Adding NDB Beacon?

Discussion Hub Tools & Utilities
1

Is there any reasonably easy way to add an NDB to existing scenery? I just want to add several NDB’s to some small airfields that I frequently fly into. No buildings or anything other than the NDB. Thanks for your assistance.

2

I use “bglcomp.exe” to do this, you can find the download in the web.

You start by generating a .xml file containing the data for your NDB. Here is an example of the High Prairie NDB I did because it disappeared in some update of the sim:

<?xml version="1.0"?>

<FSData
     version="9.0"
     xmlns:xsi='http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance'
     xsi:noNamespaceSchemaLocation="bglcomp.xsd" >

<Ndb

   	lat="55.395599"
   	lon="-116.484001"
	alt="611.3"                   
	type="MH"                   
	frequency="406.0"    
	range="75N"                    
	magvar="-15.5"                       
	region="CY"                       
	ident="2S"             
	name="High Prairie">

</Ndb>

</FSData>

Then you compile the .xml using bglcomp.exe and as a result you get a .bgl file.

Now you need a folder structure for the new NDB to make it work in MSFS. Here is the one I used for my NDB:

Now change the file manifest.json and use a MSFS layout generator to make the folder structure acceptable for the sim. Then copy it to the Community Folder.

That’s it.

1 Like
3

You can put several NDBs into the .xml file by just repeating this sequences

<NDB
...
...>
</NDB>
4

Thanks for the detailed reply. A couple of small questions if you don’t mind! In your list of specifications, what is: Type “MH”? Region “CY”? Ident “25”? Is Alt “611” the field altitude? Under <FSData, do I use this same web address? And (finally) what is a MSFS Layout Generator? Hope you don’t mind guiding me through this process. I have never messed with anything like this in MSFS before. Can you tell I am new to all of this? I really appreciate your help and your patience!

Steve in Kansas
KGCK

5

Good to know if I can figure out the initial process! Thanks!

6

I cannot find the bglcomp.exe for MSFS2020…Just for FSX and P3d… Will either of these work? Thanks

7

Type “MH” is the class of the NDB, showing its power and resulting usable distance: Automatic Direction Finder (ADF) – Navigation Guidance And Control

Region “CY” in this case is Canada: The Aviation Codes Web Site - ICAO Nationality Codes

Ident “2S” is the name of the NDB as it shows in MSFS: Non-Directional Beacon | SKYbrary Aviation Safety).

Alt “611” is the field elevation in feet. And yes, you can use the same content for FSData for all your NDBs.

bglcomp.exe did not change since FSX/P3D times. It’s fine to use the resulting .bgl files in MSFS.

I use the MSFSLayoutGenerator.exe from here (first post of user GaryGB): MSFS - MSFS Layout Generator - A drag-and-drop layout.json generator | FSDeveloper

You just put the .exe on your desktop and drag the NDB folder onto it. It then updates the relevant files and you can copy it to the Community Folder.