[Official] Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 Information & Discussion Thread

[Sir Beregond]

Well now that I have 800mbps down internet vs the 32ish I had before, I think I will finally grab FS2020.

 

Can I get by with a Logitech joystick?

[J7SC_Orion]

42 minutes ago, Sir Beregond said:

Well now that I have 800mbps down internet vs the 32ish I had before, I think I will finally grab FS2020.

 

Can I get by with a Logitech joystick?

 

...while you can go 'Rolls-Royce' with $400+ special joy-stick + pedals, I have been entirely satisfied with the Logitech Extreme 3D Pro joy-sticks and a (simultaneous) XBox controller on either system that has FS2020. On the 48 inch OLED you also have, just watch out because FS2020 can be addictive 

[Andrew]

10 hours ago, Sir Beregond said:

Well now that I have 800mbps down internet vs the 32ish I had before, I think I will finally grab FS2020.

 

Can I get by with a Logitech joystick?

You're going to be disappointed with the MSFS servers lol Before this update, I'd be lucky to see more than 50Mbps downloads. I'm now getting 170Mbps during this update, but it's still a long way off my 600Mbps.

 

I would recommend getting it on Steam vs getting it on the Microsoft store unless you plan on playing it on Xbox as well. Steams policy on refunds exclude the download and install time it does so the 2 hour time window starts as soon as you get in the main menu instead of as soon as you launch it. The Steam download is only a few MB, once you launch it, it downloads the rest.

 

If this is your first flight simulator, I'd recommend not spending any money on hardware. The last thing you want to do is dump a few hundred dollars on something that you don't enjoy. Start off with an Xbox/PS3/4/5 controller if you have one and try it out for a bit. If you do enjoy it, then go for a joystick. The TCA Airbus joystick from Thustmaster is a pretty good entry level one. If you're willing to spend a more, the Thrustmaster HOTAS Warthog + Thrustmaster Pendular Rudder are worth getting, but they are very expensive. If you have the space for a yoke and are willing to spend a lot of money, the Honeycomb Alpha along with the Honeycomb Bravy Throttle Quadrant and rudder pedals are worth getting.

Edited March 22, 2023 by Andrew

[Sir Beregond]

3 hours ago, Andrew said:

You're going to be disappointed with the MSFS servers lol Before this update, I'd be lucky to see more than 50Mbps downloads. I'm now getting 170Mbps during this update, but it's still a long way off my 600Mbps.

 

I would recommend getting it on Steam vs getting it on the Microsoft store unless you plan on playing it on Xbox as well. Steams policy on refunds exclude the download and install time it does so the 2 hour time window starts as soon as you get in the main menu instead of as soon as you launch it. The Steam download is only a few MB, once you launch it, it downloads the rest.

 

If this is your first flight simulator, I'd recommend not spending any money on hardware. The last thing you want to do is dump a few hundred dollars on something that you don't enjoy. Start off with an Xbox/PS3/4/5 controller if you have one and try it out for a bit. If you do enjoy it, then go for a joystick. The TCA Airbus joystick from Thustmaster is a pretty good entry level one. If you're willing to spend a more, the Thrustmaster HOTAS Warthog + Thrustmaster Pendular Rudder are worth getting, but they are very expensive. If you have the space for a yoke and are willing to spend a lot of money, the Honeycomb Alpha along with the Honeycomb Bravy Throttle Quadrant and rudder pedals are worth getting.

Yeah last time I really played Flight Sim was Flight Simulator 2000, and some FSX. 

 

I already have one of these, was just curious if it would be sufficient starting out. I'm not really looking to do hyper realistic siming. I just like flying around sometimes.

 

Thanks for the tips.

 

Edited March 22, 2023 by Sir Beregond

[pio]

Just picked this up on sale on Steam.  Already tinkered with it a little bit in the XBox Game Pass thingy (mine was expiring, so bought Flight Sim / Wreckfest).  I already have one or two joysticks laying around, I'll have to dig them out.....

