How To: Build a A-10 flight panel controller

I am unlucky. Cyprus is not available in their store so they can't ship me the GP Wiz 40. Are their any other stores I can buy it?

Also a big thank you TigersharkBAS for your videos.

Hey conns,

You are very welcome. Just remember to post your own project if you get your hands on a USB interface so we can all learn from each other :-)

Hey conns,

You are very welcome. Just remember to post your own project if you get your hands on a USB interface so we can all learn from each other :-)

Do you know any other online shop that sells GP Wiz 40 or something similar. I really want one to try my own project following your videos and your very good instructions.

Seeing how easy it looks to build a panel, my brain went into gear. Received the GP-Wiz40, hit the local Radio Shack for a box and a few switches. Wanted to do the electrical panel.

First I tried the battery switch, the build went smooth.

Now for the problems.

Plug it in, the drivers load. Start DCS A-10C, click options and there it was, GP-Wiz40, Located the battery switch line, add the switch to it and went to a ramp startup mission.

It work !!. But I didn't do the program to shut it off. Next time I'll go though all the videos.

Went back and watch the, how to configure video, Called myself a dummy for not watching it first, and proceeded to configure it, to shut the battery off. BUT in the config / input / aircrafts / A10-C / joystick file, the GP is not listed. And looking around the LUA files I did not see any command numbers. Could this be because they were taken out in the 1.1.0.7. patch or I'm just not seeing something.

BUT in the config / input / aircrafts / A10-C / joystick file, the GP is not listed. And looking around the LUA files I did not see any command numbers. Could this be because they were taken out in the 1.1.0.7. patch or I'm just not seeing something.

Not sure if previous versions of the sim were different, but in 1.1.0.7, you will find the .lua file for the GP-Wiz in a different place than the instructions. It can be found here:

C:\Users\"YourName"\Saved Games\DCS Warthog\Config\Input\A-10C\joystick

Follow the instructions in the videos and enjoy! In the future as you progress down this wonderful path, you will find the search functions in windows to be a valuable tool to learn how to use. I don't intend this to be sarcastic in the least. You'll learn as you go and one frustrating thing is not being able to find the location of stuff on your computer. This will atleast solve that problem for you.

Do you know any other online shop that sells GP Wiz 40 or something similar. I really want one to try my own project following your videos and your very good instructions.

Connos,

Have you actually contacted someone from GG to confirm that you are out of shipping?

Try that first. Otherwise google Leo Bodnar to find his board which does the same thing only different.

Connos,

Have you actually contacted someone from GG to confirm that you are out of shipping?

 

Try that first. Otherwise google Leo Bodnar to find his board which does the same thing only different.

I did lets hope they answer.

Thanks man for Leo Bodnar board. I contact him also. Does his board need soldering?

I did lets hope they answer.

 

Thanks man for Leo Bodnar board. I contact him also. Does his board need soldering?

Depends which one you get. The BU0836X has screw connections, and the BU0836 has pins. However, you solder your wires to connectors (separate from the board) and then plug them in, so the iron is not right next to the board, which is pretty small.

Thanks Razi, I shoud have used the search, but following the instructions, that did not dawn on me. I just took it as, that the patch did away with it.

Depends which one you get. The BU0836X has screw connections, and the BU0836 has pins. However, you solder your wires to connectors (separate from the board) and then plug them in, so the iron is not right next to the board, which is pretty small.

Thanks for the BU0836X looks more ideal for me.

Hi all,

 

You absolutely can use standard switches for the axis inputs, (that's what they are designed for) but there are a few limitations. You first must have software which can recognize the state of the axis in question, and act on it in a digital nature. Most which can, will view a 127, or middle point, as being at rest, or an open switch state. Likewise, a 0 will equal a closure of one switch and a 255 will equal a closure on a different switch. Each axis works like this, so the limitation in this type of configuration is that two switches on opposing ends of the same axis will not register separately. One will take precedence over the other when this occurs.

 

If the software cannot do this internally, it may be necessary to use software which can convert the activity on the axes to a key press.

 

RandyT

Thanks for that RandyT - ive tried a couple of third party software but still cant get it to work, for example I can get the switch axis to write in word but then DCS doesnt recognise the keystroke.

Going to try a few more today when the wife gets off the PC and will let you know if I get any success.

Emulators tried so far:

JOYTOKEY - Worked

HIDMacros - No luck with this.

AUTOHOTKEY - Wrong kind of programme

JOYBOARD - nice little program but on the axis it didnt seem to work very well and DCS didnt recognise the multipliers but if you rip an XBOX controller or something you should have a look at this.

Just retried JOYTOKEY and it works, my problem was I was clicking on the GPWIZ section of the DCS Controlls page when duh...JOTTOKEY had turned it into a keyboard input.

So if you are wanting to use the R L U D points of the GGG board I recommend JOYTOKEY.

Just found this thread...excellent! :thumbup:

Thanks Tigershark, just ordered a couple of boards in prep for building my panels. I can't believe how easy it is.

