Jump to content

How To: Build a A-10 flight panel controller


TigersharkBAS

Recommended Posts

Unfortunately I have no experience here. Best bet would be to PM RalphT and see if he can make a post on it.

[sIGPIC][/sIGPIC]

 

Creator of:

 

F-18C VFA-195 "Dambusters" 1998 CAG Livery

https://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=213788

 

F-18C VFA-195 "Dambusters" July 2001 CAG Livery

https://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=215950

 

Pilot avatars for DCS Logbook

https://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=221160

 

How to make a DCS A-10C Panel

http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=65998

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Replies 308
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

For those who are interested I have posted a new video which shows how to convert a toggle switch into a "pulse" switch instead of sending a constant signal.

 

This is not necessary for a DCS:A-10 panel as A-10 handles constant button presses without any trouble.

 

However, you may wish to build a panel that is compatible with older sims or other sims that don't support a continuos button press.

 

[sIGPIC][/sIGPIC]

 

Creator of:

 

F-18C VFA-195 "Dambusters" 1998 CAG Livery

https://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=213788

 

F-18C VFA-195 "Dambusters" July 2001 CAG Livery

https://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=215950

 

Pilot avatars for DCS Logbook

https://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=221160

 

How to make a DCS A-10C Panel

http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=65998

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Schematic can be seen here:

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/170804/One%20Shot%20%28Schematic%29.pdf

 

Be advised there is a 2 chip version of this called a 74221. This would mean you only need 1 chip per doublethrow toggle switch. I have found them difficult to come by though.

 

 

This WIP but here is a PCB I am in th eplanning stages of designing.

 

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/170804/One%20Shot%20%28PCB%29.pdf

[sIGPIC][/sIGPIC]

 

Creator of:

 

F-18C VFA-195 "Dambusters" 1998 CAG Livery

https://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=213788

 

F-18C VFA-195 "Dambusters" July 2001 CAG Livery

https://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=215950

 

Pilot avatars for DCS Logbook

https://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=221160

 

How to make a DCS A-10C Panel

http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=65998

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I thought the board converted the switch from a continuous pulse to a one off press, at least that was my understanding of leo bodnars boards whilst following the black shark threads last few years.

 

Am i missing something, i know if i press multiple keys sooner or later windows freezes so depending on the number of panels you make eventually it will crash?

 

I really thought the usb cards stopped multiple key presses when you thre a toggle switch.

 

By the way, thats exactly what I was thinking of doing and that panel first then the one on the right hand side, the panel you press the very first button on.

 

Im in Oz too, where have you been buying your switches from, ebay?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I don't know about Leo's boards but I don't think so. These boards typically do not convert the switch into a pulse. Not even the TM Warthog HOTAS does this. The APU start switch and other switches on the throttle continously send a signal to A-10.

 

The boards do not behave like a keyboard and windows handles multiple gamepad presses differently to keyboard presses.

 

I bought my boxes and switches from JayCar.

 

http://www.jaycar.com.au

[sIGPIC][/sIGPIC]

 

Creator of:

 

F-18C VFA-195 "Dambusters" 1998 CAG Livery

https://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=213788

 

F-18C VFA-195 "Dambusters" July 2001 CAG Livery

https://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=215950

 

Pilot avatars for DCS Logbook

https://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=221160

 

How to make a DCS A-10C Panel

http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=65998

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Leo's boards (at least the one I'm familiar with) sends a constant on, not a pulse. But, multiple keypresses on the keyboard are interpreted differently than HID/joystick button presses. If you press enough keys on a keyboard, eventually the system can't tell which keys are pressed. This is not the case for a USB HID (such as Leo's board, or the TM Warthog) - you could leave all 32 buttons pressed at once and Windows would see them all just fine. How your simulator would interpret that is another question, entirely.

 

DCS is programmed to handle input like that quite well - most other sims are not (hence TigersharkBAS's pulse circuit).

 

I think the best option for a pulse-type circuit is really just to choose a momentary-type toggle as your switch in the first place. The only reason to use a latching toggle (that stays on when you let go) is if you have some function to perform when the switch is turned on, AND when it is turned off. DCS is programmed to support this - but the circuit here (using the pulse signal) will leave the switch in the ON position until you turn it off - which will do nothing in the sim, unless you're using a DT switch with another circuit (using another button and possibly another pulse circuit) for the 'off' position.

 

Wow ... that wasn't supposed to be so long. Hope I didn't confuse anyone even more.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Awesome !! this will go to the cockpit building folder.

Congrats and thanks.

