt or zoom out a little or adjust the camera's
setting.

I create another folder in the enviornment designated as small size
image skyboxes...So when I transfer Heli-X to a better pc the
2048x2048 skyboxes will still be there

I also trun on the smooth horizontal camera movement..waaalaa.
Now you feel the tail or the gyro trying to align itself as Micheal stated.

You have to reset the model's positioning in the XML file if your model
ends up on the bottom panel. I use the aurther's Test file as a template and
just rename the name in the XML file then adjust the positioning accordingly
to add new sceneries or adjust those sceneries that need corrections.
Use NOTEPAD to open the XML file.

You can also switch out .wave files,if you don't like the engine sounds
of certain models..no big deal. I swtiched out the crashed .wave file
on mine to a sound of a baby crying (waa..whaa) when the model
crashes. I think that's the sound I would make if i crashed my real Heli.lol
I'll make a recording of myself on my digital recorder one of these days
to say " OH %*&&%@!" and just put it in the sound folder and assign the
name as (crash).

I also switched one of the skins of the HELIX models to the GPH
original photo .bmp file..so one of my model has a photo mapping
skin..to make it look better or just becuase.lol
If you read the comments and credits of the model , you'll know.

You can also change the model's parimeters by opening the model's
XML file via NOTEPAD. Changed those numbers..it'll change how your model
feels. I suggest you zip the original XML file first, incase you mess up
or need to reset it.

There's also a 3D object of a box in the untility already.
It's a box so you can practice landing your heli.
it's a start..mapping in objects in pano sceneries, heliX is capiable of...like all sims.

[racin06]

flyx,

Where do I download those sceneries in which you are illustrating above.

[flyx]

You can get the toyosu one from the FMS site..I made that and
a few more.

You can get equirectangular panoramas up the waazoo at Flickr.com.

Gadl load his pano at 10000x5000.
The toyosu was at 8192x4096..which i also got from flicker.
They are under common creative ..bascially..you can't sell them
or make money off of them ..but you can share it for FREE.lol

On those night sceneries the original were only arouud 3000x1500
or 4000x2000 or 5000x2500..

If you blow it up to 8000x4000 then use Gimp to sharpen it
a little bit..just a little bit and maybe mess with the other filters
..It dosen't look so bad.

The trick is to enlarge the pano before you load it into the converter.
This is where my Nvidia card will shine.lol Becuase basically it's going
to render what your graphic card will generate. At still photos..the 6150
do excellent.lmaf

but you can load them at 1024x1024 and it'll still be okay.

I tired it at 4096x4096...that didn't go too will.. :p

Maybe Mike will make a file to run spheres in the future..
Notice..he has an equirectangular folder set up in the environment already.
This way we can just slap it in, rename it and just go.lol

I have a cube the sphere converter to do that. :D

Shoot me a PM and I'll hook you up with the converter if you want.
It's a freeware that was posted for years and years that hardly anyone
knew.lol It export with .bmp files...ready for FMS...but for it to work
in Helix you have to convert it back in .jpg files.
Plenty of batch files converter everywhere.

if you have a MAC..the converter is FREE. Mac use skybox format
for thier QVR or quicktime

In Heli mode....FMS dosen't throttle up either...that's why the sound pitch
of the engine dosn't change when you move the throttle stick up or down.
It's an illusion becuase you went through the trouble of coupling the collective.lol In Heli-X..at least you have 2 settings.

[Slyster]

OK.. I got it to work.. but where is an FP to download.. like the popular Esky Honeybee FP. Seems these are all pro models I am not ready for, and I only have a 4 channel controller. I know I can set keys for idle up.

[edfardos]

Java - write once, run nowhere!

I'm stoked you got it working on Linux. Could you share your java version? My standard kubuntu install has

# java -version
java version "1.5.0_13"
Java(TM) 2 Runtime Environment, Standard Edition (build 1.5.0_13-b05)
Java HotSpot(TM) Server VM (build 1.5.0_13-b05, mixed mode)

Running xheli results in:

$ ./runHELI-X.sh
Exception in thread "main" java.lang.UnsupportedClassVersionError: Bad version number in .class file
at java.lang.ClassLoader.defineClass1(Native Method)
at java.lang.ClassLoader.defineClass(ClassLoader.java :620)
at java.security.SecureClassLoader.defineClass(Secure ClassLoader.java:124)
at java.net.URLClassLoader.defineClass(URLClassLoader .java:260)
at java.net.URLClassLoader.access$100(URLClassLoader. java:56)
at java.net.URLClassLoader$1.run(URLClassLoader.java: 195)
at java.security.AccessController.doPrivileged(Native Method)
at java.net.URLClassLoader.findClass(URLClassLoader.j ava:188)
at java.lang.ClassLoader.loadClass(ClassLoader.java:3 06)
at sun.misc.Launcher$AppClassLoader.loadClass(Launche r.java:268)
at java.lang.ClassLoader.loadClass(ClassLoader.java:2 51)
at java.lang.ClassLoader.loadClassInternal(ClassLoade r.java:319)



Bitchen,

edfardos



Than you so much to the the guys that developed HELI-X!
A really neat sim! especialy because it's done with java!
Im running it on Fedora 8, was a bit worried it wouldn't run to smoothly because of my old P4 1.7 machine, with ATI Radeon 9600 graphics card. on 1024x768 with 8x anti-aliasing it runs at 40 fps, which is plenty fast enough, and it looks really good to!

