Radarspotting

From Bev

Hi
 
The popular aeronautical charts available on the SkyVector web site (skyvector.com) have often been used alongside PlanePlotter by using the manual map calibration feature in PlanePlotter.  The latest version of PlanePlotter on the web site now (6.7.1.6), simplifies this process somewhat.

https://www.coaa.co.uk/planeplotter6_7_1_6.exe (https://www.coaa.co.uk/planeplotter6_7_1_6.exe)
 
A new option "PlanePlotter...Chart...SkyVector chart...(options)" will open a web browser at the SkyVector page with the chosen SkyVector chart type displayed, centred on the current PlanePlotter map centre, and at the nearest available scale.  At this stage you can choose wind/satellite image overlays etc. and, if you wish, hide the pop-up advert at the bottom of the SkyVector chart.  You would also be well advised to make the browser window full page at this stage (by pressing F11 if it isn't already) so that the SkyVector map covers the largest possible screen area.  Be careful not to change the presentation of the actual chart (scale, map centre, etc.) or the eventual map calibration will be wrong.
 
Then, if you press and briefly hold the keyboard Control key, the current SkyVector screen will be mirrored into PlanePlotter and displayed there along with the normal PlanePlotter information.  That unusual style of UI (pressing Control) is to avoid any superfluous screen annotations popping up and being captured on top of the SkyVector chart. 
 
The process of generating the calibration takes a few seconds.  The SkyVector window will remain open but PlanePlotter will eventually gain the focus and the SkyVector chart will appear mirrored in the PlanePlotter window.
 
Note that if you have a screen scale factor configured in Windows (Windows...Settings..Display..Scale) to something other than 100%, the map calibration will be wrong and aircraft plots will be in the wrong place.
 
The only SkyVector charts options that are available, are the Enroute High, Enroute Low, and VFR.  The other SkyVector chart options used over the USA, all have individual chart calibrations and so are not compatible with this simplified approach used here.  The more arduous manual map calibration can still be performed on those charts if required.
 
This release also includes a "Negative" option in the "Options..Chart..Transparency" dialog.  That can be used to make some maps and charts (including the SkyVector charts, if required) to have a dark background for an appearance more similar to the outlines.  The "Negative" setting and the existing fade-to-back/fade-to-white options in the transparency dialog are now stored in any Quick charts that are defined.  This means that you can have different appearances for the SkyVector charts and other charts under different Quick buttons according to personal preference.
 
Regards
Bev
COAA


Tim