Saitek yoke question

[Aerosim Solutions]

Hi guys, here are a couple of pics of my C172 shell that will become my "low'n'slow" sim! I was very fortunate this week to score a decent second hand 2004 model windscreen that still fits my 1964 shell. There is a small crack in the screen up near the wing root but it won't affect vision in the sim.

My yoke question - I have two used Saitek pro yokes, the type with the digital clocks in the middle. I intend to strip the yokes just to use the handles and the shafts. I want to interface them with a Bodnar card and not the Saitek USB lead. I know how to connect the Saitek buttons and switches to the BU0836X but would it be possible to still have the digital clocks operable?? If so does anyone know how?

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Cheers Gwyn

[Mark Hurst]

Two comments. First, as far as I recall the Saitek LCD clocks run independently of any drivers and hence I presume are self-contained. Can you not simply leave the USB connected for power to the clocks, even though you cut the connections to the buttons and wire them independently? I have sort of done this with the Saitek trim wheel, taking wires from the rotary encoder but leaving everything else intact. I can therefore get analog or digital outputs from the wheel.

My second comment is that I would not rely on the Saitek yoke clocks as they are well-known for giving up the ghost. I have had two Saitek yokes, one of which soon succumbed to the 'flickering LCD' problem and lived out the rest of its life under a piece of sticky tape. I would look for some cheap LCD timers such as the ones you can get for the car of for timing your boiled eggs!

[KyleH]

The Saitek clock do require a driver install for displaying the time. The timer function does work without the drivers.
I think the clock is LCD driven, not 7segment display so I don't think any interface card will drive them. I've also had the flickering LCD backlight problem.
You may be better taking the LCD and electronics out, and putting in your own clock behind the window.

[Aerosim Solutions]

Thanks Kyle, I like your idea of fitting a different clock, simpler is always better. I might just engrave a Cessna badge to cover up the Saitek clocks and fit a stopwatch to the MIP instead. Thanks for the advice mate!

[iwik]

Gwyn,
I have a real padded C172 yoke(no shaft) if you want it.
Just cover the cost postage would be ok.
Les

[Aerosim Solutions]

Thanks for the offer Les but I have a matching pair of these Saiteks that will be fine.

Cheers Gwyn