Forming pit building group in CA for BS

[HitchHikingFlatlander]

Cool stuff I really need to figure out that google program but hey I've got paper, pencils and electric sharpener!

[SunDown]

Here are my models for the pit I'm building. I'm not going to model any switches, rather I'm going all out and try to get a 52" 1080p TV once the western release is on the market. I'm hoping the prices will come down by then. I'm also holding off on purchasing a PC until BS is available. I'm again hoping that those GeForce 280s will have come down in price by early next year.

 

I already have a X52 Pro, Saitek pedals, and have the Left Side collective mod on order. Something neat on the Saitek stuff is that all their gear have through holes in the base (throttle, stick, pedals) so you can permanently mount it like in a simpit or whatever. I'm still wondering if I want to get the extension for my cyclic or not. I want to, but I hate the thought of having to tear apart my stick. We'll see though. I've also discovered that a CV joint boot for a car is a pretty good looking boot for my cyclic, so if I get the extension, I'll be in the auto parts store getting one of those.

 

I've played flight sims for a long time, and have always wanted to build a pit. This is my chance and I want to thank you guys for giving me the motivation to do it.

Edited November 11, 2008 by SunDown

[hendo97]

I think you guys are great. All the things that are posted here inspire me to become even more of a sim head (spend lots of money on sims). Does any know where to buy 4/8 way hat switches and knobs for them. I need the ones that are not surface mount. I want to add one to my X52. Thanks

[HitchHikingFlatlander]

I think www.digikey.com may have them or mouser (not sure of the website). You can get almost any kind of switch you like at those sites maybe try mcmaster carr as well (dont know that site off my head either.

[urze]

Hey Guys,

I just want to step in to say you what a great job you are all doing here!

A big :thumbup: to you all.

 

It fuzz sometimes myself when going trough the cockpit layout of the KA-50 and also hear me asking : "...what the heck..and for god s sake! -Why they put that switch at this place!?" :doh:

 

And you guys build it up from scratch....

Just great!

 

You are a very important part that keeps the "motor" running!

:)

 

...instead to do it this (the easy) way: http://images36.fotosik.pl/29/4d16cbafffbdccee.jpg :joystick:

Edited November 12, 2008 by urze

[hendo97]

I think www.digikey.com may have them or mouser (not sure of the website). You can get almost any kind of switch you like at those sites maybe try mcmaster carr as well (dont know that site off my head either.

 

Thanks for the info. I will see if they have what I am looking for. I have not seen the knobs like are on the Thrust master stick any place though.

[rocketeer]

hey cat, have u finished wiring all the switches? How about some pictures of your pit?

 

I understand u have the KE72. That limits u to toggles and push buttons. Are u going to get the other boards for rotaries? there are quite a number of rotary switches in the BS. we'd need a couple of them.

 

Using Hagstrom is easy for inputs, but they don't seem to handle outputs like LED and LCDs. we may have to resort to opencockpits. i know OC works for lock-on, but very few have attempted that. not sure if OC will be easier for BS. But i'm sure trigger will figure it out!

[HitchHikingFlatlander]

Isnt Triggerhappy using OC for his pit, I could be wrong but I thought I read that somewhere. I'm not too interested in LEDs/LCDs at the moment since I think thats asking a bit much on my part! Keepin it simple to just switches and such!

[CAT_101st]

>rocketeer<

I have not finished the wiring and won't till I have BS. As for only having switches and PBs that is fine with me as their are over 200 in the KA50. I already plan for a second KE72 and will be gitting a KEAD6 Potentiometer Interface. That will allow for the tint,contrast, brightnis and gauge ilumination to be used. as well as a custom rudder setup from triger without the force feedback.

 

>HitchHikingFlatlander<

I think you know what you are after and the KE72 will be plenty for what you need. If you decide to go the USB108 rout let me know how it works out.

Here is a rundown on price for both setups.

1>KE-72 $119.95 ea.

2>IOX36 $15.95 ea

Shiping UPS ground $14-$25

total around $169 = 42 cents per comand switch

 

1>KE-USB108 $169.95 ea.

3>IOX36 $15.95 ea

Shiping UPS ground $14-$25

total around $240 = 45 cents per comand switch

 

So unless you are going to use all the extra items on the USB108 it is a better deal to go with the KE-72 if your money is tight.

[rocketeer]

>HitchHikingFlatlander<

 

If you get the KE72 you'd also need the KE-MM6-mini cable, which is a 6 pin Male/Male PS2 cable, $5.95.

