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How To: Build a A-10 flight panel controller


TigersharkBAS

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Well done! And thanks for sharing your pics. Quite a thread of knowledge in here now :thumbup:

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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

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  • 3 months later...

GP-Wiz40 Support

 

Before you buy any interface, think of how many switches you gone use!!

you easily go beyond the limit the GP-Wiz40 have! They only support 4 units of GP-Wiz40 = 128 switches!

I started out with them, but now I use another with 256 switches in 1 interface!

Think if you gone use any encoders and whose interface you need to make them work.

And a interface to use LED in warnings-panels to....

 

Hope I make any sens...

 

Hello All, I have seen a few times on the forum about the Groovy Game Gear GP-Wiz40 on supporting 4 devices. Anyone needing more needs to contact Randy at GGG and ask for more configuration numbered GP-Wiz40. I got 8 of them numbered 1-8 respectively. Have fun!

John

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  • 2 weeks later...

Hi John, thanks for this information.

Asus P8Z68 Deluxe, Intel Core i7-2600K (3.4 GHz), Corsair Vengeance 2x4096 Mo DDR3 1866 MHz, SSD 120 Go Vertex 2, EVGA GeForce GTX 970 FTW ACX 2.0 4Go (04G-P4-2978-KR), TM HOTAS Warthog #03797 (MB replaced), Saitek Combat Pro Rudder, TrackIR 5, TM Cougar MFDs with Lilliput 8" UM 80

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  • 3 months later...

Hi all, i build a Generic Panel control using a generic gamepad (PS style), so, the thing is how can a made, per example: a OFF and ON assignament for Laser, because this functions just have one entry for a push button, I´m working with swiths

 

I mean:

 

Laser ON: joybtn 1

Laser OFF; joybtn 2

 

Regards

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@Trueno. I will reply in about 12 hours. At work at the moment and not in front of my gaming machine.

 

But the first step is to go into the setting of DCS and program your switches for the Laser Train and Laser Arm Settings. Then I will teach you how to make the "off" setting.

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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

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Hi all, i build a Generic Panel control using a generic gamepad (PS style), so, the thing is how can a made, per example: a OFF and ON assignament for Laser, because this functions just have one entry for a push button, I´m working with swiths

 

I mean:

 

Laser ON: joybtn 1

Laser OFF; joybtn 2

 

Regards

 

Hi Trueno

 

When a button is assigned it is written to a .lua file for the device in use.

You will need to edit that file.

 

Example - for my A-10C config using a C.V.P joystick controller

 

The lua file is saved as:

c:/users/myname/Saved Games/DCS/Config/Input/A-10C/joystick/C.V.P Joystick{loads of letters and numbers in these brackets}.lua

 

Opening the file using notepad++, and searching for "laser" I find on line 449 the command line

 

{down = iCommandPlaneAHCPLaserArm, name = "LASER switch ARM", category = "Armament HUD Control Panel"},

 

Which tells me that in the down/closed position the switch assigns the command "iCommandPlaneAHCPLaserArm" to DCS

Also I note an other laser command "iCommandPlaneAHCPLaserSafe" which is essentially the OFF command

When I assign a physical switch to the laser arm switch in the program the command line is changed slightly by DCS to now read

 

{combos = {{key = "JOY_BTN65"}}, down = iCommandPlaneAHCPLaserArm, category = "Armament HUD Control Panel"},

 

Returning the swith to its open i.e. OFF position we need to tell DCS that when the switch Isn't thrown (i.e. in the "up" position) that the command "iCommandPlaneAHCPLaserSafe" is sent to DCS,

so I add the command "up = iCommandPlaneAHCPLaserSafe" into the line like this:

 

{combos = {{key = "JOY_BTN65"}}, down = iCommandPlaneAHCPLaserArm, up = iCommandPlaneAHCPLaserSafe, name = "LASER switch SAFE", category = "Armament HUD Control Panel"},

 

Basically I just copied the command from the other line setting the switch to safe!

That's the way I do it and it seems to work Ok.

If there is another was can someone please enlighten me?

I hope this helps?

sifhanar

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Thanks sifhanar. This is what I would have answered. Thanks for helping out.

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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

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Thank soooooo mcuh guys!!!!!!

 

Really, one thing than I love of DCS forums is the fast, quick and helpfull anwser by all your memenbers, AND THAT ISN´T VERY COMMON IN THIS DAYS.

 

I´ll post some pics of my panel soon.

 

Again, thanks you so much guys

 

Regards!!!!!

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Not sure if this is the best place for this, but I am making a UFC and was thinking of illuminating the buttons with a LED tactile.

 

The one ive seen is standard tactile with the 4 feet, and then two additional feet either side of the LED.

 

I am assuming that you wire these two feet to a circuit so they stay permanently illuminated rather than light up when pressed?

 

So if there are 31 of these - could someone suggest what circuit I can run.

 

There is a 5v dc on my GGG interface card - can 31 LEDs be powered by USB???

