NS430 - is It fit for Purpose? Lack of Comms, Lack of Waypoint's, Performance memory leaks and posts in the forums not being worked on etc

[Hawkeye_UK]

With the release of the NS430 for the Mig 29A , I had at long last hoped that the NS430 module was going to get some much needed work and development, sadly with the exception of some very limited map work it's largely as was.

 

Performance, which can be found on the NS430 forums, has been ignored for years, literally no reponse.  On the sat page alone there is a 15% drop in FPS, and any of the nav pages show similar, its not just the terrain page.  Clearly there is a long standing issue as per the forum page about memory leak that has not been resolved.

Apart from the module being sold with a blurb "The NS 430 is particularly useful for older aircraft with less sophisticated navigation and communication systems.  Can someone explain to me how the NS430 module is helpful as a communication's system when 7 years on its still not modelled?

Also how is anyone meant to navigate when the list of waypoints is so random at best, take cold war germany map for example, you know given that the Mig 29A module is a natural fit for that map and also the fact was heavily sold showing that terrain, how are we meant to navigate with so many of the real world nav fixes just not present, even airbases.

SID/STARS not completed for the module since the PG map, anything after just not in the database.

How are players meant to plan a mission to navigate using the NS430 when we cannot even see the points on the F10 map.

This is completely unnacceptable as a product and as a "flight sim" game.  If ED ever want to move from cockpit simulator then it needs to get serious about mission planning and also ensuring that all map makers (and i single out OnReTech) have all nav beacons working correctly, including ILS etc and that they are displayed on the F10 map.  This is a BASIC, day 1, requirement.

Moving on with the introduction of the C130, how do you think new players coming into the sim, looking at the F10 map, who are used to say planning flights with navigraph etc, are going to find the product, and the NS430?  They are going to evaluate for what it is , substandard, and not stick around.  You don't get a second chance to make a first impression, and the first impression is terrible.

So the point being with the sales for the Mig29A NS430 add on, and no doubt players that have bought in for the first time to the NS430 module is this ever going to be incorporated as sold re comms and nav database.  Also the F10 map actually be useful for mission planning with all relevant nav fixes that are hidden in the NS430 displayed, because at present its frustrating to have a route planned to then just have trial and error on what is and isnt included/available.

Not good enough ED, not good enough by a long shot.

EDIT - i would have posted this in the NS430, but as it specifically relates to the Mig29 posting here, especially as anything in the NS430 has topics that have not been replied on in Years, despite recent jogging prior to the mig 29 release.

Edited Sunday at 11:28 PM by Hawkeye_UK

[buur]

For the waypoints: The main problem is that nobody knows from which year the database is but is definitely not an actual

You can read out the database and import the fixes to GIS systems like QGIS. In total there are about 130.000 (see picture). But this didn't help if you are not willing to produce your own maps. (Which is of course difficult in DCS).

In this  thread I posted the fixes for some maps for the F10 Map. But unfortunately you cannot see them during mission planning in the ME. Yes, if ED gives us the possibility to show them in ME and F10 map it would be great.

And yes, the NS430 needs much more love from ED to get really helpful in DCS.

null

[Hawkeye_UK]

14 minutes ago, buur said:

For the waypoints: The main problem is that nobody knows from which year the database is but is definitely not an actual

You can read out the database and import the fixes to GIS systems like QGIS. In total there are about 130.000 (see picture). But this didn't help if you are not willing to produce your own maps. (Which is of course difficult in DCS).

In this  thread I posted the fixes for some maps for the F10 Map. But unfortunately you cannot see them during mission planning in the ME. Yes, if ED gives us the possibility to show them in ME and F10 map it would be great.

And yes, the NS430 needs much more love from ED to get really helpful in DCS.

null

Hi Buur thank you for commentating and I note your efforts historically in trying to push the progress of this module, not just today but I also came over your work few months back when trying to raise this point prior to the Mig 29 release.

My whole point is for the majority of users, especially those of us who are not computer literate and haven't had a life in code or PC's it's even more problamatic.  The points hidden within the internal structure of the NS430 should be clear for all to see on the F10 map with an overlay toggle, the fact they can't could actually be intentional given the lack of them!  What i would say the whole module is really not fit for purpose and for too long now ED have just blatantly ignored any feedback or request for this module.  The fact they then hyped up the selling of it for the Mig 29 is a bit of a sham it has to be said, feel free to correct me ED with how you are going to remedy this with a timeline and roadmap, but at present on the NS430 threads its just tumbleweed and no replies.

All maps need supporting, day 1, not 7 years laters still nothing.  Be it down to ED, or the third party at the end of the day a flight sim that cannot even navigate is poor.  I've listed this many times over the years, it should be the base block and foundational stuff, not trying to add it it at a later point.  Mission planning is everything especially as the sim is ramping up into gen 3 aircraft etc.

Trying to do anything on the cold war map is basically just leads to nothing but frustration, the lack of nav points included is poor.

It's worth highlighting that as it stands thus far only Caucasus and PG are really properly supported oh and Normandy i believe (although not tested) as i only use the map for warbirds and well never opened the ns430 in that map.

I mention all this as wiht the c130 release, ED has an opportunity to bring in a whole new customer base, but they will not stick around as that type of player would very much be into the mission planning and flight planning, and for that it needs to be on the F10 map, not some plug in, not some extra import and trying to stumble around community input.

Completely unnacceptable in terms of the poor communication back to the community over the years. 

  

[Hawkeye_UK]

I will just add in response as an edit buur to you reply, its not like anyone is after a monthly AIRAC cycle, but a base position would be good, even if that was 5 years old, or static for when the map was released etc or set to date.

Doesnt have to be exact but a real base position is required.