How do you guys connect your hardware to the computer?

[Juggernaut]

Hi guys,

I am just curious as to how you connect all of your external controls to the computer and simulator?
How are the MFD's connected so that the buttons are functional in a sim?

How is the ejection seat handle connected so that it is functional in a sim?

Thanks!
Juggernaut

[PHX]

Hey Juggernaut,

My pit is in the pre-production, planning, gathering stages. :smile:

But I am planning at this point to use a combination of Xkeys (the matrix board for my MFD's) and I am considering Hagstrom keyboard encoders for the other switches.

I am planning my landing gear, ejection seat, and flaps to use mechanical linkage that "presses" a simple pushbutton.

If I go up in complexity, I might consider an EPIC card.

This the kinda info you looking for?

PHX

[Juggernaut]

Hey Juggernaut,

My pit is in the pre-production, planning, gathering stages. :smile:

But I am planning at this point to use a combination of Xkeys (the matrix board for my MFD's) and I am considering Hagstrom keyboard encoders for the other switches.

I am planning my landing gear, ejection seat, and flaps to use mechanical linkage that "presses" a simple pushbutton.

If I go up in complexity, I might consider an EPIC card.

This the kinda info you looking for?

PHX

Hi PHX,

Thanks for the information!

Good stuff.

Good Luck with your pit!

Juggernaut

[Nikolas_A]

I'm building one of these (http://cockpit.varxec.net/electronics/PHCC.html). It's affordable, open source and modular.

Have a look at the forum (http://forums.varxec.net).

[Flareless]

Check out Beta Innovations (http://www.betainnovations.com) too.

[Gecko6]

When I am done collecting and fabricating the missing hardware my A-7D cockpit will be driven by EPIC. (http://flightlink.com/epic/)

[mihi4]

I used a Hagstrom KE-72 till now, but already have a GammaRay-256 and a PlasmaV2 from Betainnovations...

You asked for it ;) - here's a pic of my ejection handle mechanism
http://www.f16simulator.net/viperforum/P6010001.JPG

greetings
michi

[Bumper]

I'm currently working on a home build interface.
I'm using the USB port to send out I2c signals (3 wire system),
This is a bus invented by Phillips and is used in VCR's, TV, DVD, Radio etc etc.
There are standard lcd, display, led, switch drivers which you can simply
adress and/or read out. So for about 126 different modules you need 3 wires
to send and/or read data over, and the power lines. so a total of 5.

For displaying the HUD or MFD's you can think of using a second video card
for multi monitor support, and split that monitor signal into 3 or 4 sections, and send each section to (6 inch) lcd display (with a driver of course).

I've got several sollutions for reading out and sending out data. All working fine
with the old shared memmory data structure of FALCON 4.0, and andvanced
Key layout also found in falcon.

Hope this is a help!

Greets

Bumper