Hope I can explain this correctly
On the Cessna 172 panel there is a switch (button) marked NAV GPS , If you create a flight plan with a number of waypoints and use this aircraft , once becoming airborne if you engage the AP , Then set the NAV/GPS button to GPS . Then hit the NAV button on the AP . the aircraft will follow the flight plan line . I can’t find or don’t know where that nav/gps button is on other airplanes ,
Does anyone know if other airplanes have this . Example say the Baron .
In my FSX I have a button on my joystick assigned to this . If I want to change from Nav to Gps or vice versa I just click that button. Wonder if anyone knows how to do that in msfs
On some aircraft you press the CDI button till it’s on GPS mode, which is usually magenta.
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Thanks , Swift . I’ll see if I can find that CDI button.
Your last sentence tho “which is usually magenta” . Not sure what magenta means or what you mean by it . I’ve heard that term but not sure what it means. Enlighten me.
Hillbillies like us call Magenta purple.
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If you’re in a plane with a glass cockpit, the indicators (course deflection indicators or CDIs) on the PFD (primary flight display) are coloured magenta. Otherwise they’re usually green.
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The GPS / NAV switch has use when like a KLN 89/94 GPS is installed (was an option with the 1990s Skyhawks), this switch isn’t needed if the GPS has it’s own nav radio (such as this case with the 430/530). You simply press “CDI” on the unit to change the source. With the Baron equipped with a G1000 it’s the same deal, press CDI.
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Ok Swift and all others . Thanks . And as the saying goes “You learn something every day”
This thing is still pretty confusing to me tho. Things were a lot easier to understand and easier to use and worked a lot better in FSX
FSX had a 500, not a 530. The 500 doesn’t have it’s own nav radio thus this NAV / GPS switch is needed.
As far as I can see the Cessna 172 in FSX and in 2020 are nearly the same
The screenshot I showed in my 1st post is the Nav/Gps on the panel in the 2020 172 .
This shot is the one in the FSX 172 . No worries tho , Don’t trouble yourself with any more about the 2020 172 and the FSX 172 Nav/Gps .
But that other thing I inquired about ? To change from Nav to Gps on another airplane . The Beach for example . IN my 2nd attachement this is that Cdi button you talked about ? I clicked it 3 times (I think ) for it to show GPS .
Going to try a flight with a flight plan to see if it’ll follow the line when I click NAV on the AP .
Think it’ll work ? Only 1 way to find out I guess LOL
The Garmin unit in the steam gauge 172 in FSX (although was a popup) is a 500 (it doesn’t have it’s own nav radio), the one in MSFS is a 530 (it also has a 430 under it). This does have it’s own nav radio. Because of this the NAV / GPS switch isn’t needed. Asobo could have got away with not having this.
Note that the the 500 doesn’t have a “CDI” key but the 530 does. Pressing CDI on the GNS530 and G1000 does exactly the same thing, it swaps the source. You can forget about that NAV / GPS switch all together. You’re confusing yourself unnecessarily, hehe.
EDIT: I do suggest picking up the Working Title G1000 NXi from the marketplace (it’s free).
Ok thanks . Hey . I just finished making a flight plan and using the Baron to do the flight . I added a few waypoints . And then used that CDI button to bring up the GPS and used the Nav button on the AP to fly the route . Worked great . Now to try a couple more planes.
The thing is I have used FSX for so many years it’s hard for me to get used to all the new stuff and understand everything . Being an old coot doesn’t help matters either . LOL .
Anyway Thanks again for explaining a few things to me . Not sure if understand all of it yet . But more than I did before.
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It’s the planes themselves that have evolved over time.
… it’s not just MSFS.
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The magenta denotes that you are using a gps source. It will change to green when using a Nav radio source such as Nav1 or Nav2. This is pretty universal within aviation. You will find that in some sim aircraft they have doubled up on the source select button. The 172 is an example. It has the CDI button on the gps/nav/com units themselves and it has the standalone button featured in the thread. IIRC the standalone button only controls Nav1. I never use it as I think it’s better to use the CDI button because that same button is also used in other avionics such as the G1000.
Ok thanks . Not sure if I understand it all , but picking up small pieces as I go along
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