The AMPCD - current brightness and readability

Hi,

Current AMPCD is very bright. It makes it hard to read the the screen without doing one of two things:

1. Remove the MAP overlay and going back to black screen - it's pity

2. Manually changing the code of the AMPCD_init.lua link in the thread below:

https://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=222680&page=4

Problem with this solution is the code check when flying on online servers...

So, First of all - can you make the GAIN and CONT buttons to work? Maybe it will help with the issue?

Or - change the the default settings of the AMPCD so it will become less bright (it's like a neon right now) and more readable.

Thanks.

Attached pic of current status versus the A-10 (done great) and the real F/A-18 AMPCD as captured by the pilot

Let me start saying that I would love to see the AMPCD with the MAP on better, for sure, so any tweak or improvement will be very welcome from my end.

That said and regarding the proofs you show:

-I think the biggest factor that makes the A10C AMPCD much more readable is the fact alone that all font contrast against a black background, making it so much easy for the eye.

-The picture of the AMPCD as seen from the pilot perspective does not clarify anything, since we can't read there to compare, a"better picture" is needed if we want to make use of it as a benchmark.

-I`ve read somewhere; FTTOMH it was in this very same forum, that RL hornet pilot did remove the moving map in many occasions due to these readability problems we experience. Maybe its another bad design principle of the us navy, along with their poor HOTAS design when compared to their USAF homonyms, who knows...

Let me start saying that I would love to see the AMPCD with the MAP on better, for sure, so any tweak or improvement will be very welcome from my end.

 

That said and regarding the proofs you show:

-I think the biggest factor that makes the A10C AMPCD much more readable is the fact alone that all font contrast against a black background, making it so much easy for the eye.

-The picture of the AMPCD as seen from the pilot perspective does not clarify anything, since we can't read there to compare, a"better picture" is needed if we want to make use of it as a benchmark.

-I`ve read somewhere; FTTOMH it was in this very same forum, that RL hornet pilot did remove the moving map in many occasions due to these readability problems we experience. Maybe its another bad design principle of the us navy, along with their poor HOTAS design when compared to their USAF homonyms, who knows...

It isnt a USN thing but a McDonnell Douglas( or currently Boeing) thing with how they designed their hotas.

The F15E strike eagle's HOTAS is literally F18 stick with a Throttle similar to whats found A10C/F15 but with some slightly different buttons.

switching between MFD pages, A/G, Nav related stuff requires hands off like the Hornet. Only the Radar page is a bit easier to use, as how A2A formatting is very similar to the AS eagles.

Super Hornets up until present, even with upcoming block 3 advanced super hornet still have the exact same hotas as the legacy Hornet. I guess Boeing never felt an improvement was necessary.

First of all, we do miss a lot of HOTAS functions. Granted, we'll still need to use the OSBs for a lot of things, but it should be better once we have all of the HOTAS functions implemented.

Secondly, I completely agree with the OP. It'd be nice to not have to rely on personal workarounds. I personally use the lua edit for SP and disable the map in MP. I remember watching an interview with a Hornet pilot, saying that they've come to rely on the Moving Map so much, that some pilots would consider aborting the mission if the system failed (maybe it's a stretch, but I remember seeing it). I also remember a pilot saying that one of the first things they did once systems were up and running, is to decrease the brightness of the moving map, to make the HSI more readable.

+1 to OP, the map looks great I just wish there were more reasons to use it than not. Will we eventually be able to view a monochrome version of the map on the left/right DDI?

+1 Good post!

+1

1

I always disable the map because of the poor contrast to the green lines. It's a pity...

I always disable the map because of the poor contrast to the green lines. It's a pity...

:thumbup: Me too, for the same reason.

I always disable the map because of the poor contrast to the green lines. It's a pity...

+1

Cheers,

Don (callsign Ziptie)

I just turn the brightness knob down until it becomes readable. Pretty simple, really, and this is in VR!

I just found out that the "IPD" setting within VR actually has nothing to do with IPD - but rather the world scale.... Not sure how those could be confused - or misrepresented - obviously every person will have a different preference - but I set it at 52 currently, and while it took a touch of getting used to for the difference in size of aircraft cockpit - the DDIs and AMPCD are now crystal clear for me (or much closer to what is experienced when viewing on a monitor at least).

Might be worth a try for some who are having issues with clarity of the screens. While the AMPCD is much better after this adjustment - I personally still turn the brightness down.

Cheers,

Don (callsign Ziptie)

+1

+1