Toggle switch board

[Brewnix]

Hey all thought I through this in the ring, just found this website selling toggle switch boards that emulate a click SO there is no code messing with in DCS controls. I am thinking it sounds good and probably gonna try it. Anyone try it with DCS yet? It looks like just another connection to windows. They got acouple of different boards too..

 

http://www.desktopaviator.com/Products/Model_2120/

 

LOL! Nice catch Thanks!

Edited March 4, 2016 by Brewnix

[giei]

Link?

[Cann0nF0dd3r]

That's awesome! If it works it would make custom panels very easy to make!

[cichlidfan]

That is only useful if the control supports it. If the control is programmed for separate on and off commands then this board is useless.

 

I already have a switch box that works this way (one of Derek Speare's boxes) and it is of limited value, for me, in DCS.

Edited March 4, 2016 by cichlidfan

[Raceguy]

Check out their page covering all of their boards.

 

http://www.desktopaviator.com/Pages/Boards/index.html

 

If I understand what you need it looks like the Model 2237-SP 30 Input USB Single Pulse Generator is what you need. It gives 2 different commands and can be used as on/off vs the 2120 that gives a toggle action.

 

I am building a P-51D full size cockpit and have 7 of their boards. It will be used for DCS and FSX.

 

I hope this helps.

 

Ed

[FeistyLemur]

Yep, I use one of his pulse boards. It works good and you don't have to use any scripting if you don't want to. Also he's good to deal with.

 

The downside is you get less bang for your buck number wise by using up 2 buttons for each switch.

 

If I had to do it over, I'd just get the on off switches and use autohotkey. I was resistant to auto hotkey but now having tried it, I love it. I'm looking at getting rotary encoders and 3 way toggles for my next project.

 

That is totally wrong information someone gave above about separate on / off commands. His pulse boards are ideal for that. The on/off boards can also easily be scripted with autohotkey to work with any on off commands you can dream up.

 

I use the 2237 shown on this page.

http://www.desktopaviator.com/Products/Model_2230/index.htm

 

Things to consider. Is the function you want to bind directx joystick button bindable. This shows up as a joystick button so if not you cant bind it. EG: the radio + - in the mig21 can only be keyboard bound (you can still do it, you just have to use autohotkey to rebind it to the keyboard). You get less toggles with pulse than constant on, but can be easier to use. Make sure you get the right board for what you want and give it some thought first. And don't be scared of autohotkey, it's fantastic. Also, I recommend getting his ready made connector cables. I soldered everything with solid hook up wire and it was kind of a pain doing up that many tiny connectors.

 

Basically he's using Leo Bodnar chips to make his own product. But Leo Bodnar doesn't offer the pulsed models. His deals for toggle switches are reasonable too. Those things are pricey at all the electronics retailers. Best I can tell he's ordering them in large lots from alibaba. They're of decent quality. I bought SPST toggles from him as well. He's in Florida so the shipping is ideal for U.S. buyers. With the Canadian dollar, I'm kind of screwed right now for buying more stuff from him.

 

Adding a picture of mine. It's not painted yet because it's a pain to get custom spray paint mixed and I haven't gotten around to it yet. But when I do the steel will be ugly soviet mig21 green. I ordered the modeling paint from ebay to get color matched. This is using the 2237-sp and it works great. I use it daily in dcs.

 

Edited March 5, 2016 by FeistyLemur

[Brewnix]

Yep, I use one of his pulse boards. It works good and you don't have to use any scripting if you don't want to. Also he's good to deal with.

 

The downside is you get less bang for your buck number wise by using up 2 buttons for each switch.

 

If I had to do it over, I'd just get the on off switches and use autohotkey. I was resistant to auto hotkey but now having tried it, I love it. I'm looking at getting rotary encoders and 3 way toggles for my next project.

 

That is totally wrong information someone gave above about separate on / off commands. His pulse boards are ideal for that. The on/off boards can also easily be scripted with autohotkey to work with any on off commands you can dream up.

 

I use the 2237 shown on this page.

http://www.desktopaviator.com/Products/Model_2230/index.htm

 

Things to consider. Is the function you want to bind directx joystick button bindable. This shows up as a joystick button so if not you cant bind it. EG: the radio + - in the mig21 can only be keyboard bound (you can still do it, you just have to use autohotkey to rebind it to the keyboard). You get less toggles with pulse than constant on, but can be easier to use. Make sure you get the right board for what you want and give it some thought first. And don't be scared of autohotkey, it's fantastic. Also, I recommend getting his ready made connector cables. I soldered everything with solid hook up wire and it was kind of a pain doing up that many tiny connectors.

