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Post by hpwells1 on Feb 12, 2016 17:07:17 GMT
Hello, I am new to your forum however I am not new to FSX and flight simulators. I have built a generic flight simulator for FSX and I have it setting on a motion platform (one seat only). I am only using 2dof, pitch and roll and it works quite well. Now I am trying to build a auto pilot panel so I don't need to use the mouse for quick changes. The questions I have is: will the X-Keys, 128 programmable device work for what I want to do? and if so, how would I program a switch that does not have a key function? i.e., encoders, etc. and also would I be able to incorporate the LED read out for heading, course and alt.? Thanks. HPWELLS
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Post by MarkH on Feb 12, 2016 18:11:16 GMT
I'd never heard of X Keys but just googled it. I would be cautious as this appears designed to work with MacroWorks (whatever that is) and this mode may or may not be useful with FSX. It mentions 'hardware mode', which can emulate a joystick controller, but with 128 buttons I doubt if this would work with FSX either. FSUIPC will only recognise 32 buttons. Perhaps this device will appear as more than one joystick or some other such workaround. There is very little detailed information on the web page. Sorry if that's not much help
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Post by hpwells1 on Feb 12, 2016 21:29:51 GMT
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Post by MarkH on Feb 12, 2016 23:06:21 GMT
I don't see anything on there about encoders. It mentions 'rotary' switches, but I take this to mean simple multi-position switches, not rotary encoders.
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Post by hpwells1 on Feb 12, 2016 23:13:18 GMT
So do you think I could mix match controllers? (the one you are using and x-keys)
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Post by MarkH on Feb 12, 2016 23:41:40 GMT
So do you think I could mix match controllers? (the one you are using and x-keys) Yes, I expect that would be fine.
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Post by hpwells1 on Feb 13, 2016 2:19:46 GMT
ok, so what is the cost in us for the kit? or would you sell switches and encoders separate? if not , what type of encoders are you using and where could I purchase them? the reason I am saying this is because the templates in your kit are not going to work with my panel. In one of your u-tube video's I noticed that you were using a program that enabled you to talk with the ATC, what program are you using? and are you using head tracker?
HP
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Post by MarkH on Feb 13, 2016 8:46:59 GMT
ok, so what is the cost in us for the kit? or would you sell switches and encoders separate? if not , what type of encoders are you using and where could I purchase them? the reason I am saying this is because the templates in your kit are not going to work with my panel. In one of your u-tube video's I noticed that you were using a program that enabled you to talk with the ATC, what program are you using? and are you using head tracker? I am no longer selling kits, other than the basic pre-cut panels. These cost £15 plus shipping, which would be about an additional £12.50 to the USA. The complete component list, including suppliers, is here, although you will nee to check prices. My recollection is that a full set of components for the AP+ panel was about £60. The encoders are CTS288V, which I am sure are also available from US suppliers (indeed the Bodnar-supplied ones are imperial dimensions, not metric). As for ATC, I am using VoxATC in one of my videos. Other people swear by this for realism but honestly I never got it to work properly. It's also sold and supported by RC Simulations, which means the support is minimal at best. Best option for ATC is something live like PilotEdge. Maybe Vatsim, though I never tried that one. Yes, I am using a head-tracker. I have TrackIR 5. It is probably the best addon for FSX after a joystick. I would fly with one 24" monitor and TrackIR rather than three monitors without.
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Post by hpwells1 on Feb 13, 2016 16:44:00 GMT
Mark, Thank you for all your help. I am on vacation now where the temp is +60 but will be back home next month and at that time I am going to start building my auto pilot panel. I will let you know how things go / work. Talk with you soon Hpwells.
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Post by ScottB on Feb 15, 2016 14:22:09 GMT
HP, it looks like you've already figured this out but, I've been using the XK-24 for several years (before I saw Marks stuff) and it simply mimics joystick buttons in FSX. So, anything you can do with a joystick button/FSUIPC/Linda, you should be able to do with X-keys. However, I wasn't aware of the 32 FSUIPC button limitation.
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Post by hpwells1 on Feb 19, 2016 17:32:16 GMT
FSXKeyboardCommands.mht (74.15 KB) FSXKeyboardCommands.mht (74.15 KB)Mark, I have been looking into the key list for FSX and found that there is a new key list for FSX. in that list at the end of the selected key's (Auto Pilot) it shows that to increase or decrease the selected item you would need to use the = or - keys to do this. however when I try to do this, it will not work. I downloaded the zip file into C:\user\user name\app data\roaming\Microsoft\fsx\controls. When I start the game and go into controls, buttons/keys, the change does not show up there. Even if I open the Kneeboard, the keys are not new. I am not sure if I know how to send you the zip file, other than e-mail
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Post by MarkH on Feb 19, 2016 19:14:57 GMT
I downloaded the zip file into C:\user\user name\app data\roaming\Microsoft\fsx\controls. When I start the game and go into controls, buttons/keys, the change does not show up there. If you are talking about the .mht file (which I found at Fly Away Simulation) this is just an HTML document, it does not make any key mappings. I assume it is intended to be printed out as a reference guide. As for the FSX autopilot commands, you can operate them like that if you bind the appropriate actions to keystrokes. For example, if bind the command for 'heading bug select' to a key, hitting that key and then -/= will move the heading bug. (Of course if you select something else in between, something other than the heading bug will likely change). To use FSX this way you really need to be able to bind multiple commands to one keystroke. I presume this is the sort of thing 'MarcoWorks' does.
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Post by hpwells1 on Feb 21, 2016 16:57:21 GMT
Yes that is the one I am talking about however I thought it was a .xml file. So what I need to do is purchase the registration key for FSUPIC-4 and all my problems will be taken care of. Is that right? And if I do purchase the key, can I install the registered FSUPIC into another computed i.e. game computer? Thanks again for all your help and I am also reading your e-book on building your AP panels. HP
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Post by MarkH on Feb 21, 2016 17:08:05 GMT
So what I need to do is purchase the registration key for FSUPIC-4 and all my problems will be taken care of. Is that right? I would be cautious with such a generalisation! You will not be able to use it to program the device with 128 buttons as FSUIPC uses the older Windows HID API, which only recognises 32 buttons. But you will have a flexible and powerful tool for programming buttons and switches to do FSX actions. This includes multi-action buttons, macros and complex programs as well as simple button assignments. And lots more, of course. I'm not sure what you mean with your question about installation - you can install it on any PC and then unlock it with the key. I expect you are only entitled to run it on one PC at a time, though.
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Post by hpwells1 on Feb 21, 2016 20:49:33 GMT
Thank You Mark, I will see what I am able to do later HP.
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