Improving my setup with a simple control panel.

[Guest luftwaffle]

Hi everyone.New user here. I am converting a Microsoft Strategic Commander into a control panel able to handle flaps, autopilot and COM/NAV frequency changing. I hope that for my flying purposes this will be enough to minimize the use of the keyboard and make it more realistic.This is my setup right now, I will post pictures and instructions as need in this thread and on the site as the building process continues.I am not very crafty nor good with electronics so I wanted the simplest solution.http://vintagehandhelds.bravehost.com/cockpit.html

[jmig]

Good job. I diagnose you with Cockpit Fever. This is how it starts. :) The bug gets into your system through the eyes and hands. At first, the effects are minor. You think,

[Guest luftwaffle]

hahahahhaahah this is funny :) I'll have to send it to my wife as a word of caution. I already told her that if my cockpit goes beyond my desk she should stop me by whatever means necessary.Anyway, hit the first snag. Either some of the rotary switches worked together rather than separately to generate inputs or I fried stuff, but I won't be able to get the 2 knobs and one lever I was hoping, it will be just one knob or lever. (it's not a real knob as it has only three inputs depending on how much I rotate it)I decided the knob will be used for the heading bug.We'll see how it goes.and now, as dr John said, I'm dreaming about finding an old joystick with a throttle and making yet another panel for flaps, throttle and some switches :(But let me finish this one first.

[Guest luftwaffle]

I was originally not planning on using the three shift buttons on the SC because it didn't seem too realistic.However, they would offer some extra capabilities, for instance, although I haven't verified this yet, I could also operate the VORs knob with the same switches used to increase/decrease radio frequency and autopilot altitude.It's just a matter of drilling a few more holes and attaching that board.

[Guest 2002cbr600f4i]

Boy, you guys are killing me! I jsut got a $300 bonus check at work today and I'm already starting to think "I *NEED* a CH Throttle Quad and TrackIR4 Pro unit!!!"Back on topic....I did a semi-similar kind of thing back in college. As part of a "Interfacing Small Computers" class my senior year, I ripped apart a Thrustmaster Throttle Control System, hooked all the switch + pot lines and such up to a microcontroller project board and wrote some code to allow me to interface (through the TCS's programmable keyboard interface) a poor man's TrackIR-type thing (this was in 1990/1991 mind you!) for controlling view position in Flight Sims. I used a mechanical armature attached to a baseball helmet, with Pots in the Pitch and Yaw orientation to read the helmet position and the microcontroller would determine values and fire the appropriate switch line on the TCS which the TCS's software would then turn into a keypress. I was able to change views in X-Wing just by moving my head and such....Now, for what you're trying to do, rather than a MS Strategic Commander (which I have one of but honestly never used because it wasn't spectacular at what it was for...) I would recommend looking into a Belkin Nostromo N50 or N52 Speedpad. Lots more switch lines to work with, and a very powerful control interface. I actually am using an N50 to reduce the amount of keyboard interaction I have to do. I have the D-pad set up to do the big/small increment/decrement commands, and then 1 map for radio control selection, 1 map for autopilot control, etc. I'm still refining this but it's promising. And it should be relatively easy to rip one apart and do what you want to with it. They're also pretty inexpensive (like $35), and I know that you can link up to 3-4 units together (an N45 programmable joypad, N50 AND N52 speedpad, and also their mouse... all at the same time) That should give you TONS of lines to control and program to do what you want. And it's all kosher with the CH products...Anyhow, just a thought. Keep us informed on how it's going!####, now I just might have to get out a screwdriver and rip my N50 apart.....--2002cbr600fi

[Guest luftwaffle]

well, here it is, almost complete. I want to add a rocker switch over the 'shift' button to allow me to control even more functions.Guess why it is called "glad" lol.

[Guest luftwaffle]

panel finally done, I added a rocker switch for the shift button, but it has to be held depressed...couldn't get something to stick in place without messing up after repeated usage.but with the shift key I am able to control more functions of the AP and also the obs switch on the top VOR.I won a Speedpad for ten dollars including shipping on Ebay, we'll see what I can do with that.

[Guest luftwaffle]

here's the panel, completed.once the speedpad arrives, I want to mount both of them vertically between the two monitors that make up the instrument panel.the bottom labels are commands that are issued with the "nav" switch depressed. Unfortunately it is not a real rocker switch, it has to be held.oh well. I can control most autopilot functions, the radios, and the top VOR.I also want to build a panel to go in frnot of the left (pFD) instrument monitor, to make the setup look more like an airplane.I'll keep everyone posted in a new thread.http://forums.avsim.net/user_files/157609.jpg

[jmig]

That is an ingenious use of an existing device converted to flight sim use. Cockpit builders are some of the best recyclers around. Good idea and use of the device Luftwaffle. I am sure you will get a lot of good flying from it.John