[simpits-tech] RE: The Cougar Has landed - Mating Season

Thu, 17 Oct 2002 06:20:31 -0400

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<div>Don't count on that at all,=
 Marv.&nbsp; They let most of that team go, even the team=
 leader. </div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>I'm afraid you're on your own. </div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>Steve
 
--
 
 Steve Wilson, mafsix@attbi.com on 10/17/2002
 
 
 
On Thu, 17 Oct 2002 06:05:27 -0400, Marv De Beque wrote: 
:::: 
:::: &nbsp; I don't plan to replace the=
 internal PCB on the grip. &nbsp;I might 
:::: &nbsp; see if 
:::: &nbsp; Thrustmaster can give me some=
 development help. &nbsp;They should 
:::: &nbsp; have a vested 
:::: &nbsp; interest. 
:::: &nbsp; -- 
:::: 
:::: 
:::: &nbsp; &gt;&nbsp;From: &quot;Joseph=
 Fagner&quot; &lt;crease-guard@attbi.com&gt; 
:::: &nbsp; &gt;&nbsp;Reply-To:=
 simpits-tech@simpits.org 
:::: &nbsp; &gt;&nbsp;Date: Thu, 17 Oct=
 2002 01:29:27 -0500 
:::: &nbsp; &gt;&nbsp;To:=
 &lt;simpits-tech@simpits.org&gt; 
:::: &nbsp; &gt;&nbsp;Subject:=
 [simpits-tech] RE: The Cougar Has landed - Mating 
:::: &nbsp; Season 
:::: &nbsp; &gt; 
:::: &nbsp; &gt; 
:::: &nbsp; &gt; 
:::: &nbsp; &gt;&nbsp;Marv=
 Wrote: 
:::: &nbsp; &gt; 
:::: &nbsp; &gt;&gt;&nbsp;First the Bad=
 News: 
:::: &nbsp; &gt;&gt;&nbsp;The screw on gray=
 collar must go. &nbsp;In fact, so too, the 
:::: &nbsp; shaft that it 
:::: &nbsp; &gt;&gt;&nbsp;attaches to on=
 the grip side. &nbsp;The screw on collar is too 
:::: &nbsp; big for a 
:::: &nbsp; &gt;&nbsp;real 
:::: &nbsp; &gt;&gt;&nbsp;base. &nbsp;Also,=
 the mounting angle is wrong. &nbsp;The Cougar sits 
:::: &nbsp; strait up 
:::: &nbsp; &gt;&nbsp;off &gt;its mount.=
 &nbsp;The real grip leans forward 13 degrees. 
:::: &nbsp; &gt;&gt;&nbsp;I will need to=
 make a coupler that adapts the Cougar grip 
:::: &nbsp; to my base 
:::: &nbsp; &gt;&nbsp;and 
:::: &nbsp; &gt;&gt;&nbsp;corrects the=
 mounting angle. &nbsp;This will add a little to the 
:::: &nbsp; price of 
:::: &nbsp; &gt;&nbsp;the 
:::: &nbsp; &gt;&gt;&nbsp;base, but not=
 much. 
:::: &nbsp; &gt;&gt;&nbsp;The user will=
 need to open his grip to make the mod (4 
:::: &nbsp; screws). &nbsp;Once 
:::: &nbsp; &gt;&nbsp;made, 
:::: &nbsp; &gt;&gt;&nbsp;it will not fit=
 the original base unless you remove my 
:::: &nbsp; adapter and 
:::: &nbsp; &gt;&gt;&nbsp;reinstall the=
 original parts. &nbsp;At least it is not a 
:::: &nbsp; permanent mod. 
:::: &nbsp; &gt; 
:::: &nbsp; &gt;&nbsp;Not a big deal.=
 &nbsp;The bad news isn't that bad 
:::: &nbsp; &gt; 
:::: &nbsp; &gt;&gt;&nbsp;Some Good=
 News: 
:::: &nbsp; &gt;&gt;&nbsp;I can make an=
 adapter that is easy for the user to install. 
:::: &nbsp;=
 &gt;&nbsp;Fortunately, 
:::: &nbsp; &gt;&gt;&nbsp;Thrustmaster used=
 a tiny plug and socket on the inside PC 
:::: &nbsp; Board for the 
:::: &nbsp; &gt;&gt;&nbsp;wires, so you can=
 unplug their mount and plug mine in. 
:::: &nbsp; That means no 
:::: &nbsp; &gt;&gt;&nbsp;soldering=
 required! &nbsp;There is one screw you need to=
 unscrew 
:::: &nbsp; inside the 
:::: &nbsp; &gt;&gt;&nbsp;grip. &nbsp;It is=
 easy, even for the mechanically declined. 
:::: &nbsp; &gt; 
:::: &nbsp; &gt;&nbsp;So your mount will=
 replace the small PCB on the inside of 
:::: &nbsp; the stick 
