External Heading, Course etc display

[shearder]

Hi All

I have looked around, maybe I am missing it, and I can't seem to find what I can use to have an external display of Heading and Course etc. I would like to build a generic panel where i can control heading and course and AP functions. Now i have found interface boards with rotary encoder capabilities etc and building the panel won't be a hassle (much) BUT, how would I, for example, have the heading show on an external 3x7 segment display with heading rotary below i.e. 737 panel.

Thanks in advance.

[shearder]

Hi All

Me again...

I see no responses - can I safely say there is no "DIY" interface/hardware available that will output digital gauge (i.e. heading/course ala 737 etc) to an external panel with 7 segment LED display/s?

Thanks again.

[Mike.Powell]

There are a variety of DIY approaches. take a look at Open Cockpits (http://www.opencockpits.com/index.php?newlang=english), FSBus (http://www.fsbus.de/), PHCC (http://phcc.varxec.net/wiki/Introduction), Phidgets (http://www.phidgets.com/), etc.

Or you can simply throw something together yourself. Driving 7-seg LED displays isn't difficult. Neither is driving a small (2 line, 16 character) LCD character display. Small microcontrollers cost just a few dollars and are easy to program. Some models are easy to connect to a serial com port. Others are designed for USB, though coding against USB system drivers is more challenging that using the serial port.

For an example of microcontroller + LCD + rotary encoder + serial com port, go to the March 22 2007 entry here: http://www.mikesflightdeck.com/old_stuff_1.htm

[shearder]

There are a variety of DIY approaches. take a look at Open Cockpits (http://www.opencockpits.com/index.php?newlang=english), FSBus (http://www.fsbus.de/), PHCC (http://phcc.varxec.net/wiki/Introduction), Phidgets (http://www.phidgets.com/), etc.

Or you can simply throw something together yourself. Driving 7-seg LED displays isn't difficult. Neither is driving a small (2 line, 16 character) LCD character display. Small microcontrollers cost just a few dollars and are easy to program. Some models are easy to connect to a serial com port. Others are designed for USB, though coding against USB system drivers is more challenging that using the serial port.

For an example of microcontroller + LCD + rotary encoder + serial com port, go to the March 22 2007 entry here: http://www.mikesflightdeck.com/old_stuff_1.htm

Thanks a TON Mike for your assistance. I have seen so many electronic gadgets that I never know what will do the job - i.e. only input interface etc... I will have a look at these sites. I have seen phidgets but I never know, even though they have LCD readout stuff I don't know what, or how, i would link the onscreen display to the external "gauge". Thanks again.

[shearder]

Hi Mike

Me again. OK, I have looked through a lot of stuff over the course of the last 2 weeks. I can lay my hands on a PIC programmer that plugs into the PC, I don't have C++ though.

However, the reason for my post is this - at the risk of sounding absolutely stupid - I live in South Africa and our exchange rate is not the best! It is around R9 to the EUR and not too much better to the $ or Pound. Which means anything that costs i.e EUR100 is R900 to me. That can add up. SO the big deal is, doing this myself can be very cost effective OR VERY expensive if i buy stuff I can't really use to my advantage off the bat.

So the next question is, if, as per my original email, I want to build a 737 AP panel with heading and course 3 digit readings and usual APP, AP etc buttons what would you suggest be my first investment in terms of boards/kits i purchase. I would also want this to be ultimately generic for when i fly other aircraft.

Many thanks again. Sorry to be a pain and waste anyone's time.

Sean.

[Mike.Powell]

Hi Sean,

I haven't used all of those options so don't feel I could give you a good recommendation. At one time or another each has been the favorite of the hour of someone posting to a forum somewhere. I believe people at Viperpit.org have started using PHCC and might be able to provide current comments on its merits. Several people at MyCockpit have used the OpenCockpit gear and could comment on it. I don't recall any Phidgets or FSBus postings for some time. However, I think there are a couple of South African sim builders who post at MyCockpit who might offer advice on which approach is least expensive.

A free download of C++ is available from Microsoft. It's the "Express edition" here: http://www.microsoft.com/express/product/

Free documentation about PIC microcontrollers here: http://www.microchip.com/stellent/id...PAGE&nodeId=84

[shearder]

Hi Sean,

I haven't used all of those options so don't feel I could give you a good recommendation. At one time or another each has been the favorite of the hour of someone posting to a forum somewhere. I believe people at Viperpit.org have started using PHCC and might be able to provide current comments on its merits. Several people at MyCockpit have used the OpenCockpit gear and could comment on it. I don't recall any Phidgets or FSBus postings for some time. However, I think there are a couple of South African sim builders who post at MyCockpit who might offer advice on which approach is least expensive.

A free download of C++ is available from Microsoft. It's the "Express edition" here: http://www.microsoft.com/express/product/

Free documentation about PIC microcontrollers here: http://www.microchip.com/stellent/id...PAGE&nodeId=84

Thanks Mike. You have been a HUGE help. Much appreciated.