Okay, I had posted once before about how I was looking to start a GA simpit, and was curious about FSBus. Unfortunately, I'm still pretty confused about things.I'd like to make a radio stack that is very similar, if not identical to the Bendix/King stack they use in FS2k2. I realize that I can use FSBus to do this with relative ease. I have had some electronics experience, but for the sake of explanation, let's just assume I know nothing more than how to solder and read a schematic.How would I go about doing this radio stack? I am at a total loss for where to start. I have never even attempted anything remotely like this, involving designing my own boards and stuff like that.Also, does anyone know if it would be possible to design a Garmin GNS530 using FSBus? I figure I could use a small monitor for the output of the GPS, but I'd like to keep the actual buttons and knobs hardware. I'll be flying using RealityXP's Garmin avionics suite mroe than likely.

Hi Nakomis,sure it is possible to solve your quest.FS-BUS is VERY flexible and can do all you want concerning FS 2002...Have a look at http://www.cockpitsonic.dethise guys are offering a set of boards as well as complete FSBUS components at a VERY reasonable price...They even offer to build custom designed projects - you tell them what you want, they make it - complete with the panels if required....the site is only in german right now but you can contact them...cheersMathias

>Have a look at http://www.cockpitsonic.de>>thise guys are offering a set of boards as well as complete>FSBUS components at a VERY reasonable price...They even offer>to build custom designed projects - you tell them what you>want, they make it - complete with the panels if>required....the site is only in german right now but you can>contact them...>>cheers>>MathiasCuriously "they" have the same first name as you :-) www.cockpitsonic.de is registered to "Mathias Roehr" - and you dont have any family name listed on your profile, makes one wonder if "you" = "they" ... :^)In any case, to the original question.. :)It's a lot of work but definitely possible.I suggest you start by making a FSBUS COM-card + maybe two KEY-modules, get some pushbuttons and toggle switches and make a "desktop box" that has a bunch of switches on the front panel and start assigning functions to them for FS2002. The box is actually useful in sim flying, and you start to get a better picture on how the thing works. The issue always is, when you start to design something, byt the time you start to build or are about to finish it, you many times get a better idea.. So it is very good to do quick prototypes and such.One good idea I have been using is laminated paper for the front panels - design a front panel layout for the radio with a graphics program, print it on B/W laser, and have it laminated, then cut out the exact shape of the front panel. Then you can attach it to a piece of plywood or such and drill holes for the switches etc.. Laminating machines are not very expensive, and I guess copy shops or print houses might have ones you can get your stuff laminated with as well.Also, you can add those 7-segment displays for the radios as well, but it might be easier to start from the switches first and then expand it, it's quite a lot of work to make it all.The thing is, there is no "right way" to do this. It's a lot about looking at how others do things, getting your own ideas and improving others' and sharing your own versions. That's how the stuff works. Search the forum (and other ones too) and look at the websites of other builders to get an idea how the stuff works out.And good luck! Post questions if you bump into ones, and send pics of what you are working on! :)Tuomas

Hi Tuomas,yes, you are right - i belong to them :)We have founded an "interest group" to help other simmers build or design there own cockpits and equipment - we help builders with certain skills to "commercialize" their products, e.g. throttles yokes etc...and make them availlable to other simmers ho do not have these skills...but all that for reasonable pricing...And if there are people who do not know how to install there equipment - why not help them...i / we cannot do it for free - but the charge is a fair one because we do not make a living from THAT work...I hope it explains the things to you.Kind regardsMathias

>Hi Tuomas,>>yes, you are right - i belong to them :)>>We have founded an "interest group" to help other simmers>build or design there own cockpits and equipment - we help>builders with certain skills to "commercialize" their>products, e.g. throttles yokes etc...and make them availlable>to other simmers ho do not have these skills...but all that>for reasonable pricing...Yeap, a good idea since not everyone has the skills, or sometimes more importantly, the *tools* to get things like that done.>And if there are people who do not know how to install there>equipment - why not help them...i / we cannot do it for free ->but the charge is a fair one because we do not make a living>from THAT work...>I hope it explains the things to you.Yea, nothing wrong in what you do, it was just funny. I mean, why not just say "Hi! We do this kind of stuff, I hope this is useful for someone out there.."It was sort of funny to say "Hi! I know these guys and they are doing great things" which makes you sound like a happy "customer" even though you are not.I mean, nothing wrong in the thing itself, it was just put in a bit funny way.It's like the guy on flightsimnetwork forum who always praises GoFlight hardware (which is probably awesome and cool) - but his position as a reseller makes it a bit silly.But hey, the idea is good, I wish you luck, it was nothing personal and no bad feelings at all. Of course see Dirk's post about FSBUS: http://forums.avsim.com/dcboard.php?az=sho...g_id=3948&page=Best wishes,Tuomas