Hey Mustang,

No worries mate. For your information I got the enclosure, switches and parts from Jaycar in Melbourne. Except for the GGG board of course.

Depends which one you get. The BU0836X has screw connections, and the BU0836 has pins. However, you solder your wires to connectors (separate from the board) and then plug them in, so the iron is not right next to the board, which is pretty small.

Alternatively, you can use crimp-on connectors:

http://search.digikey.com/scripts/DkSearch/dksus.dll?Detail&name=WM2804-ND

http://search.digikey.com/scripts/DkSearch/dksus.dll?Detail&name=WM2562CT-ND

Cheers,

Colin

Firstly let me add my thanks for all you information, its excellent.

I wonder if you could answer a question for me, I have purchase some green 8mm Led's for back lighting they are 25mA 2.5V. what type/size of resistor do you recommend.

Thanks

Glider

Green25mA2.5V2.5V5V70

i have a question regarding the USB connector you bought on groovy game gear.

can i assign axis to it? for example for a light knob, that controls the intensity, or even if i wanted to make my own throttle stick.

also, is there a cheaper alternative to it?

thanks in advance

I wonder if you could answer a question for me, I have purchase some green 8mm Led's for back lighting they are 25mA 2.5V. what type/size of resistor do you recommend.

Led calculation is quite simple:

R_serie = (V_in - V_forward)/I_led

P_R = R * (I_led^2)

So for a 5 volt supply power supply :

R_serie = (5-2.5)/0.025 = 100 ohm or greater

P_R = 100 * (0.025^2) = 0.0625 Watt, so a standard 1/4 watt or even a 1/8 resistor will be alright.

You can also use the led calculator website if your are unsure of your calculation

Led calculation is quite simple:

R_serie = (V_in - V_forward)/I_led

P_R = R * (I_led^2)

 

So for a 5 volt supply power supply :

R_serie = (5-2.5)/0.025 = 100 ohm or greater

P_R = 100 * (0.025^2) = 0.0625 Watt, so a standard 1/4 watt or even a 1/8 resistor will be alright.

 

You can also use the led calculator website if your are unsure of your calculation

Thanks for picking this up mojo.....and by the way excellent reply!!

i have a question regarding the USB connector you bought on groovy game gear.

 

can i assign axis to it? for example for a light knob, that controls the intensity, or even if i wanted to make my own throttle stick.

 

also, is there a cheaper alternative to it?

thanks in advance

This was all covered in a few pages before. Short answer no. It only supports digital axes (on/off) and not the analog input you would get from a potentiometer.

As for cheaper...I have no idea. I guess you could try an Arduino board and build some stuff yourself but not sure if that would cheaper.

This was all covered in a few pages before. Short answer no. It only supports digital axes (on/off) and not the analog input you would get from a potentiometer.

 

 

As for cheaper...I have no idea. I guess you could try an Arduino board and build some stuff yourself but not sure if that would cheaper.

thanks mate. I was going to read through all the pages, but it was late.

so let me just ask you this:

-is there a different board that supports potentiometers?

-with digital axes, can i assign a knob that will control lights? for example, 0% or 100% of intensity only, no potentiometers.

-how about 4 position knobs, like PAGE in the auxiliary avionics panel, possible?

thanks, gonna read it now

Led calculation is quite simple:

R_serie = (V_in - V_forward)/I_led

P_R = R * (I_led^2)

 

So for a 5 volt supply power supply :

R_serie = (5-2.5)/0.025 = 100 ohm or greater

P_R = 100 * (0.025^2) = 0.0625 Watt, so a standard 1/4 watt or even a 1/8 resistor will be alright.

 

You can also use the led calculator website if your are unsure of your calculation

WOW thanks for the answer and the link

thanks mate. I was going to read through all the pages, but it was late.

so let me just ask you this:

-is there a different board that supports potentiometers?

-with digital axes, can i assign a knob that will control lights? for example, 0% or 100% of intensity only, no potentiometers.

-how about 4 position knobs, like PAGE in the auxiliary avionics panel, possible?

 

thanks, gonna read it now

I actually didnt find the answers for those in this thread. so if you dont mind answering, i'd appreciate. :)

-is there a different board that supports potentiometers?

-with digital axes, can i assign a knob that will control lights? for example, 0% or 100% of intensity only, no potentiometers.

-how about 4 position knobs, like PAGE in the auxiliary avionics panel, possible?

You can use a USB joystick interface like one of Leo Bodnar product if you want to add a few switches and potentiometer. If you want a lot more of switches/potentiometer, you can use OpenCockpits with Oakes export.lua script. Another solution with more capability is the PHCC project but this doesnt have any interface with the DCS series.

You can use a 4 position rotary switch with OpenCockpits without synchronisation problem.

Digital axes doesnt mean anything, they are either analog input or digital input. Analog axes are normaly used with potentiometer or hall effect sensor. Digital input are used with switches.

What Mojo said :)