NEWS

1st March 08

I have updated the EFIS and Glareshield pages and added part nubers and links. I found a better way of putting the EFIS together and completed the Glare wing annunciator lights. I have also ordered the MIP and Panel base from Simulatory, so that will be here next week. The Glareshield looks goos in the dark when it is lit up and connected to FS.

I added a power supply from an old Dell GX150. It is a silent runner and provides a 5v and 12v feed to the Glareshield.

While I am waiting for the MIP base, I will complete the Glareshield and EFIS documentaion and post it in the relevant sections.

25th Feb 08

Found some grey paint that is very, very, close to the colour of my EFIS and MCP panels. From B&Q. They couldn't do a colour match because their spectrometer was out of service. But I found this, it gives a very good plastic look finish.

23rd Feb 08

Well a busy week with the sim building. My Glaresheild frame arrived from Poland (www.symulatory.com). See Glareshield Technical page for more details and pics.

As for the EFIS, I have redone it with encoders from Mouser in the US and have made some changes to the construction so that it fits into the new Glareshield. Also I had to de-case my Opencockpits, MCP to get that in the Glaresheild too. I will update the EFIS page shortly.

20th Feb 08

I have decided to rip my EFIS down again and replace the switches with Rotary Encoders. I bought 8 of these from Mouser Electronics in the US (See Suppliers Page) and another EFIS panel from Opencockpits. I have also ordered another RMKPR48 board from FSPilotShop.com.

So for the 2 EFIS panels I am now using 1 x USBKeys card (Tee'd for both EFIS) and 2 x RMKRP48 cards to manage the now 8 (4 on each EFIS) Rotary encoders. This will give me all the functionality I need for realism.

I will update the EFIS Technical page this weekend to show you the progress.

I also managed to get a B737 Pilot seat of Ebay, needs a bit of a tidy up but for less than £200, it was a bargain. :-).

17th Feb 08

Took my almost complete EFIS to Ian Sissons to have a brainstorming session about the USBKeys card working in conjunction with SIOC. We decided it doesn't and it has to run separately. Keys are configured in Encoderkeys.ini for the EFIS module using USBKeys.

If anyone knows how to run this via SIOC, then drop Ian or myself a line so we can experiment further.

I decided not to use the 12 way switches I got from Opencockpits because I wanted more functionality from the module. I am now going to use Rotary Enoders with push switch instead of rotary switches. I will keep you updated on the EFIS Technical page once the encoders arrive from the USA.

7th Feb 08

Well I finally got the MCP working and documented. The problem was I was using the PMDG Boeing 737 600 - 700. It appears the offsets are different in each version. I installed the 800-900 version and it works a treat, just needed to re-assign the keys in PMDG. EFIS Next :-)

In this version I actually got the TCAS working in ND panel - Superb. Just like the ATPL Manuals.

5th Feb 08

I have updated the MCP page, by adding a description of the MCP functionality for those of you who are unfamiliar with it or just need a refresh. You can see it here enjoy.

4th Feb 08

I received the new Opencockpits MCP737 v2. I read the documentation, installe dthe SIOC software and plugged it in. Started FS2004 and selected my default flight in PMDG (Active Runway Liverpool (EGGP).

It lit up like a christmas tree, however, it didn't work. I spent the next 4 hours decyphering the SIOC.ini and SIOC.txt files and eventually got it to work. I have documented the key assignments in the SIOC.ini file and they are now available for you to use here . I still have a few issues with the LEDs, but once I have them figured out, I will publish them on the MCP page.