Raisuli Posted November 25, 2018 Posted November 25, 2018 Nah. I didn't think so either. Hate using a keyboard to fly an airplane; it's an obsession I've had since A2FS1 on my Apple ][+. This is version 2.0; I tore down the first set and rebuilt them. They have the ability to apply overlays (1mm PVC sheet) so they can be set up...and labeled...for whatever aircraft I want. For my next trick, after I get a few more ramp strikes in, LCDs behind Thrustmaster Cougar MFDs with exported video. 3 each. USB video, even, so I can turn it all off. The trick after that is creating cockpit controls for XPlane using the teensy plug-in. How cool would it be if DCS had a similar plug-in API to allow us to create, say, full-on simpit capability.
Bulldog_1 Posted November 25, 2018 Posted November 25, 2018 Well done!:thumbup: DELL OptiPlex AIO 7410: i5-12500T 2.00GHz: 2TB SSD: 64GB RAM: UHD 770 1920x1080 @ 60Hz: ThrustMaster HOTAS X: IRL Retired Maintainer of the AT-38B: F-4E/G: F-15A/B/C/D: and McDonnell Douglas/Boeing Technical Advisor for the F-15C/D. I drive trains now.
TechRoss Posted November 26, 2018 Posted November 26, 2018 How cool would it be if DCS had a similar plug-in API to allow us to create, say, full-on simpit capability. Looks great. Not sure what you mean with the above statement. If you are this advanced with your button box, I am sure you have heard of DCS-BIOS? With DCS-BIOS the sky is the limit for your sim.
LeCuvier Posted November 26, 2018 Posted November 26, 2018 Phantastic! I could use some of these. LeCuvier Windows 10 Pro 64Bit | i7-4790 CPU |16 GB RAM|SSD System Disk|SSD Gaming Disk| MSI GTX-1080 Gaming 8 GB| Acer XB270HU | TM Warthog HOTAS | VKB Gladiator Pro | MongoosT-50 | MFG Crosswind Pedals | TrackIR 5
Raisuli Posted November 26, 2018 Author Posted November 26, 2018 Looks great. Not sure what you mean with the above statement. If you are this advanced with your button box, I am sure you have heard of DCS-BIOS? With DCS-BIOS the sky is the limit for your sim. The ability to do basic micro controller programming (which is really all this is) doesn't imply deep DCS knowledge, but "DCS-BIOS" is the key index for figuring that part out. Give or take the amount of time I have I'll probably start with that UFC thing. Mouser loves it when I start on new projects like that. Version 1 was actually more complex; I had a second tactile switch matrix with a mode button and a 3 color LED. The switch numbers changed with the color of the light, so it was really four sets of switches. Makes them impossible to label... Some day there will be a V3, but in the mean time I'm trying to remember where I put everything. The good news is I can still maintain on-angle AOA. Found a couple redundancies, one stupid omission, and two of the momentary switches on one box share the same button number. Bah! Don't even start me on the whole O2 fiasco...then again, oxygen systems have grounded how many aircraft in the last, oh, twenty or thirty years? :doh:
Raisuli Posted November 26, 2018 Author Posted November 26, 2018 Phantastic! I could use some of these. Careful...this kind of stuff is gateway electronics. Once you realize how easy it is to make simple controllers you start imagining how you can add features... The hardest part of these was the switch density. Now I'm resisting the urge to tear my throttle apart and figure out how to add a servo...specifically with X-Plane, but also potentially with DCS now, when in auto-throttle the physical throttle can move as the setting changes (just like it's supposed to)...how cool would that be?
Sarah Posted November 28, 2018 Posted November 28, 2018 what sorta cost did that whole setup run Raisuli? its gotta be up there... What about upgrades / features additions like JHMCS contrast controls etc...how do you cater for those?
Raisuli Posted November 28, 2018 Author Posted November 28, 2018 what sorta cost did that whole setup run Raisuli? its gotta be up there... What about upgrades / features additions like JHMCS contrast controls etc...how do you cater for those? I'm trying not to calculate the cost; it is up there, mostly because I'm using NKK switches (apart from a few ALCOs laying around). The brains are Teensy 3.6 boards with Tall Dog breakouts with the exception of the "UFC", which uses a Teensy LC. The nice part of this is the computer sees it as another controller, and in DCS you map keys on these the way you map keys on your joystick, which means a button that does one thing on one aircraft might do something completely different on another aircraft. They're also SPDP, SP3T...not the cheap stuff Thrustmaster used on the Warthog that needs extra software to work correctly. If there are three positions on the switch DCS sees three switches; hence my pain for the handful of controls DCS mapped oddly. I made the boxes with MDF (thick cardboard :) I had laying around, the faces are 1/8" fiberglass sheet, also laying around. Some white epoxy paint and clear adhesive single-sheet laser labels, a few screws, and done. I have some switches that aren't used yet, and more axis than I need (I think two are unused right now). Besides, I can always make a new box, or change the switch assignments on these. I make overlays for other aircraft; if I don't want to change the primary labels (it's a pain - I thought about leaving it all unlabeled) I can make a new overlay. The next trick might be creating interactive controls for <a different sim>. It's a little more...mature than DCS. Things like changing settings and the readout is on your controller as well as on the screen. Far more immersive...and challenging, which is really why I do this.
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