What have you done for your simulator today?

[Joe Lavery]

Yes exceptional work there Bernard.
As a matter of interest did your aircraft come with engines and if so are you going to overhaul them as well?

Joe

[bernard S]

as a flippant answer ..do ya really think I would have an airframe without engines ? 

Constance demands that she be fully dressed before going to the ball ;-)

[RayS]

Been working on a side project to get a recently-acquired Garmin GMX-200 MFD to work with 2020.

I've already got an MX-20 working with XP-11, so the -200 will be a nice side-by-side install.

However, writing controller code to talk to 2020 isn't a walk in the park. I may never go to 2020, instead soldiering on with XP-12. It's good to have options.

Trying to get an Arduino to work with 2020 is like writing good ol' fashioned spaghetti code.

[Joe Lavery]

Ray, have you ever looked at MobiFlight? I realise it's another level of coding but it's so easy to get stuff working in 2020 combined with Arduino's.

Just a thought!!

Joe.

[RayS]

I looked at Mobiflight and I think it's a great solution, but not a good fit for my pit. For simple discrete I/O functionality it's easy and quick. If you need to go beyond steppers, then the utility of it falls sharply.

A few things held me back from using MF:
1. It's middleware (I try to not use it when I can get away with it)

2. The Stepper library isn't very robust, especially initial startup/calibration. The developer suggested I install a mechanical switch in each gauge to get zero-position. That's not feasible for most of my gauges when I can simply drive them stop-to-stop and calibrate that way.

The Garmin MX200 project is a smashing success. At about 11pm last night I fired it up after finishing the last wiring bits & coding... it tracks X-Plane perfectly.

Installation begins tonight.
 

[Joe Lavery]

I'm not surprised Ray, if you are competent at coding MF is not really an option. But I tried to get to grips with Arduino coding a few years ago and failed miserably. Naturally I could light an LED and detect a switch but that was the limit of my successes. 
I agree the stepper control needs work, particularly as he doesn't support the small motors fitted to most vehicle gauges. Yet he does all the MF stuff for free, so it wouldn't be polite to complain. 

Great to here you got it all up and running in the end.
Joe

[RayS]

So, this was a lot of work... More than I expected. You'll remember back in June, my awesome Avidyne EX5000 MFD died. Avidyne wanted about $8K to repair it.

Nope.

I went through several center MIP iterations after that (None of which I was really happy with) before finally getting another Garmin GMX200 MFD. This was a huge score off eBay.

A few days of working on the controller code and now I have side-by-side GMX units working.

Ironically, the difficult part was wedging these things in between the Avidyne PFD units. I had literally 1/8th of an inch to spare.



 

[sagrada737]

Hi Ray,

Congratulations on your project status!  This is truly a technical work of art.  Not too many folks can pull together the electro-mechanical and software elements to make such a fine cockpit.  Nice work!

Mike

[jackpilot]

Superb..luv-it

[FredK]

Looks terrific Ray!

Fred K

[bernard S]

working this

[bernard S]

picture

[crazydunc]

With WorldFlight around the corner again it's been a busy month or so to get ready.

Completely revamped Audio system:

• 1 x 5.1 System for Cockpit.
• 1 x 2.1 System for Engine and Aircraft Sounds
• ButtKickers in each of the crew seats.

• MIP and Glareshield Lighting Updates
• Tiller Recondition
• FDS ACP Wired in to Control vPilot Audio other Ethernet.
• Visuals System replaced with a 4.5m 220 Degree Screen and 3 x BenQ TK700STi 4K Projectors.
• Pax Seating added to the rear of the sim with headsets for WF.

The upgrade from 3 x 1080p Optoma projectors to 4 x 4K BenQ has blown my mind. When coupled with the added FOV, from 180 to 220, it has changed the sim so much!

I will try and get some pictures with my Nikon tomorrow, it should do it more justice than the iPhone pics below.

[jackpilot]

Superb, frame rate OK with the 3 X 4K ?

[Jason L]

Yeah wow!  What are you using to drive those 3 projectors?

[crazydunc]

Currently running an i7-9700K at 5.0GHz and a 2080Ti.

I was concerned that FPS would tank with the 3 x 4K, I did have to lower some settings and balance things out again vs 3 x 1080P. However, I'm holding 30FPS whilst scooting up the Hudson for the Visual into LGA. 

In the long run, I am looking at a 13th Gen Intel CPU with a 4090, but for the time being, I'm super happy with how it's all running.

[RayS]

Not much regarding what I've done lately, but a pic to show *where* it all happens.

Somehow I was able to talk the wife into letting me convert our 2 car garage into a man cave.

[FredK]

Ray...

And just where is your sim located in the scheme of things?

Might be pushing things a little too far with your fine lady on multiple fronts.

Nice look though!

Fred K

[blueskydriver]

Hey Ray,

I've been watching your pic and video updates. YT is recommending them, so you're making the algorithm perk up....

Keep'em coming 

John

[RayS]

That's interesting... I was thinking of switching streaming platforms from Twitch to Youtube... Might have to get serious about that...

Fred,
The sim in that photo is barely visible just off the right hand side. My better half was actually excited to get me into the garage and out of her newly remodeled Yoga room. ;-)

[FredK]

Ray

I get it now.... you fooled me with that fine wood finish luxury aircraft look!  I thought that was a piece of fine furniture or something.

Fred K

[blueskydriver]

Hey Ray,

This is the one that got recommended:

https://youtu.be/_vxrpVZEsv8

Otherwise, yes you should do live streams from YT like you did 6 years ago. However, I think what would sell it is putting your personality out there, that and catchy titles....

John

[crazydunc]

Excuse the quality as its just a quick iPhone snap. But I finally got my Custom Sim Parts Wet Compass installed. First foray into MobiFlight as well. Useful bit of kit!

(also a WorldFlight Photo, because we had another West Atlantic 737 parked next door!)

[bernard S]

just more stuff :-)

[FredK]

Bernard...Impressive for sure, but is this a sim project or an aircraft refurbishment project? Serious question.

If a sim project...very difficult to envision where all this is leading to.

Fred K