How to use the RealSimGear GNS-530 with the Aerosoft Twin Otter under MSFS

NOTE : The popup functionality is now active and will be released with the next update.

 

First of all, let’s kill some myths :

There is absolutely NO intelligence in the RealSimGear devices.
These are only displays with buttons.
No avionic software at all is implemented in those devices.
- The display ONLY displays undocked existing instruments from the simulator.

- The buttons (if any) ONLY emulate a mouse click on the corresponding instrument buttons in the simulator. No more, no less.
In other word, if some functions or instrumentation are not available in the simulator, they will not be available in the module. 

So very logically, two distinct parts are needed to install the GNS-530 :
1 – Setup the display
2 – Setup the buttons plugin  
 

PART #1 : Setup the display.
Nothing special here.
The module is recognized as a standard display by your computer.
You therefore need a free graphic port.

NOTE  : Depending on your computer and graphic adapter, some steps may differ.
Refer to your graphic card user’s manual for the multi-displays setup

Connect the power supply and the video cable.

The display should light up and the Windows desktop should appear.
Once again, as you can see, this is nothing more than a dumb-standard extra display
connected to your computer !

 

On some adapters, you may need to flip the image vertically :

 

Make sure the Windows taskbar does not appear on the GNS-530 display :
Right click on the taskbar, goto taskbar settings, and set “Show taskbar on all displays” to OFF.

 

The display is now fully ready !

 

PART #2 : Setup the buttons plugin

STEP 1 :

Download the plugin here :  
https://rsgpublicfiles.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/plugins/fsx-p3d/RealSimGear_FSX-P3D-MSFS_Installer.exe

Once downloaded, run it as administrator. (Right click on the .exe file – Option “Run as administrator”)
NOTE : There will be numerous messages appearing, some very obvious, some less.
              We will focus only on those required for the MSFS Twin Otter.
              If needed, the complete full steps procedure is available here :
             https://help.realsimgear.com/en/articles/3991045-prepar3d-fsx-msfs-add-on-windows-installer

STEP 2 :
- Select MSFS
- Click Install
It may take some time and look unresponsive but let the software work;
NOTE : When asked, allow the Arduino plugin to install.

STEP 3 :
Click Finish

 

STEP 4 :

The RealSimGear plugin now appears in the Community folder.

STEP 5 :

- Connect the GNS-530 to the a USB port.
- Start MSFS as administrator.
- A RealSimGear window will appear showing the GNS-530 connected.
 It automatically activates the buttons interface between the GNS-530 and the simulator.

 

STEP 6 :
- Load the Twin Otter.
- Undock the GNS-530  from the main instrument panel. (Press ALT-GR and click on it)

 

STEP 7 :

Drag it onto the RealSimGear module.

 

You are all set !

 

Note : This is NOT aircraft dependant.
                 This procedure applies to every aircraft using the default
                 MSFS GNS-530 instrument !
 

 

 

One thing I would like to add to this: once you maximize the window on the RSG device, hit Alt+Enter, and it will fullscreen it for you.

 

No more top bar or gaps   The window on the RSG has to be the window in focus, though, or you will toggle between fullscreen for something else (probably MSFS).  I use a dual GNS530/430 set up so I drag it to my 430, Alt+Enter, drag the window to my 530, Alt+Enter, and then click back to the main MSFS window and off I go.

Hi Joe,

Thank you very much for sharing.

Great tip indeed.

 

Best regards.