How to make a panel?

[Devrim]

Hi... I tried to read and understand some threads. But, may be I miss a lot of things because of my poor English. So, something is still not cleared in my mind.

 

I play Black Shark 2 with X52Pro and want to make button panels. Two methods in my mind:

 

1) I can disassemble a joystick (like Logitech Focre 3D) and a keyboard. And I can make a button box and wire them to circuit of controllers (joystick and keyboard).

 

2) I have a friend. He's an electronics guy and knows PIC Programming etc. I think we can do something such as creating circuts, PICs etc. with him.

 

Which way you guys prefer or do this? For PIC Programming, how can we create an input control device that Windows can recognize, how can I find a sample program codes?

 

Could you suggest me something or show the way about this? Thanks for your help.

[rocketeer]

Here is a simple method. Get the hagstrom keyboard card or the Leo bodhar's Bu0836X. The hagstrom card is treated like a keyboard. Then you assign keystrokes to each input in the card. The Leo card is treated like a joystick controller in windows. You then use the wonderful Helios and bind the inputs to the game. No programming like PIC in both cases. It doesn't get simpler than that.

[Devrim]

Oh! That's it! Thank you Rocketeer. Really thank you. That's the hot info that I want.

 

This is a great start point for me. "I'll be back." :)

[avlolga]

Hi Devrim,

 

check this thread - http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=80201

this is very !!! good card in good price, many inputs , easy to use.

[rocketeer]

Oh! That's it! Thank you Rocketeer. Really thank you. That's the hot info that I want.

 

This is a great start point for me. "I'll be back." :)

 

You are welcome.

 

When you use helios for the first time, go to the 10c tab and click on the 'set up Helios' button on the right. Also watch Helios set up guide on YouTube by ragtop and cap loz. If you follow the steps given and the bindings of the switches don't work, check that the path of the game stated in Helios is correct in the dcs interface screen. Also try to run Helios editor, Helios control panel and dcs game as administrator. Any problems just post here and many people will jump in to help. You will love this community.

 

With more and more people joining pit building, you problems will not be unique. So we'd help each other like brothers in arms. welcome to the madness.

[hassata]

Here's a great how-to as well: http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=65998&highlight=panel.

[wingtip]

or you can just get the groovy gamer gpwhiz 40 solderless board, wire your buttons on your panel to the board , plug the board to the pc with the included usb cable and bam your done..

 

http://groovygamegear.com/webstore/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=76_81&products_id=235 solderless

 

http://groovygamegear.com/webstore/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=76_81&products_id=234 solder

 

the one shown below is my solder version and it was $25.. supports 40 buttons, 2 rotary encoders

 

or you can use this from desktop aviator

http://www.desktopaviator.com/Products/Model_2310-2312/index.htm

gives you 5 analog (potentiometer) inputs, 12 pushbutton, 8way coolie top hat...

but they have several other cards to choose from that can do more...they even sell some pre built panels...

Edited January 29, 2012 by wingtip

[Devrim]

Guys; rocketeer, avlolga, hassata, wingtip; thank you all. I'll go head according to your suggestions. Probably these products are not available in my country. But I'm sure I can get them via internet shopping...

 

You are welcome.

 

...Any problems just post here and many people will jump in to help. You will love this community.

 

With more and more people joining pit building, you problems will not be unique. So we'd help each other like brothers in arms. welcome to the madness.

:) I'm starting process and thank you for your words.

 

:beer: