Cost Effective?

[Guest A_Delta_Sierra]

I need a cost effective (cheap) method of controlling/entering radio frequency that also requires no programing knowledge. Decided to give it a try and see if I still had any design talent and cleverness.Here is my solution:Purchased a "Staples-special" Logetech ATK3 joystick for $9usd. Updated the software to current release. Cheap stick, but it comes with software that allows me to define a sequence of keystrokes with each button push. Thus I am able to define a zoom+ and a zoom- key. And I can program a "c" and define as the com1 select. ;-)What it boils down to, all I need for "buttons" on the joystick is one for z+, one for z-, and for the slection of the event I wish to "rotary". I have been able to program the ATCK3 to do this. ;-)Now I need hardware to make and break the pushbutton swithes. The following two views is my attempt tonight to do that. I can get a clustetr of five in a bounding box 1.75" deep. 5.1" wide, and 4.6" tall. Min distance between two switches is 1". The remaining 3 switches would have to be 1.56" from the first center switch. I hope this is tight enough. I made my layout using dimensions from a pushbutton I picked u[ at Radio shack. I pretty sure I can drop down from 3/4" PCV to 1/2" PVC if I use printed ciruit board surface mounted pushbuttons, plust they are a LOT less expensive. They would probable reduce the "package" and CL distances to 75% of what I have achieved with the current pushbutton design. Each rotary using the suface mount pushbuttons would cost less then $2.00usd, Add the cheap JS, but good shopping will keep that below $10.00usd and you will get (number of programable buttons-2) rotaries per JS. Plus, I will get three more axis to play with pert added js.The kewl thing about the design is that by using a USB joystick or gamepad, I can just keep adding and adding. The key is for the joystick/gamepad to have a program "profiler" that allows me to deifne a sequence of keystrokes AND have them repeat. (can't keep adding the same because the "profiler" will only manage on device.) S0, I can't buy another Logitech, but I can buy a MS, Tm, .. as long as they have unique "profiler" propgrams. Problem is, I have to "learn how to program each one. ;-)PLEASE TELL ME THE SHORT-COMINGS of this approach and areas to improve! This is only a one night effort so it has to get better. TKS.http://photos.imageevent.com/dvds4bmx/cool...large/front.jpghttp://photos.imageevent.com/dvds4bmx/cool.../large/rear.jpgEDITED -- My drawing Bill of Material -- I foprgot the 1/8 wooden dowel rod for the shaft. ;-) Still will be less ten $2.00 per "rotary"Regards,BobShttp://s95171098.onlinehome.us/junk/aopa.jpg