OnCourse Software

The multicom frequencies in PF2000s' adventure briefing seem to be misinterpreted by PFE as FSS frequencies. I've noticed that if there is a unicom frequencyand I tune to it, the various unicom commands work and I can announce turning base, turning final, etc. But if I tune to a multicom freq and press, for example, 4 to announce turning final, what I get is command 4 for the FSS freq, Request Center Advisory. This is very consistent. At airports with both multicom and unicom frequencies this is not a problem as I will use the unicom freq. If an airport only has a multicom freq, though, none of the unicom or multicom commands will work.

It's easy enough to change or add radio freq. to an airport in FS9, but I don't know how to get PFE to recognize the changes. I've noticed at least three different PFE/PF2000 data files that contain freq data:

1. PFE/Data PFE_FS9_Freq.dat
2. PFE/Data freq_conversion.dat (for most recent adventure only)
3. PFE/2000/PF2000//Flightplans PF2000 [flight plan name].freq (specific to each flight plan)

I'm guessing (hoping) that PFE_FS9_Freq.dat is the one I need to edit if I want to add a unicom freq. Is this correct? If so, can someone explain to me the meaning of the values for the second data field? The rest are self evident. So for this entry...

CYMJ,8,119.00,"MOOSE JAW"

...what does the 8 indicate, and what are the possible values?

If editing PFE_FS9_Freq.dat isn't going to work, what is?

Thanks!

Hi Sidney,

Hopefully one of the experts will chime in here because I don't know much about this, but if you do choose to add a frequency in FS9, you might try rebuilding the PFE databases. I found this in the manual, p. 41:

PFE uses the same data for runways and com frequencies as FS, so any time any such changes are made to FS we need to reflect those changes in the PFE database files.

Whether or not the same thing could be done by manual editing, I don't know.

Dan

Hi Dan,

Ah. I knew about rebuilding the database for runway changes, but didn't think to try it for com changes. Thanks for pointing that out. I'll give it a go.

I'm no expert in these files but all i can say is any editing is done at one's own risk.
Backup of the original files is recommended before any alterations are attempted...

Letting PFE rebuild the database after adding the unicom freq worked. PFE recognized the new frequency and the flight went perfectly.

I have to say, though, that the multicom freq not working seems like an obvious bug. Unicom and multicom should function the same, with the exception of being able to request field advisories...that's something you should only be able to do on unicom.

Would also be nice if PFE would recognize AWOS frequencies at those airports that have them instead of ATIS, but that's a relatively minor issue.