Radio stack idea

[Guest GeorgeDorkofikis]

I just got an idea how to make a nice radio stack and I though to share it with you.Have you ever thought that the a couple of old, unused or mulfunctioning CDROM drives can come handy?I am thinking of using the CD drive housing and a 5.25" metal rack from an old PC case for my radio stack!With the main mechanism and PCB removed, the metal case can be then have a plastic front panel with the displays and control, and also house the FSBUS display PCBs.It would be great for mobility and modularity!George DorkofikisAthens, Greece

[Guest Glenn Weston]

Hi George, This is an exellent idea, infact I had a couple of dead CD-Roms laying around & gutted them when I read your post, I am using a 137mm CCF lamp for backlighting it fits in the back of the CD-Rom case just nicely, I am going to fit the front of the CD-Rom case with a white translucent plexi, then a negative with the required text, cut out the white plexi where the 7Segment displays will sit & then a clear plexi plate over the top of that, that will have an over hang for a rack type of mount, I had a friend of mine measure a 172 Radio stack the other day the width is 170mm the CD-Rom case width is 142mm, I will cut the clear plexi to the 170mm width of a standard radio so that will produce a 14mm overhang each side of the radio unit giving a nice amount of plexi to rack mount with, I also have noted that the front panel of a standard clone AT case is 175mm.If you can find a nice flat AT case front panel, pull it off the chassis & cut the guts out of it, i.e. extend the 5.25" bays all the way to the bottom of the front panel you have yourself a real nice rack to mount onto, failing that just cut a square whole in some plywood & your'e laugh'n.The only drawback is the FSBus 7Segments are way too big, but there seems to be some boards available now to solve that one.Terrific Idea George, it's found its way into my pit !! Woo Hoo........Cheers Glenn.

[tigert]

Or this could be a really nice way to make a "lan party" sim computer case, or just something for people who dont have too much space around - just stick FSBUS and stuff *inside* your actual PC case (it needs to be a tall tower case then though, and be careful with everything etc etc dont put your cat in the microwave oven -type disclaimers apply.. you get the idea. Anyhow, something like this might be cool:http://tigert.gimp.org/vatsim/cockpit-stuff/pc-avionics.jpgTuomas

[Guest GeorgeDorkofikis]

Hi Glenn,I'm glad I inspired you. My idea was exactly that as you describe it. We have 2-3 old cases sitting around empty at the office so I'll just 'borrow' one of those.Add to that that you can put in an old 120W PC Power Supply and you are done with the FSBUS energy requirements for a decade! 12V + 5V !Not to mention the neat way that you can arrange your boards inside the case, and the connectors you can add at the back, i.e. to connect the MCP! ;-)Heat? No problem... Just a couple of fans will keep those regulators and PICs coolled down.Did I mention portability too ? ;-)Edit: Forgot to talk about the led displays. The default 7 segments displays are the 13mm ones and are quite large. Instead, we have settled (we are 3 working on the same projects) for the Kingbright SC36-11SRWA displays (SRWA = Super Bright Red) which are 9mm high andjust 7.5mm wide! 5 of those fit perfectly into the real 737NG altitude window! So, I have designed boards that are FSBUS connector compatible to use them. I have etched test boards, and as soon as I see them working I will post the PCBs for others to use too.Happy flights!George DorkofikisAthens, Greece

[Guest Glenn Weston]

Ah Nice Demo Pic there Tuomas.....George I would be very interested in the Display boards when you have tested them, this whole idea is a great solution to the radio stack & I have started on it now, picked up some extra plexi today & knobs for my knitter switches, will post some pictures once it starts to come together.Cheers Glenn.