ClearView

[mstram]

As for the moment it seems ClearView is in the "other sim" category :cool:, I will start a thread for it :)

I've used "full scale" sims like XPlane and MSFS to fly "rc" style, using the full scale planes / helis there, and it kinda sorta works.

Then started using FMS a couple of years ago, recently got back into it for the helis.

Just bought Clearview last week, and very much enjoying it.

Pros:

Price : $40.00 ! with free upgrades ... 'nuff said !

1) Doesn't need the latest / greatest p.c. hardware.
Worked "out of the box" on my XP, rather low powered system (1.6m 256meg, Geforce MX420 card). Frame rate is great, very "immersive" experience.

2) Graphics

With only FMS / Xplane / MSFS to compare to, the graphics are fantastic !. I did manage to kinda/sorta get the Realflight demo working and it seems to also be using the "quicktime panorama" ??? graphic thing, haven't tried any of the other sims (do they have demo versions ?), so CV's graphics may be just "average".

3) "TimeScale"

Most other sims probably ??? have this feature, but as a beginner it's been the difference between being very frustrated and staying interested.

You can slow down the sim to ~10%, at which point the heli seems like it's flying through "molasses", I don't need it that slow anymore for tail-in stuff, but for nose-in and inverted :eek: flying it's great.

4) Customization :

This is both a pro and con. Yes you can customize the flying characteristics. There is an "easy" menu with the more common parameters (main cyclic / rotor gain, main rotor diameter, rotor inertia, weight, and rpm. Using this menu was sufficient for me to "roughly" tune the helis ... though I did this "in the dark" i.e. not comparing the flying characteristics to any real helis (as I haven't flown any :) ).

For more advanced model creation / tuning, there is another dialog of 150+ parameters (not all heli specific) to adjust.

The big con is the lack of formal documentation on what the parameters do, though the program author is quite active on the clearview and rcgroups forums helping users to adjust the parameters.

4b) Scenery and interactive objects.

New scenery can be added using photrealistic "panoroma" technology, I haven't tried that yet.

What I have done is play with the interactive objects feature. There are a couple of sample "playgrounds" where you can land on benches / boxes and knock over plastic bottles (as long as you don't hit them with the rotor or too hard with the skids !)

The scenery and models are in Ac3d format, (AC3d is a relatively inexpensive 3d program ~80.00), and you can also use the free Blender 3d program which imports / exports .ac files.


5) Record / playback

You can record and playback your flights (only in the sim though no built in .mov/avi/mpg etc saving .. use an external program to screen cap if you want.

You can also record a "flight path", it's similar to recording a flight, except that on playback, you can fly your model alongside the previous recording (no collisions ... it's a "ghost" image".

Ok that's enough for now, this is turning into a product review article ;)

Mike

[CSpaced]

Sounds interesting, any screen shots?

[mstram]

Here are a couple.

I converted them to jpg and reduced the quality to 50% to shrink the file size, but they still look pretty good !

You can download a demo from here :
http://rcflightsim.com/download.html

The demo only runs for 2-3 minutes (I forget exactly how long).

It's only $40.00 for the program though.

Mike

[Hellsiege]

Another Clearview user here and recommend it all the time to the guys at the field. The 40$ is nice but then to have updates for free is even better. Seems every time I go to the Clearview site there is a new update (FOR FREE) also TONS and TONS of models to where even if you can't find the exact manufacture the design is still close. Love this program if you can't tell :D

Steve

[mhills51]

I use the Clearview sim and have tryed the other big 3. As for control it is hands down. The Trex pro is just like my SA. The other Trex models are a little to slow. Saying that the 450's in some of the other $200 sims fly like Micros. The graphics are a little less than the big 3, but you get what you pay for and at least they put all that $40 into the flight characteristics.

[broggyr]

I agree. I am still in trial mode (you have 600 seconds of actual in-air time to play before purchase. If you are in plane mode, you can taxi all day without using the timer at all - if you land, the timer stops again :)

I think it's definitely worth the $40

[mhills51]

And after you pay the $40 it is much better. So many differant sights and planes-helis.

