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Post by pacman69 on Dec 29, 2015 17:17:23 GMT
I have just completed my Nav/Radio panel & anunciator panel. The Nav/radio panel has a working LCD screen that is linked to FSX so I can tune to the required frequency or beacon. the bottom rotary switch selects what I am adjusting. On the LCD display (impossible to get a picture with it on!) the bottom row is the freq you are adjusting to using the rotary encoder on the top right. Once the correct frequency is selected you press the red button to make it the active (Top) frequency. All linked to FSX by the program 'Link2FSX' and using the Arduino card. Follow this link to see a prototype working The Anunciator panel has working Gear LED's and the warning LED's come on once a predefined parameter has been exceeded. The LED will flash and once the 'ACK' button is pressed the LED goes steady. When the exceeded parameter is back in the LED goes off. As well as the warning LED's a further audible warning buzzer can be attached - at the moment this is just wired to another LED (not show) as I did not know how this further alarm would react, but it works the same as the LED's. Again this is all driven through 'Link2FSX'. The other picture shows my two previous panels that are a weapons panel (to operate my Captain Sim weapons package) through a Bodner card & a gear and flaps panel. The gear and flaps panel again being driven through Arduino & Link3FSX. I hope they inspire, and were certainly fun to build. pete    |
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Post by MarkH on Dec 29, 2015 19:02:51 GMT
Your radio panel is very impressive! I must have a look at these Arduinos - what kind of software do you need to get something like that going?
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Post by pacman69 on Dec 29, 2015 19:57:53 GMT
Hi Mark, All you need is the Arduino software (free and linked from the site)and then download the relevant .Ino files from the www.jimspage.co.nz/intro.htm website into the card. Each project is detailed with code & diagrams/part lists for both the UNO & Mega cards depending on how much you want to add to each project (UNO has less I/O than a Mega). This nice chap has written the .ino's, given full instructions on how to then load the .ino scripts into the Arduino card and that's it. He has also added some .wav 'Calls' that can be added to various functions that can be triggered using the Arduino card. I would strongly suggest having a look at the site. Arduino cards can be picked up on ebay for about £5 (UNO) or £19 (Mega),I used an Uno for my radio. My LDC display was less than £2 (ebay). I did get my panel and had it laser cut for (£6) as cutting a square can be tricky. So the most expensive item was the rotary encoder and knob from Bodner (about £13 with P&P). Let me know if you need any info or help, it did look quite complicated at first but it is just so easy when you have done it and it all works like a dream. Just got to learn how to use it now. If you want ebay site for the parts then best PM me. Pete |
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Post by MarkH on Dec 29, 2015 22:09:57 GMT
Thanks Pete, more ways to spend the weekends  |
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Post by ScottB on Jan 5, 2016 16:35:28 GMT
Nice setup! Thanks for posting.
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Post by littlepaulio on Jan 30, 2016 1:30:20 GMT
Hi Mark, All you need is the Arduino software (free and linked from the site)and then download the relevant .Ino files from the www.jimspage.co.nz/intro.htm website into the card. Each project is detailed with code & diagrams/part lists for both the UNO & Mega cards depending on how much you want to add to each project (UNO has less I/O than a Mega). This nice chap has written the .ino's, given full instructions on how to then load the .ino scripts into the Arduino card and that's it. He has also added some .wav 'Calls' that can be added to various functions that can be triggered using the Arduino card. I would strongly suggest having a look at the site. Arduino cards can be picked up on ebay for about £5 (UNO) or £19 (Mega),I used an Uno for my radio. My LDC display was less than £2 (ebay). I did get my panel and had it laser cut for (£6) as cutting a square can be tricky. So the most expensive item was the rotary encoder and knob from Bodner (about £13 with P&P). Let me know if you need any info or help, it did look quite complicated at first but it is just so easy when you have done it and it all works like a dream. Just got to learn how to use it now. If you want ebay site for the parts then best PM me. Pete Hi Pacman, I shouldn't have pm'ed you looking for that eBay seller, I know that comment was for Mark. I was wondering had you previous experience with electronics before embarking on this amazing panel. Since my plans to build a panel with a wooden housing, acrylic sheets, and wires, resistors, capacitors, etc, etc. having only ever put a pc together a couple of times and not even a handsaw to my name. Well, I quickly took the woodworking side of things, acquiring a number of different handsaws, an electric circular saw, a power drill and my beloved little Dremel 3000. I know proper tradesmen scoff at them, but their versatility is amazing. I even ordered the Stew Mac Dremel router base, which will never come close to what a proper router can do, but it's perfect for the scale I'm working on. So, while I can cut a pretty accurate square of acrylic (it still will never match the smoothness of a laser job, but once it's sanded and buffed, it's more than I thought I would ever achieve). And while I've being ignoring about 4 or 5 boxes or breadboards and basic electronic components, I've actually completed a couple of simple engravings (traced over a design of a Spitfire and a Mustang) mounted the bottoms of them in about a 6"x 4" wooden platform with a 3cm deep groove for the acrylic on top of a slightly wider one which had a slightly thinner groove for a LED strip to fit in. When I has finished the wood with some oil we had in the house and glued some aluminium strips to the sides of the acrylic to frame it ,and turned on the leds, the final effect was deceptively professional looking, with warm white light reflections and shadows enhancing a far from perfect engraving of either fighter. The two recipients of these as gifts for Christmas both refused to believe that I was responsible. This is an unnecessarily long email as I had waaaaaay too much coffee earlier, and just to share the tangents you can go off in. And to boast a bit. No pics though, so maybe it never happened? Anyway, I was hoping you could recommend a website or preferably a book that doesn't assume too much knowledge of the workings of electricity and the components we use to turn it item electronic devices. What I have looked at seems to want you to download the Arduino IDE straight away. Anyway if you've made it this far, god bless you, you're a patient man. Hope to hear something back from you, would appreciate it anyway, Cheers, |
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Post by pacman69 on Jan 30, 2016 18:04:49 GMT
Hi Paul,
I have sent you a PM.I have not checked my messages for a while, appologies for not replying sooner.
Pete
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