Seeking help: AN/ARC-164, radios, et al

[Hobo]

Well, I've come to the point to start the slow process of transforming my cheap wood pit frame into something that remotely resembles a pit. The pit as it stands is nothing compared to anything worth while on here and is embarrassing to show. It is a wood frame I put together to have a general style pit feel for variations in aircraft. It was build around an X-65, but that was recently exchanged for a TM Warthog. It is a two monitor setup in top down configuration. I have a custom pit box that uses a GP-Wiz40. It handles my AHCP, partial fuel panel, electrical panel, and the rarely (more than I like) eject button. I don't have anything else that is custom built, but I have a Logitech G13 for my UFC and my keyboard is completely configured to do CDU inputs.

 

All these things have really made flying a whole new experience, but of course I've noticed other things that I would like to have to make things even more convenient. So I sat down and thought about some of the stuff that I frequently have to change on the fly while, well, flying.

 

That would be the radios and ILS/TACAN panels. Well I can dream big, but I'll focus on the tri-stack radios. I saw a thread somewhere (maybe even not on ED) that someone built an all-in-one radio stack which was an AN/ARC-164 replica. Somehow they had a rotary selector or something similar that they could chose between the three radios. While I would enjoy building all three, budgetary constraints does not allow for it. So this all-in-one is something I want to build. But... I don't know where to start. I've read through DMs (a lot of pages of posts), Bolts and other peoples builds and cannot find a breakdown on the radios.

 

Oh and did I mention that the only electrical experience I really have is the pit box I made? :) So this is me asking for your help. What I am looking for is a complete hardware breakdown. I'm not too concerned on the replica plate with engraving, as I can easily do some wood working that can last until I eventually make a nicer pit that suits my flying needs. I figure I need 5 rotary encoders, 2 potentiometers (or rotary selector switches), 1 selector switch for switching between the radios, a Arduino style lcd screen, and a board that handles rotary encoding. So what I'm asking is for hardware breakdown and help with understanding what I need to do to get it to work properly.

 

So:

• What board recommendations - with little or no software needs
  
• Rotary encoder hardware suggestions
  
• Rotary switch recommendations
  
• Knob suggestions - replica preferred, but close low-cost solution would be nice.
  
• General suggestions
  
• Pictures of your radio stack build (with insight to help)
  

 

I'm US based so US vendors are preferred for obvious cost reasons. Thank you in advance for any help and thank you for bearing with my ignorance.

Edited May 20, 2014 by Hobo

[Hobo]

I PMed Warhog and got some interesting information from him. He talked about Leo Bodnar boards and rotaries through him(Leo). Just seems a little bit on the more expensive side. I do like that it is plug and play with software provided.

 

I've also been reading stuff about Arduino boards.. I found a US based site that had a bunch of Arduino based boards and some rotary encoders - http://www.adafruit.com - any suggestions on this? After reading a few posts on this, I'm looking at possibly building a caution panel next.

 

I'd like to hear others input before making a commitment to making a radio panel. I'd also like to see some of this information provided go into Tigersharks wiki. :). So please post information. Please provide structured feedback too :)

Edited May 23, 2014 by Hobo

[kk0425]

I'm a bit of rookie to interfacing with arduinos but a good one that I found was the Teensy boards. It's an Arduino based board with some extra libraries to help with making gamepads and joysticks. Also it is plug and play so you don't have to make major changes or write software to translate the output from the board into inputs for the computer or sim. Basically dirt easy to use, but some programming knowledge is a good start. If you want to get serious with a pit, I think and arduino solution is going to offer the most flexibility.

[Warhog]

Hi Hobo

 

A few items for thought. If your going to start building cockpit stuff, don't be concerned about money. It's expensive to do these things no matter what you do. I have over $2000 into my cockpit panels alone. But try and buy Chinese as the prices are stupidly low and you can max out your budget that way. When you look at controller boards at this point in your learning, buy the easiest to use regardless of cost. The BBI-32 is perfect for a starter board for you. There are all sorts of other boards out there and you will be exposed to many of them as you develop you building skills. But not now. Start with easy stuff first.

 

 

Here is a project I put together beyond my normal panels. I wanted easy access to adjust radio frequencies as well as Tacan/ILS frequencies. I didn't want to take my hand off the stick to use a mouse to adjust them them so I built an add-on for each side of my monitor to do this. Basically its a BBI-32 board, some rotary encoders and a couple of mom on push buttons. That's all it took. You still need to fashion a panel face and enclosure and maybe back lighting but the basics are really easy and perfect for a first project. It doesn't get easier than this. Everything beyond requires more background in programming and electronics and you will get frustrated without having first created a few of your own working panels. It will inspire you to more complex projects but start simple now or you nay get overwhelmed and give up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You can build the enclosure from white sheet plastic. Have you ever built models when you were younger? This plastic is very similar in that you use the same plastic glue. Just use a hobby knife to cut everything out you need to build a long box. Paint it black with Tamiya paint. Install your parts and double side tape it to the side of you monitor. You can add strip LEDS inside but you need to paint the inside black as well to avoid light leaks except at the face where you want light to penetrate.

 

That's it my friend. :)

[bnepethomas]

If you are you looking for an input board for toggles and rotaries check out the good work done by overpro. I have Leo's boards, and they are good, but with overpros Arduino project you have a card with bulk inputs at a very cost effective price

[Devon Custard]

I bought a couple of bodnar boards. VERY GOOD. Plug n play no worrying about soldering diodes etc.

 

Then i contacted brydling thanks to the reviews here, overall for a big cockpit project his 256 board is probably more cost effiicent, but youre going to have to incorporate diodes into your wiring.

 

Or theres the overpro route or equivalent which is more advanced etc, i would not start there until youve got a few circuits under your belt and you understand how the arduino or whatever microcontroller is going to work for you.

 

No matter what you choose i guarantee you're going to reevaluate shortly after as you start to grasp more and more whats possible and whats out there. I would heartily recommend playing with an arduino to start with as its cheap, get the bare minimum of components to wire up a few test switches and then go from there. Plus there is a lot of arduino users here.

 

Theres a good argument for playing with I2C as well given the recent board activity and posts, however i cant speak for I2C as i havent played with it yet. Can only recommend what i know. I started last Xmas with Arduino and i havent looked back.

 

The total outlay for a full cockpit is going to dwarf any initial expenditure you lay out for your first example interface/panel. And yes buy cheap, Amazon/ebay do really good deals on chinese stuff.

 

One last thing to consider is how youre going to code any interfacing back to DCS, if youre going the HELIOS EOS route then i strongly recommend sticking with Arduinos. However EOS isnt fully completed yet and im not sure what the roadmap is for it. Boltz's A2DCS is looking good for its first release and is a good Arduino solution. And theres rumours of another Arduino bridging solution out there, just not released *Ahem*.

Edited May 25, 2014 by Devon Custard

[Devon Custard]

Doh reread your post you only want a radio panel?

 

Yeah that wont last long, next it will be a caution panel....