UPDATE: Weathership Gauge V1.33a with Land based HF and LORAN stations

The "Queen of the Skies"
wothan
Staff Sergeant
Posts: 262
Joined: 19 Nov 2008, 08:54

Re: Weathership Gauge for the Constalltion FSX and P3D

Post by wothan »

CXA119 wrote:Hello!
I guess it is very interesting to navigate with weatherships during Trans Atlantic flights.
I've tried to install this gauge but without success.
Main problem I have marked in yellow - followed by the instruction but still have default radio panel.
Image

Could somebody tell me please where I have made mistake?
Thank you in advance!
Sorry for this very late reply...

Did You make these changes without re-loading the aircraft ?

Also...
Did You comment out the old [Windows 05] section.

This is done by putting:
//
In front of the lines - look very closely where to add those.
When I like to do basic flying, I turn to A2A Aircraft, cause A2A "basic" flying means "complex" procedures.

CXA119
Airman Basic
Posts: 3
Joined: 01 Feb 2017, 01:14

Re: Weathership Gauge for the Constalltion FSX and P3D

Post by CXA119 »

Hi! :lol:
Looks like I did everything as it was wrote in readme file.
Exept, I have extracted cab file to the directory and then put this directory "weatherships" to the "panel" directory.

What I saw it that we are working with Window05 that called as "Radio", but the panel opened with Shift+6 is called as "Radio and Autopilot".
Also, I have found in "View" submenu this "Radiopanel" and it has this view:
Image
Is is correct?

My panel.cfg file with commented lines is looking as:
Image

As I understood the radio panel is duplicated.
May be it is possible to combine radio, autopilot anf weathership panels to the one window that may be opened via Shift+6 keys combination? :oops:

Thank you in advance!

wothan
Staff Sergeant
Posts: 262
Joined: 19 Nov 2008, 08:54

Re: Weathership Gauge for the Constalltion FSX and P3D

Post by wothan »

Just some additional inforrmation regarding the Weather Ships:

https://journals.lib.unb.ca/index.php/i ... 4167/27952

Notice !!
"Radio navigational aids to aircraft, which include
(1) Direction finding (V.H.F. and M.F.).
(2) M.F. radio beacon.
(3) Microwave search radar.
(e)
Incidental services, which include
(1) Collection and re-transmission of radio weather messages from
merchant ships.
(2) Supplementary air traffic control functions.
(3) Oceanographical and other scientific work.
Every hour the ship on duty at stations A., I., J., K. and M. respectively
broadcasts her surface observations by H.F. on a rigid “ staggered” schedule.
Thus the surface observations at station I. are always broadcast at H plus
06 minutes, station J. at H plus 02, etc. The upper air observations are
similarly broadcast on the same H.F. frequency on schedule. The U.S.
vessels broadcast their observation on a different schedule. All meteo­
rological services can thus have instant access to all these observations.
Each ocean station is surrounded by a grid, 210 miles square and the
grid is sub-divided into 10 mile squares. The purpose of the grid is to
provide a device for indicating the ship’s position on her M.F. beacon; as
long as the ship is inside the grid, she is considered to be “on station” .
The M.F. beacon operates on a slightly different frequency at each station
(e.g. 388 k c/s at India and 370 k c/s at Juliett) to avoid interference and
transmits for five minutes at H -)- 05, 20, 35 and 50 but operation may be
interrupted when radio sonde observations are being made from 1100 to
1200 and from 2300-2400.
The beacon operates automatically and transmits
the call sign of the station followed by two letters indicating the grid
position of the ship. Thus at station J., if the ship is in the centre of the
grid where she can, in fact, normally be expected to be, the beacon transmits
YJOS. Merchant ships as well as aircraft can get D /F hearings on this
beacon; most aircraft are fitted with a radio compass for this purpose."

FinnJ
When I like to do basic flying, I turn to A2A Aircraft, cause A2A "basic" flying means "complex" procedures.

