Advice wanted for building a small desk-based simpit
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Hi,
I’m looking for recommendations for a small display (or displays?) to sit behind the MFD Cougar. I’m currently using a 10" USB display but it belongs to my wife’s work-place.
It has taken far too long for me to build a small simpit for Falcon, but I’m finally able to do something in this area, and looking for recommendations for a hardware ICP.
I’m currently using RTTClient for MFD extraction (which works great), and I have tried MFDE, but this doesn’t like working on the USB display and frequently bugs out (the panels disappear from the second display the minute it is either restarted or refreshed).
I’m aware of Helios, but in my limited testing, didn’t work at all.
I have multiple installs of BMS, but want to build the simpit around the 4.37 version (and later).
Thanks in advance!
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@Tiger-0 I use MFDE gauges with 7" USB monitors. Works great. It also works for me in server/client mode on another PC with USB monitors. I also use RTT in server/client mode with great results. Not sure why you are having those difficulties.
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@Tiger-0
Here are the ones I used for my Thrustmaster MFDs monitors:Eyoyo 8 Inch HDMI Monitor Small LCD Screen Mini CRT Monitors 1024x768 4:3 TFT HD CCTV Security Display with Speakers HDMI VGA BNC AV Ypbpr Input for Computer PC Laptop Raspberry Pi Camera using RTTE. I turned them sideways and made some covers using black posterboard (cardboard) to cover the exposed portions of the monitors. Use the .ini file for RTTE to size the RTTE MFD output and position the output to just fit the MFD openings. I used “sticky tack” (a gummy substance like play-doh used to hang posters on walls) to adhere the MFD to the monitor bezel. That way, the MFDs can be easily removed from the monitors if needed.These monitors have a lot of connection options and come with a plug-in power supply, so no USB needed for powering the monitors. I used HDMI to drive them from my Graphics card (might need to buy some HDMI to Display Port converter if your Graphics Card does not have (any or enough) HDMI out ports).
For my ICP I bought a SimGears ICP and separately a DED+FFI from PSM
These days, many are going with the new WinWing ICP/DED combo.
I also use BMS Device Pro by Ihopi Works on my mobile phone (find it in the Google Play Store) for a desktop RWR+PFD+Caution/Warning panel. It runs on its own little server.
Regards, -
Hi Tiger,
I purchased two 8” 1024x768 IPS HDMI screens from the Pishop.ca. They needed a plug, usb power cable, and the hdmi cable. I run them at 800x600 behind my MFDs they work perfect with RTT extraction.
I also purchased a round display from AliExpress for an RWR display. I used MDF board to make a bezel. Just make sure you order the screen and driver board.
Links listed below.
MFD
https://www.pishop.ca/product/hdmi-8-ips-lcd-screen-kit-1024x768/RWR
Just found this amazing item on AliExpress. Check it out! C$29.79 20% Off | IPS 2.8 Inch TFT LCD Round Display ST7701S Driver IC SPI+RGB 40 PIN Interface 480*480 Screen HDMI-compatible Board Wisecoco
https://a.aliexpress.com/_m0UYfIKThe RWR is available with RTT extraction and you can set it so the grid is displayed too. Getting the RWR to display is in the same file you change to setup your MFD location, but you probably knew that.
I would recommend a simgears ICP and DED and your front panel will be looking good.
Hope this helps.
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I’m using 7" 4:3 LCD panels in my cockpit build.
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@Tiger-0 said in Advice wanted for building a small desk-based simpit:
Hi,
I’m looking for recommendations for a small display (or displays?) to sit behind the MFD Cougar. I’m currently using a 10" USB display but it belongs to my wife’s work-place.
I use Lilliput 8" USB monitors in portrait mode (so 600x800), with the TM MFDs on the top (MFD display of ~520x520 IIRC) with 2-sided tape. This leaves an area of about 200x600 and I display gauges I use a lot there using Helios w\RTT.
It has taken far too long for me to build a small simpit for Falcon, but I’m finally able to do something in this area, and looking for recommendations for a hardware ICP.
I’m currently using RTTClient for MFD extraction (which works great), and I have tried MFDE, but this doesn’t like working on the USB display and frequently bugs out (the panels disappear from the second display the minute it is either restarted or refreshed).
I’m aware of Helios, but in my limited testing, didn’t work at all.Helios works perfectly for the gauge displays, but I have found RTT refreshes the MFDs better, so I use both (RTT is run through Helios internally).
I have multiple installs of BMS, but want to build the simpit around the 4.37 version (and later).
Thanks in advance!My “pit” using Helios\RTT, also displays the moving map (far right)…
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@Icer two probably silly questions:
- How do you extract the map? Are you using Helios for it?
- Can it be projected nose up, or just North up?
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@skippermike said in Advice wanted for building a small desk-based simpit:
@Icer two probably silly questions:
- How do you extract the map? Are you using Helios for it?
- Can it be projected nose up, or just North up?
Yes, Helios 1.6
The map i’m currently using (which is standalone, not the CPD display in the picture) is always North up… -
@skippermike If you use Icer’s Helios Profile, which you can find under Touch Screen tab, it has a CPD which has a moving map, and you can switch between North Up or Heading Up, together with all the other infos like Bullseye or steerpoints. Just that it’s not an electronic map but based on the picture, so you will not have all the place names rotate with the map, but it rotates for sure. Have a check
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@jacqueslees thanks, I will give it a try!
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@jacqueslees said in Advice wanted for building a small desk-based simpit:
@skippermike If you use Icer’s Helios Profile, which you can find under Touch Screen tab, it has a CPD which has a moving map, and you can switch between North Up or Heading Up, together with all the other infos like Bullseye or steerpoints. Just that it’s not an electronic map but based on the picture, so you will not have all the place names rotate with the map, but it rotates for sure. Have a check
Gonna have to change my Callsign… that is “Ice’s” profile, not mine! And yes, the complete CPD Map has buttons to switch modes and functions. I just use a basic map that gives me a quick position orientation at a glance now…