06/07/2008 I had a brainwave (oh yes i did).  I'm looking to accurately control all the switches within the PMDG that I can.   There are several which posed a problem. The wipers, the pressurisation Auto/Man/Alt, Panel Lights etc. These only have an Increase or Decrease Position level of control.  And on top of that, they also have a distinct Position for each setting. So the easy way out was to use an encoder to give you directional control, but how do you know the switch is in the right place. In short you don't.   So i came up with this.  Why not 'emulate' a 2 bit gray encoder using a Rotary switch.  Gives you both directional control and a distinct 'Click Position'.   Hooked up to the BU0836 card which FSUIPC sees as a joystick button allows you to apply the PMDG macro's which Pete Supplies with v3.81.
I've just got back in from the workshop with great news. It works a dream :o))
Click on the image on the left for How I did it... reckon I earned a beer !

03/07/2008 Top marks today go to Nihad at Simknobs.  Just delivered me the Rudder Trim and the X-Feed Knobs. Beautiful.

Also one of my pet hates was not being able to set the Speed Refs Manually-Problem sorted with FSUIPC 'mousetrapping'.   Encoders send the pulse in thru the BU0836, FSUIPC sees the stick button and then allows me to assign my 'trapped' option. I'm also retrofitting the EFIS inputs as well because it frees up keystrokes.  I prefer FSUIPC to do the work on it's own.   Click on the Image for a copy of my 737 MIP.mcro file which contains the SPD REF and EFIS functions all mapped out for you. Goes in your FS/Modules folder with FSUIPC (you need a registered version 3.81 or higher for FS2004). Next time you run FS, the SPD REF and EFIS functions will be available to you in the FSUIPC BUTTONS or KEYSTROKE dropdown menu's as 737 MIP: followed by the option. See also the item May 25th below and the MIP  Page

01/07/2008  Busy week really. Put in a second Wideview computer to give me the left and right views in addition to the left/forward and right/forward. Certainly adds to the effect. Also lot of people asking me about the 6 packs.  I'm writing it up and will upload the information when it's all done, but here's the circuit diagram to whet your appetite.
And thanks to the 'Geordie' Flight Crew:  Ray Ewart, Sean Nixon and Jason Carling who travelled all the way from Newcastle to visit.  A great bunch of guys who were fun, inquisitive and didn't break anything.

17/06/2008  Thanks lads, all items sold except the David Clark headset.  Ok over the last week or so i've got hold of the Tiller Indicator plates (for both sides) from Marcus at LAUSITZ AVIATION and managed to acquire these lightplates from Phil744. I've had to build these into the sidewall because i haven't got round to building the side shelf and oxy mask holders yet.  NICE and they backlight too :o))

Work on the new Overhead Circuitry continues. I'm almost there.  Click on the image (left) for a .pdf copy of the latest update.  But the good news this week is i've realised how I can drive the 6 pack LED's based on the behaviour of the overhead annunciators.   Some of the sources are contained in the latest update to the circuit diagram.  Control of the overhead is now 100% accurate because of the new FSUIPC, it just remains to get the lighting right and then transfer that action to the 6 packs.
I am working on the final wiring diagram and also on an explanation of the 6 pack wiring which will hopefully brighten up the experience, so to speak.
Here's some shots of the stripboard i used with the switching diodes and the six pack clusters.     Everything is working on the workbench so it's just a matter of fitting it on the next upgrade in July.      Finally Gert at Flyware has allowed us to switch panels in the new v5.6 version of FSXpand with a keystroke. So, i've attached a USBKeys card to the client machine and made some rotary switches to send the keys which i will also fit in the DU plates on the MIP.

28/05/08  SYMULATORY Overhead has been sold to Norway, my thanks to Bobbo Kristoffersen for his lightning fast payment. It's being shipped next week.
New Overhead Page is uploaded to reflect the recent changes that Peter DOWSON has given us in FSUIPC and of course i've fitted the SimMotion Overhead Panel in the Sim. Lots of new information and Photo's. And i'm forever being asked exactly what switches to use so there's a SWITCHMAP .pdf file to help you out.

23/05/08 I'm working on the new Overhead Page (everything takes time and it's my hobby not my job) and have completed the new wiring diagram.  This is a much simpler and realistic method of distributing the power and getting the annunciators to behave correctly.   click on the image (right) to download the  .PDF file of the new circuit.    Any comments, suggestions and corrections eagerly invited 

21/05/08 After Pete Dowson's revolutionary discovery of 'Mousetrapping' and the advent of FSUIPC v3.81.   I've got round to fitting the new SimMotion overhead panel.   I have also discovered a much simpler (and realistic) way of distributing power to the overhead systems.   I am in the process of documenting it in a .pdf file (but it all takes time which one of the most expensive commodities in our house).   And just to whet your appetite here's my latest visitor, James HUNT, on the Gate at Alicante being the first visitor to fly the new overhead.