I really hope they release it as open source software, i think itll grow really quickly into a sim that will be some competition for the likes of Realflight and such!

I havent flown it to much(still at work), but so far the actual simulation bit seems pretty good to!

Was really easy to set up
-make sure jre is installed and working
-configure/calibrate your joystick through your OS
-and assign at least the idle up functions in the configure->controller menu in the game

Finally a RC Heli sim that you don't have to have windows to play!

[flyx]

I got mine working perfect now....whoo hoo
I changed my Bios to 128mb..that's what the go-6150 is.
That didn't stop the stickiness every so often.
Then I changed my display setting to 1280x800 or whatever to
the highest one is...but I changed it to HIGH color at 60hzt
instead of True color.

This gave me window basic color scheme for the borders or what
have ya...but it also removed that PICTURE in PICTURE deal that Vista
has your tool bar or tab.

Bascially it was driving the heck out of my vedio card or memory
to run two vedios or movies at the sametime , even when i don't
see it. When i click on the tool bar tab..that little PIP dosn't come on anymore.

Now I can run at full screen...no sticky, sticky,
and that funkie screen shaking when you fly over your head went
away too.
I get 70 to 80 FPS average (insane). Even when the fan kicks on..
it's still at 40-50 FPS. I tried it for over 30 mins..to see.

Luckily my screen is a HD LCD that the more expensive laptops has. :D

I crank the 3D manager on the Nvidia to performance...which
will make the model have more jagged lines up close.

However I can set at the highest resolution 1280x800 in Heli-x's option.
antialiasing on x4
Vsync =on

I also changed the time constant in the camera's option to .009
instead of .003.
I remember about that in Preflight..I thought that thing was a piece
of doo..doo until someone told me about how important the timing is. :p

Now everything runs smooth or like it should.

[All__talk]

Anybody have any luck running this sim with less than 128MB of video memory? My old desktop only has 32MB and it just locks up. I have a laptop with 64MB, I might give that a try.

Gary

[hotairflyer]

Anybody have any luck running this sim with less than 128MB of video memory? My old desktop only has 32MB and it just locks up. I have a laptop with 64MB, I might give that a try.

Gary

My desktop only has 32mb video on the MB and it runs it, but not real well. Down low its ok but up higher it jerks a lot and doesnt respond that well to inputs. I have a new 256mb video card on the way, will see what happens then.

[flyx]

I don't think my problem was with the mb in vedio card..
becuase it was set at 64mb and i was still getting off the chart (100s)
FPS rates in a smaller window..but it would drop after 5-10 mins.
It was runing everything else okay, it was set on 64mb the entire time...
I just didn't think the factory would set it like that.lol
It's also a share memory. It didn't changed anything after i changed
it to 128mb thou.

I remembered before I got this PC..I had only an Intel III with 500hrz
256mb of ram.lol and only a 3dx voodoo...it was old.
I had to run it in window basic colors there too..but it ran preflight
and FMS without a clitch.

I also have a v3000 with intel V XP. That pc dose everything perfect.lol
It's only a 512mb ..it has to have a share memory becuase it's a laptop.

Try checking your Bios setting..you might be able to change it

[GallopingGhost]

Worked for me right off. Had to configure the Ikarus controller and reverse the pitch. Very touchy controls as is, needs some tweaking. Pretty awesome for freee.....

[edfardos]

Oops, I had the "wrong" java. I needed .1 more java, so I went from java 1.5 to java 1.6 and everything works great! Cool a *free* heli sim for Linux. It's not as good as Aerofly yet blows away FMS. Fantastic!

edfardos



[QUOTE=edfardos]Java - write once, run nowhere!

I'm stoked you got it working on Linux. Could you share your java version? My standard kubuntu install has

# java -version
java version "1.5.0_13"
Java(TM) 2 Runtime Environment, Standard Edition (build 1.5.0_13-b05)
Java HotSpot(TM) Server VM (build 1.5.0_13-b05, mixed mode)

Running xheli results in:

$ ./runHELI-X.sh
Exception in thread "main" java.lang.UnsupportedClassVersionError: Bad version number in .class file
at java.lang.ClassLoader.defineClass1(Native Method)

[flyx]

well if you look at some of my pictures closer...they are FMS..lmao
and the HELIX series heli is a FMS's model.lol

a couple more hundreds models and an air plane here and there..
and a 3D enviorment or scene..here and there .it's a box already.lol

When i figure out how to lower the ground and really fly inside
of a world (slop)..i might say it..but not yet.

