Radio and Xponder Managment

[coolmanak]

Hello guys. As I'm trying to build an Airbus A320 home cockpit on somewhat of a budget, I'm deciding to give up a tiny bit of realism instead of giving up a tiny bit of functionality. To me, having things that work is more important than having things that make you say 'Wow! That looks just like the real thing!'.

So one way I'm trying to save money is to merge the Xponder control and Radio control together.

I had originally considered (and am still considering) buying this: http://www.opencockpits.com/catalog/multiradio-p-40.html?cPath=22, however if for a lower cost I could build one on my own with the same level of functionality, I'd go with building one myself.

So do you think I could build something like this for less than 111 Euros? Or should I just go ahead and buy it?

[Michael Carter]

I'd buy one in a second if it would fit in a standard Boeing rack. I'd use it for the ADF.

Save yourself another €20. and buy the kit.

OC is OK

[vidarf]

It doesn't fit a boeing rack (too wide), but with a bit of tweaking and wires, you should be able to mount the digits and the encoders in a normal radio panel.

I doubt you can build a similar unit for less than the kit costs - and why re-invent the wheel? The OC radio module works beautifully!

I've thought of the possibility of utilizing the OC radio module for my radios - I currently own some radio panels from Simparts.de, and thought I could combine the two. Future will tell! :)

[Geremy Britton]

Same as mike realy, if only it fitted into the standard boeing size pedestal i'd be first in the queue. And great value. But because of the width it puts it in the same league as the goflight stuff, the panels are just too wide :(

That's where we have to come up with some ideas on modification.

[vidarf]

Shouldn't be too hard. The only obstacle is to connect the LED digits. That can be done with wires, and the rotaries can be exchanged with one dual concentric rotary. The transfer button (from standby to active frequency) is very simple.
If the radio panel has integrated backlighting, this shouldn't be a big hassle to do.

The selector on the right side, the one selecting which radio / transponder to use, is not needed if one radio module controls one separate radio.