18/05/08 I've been a busy lad.  Although i was away a week, since the last item, I have now removed the Symulatory Overhead Panel and Installed the New one from SimMotion.  I cant tell you how happy i am with the quality and realism of this overhead panel.   Using Pete's Macros in FSUIPC v3.81, i now have complete control over the overhead switching without actually having to open it.   
Now the added bonus is that Pete allows you to create your own macros into the bargain based on your action with the mouse.  It allows you to 'trap' right clicks as well (i noticed an extension on the mouse code here).  So the first one i made was a right click on the Hot Spot for Increasing the Mins on the EFIS.  Now the Mins are increased in stages of 10 feet instead of the 1 foot i had previously (i had issues with K2M on this item and left it as it was).   So the encoder is connected to the BU0836 board which FSUIPC sees as a Joystick Button press and the macro rightclicks on the + side for increase or the - side for decrease. Result 10 foot increments/decrements :o) 

02/05/08 Peter Dowson does it again :o). GET THE NEW VERSION OF FSUIPC (v3.81for FS9.1).  Peter has now included a new function called 'mousetrapping' which unlike K2M does not emulate a mouse click.  What it does is read your mouse action on a switch or gauge and replicates that in code.  It then follows that you do not need the window open for the mouse action to be implemented.  This is great news for controlling the PMDG Overhead (and some other things like TCAS Test and Set, Setting Minimums in stages of 10ft instead of 1 ft etc.).       In the zip is a file called 737 OHD.mcro.   This file contains all the macro's for the PMDG737 overhead.          So off to the lab i go and inside two hours, the whole overhead is being controlled without opening it.   I have removed my Key2Mouse.dll file completely.   More soon on the overhead page. I'm away next week so i'll be sat in an hotel room with time on my hands and i'll try to get as much upto date as i can.

01/05/08 See the item below regarding the control of the fuel valves.  Well if you have an CPFlight MCPEX1 board, it is possible to light the Engine and Spar Valve Annunciators (as a digital output which reads the value of parameters 3590 and 3594) based on the Position of the Levers. Thanks to Paolo at CPFlight for putting me right on this one. I'm re-writing the MCPEX page and when i get back onto it i'll include a piece on how to do it.

22/04/08 Now here's something for you. i discovered a while ago that the PMDG 737 Idle Cutoff Levers respond to the Fuel Valve command in FS9 and not the mixture commands as do most add ons.      FSUIPC only gives us the 'Toggle' Option in it's menu, which means that synchronisation is never going to be 100% (how many times have you forgot to set a switch before starting up?)    ah! , but i've discovered that you can manipulate the offset in FSUIPC to give an accurate on/off state on the levers.    see the TQ page for details

14/04/08 Well I haven't been hanging around. Last month i spent a couple of days putting the floor in.   I've only been meaning to do it for a year :o).  So much better, now all I've got to do is work out the seat rails. 
I bought a CPFlight Transponder (because Flight Illusion don't make one for the BOEING) and ADF which have been fitted into the pedestal.  Both working well.  The CPFlight ADF has been assigned as ADF 1 because i like the way it 'Tunes' and it also operates the Ident Function where the Flight Illusion ADF doesn't. So that is now ADF 2.

But my best news this week is that i have got the second steering tiller in and it's working. My thanks to everybody who assisted with info on it's operation especially Marcus Menzel, Gwyn Perrett and Chris Danker.

08/04/08 Mike Latham was waiting for the updated YOKE document, so i actually got round to doing it.  Also, since i fitted a second steering tiller, i 've had a 'few' emails telling me only the captain steers the 737 on the ground - WRONG.  My thanks to Marcus Menzel from Lausitz Aviation for these photo's and also to Gwyn Perrett for backing me up on this one.  Bjorn Harlin is going to be very upset that the F/O can steer a $65M Aircraft on the ground :o)

31/03/08 There's a problem with the 737NG!    There is only one Steering Tiller :o)    Now i like to fly from the right seat as much as i like to fly from the left seat, so that means i have to take it to the runway in the left hand side and then change sides when we are in position. NOT GOOD (and inconvenient).   So i decided to ask Dieter Jakob at Routech for a second Steering Tiller for the right side of the cockpit.   I know i covered this already, but the second Tiller arrived today and i'm stunned with the quality of the product.   The first one was good, but Dieter  has improved it to the point that it looks just like the real thing, even down to the white pointer :o)  AND it feels the part as well.

Price today was 59 euro's plus shipping.   I can only say he has a superb mould or he is putting 10 coats of paint on it to get it this flat. The finish is like a sheet of glass - EXCELLENT PRODUCT, I'm impressed !

25/03/08 Leo Bodnar does it again :o) Here's the new BU0836X.  No more soldering or making matrix boards. Just a simple 'Push Fit' system with each input clearly marked.   Great stuff.
Apart from the usual BU0836 functions - 8 analog inputs, 32 joystick buttons and POV, this card is now encoder ready.