[Flipper_118]

Wow...thats damn good for being free!

Just downloaded the version with the java included and ran in with bootcamp on my imac....amazing! 200fps constantly! This destroys FMS and also beats out clearview (for physics anyways). I used ppjoy and connected my old hitec 4channel tx and after I got the channels all mapped it works great! Even the autorotation is quite good. Also nice to see that different models actually behave differently...as opposed to just being larger or smaller in size with different paint (like FMS).

Well worth the download.

PS - Under utilities you can load a large box onto the field to practice landings on....the ground effect actually changes over the box....very impressive physics for a free sim...photo fields are also nice to see.



Curt

[All__talk]

I Tried to run it on my laptop (64MB video, 2.2GHz) and I get VERY bad lag, 2/3 fps and my processor goes to 100%. :(

Maybe the version without the internal Java would be better? Even with only 64MB its should run with a lower frame rate, right?

Gary

[Flipper_118]

Should run on those specs Gary...I am running it on a X1600 radeon (128MB) with a gig of ram and it FLIES...allthough since I run a mac, I only use windows for my simulators....so there is nothing else loaded onto the OS to bog it down...I dont even use the net on the windows box...that may be helping my situation.

Curt

PS - I tried loading the box onto the field and if you change the Y position of the box you can bring it up into the air....inverted landings?? :p I also like the fact that the whole heli reacts to the ground and box...you can just touch 1 skid down and it will tip one way, or nick the tail rotor and loose your tail control...very fun to play around with.

[daybyter]

I Tried to run it on my laptop (64MB video, 2.2GHz) and I get VERY bad lag, 2/3 fps and my processor goes to 100%. :(

Maybe the version without the internal Java would be better? Even with only 64MB its should run with a lower frame rate, right?

Gary

Try to load the smallest scenery (called 'Small'). Most other sceneries require a huge upload to the graphics adapter. And it's tricky to upload 100MB textures to a 64MB graphics adapter... :rolleyes:

[flyx]

Here's some sceneries I made for Heli-X. There's 3 in the zip. Just drag them out and drop them in the enviornment , skybox folder and your ready to go.

You can also use them in FMS, and Preflight..if you convert them to .bmp
files. They'll work in Clearview too.

Maxed out setting on .jpg file will be around 8-10 mb for me
It's when you convert it into .bmp files that it'll get into 100mb range.
FMS is a memory hog.lol That's why I only do FMS at 1024x1024

You can resize them down to 1024x1024 or 512x512...sense there's
at 2048x2048. it'll still look decent becuase you're scaling it down
and not enlarging them. Just zoom out a couple of clicks and run
in a smaller window. But I solved my problems by running heli-x
with Window's basic color..and adjusting my vedio card setting.
I can run at full screen at 2048x2048 without problems now.
I can also run my window media player and jam out to tunes
while in heli-x , it dosen't get effected at all.

Then i just set everything back after I get done with heli-x..
like to convert these sceneries.

Try adusting your vedio card and the view setting in heli-x's view option...
becuase if I run it with _16x antilalilingggg...it's stick...stick.lol

I also clean my PC.lol..all the net's cookie, and those temp resgistries.
I also clean up my start up software. My PC came loaded with all
kinds of software that'll run on start up..and keep on running.
This will deffernently slow the PC down.

There's a liitle slider the i click to disconnect my wireless from the net
on my LT to free up more memory or my cpu.

It's just a kick butt Virtual tour cam...with a 3D floating mouse.
It's not like there's moving object spawns all over the place or
with fire or explosions

Get it here

http://www.mediafire.com/?29l2jxwxtvo

Preview

[BowerR64]

What am i doing wrong?

I fire up the Heli-X and it doesnt see my controler so i click "auto configuration" set it all up all the meters are working and then i go to buttons and i assign "idle up1" to a button i click ok and the heli does nothing. When i go back i have to reconfigure everything all over again. I even tried to save a control file and it lags and when i try and revert back to that file it lags

Ive yet to get the heli off the ground.

[flyx]

I loaded both versions. My PC works with the regular version, not with
the Java. I also had to assigned idle up 1 and 2 to my keyboard.

My PC has Java already.

I also have to click the mouse on the sim's window..to makesure
that's the program I'm on. Then I click the the (botton)key that i assigned
a couple of times. The camera usually shifts really fast to the model then the engine starts.

This is how i got the bottom panel to look like one of the sceneries,
instead of having a white circle...due to missing portions, such as
Reflex's equirectangular.
I inverted the entire pano. Then resized the hieght to 1000.
Then clip it to the bottom using PAINTSTAR before loading it into
the converter. This way..I'm standing on top of the world. :p

[BowerR64]

Well if my program loads and i can set all the controler settings and stuff then i have the right programs and stuff right? I dont understand why it resets the controler after ive set everything? somthing isnt working quite right for me.

