TigersharkBAS

Not a resistor in sight. I believe the LEDs probably have resistors built in.

This was an awesome post. Thanks!

Wow...so many high tech solutions. Wanna know my low tech solution that works excellently?? I have wooden parquet floor and Saitek Combat Rudder pedals. They ship with velcro strips. You apply one set of strips to the pedals and the other to the floor. I didn't want to stick something to floor so my low tech solution. A bath mat.....yes....a bath mat. Buy a cheap, rubber backed bath mat from Ikea, put rudder pedals on map. Velcro sticks to mat, mat doesn't slip due to rubber backing on floor. Voila.....stable and cozy under your feet during winter months :music_whistling:

Seeing all those resistors makes me think it might be better buying LEDs with built in resistors.

Weird.....

No image :-(

Yes it is.

Oh yes...ok...for more than a couple use PWM.

In addition....just connecting your LEDs to a potentiometer would have the same effect with little electronics know how (just need the pot). http://www.ehow.com/how_7532976_make-led-dimmer.html

RK...re: the grey enclosure. Actually....it might be more realistic. These panels are after all bolted on to a light gray frame :-) It's just that there are so many bolted together that we don't see the gray from above the panels in the cockpit.

Hey nobrot...can you explain how you got that from the wizard? It looks interesting but I'm not sure how to interpret it correctly.

:D OK...there are LEDs that look like bars...this is one option eg. https://www.distrelec.ch/led-light-bars-super-red-5-x-22-mm/kingbright/l-865-4idt/254667/en This looked interesting: https://www.distrelec.ch/light-conducting-window-material/clarex/dr-ii-705b-260x380x2/650925/en There are also LED arrays https://www.distrelec.ch/led-array-yellow-4-leds/signal-construct/zsxt-041/630993/en And these fiber optic doohickies look like this (they are called Light Guides): https://www.distrelec.ch/light-guide-10-way/mentor/1278-1010/631276/en http://www.mentor-components.com/en/

He he...sorry man! I only just researched this and discovered them yesterday! Does it make you feel better that I posted as soon as I learnt about them? :)

Gents...I have also seen fiber optic pieces of plastic that take the light from a single led and distribute across a larger area. This could be an option too.

This continuous input would be a concern if you were using a keyboard for example. Anyone who has based their panel on the guts of a keyboard would be in trouble. But as most of the interface boards are treated like a game controller and conform with DirectX in Windows it isn't really a concern. You might to looking to solve a problem that really isn't one. And I'm not sure you're conclusion about pulse generators is correct. DCS would handle it exactly like it does now. You can bind both the off state and the on state to separate button presses so whether the button press is continuous or momentary, DCS doesn't have to care.

Any specific color of LEDs people are using/can recommend?

Status is....as per usual, the Lua coding in DCS has been holding me back. But as of August I am teaming up with headspace of TARS fame an he is helping get the Lua coding dusted so I can focus on the iOS. The first release will be iPhone but subsequent releases will eventually see the app go universal and have iPad support built in for free. Will ship with A-10 centric features and at later dates have in app purchases for other DCS world modules.

So.....no one? Is it that there are no experienced Lua people willing to help due to time or that the reward just isn't there?

Hi gentlemen, I am working on a iPhone/iPad helper app for DCS A-10 (and World for that matter). Have been for some time in fact. Increadingly though my frustration isn't in coding the app but in coding the export.lua to get the information I need. Is there someone willing to work with me on programming the Lua side if I was to give them specs on what I need? Specifically I am looking for socket based messages sent to the iPhone app for: The Caution Panel. The RWR panel The object locked up in the TGP. Various mission info (I have the basics already). I know a lot of these functions exist alreadt in Lua but I simply can't get them to work and can't find the time to finish the artwork and iOS coding required AS WELL as the Lua side as well. I really could use some help. Your contributions would merit credit in the app about screen and a free copy of the app when released. Can anyone spare their time and knowledge to help? www.deadfrogstudios.com/dcscopilot

Hi Mac...thanks for the feedback. And thanks for the functionality suggestions. i will look into it. But I think the app will be more around the $5 mark than the 30-40 buck range ;-)

OK. I have begun work on this again. The code base is quite old and I am begining with a clean slate and rebuilding it using latest techniques and efficiencies. Should be quick though as I am reusing code from the original. Initial test connecting to DCS to get mission information have been successful. Unlike other iPhone helper apps you will not have to type in mission info when you launch your game. Mission data, weather, waypoints, everything is grabbed from DCS and placed in a mission summary screen. I plan to release this using the same model I have used for other iPhone apps I have built. It will ship with 1 or 2 pieces of core functionality and then there will be regular update cycles (approx. 1 every 2weeks) in which any bugs are fixed and new functionality is introduced. It will ship as an A-10C product and eventually have in-app purchases for certain KA-50, FC3, UH-1H items. Haven't quite decided on price yet so I will try a poll to see what you think it is worth. I don't really want to get into a conversation around price but a lot of development time has gone into this. The art work alone has sucked up many man hours as well as working out how to connect to DCS. Given the relatively small customer base and the value added features I have planned I am hoping whatever price is set is not an unreasonable investment. The value added features include "training modes". Caution panel lights will light up to match the sim and enable you to tap them to get detailed descriptions and a mini checklist to deal with it for example. I am also hoping to implement a feature where you can get an ID of what you have locked up in your MFD to help with target ID for those who aren't fluent in Russian military hardware. These are what I am working on. You will also be able to maintain your own checklists without needing to tap them into the app itself (an import function if you will). Lots of ideas planned....all wrapped in a polished interface. After releasing my first commercial app a couple of months ago I am inspired to get this out the door and to start earning something from it rather than watching simply suck up my time :(

Well done! And thanks for sharing your pics. Quite a thread of knowledge in here now :thumbup:

Recent changes to DCS World make this challenging. Also finding time. But I haven't given up on the project. I really want this to move faster but finding time is the issue more than anything else. Could use a partner but finding other people with iOS programming skills and time is also a big issue.

Nice build Xray...and even more impressive knowing what trying circumstances you were building it under. I lived in Tokyo for 6 years :-) PS: Can't find an electronic parts store in Akihabara that sells DT momentary switches?

Just read your question again. re: use of four inputs. No real way around this without macro porgramming. Joysticks have their own software for this but these boards typically don't. I don't see how it is possible without some kind of macro programming. Or perhaps some Lua programming?