 

>Cat<

You'd also need the Rotary-5 board $49.95, to handle rotary switches. There are about a dozen in BS. each board will handle 5. You'd also need the KE-PWR5/2A power supply $24.95. It powers the rotary and relay boards. You can use a special cable and daisy chain these boards.

 

Unfortunately all these costs add up after a while when you keep adding. But then, with the gas prices coming down to almost $2 a gallon, we get to save some $ for the pit building fund! lol.

[blave]

OK, I'm in - I'm actually local to youse NorCal folks (I'm in San Jose).

 

I have a limited amount of time and $ to spend on my "cockpit" due to my current Employment-Challenged Status, but then I've had an intent for several years now to build a General Purpose Sim-Pit. So far my efforts have been focused at MS Flight Simulator, but I am enthralled with the Black Shark videos that are available and am looking forward to getting my sim hardware to work with it.

 

Thus far, my setup consists of:

 

1 primary FS PC - 3.4gHz WinXP / 2GB RAM, NV 8800XT w/ 512MB;

CH Products flight controls;

Precision Flight Controls avionics stack;

GoFlight pedestal with a variety of GF modules;

1 secondary PC, currently running several applications that can be networked with FSX (e.g. Jeppesen Flite Deck (moving map display with IFR enroute and approach plates), FSWidgets Gmap, Project Magenta instruments for FSX, etc.)

 

simpit image: http://blave.smugmug.com/gallery/2207903_QEPqr#114915553_kZDip

 

Background: I'm a long-time FS/X-Plane/Longbow2/EECH/etc. simmer, who is also lucky enough to be a "real" helicopter and instrument rated fixed wing pilot in the US. Lately, finances have dictated that more of my energy be directed in the simulation direction 8^), and so - here I am.

 

Again - I don't have a lot of time to spend on my simming habit, but I'd like to join in and contribute if I can.

 

cheers,

 

Dave B.

[Triggerhappy69]

Isnt Triggerhappy using OC for his pit, I could be wrong but I thought I read that somewhere. I'm not too interested in LEDs/LCDs at the moment since I think thats asking a bit much on my part! Keepin it simple to just switches and such!

 

 

Yes you are quite right my mate..! I AM using IOCards from Opencockpits in my Ka-50 pit..!

 

And as soon as I have finished the Collective Mech and Cyclic Stick (a temporary version mind you..) building. I will start connecting the Left lower panel module (APU Startup, radio and Targeting panels plus main-fuel shut off and Rotorbrakes) to the IOCards. We're still talking maybe 2 months in time if I really work hard. But I'll be posting everything I learn as it comes along.. :thumbup:

[HitchHikingFlatlander]

LOL Love reading your thread! Always full of suprises and jaw dropping stuff. Trigger your the Macguyver of pit building even if you use more than a swiss army knife for tools!

 

^^Awesome set up there blave you can even drop laundry on your desk if thats a chute lol! Were always happy to have more friends in this hobby, some of us have experience and some of us (me in particular) are learning things one step at a time, the more the merrier I say!

[CAT_101st]

Ok so the bug got me and I downloaded the rusian version. Jumped in and wam right to the ground. :doh: So I went to the book to start learning the ME and build a quick test mission for pit. I am finding that most of the combo (shift+LAlt+ what ever) result in other switches to be fliped in the sim. I am resoving this by adding a delay (0.02sec) betwean key presses. It has resolved some of the problems. Some just blantly flip the wrong switch :(. So I am haveing to go switch buy switch program and test. This is taking quit some time and keeping me from the fun stuff.

 

P.S. Watch out for the Humv with the TOW missle :huh: No warning.

[Shrubbo]

Cat 101st, could this be your problem?

 

From the FAQ

http://forums.eagle.ru/showpost.php?p=568719&postcount=13

 

Q: I am programming my HOTAS using the native profilers (i.e. not the Controls set-up in the game options) and I’m having problems adding commands with multiple keys (e.g. CTRL+C). The sim fails to recognize the modifier (i.e. CTRL).

 

A: This is a bug in the game input system and will be corrected in the western release and a patch for the Russian release. We have provided a replacement file that should fix the issue. The replacement file has not been thoroughly tested and you will be installing it at your own risk. Before installing the replacement file, you should back-up the existing file located here: \...\bin\stable\NewInput.dll (376 Kb). Replace the existing file with the file linked below (380 Kb):

 

http://forums.eagle.ru/attachment.php?attachmentid=20031&d=1224275079

[CAT_101st]

That seams to be the problem with just the switches that have covers or require all 3 extra comands. The File you listed is no longer there. Thanks for the try.