[daybyter]

Did Heli-X generate a file files/controller/<controller-name> after your configured your controller? Maybe it couldn't because the directory did not exist or was read-only?

[flyx]

As I said Bower, I loaded both versions.

The one with Java will load and have me go through the song and
dance of calibrating and I'll see all the signals in the calibration menu
....but no dice !! :rolleyes:
So it left me with an itch i wouldn't scratch..wondering :eek:

But i caved after an hour and just use the other one. :p

[BowerR64]

Did Heli-X generate a file files/controller/<controller-name> after your configured your controller? Maybe it couldn't because the directory did not exist or was read-only?

You lost me, when i saved the controler file? its seeing my controler in the calibration because i can select wich axis controls what, i can see the bars moving i can reverse that channel and the bars move with those settings. Its when i go to calibrate the functions for idleup is what doesnt seem to be working. My controler has no switches on it. I cant set the controler for idleup and in the sim readme file it says "in order to fly the helicopter you must assign a switch for idle up or the engine wont start" im not getting the motor to start, i dont see any movement from the heli once im in the sim and move the controls. Does the model move when you move the controler? can you see any swash animations? or anything?

As I said Bower, I loaded both versions.

The one with Java will load and have me go through the song and
dance of calibrating and I'll see all the signals in the calibration menu
....but no dice !! :rolleyes:
So it left me with an itch i wouldn't scratch..wondering :eek:

But i caved after an hour and just use the other one. :p

I went and updated my java so now i can get both versions (java and non java) to load and work but im still getting the same thing.

What puzzles me is if this sim doesnt work with the smart propo, or spp console (game controler emulator) why are the bars moving in the calibration? its like it sees the controler in the calibration section but its not implimenting it into the sim once i click ok, or finished in the calibration. It seems as if its resetting once im done with calibration.

Another thing is i have to click auto calibration. If i just select wich axis goes to wich controler the bars wont move.

This setup works with clearview, FMS, RealFlight G3.5 so i know this setup will work because im using it with other sims.

I just want to try this sim and give my opinion on it, i dont really need it. The problem is if im having problems others will to so it would be good to try and sort it out.

[daybyter]

You unzipped Heli-X in some directory. In this directory, there must be a subdirectory 'files' and in the 'files' subdirectory, there must be a subdirectory 'controller' . You must have write access to both. If those directories don't exist, create them. Heli-X cannot save your controller settings otherwise, which would explain the bahaviour you described.

[Flipper_118]

Are you assigning the idle up controls to keyboard keys? Thats the way I did it. There is 2 windows, 1 window with the key (A,B,C..., SPACE,1,2,etc) and the other window with the functions (idle1, idle2, reset, etc). Highlight the things you want (like highlight or click space and reset if you want space to work as the reset), then when you click add it should place it into the 3rd window on the screen...didnt work the 1st time for me...but worked fine the second time.

Saved it and now all I do is fire up PPjoy, then Heli-X and turn on my TX and fly.

There are no swash animations when the heli is just sitting there...but you will see the blades spool up once you get idle up working.

Curt

[BowerR64]

I dont see any files that say "Controler" in any of the sub directory.

Some one said a few posts up that all i need to do is "create a directory"?

A directory is just a folder right? or is it a system file for the program?

So all i need to do is create a new folder called "controler" then save the saved controler file in there?

I dont understand why im having this problem and no one else is.

Both versions i downloaded do this and both have no controler directory in them. maybe i downloaded a bad version?

[flyx]

maybe..there's a controller folder in mine.

It just stores the setting of my TX.

It's just a XLM...type files.

The models or scenery use XLM types files. i guess you can
pull one of them out of the zip and edit it like this.

Or maybe if you just create a controller folder.. it might just start.

It's in Heli-x, sub folder"file", ...make another sub folder inside the "file"
folder.

I assigned arrow ^ as idle up 1 , arrow dowm as idle up2 on my keyboard.


Yeap...I tried it in the Java version..which I wouldn't get running.
There was nothing in the "controller" folder......with 2 l's used for the wording.
I copied the XLM files into the controller folder and the JAVA version
fired right up....I didn't even have to calibrate it..becuase it's set
in that file already.

Once you gettting going. Then you can recalibrate and set everthing
to your liking. Then save a setting under another file or name in the
calibrate menu.

On top of that..I'm getting FPS in the 100's consistantly, using 32bit colors
and full screen. I think i'll run the JAVA version instead. :D
Thanks..that solved my problems.lol

[daybyter]

I dont see any files that say "Controler" in any of the sub directory.

Some one said a few posts up that all i need to do is "create a directory"?

A directory is just a folder right? or is it a system file for the program?

So all i need to do is create a new folder called "controler" then save the saved controler file in there?

