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Arduino controller - Building a GPS

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OldAirmail
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Re: Arduino controller - Building a GPS

Post by OldAirmail » 20 Nov 2016, 02:19

I've finished the printed cover with all the button names. It's on a heavy textured card stock that had to be forced through the laser printers envelope feed. It looks good.

Before I solder everything together, I'm thinking of using the top, flat, ledge of the project box for something else. As I like the older general aviation aircraft, one idea is to build in the Outer Middle Inner marker lights.
Image Image

Perhaps a few more switches/buttons too.


Now that I've ordered the DSD Flight Series - FLT1 I'll probably paint the GPS base a high gloss black. The red buttons for the GPS were bought with the possibility that I might actually buy the FTL1.

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1 Saitek Switch Panel, 1 Radio Panel, 1 Multi Panel, 1 BIP, 1 FIP,
1 Saitek Rudder Pedal,
1 Saitek Throttle, 1 Saitek TPM, 1 Desktop Aviator GPS, 1 CH Yoke


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thedazman
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Re: Arduino controller - Building a GPS

Post by thedazman » 30 Jan 2017, 15:59

OldAirmail wrote:I've delayed a bit too much, so I'll make this short.

If you build a GPS, you want it to look great, don't you?


This is not a new programs, but very few people seem to know about it.
Enhanced Garmin 500W GPS Unit (500WX)

Short version - aside from many improvements over the "standard" FSX/P3d GPS, it has a borderless mode that can be detached to another monitor!

Enjoy. :D
Awesome, thanks for the link. I've just got a 7" hdmi monitor and this is PERFECT !!

Thanks for the info.

Daz
"theDAZman" aka "theGFXguy"
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OldAirmail
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Re: Arduino controller - Building a GPS

Post by OldAirmail » 01 Feb 2017, 03:21

Are you going the complete, self contained, route?

Got the buttons, rotary encoder?

My backlit On/Off switch for the monitor isn't necessary, but I think that it looks great.

It's a 12 volt switch for cars, but it lights up well enough with 5 volts.
1 Saitek Switch Panel, 1 Radio Panel, 1 Multi Panel, 1 BIP, 1 FIP,
1 Saitek Rudder Pedal,
1 Saitek Throttle, 1 Saitek TPM, 1 Desktop Aviator GPS, 1 CH Yoke


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thedazman
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Re: Arduino controller - Building a GPS

Post by thedazman » 18 Mar 2017, 22:00

Leo board, duel rotary encoder, led back lit buttons.

Nearly finished...
IMG_0367.JPG
IMG_0364.JPG
Daz
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Re: Arduino controller - Building a GPS

Post by thedazman » 18 Mar 2017, 22:02

I've also modified the full screen version of the gps. So it displays the encoder menu pages at the top of the screen and moved some of the incorrectly possitioned on screen data

Daz
"theDAZman" aka "theGFXguy"
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OldAirmail
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Re: Arduino controller - Building a GPS

Post by OldAirmail » 18 Mar 2017, 22:59

THANK YOU, DAZ! You've made my day. :D

It's great to see someone else making their own Instruments. And considering how much a it cost if you buy one, a GPS is a great place to start.

Also, you've done a great job with the bevel around the monitor screen. I was afraid to even try that.



For those thinking of doing the same

My first attempt at controlling the on-screen GPS was a numeric keypad.
Image

Next came a 9 inch touch screen. That wasn't very satisfactory, so I used the original SPAD for the dual concentric knob. That worked much better.

(Clicking image will send you to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVFRKou7R_U)
Image

But I can't stress how much better it is, if you can actually push the buttons and use the dual encoder. It really does make the world of difference.



Remember, this is really 2 DIFFERENT parts;
1) A small monitor, and
2) ANYTHING that can send button signals that the flight sim will recognize.


Case in point

Before I learned about Arduinos, I took an old game controller.
Image

And stripped it down. Soldered a few wires to the old button contact points
Image

And added extra buttons to my CH Products yoke (along with some other minor mods)
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With working LEDs on the switches :D
Image


In short, with a little creativity and a few hints, it's not all that hard to make your sim more fun.
1 Saitek Switch Panel, 1 Radio Panel, 1 Multi Panel, 1 BIP, 1 FIP,
1 Saitek Rudder Pedal,
1 Saitek Throttle, 1 Saitek TPM, 1 Desktop Aviator GPS, 1 CH Yoke


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thedazman
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Re: Arduino controller - Building a GPS

Post by thedazman » 07 Apr 2017, 21:21

I've also used game controllers, bought a cheap joypad off eBay and bingo a 10 button controller !!

MY GPS is finished now, just got to print off the backlit labels properly I probably spent £40 on it myself but a breakdown on costs.

£50 Monitor birthday pressie £0
£29 Leo Board, free after previous order correction, thank you Leo £0
£0 old scrap MDF used for top and bottom
£5 wood for outer frame
£12 for 12v LED backlit switches
£20 duel rotary encoder
£5 HDMI cable
£5 2" fan

So approx £120 in parts, then there is the 3 months to build :-) but the satisfaction of having built from scratch by hand including case - PRICELESS

Daz
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Re: Arduino controller - Building a GPS

Post by thedazman » 07 Apr 2017, 21:27

Finished and In place....
IMG_0399.JPG
Left arm console is the £5 eBay joypad

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OldAirmail
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Re: Arduino controller - Building a GPS

Post by OldAirmail » 10 Apr 2017, 06:25

I'm afraid that there is only onw word for that - IMPRESSIVE! :o :D
1 Saitek Switch Panel, 1 Radio Panel, 1 Multi Panel, 1 BIP, 1 FIP,
1 Saitek Rudder Pedal,
1 Saitek Throttle, 1 Saitek TPM, 1 Desktop Aviator GPS, 1 CH Yoke


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TMorel
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Re: Arduino controller - Building a GPS

Post by TMorel » 28 Apr 2017, 18:50

Awesome looking setup Daz.

I've been awol for a few months and so have been lax at finishing off my GPS. Time to buck my ideas up.
Did you say that you'd modified Kronzky's GPS ? Has that version available somewhere or is it soopersecret Daz magic ?
Saitek add-ons: Cessna Yoke & Rudder, 2 Throttle Quadrants, 1 TPM, 1 Multi Panel, 1 Switch Panel, 2 Radio Panel, 1 BIP, 9 FIP's
DIY add-ons: Parking Brake. Work-In-Progress: Throttle Quadrant

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