TripRodriguez

In the Gazelle at least there seem to be some functions that are only available on analog axes, though quite a few offer both options and maybe I'll convert as many pots to rotary encoders as possible. Is there a simple way to use rotary encoders where only "axis" binds are available in DCS?

Please note that I don't mean to tear down the work ED has done, I'm very much a fan of ED and DCS. What I'm arguing here is the idea that modern procedural tech plus manual editing and handcrafted locations would not be able to produce a much better result. I disagree, and I think that your impression of the accuracy/realism/fidelity of the Nevada map is absolutely incorrect. I fairly recently spent a week in Las Vegas, flew in and out in the window seat of an Airliner, and flew for several hours in a helicopter at both low and fairly high alitude from Vegas, to the Hoover dam, to the Grand Canyon, and back again. Maybe the terrain contour is close, maybe not, but I can tell you it looks a hell of a lot different from reality in every single regard. As far as the city many of the major landmarks are missing, though I'm glad at least my personal favorite building is there. On Caucasus at least rivers flow up and down hills, end mysteriously and suddenly, roads run humorously off camber on the sides of steep hills, and go to nowhere and end. Some of this might be limited to StarWays and Barthek as I often run those. I haven't flown nearly as much in the wilderness of NTTR yet so I don't know whether some or all of those are untrue in NTTR. If you are suggesting that using modern tech to generate procedural textures and flora, to make riverbeds that don't climb uphill in both directions, roads that are graded instead of just following natural contours, etc. would mean that it's not possible to model as many atmospheric factors influencing flight I disagree with that as well. @David_OC Star Citizen is modeling very complex flight model physics as well, and claims that they will also be running advanced physics related to atmospheric conditions and projectile trajectory etc. though all but the flight model physics are yet to be seen. Anyway, I rest my case.

I've gotta post that review, loving the Cyclic Yogi! My 90 year old dad was impressed too. @Yogi can you give dimensions for the two pedal sets you offer? My temporary pedal rig didn't work out so I'm semi-desperate for at least the mechanism. I will probably still want to make replica Gazelle pedals but also considering the ones you have in your store given my satisfaction with your Cyclic. I've got my MFG Crosswinds mounted now which work great so I can fly, but they are too wide for my center console so I had to remove the actual pedals =(. Also they are a bit too close to me to be comfortable.

@Warhog Got em' =) Of the stores you linked that was the last one I searched LOL. I'm wanting to place this order, so if you are still here see if you can answer my other couple questions if you please sir. :helpsmilie: Also, if you ever want to come on down to the US by and try out the motion sim you are invited =D. I'm about 2 hours drive from NYC.

@warhog Mostly on those stores I see mini toggles but almost no standard 1/2" mount size toggles. Do you use the minis? Seem a bit small to me. On those rotary encoders you linked, a couple questions. What do they mean 20mm handle? Doesn't seem to make sense to me and there is no explanation. What is the shaft diameter (for buying knobs)? Also it says with switch, is it a push switch as well as a rotary or? My ebay shopping cart is filling up fast! :pilotfly: PS- Do these look ok for my pots? http://www.ebay.com/itm/311774782730

Thank you for the very detailed answer! I'll be ordering some parts via those links in just a few days =). A CNC mill that can handle 4' x 8' sheets is my current dream machine hehe! No way I could buy one but maybe a home made one might be possible once I crawl out of the credit card debt I accrued in building my motion sim (and getting married). I looked into the engraving material when I started in on my new panels, that stuff is really pricey =(. It's $112.50 for a 2' x 4' sheet, but I guess given that a single sheet would be enough that's not all that terrible.

I wasn't suggesting ED use Star Citizen's alien worlds, but rather that in time the same tech could be used to generate much, much larger maps for DCS with higher level of fidelity. Locations can still be hand crafted, such as Las vegas and the surrounding area etc. Anyway I didn't mean to derail, I just meant to say my only complaint about DCS is the map size and level of detail compared to the tech now available.