I dont understand why im having this problem and no one else is.

Both versions i downloaded do this and both have no controler directory in them. maybe i downloaded a bad version?

The good news is, that there's is at least 1 other person, with exactly this problem. The bad news is, that he's in a German forum, where Michael (the Heli-X developer) gives some support.
The directory is just a folder as you said. It's name must be 'controller' (2 'l'). It must be in the 'files' folder.

[BowerR64]

cool, i got it to work....

I guess learning to spell helps some times. :rolleyes:

[BowerR64]

Some one said clearview might be in threat because of this one. Clearview flys much better IMO its very close now to RealFlight. Once the crash update goes in it will be even better then it is now. Im glad i got it.

Heli-X is better then FMS but clearview is still the best bang for the buck.

[danielw]

iv been using realflight and heli-x and have found that heli-x compliments it quite well, i find heli-x harder to fly than realflight and have definitely noticed an improvement in my realflight skills after having practiced a bit on heli-x! so i think flying 2 quite different sims can actually be quite useful! still trying to figure out tho if heli-x is more accurate tho, ok there some obvious bugs when it comes to other objects/ground and landing or crashing into them, i think the actual flying dynamics may be up there with the best of them or maybe even better! its hard to say tho, but the fact thats its is hard to say is pretty impressive, supose maybe its just me :)

i think its a great sim, glad to hear you got it working Bower!

[MichaelS]

I Tried to run it on my laptop (64MB video, 2.2GHz) and I get VERY bad lag, 2/3 fps and my processor goes to 100%. :(

Maybe the version without the internal Java would be better? Even with only 64MB its should run with a lower frame rate, right?

Gary

The version with Java is the right one. However, your hardware might not be the best one for this purpose. It often helps to reduce the color depth of the desktop to 16 bits, which is really sufficient.

Michael

[danielw]

all_talk, what graphics card has you laptop got? try update to the latest driver as well.
im using an IBM laptop 1.7Ghz and 64mb graphics card, an ati radeon 9600 and the game plays quite nice, so your pc should be able to get more than 2fps, im gettin between 40 and 60.

i think flyx earlier in the post recommended scaling down the panoramic scenery, i tried it helped a little. just scale the 6 pics from 2048x2048 down to 1024x1024, im sure itll help, especialy with just 64mb video ram.

[EPPforFUN]

Hi,

http://www.szenerien.de/HELI-X-Szenerien/Bildermaterial/Preview34.jpg

HELI-X-sceneries (http://www.szenerien.de/HELI-X-Szenerien/)

[flying-llama]

I need the Java version for Heli-X to work.
With my Realflight G3 controller, after auto-calibration and
assigning IdleUp1, it still does not work (the main rotor blades
in the simulator do not spin at all).

With my gaming 2 joystick controller, after auto-calibration
and assigning IdleUp, Heli-X runs,
but after about a minute or so, will freeze.

[flyx]

As Michael S. said try running it as 16bit color and scale your window down
a little bit.


I want to be able to make my own 3D model someday.
I've had Blender for a while but never used it...lately I've playing with it.
Anyway, when I transfer a model's .obj and MLT, it dosen't display in
Heli-X.

I try to set everything up like the other models..but I'm having a heck
of a time....becuase i don't have any instructions in english to help me.
I'm not familar with java.

I know you must get the wordings to the key (correct)...even CAPS.
I had a little crash course when working with scenery files. :D

I can actaully get it to fly, crash ..etc but as of the moment the model
won't display..bascially it's like a virtaul cam connected to my TX at the
moment. What I'm i doing wrong ???

If anyone out there that can help me, I would greatly appriciate it.

[daybyter]

There's a German tutorial on heli construction available here:

http://www.heli-x.info/documents/Kurzanleitung_Modellerstellung_fuer_Heli-X_mit_Blender.pdf

I know, no English tutorial avialable...I suggested, that Michael adds a Wiki, so some people could help with the Translation. Maybe in the near future...

Ok, back to your problem...did you use the correct names for the object? I.e. do you have a mainrotor object as described in this tutorial?

[BowerR64]

I think windows has language packets you can install that converts everything to anoter language? sometimes ill run into pages that want me to install a new language packet.

[MichaelS]

I want to be able to make my own 3D model someday.
I've had Blender for a while but never used it...lately I've playing with it.
Anyway, when I transfer a model's .obj and MLT, it dosen't display in
Heli-X.

Yes, an english translation is still missing. However, at www.heli-x.net/developer.shtml you can find a link to an english manual (general, not partucularly for blender). If you want, I can look over your model. Just send it: info[at]heli-x.net

Michael

[flying-llama]

As Michael S. said try running it as 16bit color and scale your window down
a little bit.
...

Thanks. I tried lower resolutions (like 320x200x8x60, etc.)
and window sizes (like 800x600).
Usually the scene would be present, but nothing would move
(I once noticed 0 FPS).
Once it did run for several seconds and then freeze
(later on, the same setting produced a non moving screen).

