[simpits-tech] Electronic USB modules

[Marv De Beque]

Chester,

I think an important question is if you can provide keyboard input like the
EPIC or XKeys does.

Many sims get their input from the keyboard, so having a pathway to send key
characters directly to the keyboard input port (PS/2) would be very
valuable.

Sounds like all of the software resides on the PC, not the IO boards.  Is
this true?

I ask since it is necessary to process inputs and make conditional decisions
based on the state of one or more switches.

Marv
-- 


> From: fitchett <fitchett@cpsc.ucalgary.ca>
> Reply-To: simpits-tech@simpits.org
> Date: Wed, 15 May 2002 17:37:32 -0600 (MDT)
> To: simpits-tech@simpits.org
> Subject: Re: [simpits-tech] Electronic USB modules
> 
> 
> The website is at www.phidgets.com, although these new products will not
> have online documentation created yet.  I guess it's time to write the doc
> while the boards are getting made.
> 
> These devices interface as standard USB devices, and I have a software
> library that builds on top of the Windows USB stack for programmers.
> This library can be used from any programming language in Windows 2000/XP.
> 
> Gene is using this library to bridge to the flight simulator programs, I
> believe.
> 
> Chester
> 
> 
>> Gene,
>> when I saw this I was thinking "wow" at last a much cheaper alternative, over
>> here, the EPIC is basically double the US price (exchange rates are crap!)
>> Just let me see if I understand this device correctly.
>> Its a hardware interface kit, that I can hook up switches too, it uses USB
>> into
>> interface your PC. Does it just emulate a keyboard and send keypresses when
>> the
>> switch is toggled?
>> And so your software, does it interface a sims like MSFS via the FSUIPC
>> interface thus making it a whole lot more useful?
>> 
>> Does chester have a website with more details, im sure there will be many of
>> us
>> that will take this up as opposed the EPIC.
>> 
>> Chris.
>> 
>> 
>>>> A 256 input InterfaceKit using a scanning matrix topology - see
>>> Gene's
>>>> nice diagram at
>>>> http://www.simpits.org/fileproc/files/ematrix.png
>>>> This module uses a 40 pin header to connect to your pit. It comes
>>> with
>>>> 256 diodes. This module is $50.
>>>> 
>>> 
>>> I know that the high cost of entry as represented by the EPIC is
>>> preventing a significant number of you from starting or
>>> completeing(sp)
>>> your projects.
>>> 
>>> This new interface that Chester has created all but erases the biggest
>>> barrier to a good cockpit - the hardware interface. Even the smallest
>>> cockpit project can benefit from this thing. Additionally, you can
>>> hook
>>> up more than one of these things up to your machine. You need 2000 or
>>> more inputs for that fancy passenger jet?? No problem. You can easily
>>> hook up 8 of these to one or two USB hubs and get the job done. The
>>> only
>>> limitation is the USB specification itself.
>>> 
>>> Now combine this with the other Phidgets that Chester makes and you've
>>> got
>>> the core of some seriously cool fun. The fantastic part is that they
>>> don't cost an arm and a leg. You won't have to dig into the kids'
>>> college
>>> fund to build a cockpit with Phidgets. :)
>>> 
>>> 
>>> The software I'm working on supports FS98/2k/2k2 and CFS2. After
>>> completion, X-Plane and Falcon 4 support will be added. It's easy to
>>> use
>>> and with the exception of Falcon 4, doesn't have to run on the
>>> computer
>>> the flight simulator software is running on. I hope to have a beta
>>> available soon.
>>> 
>>> g.
>>> 
>>> 
>>> _______________________________________________
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>> 
>> 
>> 
>> Chris Brace
>> V(H) +64 4 973-6378
>> V(W) +64 4 474-4222
>> M +64 21 223-5163
>> E chris.brace@paradise.net.nz
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>> 
> 
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