GAUGE: ComGold Radio
NOTE: This version of ComGold is designed to fit directly into the Lear panel replacing the default radio stack. For other aircraft, it can be installed in a separate window and opened using the default radio icon already installed in a panel.
Features ----------------
> Numeric pad for easy entry of radio frequencies and transponder squawk codes.
> Input active frequencies directly into Com1, Com2, Nav1, Nav2, and the ADF1.
> Input standby frequencies directly into Com1, Com2, Nav1, Nav2, and the ADF1.
> Active and standby frequencies can be switched back and forth as needed.
>Diode indicators show when COM radios are in Transmit and Receive modes.
> When Transponder is in AUTO mode, codes can only be entered into transponder by ATC.
> When Transponder is in MAN mode, codes can only be entered into transponder manually by pilot.
> Data that is outside limits for radio frequencies will display a red ERROR message on screen.
> Data that is outside requirements for transponder codes will display a red ERROR message on screen. This includes illegal numbers 8 and 9.
> Clear button will erase digits or ERROR from small input screen.
>Frequency identification is available for all active navigational radios. When out of range, dotted line is displayed.
> Realistic and accurate signal strength bar animations based on results of attenuation test.
> Gauge is sized and shaped so that it can be installed in panel of Lear45 replacing the default radio. For other aircraft, the gauge can be installed into separate window.
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*Manual and Automatic Operation of Radio frequencies/transponder code*
(NOTE: FS9 has no menu item that will prevent ATC from automatically setting radio frequencies or transponder codes they request during a flight.
To manually set frequencies and transponder code, follow this procedure:
a) When ATC transmits a request for a frequency change, punch in the frequency using ComGold's keypad while it is still fresh in your memory. Leave the value in the small input screen.
b) Acknowledge the request to ATC.
c) Transfer the frequency from the small input screen into the active memory of the active radio.
d) The ATC menu will then automatically change to reflect new choices based on the frequency change.
e) Choose from the ATC menu the item number that will establish contact on the new frequency.
f) For manual transponder operation, set gauge to MAN mode.
g) When ATC transmits a request for a squawk code, punch in the code using the keypad while it is still fresh in your memory.
h) Acknowledge the request to ATC.
i) Transfer the transponder code from the small imput screen into the XPNDR. This will then allow ATC to "see" the aircraft on radar.
To automatically set frquencies and transponder code, follow this procedure:
a) When ATC transmits a request for a frequency change, acknowledge the request.
b) On the ATC menu, choose the item number that will establish contact on the new frequency. The frequency will be changed in ComGold automatically for you.
c) For transponder, set it to AUTO mode.
d) When ATC transmits a request for a squawk code, acknowledge the request.
e) The transponder code will be changed in Com Gold automatically for you.
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General Operation----------------
1. Master Battery Power and Avionics must be ON before gauge will operate and illuminate screen displays.
2. A red ERROR message will display on input screen if values outside of design limits are entered into radios or transponder. These limits are:
a)Comm 1 and 2 (active and stby): 118.0 - 136.975
b)Nav 1 and 2 (active and stby): 108.0 - 117.975
c)ADF(active and stby): 100.0 - 1799.9
d)Transponder codes: digits 0 - 7. Maximum code is 7777.
3. When ERROR message displays, clear (C) button also illuminates red to make clearing data more efficient.
4. To clear a displayed value or ERROR from the small input screen, press the C button.
4. Illuminated red diodes in the COM1 and COM2 display areas indicate an active "Transmit" capability. Illuminated green diodes indicate a passive "Receive" capability. For example, if COM1 is the active radio, a red and green diode will be lit. This indicates the COM1 radio will transmit and receive. If the "BTH" audio button is pressed, the green diode in COM2 will light up indicating the COM2 radio is also in receive mode.
3. Radio frequencies can be entered to two decimal places. If 3-decimal places are requested by ATC such as 125.925, enter only the first two decimals, i.e., 125.92. The radio will then tune to the proper frequency.
5. Pressing the Radio heading bracket on the display screen (COM 1, COM 2, NAV 1, NAV 2, ADF 1) will switch the active and standby frequencies for that radio. This can be repeated as needed.
