Connecting XCSoar to Condor

Connect External Device via Wifi

From the Condor Manual:

Connect Condor to XCSoar running both on different devices via internet/wifi connection

  1. Install HW VSP3 – Virtual Serial Port. https://www.hw-group.com/software/hw-vsp3-virtual-serial-port
  2. Choose "HW VSP3 Single"
  3. Condor device (computer) and XCSoar device (Computer/Android phone/Kobo Mini) must be connected to same WiFi network /router
  4. Note IP address of XCSoar device e.g. 192.160.0.12
  5. In XCSoar FLY mode go to Config / Devices / Edit Device e.g. Device A Port: select TCP Port TCP Port: 4353 (note this number if different because you have to enter it into TCP Client in HW VSP3) Driver: Condor Soaring Simulator Note: You must select the “Condor Soaring Simulator” in the device list (Config/Devices/Edit/Driver) in order to have correct altitude readings.
  6. Start Condor, go to Setup > Options > NMEA Output and check number of the last existing COM port (e.g. COM4). Exit Condor.
  7. Start HW VSP3, go to Virtual Serial Port tab and set: Port name: COM5 (Choose COM number higher than the last existing one in step 5) IP Address: IP address of Computer / Android / Kobo Mini on WiFi network (e.g. 192.168.0.12) Port: 4353 (port from XCSoar device A configuration)
  8. Click “Create COM”, leave HW VSP3 window in the background.
  9. Start Condor, in Setup > Options enable NMEA output and choose virtual com port (e.g. COM5 created in step 6)
  10. Start flight!
  11. Next time you want to fly, you only need to start HW VSP3, go to Virtual Serial Port tab and click “Create COM” before starting Condor.

Connect External Device via Bluetooth

Run XCSoar in VR

From the XCSoar Forum:

  1. Get the XCSoar desktop app ( https://xcsoar.org/ ) running on your PC and link it to Condor 2. This is best done initially with Condor 2 not in VR mode. The instructions to do this are in the Condor 2 manual at the end https://www.condorsoaring.com/user-manuals/ . It requires installing a virtual serial port app VSP3 (link is in the Condor manual). The only missing piece of information is that the IP address you need to include when configuring VSP3 is “127.0.0.1”, as you are running XCSoar and Condor 2 on the same PC. (Thanks, Bre901). Test this in flatscreen Condor mode to check all is working.
  2. Configure XCSoar as you wish, ideally to match the set up you fly with IRL. You will need to include maps that match the area you intend to fly on in Condor 2. For this simplified way of getting an XCSoar PDA in Condor VR, I am sticking to a single page display in XCSoar, so make sure that all the nav boxes you might want are on the same page. Anything that toggles automatically in XCSoar, like the thermal assistant, will still work. You won’t have access to any XCSoar buttons or settings once in VR mode!
  3. Now to get the display in VR mode! Start up the previously configured serial port app and start up XCSoar. Adjust the size and shape of the XCSoar window until it looks like a PDA. Put on your VR headset so it is connected to your PC (via Link for a Quest 2). Use the VR controllers and menu to view the monitor that has your XCSoar window on. Now you need to select the window with the VR controller and move / scale it, so it is the approximate position in your VR view, where you want the “PDA” to appear in Condor. This is a little fiddly, but involves using the right controller and trigger button to select the window, and then also squeezing the middle finger button to relocate the window. The thumb joystick resizes and adjusts the position of the window. Give it a go! Once in the right place, the “B” button on the right controller gives a menu that has a “PIN” option. Select that PIN option using the pointer. Now, your XCSoar window should be pinned in your VR view at all times.

  4. Now start up Condor 2 in VR mode (I use the excellent Condor 2 Revive helper). With luck, your XCSoar window should be in the right place. You can make minor adjustments by resetting your cockpit view in Condor. The XCSoar display is slightly transparent, so it makes most sense to move it to a non-cluttered part of your cockpit view. Unlike in real-life, a large display does not hamper the stick or your knees!


  5. Finally, if you want the right task to be in your XCSoar PDA, you can either enter it manually (prior to going into Condor VR) or use the CoTaCo task convertor utility (https://condorutill.pagesperso-orange.fr/). The utility can be configured to automatically convert the Condor task into an XCSoar one, and load it into XCSoar as “Flightplan.tsk”. The manual on the CoTaCo website explains the options. You will need to make it live in XCSoar via Nav > Task > Manage > Load.
  6. Now start your flight in Condor 2 and have fun! The XCSoar PDA should give you all the information you would be getting IRL, including wind etc.

Using XCSoar in Condor VR is an excellent training aid for learning to use a PDA in real life! Plenty of time to see what the settings do and what the nav boxes mean. There is a useful video on doing a more complicated (functionally rich!) version of the above here:

https://youtu.be/_shMNaO6cC4


If all is working, you should get something as per this brief YouTube video. Note that the PDA moving slightly in the middle is me adjusting to Condor 2 cockpit view, relative to the fixed PDA position.

https://youtu.be/u_Tswk22ZYc


Good luck, it really is useful for practicing with your PDA safely, ready for keeping a better lookout in the real world!

-k6chris


VSPE instead of HW VSP3 in VR

  1. Download and install VSPE. The 64 bit (x64) version is likely to be the correct version if you are using a newer Windows PC.
  2. Every time you start the program, you will get a dialogue like below. Select 'Continue (with limitations)' or buy a licence key to avoid this message.

  1. Select Device>'Create new device' or click on the icon circled below.

  1. In the dropdown box, select Device Type: 'Virtual Connector'. Then click the 'Next' button at the bottom.

  1. In the dropdown box, select the COM port number you want to create. COM1 is default and should work fine unless you need other COMs setup. Click 'Finish' button at the bottom to complete.

  1. Open Condor, select 'SETUP' and choose the 'OPTIONS' tab. In the 'NMEA output' box, select 'Enable'. Set the 'Port' dropdown box to the COM port you created in step 5. Click 'OK' to save changes.

  1. Open your Windows version of XCSoar and select 'FLY'. Go to the Config>Devices menu. Choose one of the devices A to F and select 'Edit'.

  1. Select the 'Port' field (where 'Disabled' is written below).

  1. If everything was setup correctly in the previous steps, you should be able to select the virtual serial port you created earlier. Click 'Select'.

  1. You will then have two additional options to select in the 'Edit device' list. You can leave the 'Baud rate' at '4800'. Select the 'Driver' field to 'Condor Soaring Simulator'

  1. Then you can Pin XCSoar in the Meta Quest App
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