[mnuetzmann]

Well, I seem to be having trouble getting my controller configured as well. I am trying to use a USB Interlink controller I use with my RealFlight 2 simulator. The program is creating an I-Controller.xml file in the controller folder, but when I try and use the Autocalibrate function none of of the scales show any movement. At first I did not know what to expect so I just followed the instructions on the dialog and kept clicking Next. When I got to the end it seemed to say it was done but the dialog would not accept clicking on the Finish button. After reading more in this thread it was obvious that I should have seen the bars moving on the scales like I would when I configured the controller in RealFlight (but I do not). Is this controller not compatible with the software? Other than that it seems like it installed ok. I can select any heli I like and it sits there on the ground being partially blown across the ground by the default wind settings :)

Thanks for any help you can offer... Mark

[flyx]

No...that's why, I don't know which objects are what.
Some i can guess at.

I did manage to do this thou ..for baby steps of getting started on Blender.
I changed the colors of the fins in the object file becuase there no image
texture mapped to them.

And I barely learned how to use Gimp last week.
I was wondering how the guy got all those images on one image files.
I scale down the heli-x logo and pasted it on the canopy.

[danielw]

flyx, dunno if you found this on the site http://www.heli-x.info/documents/model_setup_guide.zip

may be useful if you haven't already got it

[flyx]

Thanks..that very was helpful. I can't get the rotor to work just yet...
but knowing that you can change the size of your model just by changing
the models scale is neat to have. I was wondering why some of the models where so little. :rolleyes:

[mtfly2000]

I've been trying to run this for a couple days now. The regular version won't run. The Java version runs but wont recognize my controller (wireless game pad). A message comes on when it loads saying "No controller Found". When it starts, you go to "configuration" and the "controller configuration" is dimmed! How are you supposed to set-up a controller (even keyboard) if it's dimmed!?

[MichaelS]

I've been trying to run this for a couple days now. The regular version won't run. The Java version runs but wont recognize my controller (wireless game pad). A message comes on when it loads saying "No controller Found". When it starts, you go to "configuration" and the "controller configuration" is dimmed! How are you supposed to set-up a controller (even keyboard) if it's dimmed!?
You have to setup the controller before HELI-X starts within Windows. If HELI-X says that no controller is found, the game is over, and the problem has to be solved within windows. Sorry, you can load scenes and helis but not fly without a recognized contgroller. The controller configuration in HELI-X is to day which function is on which stick.

Michael

[flyx]

Have you calibrated the controller in window ?

Control panel...then gamepad
Then properties..which you have to load the software that came
with the gamepad or download the correct version for your OS.

Then click on advance..then clibrate, gain, expose, assign bottons..etc
Your gamepad might not be sending any gain, if you havn't calibrate it
in WINDOW.

Then you have to pop the return to center spring out of the throttle. :D

The java version didn't want to start for me, but that's why I pasted
a picture of the xml file for the controller. i simply made a copy of what
was in the regular version that was runing for me, then put that
file in the HELI-X/files/controller folder. The java version started right up.
Once you get in , then you can recalibrate and reassign to your liking, then
SAVE it.

[EPPforFUN]

Hi,

I uploaded some new sceneries, e.g. Baggersee 03 and 04 and a fog-scenery.

http://www.szenerien.de/HELI-X-Szenerien/Vorschau-Bilder/Baggersee_03.jpg


http://www.szenerien.de

[flyx]

Here's some new skins for the DPHP.

They're set up..so all you have to do is just drag the 4 folders into
the model/helicopter folder.
They're basically a different model for each skin.

I didn't change too much of the perimeters..becuase you can
scale the models to whatever size you want.

I switched out the sound file on one of them.

http://www.mediafire.com/?4dwamtxtjrj

[DavidB.]

I have a USB -> Com port FMS adapter that I can't get working with Heli-X. It works great in FMS, but does not show up in Heli-X and I can't seem to get windows to recognize this as a controller either. If I can't get this working...can anyone recommend an affordable USB controller that works with Heli-X?

The adapter is the "TTi FMS multiplex" see http://www.tti-us.com/sim/FMSop.html#op-map

[alessio70]

hi, I'm trying this sim on a MacBook (the last model, the one with GMA X3100 graphic chip) running WinXP home SP2 with boot camp but does not work... it exit after very few seconds leaving an error log file in the launch folder for example: hs_err_pid2316.log

the first lines of this file are:

#
# An unexpected error has been detected by Java Runtime Environment:
#
# EXCEPTION_ACCESS_VIOLATION (0xc0000005) at pc=0x12ea6e90, pid=2316, tid=3556
#
# Java VM: Java HotSpot(TM) Client VM (1.6.0_03-b05 mixed mode, sharing)
# Problematic frame:
# C [ig4icd32.dll+0x16e90]
#
# If you would like to submit a bug report, please visit:
# http://java.sun.com/webapps/bugreport/crash.jsp
#

........