[NeoGohd]

I use clearview too... I love it. I have a Falcon 3D and the Sim acts 99.98% just like my real heli. I also recommend this every time I can. I have it installed on Vista Ultimate and it works great.

[Trex Pilot]

I believe ill give this one a try, can you learn any 3d moves on this sim?

[mstram]

I believe ill give this one a try, can you learn any 3d moves on this sim?

I'd say you can probably learn (or attempt) all of them :) ... on the sim.

I stand to be corrected by real-world 3d pilots ;)

I.e. all the helis will fly inverted, and as I mentioned, the time scale feature is great for practicing in slow motion.

Real heli might be different ... mainly because of crashes = $$$ ;)

And while this is a heli forum, the stall characteristics of the planes seem very believable (I don't own any of the planes in the sim), i.e. the Edge and Yak .. at least compared to what I've seen on videos by 3d pilots. Conversely, the FMS sim while good for a raw beginner, doesn't seem to model stalls correctly (or at all).

Mike

[mhills51]

Yes my 4yr old can fly helis on the FMS.

[nexgen]

I love clearview, and I think it is the best as far as physics goes. Yes you can do 3D quite nicely. It even simulates motor bogging, so you can practice collective management. The models are quite nice, with moving / breakable parts. it even seems to simulate the pitch up effect you get on a FP heli. My real world piloting skills have improved dramatically as a result of using this sim.

[carljw]

I have an older computer Windows ME will cleraview work ok on that system. I have it downloded but waiting for a cable to come in the mail to try it with my DX6i, dont want to waste any of the 600 sec.
Carl

[Trex Pilot]

I have an older computer Windows ME will cleraview work ok on that system. I have it downloded but waiting for a cable to come in the mail to try it with my DX6i, dont want to waste any of the 600 sec.
Carl
did you read the reqirments if it would work on your system or not? I would email them and see what they say
We are here to help. If you have any problems running or activating the program, if you lost your customer login id, or have any questions related to ClearView RC Simulator, please e-mail support@rcflightsim.com

[Trex Pilot]

Yes my 4yr old can fly helis on the FMS.
if you set it up right to match your heli it is like the real thing.

[minskie]

I am also a ClearView user.

One thing I noticed is that the T-Tex 500 model as supplied seems to be a bit 'squirilly' ???

Does anyone know where I might be able to download a more realistic T-Rex 500 model for ClearView?

Cheers,

Minskie :)

[Montag DP]

I am also a ClearView user.

One thing I noticed is that the T-Tex 500 model as supplied seems to be a bit 'squirilly' ???

Does anyone know where I might be able to download a more realistic T-Rex 500 model for ClearView?

Cheers,

Minskie :)I tried the demo and thought the same thing. I liked how the big nitro (or gasser? can't remember) flew, but I thought the T-Rex was way too unstable. Not that I have a T-Rex in real life, but my micro heli is way more stable than the T-Rex in the sim and weighs probably less than half what a T-Rex weighs.

Unfortunately I used up my trial time.

[mhills51]

Actually I thought the demo was way to tame and a little slow I would say. With the full version you get a 3d trex and it flys much closer to the real thing.

[shizack]

If a heli in Clearview is too "squirrely", go into the advanced setup and look for "cycExpo". Lower it about .05 at a time until you achieve the desired results. My real-life SA is tuned pretty tame, and I modded up a Clearview facsimile that looks and flies almost exactly the same as my real one. The "cycExpo" ended up at -0.24.

Basically, the further away from "0" you go into the negative, the tamer the heli flies. The further into the positive you go, the more responsive or twitchy the heli gets.

[Trex Pilot]

If a heli in Clearview is too "squirrely", go into the advanced setup and look for "cycExpo". Lower it about .05 at a time until you achieve the desired results. My real-life SA is tuned pretty tame, and I modded up a Clearview facsimile that looks and flies almost exactly the same as my real one. The "cycExpo" ended up at -0.24.

Basically, the further away from "0" you go into the negative, the tamer the heli flies. The further into the positive you go, the more responsive or twitchy the heli gets.
So it is like adjusting the headspeed on your heli, ok kool

[mstram]

If a heli in Clearview is too "squirrely", go into the advanced setup and look for "cycExpo". Lower it about .05 at a time until you achieve the desired results. My real-life SA is tuned pretty tame, and I modded up a Clearview facsimile that looks and flies almost exactly the same as my real one. The "cycExpo" ended up at -0.24.



