CyBerkut

You could probably cram everything on to a single Bodnar board. There are a boat load of inputs: http://www.leobodnar.com/products/BU0836X/ (The non soldering version that has no need for matrix diodes) You'll need to count up your input types and see if one board can accomodate all that. (Don't forget the red buttons on the base, if you want to use them as USB device inputs) If you went the single board route, you would probably need to come up with a cable/connection scheme between the Stick and throttle that has more conductors than what is already there. Some threads of possible interest: http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?p=471844 http://simhq.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/2706511/1.html As I recall, the GranBichus thread over on the X-Plane forums was epic, and definitely worth a look, too.

Bumfire, you might want to check into these: http://www.saitek.com/uk/prod/compedals.html I don't know if they are on sale yet, (and if not, I don't know how soon they will be). They look promising.

Nicely done. It's a safe bet that there are people who are interested in this, so anything you have to add will be welcome!

On number 1... Eve Online. Warning: It will suck you in and eat you alive if you allow it to. The 'universe' that the authors have created is extensive, way beyond anything I could adequately describe in a short message. It is very well designed to keep you involved, and to keep you *wanting* to stay involved. Other games that came up short in my opinion... Supreme Commander 2: Well programmed, and different enough from Supreme Commander and SC: Forged Alliance to justify the new version. Great graphics, etc. However, they have no provision for community created maps or mods. Community created maps and mods gave Supreme Commander and SC: Forged Alliance an extended life and new playability that the newer SC2 does not have. It's a shame, really. Also, with SC and SC:FA, you could setup a privately hosted multiplayer game between friends using Hamachi (if you wanted to use an alternative to default multiplayer system). With Supreme Commander 2, you're on Steam. As far as I know, you remain locked into that. Command & Conquer 4 was a big disappointment to me. I didn't like the new approach, although I'm sure many others did. As for the second question... I'll ponder that some more, but a recommendation doesn't come to mind immediately. The only scary stuff I've read lately has to do with economics and politics here in the U.S. ... :(

Leafer, I'm glad to hear things are better for you and your daughter. Things were bound to pick up once you got back home. :)

Well, I don't have a sister, but if I did, I'm sure her butt would itch (if genetics factor in). [Hey, you brought it up...] As for the girlfriend... I seem to recall that you have some challenging circumstances (ie. working overseas, and a child), so if she is working with you on that, she's probably a "keeper". The Grimes Solution might be in order. [/rant on] As for guys with girlfriends of lesser substance... some of them should probably consider trading in for a different model. To each their own though. Me, I have a low tolerance for unnecessary BS (which definitely includes the "silent treatment with dirty looks"). If I did something wrong, then state the offense and be prepared to justify your position. Frequently, the silent treatment is just a lame avoidance of dealing with the real issues, and often it is because they know they don't have a leg to stand on... so they resort to a different power play (witholding affection). In the long run, you're generally a lot better off if you don't reward that sort of behavior (aka "nip it in the bud"). As for the silent treatment / witholding, that works both ways. If she wants to go that route, then you can always accomodate her by being indifferent. Most likely, that will bug the crap out of her, since: 1. Her power play isn't working. 2. She wants something that she isn't getting. If she then lays the ol' "You don't care about me/us" line on you, you simply explain that you care about her/us, but that you don't wish to play games with your relationship. If she's ready to talk, you're ready to talk. [Otherwise, she can go back to her self-imposed 'timeout box' wherever that is]. You may wish to phrase things a bit differently, but you get my drift. The main objective here isn't your immediate gratification (aka 'getting some') but rather building a better long term relationship where you don't have to play games. [/rant off] Are we having fun yet? Leafer, I hope you're having a better day by now.

Pretty good, Viper! But it still involves missiles... :smartass:

That, plus a single flat screen doesn't bend around you, or lend itself to physical separation for different portions of the cockpit panels.

Well, if you already had (most of, or all) the commands entered and working for your X-45, see Bucic's post above (#21 in this thread) as to how to import those commands from (for example) your X-45 profile to your X-65F profile. (Aassuming you were using the latest SST version with your X-45, which I'm not sure is even supported) If you did not have that setup, or it wasn't supported... you could still grab a profile from someone else, even if it was for an X-52, and import the key commands from it in to your X-65F profile. Could save a lot of work.