HaF 922, Asus rampage extreme 3 gene, I7 950 with Noctua D14, MSI gtx 460 hawk, G skill 1600 8gb, 1.5 giga samsung HD.

Track IR 5, Hall sensed Cougar, Hall sensed TM RCS TM Warthog(2283), TM MFD, Saitek pro combat rudder, Cougar MFD.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Leo's boards (at least the one I'm familiar with) sends a constant on, not a pulse. But, multiple keypresses on the keyboard are interpreted differently than HID/joystick button presses. If you press enough keys on a keyboard, eventually the system can't tell which keys are pressed. This is not the case for a USB HID (such as Leo's board, or the TM Warthog) - you could leave all 32 buttons pressed at once and Windows would see them all just fine. How your simulator would interpret that is another question, entirely.

 

Bingo. Couldn't have said it better myself. What Feed says! :)

 

DCS is programmed to handle input like that quite well - most other sims are not (hence TigersharkBAS's pulse circuit).

 

Again Bingo! Which is why I kind of put that video as extra for enthusiasts and was quite specific about the fact that you DO NOT need to implement it for DCS: A-10 because, surprisingly, it handles it quite well. I guess they knew how the TM Warthog HOTAS would bundle with the game and made appropriate software to handle it.

 

I think the best option for a pulse-type circuit is really just to choose a momentary-type toggle as your switch in the first place.

 

This is true. If you are willing to sacrifice a little realism (it's ok for you that your switch doesn't latch) then this would be the best option for someone who doesn't want to delve into world of electronics and circuits.

 

As this is fun for me I am working on my next project which will provide a "mode" switch for the box. You can switch between "pulse" mode or normal "toggle switch provides a constant press" mode for sims like A-10 that can handle it.

 

 

The only reason to use a latching toggle (that stays on when you let go) is if you have some function to perform when the switch is turned on, AND when it is turned off. DCS is programmed to support this - but the circuit here (using the pulse signal) will leave the switch in the ON position until you turn it off - which will do nothing in the sim, unless you're using a DT switch with another circuit (using another button and possibly another pulse circuit) for the 'off' position.

 

True. The other reason is because you want it to be like the real thing.

 

Nice post Feed. Nice to see people building on this with their advice, experience and ideas.

[sIGPIC][/sIGPIC]

 

Creator of:

 

F-18C VFA-195 "Dambusters" 1998 CAG Livery

https://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=213788

 

F-18C VFA-195 "Dambusters" July 2001 CAG Livery

https://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=215950

 

Pilot avatars for DCS Logbook

https://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=221160

 

How to make a DCS A-10C Panel

http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=65998

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Wow, TigersharkBAS, I just watched your videos and whereas beforehand I had little to no interest in building such a panel, now I am definitely going to give it a try. As I'm not so big on the startup process, I'm thinking of trying the Armament HUD Control Panel as my first project.

 

Thank you so much for taking the time to put these together -- I love stumbling across cool new home cockpit additions.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hey Greg,

Thanks for the feedback. I'm glad people are finding this useful. Appreciate all the comments as putting these videos together took some time.

[sIGPIC][/sIGPIC]

 

Creator of:

 

F-18C VFA-195 "Dambusters" 1998 CAG Livery

https://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=213788

 

F-18C VFA-195 "Dambusters" July 2001 CAG Livery

https://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=215950

 

Pilot avatars for DCS Logbook

https://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=221160

 

How to make a DCS A-10C Panel

http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=65998

Link to comment
Share on other sites

TigersharkBAS, how did you mount the GroovyGameGear Controller in your Boxes?

_________________

PC: Win 10 Pro 64bit, Ryzen 7 5800X3D, 64GB RAM, GForce RTX 4090.

Cockpit & HOTAS: VKB Gunfighter MKIII with MCG PRO, Vipril MT-50 CM2, Virpil Rotor Plus & SharKa-50 grip, Thrustmaster TPR, Virpil SharKa-50 Control Panel, WinWing Phoenix MIP, WinWing PTO & PCR, Total Control Apachte MPD frames, several DIY panels, NLR GTTRACK, NLR Motion V3, ButtKicker Gamer PLUS

VR: Varjo Aero, HP Reverb G2

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Pikas,

Please check out the first post in this thread. I posted a video.

  • Like 1

[sIGPIC][/sIGPIC]

 

Creator of:

 

F-18C VFA-195 "Dambusters" 1998 CAG Livery

https://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=213788

 

F-18C VFA-195 "Dambusters" July 2001 CAG Livery

https://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=215950

 

Pilot avatars for DCS Logbook

https://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=221160

 

How to make a DCS A-10C Panel

http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=65998

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Can we convert this as a sticky ?