I have tested both sim versions (with and without java) with the same result...
someone else have tested this sim on the same machine or had similar errors? have you found a solution?


alessio

[danielw]

alessio, did you extract the zip as administrator maybe? check the permissions of all the files, make sure your user that your running it as has full(read & write) permissions to all the files.
i run windows on my linux machine trough VirtualBox, same sort of thing as bootcamp. i found though, that i had to run virtualbox as admin to get usb to work, dunno if u can try a similar thing with bootcamp? maybe thats the permissions its complaining about?

all i can realy think of.

though technically you should be able to run it in your mac os, its all java so should work as long as u have jre installed, theres only a bin and an sh to launch it though so i guess that wont be so easy either.

hope you get it to work! Its a really cool sim!

Thank you once again MichaelS for the awesome sim!!

[danielw]

I have a USB -> Com port FMS adapter that I can't get working with Heli-X. It works great in FMS, but does not show up in Heli-X and I can't seem to get windows to recognize this as a controller either. If I can't get this working...can anyone recommend an affordable USB controller that works with Heli-X?

The adapter is the "TTi FMS multiplex" see http://www.tti-us.com/sim/FMSop.html#op-map

you should be able to get it to work with HELI-X, as long as you can get windows to pick it up it will work with heliX, maybe try reinstall the driver it came with? then see if win will pick it up

[Abildgaard]

Hi,
I might be blind, but I simply can´t find the actual download on the Heli-X site. Would someone care to show me?

Regards!

[flyx]

http://www.heli-x.net


http://www.heli-x.net/download_e.shtml

[Abildgaard]

Hi,
I might be blind, but I simply can´t find the actual download on the Heli-X site. Would someone care to show me?

Regards!

I don´t know where it was all the time. Now I have found it.

:confused:

[danielw]

flyx, did you manage to scale up any of the helis? would be handy on a couple of the models!

i tried with blender, using the export script on the site, the model just comes out plain white tho, no textures. what settings did you use on the export?

thanx

[MichaelS]

flyx, did you manage to scale up any of the helis? would be handy on a couple of the models!

Hello,

the scaling of the helis is made within HELI-X (you do not hav to use blender for this). There are two possibilities:

<ScaleDeterminantPartName>Mainrotor</ScaleDeterminantPartName>
<SizeOfScaleDeterminantPart>3</SizeOfScaleDeterminantPart>

Than means, that the diameter of the rotor is 3m. Just write 1.3 instead of 3 and you have a heli with 1.3m rotor diameter.

An alternative (and not so good) possibility ist to use the parameter <Scale>, which is just the factor scaling between model coordinates and real coordinates. But the preferred method is the first one.

Michael

[danielw]

thanx for the reply, iv found those entries in the models xml

<SizeOfScaleDeterminantPart>3</SizeOfScaleDeterminantPart>

on the model i want to edit its 0.7, which sounds about right for the actual size for the simulation. so if i make it 1.2, that would effect the dynamics in the sim? will it actually make the model render a bigger size to match with the file settings?

thanx for the help!

[alessio70]

alessio, did you extract the zip as administrator maybe? check the permissions of all the files, make sure your user that your running it as has full(read & write) permissions to all the files.
i run windows on my linux machine trough VirtualBox, same sort of thing as bootcamp. i found though, that i had to run virtualbox as admin to get usb to work, dunno if u can try a similar thing with bootcamp? maybe thats the permissions its complaining about?

all i can realy think of.

though technically you should be able to run it in your mac os, its all java so should work as long as u have jre installed, theres only a bin and an sh to launch it though so i guess that wont be so easy either.

hope you get it to work! Its a really cool sim!

Thank you once again MichaelS for the awesome sim!!

hi daniel thanks for the answer... boot camp is not a virtual machine like VirtualBox... it is simply a way to run xp on the efi of the mac... in other words to simply boot the macbook with xp...

for the possibility of running the sim directly in macosx I haven't tryed it because I had read in the heli-x homepage that macos was not supported yet because some java features wwere not supported under mac... I see that java is present in leopard but I don't know if the version is right for heli-x.... (the version in leopard and in apple website is 1.5.0 not 1.6.0)... anyway will try :-)

alessio

[MichaelS]

thanx for the reply, iv found those entries in the models xml

<SizeOfScaleDeterminantPart>3</SizeOfScaleDeterminantPart>

on the model i want to edit its 0.7, which sounds about right for the actual size for the simulation. so if i make it 1.2, that would effect the dynamics in the sim? will it actually make the model render a bigger size to match with the file settings?


No, this valus is only for the graphics. If you want to adjust the pyhsics, you have to check ALL parameters. The best way is perhaps to choose one of the helis which come with HELI-X and take theses values as a starting point.

