Dear friends,

 

I want to acquire some hardware to play with my PMDG 737NGX and I would like to see your valuable oppinions :

 

MCP - best and more complete in my oppinion is from CP Flight (we have also Jetmax, Opencockpits and Virtual Avionics);

 

EFIS - best and more complete in my oppinion is from CP Flight (we have also Jetmax, Opencockpits and Virtual Avionics);

 

CDU or FMC - best and more complete in my oppinion is from Fly Engravity (we have also Jetmax and Opencockpits);

 

Overhead Panel - best and more complete in my oppinion is from Open Cockpits;

 

Throttle - best and more complete in my oppinion is from Open Cockpits (we have also Jetmax).

 

Best regards and thanks in advance.

 

Adenilson

Isn't Flight Deck Solutions of very high quality? They seem to be very expensive, though. I know their FMC unit looks much better than that of Fly Engravity.

Just note the EFIS from CP Flight isn't completely to scale (as mentioned on their website) and will require a bracket to fit into the FDS frames. The good thing about CP Flight is all their hardware integrate together -- for example, their radio panels can hook up directly to the MCP. I would consider the opencockpit radio panels but the only thing is their back lights are not configurable (they are always turned on without some hardware hacking!).

 

The CDU from FDS looks very nice, but it is also very expensive.

 

Opencockpits just came out with some new steel pedals which look great.

 

I have the Jetmax/FDS Throttle on order, and will give a review when I get it (sometime in November).

 

Right now I am trying to contend if I should go for a fullcockpit or a 2/3 jetmax system -- the advantage of course will be price for the latter, and perhaps the screen could double as a cinema projector. But then again, if its a long term project, why not go all the way?

 

The full frame FDS including the MIP + CDU Bay + glareshield comes to a comparable price as the Jetmax...however this doesn't include the gear system, and LED flaps; plus iets not forget the extra price of filling the FO side (how often are you going to fly with your FO?).

Zowen11,

 

Thanks for your reply. Yes, I have considered Flight Deck Solutions but using Jetmax (their cheapeast niche market).

 

OmniAtlas,

 

Thank you too. I have considered Opencockipts instead of Jetmax for the throttle because it is motorized (although more than US$ 2,000.00 expensive).

 

Regards,

 

Adenilson

But both the Flight Deck Solutions and Fly Engravity CDU units are around the same price ($1000 CDN and €1000, respectively).

Opencockpit is 400 euro. But I've heard FDS is the best?

Just to make sure.

 

When it comes to HW and PMDG. We are still talking emulating keypresses and "keyboard-to-mouse" emulation as the only way to interface with PMDG?

 

PMDG has not publicized offsets for the FSUIPC interface or the like for SimConnect?

 

Just making sure I didn't miss something... That is all...

 

Regards Morten

If you check out the fds cdu manual it uses an interface that connects to the pmdg sdk.

I have the FDS JetMax and recently provided a very short summary of my impressions at http://forum.avsim.n...25#entry2506201.

 

I just added a picture to that thread of the JetMax with the NGX. I have not yet configured my Steering Tiller or the Throttle Quadrant.

 

I can't offer a comparison to the other solutions. I went with this solution based upon my absolute requirement for a solution that would run PMDG NGX and Flight Deck Solutions reputation.

 

The CDU, EFIS and MCP all interface directly with the NGX API using software provided by Flight Deck Solutions.

 

The switches and annunciators interface using a InterfaceIT card which is the same hardware and software that Flight Deck Solutions use for their full simulator setups. It allowed me to interface directly to FSUIPC as well as read and write from the NGX API where required.

 

All components and the main instrument panel are scale and the CDU is the same full-color unit used for FDS full simulator setups. I run on a single PC with four displays.

 

As I did my research, I learned that JetMax is positioned as a solution for people who are looking for a single seat setup. Peter Cos told me that the solution is designed to provide all of the essentials for a great flying experience. As such, it doesn't offer overheads which are quite expensive given all of the annunciators and controller requirements.

 

...DaddyBooks

aka Bob Booker