There's a nice post on this software over on The Way I Play (TWIP) forums. http://www.thewayiplay.com/mainforum/index.php?topic=1177.msg18477#msg18477 One suggestion of note was a recommendation of the Playstation Eye camera (60 FPS for cheap). [sorry if I missed that in here as well... I'm catching up after being out of town for a week].

I'd recommend scoping out the Wide Screen Gaming forum postings on this. As I recall, there was discussion of crossfire use on high pixel count Eyefinity setups as being problematic. (talking crossfire on 2 discrete 58xx cards here, not a 5970). Problematic, as in picture framing. The theory was that the crossfire connector between the cards was not capable of handling the needed bandwidth. I haven't been following it, so there may be new information now. Good luck with it!

@ Vault. Thanks!

@ Vault. NICE!!! Is there some place that can be downloaded from? Thanks!

It could still be helpful to users of other Saitek controller types: http://forums.eagle.ru/showpost.php?p=949290&postcount=21

Hmmm... this one's Search-Fu is weak... ;) http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=46579&highlight=BSVP That should get you started. BSVP is Black Shark Virtual Panel. Between that, and TouchPal, you can do some amazing stuff, assuming you can put together the needed hardware to use it. Good luck!

The one on the right is kinda scary... ;)

You'll just need to count up the inputs you want to connect up, and then see if one board can handle all those. I say that, (not being home at the moment, where I can look at my old Suncom HOTAS), remembering that there are some small red buttons, etc. on the base that you might want to hook up, for instance. There is no electrical reason why you couldn't have inputs from both controllers feeding into one board located in the base of one of them. You'll just need to make sure you have enough conductors in the connecting cable (between the controllers) to carry the signals over to the other controller base (The existing PS2 style looking cable [iIRC]. is probably not going to be well-suited to that task). If you decide to do it with a single Bodnar board, you'll obviously want to give some thought to the possibilty that you might want to use one controller without the other (ie, use the split throttle, but with some other joystick). If so, you'll probably want to put the Bodnar board in the base of the one you are most likely to use with some other controller in a mix-n-match. Alternatively, to potentially get even more bang for your Bodnar buck, you could put the Bodnar board in it's own enclosure with some multi-pin connectors on the side (25 pin serial port connectors might be good), and then wire your various converted controllers up with corresponding cables to connect to the appropriate port(s). That way, you could have the Suncom HOTAS connected up at one point, change to a different throttle and then load a different config for the Bodnar board... and then later on change to your cyclic and collective and load yet a different config... etc., etc. I've been pondering that one myself for a "someday, if I ever get around to it".

The Quake III folks had that solved way back in 1999...

Jane's Longbow may be considered to be the best available, but that is not to say it is as accurate a study simulation as, for instance DCS:BS. Also, notice what happened to Jane's when they tried to please too many people rather than focus on what matters most. (Do a search on here for "Jane's" and "parable"). As for Falcon 4.0, I don't recall Lead Pursuit having anything to do with it over 10 years ago. Go back and look at who did it back then, and look where they are now.... And then you may see the point of why E.D.'s business approach should be respected, if not applauded. Many of us would like to see E.D. "live long and prosper". Yes, waiting for the next offering can try the patience... but that is often the way of the world when it comes to "good things".

Yeah, don't worry about whether it will be financially sensible to do it, or if they have access to a sufficient amount of declassified data to do it right... :huh:

Judging by his avatar's stretched neck, it has been choked more than a few times. ;) I see his point, of course..., but that is part of what you get when you have forums.

I have yet to see a report from anyone successfully using a gameport to USB adapter to get a Suncom HOTAS working in anything close to completely functional. I believe Sokol (who is virtually a living encyclopedia of all things related to PC joysticks / throttles) will tell you much the same. Slayer's suggestion is a good one. IIRC, there was a good thread over on the X-Plane forums where someone converted a Suncom HOTAS to USB, etc. (It's an *old* thread) Another possible way to go would be to take some board(s) out of old / cheap USB joystick / HOTAS controller(s), and wire the Suncom inputs to it(them). One of Leo Bodnar's boards would probably do it better justice, though.

@ Mastiff's example: If it costs $300 per unit to develop, manufacture and distribute, then you're not going to make it up on volume. The point being... it's not so simple.

http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=55558 You'll probably find other threads as well, if you do a search. It will come down to what your desires and priorities are.

I don't know if it's the one you're thinking of, but PowWow by Tribal Voice was a pretty capable program for it's time. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PowWow_(chat_program)