 

Spec:

 

 

SPST PCB Mount Tactile - Vertical & Horizontal with LED - Vertical Green

 

Rating: 12VDC 50mA

Operating Temperature: -50 ~ 70 degrees C

Contact Resistance: 100mOhm Max.

Insulation Resistance: 100MOhm min at 100VDC

Withstand Voltage: 250VAC for 1 minute

Contact Arrangement: SPST

Momentary Action

LED Power Supply: 3.5-4V DC @ 25mA

 

 

 

Thanks for your advice!

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Not sure if this is the best place for this, but I am making a UFC and was thinking of illuminating the buttons with a LED tactile.

 

The one ive seen is standard tactile with the 4 feet, and then two additional feet either side of the LED.

 

I am assuming that you wire these two feet to a circuit so they stay permanently illuminated rather than light up when pressed?

 

So if there are 31 of these - could someone suggest what circuit I can run.

 

There is a 5v dc on my GGG interface card - can 31 LEDs be powered by USB???

 

Spec:

 

 

SPST PCB Mount Tactile - Vertical & Horizontal with LED - Vertical Green

 

Rating: 12VDC 50mA

Operating Temperature: -50 ~ 70 degrees C

Contact Resistance: 100mOhm Max.

Insulation Resistance: 100MOhm min at 100VDC

Withstand Voltage: 250VAC for 1 minute

Contact Arrangement: SPST

Momentary Action

LED Power Supply: 3.5-4V DC @ 25mA

 

 

 

Thanks for your advice!

 

Mr. Burns, in my experience the 25mA rating for the LED is quite bright, and you can get away with less, but you'll have to experiment with what the maximum brightness you want is, and what current that ends up being per LED. So let's assume your acceptable maximum brightness ends up being around 18mA, then 31 buttons times 18mA is 558mA. Most often each USB output from the back of your PC will support up to 500mA, but powered hubs will often support up to 1A per output. All of that said, you would have to look at the specs for your GGG interface card and find out how much current it can provide. If I were to use LEDs to light my UFC I would personally plan on giving my UFC it's own power supply and driver IC's to drive the LEDs. This will also allow things like Pulse Width control for dimming (set current to your maximum desired brightness, then use a Pulse Width Modulator to adjust brightness in game). I'm going to first try the light board method first though with a big ol' green light in the box to backlight the keys, except for the Warning indicator which obviously has its own light. Your way will probably look a lot better though. We'll see how I do :).

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  • 8 months later...
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

 

 

Question regarding the integration of IC 74121 (or 74221) with the WIZ40.

Is there an easy solution to incorporate these IC without burning a board? (which I have zero experience). I like the momentary switch solution you prose as I will be creating a generic panel for DCS as well as IL2 BOS ( and COD).

I understand I could use software to remedy the continuous pulse as well.. Is there a suggestion fore an easy to use one... just in case.

 

cheers

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  • 1 month later...

Hey guys, new around here and I am trying to figure out this GP-Wiz thing.

First off, hi, my name is Gary. I've been in the Air Force for about 21 years now and currently I teach at the Weapons School here at Nellis.

 

I am attempting to simply get my Electrical Power panel to do what I want. Right now when I flip say my APU Gen switch it turns it on but when I turn it off nothing happens. So I read about editing the .lua for the GP-Wiz but the problem is all I can find is the .diff.lua file with the differences of the controller. Is this the file to change or should I have another one? For switches that don't have off commands can you put OFF after the iCommand and make it work? I notice that the numbers don't appear like they used too in the beginning of this tutorial. Thanks in advance. Oh if this is covered elsewhere please point me in that direction instead of repeating yourself. Apparently I don't know what to search for.

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Welcome Gary.

 

Things have changed quite a bit since the original tute...and to be honest...I am really unhappy about the current level of documentation that supports this.

 

You might want to try this thread:

http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=122790

 

Or reach out to devrim directly.

 

Good luck. I really wish there was official support for all this stuff.

[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

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Question regarding the integration of IC 74121 (or 74221) with the WIZ40.

Is there an easy solution to incorporate these IC without burning a board? (which I have zero experience). I like the momentary switch solution you prose as I will be creating a generic panel for DCS as well as IL2 BOS ( and COD).

I understand I could use software to remedy the continuous pulse as well.. Is there a suggestion fore an easy to use one... just in case.

 

cheers

 

You could use an Arduino and program this.

 

But you're not gonna get out of this without some technical know how.

[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

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Welcome Gary.

 

Things have changed quite a bit since the original tute...and to be honest...I am really unhappy about the current level of documentation that supports this.

 

You might want to try this thread:

http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=122790

 

Or reach out to devrim directly.

 

Good luck. I really wish there was official support for all this stuff.

 

Thanks! I think Helios is going to be the answer for now. I was able to get that working in about 6 to 9 minutes.

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  • 1 year later...

Hi I just wanted to take the time out to say thank you for sharing your knowledge with a fellow brother in flight sims.

This is a hobby which keeps us all from going insane.

I hope to build a ka50 switch panel very soon. Just as soon as iv sourced all the different type of switches i need.

Cheers once again

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You're welcome :-)

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[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

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