Hi, I was wondering how I could make a switch interact with fsx, so I could make my own cockpit. Would it be possible to take the keyboard controller from inside a usb keyboard and wire up a switch that connects to the G key so when I flip the switch, it put the gear up or down?

 

Thanks,

Zach

Don't know much about tearing keyboards and such things apart and all that home cockpit building jazz, but the easiest way to do this is to use FSUIPC. You can assign a switch to whatever you want, to send a keyboard command or whatever. You can also assign a range to one of your Levers, such that when the lever is in a certain range, it sends a command such as "Gear Up", or a keyboard command like "G" when the lever is in a certain range, and toggles it again when it is in a different range.

 

For even more possibilities you can use a LUA script. For instance, on Boeing airplanes, using FSUIPC and Lua scripts I have one of my levers mapped to Gear Up, Gear Neutral, and Gear Down. Mimics the movement of the real thing, basically.

 

The possibilities are endless, and although there are other ways, I think your first bet should be FSUIPC. The program you hear about called "LINDA" is a user friendly front end to FSUIPC, so you should look into that as well, but FSU is the prerequisite for that to work.

 

P.S. I see that this is your very first post, so Welcome.

You can always take a look at what I did with Arduino and Lua through FSUIPC, http://code.google.com/p/arduino-fs/

If I used FSUIPC, how would I go about hooking switches to my computer for fsx?

 

 

Thanks,

Zach

If I used FSUIPC, how would I go about hooking switches to my computer for fsx?

 

 

Hello

One of these: http://www.leobodnar.com/products/BU0836/

and a registered FSuipc

If I used FSUIPC, how would I go about hooking switches to my computer for fsx?

 

 

Thanks,

Zach

 

Plug and Play USB Controllers mapped through FSUIPC....

 

Unless you are very intent on doing your own soldering and things, a good thing to get is a Saitek(3 levers) or CH throttle quadrant(6 levers) which not only have levers but also "Rocker Switches" as well. You can than use Linda/FSUIPC or just FSUIPC, or FSUIPC + LUA scripts, or just FSX itself to map these levers and switches to what you want.

 

Take for example a CH Throttle quadrant. I have my rocker switches (up and down) mapped left to right to "Vertical Speed MCP", Heading Bug, OBI1, OBI2, AP Alt, and MCP Speed for all airplanes where this is applicable. You just move the rocker switch up or down for example to change your heading bug left or right.

 

Some of the off-the-shelf hardware is relatively cheap, and a good way to build a generic "Cockpit" that isn't limited to simply one plane, but again, the key to all this working is FSUIPC.

kolaf, I only have a arduino uno, would it be possible to use that for just some basic things like, landing lights switch, etc

kolaf, I only have a arduino uno, would it be possible to use that for just some basic things like, landing lights switch, etc

 

Yes it's possible but you still need to interface your Arduino board with FSX.

I'm working in a software for that purpose right now (just starting with the basics)

I have made switches but that was with an old keyboard and it worked very well , the drawback is that if you flip the switch than even your default keyboards key press will be ON, there are many interface boards available that you could use as many simmers are using them.

Leo Bodnar's cards are the best & so easy to use when combined with fsuipc. I first tried to modify an old joystick board, but far too finicky. So, you know the story, the right tools for the right job.

The card I used was the BU836X.. plug & play, just add switches..

 

Just another idea, I also used a second keyboard, & turned it sideways (imagine portrait instead of landscape) , remapped keys, & printed labels to stick on the keys. FSuipc IS essential!! So worth the money & it also gives a lot more key assignments that Flight Sim does not have. One example is that Flight Sim uses "G" for gears. With FSuipc, you can allocate separate keys for up & down, & also use your mouse wheel for trim.

kolaf, I only have a arduino uno, would it be possible to use that for just some basic things like, landing lights switch, etc

Yes you can. My main motivation for going for the Mega was the larger number of I/O ports. However, with fewer switches you can also get away with fewer ports

 

Yes it's possible but you still need to interface your Arduino board with FSX.

I'm working in a software for that purpose right now (just starting with the basics)

 

The link I posted earlier is exaclty that, my software for interfacing two arduino microcontrollers with FSX/P3D through FSUIPC. The communication interface is just a simple serial link over USB and some parsing at both ends.

The link I posted earlier is exaclty that, my software for interfacing two arduino microcontrollers with FSX/P3D through FSUIPC. The communication interface is just a simple serial link over USB and some parsing at both ends.

 

It wouldn't work for me since my cockpit will be based on the NGX, most calls you can make through simconnect/FSUIPC will not work with this aircraft.

6

It wouldn't work for me since my cockpit will be based on the NGX, most calls you can make through simconnect/FSUIPC will not work with this aircraft.

I see. Some things work in the NGX, like the gear and spoiler, but I guess you need to use the sdk for the rest.

6

 

I see. Some things work in the NGX, like the gear and spoiler, but I guess you need to use the sdk for the rest.

 

Exactly.

kolaf, since I have only the uno board and I dont want to use the uno for rotary switches, how would I get this to work with fsk? Do i just use the code for the mega on the arduino?

 

Thanks,

Zach