FS2000/CFS2/CFS Gauge -- AM/FM Radio CD Player MP3/WMA/WAV/MID -- By R.L. Clark 09/30/2001


PRODUCT DESCRIPTION

A simulated six-channel push button AM/FM Radio for playback of music, recorded broadcasts and the like for ambiance and general entertainment while flying FS2000/CFS2/CFS aircraft. On-off, relative volume and channel selection controls are included. Does not include six sound files (mp3/wma/wav/mid) users must name and add to their main FS \Sound directories. Songs are programmed to play as looping segments until the channel selection is changed or the radio is turned off using DirectShow technology. Unit also controls audio CD player playback from within the FS cockpit. This product version does not work with FS98.

INSTALLATION

1. Add the accompanying gauge file, radiocd.gau, to the \Gauges directory of your FS2000/CFS2/CFS program. 

2. To use the gauge with a selected aircraft you need to edit the aircraft's panel.cfg file as you would to install any other gauge. For a general explanation of how to edit/modify a panel.cfg file see "Panelcf2.zip" by Dai Griffiths, available from www.FlightSim.com. Call out the gauge as "radiocd2!radiocd" in your panel.cfg, e.g., gauge13=radiocd2!radiocd,0,0,120

A sample edited panel.cfg file for the FS2000 default Cessna 182s is enclosed. Just add this to your \Aircraft\C182\Panel folder after backing up your original panel.cfg file. A corresponding panel.cfg.doc file is also enclosed to highlight the edits that were made.

3. Add six sound files of your choice to the main \Sounds directory of your FS2000/CFS2/CFS program. These files must be added and named "song0.*," "song1.*," "song2.*," "song3.*," "song4.*" and "song5.*" (where "*" must be a mp3, wma, wav, or mid file extension). You can mix and match the file types, e.g., your six files could be: song0.wav, song1.mid, song2.wma, song3.wav, song4.wav and song5.mid.  

If you don't add and name all six sound files correctly, your radio isn't going to work properly and may "crash" your FS program, although you should get "message box" reminders if the files are not installed.  

4. You must have installed Microsoft's DirectX v.8a or higher drivers. You can download these free at: http://www.microsoft.com/directx/homeuser/downloads/default.asp. If you don't have them these drivers should probably be installed in any event for optimal graphics card performance and FS frame rates.

5. To fully use this gauge and its audio CD player capability with FS2000 and CFS2, you'll need to install a no-CD "crack" for each such FS application, such as "cfs2.zip" (for CFS2), and "cdfix.zip" or "fs2000.zip" (for FS2000), available at www.FlightSim.

USING THE RADIO (VOLUME CONTROL, ETC.)

The accompanying graphic "userguide.gif" illustrates the icons and mouse click points used for controlling the CD player and "radio" functioning. Effects of switching between the radio's AM and FM modes are purely cosmetic, while switching between the CD and AM/FM modes change between the CD player and "radio" functioning of the gauge. The CD player plays to the end of the CD from one of six starting tracks selected by the radio's channel changer. To restart the playback simply click one of the radio's channel changer buttons.

The radio is turned on and off by mouse clicking the upper right hand corner of the radio. Clicking one of the three areas marked CD/FM/AM on the right side of the radio effects mode selection. Clicking on the upper left hand corner of the radio opens and closes your CD ROM tray on your computer, when the radio is on and in the CD mode.  

The relative sound volume control area is to the left of the knob/wheel on the left side of the radio; a movable white dot on the knob/wheel indicates the radio off position and the volume control level position when the radio is on. Mouse click to the upper (+) lightened control pad area to raise the volume (white dot appears to turn clockwise), and click the lower (-) control pad area to decrease the volume (white dot appears to turn counter-clockwise). Different songs are selected by mouse clicking on one of the six push buttons in lower the center of the radio, as on a real radio.

DISCLAIMER & COPYRIGHT

The accompanying files should not harm your computer in any way but, if you believe they have, I accept no liability. The files are released as "freeware" and are not to be used re-distributed in exchange for any payment, fee or other value. 

R.L. Clark
rlclark@ix.netcom.com
