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

Thu, 17 Oct 2002 06:27:11 -0400

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<div>Sounds like your KISS solution is=
 a custom board that converts the transducer output to something=
 that the Cougar electronics will recognize the same way as their=
 pots.&nbsp; Sure, there are lots of solutions, but I know from=
 too painful experience that just because I can solve a problem a=
 given way, does not mean I have the time to do so.&nbsp; If you=
 think the interest in knobs was intense, Marv, the interest in=
 this conversion will probably be twice as much, or more.&nbsp;=
 Be sure to factor in your sanity, dude!!&nbsp; This one may=
 surprise you - so the least invasive method, one that doesn't=
 require one to go outside of the Coug's electronics, is the best=
 for many reasons from many angles.&nbsp; Having accomplished=
 that, it's no big leap for the user to toss said electronics and=
 go all EPIC.&nbsp; But that's a user thing, and if you want to=
 address the greater Cougar audience, I would suggest keeping a=
 divider betwixt EPIC and Cougar. </div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>Just my 2 cents as an extremely interested party.&nbsp;=
 Hopin' to help! </div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>Steve
 
--
 
 Steve Wilson, mafsix@attbi.com on 10/17/2002
 
 
 
On Thu, 17 Oct 2002 06:06:52 -0400, Marv De Beque wrote: 
:::: 
:::: &nbsp; The output has that potential=
 and more. &nbsp;I just don't know how 
:::: &nbsp; I will skin 
:::: &nbsp; this cat yet, but there are a=
 lot of options, including 
:::: &nbsp; interfacing to the 
:::: &nbsp; Cougar's base or building a=
 custom solution. 
:::: &nbsp; -- 
:::: 
:::: 
:::: &nbsp; &gt;&nbsp;From: Steve Wilson=
 &lt;mafsix@attbi.com&gt; 
:::: &nbsp; &gt;&nbsp;Reply-To:=
 simpits-tech@simpits.org 
:::: &nbsp; &gt;&nbsp;Date: Wed, 16 Oct=
 2002 21:55:31 -0400 
:::: &nbsp; &gt;&nbsp;To:=
 &lt;simpits-tech@simpits.org&gt; 
:::: &nbsp; &gt;&nbsp;Subject: Re:=
 [simpits-tech] The Cougar Has landed - Mating 
:::: &nbsp; Season 
:::: &nbsp; &gt; 
:::: &nbsp; &gt;&nbsp;Is there a sane way,=
 when operating an EPIC on a second 
:::: &nbsp; independant PC, to 
:::: &nbsp; &gt;&nbsp;transfer rotary input=
 data to the PC on which one runs one's 
:::: &nbsp; flight sim? ( I 
:::: &nbsp; &gt;&nbsp;have an ISA EPIC, and=
 I'm pretty sure my ultimate sim PC 
:::: &nbsp; will not have an=
 ISA 
:::: &nbsp; &gt;&nbsp;slot). 
:::: &nbsp; &gt; 
:::: &nbsp; &gt;&nbsp;Will the output of=
 the force transducers be as precise as a 
:::: &nbsp; Cougar if used on 
:::: &nbsp; &gt;&nbsp;a soundcard=
 gameport? 
:::: &nbsp; &gt; 
:::: &nbsp; &gt;&nbsp;Considering how easy=
 it is to unplug the pots on the Cougar, 
:::: &nbsp; it sure would be 
:::: &nbsp; &gt;&nbsp;simple swap out if=
 the transducers could be electronically 
:::: &nbsp; adapted. 
:::: &nbsp; &gt; 
:::: &nbsp; &gt;&nbsp;Hehe, I've taken my=
 Cougar apart too!! &nbsp;;-) 
:::: &nbsp; &gt; 
:::: &nbsp; &gt;&nbsp;Steve 
:::: &nbsp; &gt;&nbsp;-- 
:::: &nbsp; &gt;&nbsp;Steve Wilson,=
 mafsix@attbi.com on 10/16/2002 
:::: &nbsp; &gt; 
:::: &nbsp; &gt; 
:::: &nbsp; &gt;&nbsp;On Wed, 16 Oct 2002=
 19:47:33 -0400, Marv De Beque wrote: 
:::: &nbsp; &gt;&nbsp;:::: 
:::: &nbsp; &gt;&nbsp;:::: &nbsp; I stole a=
 quick look inside the grip. &nbsp;There is good 
:::: &nbsp; news and 
:::: &nbsp; &gt;&nbsp;:::: &nbsp; bad=
 news: 
:::: &nbsp; &gt;&nbsp;:::: 
:::: &nbsp; &gt;&nbsp;:::: &nbsp; First the=
 Bad News: 
:::: &nbsp; &gt;&nbsp;:::: 
:::: &nbsp; &gt;&nbsp;:::: &nbsp; The screw=
 on gray collar must go. &nbsp;In fact, so too, 
:::: &nbsp; the shaft 