 

Basically he's using Leo Bodnar chips to make his own product. But Leo Bodnar doesn't offer the pulsed models. His deals for toggle switches are reasonable too. Those things are pricey at all the electronics retailers. Best I can tell he's ordering them in large lots from alibaba. They're of decent quality. I bought SPST toggles from him as well. He's in Florida so the shipping is ideal for U.S. buyers. With the Canadian dollar, I'm kind of screwed right now for buying more stuff from him.

 

Adding a picture of mine. It's not painted yet because it's a pain to get custom spray paint mixed and I haven't gotten around to it yet. But when I do the steel will be ugly soviet mig21 green. I ordered the modeling paint from ebay to get color matched. This is using the 2237-sp and it works great. I use it daily in dcs.

 

Nice panel!!!

 

ah ok that makes sense auto hot key, after I posted I emailed them and asked about DCS world he said

 

"We do not have a copy of DCS, but I was told that flight functions associated

with DCS require keyboard inputs, of which our boards do not support, except

for the KBD01 keyboard emulator:"

 

So I didn't realize not all functions or buttons are only bound to keyboard. he did say KBd01 will work its the keyboard emulator. Thanks

Edited March 5, 2016 by Brewnix

[FSFIan]

Why spend $58 when you can grab one or two $5 Arduino Leonardo clones from eBay or AliExpress and then use this instructable to turn them into joysticks?

 

I am not saying Desktop Aviator are charging too much for their product. $58 is just the cost of producing small quantities for a niche market and taking the time to properly document everything and do customer support. Being located in the US doesn't help with labor costs, either.

 

$5 is what you get if you can produce thousands of boards in China and ship them worldwide to the hobbyist/maker market, and don't have to take the time to do software support for your customers (the seller's responsibility ends as soon as the pre-flashed LedBlink example works; and if it doesn't because the unit is DOA, they'll just ship you a new board instead of having to spend time on troubleshooting).

 

If the controls you want to map in DCS work with the Desktop Aviator board and you want a truly plug and play solution, there's nothing wrong with spending $58 on that. But if it turns out you have to do some tinkering anyway, you might as well save money in the process.

Edited March 5, 2016 by [FSF]Ian

[Sokol1_br]

 

"We do not have a copy of DCS, but I was told that flight functions associated

with DCS require keyboard inputs, of which our boards do not support, except

for the KBD01 keyboard emulator:"

 

Keyboard OR JOYSTICK inputs. Their boards is not seen by Windows as joystick?

Edited March 5, 2016 by Sokol1_br

[Apache600]

Hey [FSF]Ian, I was looking at those Arduino Leonardo's before .... but what turned me off was the power supply. With a control panel that needs multiple of these, does it really require multiple outlet plugs then too?

I always liked using the LeoBodnar ones because they just pulled their needed power through the USB.

[Sokol1_br]

I was looking at those Arduino Leonardo's before .... but what turned me off was the power supply.

 

BTW - For use as "joystick" - inputs only (axis, buttons/switches, encoders), Arduino PRO Micro + MMjoy2 firmware is low cost option, depends where buy the board can cost less than 10$.

Use only a USB cable - for firmware transfer and after for game usage.

[FeistyLemur]

Keyboard OR JOYSTICK inputs. Their boards is not seen by Windows as joystick?

 

I don't know if I write things that are too long and people just don't read them but I explained above pretty much everything about how those boards work with DCS.

 

I had an email conversation with the desktop aviator guy telling him it works well in DCS as well so I don't know why there's still misinformation out there.

 

The inputs show up as windows joystick and are usable by any command in DCS that supports joystick buttons. If you redirect it to keyboard output with autohotkey it supports any DCS command that is keyboard only as well. End of story.

[FSFIan]

Hey [FSF]Ian, I was looking at those Arduino Leonardo's before .... but what turned me off was the power supply. With a control panel that needs multiple of these, does it really require multiple outlet plugs then too?

I always liked using the LeoBodnar ones because they just pulled their needed power through the USB.

 

It's the same for the Arduino boards. The barrel connector is for an optional external power supply, in case you make a circuit that draws more than what USB can supply or if you want to run your Arduino-powered thing without connecting it to a computer. If no external power supply is connected, the Arduino boards will draw their power from the USB cable.

Edited March 5, 2016 by [FSF]Ian

[Brewnix]

FiestyLemur Thanks! DTA is cool I just thought it was a good option. In my back ground I'm shy on the programing side, I can figure out a lot of the wiring stuff but to look at programing it requires a lot concentration which comes easy for other people. Thanks for confirming that it works.

[Thick8]

That company has been around for years. I used one of their boards about 10 years ago for a MSFS cockpit build. Good quality equipment.