MSSFF2: more HOTAS mod

[HugePanic]

Just want to show you my MS-Sidewinder ForceFeedback2 mod.

 

The stick allways lacked some more buttons, especially in the A-10.

 

So i found some more 4 way-Buttons (plus center-button) to add to the stick.

They replace the buttons 3 and 4 at the stick.

(i actually remove the complete buttons from the stick)

 

 

I have now 2 more 4-way switches, great for TMS and DMS. If you click the 4-way-switches, i have the old function programmed that the button 3 and 4 did pre modification.

 

I "simply" routed the wires through the stick-handle and connected it to a BBI-32 from http://www.leobodnar.com.

 

It all worked the first time, i am really happy with the result. I just have to re-learn the new buttons for the simulation and do the ka-50 button-setup.....

 

In theory there is is more space in the stick for more buttons, but in reality it was pretty hard to get all that cables out of the stick, since on some areas it is really a tight fit. So 10 cables is ok, much more will be a larger problem.

 

4-way switch:

https://www.sparkfun.com/products/10063

 

USB-Interface:

http://www.leobodnar.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=86&products_id=205

Edited September 3, 2013 by HugePanic

[xracer]

Great work there. Much more useful now. I have 2 old TM F-16 FLCS sticks still on my shelf. Unfortunately i lack the throttles. Do you think if its possible to get some life into these sticks? They are good sticks, but i guess i would have to have some interface board to make them USB. I know about those Gameport to USB adapters, but many say they're not that good.

[KLR Rico]

I swapped the handle over from my X52 onto the MSFFB2 base, but that looks like a pretty interesting approach too.

 

No matter what, the MSFFB2 definitely needs moar buttons!

[lxsapper]

Posted this is another tread and over at SimHQ but seems relevant to put it here again.

This is what I'm working on:

 

 

It will work with eighter a Warthog or a Cougar for interfacing.

Some wiring has to be switched inside the handle to make it work properly but it's not too complicaded.

Edited September 4, 2013 by lxsapper

[Sokol1_br]

I have 2 old TM F-16 FLCS sticks still on my shelf. Do you think if its possible to get some life into these sticks?

 

With today availability of USB controllers (BU0836, DSO, NJoy32...) any old gameport stick/HOTAS can by reused, just remove original circuit and rewire to the new controller.

 

To wire F16/F22 in BU0836 use this scheme - just ignore TQS wires.

 

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/458/f22tqsbu0836jq9.jpg/

 

CH F16+PRO Throttle gameport + BU0836: http://simhq.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Board=81&Number=2334380&Searchpage=1&Main=251103&Words=fenix&topic=0&Search=true

 

Another "way" to add butons in MSFF2: http://img263.imageshack.us/img263/4090/f15ff2xu2.jpg

 

Sokol1

[lxsapper]

That's a really cool scheme to have in hand sokol. For my purposes I prefer the Warthog interface. I don't have to buy an extra controler board, I keep my warthog programing and only 5 wires go to the stick grip (wich is handy because it's a tight fit inside the grip pole).

But if one wants a completly independent controler, the BU0836 or equivalent is the way to go.

[Sokol1_br]

lxsapper

 

I am curious, inside Warhog grip and I think in FLCS, are some chips (multiplexers), are the same in both?

Seems that you just plug the PS2 conector of Warthog base in FLCS and work.

 

Sokol1_Br

[lxsapper]

Yes Sokol, asside from the fact that the warthog and the cougar use newer smaller versions of the chip, they are logical chips have the same reference number and work the same way. The FLCS had however a few connections inside wired diferently so I had to swap some wires around to get all the HATS and buttons reporting correctly.