I give .. what kind of heli is a "SA" ? :)

Can you post your params.txt file?

I have been adjusting that 'cycExpo' parameter, along with the "easy" parameter settngs, along with the training scale/speed thing. It helps primarily with some of the "hotter" / "squirrelery" helis ! (Blade4003d, Trex450CDE).

The Raptor60easy, is well, pretty easy, I can almost fly it in any orientation now, without crashing. Same with the other big helis, it's those insect-like micros that are the buggers to tame !

It's those occasional nose-in / tail down / banked / moving backwards that usually do me in :(

Is it possible to detune a real heli to a similar level of that heli ?

Mike

[shizack]

The "SA" is a TREX 450. Basically a TREX SEV1, but with aluminum frames, plastic head and tail parts, and comes pre-assembled with the 35G ESC and 430L motor. My first crash totaled all the head parts and I replaced it with an RC-TEK full-metal Phantom head.

CycExpo doesn't affect the head speed; it works like decreasing or increasing the swash mix in a TX, taming down or livening up the aileron and elevator response.

To tame a real heli down, decrease the numbers in your swash mix on the radio. For example, if your swash says
AIL +70
ELE -70
PIT +60
make it
AIL +65
ELE -65
PIT +60
Don't change the + or -, just the numbers behind it.

If you want a slower head speed in Clearview, go into "Easy model setup" and there's a box where you can put in your desired head speed, max 3000 rpm.

Here's pics of the Clearview models I made that look just like mine before and after the paint job I did on my "real" one, and the params.txt file I use.

[mstram]

Shizak,

Thanks for the params file.

What version of CV are you running ?

I tried pasting the whole file into the advanced param dialog for the Trex 450XL, didn't work. .. Heli just sits on the ground unresponsive. The number of lines in your file is different than the original file.

I'm not positive that pasting an entire param file from one model to another will even work. When I have a minute, I'll just check the two files and see what's different, then edit it manually (I did the quick/lazy method first :) ..

I just found another thing that makes a huge difference, that is adjusting the throtltle and pitch curves, especially because I'm using a Wingman game controller that has springs in the sticks. (Took it apart with the intention of removing the left spring ... looked too messy so I left it).

(Will have to get an "FMS" cable for my transmitter ... though an A.C. adapter would also be helpful). Maybe I'll try the ~$20 "Esky" controller

I adjusted the throttle / pitch curve so that the heli was hovering at 1/2 stick (where the spring is).

That, I would guess, makes it more similar to how flying with a transmitter would be, i.e. setting the throtltle, and then having to only make only minor corrections, not having to fight a reasonably strong spriing. With the sticks being very short .. and of course the rudder being shared with the throttle (mode 2), I can now see how much PIO I was creating ! ......

Could the real thing really be that easy ? :)

Mike

[mhills51]

I don't know what radio you have but just get a cord http://www.rctoys.com/rc-toys-and-parts/GWS-GWFSM002C-SQUARE/RC-PARTS-DRAGANFLYER-TRAINING.html This is the one I have works great with Clearview.

[shizack]

What version of CV are you running ?

4.97

I tried pasting the whole file into the advanced param dialog for the Trex 450XL, didn't work. .. Heli just sits on the ground unresponsive. The number of lines in your file is different than the original file.

If you use an older version, it may not recognize the lines for breakable parts. There are some newer physics too. I'd suggest updating to 4.97. The differences are worth the download. If you already use 4.97, try unzipping the params zip file into the trex folder. This will put the whole params.txt file where it needs to be.

I'm not positive that pasting an entire param file from one model to another will even work. When I have a minute, I'll just check the two files and see what's different, then edit it manually (I did the quick/lazy method first :) ..

Pasting into the advanced dialog in the program is tricky. I've always had more success by replacing the file. Change the name of the original to something like "params.txt.bkp" or something in case it really wonks it up.