 

Any advice on how to set this up with a joystick? Only time I've played was just with a regular game controller (XBox pad).

Edited March 22, 2023 by pioneerisloud

[UltraMega]

2 hours ago, pioneerisloud said:

Just picked this up on sale on Steam.  Already tinkered with it a little bit in the XBox Game Pass thingy (mine was expiring, so bought Flight Sim / Wreckfest).  I already have one or two joysticks laying around, I'll have to dig them out.....

 

Any advice on how to set this up with a joystick? Only time I've played was just with a regular game controller (XBox pad).

The default settings shout be fine but you may want to adjust some of the sensitivity settings once you get going, especially for the rudder control.

[J7SC_Orion]

11 hours ago, Andrew said:

You're going to be disappointed with the MSFS servers lol Before this update, I'd be lucky to see more than 50Mbps downloads. I'm now getting 170Mbps during this update, but it's still a long way off my 600Mbps.

 

I would recommend getting it on Steam vs getting it on the Microsoft store unless you plan on playing it on Xbox as well. Steams policy on refunds exclude the download and install time it does so the 2 hour time window starts as soon as you get in the main menu instead of as soon as you launch it. The Steam download is only a few MB, once you launch it, it downloads the rest.

 

If this is your first flight simulator, I'd recommend not spending any money on hardware. The last thing you want to do is dump a few hundred dollars on something that you don't enjoy. Start off with an Xbox/PS3/4/5 controller if you have one and try it out for a bit. If you do enjoy it, then go for a joystick. The TCA Airbus joystick from Thustmaster is a pretty good entry level one. If you're willing to spend a more, the Thrustmaster HOTAS Warthog + Thrustmaster Pendular Rudder are worth getting, but they are very expensive. If you have the space for a yoke and are willing to spend a lot of money, the Honeycomb Alpha along with the Honeycomb Bravy Throttle Quadrant and rudder pedals are worth getting.

 

I've hit ~ 320 Mbps (edit: see 385 Mbps below) a couple of times on big patch downloads (on a 1 Gbps symmetric up/down connection), but it also depends on a few other links in the 'chain' from the Azure server to your system. 100 Mbps is usually enough for good 4K play, at least around here.

Edited March 22, 2023 by J7SC_Orion

[UltraMega]

5 hours ago, Sir Beregond said:

Yeah last time I really played Flight Sim was Flight Simulator 2000, and some FSX. 

 

I already have one of these, was just curious if it would be sufficient starting out. I'm not really looking to do hyper realistic siming. I just like flying around sometimes.

 

Thanks for the tips.

 

 

Same one I have, works well but stiff rudder control. I have seen people online say they have taken this thing apart and cut the spring that makes the rudder so stiff in half. I've thought about doing that myself but I've been hesitant. 

Edited March 22, 2023 by UltraMega

[J7SC_Orion]

5 hours ago, pioneerisloud said:

Just picked this up on sale on Steam.  Already tinkered with it a little bit in the XBox Game Pass thingy (mine was expiring, so bought Flight Sim / Wreckfest).  I already have one or two joysticks laying around, I'll have to dig them out.....

 

Any advice on how to set this up with a joystick? Only time I've played was just with a regular game controller (XBox pad).

 

Per earlier post, this is my control setup for FS2020 (using both at the same time). There also is some older Logitech calibration software floating around which works, at least in Win 10 Pro.

 

 

 

@Andrew ...downloaded the new FS2020 patches and other updates; runs fine but only had 20 min or so to try my regular settings / routine. Download speed was good though (non-peak hour here)

 

 

 

[Andrew]

 

I have the 737-700 and the -900. Thought I might as well complete it by getting the most popular variant, the -800. I'm still missing the -600 but tbh I don't really care. Only 63 were ever made and there are only 12 left. This is out of the 1164 -700, 5205 -800 and 557 -900.

 

This is a pretty good livery.

Unsurprisingly, the cockpit is nearly identical. There are a couple of very small differences between the -700 and the -800/-900. The most notable difference is the aircon panel.