:::: &nbsp; &gt;&nbsp;grip? &nbsp;If so,=
 then we could use EPIC to program the buttons 
:::: &nbsp; on the stick 
:::: &nbsp; &gt; 
:::: &nbsp; &gt;&gt;&nbsp;Right now it=
 looks like I will make an extension cable to 
:::: &nbsp; plug into the 
:::: &nbsp; &gt;&gt;&nbsp;Cougar base.=
 &nbsp;This will allow the user to keep his software 
:::: &nbsp; the same. 
:::: &nbsp; &gt; 
:::: &nbsp; &gt;&nbsp;If you swap out the=
 PCB inside the stick, then you won't be 
:::: &nbsp; able to use 
:::: &nbsp; &gt;&nbsp;the software that=
 came with the stick will you? &nbsp;My 
:::: &nbsp; understanding is 
:::: &nbsp; &gt;&nbsp;that the cougar=
 functions as a single unit and if you make 
:::: &nbsp; one part that 
:::: &nbsp; &gt;&nbsp;is modified, it won't=
 really work with the rest of the stuff 
:::: &nbsp; as it sits? 
:::: &nbsp; &gt;&nbsp;Am I overlooking=
 something 
:::: &nbsp; &gt; 
:::: &nbsp; &gt;&gt;&nbsp;I don't know how=
 I will interface the output of the force 
:::: &nbsp; sensor to the 
:::: &nbsp; &gt;&gt;&nbsp;Cougar's base, if=
 at all. &nbsp;If I can, it will require a mod 
:::: &nbsp; to the base. 
:::: &nbsp; &gt;&nbsp;I 
:::: &nbsp; &gt;&gt;&nbsp;am steering away=
 from that idea. &nbsp;You may need to use the 
:::: &nbsp; game port or 
:::: &nbsp; &gt;&nbsp;EPIC 
:::: &nbsp; &gt;&gt;&nbsp;for the force=
 transducer interface. 
:::: &nbsp; &gt; 
:::: &nbsp; &gt;&nbsp;From my perspective=
 as a Viper builder, I will be using 
:::: &nbsp; Falcon 4.0 (I 
:::: &nbsp; &gt;&nbsp;hope to the powers=
 that be that a new version comes out, but 
:::: &nbsp; it doesn't 
:::: &nbsp; &gt;&nbsp;look good). &nbsp;You=
 can only have one game device installed 
:::: &nbsp; under Falcon. 
:::: &nbsp; &gt;&nbsp;This means using the=
 cougar as it's built and having another 
:::: &nbsp; Non-gaming 
:::: &nbsp; &gt;&nbsp;device control your=
 switches and what not (i.e. Phigits) or 
:::: &nbsp; modifying it 
:::: &nbsp; &gt;&nbsp;to plug into the EPIC=
 and using the EPIC interface for the 
:::: &nbsp; joystick and 
:::: &nbsp; &gt;&nbsp;switches. &nbsp;The=
 latter is what I think you are saying Marv, 
:::: &nbsp; correct? 
:::: &nbsp; &gt; 
:::: &nbsp; &gt;&nbsp;As for the EPIC, I=
 was out at Desktop sims the other day and 
:::: &nbsp; was talking 
:::: &nbsp; &gt;&nbsp;with Paul and he=
 eluded to some folks trying to disable the 
:::: &nbsp; game ports 
:::: &nbsp; &gt;&nbsp;on the EPIC and using=
 the cougar as it stands with is 
:::: &nbsp; current software 
:::: &nbsp; &gt;&nbsp;and then using the=
 EPIC for the other switches and rotaries. 
:::: &nbsp; &nbsp;Anyone 
:::: &nbsp; &gt;&nbsp;have any insight to=
 this? &nbsp;I ask all these questions as I 
:::: &nbsp; want to know 
:::: &nbsp; &gt;&nbsp;exactly what I can=
 and can't do with the cougar as it sits 
:::: &nbsp; and with your 
:::: &nbsp; &gt;&nbsp;mod Marv, before I=
 lay out that kind of money on the EPIC. 
:::: &nbsp; I want to 
:::: &nbsp; &gt;&nbsp;make darn sure I can=
 use the thing. 
:::: &nbsp; &gt; 
:::: &nbsp; &gt;&nbsp;Jay=
 &quot;crease-guard&quot; 
:::: &nbsp; &gt; 
:::: &nbsp; &gt; 
:::: &nbsp; &gt; 
:::: &nbsp;=
 &gt;&nbsp;_______________________________________________=
 
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:::: &nbsp; &gt;&nbsp;Thanks! 
:::: 
:::: &nbsp;=
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