P3D v5 Fun with gauges & panels in default MH-60 helos (P3D)

[Ripcord]

I just noticed these fun little features.

1. P3D comes with a ready-to-use ground radar map, just need to turn it on for whatever individual aircrafts you wish to use it with (add to panel.cfg).

2. P3D has an additional setting for tracking AI traffic on maps - Vehicles with a Radar Signature

ObjectDetailLayerVehicles
0 = Draw nothing
0x1 = Track line
0x2 = Ground vehicles
0x4 = Airborne vehicles
0x8 = Racing vehicles
0x10 = Vehicles with a Radar Signature - yes this does include AI ships.

XML Gauge Maps

0x10 equals 16 in decimal format.




Go try this out.

Pull up the default MH-60R or MH-60S - works the same either way. Go into panels.


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1. Add the moving ground radar as a pop up window.
[Window Titles]
add this:
WindowXX=SurfaceRadar

[WindowXX]
size_mm=265,310
Background_color=1,1,1
visible=0
position=8
windowsize_ratio=0.8
gauge00=P3DRadar!Radar, 5, 5, 255, 305

Nothing else to add here, it is already in your P3D/gauges folder.

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2. Update a couple settings in your HUD file (moving map, the blue one)
In the HUD folder, there is one file called map. Copy it, name if map2. Then edit two parameters:

(L:MapInit) 0 == if{
1 (>L:LayerAirports)
1 (>L:LayerAirspaces)
0 (>L:LayerTerrain)
1 (>L:LayerVORs)
1 (>L:LayerILSs)
0 (>L:LayerNDBs)
1 (>L:LayerLowAirways)
1 (>L:LayerTags)
1 (>L:LayerCompass)
0 (>L:LayerIntersections)
0 (>L:LayerRangeRings)
16 (>L:VehicleObjectDetail)
0 (>L:Filter)
1 (>L:MapInit)

Actually not even sure about the second one, the filter setting of 0 .... testing it now. Interesting to note that there is not a single mention of the term 'filter' the P3Dv5 SDK page I referenced above. In fact, there is no other mention of this variable in that map.xml file, so maybe it doesn't even matter... not sure.

For sure it shows ships within range, worked right away as expected, and it seems to continue to show air traffic as well. I did notice that it doesn't always like changes once your flight has begun, eg., changing position or time of day. The map doesn't want to update sometimes.

But hey, this is great for flying your Navy helo back to the ship. No fiddling with other tools.

Fly Navy.

 

[Ripcord]

OK hold the phones, now it gets better!

Download the Raytheon ANR-75 gauge by Garrett Smith, and pop that guy in there after the ground radar. I called it Nav Radar in mine, but whatever you like.
Note for those searching on AVSIM ---> rathyeon_anr75.zip is the file name.

So THIS bad boy actually allows the user to control the range and labels, etc., on the map MFD (which does not respond to any inputs as it is). It also gently nudges your map MFD when it freezes up.

Last thing I really recommend is the Autopilot gauge by my man Matt Levi.

I love it, doesn't work well with all the payware helos like Nemeth (test them anyway), but it works a treat with basic ones like this MH-60R / S. Makes life a lot easier for transits back and forth over the beach, etc.

Probably nobody cares anymore in 2025, but this is actually kinda fun!

 

[Ripcord]

BTW these screenshots taken from a P3D scenario, ships placed by XML (like a mission back in FSX). Note the map on MFD picks up the ship contact.

 

[DragonflightDesign]

I'd guess that the original P3D map works by using Simconnect which is dog slow to update when used like that. I built a radar screen to track simobjects just for fun last year. The other ones, being more recent, probably use the PDK which allows direct access to some parts of the sim.

All only guesswork based on your description and my experience.

 

[Ripcord]

Could be - this map doesn't like to update very much on its own. Tends to freeze up, and there is no user interface provided in this aircraft. BUT having that ANR-75 radar there allows for that. Simply adjusting ranges on that one updates both maps.

There is also a P3Dgps in the gauges folder, but I didn't examine that at all. Those look like the standard garmin gps pop up screens.