FMC Connection

Hello:p

Ok in the next few weeks I am going to embark on a huge task, and thats to design the PCB for the FMC.

I will be using PM for my setup and currently going through the manual and a few other web sites to gain as much knowlage as I can, As far as my understanding is that PM's FMC will just accept standard keyboard inputs on either PS2 or USB?

What I dont understand is how do you get the outputs for the annunciator lights (FMC, DISP, MSG and OFST)

I am using FDT interface cards, do you have to connect those annunciator's direct to the interface card or is there a better way?

And with the key commands, are they hard coded into PM or can they be configured?

As for the keyboard interface I like the sound of the Hangstrom KEIC-USB Keyboard encoder http://www.hagstromelectronics.com/c...talogPages.pdf

Has any one here tried using these before with any luck.

Keep in mind I need 5 FMC's for my two bad boys:twisted:

Sorry if it sounds a little "thick" but i have only just started with this.

Cheers:D

Phil,
Sorry I can't help but I'd just like to say that I'm totally impressed that you are still going for the 2 big Boeings & 5 FMC's:razz:

Looks like your place will be on the visiting rota!
Cheers
Mike

Does that mean there is now some yorkshire/lancashire rivalry going on?
should hopefully gee us all up to get on with things....!
steve

ps any news on the concorde trip / dates etc mike?:p

Have you seen Marius PCB? for boeing type.

http://www.stormloader.com/users/marius/cdu.htm

Cheers Damien

Cheers,

Yes I have and thought about it a few times, but it wont fit my application. I will be using 100% surface mount and the pads are the wrong footprint and there are no fiducial marks to reference from so i cant run it on my machine.

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Originally Posted by phil744

Hello:p

Ok in the next few weeks I am going to embark on a huge task, and thats to design the PCB for the FMC.

I will be using PM for my setup and currently going through the manual and a few other web sites to gain as much knowlage as I can, As far as my understanding is that PM's FMC will just accept standard keyboard inputs on either PS2 or USB?

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This is 100% correct, the keystrokes are defined, but basically operate as a standard USB/PS2 Keyboard. In essence, you could connect each key to a hacked keyboard and you would be set. Make sure you use apposed facing diodes on the key combinations that share the CTRL Key.

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What I dont understand is how do you get the outputs for the annunciator lights (FMC, DISP, MSG and OFST)

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Use a couple LED's for each and connect them to your output card. these led's would be controlled by offsets. The only one I have working is the EXEC light and MSG lights.

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I am using FDT interface cards, do you have to connect those annunciator's direct to the interface card or is there a better way?

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I would use a phidgets LED64 is your run PMSYSTems, very easy to program

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And with the key commands, are they hard coded into PM or can they be configured?

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Hard coded in PM, you cannot change them, but why would you want to. Works really slick as it is. :)

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As for the keyboard interface I like the sound of the Hangstrom KEIC-USB Keyboard encoder http://www.hagstromelectronics.com/c...talogPages.pdf

Has any one here tried using these before with any luck.

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I use a KE72 for my FMC and I Love it. Works 100% I woud recommend one of the new Hagstrum cards over the Hacked keyboard. Worth every penny.

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Keep in mind I need 5 FMC's for my two bad boys:twisted:

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OMG Your nutts LMAO

Trev

I second Trevor's thoughts on both the Phidgets LED64 and the Hagstrom KE72 hardware.

Been using various Phidgets (and the freeware FS2Phidget) and two Hagstrom cards for quite a while.... all are great.

The Hagstrom cards are VERY stable pieces of equipment. Easy to set up, VERY flexible, and once set up nary a glitch.....EVER.

best,

.................john

He Trevor.. You are not using the KE72.... I think it is the LP24 lots less money and works great for the CDU. This card is also available in a USB version now.

LOL Your right Bob.. Sorry hadn't had my coffee yet. But yes, a great piece of Kit.

Hi Trevor,

Cheers for that, it gives me more confidence, the problem I have is that I cant write code or do any form of programming at all because i'm useless:mad:

Thus the reason im going the sim board route(FDT), plug and play, perfect for an idiot like me! personally i would rather use the opencockpits stuff, i have bought all the things i need, but for the life of me cant get a single thing to work from opencockpits, and its not because their faulty, it's me who is faulty;)

Ok cool, i will get hold of the keyboard listing from PM then map out the CDU to fit.

Cheers for your help:D