Hi GuysThis is my first post on this site as I am a new builder from South Africa.I am interested in building a 737ng.Unlike most of you in this forum who have access to so many hardware like interfacing units,buying them is out of the question for me as my budget just doesn't permit.I would have to build everything myself.I have read about FSBUS and IO Cards on the www.opencockpits.com and wanted to know which of the two will be a better option and also with IO Cards from opencockpits if I could also build those cards myself as they have the diagrams available on their website.I will e-mail the schematics to a electronics shop here in South Africa that will put the it together for me but I will have to do all the testing and everything alse on my own.I would appreciate any comments as most of the guys on this site are experienced and this is a learning curve for me.So must I use IO Cards from Opencockpits or FSBUS ?Thankselekwind

This i a big issue!! :-)I already have Fsbus 2years now and if i have to choose today again, i'm not sure if i will re-invest in Fsbus or in Opencockpits.Each system has benefits and disavantages.Fsbus, has a better software interface and you can do almost all with only one program running. All the functionallity is there. You can assign switches, leds, reotaries etc very easy and fast and i find it very friendly. But in the current status does not offer a good tool for custom made logic and if/then/else functions!! I can't have blank the IAS and V/S displays when in Vnav & Lnav modes.Also you don't have support, as behind Fsbus is only one person (Dirk) and he offer from his free time and he posts almost in German speaking forums.Opencockpits, have a better support and more users they can help in English, they have powerful software for logic and custom made functions, but is not so easy to understand hoe to begin working with it. If you can find how to start using their software you can do more things.Also you can order the h/w ready and tested, without loose many hours and money to make pcb's and solder them.Try them before, try to check them without h/w and make your own opinion for these.regardsEddie ArmaosAthens-Greece

Hi EddieThanks for your reply I appreciate it so much,Thanks.I think I will go with opencockpits for the systems logic as I believe you can program your own logics with opencockpits,but I also believe that it is very time consuming and is has a huge learning curve.I love the fact that opencockpits is moving more towards USB and I think it is great.I am going to start of with the master card and take it from there.A QUESTION FOR ALL:Is it possible to build a complete 737NG overhead panel with opencockpits with all the switches and guages.Thanks guys this is a great forumRalton Mann A.K.A elekwind

In my opinion yes you can.But if you plan to use Project Magenta's s/w is better to buy PmSystems for overhead logic, than to program everything with Opencockpits.Good luck Eddie ArmaosAthens-Greece

Thanks so much EddieThen I will definately go with PMSystems.Tuomas has also recommended I go with PMSystems,all you guys are really great.I am happy to be apart of this forum.So I guess my project will start pretty soon,I have found a company here in South Africa that is going to make the PCB's for Opencockpits for me which are really reasonable.Thanks once againRalton Mann

>Hi Eddie>A QUESTION FOR ALL:>>Is it possible to build a complete 737NG overhead panel with>opencockpits with all the switches and guages.>>Thanks guys this is a great forum>>Ralton Mann >A.K.A elekwindHi, look at : www.hispapanels.comRegargs

I used to have a complete setup build with FSBus classic.Recently I sold it to start over building another aircraft type.So I had the same delima as you now have.I decided to go with the IOCards solution because :a. There are a lot of people developing cockpit with them and any problem is almost immediately answered in their forum.b. More powerfull software, altough not as user friendly as FSBus but with far more capabilities even in the simple mode.c. SIOC, a script programming language with which you can do almost everything!I recently received the boards as kits and have started constructing them. The quality of the boards is superb! Their service excellent and I received the boards in just about 5 working days (of course I'm in Greece, within EU, and with 3 daily flights from Spain, so this counts).I was just having a look at SIOC and if you know a bit of programming is as easy as 1,2,3. ! You can even program a whole overhead functionality without the need of any other costy program.Note, that Nico Kaan found a solution to be able to use SIOC even with FSBus (see relative post), which gives FSBus users a new powerfull tool.On the other hand, if you are to make your own boards, FSBus design is simpler, single sided boards easier to manufacture even at home.The IOCards boards are complicated with platted-thru holes which may cost a lot to produce small quantities. With IOCards, the best solution is either to buy them as kits or fully assembled if you don't trust yourself with soldering.George DorkofikisAthens, Hellashttp://online.vatsimindicators.net/811520/1704.png

Ralton,If the cost of materials + job is much less in S.Africa than to buy them finished and tested, YES make them. Don't forget that they are doublesided pcb's and here in Greece they aren't cheap.Otherwise buy them from opencockpits, because and they are working 100% and you just PAY, PLUG & PLAY :-)Send us photos when your cockpit grow-up !!Eddie ArmaosAthens-Greece

Once again thanks to the replies.I have once again confirmed with the company in South Africa to construct those PCB's for me from Opencockpits and confirmed that they can do it with the highest quality as I have sent them the files in Gerber format.I am going to have to learn a bit of programming skills with SIOC as I have no experience with programming languages.I am so excited about this whole project as I already downloaded the software and started learning a bit about how it works.I will setup a website soon and post pics when I start off with my first construction which most probably be the MCP.A few questions:* Can anybody give me a list of the hardware required for the master card as I only have diagrams E.G Diodes,resistors ect and the quantity.*Measurements for the MCP and Hardware required to build.I would really like to start getting this hobby going here in South Africa !!!!!!Thanks Guys

>A few questions:>>* Can anybody give me a list of the hardware required for the>master card as I only have diagrams E.G Diodes,resistors ect>and the quantity.There is a component list for each board that you can download from the opencockpits.com site. It's in the downloads section.>*Measurements for the MCP and Hardware required to build.That depends on the aircraft type you want to build, how accurate you want to make it, the room you have available, etc.George DorkofikisAthens, Hellashttp://online.vatsimindicators.net/811520/1704.png

Hi GeorgeI am definately going with a B737-800 as I simply love that aircraft and is also one of South African Airways main carrier.Thanks

You are aware of course that the only way to have seperate instruments and a descend model of 738 is either Project Magenta or wait for the ON737 from opencockpits which will be IOCards compatible.In any case, I think you will find these sites very interesting as towhat you seek :http://www.markuspilot.com/B737info/B737info.htmhttp://www.737ng.co.uk/how.htmhttp://www.737simbuilders.com/http://www.mikesflightdeck.comhttp://www.b737.org.uk/http://www.737sim.com/737HomePage.htmhttp://www.boeing737.tk/http://www.737simguy.com/http://www.virtual737.comhttp://www.hispapanels.com/Happy hunting...George DorkofikisAthens, Hellashttp://online.vatsimindicators.net/811520/1704.png

Hi GeorgeYou and everybody else who replied have been of great help so far.I appreciate it.I will check out those sites.The Project Magenta software seems to be out of my price range.I am trying to keep my expenses down.My wife is infactuated with a Lear 45 and she wants me to build a lear,but I just love the 737-800.So now I have to decide is it gonna be a lear 45 for my wife's sake or the 737-800 for my own,not that I don't like the lear,just wanted to get to get as close as possible to flying a 737-800.Do you guys perhaps now what the chances are of building lear 45 flight deck with the types of software available,system logics ectThe hardware I will build myselfThanksRalton Mann

Lear will be chiepier to build of courseand can be interfaced with OC , Fsbus, or combination of bothsome example you can see herehttp://www.excitingsimulations.com/cockpitThis guy using betaoinnovation inteface and RealityXP gauges--alsow an optionRegards

Thanks YossAppreciated,I now have a problem with finding dimensions for the Lear 45 deck,any help will be highly appreciatedRalton Mann