I have ordered a few things from them recently and have had some basic questions... and am not really getting that "warm and fuzzy" feeling about the purchase.

 

Oddly, on the phone, the "other guy" (maybe the owner?) is super helpful and really seems to enjoy talking about it and helping with suggestions. I'm just getting started doing this, so that type of service is great.

 

Documentation is sparse (maybe ok for someone familiar with electronics - I'm not) and some products don't exactly "perform as expected", e.g. "linking cables" which appear to let you easily connect leads on, say, a rotary encoder, to the leads on a circuit board, but in reality (and as I found out after emailing) you have to snip the wires and solder to the encoder.

 

Asked for further instructions regarding which wires to connect to which terminals ("instructions" don't indicate colors") and was simply told "read the instructions". I mean, c'mon guys. I already had, and did again before emailing the 2nd time. 

 

If it's not clear, make it clear. 

 

Then, maybe they're rolling in dough and simply don't need/want further business.

 

Maybe they'll get back to me with a satisfactory response - maybe not. Will report back.

 

Anyway... any alternatives or leads appreciated. Arduino is OK.

 

thanks

Andrew

Response was not particularly helpful - only noted colors were left out intentionally and that it would be ok to use color wire as long as it's stranded...??

 

Completely missed the point.

 

Also mentioned needed to get to work with RXP GPS, he mistook for X-Plane.

 

-sigh-

I use Leo Bodnar boards; in particular this one: http://www.leobodnar.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=180

 

I also use the one that's just for buttons as well: http://www.leobodnar.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=94&products_id=205

 

They aren't cheap, and neither is importing them to Canada.  However, they couldn't be simpler to use. Each input has a dedicated ground, which makes hooking up a basic switch or pots an extremely simple matter.  I've completely rebuilt an older PFC Cirrus II console with them, and they work very, very well.

 

I also have some dual concentric rotaries from them (that I couldn't find anywhere else) that I plan on installing, but I'm torn if I want to punch some new holes in the PFC case for them, or if I want to build a separate housing for them, so I haven't done anything with them yet.

Yeah, I've seen them come up in searches, but am really hoping to find someone in the US.

 

That said, I'll take another look. At least, the threaded dual rotary encoders are a plus (vs. non threaded).

I use Leo Bodnar boards; in particular this one: http://www.leobodnar.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=180

 

I also use the one that's just for buttons as well: http://www.leobodnar.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=94&products_id=205

 

They aren't cheap, and neither is importing them to Canada.  However, they couldn't be simpler to use. Each input has a dedicated ground, which makes hooking up a basic switch or pots an extremely simple matter.  I've completely rebuilt an older PFC Cirrus II console with them, and they work very, very well.

 

I also have some dual concentric rotaries from them (that I couldn't find anywhere else) that I plan on installing, but I'm torn if I want to punch some new holes in the PFC case for them, or if I want to build a separate housing for them, so I haven't done anything with them yet.

Hi Jimmy,

 

I plan on using the Bodnar boards myself. The big plus for me (if I'm not mistake) is that functionality can be completed programmed using FSUIPC and LINDA). Correct me if I'm wrong.

 

On a slightly different topic, what do you in-case your panels in, is it plexiglass, and if so could you recommend a saw. I would love to get the Rockwell Blade Runner X2 jig saw, which is a portable, inverted jigsaw, but cannot find anything remotely similar in Europe (I live in Ireland). At my disposal I have a circular saw (which is a big no-no I'd imagine with the low melting point of acrylic) a dremel with various cutting discs and a routing attachment and a powerdrill with a large collection of bradpoint drill bits up to 22mm and hole cutters. 

 

Anyway, if you have the time to give any feedback I'd appreciate it. I'll probably just post this in the main forum as well to open it up to others. Thanks.

Hi Jimmy,

 

I plan on using the Bodnar boards myself. The big plus for me (if I'm not mistake) is that functionality can be completed programmed using FSUIPC and LINDA). Correct me if I'm wrong.

 

On a slightly different topic, what do you in-case your panels in, is it plexiglass, and if so could you recommend a saw.

 

I really can't recommend the Bodnar boards enough.  They are completely plug and play, meaning that any switch you've plugged into them shows up as a button.  So yes, completely configurable using either FSUIPC or LINDA, or perfectly usable in any other flight sim.

 

I don't have mine encased quite like you might think.  As I mentioned, I used two boards to rebuild an older PFC Cirrus II, which is a rather huge yoke / throttle / switch console.  Once I removed the old circuit board and de-wired the switches and pots (an act of bravery is cutting wires out of a perfectly fine, rather expensive piece of hardware...), there was a ton of space in the back area of the console case.  My solution for securing the two boards was to re-purpose some of the PC motherboard screws I had laying around - I researched what drill and tap size to get, and I marked and hand drilled the holes, then hand tapped them. I did alright; out of the 8 holes, 7 lined up very well. The one that didn't, I put a rubber motherboard support into.

 

I did take a bunch of pictures to document the process, but then never got around to putting them online.

I really can't recommend the Bodnar boards enough.  They are completely plug and play, meaning that any switch you've plugged into them shows up as a button.  So yes, completely configurable using either FSUIPC or LINDA, or perfectly usable in any other flight sim.

 

I don't have mine encased quite like you might think.  As I mentioned, I used two boards to rebuild an older PFC Cirrus II, which is a rather huge yoke / throttle / switch console.  Once I removed the old circuit board and de-wired the switches and pots (an act of bravery is cutting wires out of a perfectly fine, rather expensive piece of hardware...), there was a ton of space in the back area of the console case.  My solution for securing the two boards was to re-purpose some of the PC motherboard screws I had laying around - I researched what drill and tap size to get, and I marked and hand drilled the holes, then hand tapped them. I did alright; out of the 8 holes, 7 lined up very well. The one that didn't, I put a rubber motherboard support into.

 

I did take a bunch of pictures to document the process, but then never got around to putting them online.

Wow, that sounds complex, risky and really, really time-consuming work. Congrats on getting the job done.

 

I don't know if oyur comment about Bodnar boards being just plug n play. With FSUIPC (registered obviously) you can a single button to do whatever series of actions you want it to do with a LUA script. There's conditional button programming, mouse macro recording, you can make as complex or as simple as you want. LINDA is really just a front-end or graphical interface to simplify things for people who don't want to script themselves. I'm only at the stage of modifying existing scripts, and even a little tinkering like that has allowed me to get up whatever info or feedback up on screen whenever I want, and I'm definitely no programmer! I still have to delve into the advanced manual yet. This may all be old news to you.

 

I have to say, you're light years ahead in terms of the scope of what your building and your dedication to authenticity. I know most cockpit  or panel (in my case) seem dedicated to recreating their panels and consoles to resemble their real-life counterparts as closely as possible. Personally, that's not an issue for me- I'm just having fun learning about electronics and carpentry (and some programming). That's not to say I don't take simming seriously- in the 7 or 8 months, since the bug really bit me, all my free-time is reading about the history of flight, the engineering and physics at play and pored over forums for hours on end. My panel is going to be the buttons, switches, fascia, sandwiched between two boards of plexiglass. It will probably be mounted in a wooden mount of my own design, possibly with some metal trim. 

 

I've looked at the alternatives- Opencockpits, Phidgets, Teensy boards (I'm sure they are more), and they all seem to involve being able to program to some degree or learn how to.

 

Have you tried out any alternatives? 

 

Thanks for your quick reply,