Amollen
Airman Basic
Posts: 4
Joined: 10 Aug 2014, 22:38

Re: Weathership Gauge for the Constalltion FSX and P3D

Post by Amollen »

I am very interested but the download link gives a 404 File not found error

wothan
Staff Sergeant
Posts: 262
Joined: 19 Nov 2008, 08:54

Re: Weathership Gauge for the Constalltion FSX and P3D

Post by wothan »

Please try the link again in the opening thread !
When I like to do basic flying, I turn to A2A Aircraft, cause A2A "basic" flying means "complex" procedures.

Amollen
Airman Basic
Posts: 4
Joined: 10 Aug 2014, 22:38

Re: Weathership Gauge for the Constalltion FSX and P3D

Post by Amollen »

Thank you! Got it now.

MatzeH84
Staff Sergeant
Posts: 393
Joined: 29 Mar 2013, 14:26
Location: EDLA, Germany

Re: Weathership Gauge for the Constalltion FSX and P3D

Post by MatzeH84 »

Does the gauge also work with P3Dv4, or will it cause any troubles?

Gesendet von meinem D6503 mit Tapatalk
Kind regards, Matthias

wothan
Staff Sergeant
Posts: 262
Joined: 19 Nov 2008, 08:54

Re: Weathership Gauge for the Constalltion FSX and P3D

Post by wothan »

MatzeH84 wrote:Does the gauge also work with P3Dv4, or will it cause any troubles?

Gesendet von meinem D6503 mit Tapatalk
It works fine in P3D V4 - so You should have no troubles.
When I like to do basic flying, I turn to A2A Aircraft, cause A2A "basic" flying means "complex" procedures.

MatzeH84
Staff Sergeant
Posts: 393
Joined: 29 Mar 2013, 14:26
Location: EDLA, Germany

Re: Weathership Gauge for the Constalltion FSX and P3D

Post by MatzeH84 »

Great, thanks for the reply :D
Kind regards, Matthias

wothan
Staff Sergeant
Posts: 262
Joined: 19 Nov 2008, 08:54

Re: Weathership Gauge for the Constalltion FSX and P3D

Post by wothan »

Bump....

New version 1.2 uploaded
When I like to do basic flying, I turn to A2A Aircraft, cause A2A "basic" flying means "complex" procedures.

Stearmandriver
Senior Airman
Posts: 174
Joined: 12 Mar 2017, 22:33

Re: New Weathership Gauge V1.2a now with Land based HF stati

Post by Stearmandriver »

Great stuff here. Thanks Wothan!!

wothan
Staff Sergeant
Posts: 262
Joined: 19 Nov 2008, 08:54

Re: New Weathership Gauge V1.2a now with Land based HF stati

Post by wothan »

Stearmandriver wrote:Great stuff here. Thanks Wothan!!
Thank You too Stearmandriver for poiting me towards adding the HF stations, as well as betatesting this new version :)
When I like to do basic flying, I turn to A2A Aircraft, cause A2A "basic" flying means "complex" procedures.

BraselC5048
Airman First Class
Posts: 95
Joined: 02 Jan 2014, 18:29

Re: New Weathership Gauge V1.3 now with Land based HF statio

Post by BraselC5048 »

Cool. :) Question though - if I want to actually go ahead and navigate using them, and plot the positions on an actual paper map (cross-reference two or more them - where the lines intersection is roughly my position) - what kind of map should I use, and where do I get one? The type of projection the map uses would likely matter as well. Ideally it would be aviation-related and also show NDB/VOR beacon and airport positions, but I suppose a marine chart would work if I can find a way to put what's required in the correct position.

wothan
Staff Sergeant
Posts: 262
Joined: 19 Nov 2008, 08:54

Re: New Weathership Gauge V1.3 now with Land based HF statio

Post by wothan »

BraselC5048 wrote:Cool. :) Question though - if I want to actually go ahead and navigate using them, and plot the positions on an actual paper map (cross-reference two or more them - where the lines intersection is roughly my position) - what kind of map should I use, and where do I get one? The type of projection the map uses would likely matter as well. Ideally it would be aviation-related and also show NDB/VOR beacon and airport positions, but I suppose a marine chart would work if I can find a way to put what's required in the correct position.
When i wanted to use paper maps I have used a simple school Atlas for many years.
Precise navigation in the era these radio beacons represent was not that accurate - far from GPS precision.

