Fusedspine33 Posted July 26, 2018 Share Posted July 26, 2018 Hello, I found a Rockwell Collins FMS/CDU keypad on EBay and it is very similar to the A-10C. It unfortunately has no documentation for the 37 pin connector on the rear. I thought an email to Rockwell or Korry might produce a schematic but no answers from those companies. Is there a way to determine the pin out functions. I am operating from the assumption that the pins are creating a matrix. I would like to interface the panel using an Arduino and DCS Bios. I am unfortunately an electronics neophyte. I have a multi-meter, an assumption and no idea how to move forward. Any thoughts on how to decipher the pin outs on the connector would be appreciated. Trust me I am already kicking myself for buying before researching. If anyone has interest these are still available on EBay. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlacleyCole Posted July 26, 2018 Share Posted July 26, 2018 Have you googled fora schematic? BlackeyCole 20years usaf XP-11. Dcs 2.5OB Acer predator laptop/ i7 7720, 2.4ghz, 32 gb ddr4 ram, 500gb ssd,1tb hdd,nvidia 1080 8gb vram New FlightSim Blog at https://blackeysblog.wordpress.com. Go visit it and leave me feedback and or comments so I can make it better. A new post every Friday. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hansolo Posted July 26, 2018 Share Posted July 26, 2018 (edited) Fusedspine33 it may be the similar pinout as this; https://forums.eagle.ru/showpost.php?p=2958104&postcount=109 If the pinout is not the same then IMHO there is no other alternative than using a multimeter with sound for continuity. That's what I did. Take one pin, connect it to the multimeter, then press a button and run the other pin of the multimeter until you hear a sound. If nothing try next pin. It's tedious but my experience was that you couldn't see too much from the PCB and it takes a little delicacy to take it apart. If the pinout holds same or similar matrix it can be interfaced with DCS-BIOS; https://forums.eagle.ru/showpost.php?p=3236594&postcount=159 Cheers Solo Edited July 26, 2018 by Hansolo Noticed it has an ON-OFF switch which mines doesn't have 132nd Virtual Wing homepage & 132nd Virtual Wing YouTube channel My DCS-BIOS sketches & Cockpit Album Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fusedspine33 Posted July 27, 2018 Author Share Posted July 27, 2018 Thank you for your responses. Blackey, before I posted, I googled part numbers, combos of part numbers and tried the manufacturer web sites and sent them emails. No luck. Not sure why searching here didn’t find HanSolo’s posts. The last thing I wanted to do was throw myself to the wolves by saying I bought this cool paperweight please help me. HanSolo thanks for pointing to your previous thread. That picture of your device looks very similar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hansolo Posted July 27, 2018 Share Posted July 27, 2018 Thank you for your responses. Blackey, before I posted, I googled part numbers, combos of part numbers and tried the manufacturer web sites and sent them emails. No luck. Not sure why searching here didn’t find HanSolo’s posts. The last thing I wanted to do was throw myself to the wolves by saying I bought this cool paperweight please help me. HanSolo thanks for pointing to your previous thread. That picture of your device looks very similar. Don't worry Fusedspine33. No harm in asking for assistance. People will answer if they can :-) If the pinout doesn't match with yours and you need some guidance on how to figure out the pinout just let me know. Cheers Hans 132nd Virtual Wing homepage & 132nd Virtual Wing YouTube channel My DCS-BIOS sketches & Cockpit Album Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fusedspine33 Posted July 27, 2018 Author Share Posted July 27, 2018 Han, You referenced “frying” the potentiometer. How can I avoid doing that while testing. I am going to start with only the pins on the chart. Thanks so much for your help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fusedspine33 Posted July 28, 2018 Author Share Posted July 28, 2018 Han, Your schematic matches perfectly. Thank you very much. In your post to Baldawg you seemed to be on the fence on two ways to implement it. Which way did you ultimately go? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hansolo Posted July 28, 2018 Share Posted July 28, 2018 Excellent Sir. I went with DCS-BIOS over RS485 as per post 159. If you don't want to do too many panel just use USB interface for the code. The RS485 can be a little tricky although I have had relatively few problems with it. With regard to flying the potentiometer I accidently applies full current to the potentiometer. I should have used the Arduino to read the value instead. It happens :cry: Cheers Hans 132nd Virtual Wing homepage & 132nd Virtual Wing YouTube channel My DCS-BIOS sketches & Cockpit Album Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fusedspine33 Posted August 1, 2018 Author Share Posted August 1, 2018 Many thanks to the info from HanSolo on deciphering this device. For anyone else grabbing one of these on EBay, here is a chart with the pin outs for this version of the FMS/CDU keyboard. It is a little different from the version HanSolo had. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hansolo Posted August 1, 2018 Share Posted August 1, 2018 Very nice Fusedspine33. Thanks for sharing the pinout. Cheers Hans 132nd Virtual Wing homepage & 132nd Virtual Wing YouTube channel My DCS-BIOS sketches & Cockpit Album Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WhoMadeWho Posted August 4, 2018 Share Posted August 4, 2018 Hello, I found a Rockwell Collins FMS/CDU keypad on EBay and it is very similar to the A-10C. It unfortunately has no documentation for the 37 pin connector on the rear. I thought an email to Rockwell or Korry might produce a schematic but no answers from those companies. Is there a way to determine the pin out functions. I am operating from the assumption that the pins are creating a matrix. I would like to interface the panel using an Arduino and DCS Bios. I am unfortunately an electronics neophyte. I have a multi-meter, an assumption and no idea how to move forward. Any thoughts on how to decipher the pin outs on the connector would be appreciated. Trust me I am already kicking myself for buying before researching. If anyone has interest these are still available on EBay. Thanks for posting this! I just bought one off ebay. I think this would be pretty easy to adapt to an Arduino Mega /w DCS-BIOS. As I get to it, I'll post info. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fusedspine33 Posted August 6, 2018 Author Share Posted August 6, 2018 Please feel free to keep adding to this thread for how you implemented it or any new models. Together we can save time and frustration. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deadman Posted August 6, 2018 Share Posted August 6, 2018 Have you looked threw Hans Solo's thread? https://www.shapeways.com/shops/a-10c-warthog-supplies https://forum.dcs.world/topic/133818-deadmans-cockpit-base-plans/#comment-133824 CNCs and Laser engravers are great but they can't do squat with out a precise set of plans. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fusedspine33 Posted August 12, 2018 Author Share Posted August 12, 2018 Not sure I get your question Deadman. Hans post allowed me to decipher the one I bought, which I posted for the community. When I finish getting it implemented I will update again. There maybe more types of faceplates that come up for sale on eBay that could be added to this thread to help others in the future. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deadman Posted August 12, 2018 Share Posted August 12, 2018 Hans Has posted how to trace switch connection so it does not matter if some one purchases the same CDU panel or a different one off of the bay. He has all so along with GS Rain solved most if not all switch programming or function problems for example the TACAN Panel. You guys don't need to do the experimentation just check out his thread he even has posted the Arduino Sketches It is the single best resource for panel implementation I have seen. https://www.shapeways.com/shops/a-10c-warthog-supplies https://forum.dcs.world/topic/133818-deadmans-cockpit-base-plans/#comment-133824 CNCs and Laser engravers are great but they can't do squat with out a precise set of plans. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WhoMadeWho Posted August 12, 2018 Share Posted August 12, 2018 Here is my progress with the panel. I received it from ebay and noted the back has a standard DB37 connector. These cables are common and were used in old PC networking equipment. So I bought one off Amazon.com and cut the end off and soldered Dupont ends on each of the 37 wires. Right now I'm doing a pinout of each wire (note color labels) with my Multimeter. Once this is done I should be able to attach to an Arduino w/DCS BIOS. I believe I'll need to do a matrix type setup, but I haven't gotten that far yet. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WhoMadeWho Posted August 16, 2018 Share Posted August 16, 2018 Fusedspine33 - thanks for posting the pinout. For some reason your pinout is the exact opposite pinout of mine. Guessing the pins are swapped on my DB37 cable..? Here's what my pinout looks like - Next step - Ardunio! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fusedspine33 Posted August 18, 2018 Author Share Posted August 18, 2018 WhoMadeWho, Looking at the diagram you posted for the connector I interpreted rear view of the female connector as if looking at it while soldering. Where pin 1 on the device would be top left from behind and not looking into the holes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super Sloth Six Posted January 24, 2019 Share Posted January 24, 2019 Excellent Sir. I went with DCS-BIOS over RS485 as per post 159. If you don't want to do too many panel just use USB interface for the code. The RS485 can be a little tricky although I have had relatively few problems with it. With regard to flying the potentiometer I accidently applies full current to the potentiometer. I should have used the Arduino to read the value instead. It happens :cry: Cheers Hans Is there any way i can get info on how you wired the arduino. My son is having a hard time with it. He bought the Cdu off eBay the pin out is the same as yours, he has a mega, nano, and uno. He is trying to understand how to wire cdu to arduino board. Any help would be great. Thanks in advance. SS6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hansolo Posted January 24, 2019 Share Posted January 24, 2019 Hello, Have your son looked here; https://forums.eagle.ru/showpost.php?p=3236594&postcount=159 If that doesn't help give me a shout then I can look at it during the weekend. I am currently away. Cheers Solo 132nd Virtual Wing homepage & 132nd Virtual Wing YouTube channel My DCS-BIOS sketches & Cockpit Album Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super Sloth Six Posted January 24, 2019 Share Posted January 24, 2019 He has looked at this post and he still does not understand what pins go to where on the arduino board or which board to use. Thank you so much he is going to keep working on it. We will post if we figure it out. SS6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super Sloth Six Posted January 24, 2019 Share Posted January 24, 2019 Hello, Have your son looked here; https://forums.eagle.ru/showpost.php?p=3236594&postcount=159 If that doesn't help give me a shout then I can look at it during the weekend. I am currently away. Cheers Solo He has looked at this post and he still does not understand what pins go to where on the arduino board or which board to use. Thank you so much he is going to keep working on it. We will post if we figure it out. SS6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hansolo Posted January 24, 2019 Share Posted January 24, 2019 Roger. Let me find my notes when I get back home and post them here. Cheers Solo 132nd Virtual Wing homepage & 132nd Virtual Wing YouTube channel My DCS-BIOS sketches & Cockpit Album Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hansolo Posted January 25, 2019 Share Posted January 25, 2019 Super Sloth Six, Hah I almost could decipher it myself. Sinced it worked I hadn't touched it for over almost year. Please find new pinout updated with Arduino pins. Be aware that the key press is running over RS485. You can of cause convert the sketch into a USB version. Let me know if your son runs into troubles and I'll try my best to assist. Have a great weekend. Cheers SoloC-130 CDU pinout v. 2.pdf 132nd Virtual Wing homepage & 132nd Virtual Wing YouTube channel My DCS-BIOS sketches & Cockpit Album Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super Sloth Six Posted January 25, 2019 Share Posted January 25, 2019 Super Sloth Six, Be aware that the key press is running over RS485. You can of cause convert the sketch into a USB version. Thank you, Thank you, this is what i thought you meant but didn't want a short circuit. As far as converting it to USB, I am not sure about but maybe he is. SS6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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