Michael

[MichaelS]

... I see that java is present in leopard but I don't know if the version is right for heli-x.... (the version in leopard and in apple website is 1.5.0 not 1.6.0)... anyway will try :-)

alessio

You won't be able to run it with 1.5, sorry. When implementiing HELI-X I was not aware that the Java implementations in MAC-OS are so behind. You have to wait for 1.6 or - perhaps I will substitute the 1.6-features in HELI-X some time ;-)

Michael

[alessio70]

You won't be able to run it with 1.5, sorry. When implementiing HELI-X I was not aware that the Java implementations in MAC-OS are so behind. You have to wait for 1.6 or - perhaps I will substitute the 1.6-features in HELI-X some time ;-)

Michael

Hi Michael, yes I tryed wit 1.5 but does not work, so I have just installed 1.6 available at apple website as Java SE6 Developer Preview 9 and now the program start but stop loading during splashscreen with an exception error like:

Exception in thread "AWT-EventQueue-0" java.lang.Error: java.lang.reflect.InvocationTargetException
at org.xith3d.render.Canvas3DFactory.create(Canvas3DF actory.java:127)
at org.xith3d.render.Canvas3DFactory.create(Canvas3DF actory.java:149)
at org.xith3d.render.Canvas3DFactory.create(Canvas3DF actory.java:307)

......


so the only thing I can do is to wait for any improvement from you or apple :-)

have you any idea about the problem in windows I've reported some post above?

alessio

[MichaelS]

Hello Alessio,

you have window problems? Here are the main advices:
1. Get the newest driver for the grpahics adapter
2. On notebooks with ATI cards, that omegadrivers.net drivers often help.
3. Make sure, you have the directory files/controller, files/screenshots
4. Delete files/Application/ApplicationsSettings.xml
5. Start HELI-X
6. Configure Controller
7. Load airport, take the one called "small"
8 It still works? try to get a helicopter.

Still problems?

Michael

[alessio70]

Hello Alessio,

you have window problems? Here are the main advices:
1. Get the newest driver for the grpahics adapter
2. On notebooks with ATI cards, that omegadrivers.net drivers often help.
3. Make sure, you have the directory files/controller, files/screenshots
4. Delete files/Application/ApplicationsSettings.xml
5. Start HELI-X
6. Configure Controller
7. Load airport, take the one called "small"
8 It still works? try to get a helicopter.

Still problems?

Michael

all steps ok until step 8... when I get any heli the program crashes with the log:

Sound configuration read
Trying to open xml File files/Application/CameraSettings.xml
View initialized
Trying to open xml File files/Application/EnvironmentSettings.xml
Environment initialized
Stick found: Name: RC Joystick NG^2
Stick found: Name: RC Joystick NG^2
Using Stick RC Joystick NG^2
Analog component found:Asse X
Analog component found:Asse Y
Analog component found:Asse Z
Analog component found:Rotazione X
Analog component found:Rotazione Y
Analog component found:Rotazione Z
Analog component found:Componi
Analog component found:Indicatore scorrevole
Digital component found:Pulsante 0
Digital component found:Pulsante 1
Digital component found:Pulsante 2
Digital component found:Pulsante 3
Digital component found:Pulsante 4
Digital component found:Pulsante 5
Digital component found:Pulsante 6
Digital component found:Pulsante 7
Controller configuration file found: files/controller/RCJoystickNG2.xml
Trying to open xml File files/controller/RCJoystickNG2.xml
Controller configuration file files/controller/RCJoystickNG2.xml read
Trying to open xml File files/Application/ApplicationSettings.xml
Trying to open xml File ressources/environments/SkyBox/Small/Small.xml
Environment loaded
Visible set true
Keyboard and mouse registered
Application successfully initialized
Pause
Trying to open xml File ressources/models/helicopter/Lama/Lama.xml
Loading ressources/models/helicopter/Lama/Lama.obj
Creating Sound ressources/models/helicopter/Lama/Lama.wav
Sound ressources/models/helicopter/Lama/Lama.wav created
Creating Sound ressources/miscellaneous/crash.wav
Sound ressources/miscellaneous/crash.wav created
Key listener added
Status line added
Resume
#
# An unexpected error has been detected by Java Runtime Environment:
#
# EXCEPTION_ACCESS_VIOLATION (0xc0000005) at pc=0x0ccd6e90, pid=3464, tid=3572
#
# Java VM: Java HotSpot(TM) Client VM (1.6.0_03-b05 mixed mode, sharing)
# Problematic frame:
# C [ig4icd32.dll+0x16e90]
#
# An error report file with more information is saved as hs_err_pid3464.log
#
# If you would like to submit a bug report, please visit:
# http://java.sun.com/webapps/bugreport/crash.jsp
#

[danielw]

thanx for the response michael, just want to scale it up graphics wise so thats perfect! thanx