When I want an online map,I use Google Earth, where I can draw all kind of lines and circlies with indications of distances and bearings.
In the Weathership zip file You will find a Google Earth .kmz file with all stations and their approximate ranges.

A less precise methode to find Your position, is if You know Your ground speed and having the Weathership to one of Your sides, but You must know to what side the Weathership is.

-Take Your first bearing to a Weathership and notice the time when You did so.
A good starting point could be when the loop antenna is at 10 or 2 o'clock.

-Note Your course.

-After f.ex 15 mins, take the next bearing to the same Weathership.
Ensure that if the starting point was at 10 o'clcok then the loop antennes bearing must go counterclockwise, and if the starting point was at 2 o'clock is should go clockwise.
Otherwise Your assumed Weathership position is wrong and You most probably have found the "fake" 180° bearing.

-Calculate the distance over ground You flew in those 15 mins.

-Draw the two bearings from the known position of the Weathership with a ruler.

-Now place the ruler so it intersects the two bearing lines and aligned with Your course.

-Find where the distance between the two bearing lines equals the distance over ground that You calculated.

-Now You can see Your appriximate position and course You flew when You took the measurements.


Not deadly accurate, but still accurate enough to do the job.
In rare occasions You might be able to tune two Weatherships and do the cross-reference, which is more accurate.
If taking two bearings to those two stations, You can get Your position and course by drwaing a line between those two cross-references.

Another great tool is Plan-G, which i free: http://www.tasoftware.co.uk/
When I like to do basic flying, I turn to A2A Aircraft, cause A2A "basic" flying means "complex" procedures.

BraselC5048
Airman First Class
Posts: 95
Joined: 02 Jan 2014, 18:29

Re: New Weathership Gauge V1.3 now with Land based HF statio

Post by BraselC5048 »

wothan wrote:
BraselC5048 wrote:Cool. :) Question though - if I want to actually go ahead and navigate using them, and plot the positions on an actual paper map (cross-reference two or more them - where the lines intersection is roughly my position) - what kind of map should I use, and where do I get one? The type of projection the map uses would likely matter as well. Ideally it would be aviation-related and also show NDB/VOR beacon and airport positions, but I suppose a marine chart would work if I can find a way to put what's required in the correct position.
When i wanted to use paper maps I have used a simple school Atlas for many years.
Precise navigation in the era these radio beacons represent was not that accurate - far from GPS precision.

When I want an online map,I use Google Earth, where I can draw all kind of lines and circlies with indications of distances and bearings.
In the Weathership zip file You will find a Google Earth .kmz file with all stations and their approximate ranges.

A less precise methode to find Your position, is if You know Your ground speed and having the Weathership to one of Your sides, but You must know to what side the Weathership is.

-Take Your first bearing to a Weathership and notice the time when You did so.
A good starting point could be when the loop antenna is at 10 or 2 o'clock.

-Note Your course.

-After f.ex 15 mins, take the next bearing to the same Weathership.
Ensure that if the starting point was at 10 o'clcok then the loop antennes bearing must go counterclockwise, and if the starting point was at 2 o'clock is should go clockwise.
Otherwise Your assumed Weathership position is wrong and You most probably have found the "fake" 180° bearing.

-Calculate the distance over ground You flew in those 15 mins.

-Draw the two bearings from the known position of the Weathership with a ruler.

-Now place the ruler so it intersects the two bearing lines and aligned with Your course.

-Find where the distance between the two bearing lines equals the distance over ground that You calculated.

-Now You can see Your appriximate position and course You flew when You took the measurements.


Not deadly accurate, but still accurate enough to do the job.
In rare occasions You might be able to tune two Weatherships and do the cross-reference, which is more accurate.
If taking two bearings to those two stations, You can get Your position and course by drwaing a line between those two cross-references.

Another great tool is Plan-G, which i free: http://www.tasoftware.co.uk/
Never would have thought to do that method. I'd prefer the "paper and pencil" route, but I don't have a clue what type of map projection to use (is vertical and horizontal to the same scale?). Also - does your .kmz file work in any version of Plan-G? It says it imports them, but nothing shows up.

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