 

18 minutes ago, J7SC_Orion said:

Per earlier post, this is my control setup for FS2020 (using both at the same time). There also is some older Logitech calibration software floating around which works, at least in Win 10 Pro.

 

 

 

@Andrew ...downloaded the new FS2020 patches and other updates; runs fine but only had 20 min or so to try my regular settings / routine. Download speed was good though (non-peak hour here)

 

 

I was getting 175Mbps, which is a lot better than the normal 60-80Mbps I used to get, but it is still a long way off what it could be.

[Andrew]

The clouds are soft.

 

[pio]

Thrustmaster USB joystick doesn't work on Flight Sim btw.  Kind of a bummer, game seems like it'd be a lot of fun.

[Andrew]

I thought it would have worked because it has custom hardware settings. I know the T300RS isn't officially supported for obvious reasons, but I could get it to work. And I'll tell you, flying a 747 with a steering wheel is not an easy task.

 

Does it work with any other game/inside Windows itself?

[pio]

30 minutes ago, Andrew said:

I thought it would have worked because it has custom hardware settings. I know the T300RS isn't officially supported for obvious reasons, but I could get it to work. And I'll tell you, flying a 747 with a steering wheel is not an easy task.

 

Does it work with any other game/inside Windows itself?

So here's what's interesting.....  The model joystick I have, specifically, is a "Thrustmaster USB Joystick".  It claims Win98SE, 2000, and XP support on the box, with no CD required installation.  Obviously, not using it on an old rig for Flight Sim 2020, its plugged into my sig rig running Windows 11.  Yes, Windows recognizes it.  The game itself recognizes the 3 different analogue inputs just fine and gives me dead zone adjustments.  But.....  it does absolutely nothing within the game, and there's no "profile" selected for it, its an unknown type of input per the controls menu.

 

My XBox One wired controller works fine in the game.  Plugged it in, it just works.

 

I have NOT tried my wheel, as who uses a steering wheel for a flight sim? 

Edited March 23, 2023 by pioneerisloud

[UltraMega]

6 minutes ago, pioneerisloud said:

So here's what's interesting.....  The model joystick I have, specifically, is a "Thrustmaster USB Joystick".  It claims Win98SE, 2000, and XP support on the box, with no CD required installation.  Obviously, not using it on an old rig for Flight Sim 2020, its plugged into my sig rig running Windows 11.  Yes, Windows recognizes it.  The game itself recognizes the 3 different analogue inputs just fine and gives me dead zone adjustments.  But.....  it does absolutely nothing within the game, and there's no "profile" selected for it, its an unknown type of input per the controls menu.

 

My XBox One wired controller works fine in the game.  Plugged it in, it just works.

 

I have NOT tried my wheel, as who uses a steering wheel for a flight sim? 

Logitech Extreme 3D Pro X3D Joystick Flightstick PC Controller Wingman Attack

WWW.EBAY.COM

---

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Logitech Extreme 3D Pro X3D Joystick Flightstick PC...

 

Easy to find these used for a good price used. I got mine used. 

[Andrew]

FS2020 and Assetto Corsa are taking up an incredible amount of space.

 

[J7SC_Orion]

...my FS 2020 all of a sudden disappeared (along with Forza H 5, the only other X-Box sourced game) after a successful and enjoyable session on my primary system yesterday following the latest FS2020 patch updates....

 

Way too busy at work to deal with Microsoft / Xbox now, but will try tomorrow   

[Andrew]

That's quite a gap.

[J7SC_Orion]

On 24/03/2023 at 15:35, Andrew said:

That's quite a gap.

 

"Watch your step" !

 

...reinstalled much of Win 10 Pro, all games (> 500 GB  including MS Store and Steam) - Microsoft Gaming Services was broken, as was Microsoft's infuriating phone '''support''' (separate thread coming up on that nightmare). Anyhow, all back up and running nicely

 

[Andrew]

I've downloaded Las Vegas. KLAS is a bit broken. As you can see, all of the lights have stopped working, at least from this angle.