I have used the BU0836 card with the Opencockpits (2 bit) CT288 encoder to make an EFIS UNIT for the test rig, but Leo tells me that the BU0836 range can now handle several types of encoder.   So we can use rotary encoders and translate their action into Joystick Button Presses (either single or repeated) based on a rotary control.   LEO advises that the final price of the BU0836X will be around the £45 mark.  Contact LEO HERE

26/02/08 Test Rig EFIS running (see item below).  All I need now is to order a nice Faceplate to finish it off.   The connection diagram has been updated and the 'How To' document uploaded. Click on the images below.
FSXpand v5.5 now released in Beta - Get it HERE

24/02/08 Spent a few days putting the new floor in so i could bolt down the F/O Yoke and that used up a lot of my spare time.  But the best bit over the last week is that Leo Bodnar has sent me a BU0836 Joystick Controller which can support directional 2 bit encoder inputs and output them as joystick button presses. So i've connected up some CTS288 encoders from Opencockpits to it and they work a treat.   Leo tells me this is not an official feature yet as it's still in the test phase, but when i tell you there's nothing to change, believe me, it works flawlessly.  So much so that I have been building an EFIS unit for the test rig and it works a treat.  Documentation to follow, it's nearly finished.

If you have purchased a BU0836 from Leo since 1st December, he tells me the encoder firmware is already on the chip. All you need to do is run the Configuration utility to tell the card which switch pairs you want to use for each encoder and it's all taken care of.  The remaining switch connections remain unaffected as do the Analogue Inputs.
I have only tested this with the CTS288 encoder and it's perfect.   Here's the data sheet in case you have an encoder of an equivalent type and here's a link to the configuration utility if you want to test it out.

10/02/08 Well i had a couple of hours to play today, so i went ahead and assembled the control wheel onto the yoke and here's the finished article, neat eh !  From the prototype, i got all the distances and then had a proper base made which mates up to the CH Rudder Pedals nicely.  All the internal parts have been 'refined' and Roberto Soriano's Control Wheel fitted.   I've connected it up, calibrated and been out flying with it this afternoon to find what needs to be 'tweeked'.   I've taken photo's of the new parts and updated the build document HERE.

09/02/08 As I said previously, i have finished the CiM Flightdecks Overhead, so i have turned my attention to the Rear Overhead Panel.  Have a look at this.....I'm really pleased with the effect.  It's all dummy, with the exception of the Dome Light Switch and the Gear Annunciators.   I've ordered some minature volume controls and knobs so i can finish the Audio Panel.   All i need to do then is make an Oxygen Gauge.    I've also made the holder plates to attach Roberto's Boeing Control Wheel to the Yoke Assembly and i hope to get that done next week.

30/01/08 Ok I know I didn't update for a couple of weeks, but you know how it is. First the OVERHEAD is finished, I'll post pictures on the Overhead Page later in the week. I've been busy making all the matrix boards so i can connect it up to the system.      Now we are also getting the finished Yoke ready.  The base has been finished and I found a guy, Roberto Soriano, in El Salvador making Boeing 737 Control Wheels (my thanks to Gwyn Perrett here).   Take a look at this for US$120 (plus $35 for the switches fitted).  just 4 days to despatch and a week to get here - awesome.
The chart plate is of course an extra from Engravity.    e-mail Roberto here or see this item.    Boeing 737 Checklist also added for download.
Madame bought me the CPFlight Transponder as a Christmas Gift and that has also been fitted in the pedestal.  Also added a new connection diagram explaining the use of diodes for the Opencockpits USBKeys card.

05/01/08 Happy New Year Chums :o)     I managed to get hold of a Pair of 737 Pilots Seats before Christmas. I am eternally grateful to Andy McCall for selling them to me even if I did have to borrow the money off the Bride :o)   They are in absolutely amazing condition and i've spent a bit of time re-doing the velcro on them and putting them on castors so we can run them back and forth to give us room to get in and out. When I put the floor in i will put proper rails down. Bjorn Harlin was insanely jealous and reminded me of how many fat arses had farted on them and i would need to have them sterilised. Sorry Bjorn, they are immaculate and don't smell at all  :o)

Also had the first visitors of the year John Boothman and Neil O'Toole from FEDEX at Manchester Airport.  Two really nice guys who were really interested in the workings and had a great time doing the approaches to Milan Malpensa 35R and Liverpool runway 27 - Thanks lads for your time and interest.

06/12/07 Ok the cold weather has arrived and it's time to call it a day for this year.  The cabin has heaters so at least i can build some hours over the winter.   This is where we are at right now

Plans for next year.... Install the new CiM Flightdecks Overhead, Put a floor in, Build the sidewall shelves, Yokes.

04/12/07 Bjorn Harlin has introduced me to SWEDFLIGHT Scenery Design.  Specialising in all Main and not so large Airports in Sweden.  So i went exploring Stockholm Arlanda, WOW......Check these out , i'm off to Gothenburg :o)