HELIOS IS ALIVE

[Gadroc]

Airdog or anyone who knows this, how did you display the helios gauges on the second monitor in the sim? what kind of settings is needed? I have four monitors. 3 are 19" dell, all 3 set as one display through TH2G. Then I have an old 17" monitor from walmart. I set that as 2nd display and extended it to the desktop.

 

Then I opened helios, it shows two displays. I chose the smaller one. Opened the A10C profile, and saved. Then I exited helios. Then I started A10C beta. Display is set to 1 screen. When I ran training I could only see the widescreen of the first display. I tried the other options: 3 screen, MFCD, shkval1, shkval2 etc. I couldn't see the helios gauges on the second display. What am I missing?

 

Right click on helios icon and open profile. Then select your profile. Then you can stop and start the profile from the right click menu.

[rocketeer]

The first time I exited Helios. The second I didn't after selelctimg the profile. Does Helios need to be minimized first? And what display option should be used in dcs?

[Gadroc]

You should close the profile editor but not exit Helios. Helios is similar to programs like MSN Messenger to truely exit it you have to right click on the system tray icon and select exit to exit the application.

 

Once you save you create your profile in the editor save your profile. Then close the editor and right click the system tray Icon and Open the profile. You should see it on your screen then.

 

Also please post the support questions in the Helios forums. Don't want to clutter ED's forums and it will help others in the beta.

[rocketeer]

Gadroc, thanks for the info.

Just want to share a few things here of what I learned.

1. Loading the profile after opening Helios, then minimizing it is not good enough. You have to get out of Helios, then from the system tray icon, load the profile. then it'd appear on the screen in static mode. then you can run DCS to see the gauges move

 

2. I could not load Gadroc's sample profile initially because it is display config specific. It has only one monitor set in the profile, which is number #2. I have mine with two monitors. from system tray it could not load the sample profile at first as the display config was different. After playing with it a bit I got it to load, but you won't be able to run the sample profile on one monitor and the sim on another, as the profile was set to run on only one monitor.

 

3. I could not import/export panels. So since the sample profile was set to one monitor with a different config than mine, I had to manually set up my own panels, using the sample profile as a reference which helped a lot. now I could have the 3 monitors running DCS and the 4th monitor running helios, but fps takes a big hit. Guess I should run it on a different graphics card rather than the 2nd graphics port of the same card.

[Gadroc]

1. Loading the profile after opening Helios, then minimizing it is not good enough. You have to get out of Helios, then from the system tray icon, load the profile. then it'd appear on the screen in static mode. then you can run DCS to see the gauges move

 

Yes. You have to close the editor before you can run the profile.

 

2. I could not load Gadroc's sample profile initially because it is display config specific. It has only one monitor set in the profile, which is number #2. I have mine with two monitors. from system tray it could not load the sample profile at first as the display config was different. After playing with it a bit I got it to load, but you won't be able to run the sample profile on one monitor and the sim on another, as the profile was set to run on only one monitor.

 

You have to load profiles made on a different computer into the editor and then do a "Reset Monitors" action. Once that's done you can move each panel to the monitor you want them on via the properties for the panel.

 

3. I could not import/export panels. So since the sample profile was set to one monitor with a different config than mine, I had to manually set up my own panels, using the sample profile as a reference which helped a lot. now I could have the 3 monitors running DCS and the 4th monitor running helios, but fps takes a big hit. Guess I should run it on a different graphics card rather than the 2nd graphics port of the same card.

 

Can you do me a favor and post your machine stats on the helios beta forum. You're the first person who as indicated Helios impacts FPS. Usually the fact that you expand to add the MFDs out of DCS is the FPS and no difference if Helios itself is running or not.

[Feed]

I just finished my first test flight with Helios ... me likey. I think it certainly has some room for improvement, especially since I couldn't manage to do ANYTHING at first, but after watching the two tutorial videos, I had no problems getting the primary instruments properly configured. That said, it was great to have most of the up-front instrumentation available at a glance, and it seemed to work very well.

[Flim]

Yes. You have to close the editor before you can run the profile.

 

 

 

You have to load profiles made on a different computer into the editor and then do a "Reset Monitors" action. Once that's done you can move each panel to the monitor you want them on via the properties for the panel.

 

 

 

Can you do me a favor and post your machine stats on the helios beta forum. You're the first person who as indicated Helios impacts FPS. Usually the fact that you expand to add the MFDs out of DCS is the FPS and no difference if Helios itself is running or not.

 

I have tested a lot and have not seen any fps hit since the early beginning of the software. When your exporting the mfd's, then you start with the FPS bog down.

 

Again, any technical questions or issues need to be posted on the SCS forums for quick response.

