This section is about configuring FsXPand to match your requirements. Before you are ready to start both FsXPand and FsClient, a few things have to be set.
FsXPand settings
Clients: You wil have to tell FsXpand how many FsClients will be wanting to send data.
IP Address: FsXpand will find an IP address on the machine automatically. If possible, you should stay with that value. If you change the IP addres of your PC, FsXpand can find it again if you leave the box empty and restart FsXpand.
Whenever you have changed an IP address of a PC, reboot that one, and preferably all PC's on that network!
Base port: The value of 9000 can usually be left alone, unless some other program is using port 9000. In that case, change this setting to 9010 or some other higher value.
Once FsXPand is sending data in response to an initiation from an FsClient, the blinker wil start blinking.
There have been reports of port 9000 being used by trojans or worms. This is true of almost any port number nowadays. If your PC denies port 9000, this could be the result of some smart anti-virus program on your side. On the other hand, it is hard to find a port address that has never been used for another (even malicious) purpose..
More on IP addresses
2. Aircraft box:
Select Aircraft: Select your type of cockpit here to change the cockpit used, FsXPand will change the panel. This is saved on exit. FsClient will load the selected cockpit on connection.
Templates: Press if you want to create a new cockpit. Type a name, and press OK. Be sure to repeat this in FsClient, or else FsClient will not find a cockpit to load.
Write logfile: In FMS version, you wil get an extended log file in \FsXPand 8.1\txt
Enable aircraft sounds: If you check the box, the button will become active and bring up a dialog window.
Select your sound option. FsXPand features stereo touchdown and wheel rumble sound. Hard landings will sound hard.
Volume will set the base volume in %. Factor+ will increase with speed or vertical speed, with a maximum of Max. You can add your own sounds in the sound folder.
Be sure to disable the FS tyre and starter sound in the sound.cfg file in the FS aircraft folder.
If the rumble sound remains after connecting, just press Pause or Slew in FS twice. This is a known bug, and not yet resolved.
Sounds have been stored in the cockpits\aircraft\sound folder. You can replace them with your favourites.
3. Joystick box
Enable joysticks: FsXPand will read your sticks every 200 ms or so, depending on the polling time set.
In order to make this work, you need to install a game controller on each PC that uses control input. The type depends on your control hardware. Plug in any USB stick or converter you may want to use. Windows will recognise the device.
Standard game controllers: Add an analog control to your system via the control panel, game controllers, and add the appropriate type (max 4 axes, 4 buttons).
Do not forget to calibrate your control device , whether home-made or a joystick). USB devices must be calibrated as well.
How many sticks: Put the amount of sticks plugged in here.
Stick polling: You need not set a value for stick polling. Usually a polling time of 200 ms (milliseconds) may be enough if you use only controls with a slow function like throttles. If elevator or aileron are used via FsXPand, you may need a lower value, more like 20-100 ms. This will certainly be the case if you want to use your game port to connect rotary encoders.
Stick setup: Select the stick number from the list, and press the button. e.
4. Menu
File, Register: Buy your license online
File, Save as template: Type a nice name in the box and click OK. After restart of FsXpand, you will be able to reuse this panel.
File, Exit: Exit FsXpand
Network, Rescan: Scan the network again whenever you have changed IP addresses or switched on another FsClient PC.
Network, Find FSUIPC: Look for it specificaly
Airac, Status: Shows presence of AIRAC data, and identification.
Get the updated AIRAC from Navigraph.com, and download the updater for Flyware - FsXpand.
Run the updater, and point to your FsXpand folder, so your installation path will be something like "C:\Program files\FsXPand 8.x". This will create the necessary data folder on your FsXPand machine. You will have to run the updater only once. The clients will have to update from your FsXPand machine by themselves.
Start FsXpand. This will create a share on FsXpand for FsClient to be found later. Check on the AIRAC menu, the status of your downloaded update. This should report the latest cycle.
Close FsXPand. Now you can update your clients
Settings, Auto TQ (FMS version only): If you do not own a throttle commanded by servo's (reading offsets via FSUIPC), THR HOLD will not work correctly. This mode just releases throttle control by FMC. FS will start reading your throttle setting as soon as AT releases it (which is almost certainly wrong when you do not have a servo).
In that case, you need to disable the throttle channels in FS, and assign them again in the FsXPand joystick setup. So FsXPand will know when to read these values and when not (in THR HOLD for instance).
You wil have to set the option right in Settings -> Automatic TQ
Settings, Enable sound: FsXPand sound on/off
Settings, FS on top: Puts FS on top on connection with FsClient
Settings, FS maximized: Maximize FS on top on connection with FsClient
Settings, Write MCP offsets (FMS version only): Specific MCP offsets that you can read back from for use in your DIY MCP are in your Offsets.ini file in FsXPand. FsXPand will write the MCP state there, if you choose that option (Settings -> Write MCP offsets). These are free (privately useable) FSUIPC offsets. You can change them at wish, use any in the range 66C0-66CF but make sure that you have no other in use there.
For details see this page.
Settings, Flight Tracking Enabled: Track your flight at http://Positiongames.com/track
Help, Manual: Show the manual in your webbrowser.
Help, About: Details about the FsXPand version.
Help, Show checklist: Show FsXPand checklist at startup.
5. Buttons
Exit: This will exit FsXpand immediately.
