Here I'd like to show you how easy it can be to built custom hardware for your Flight Simulator. The above switchboard is made from two gamepads and a mouse (only the wheel).

 

Basically you need to get some hardware switches and connect them to the gamepads circuit board. BIG advantage: as the gamepad is plug-and-play so is the modified version. All switches can be assigned to FS functions through the game menu.

 

 

First, remove the cover and all parts of your gamepad. If you like, you can connect it to the PC, open the gamecontroller system menu and watch if the button is shown as pressed on the screen when you connect the two little golden areas found on the board (e.g. with a paper clip).

 

 

 

Now solder wires to each button (red). Note that each button has the same common ground on one side, so this is needed only once (black wire).

 

Using the POV buttons (yellow/green) involves a software that turns them into button presses. I'll not go into that here, so this instruction stays simple.

 

Now this next picture may look complicated but really all you have to do is connect your new switch to one of the red wires and to the black wire. That's it. I also connected the LED to my switches so they will light up when pressed but this is optional.

 

 

 

Build a nice box around it:

 

 

 

...and have fun!

 

 

 

A quick note on button assignment:

Due to the way the simulator works all functions are toggle functions, i.e. press "G" lowers your gear and also retracts it. So with a button which stays in one position it may not show the actual state of your aircraft. You can manually toggle the functions before flight with your keeboard to reflect the switches position.

 

It is also possible to tweak the "Standard.XML" for FSX and I'm sure FSUIPC can improve function here.

Wow, very clean design. Now if you say you also built that throttle quad next to it I'm gonna be p1ssed! (or should I say jealous). I would think about contacting PC Pilot and do a write up. Think it would make for a nice article.

Well done! Neat write-up....

 

Jeff

Thank you guys.

 

Wow, very clean design. Now if you say you also built that throttle quad next to it I'm gonna be p1ssed! (or should I say jealous). I would think about contacting PC Pilot and do a write up. Think it would make for a nice article.

 

:biggrin: see link in my signature

 

As an afterthought concerning key assignment, read this:

 

http://www.flightsimworld.com/forums/topic/202083-fsuipc-capabilities/#entry2486860

Very nicely done! I've been considering something like this for a bit now & this might get me the incentive I need.

+1,000,000!!!

 

Very clever indeed! The fact that I am also building my own home cockpit, it's little things like these that just open u a can of worms and gives me tons of ideas. Thanks for the write up, Ti...

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Thanks guys. If you need any further explanations, just let me know.