Edited December 10, 2010 by Flim

[hassata]

Helios Review

 

Helios is this year's TIR. Thanks for reading.

[ilikepie]

superb! best write up i've seen for awhile.

 

so brief, women could use it as underwear:yes:

[thereminqblank]

superb! best write up i've seen for awhile.

 

so brief, women SHOULD use it as underwear:yes:

 

Fixed it for you :P

 

I've gotta get a look in on HELIOS. Might crack out the touch screen this weekend...

[hassata]

You can also use it with a regular monitor if you just want to display gauges, or don't mind using the mouse to flip the switches. Zero performance hit, and easily configurable across a network. Also great tools for making your own gauges and switches if the included A10 and F16 packs don't strike your fancy. Wait a second, I could have put all of that in my review. DAMMIT.

[Ripcord]

I just took one quick take off, just to play with my new flaps gauge and ADI, and didn't notice any slowdown. This Helios is the best thing to come out since those TM MFD cougars and DCS A10C.... OK those are pretty recent, but this is way beyond expectations. Can't wait to start using it in FSX as well.

[hreich]

Can somebody check if it is usable with iphone?

 

You can also use it with a regular monitor if you just want to display gauges, or don't mind using the mouse to flip the switches. Zero performance hit, and easily configurable across a network. Also great tools for making your own gauges and switches if the included A10 and F16 packs don't strike your fancy. Wait a second, I could have put all of that in my review. DAMMIT.

[Flim]

NOPE!

[Snoopy]

I'm going to ask the dumb questions...where can you get it?

[Flim]

www.Scsimulations.com

 

Free 30 day key for our beta test,

 

after testing it will be $69.

 

Helios works directly with DCS A-10/BS and other sims

 

Any issues, please post on SCS forums!!!!!

Edited December 10, 2010 by Flim

[C6_Hellfrog]

any idea for a date of release for the ka50 gauges kit release ?

 

or any way to use A10 gauges in BS ?

[power5]

Sweet, finally a reason to fire up DCS again. I have been playing GT5 non stop since it came out a a few weeks ago. Will have to look at SCS site, but does it have a BS profile or will I need to make one?

 

I have a single 23" TS so I can not wait to try this.

 

I know you have a video on the site somewhere, but some screen shots would be very nice as well.

Edited December 10, 2010 by power5

[Gadroc]

any idea for a date of release for the ka50 gauges kit release ?

 

or any way to use A10 gauges in BS ?

 

The A10 gauges will work just fine with BS and the beta has a black shark interface module in it. Helios will auto convert units so the gauges will display as labeled (feet vs meters etc). KA50 is next on the list.

[C6_Hellfrog]

Oh... so I'll post on SC Forum because of some trouble

[rocketeer]

Now that the glass cockpit is working great for gauges, I turned my attention to interfacing with real switches today. Took Gadroc's instruction and hooked up my leo board, then added it as an interface in helios. Son of a gun! It works. Just drag and drop. I couldn't believe. I used to fuss over the switch functions in the lua files. Using helios avoided all that.

 

First I tried push button. Have to bind twice, to the press, and the release.

 

Then tried toggles. One more step required, ie. give the values eg. 1=on, 2=off etc.

 

You select an action on the right, drag it over to the desired button on the left, then set value.

 

Given that this is beta, I expect the release version to have a lot more switch functions. Now I only see mainly the gauges and a few switch functions under DCS A10C Interface category. There is nothing there for me to try the more complex stuff like pot, rotary switch, encoder etc. Can't wait. This is going to be so much easier than SOIC. I hope Helios will cover ALL A10C functions that are exposed by ED. Please pretty please!

 

This is awesome!

[rocketeer]

Hmm, no one else seems to share this excitement of helios interfacing with real switches. guess everyone else just cares about the glass cockpit and touchscreen stuff.

[JaseGill]

Rocketeer,

Thanks for the heads up. I didn't even consider HELIOS for anything other than a touch-screen.

Now you've proven at least Leo Bodnar connectivity, of which I have one, I'm very interested.

HELIOS looking very much my cup of tea now.

I'll watch development with interest.

J.

[Callsign.Vega]

For Helios, each touch screen needs a dedicated graphics card output correct? I run my system with nVidia Surround which already uses 3x video outputs and when surround is activated, you cannot use any other outputs.

 

Is there any way around this for Helios? Can helios work over USB output displays? What about over a network to another computer to use another computers video outputs for the touchscreens separate from the main sim's surround setup?

 

So many possibilities I hope. ;)

[Flim]

Ya guys, it will treat a touchscreen switch the same as a physical switch!

 

Pretty cool suff