Help a noob please?

[DanTheSasquatch]

Hi guys, I'm definetly a noob when it comes to the interfacing ad computer coding side of things so I wanted to ask for a few suggestions for good resources about different I/O cards and software. I just want to make a radio tuning module and a gear lever and a few switches for the lights. I think Im starting to get a grasp on things but any links to some good info would be much apreciated. Thanks!

[jmig]

Do a search of the posts here. There is a lot of info on this site. Also, check out http://www.mikesflightdeck.com/

Mike Powell has tons of info on that site. You might want to purchase one of his books, too. Building Recreational Flight Simulators should be on every sim builders' bookshelf.

[DanTheSasquatch]

Thanks, I'll definitely look into that. Though I did go on the open cockpit website because I had heard about that on this site, and that looks like it would be good for my purposes (at least what I read about it so far)

[jmig]

Dan, Opencockpits and SOIC are excellent products and can do amazing things with flight sims. However, they are often daunting to someone new, especially a non programmer type of individual.

I always suggest to new people to keep it simple at first. Don't bite off more than you can chew. I make it a rule to fly my cockpit as much or more as I work on it. I finish a project and then fly with that part working until I start on the next item.

If you only want a radio and gear lever there are several options. Go-Flight makes plug and play modules. Now, while the some will read that last sentence and start gagging or screaming, these models are simple and they work. Opencockpits and I think Flightdeck also make plug and play radios for the Boeing and airbus series. Go-flight also a landing gear/flaps module to go with there radios and autopilot. Not sure about the other two companies.

These plug and play modules will get you up and running. You will instantly enjoy the sim more and will find yourself thinking of how you can make it better.

Then you can research and develop your dream sim while still flying with your store bought modules.

[DanTheSasquatch]

I'll look into those, and if I can afford them I might buy them. Money has been very tight around my house lately though. I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

[autocadplease]

I'll look into those, and if I can afford them I might buy them. Money has been very tight around my house lately though.

If you are handy and money is an issue, you can buy a cheap USB game controller ($10) and modify it. You would just need to run wires from your switches / levers to the contacts on the game controller. Then just assign functions to the buttons or axis like normal. And if you don't own a soldering iron, you can use wire glue as long as there isn't much pressure on the connections.

[DanTheSasquatch]

Also a good suggestion, I think that would work great! I could achieve the look and feel I want, but not have to worry about code and the card. I would want to make some more things later (radios with 7 segment LED displays and some trim tabs) put other than that it would provide me everything I want. Thanks for the great idea!

EDIT: I have decided that I will definitely use an old joystick, seeing as a friend of mine has a few laying around I could use. My only question is, could I replace the push button switches with some rocker(sp?) and regular switches without messing anything up in the sim? Thanks for any further advice!