 

 

I've also been on the FS2020 subreddit again looking at threads for people getting help and it really is like this clip

 

OP: Why is my autopilot not working?

Reply 1: What plane is it?

OP: It's on Xbox.

Reply 1: Okay, but what plane is it?
OP: Airbus.

Reply 1: Which Airbus? What exactly are you trying to do?
OP: Make the autopilot work.

 

Reply 2: Press the Autopilot button.

OP: I did it's not working.

Reply 2: What exactly are you doing? Have you put all of the information required into the MCDU?
OP: Pressing the autopilot button on the Airbus.

 

They also get really rude in the replies for the kind of help that 10-15 years ago would have cost you $25/hr on the phone. I really don't understand this. If you want help with something, you should at least give the bare minimum amount of information needed, and if you don't know what that is, ask what information is needed. If you've been asked what on certain things that are pretty crucial for making it work and you ignore it, don't get rude to the people trying to help you for free. /rant

[J7SC_Orion]

...I am just glad I am back 'flying the friendly skies' 

 

...the issue was that Microsoft Gaming Services got stuck in an update loop (12 hrs +). I am not the only one this happens to as there is a fair amount of online help and Microsoft tips for Powershell commands and such when this happens  - but it did not work, likely due to having upgraded to Win 11 Pro before reverting back to Win 10 Pro a while back.

 

Microsoft's phone support arranged via their online pages seemed to connect to some place in South Asia (for real) with really bad audio --- and the line dropped four times in a row in the middle of sentences. Never got a single call completed, yet after all that I got the online message 'you  have exceeded the daily limit of support calls' when trying to re-connect  

 

On the plus side, I now have a fresh Win 10 Pro install (instead of a downgraded Win 11 Pro) - and everything seems to run (even) faster than before that exercise in frustration.

[Andrew]

Been using FSLTL recently and it makes the world seem so much more alive with planes in accurate locations to where they are in real life as well as spawning them in at much further distances that makes it seem more realistic. You can now see planes flying at 30K ft+ complete with realistic length contrails.

 

The ground traffic is also more realistic as planes spawn in roughly where they are IRL with realistic liveries. Like this Emirates A380 that departed here IRL at the same time.

 

Even if you don't fly airliners, it's worth getting just because of how much it improves the look with this. I've not noticed any performance hit either.

 

If you are going to get it, do it through the FlyByWire installer. It's pretty easy to install that way. The only real downside is that you have to manually launch it every time you want to play the game. If you forget to do that, the ground and air traffic is non-existent as it requires you to switch off the default AI traffic.

Edited March 29, 2023 by Andrew

[J7SC_Orion]

52 minutes ago, Andrew said:

Been using FSLTL recently and it makes the world seem so much more alive with planes in accurate locations to where they are in real life as well as spawning them in at much further distances that makes it seem more realistic. You can now see planes flying at 30K ft+ complete with realistic length contrails.

 

The ground traffic is also more realistic as planes spawn in roughly where they are IRL with realistic liveries. Like this Emirates A380 that departed here IRL at the same time.

 

Even if you don't fly airliners, it's worth getting just because of how much it improves the look with this. I've not noticed any performance hit either.

 

If you are going to get it, do it through the FlyByWire installer. It's pretty easy to install that way. The only real downside is that you have to manually launch it every time you want to play the game. If you forget to do that, the ground and air traffic is non-existent as it requires you to switch off the default AI traffic.

 

I sometimes use FSLTL and haven't noticed a performance hit on my setups. One of my fav things to do around YVR (Vancouver airport) is to wait until evening, circle the airport, watch the line of real flights / plane lights coming in from the East and then (at a safe distance) flank them right until they are on the runway, safely on the ground. After they land, they disappear but pop up later at their docking station. I also flank take-offs and follow them for a while. Weirdly entertaining...

[J7SC_Orion]

...on my way to Yellowstone in the Pitts Special, flying East

 

 

 

 

[J7SC_Orion]

@Andrew  ...saw this posted on another FS 2020 thread...looks like some nice April fools extras...