Hello all. I've recently got the pro throttle and track IR (both excellent )and was thinking, wouldn't that be great to have a controller for the MFD and ICP buttons as well. This idea came to me as i saw review of Ergodex DX-1 keyboard, where you can place the buttons wherever you like on a blank board. It was a bit prizey though and came with only 25 buttons. I believe it wouldn't be too hard for me (w/ good instructions) to build my own one, and it might fit the purpose better as well. I know there's a lot of useful submenus, and so far i've got only the FCR range, azimuth, step, snowplow etc. programmed on my HOTAS. It sucked having to power up a maverick by pausing a game, clicking OSB6 with mouse and unpausing, and now i have it programmed as well on my HOTAS. So before i run into hardware store, i'd like to know is there any major advantage in having that that kind of controller?

Also if someone has instructions/advises how to build such a thing i would appreciate?


Cheers

Check out X Keys.

http://www.xkeys.com/xkeys.php?PHPSESSID=6dec94d0bd31a92e1c83413c939ba1a7

Wow that's exactly what i'm looking for. That 84 key keyboard looks fine except for it's $250 prize and only one reseller in Finland

There should be one more vertical row in the 84 key version for it to be perfect MFD keyboard, if i counted right

no two sorry

currently, I use a belkin nostromo N52, but it is kind of limited by the number of buttons it has. I'm looking to get one of the new Saitek gamepads from gogamer.com when they are released. It has 20 buttons, shift function and 3 modes, which is plenty for 2 mfd's and an ICP. and it's only $34.90....

sounds good. Hope it finds it's way over here too.

You can order the masterpilot 98. from Cables4Computers.com. they had 800 of them listed. they also had the programmers. but you will need an older machine to program them.




Fireball

looks like the real thing. Two of those for me plz

Masterpilots are very old; you are better off going with a supported product with a USB interface.

Check out my project; it uses an X-keys matrix board. http://www.simhq.com/simhq3/sims/boards/bbs/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=137;t=000042

I have the X-Keys also. But I decided to order these just the same. That way I do not have to wire the MFD's just go in and program them. True you need an old computer to program but from what I have heard once they are programmed they work great! So if they do not work I will try your method and build my own or order them from Realsimulator.

Looks cool indeed. I wish i'd have more "know how" so i could build one too.

You should install displays showing corresponding data in MFDs also

Ghostman: yeah, I'm hoping for a display support for MFD too.

Btw, which city in Finland?

Helsinki. I'd love to have the whole cockpit modeled correctly around me, would look cool in the bedroom too

No No No it needs to go right next to the BAR. That way you do not have far to crawl

Faster if i parashute from my window with my biggest sheet. That leads me straight over, and wind doesn't mix it up either since i live just in second floor.

Im working on my "MFD Project" where Im encorporating an active display within a RL F16 MFD OSB bezel, making use of the OSB via EPIC. Should be done in the near term.

For now, Im using a QUICK SHOT MasterPilot game controller (left side of picture) along with a secondary monitor running F4Glass. Put 2+2 together, and you can see how I decided to design my MFD-PROJECT.

I wish CH or Thrustmaster would make a MFD

again, wow! Looks interesting.

Is that a trackball near the shell? if it is do you need it during flight or is it just for surfing in menus? and finally is it better than regular mouse (takes less space for sure)?

That reminded me of getting a good flight sim clock under my monitor too.

In their latest poll CH had MFD as an option but I believe the F-18 throttle won out.


I'm using Masterpilots with a USB converter. They work great and I'll miss them when they dry up, along with my ICP, a Saitek PC Dash 2 (a.k.a. P8000) I still need an old computer to programthem but I haven't need to do that in at least 6 months.


I also like the X-keys Matrix since it controls my switches if you guys are into building stuff. But I would need another Matrix board so that I would have enough functions. Also I should have an article about the X-keys in the next issue of Computer Pilot magazine

See my cockpit here:
http://sapphire.indstate.edu/~medwards11/cockpit.htm