(Will have to get an "FMS" cable for my transmitter ... though an A.C. adapter would also be helpful). Maybe I'll try the ~$20 "Esky" controller

I use the Esky dummy controller. It works great in CV and HeliSimRC.

I adjusted the throttle / pitch curve so that the heli was hovering at 1/2 stick (where the spring is).

That, I would guess, makes it more similar to how flying with a transmitter would be, i.e. setting the throtltle, and then having to only make only minor corrections, not having to fight a reasonably strong spriing. With the sticks being very short .. and of course the rudder being shared with the throttle (mode 2), I can now see how much PIO I was creating ! ......

Could the real thing really be that easy ? :)

Mike

Sims are always easier than the real thing. As "He Who Has No Fins" says, sims take away the "sphincter factor", i.e, no fear of crashing.

[nexgen]

I use my JR XP7202 on clearview,and it works great! Just about everything works, thrott/pitch curves, idle up switch (sort of, I have to select normal or Idle up in the sim, and the idle up switch changes the curves, etc that I setup in the tx) expo, D/R, etc.

I just set the thrott/pitch curves in clearview pretty standard (thrott: 1.0 .95 .90 .95 1.0 idle, and 0.0 0.75 0.85 0.95 1.0 normal Pitch: -12.0 -6.0 0.0 6.0 12.0), leave the software expo at 0 for cyclic and rudder, and setup the gyro and tail power for a pretty even piro rate. I then customeze flight modes in my tx. I have my tx setup so that I can use normal st1, and st2, and have different D/R, and expo setup for each mode. I have also setup the thrott curves on the tx so that I can adjust the headspeed of the sim on the fly. Also the throttle hold feature if the sim works from the tx too.

All I needed to hook it to the computer was a 3.5" mono-mono cable, (4 bucks at Best Buy!!) and PPjoy/Smart Propo Plus (remember from FMS) which is free.

P.S. another way to mess with the feel of the heli is ModelWeight, mainBladesCoef (lift coeficient for each blade), mainBladesDiam(disk diameter), bladeLiftCoef (whole disk lift)

the trick is to edit only 1 parameter at a time to see how it affects the flight. I start by changing it drastically so I can nail down exactly what the parameter is doing, then I put it back and make small moves.

think in combinatins also. Like weight vs lift; heavy with lots of lift makes it feel like a floating tank, light with not much lift feels squirrly but no punch, etc... get creative.

[Sky_Dancer]

Got to add something here too about product support. I've lost my download and license to Clearview two different times due to a hard drive crash and a Windoze issue and in both instances, I've contacted the author and he has had me back up and running in no time.
I can't afford the high end sims and frankly I don't think they are worth it when something as good as Clearview is available for a reasonable price. My only wish is that multi player would be a little easier to understand and setup so we could have online fly-ins!!
P. S. Night flying options would be cool!

[mstram]

Got to add something here too about product support. I've lost my download and license to Clearview two different times due to a hard drive crash and a Windoze issue and in both instances, I've contacted the author and he has had me back up and running in no time.
I can't afford the high end sims and frankly I don't think they are worth it when something as good as Clearview is available for a reasonable price. My only wish is that multi player would be a little easier to understand and setup so we could have online fly-ins!!
P. S. Night flying options would be cool!

I agree about the support.

I "bombarded" Stefan with emails the first day or two I had the sim, and he replied right away .. with the "obvious" fixes and sometime not so obvious. He's quite active on RCG, maybe if there was a dedicated Clearview forum, he might be more interested in participating here ? :D

As for the multiplayer, I haven't used it yet. I just took a look at the instructions, and it seems fairly simple. Biggest issue will be if your provider does / doesn't block direct access to your i.p. and /or if you have any firewall's running to configure.

A m.p. thread might be in order to see who's interested.

Mike

[nexgen]

So I made a 250 for us to play with, here's the link.

http://www.crackroll.com/forums/showthread.php?p=9121#post9121

[carljw]

My Dx6i is at Horizon for repair and i cant get clearview to work with my CX2 tx. I have the GWS
usb cable. I plug it in and cant get any controls to work. Can anyone help me out with this.

[mhills51]

Yes you need two programs running to make it work. Just goto the clearveiw sight and it will tell you what to do.