[rocketeer]

Thus far, my setup consists of:

 

1 primary FS PC - 3.4gHz WinXP / 2GB RAM, NV 8800XT w/ 512MB;

CH Products flight controls;

Precision Flight Controls avionics stack;

GoFlight pedestal with a variety of GF modules;

1 secondary PC, currently running several applications that can be networked with FSX (e.g. Jeppesen Flite Deck (moving map display with IFR enroute and approach plates), FSWidgets Gmap, Project Magenta instruments for FSX, etc.)

 

Dave B.

 

Hi Dave, welcome to the group! That's an impressive list you have. Do you want to meet up when i am back in bay area next weekend? Not sure if you have build switches and interfaced them through sim boards before, but I've always wanted to talk to someone face to face about pit building. So far it's always been through forums. The stuff you have are nice, but they are off the shelf products. Connecting to switches, pots and encoders on your own is a different ball game.

 

Cat, want to meet too b4 you head back to Sac next Friday?

[CAT_101st]

I was Emaild the beta DLL file. That fixes the switch problem. And it did very well. Now all switches are working as needed. And I was able to take out the delays on most of the command lines. This is so cool :clap::clap: Yeat so much more to do.

[takamba]

Hi pit builders

 

I have an old USB-Joystick and I would like to build my own Ka-50 collective pitch lever and it should be configured in the GUI only.

 

Now for example the switch to set the shkval zoom does have 2 positions!

 

Can I use a normal 2-position switch or does I have to use an impulse switch with a middle position?

 

If I use a 2 position switch it would be the same to PRESS AND HOLD DOWN the corresponding key on the keyboard untill I want to use the other zoom value.

 

Is that a problem?

 

The same for the free turbine RPM switch.

[Oakes]

Hi Takamba

 

Yep, that might be a problem. However, you can use a program called AutoHotkey to fix this.

 

In theory, Autohotkey can catch Joystick buttons (use Keywait or Keystate command) and then resend them to the sim.

 

1. Catch the statechange for Joy1 from off to on.

2. Send Joy2 impulse to the sim.

3. Catch the statechange for Joy1 from on to off.

4. Send Joy2 impulse to the sim.

and so on...

 

The reason fro using different Joy buttons is that Autohotkey cannot prevent the sim from also seeing the joybutton statechanges.

 

/Oakes

[takamba]

Thanks for your reply, Oakes.

 

I will take a look at this programm.

 

Takamba

[Swetrekki]

oakes, can this be used in conjunction with a second usb keyboard aswell to send and then release shift and alt commands, making it possible to hack an old usb keyboard and put a regular 2 or 3 state switch?

 

ie.

SHIFT+G - Gear down

G - Wheel brake

 

this would of course mean that Autokey would be able to separate from 2 different usb keyboards otherwice i guess i wouldn't be able to make use of my regular keyboard...

 

// trekki

[Oakes]

Sorry, no I do not think Autohotkey can separate between two keyboards (key inputs probably happens at a lower level in the OS). However, Autohotkey can separate between different joysticks. Perhaps that will help

 

If you want a simple switch to keyboard emulator I recommend the Xkeys Matrix .http://www.xkeys.com/custom/xkmatrix.php.

 

With this product you can send different keystrokes for press and release, repeats etc

 

/oakes

[rocketeer]

Isn't the shkval zoom in the actual KA50 collective just a toggle switch for 7x or 23x, two positions, like the maverick zoom in A-10 also two positions.

 

Don't we just send the desired zoom level once each time? Why is there a need for press and hold down? If you use a toggle you can set the two positions. Even if you use a lever or a push button, there should be a way to program that switch/button to toggle the two values alternatively. I don't understand the issue here.

[Swetrekki]

i looked at xkeys but if im gooing to end up spending money (the usb keyboard is piling up, so there at no expence) im gooing to get myself a opencockpits card instead.

and in the end that probably what i will do, but im not ready to give up on the keyboard controller just yet. i asked a couple of questions in the autokey forum and here is the link ( if anyone else is interested on how to separate between hid devices. )

 

http://www.autohotkey.net/~Micha/HIDsupport/Autohotkey.html

 

I Still dont know how well this will work but hopes are high :)

 

// Trekki