TigersharkBAS

Pikas, Please check out the first post in this thread. I posted a video.

Hey Greg, Thanks for the feedback. I'm glad people are finding this useful. Appreciate all the comments as putting these videos together took some time.

If anyone is looking for a cool Europe based community for this check out MARSOC: http://www.going4.com/teamwork We use ACE and play on a variety of islands other than Takistan. Always recruiting.

If anyone is looking for a cool Europe based community for this check out MARSOC: [/url]MARSOC

Bingo. Couldn't have said it better myself. What Feed says! :) Again Bingo! Which is why I kind of put that video as extra for enthusiasts and was quite specific about the fact that you DO NOT need to implement it for DCS: A-10 because, surprisingly, it handles it quite well. I guess they knew how the TM Warthog HOTAS would bundle with the game and made appropriate software to handle it. This is true. If you are willing to sacrifice a little realism (it's ok for you that your switch doesn't latch) then this would be the best option for someone who doesn't want to delve into world of electronics and circuits. As this is fun for me I am working on my next project which will provide a "mode" switch for the box. You can switch between "pulse" mode or normal "toggle switch provides a constant press" mode for sims like A-10 that can handle it. True. The other reason is because you want it to be like the real thing. Nice post Feed. Nice to see people building on this with their advice, experience and ideas.

I don't know about Leo's boards but I don't think so. These boards typically do not convert the switch into a pulse. Not even the TM Warthog HOTAS does this. The APU start switch and other switches on the throttle continously send a signal to A-10. The boards do not behave like a keyboard and windows handles multiple gamepad presses differently to keyboard presses. I bought my boxes and switches from JayCar. http://www.jaycar.com.au

Schematic can be seen here: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/170804/One%20Shot%20%28Schematic%29.pdf Be advised there is a 2 chip version of this called a 74221. This would mean you only need 1 chip per doublethrow toggle switch. I have found them difficult to come by though. This WIP but here is a PCB I am in th eplanning stages of designing. http://dl.dropbox.com/u/170804/One%20Shot%20%28PCB%29.pdf

For those who are interested I have posted a new video which shows how to convert a toggle switch into a "pulse" switch instead of sending a constant signal. This is not necessary for a DCS:A-10 panel as A-10 handles constant button presses without any trouble. However, you may wish to build a panel that is compatible with older sims or other sims that don't support a continuos button press.

Anyone know how to replace the pilot texture? What entry do you make in the LUA?

Unfortunately I have no experience here. Best bet would be to PM RalphT and see if he can make a post on it.

By the way....RandyT who has recently signed up here, is from Groovy Game Gear...if you have any technical quesions about the interface (like how do rotary switches connect to it) feel free to hit him up.

No problem gents. Glad it was useful to some.

My bad. Apologies.

Good advice. Thanks.

Thanks Levl, The goal was to build it without the requirement of using software. My idea was to make it as plug and play as humanly possible. But of course mentioning this software here is valuable input for others. Thanks!

Thanks a lot pit!

Hi Pikas, Answers below: 1) Experimentation and by searching through the lua file. 2) In a 3 position toggle switch the middle position is off and will not make any signal with the GPWiz40 (Groovygamegear product). The trick is to make the "up" value of each of the other positions to match what the code for "off" should be. Watch my video again and pay close attention in the part where I refer to the Inverter switch. A 3 position switch will have ground connected to the center pole and a wire for each of the other poles each going to their own slot on the GPWiz40 3) It is possible according to the manufacturer's site although I have yet to try this. Keep in mind it can only handle rotary switches that have certain conditions. You are best looking at the installation guide PDF that they have on the site. It is near the bottom of the page which explains about the GPWiz40.

Also not true. Well..I mean...that is a difference. But possibly the most significant difference between the two is that the GP-Wiz does not use a matrix, and each input has it's own pin on the chip and you don't need diodes to prevent ghosting.

Hey pit...any chance you can post the exact dimensions of the toggle switch holes you made? Could also explain to us how thick the plate is? Tigershark

Not true. They shipped to me in Switzerland. I'm sure Latvia is not a problem.

I think I may have to start up a website that is the one stop shop for A-10 panel building info. Problem with forums is that these nuggets of gold are dispersed throughout threads and further more in various pages of threads.

Hey pitbldr, Very nice work. Impressive in fact. Is there any way you can share with us the dimensions of each panel? Or is there a site/thread that lists all the panels and their dimensions? Regards, Tigershark

Posted a new You Tube video on how to configure your panel properly in A-10. Check the first post for the embedded vid.

Reason number 3 is the best reason of all. It is also the source of many night time dreams of mine :)