belkin nostromo n52

[skip d 3]

Has anyone used this device or have any comments about it?I am hoping it will replace the top row of keyboard # keys which hopefully will make communicating with ATC a lot easier.Thanks for any input.skip d

[Kimchoc 1]

Yep, been using it for a couple years. Loads a profile and works perfectly. More buttons than you can remember. Of course you know this, but any joystick that you plug in will give you more buttons.You can see it hanging out on the left arm rest in this pic.http://eecherrors.homestead.com/latestpic2.jpgIf you really want to have a bit more realism, get one of these (computer reads as two joysticks, every one of those screws is a "button"), one joystick on each side of the board.http://eecherrors.homestead.com/joyaxis.jpgThen get some switches from Radio Shack More switches equals more panels:http://eecherrors.homestead.com/newpanel.jpghttp://eecherrors.homestead.com/ap_panel.jpghttp://eecherrors.homestead.com/ap_panel_install.jpghttp://eecherrors.homestead.com/trimwheel.jpgSame principle as your nostromo. Plug in joystick and get buttons. Total cost for above project, about $70.00, (for the Apac and one panel, additional panels are only cost of the switches and lexan) and there is room for many more radio shack switches. The volume pot you see above was made into a trim wheel. I'd say a bit more realistic than a game controller for FPS type games? The nostromo just doesn't give me any cockpit/flight simulator feel. If you're just going for buttons, get on ebay and buy joysticks.IMHO.Allie

[brynjames 0]

Is the A-PAC a board available somewhere for purchase, or did you strip it out of some other bit of hardware?--Bryn

[Kimchoc 1]

http://www.ultimarc.com/a-pac1.htmlWorked out to about $50.00 including delivery to Va. Beach USA. Fast shipping, good tech support, not that you really need any. Comes with USB cable. Just plug in and go. No setup. Start Fs9, go to joysticks and its right there. Start programming.Mind you it is for momentary pushbuttons. I found a hack that a guy has to take a toggle switch and turn it into a momentary read for use with the Apac. I'll dig it up. I liked it because it has the screw clamps built right on the board. just insert wire and screw down. You can put 4 pots on it or none. I use two pot connections, (one for the trim, another as a steering nosewheel when taxiing,) so I think I have 28 other button connections, if I remember correct.

[Guest hma]

Hi,You can use also a registered version of FSUIPC for programming the buttons. It allows you much more features in combinating buttons.Hugo

[Holclo 3]

Kimchoc - it would be great if you wrote a step by step tutorial on making a panel - all the wiring, the types of switches/buttons, where to get the panel blanks, how to do the writing on the panel etc. For us old guys u know.Bill