Each aircraft module is like a new game in many respects. The time it takes to master just one is huge. I do feel like the maps should perhaps be a bit less expensive as frankly (sorry guys) Nevada is not impressive by modern standards. Go look at Star Citizen's procedural planet tech ! They are giving fully explorable entire planets at something like each being 10% or more the actual size of Earth with a much higher level of fidelity than DCS small maps , but then Star Citizen is VERY well funded, but I hope that tech trickles down to where in a few years we can have maps like that in DCS. DCS is a niche market, one that I might add I'm thrilled is being satisfied. Not nearly enough truly "hardcore" sims on the market. Give me the fully manual cold start to shut down baby!

@warhog John, your work is beautiful. I have a couple questions for you. First, how do you make the labeled panels to mount the switches in? They look spot on! I'm working on this particular problem myself right now but not sure how well it's going to turn out. I don't need them backlit, but I want them labeled and to look correct like yours. Also, can you possibly link me to the rotary encoders and nanos from sellers that you have purchased from with good results? I've only ever bought a chinese Arduino once (an UNO knockoff) and got screwed for a whole four dollars or something like that. =P

That's what I normally do, but if it's only a (very) minor cost difference or same price I'd much rather support someone like this with my money. Incidentally, when I've bought toggle switches from china before about one in five either works hard or breaks. Often can open them up and do surgery! :smilewink: Toggle switch covers and such have been 100%, never bought rotary encoders before though or inexpensive pots so not sure what to expect in terms of bad units. I didn't look real hard yet but that guys prices on toggles and such seemed very close to ebaying chinese parts, then again, his toggle switches had identical appearance to my cheap junk chinese ones as you say. This way though they come faster, he might replace faulty units, and I support a US hobby supplier. I'll pay an extra 10% for that happily on a $150 order, much more than that though and I can't afford to "do the right thing". :)

Looks like a cheaper source for a lot of the parts I'm planning to buy in the next week or two, anyone know if they are trustworthy? I need a bunch of pots, rotary encoders, and toggle switches and I'd rather buy from a fligh:(t sim shop than ebay if the price is similar and they are reputable. Their USB PCB's however appear to cost more than Bodnar. :( I'll probably use Teensy mostly.

Yes, replacing them will be very easy when needed.

Thanks guys. I guess I was barking up the right tree after all, I was looking at "b type" "linear" pots but in the descriptions they kept mentioning audio usage so I started thinking there was more I didn't know. @Thadiun_Okona I'll take a look, but due to the sheer number of pots I need I'm trying to keep it to ~$2 per pot or less, preferably more like $1 per pot. These again are for non critical functions such as instrument panel and nav light brightness etc. Not for aiming or flying =P

Hey guys! I need 18 potentiometers for what I'd call "minor" functions in my sim cockpit. These will be connected to Teensyduino and Leo Bodnar boards to control things like brightness of instrument lights etc. I have a bunch of audio potentiometers but I read somewhere (Leo Bodnar site maybe?) that they should be avoided. So here is the question, should I indeed avoid using these audio pots, and if so how do I avoid getting the audio type variety when I shop for cheap potentiometers? I've spent some time on ebay just now, and keep finding in the fine print that the pots I'm looking at are "good for audio equipment" and such. Thanks for any help

Hey guys, I made a thread for this question but I figured I should ask here or direct you kind folks to the other post. It seems there is no way to bind a button or switch to a number of important functions, and I'm hoping I missed something or for a workaround for my Gazelle sim cockpit. The offending functions are the key switch for the HOTS missile weapons panel, and nearly all the knobs and buttons for operating instruments, especially the artificial horizon as it's used every flight. Here is the thread I made if you prefer to answer there: https://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=185021 Thanks for the help, pics of the pit coming soon I hope!

Hey guys! I'm making excellent progress on my Gazelle sim cockpit (pics SOON™) and overall the functionality seems like it's going to be great but there are some important keybinds missing from the menu as near as I can tell. First, the Key switch on the HOTS missile weapons panel. This is the "on/off/test" switch for the weapons but there doesn't seem to be any way to bind it. It seems the only way to operate it is to mouse click it =(. The same is true for almost all the knobs on the instruments. The only way to get the artificial horizon set etc. is to mouse click. This makes me very sad, as these are things I'll have to do at the start of every flight and the intent was to have 100% of the controls I will use physically represented and operational. Anyone able to help, or point out that I missed something? Trip

I'd love to see more photos of your pit Yogi!