6. Signal strength (NAV1, NAV2, ADF1) is determined by various factors including straight-line distance from station to aircraft and obstructions that may attenuated the signal.
a) If the navigation signal is so weak that identification cannot be made, no bars will show in signal strength window.
b) When a radio signal is strong enough so that station identification can be made, at least one bar will appear in small signal strength window. These increase up to a max. of five bars as signal strength increases.
c) For VOR/DME heading and distance data, minimum signal strength is two-three bars.
6. When Transponder is in AUTO mode, codes cannot be entered manually into gauge. Codes will be set automatically by ATC when you acknowledge their request to set a new transponder code.
7. When Transponder is in MAN mode, the 4-digit squawk code requested by ATC must be entered manually. If digits 8 or 9 are accidentally input into transponder, ERROR message will result.
8. If ATC requests a code starting with zeros such as 0004, press the zero key on the input pad three times, then the 4 key. Even though the small input screen will only show a "4", it still records the three zeros. When this value is transfered to the XPONDR, it will read 0004.
(A)Panel installation------------
In order to have all functions of ComGold available, the Radios section of the aircraft.cfg file must be configured as shown below.
(As you can see, all avionics are available (number in first column) except ADF 2. Standby frequencies in ComGold are programmed differently than the same frequencies in FS. That is why three radios are shown as having standby frequency "not available" (number in second column) even thought those radios do have standby frequencies. The glide slope for ILS is available on NAV1 only.
The configuration must be set as shown or radio operation will not perform as designed.
With the aircraft.cfg file properly setup, installation can begin)
1P. To install in the default Lear, make the following changes to the panel.cfg file under the [Window00] section:
Add two slashes in front of the default Lear radio. Then, the line does not require erasing and can be left in place.
//gauge14=Lear_45!Radio Stack, 453, 143 (The slashes render FS blind to the default radio)
Using the same gauge number as the default radio, add this line directly below the original line above.
gauge14=Radio_ComGold!Radio_ComGold, 455, 145, 126, 158,
(B)Window installation-------------
(Make backup of panel.cfg before using this method)
When installing ComGold, the default radio stack should be rendered inoperative by using two slashes. The ComGold radio can then be opened in a separate window by using the default radio icon already installed on your panel. To do this, follow steps 1W - 6W below.
1W. The following changes should be made to the panel.cfg file of the desired aircraft. The first change is added under the [Window Titles] section:
2W. Comment out (two slashes) the default radio. Using the same "window" number, add the ComGold radio. Below is an example using the Boeing 737-400.
[Window Titles]
window00=Main Panel
//window01=Radio Stack <--This is the default radio. It is now made unavailable to FS by adding the two slashes.
window01=ComGold <--This adds ComGold to window01
Window02=GPS
window03=Throttle Quadrant
window04=Overhead Panel
window05=Compass
Window06=Mini Panel
3W. The original radio window can be removed from the panel.cfg file by placing two slashes in front of the "Title" line. The Boeing example is again shown:
//[Window01] <--Slashes needed only for the title line.
size_mm=127,345
position=8
visible=0
BACKGROUND_COLOR=16,16,16
ident=RADIO_STACK_PANEL <--This ident will be used for ComGold
gauge00=737-400!Comm 1, 0, 0
gauge01=737-400!Comm 2, 0, 54
gauge02=737-400!Nav 1, 0, 108
gauge03=737-400!Nav 2, 0, 162
gauge04=737-400!Transponder, 0, 216
gauge05=737-400!ADF, 0, 265
gauge06=737-400!Audio, 0, 319<--All data from here to the title line is not available to FS.
4W. A new window can now be added to the panel.cfg file.
[WindowXX]
BACKGROUND_COLOR=0,0,0
size_mm=126,158
position=0
visible=0
ident=RADIO_STACK_PANEL <--This line ONLY must be identical to the default radio's ident in order for the radio icon to open this window. All other lines must be as shown here.
5W. The two XX's in WindowXX should be the same number just used to identify the new window under steps 1W and 2W above. Using the Boeing example, it would be window01.
6W. Place ComGold.cab into Gauges folder of FS9.
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