Its not just a case its a course that is must read for any cockpit dreamer.

HaF 922, Asus rampage extreme 3 gene, I7 950 with Noctua D14, MSI gtx 460 hawk, G skill 1600 8gb, 1.5 giga samsung HD.

Track IR 5, Hall sensed Cougar, Hall sensed TM RCS TM Warthog(2283), TM MFD, Saitek pro combat rudder, Cougar MFD.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

+1 for that idea.

 

Thanks for the comments guys. Feel free to hit me up with reputation as well ;-)

  • Like 1

[sIGPIC][/sIGPIC]

 

Creator of:

 

F-18C VFA-195 "Dambusters" 1998 CAG Livery

https://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=213788

 

F-18C VFA-195 "Dambusters" July 2001 CAG Livery

https://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=215950

 

Pilot avatars for DCS Logbook

https://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=221160

 

How to make a DCS A-10C Panel

http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=65998

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi TigersharkBAS. Thank you very much for the clip about mounting the GroovyGameGear (GGG) controller to a box. I first understood your post that the info was already in one of your older posts and watched each of them again - and then I recognised that you made a clip extra for my question - thx so much you are really hardworking a a really nice guy :thumbup:.

_________________

PC: Win 10 Pro 64bit, Ryzen 7 5800X3D, 64GB RAM, GForce RTX 4090.

Cockpit & HOTAS: VKB Gunfighter MKIII with MCG PRO, Vipril MT-50 CM2, Virpil Rotor Plus & SharKa-50 grip, Thrustmaster TPR, Virpil SharKa-50 Control Panel, WinWing Phoenix MIP, WinWing PTO & PCR, Total Control Apachte MPD frames, several DIY panels, NLR GTTRACK, NLR Motion V3, ButtKicker Gamer PLUS

VR: Varjo Aero, HP Reverb G2

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi all. Added a new video to my first post to show how to wire up a switch with an inbuilt LED.

[sIGPIC][/sIGPIC]

 

Creator of:

 

F-18C VFA-195 "Dambusters" 1998 CAG Livery

https://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=213788

 

F-18C VFA-195 "Dambusters" July 2001 CAG Livery

https://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=215950

 

Pilot avatars for DCS Logbook

https://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=221160

 

How to make a DCS A-10C Panel

http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=65998

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

Tiger, you are may Hero :thumbup:

 

I try to build a home-cockpit since two years.

Therefor I use the electronic of an keyboard.

It works nice, but it's not possible to use switches without

some eletronics (switch 'on' is the same like press down the key :()

I searched a long time to find a microchip like "yours"

 

Now I cell my car, the horse of my girlfriend and build my cockpit :pilotfly:

yeeehaaaa

 

 

Very nice work :thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

 

 

Yours

 

 

MadDoc

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Glad I could be of help MadDoc :-)

[sIGPIC][/sIGPIC]

 

Creator of:

 

F-18C VFA-195 "Dambusters" 1998 CAG Livery

https://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=213788

 

F-18C VFA-195 "Dambusters" July 2001 CAG Livery

https://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=215950

 

Pilot avatars for DCS Logbook

https://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=221160

 

How to make a DCS A-10C Panel

http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=65998

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Dear Moderator,

Can we make this post a sticky as requested before?

[sIGPIC][/sIGPIC]

 

Creator of:

 

F-18C VFA-195 "Dambusters" 1998 CAG Livery

https://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=213788

 

F-18C VFA-195 "Dambusters" July 2001 CAG Livery

https://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=215950

 

Pilot avatars for DCS Logbook

https://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=221160

 

How to make a DCS A-10C Panel

http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=65998

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks for the work you put into this Tiger. I was wondering about maintaining state between the sim and your panel for the functions that toggle. Do you always set your panel a certain way before launching A-10?

i7-950, 8GB DDR3, EVGA X58, GTX 460 SE 1GB, Win XP 64Bit, CH gear (stick, throttle, rudder pedals), TM Cougar MFDs

William Riley

http://workbench.freetcp.com

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thank you for these videos. I purchased the board before I even got through the 3rd vid :p

 

Huge help. Just wish there were better options for the momentary switches on older games :)

 

Looking forward to seeing how your mode toggle switch comes out.

 

 

Anyone having difficulty finding an appropriate enclosure box? All I've got around here is a radio shack without much stock. Any tips would be appreciated as to where I might search.

 

-rc

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...