I also wanted to let folks know, hooking up the wiring is ridiculously easy. A tiny flat head screwdriver and three minutes and it's done. The only catch is which button is what number is random so if you are OCD and want them all numbered nice and neat that will take some time. Mind that this doesn't affect functionality since you bind the buttons by just clicking so it doesn't matter what number each button is.

I'm definitely planning to buy again, really want the pedal mechanism next. Maybe collective mechanism eventually too.

@nrgized Nice! How does it feel? I feel like the 3D printed texture is more visible on the Huey collective than my EC cyclic. Are the pictures exaggerating that? Pretty sweet, I was wanting the Huey cyclic until I found out about Gazelle multi crew and went that direction instead.

Hey folks, just a quick update here. I've got my Cyclic mostly mounted in the cockpit now, and let me tell you having hydraulically damped cyclic, hydraulically damped pedals, and hydraulically damped collective feels like the sim is on a whole new level. :surprise: Due to my specific needs with the motion sim I had to build a raised false floor to be fairly confident that my cyclic base wouldn't get damaged in the event of a malfunction with the motion sim so I ended up building a new false raised floor to mount the stick to so it's farther from the motion actuators. Due to these things I needed to shorten the tube of the stick a couple inches and I was really worried about getting the wires rerouted and the mounting holes re-drilled but it went pretty well and only thing I goofed on was the centering of the holes so my stick is now a few degrees twisted right from where it should have been (my fault just to be clear). Not a big deal in this case as the EC grip is twisted much to the left to begin with so it's still very comfortable and I probably won't bother fixing it. I have a lot more to say in the review, which I'll post as soon as I do the wiring and my false floor glue dries so I can use the stick for flight testing! Very likely will be able to get this done tomorrow! Trip

@yogi149 My cyclic came on Friday but since my tracking never updated after leaving Germany I didn't know! I thought it was a package for my wife and she didn't tell me it wasn't. :cry: So I found out it was here yesterday. Recorded an unboxing video but it's a terrible vid so will probably record a new video showing the box and parts to post instead. Mini-review here as it will be a few days until I do the proper review which I will put in the OP: I had some reservations about a 3D printed joystick grip but the parts are very sturdy and the grip feels very good in my hand. The grip feels very solid, with no flexing and NO NOISE when you squeeze it like most every retail plastic joystick. That drives me crazy. The grip looks pretty good. You can see it's 3D printed from the texture in reasonably bright light but I don't feel like it's very noticeable due to the good quality of the print and the coating Microhelis applies. It has a textured almost slightly gritty feel to it, like the Rustoleum Bedliner spray cans I like to use on my stuff. So far it's the best thing I've found to put on plastic stuff to make it feel like it's robust instead of feeling like a toy. Some people might not be partial to this finish but I think it's great. The buttons are good quality, with a nice springy feel. HAT switches have good feel, much better than others I bought online. The hydraulic dampers are metal not plastic, and have a quality feel. I'll have to report back on the actual damping feel after I get to try them with a stick installed. Spring tension as mentioned is very low which is good. I was thinking I'd remove them but now I don't think I will feel the need. Packaging was excellent, it arrived safely and the way it was boxed up it would have been very difficult to damage it. Assembly looks like it will be straighforward, I'll record and post a video. It will require some basic tools but most people buying these items should have what they need. I'm very pleased, I'd buy a bunch more stuff from Microhelis if I had the money but I've got to save up for Yogi's FTR module and pedal mechanical bases! :thumbup: I'm dying to get it assembled and installed but there are some other tasks I should complete first so it might be a few days or a week until I get the assembly video and proper review posted.

I'm super excited for this one too, I've always loved helicopters and vtol/ vstol airplanes! My brother was an avionics tech on the v-22 Osprey. Also I'm exercising extreme self control and definitely NOT asking when!

Ah I didn't check that num5 no longer worked. I was never able to get it to work on a joystick button before, because I hadn't found the UI layer options before. I will test and see if num5 still works after having unbound it from that.

Worked for me! Finally was able to get away from Num5!! Launch DCS and in main screen go to control options. Left most dropdown at the type, I think it's "category" or something like that, and select "UI Layer", there you will see it bound to Num5 and you can change it. I moved it to a Joystick button and it works fine. Trip Confirmed it works!