Standalone GNS 530 with RXP 530

[Buddym]

Is the USB method you use your own design?

BuddyM

[fsaviator]

Is the USB method you use your own design?

BuddyM

No, I'm using USB cards from Desktop Aviator. Real simple to install and they don't require proprietary software

[fsaviator]

And now..... (drum roll)....

It's really finished

I played around with different labeling options for the faceplate, to include rub-on transfers, but nothing looked as good as my trusty labeler.

The whole GPS is mounted into the avionics stack, which luckily I built removable from the beginning. Made it easy to pop it in. I ordered the faceplate to fill the hole completely. In fact, if you look at the upper part of the faceplate, you can see that it looks like a small panel hole cover, but it's actually part of the faceplate.

The only thing I didn't think through was how to mount the faceplate. I ended up JB welding a couple of brackets to it and mounting it directly to the GNS530. It's now one self contained unit. In fact, you can see the tape in a couple of photos that I used to hold it in place while the JB weld cured.

Anyway, tested it out on Vatsim last night and offline today. Shot all sorts of GPS and ILS approaches into Denver and Pueblo, and flew all over. Every feature works just like the GNS530 in my RW plane.

This thing is a dream to use. What a difference having knobs and buttons to twist and push than a keyboard. In fact... I don't use a keyboard at all now. There are only six keyboard commands I need (Reset DG, Altimeter Set, TrackIR on, TrackIR center, PDF Kneeboard, and FSNav). If you look at the pictures that show the fuse panel, you'll see that I put six buttons in the fuse panel for those commands just in case I need them. I fly online most of the time, with charts, so I really don't use the commands, but they are nice to have.

In one of the pics you can see my very old laptop that I use to run FSInn for Vatsim Comms, and in another you can see the head of a microphone that I use when I'm tired of wearing a headset.

So... 'nuff said, here's the pics:

[gokhotit]

That is BAD@$$. Anything IS truly possible.

[Buddym]

Fantastic job! Mine is almost identical, I hope it looks and works as well as yours!


BuddyM

[fweinrebe]

I played around with different labeling options for the faceplate, to include rub-on transfers, but nothing looked as good as my trusty labeler.

Which labeler did you use for the labels?

Nice photos of your sim !!

[fsaviator]

It's a Brother P-Touch PT-2100 Labeler.

I use white text on clear 1/2 labels.

Thanks for the kind words. It's been a long road, mostly because I'm gone from home so much, and partly because I actually took the time to research the GPS. The Simpit's been complete for about a year and a half.... the rest of the time I just gathered parts and researched for the GPS.

[fsaviator]

Well, I'm off again for about six months. Didn't get a chance to shoot video

So... that about wraps it up. $580 for the parts, and about $100 by the time it was all said and done on parts that didn't get used, were bought to see if they would work, and were bought and didn't work. No regrets, I learned a lot on this project.

What would I do better? I would spend a little more time thinking the PCB through. This one turned out great for a first try, but if I was to do it again, I would make better use of the capabilities the PCB brings to the table. I would also add a seperate power brick (which I have, but didn't use) and actually build the USB hub into it. that way, there would only be one USB cable, a power cable, and the monitor cable coming out of the back. Maybe the next project.... Garmin 1000??? How about it RXP?

Thanks to all for following along and commenting! I'll be monitoring if you have any questions.

Warren