:::: &nbsp; &gt;&nbsp;:::: &nbsp; that=
 it 
:::: &nbsp; &gt;&nbsp;:::: &nbsp; attaches=
 to on the grip side. &nbsp;The screw on collar is 
:::: &nbsp; too big 
:::: &nbsp; &gt;&nbsp;:::: &nbsp; for a=
 real 
:::: &nbsp; &gt;&nbsp;:::: &nbsp; base.=
 &nbsp;Also, the mounting angle is wrong. &nbsp;The=
 Cougar 
:::: &nbsp; sits 
:::: &nbsp; &gt;&nbsp;:::: &nbsp; strait up=
 off its 
:::: &nbsp; &gt;&nbsp;:::: &nbsp; mount.=
 &nbsp;The real grip leans forward 13 degrees. 
:::: &nbsp; &gt;&nbsp;:::: 
:::: &nbsp; &gt;&nbsp;:::: &nbsp; I will=
 need to make a coupler that adapts the Cougar 
:::: &nbsp; grip to 
:::: &nbsp; &gt;&nbsp;:::: &nbsp; my base=
 and 
:::: &nbsp; &gt;&nbsp;:::: &nbsp; corrects=
 the mounting angle. &nbsp;This will add a little 
:::: &nbsp; to the 
:::: &nbsp; &gt;&nbsp;:::: &nbsp; price of=
 the 
:::: &nbsp; &gt;&nbsp;:::: &nbsp; base, but=
 not much. 
:::: &nbsp; &gt;&nbsp;:::: 
:::: &nbsp; &gt;&nbsp;:::: &nbsp; The user=
 will need to open his grip to make the mod (4 
:::: &nbsp; &gt;&nbsp;:::: &nbsp; screws).=
 &nbsp;Once made, 
:::: &nbsp; &gt;&nbsp;:::: &nbsp; it will=
 not fit the original base unless you remove 
:::: &nbsp; my adapter 
:::: &nbsp; &gt;&nbsp;:::: &nbsp; and=
 reinstall 
:::: &nbsp; &gt;&nbsp;:::: &nbsp; the=
 original parts. &nbsp;At least it is not a permanent 
:::: &nbsp; mod. 
:::: &nbsp; &gt;&nbsp;:::: 
:::: &nbsp; &gt;&nbsp;:::: &nbsp; Some Good=
 News: 
:::: &nbsp; &gt;&nbsp;:::: 
:::: &nbsp; &gt;&nbsp;:::: &nbsp; I can=
 make an adapter that is easy for the user to 
:::: &nbsp; install. 
:::: &nbsp; &gt;&nbsp;:::: &nbsp;=
 Fortunately, 
:::: &nbsp; &gt;&nbsp;:::: &nbsp;=
 Thrustmaster used a tiny plug and socket on the 
:::: &nbsp; inside PC 
:::: &nbsp; &gt;&nbsp;:::: &nbsp; Board for=
 the 
:::: &nbsp; &gt;&nbsp;:::: &nbsp; wires, so=
 you can unplug their mount and plug mine 
:::: &nbsp; in. &nbsp;That 
:::: &nbsp; &gt;&nbsp;:::: &nbsp; means=
 no 
:::: &nbsp; &gt;&nbsp;:::: &nbsp; soldering=
 required! &nbsp;There is one screw you need to 
:::: &nbsp; unscrew 
:::: &nbsp; &gt;&nbsp;:::: &nbsp; inside=
 the grip. 
:::: &nbsp; &gt;&nbsp;:::: &nbsp; It is=
 easy, even for the mechanically declined. 
:::: &nbsp; &gt;&nbsp;:::: 
:::: &nbsp; &gt;&nbsp;:::: &nbsp; Right now=
 it looks like I will make an extension 
:::: &nbsp; cable to plug 
:::: &nbsp; &gt;&nbsp;:::: &nbsp; into=
 the 
:::: &nbsp; &gt;&nbsp;:::: &nbsp; Cougar=
 base. &nbsp;This will allow the user to keep his 
:::: &nbsp; software 
:::: &nbsp; &gt;&nbsp;:::: &nbsp; the same.=
 &nbsp;I 
:::: &nbsp; &gt;&nbsp;:::: &nbsp; don't=
 know how I will interface the output of the 
:::: &nbsp; force sensor 
:::: &nbsp; &gt;&nbsp;:::: &nbsp; to=
 the 
:::: &nbsp; &gt;&nbsp;:::: &nbsp; Cougar's=
 base, if at all. &nbsp;If I can, it will require 
:::: &nbsp; a mod to 
:::: &nbsp; &gt;&nbsp;:::: &nbsp; the base.=
 &nbsp;I 
:::: &nbsp; &gt;&nbsp;:::: &nbsp; am=
 steering away from that idea. &nbsp;You may need to=
 use 
:::: &nbsp; the game 
:::: &nbsp; &gt;&nbsp;:::: &nbsp; port or=
 EPIC 
:::: &nbsp; &gt;&nbsp;:::: &nbsp; for the=
 force transducer interface. 
:::: &nbsp; &gt;&nbsp;:::: 
:::: &nbsp; &gt;&nbsp;:::: &nbsp; All in=
 all, it is good news for Cougar owners. 
:::: &nbsp; &gt;&nbsp;:::: 
:::: &nbsp; &gt;&nbsp;:::: &nbsp; If you=
 are thinking about a Cougar, I wouldn't 
:::: &nbsp; hesitate to get 
:::: &nbsp; &gt;&nbsp;:::: &nbsp;=
 one. 
:::: &nbsp; &gt;&nbsp;:::: 
:::: &nbsp; &gt;&nbsp;:::: &nbsp; For those=
 guys that have the real grip and base, hang 
:::: &nbsp; in 
:::: &nbsp; &gt;&nbsp;:::: &nbsp; there.=
 &nbsp;After I 
:::: &nbsp; &gt;&nbsp;:::: &nbsp; finish my=
 stick base, I'll be building am interface 
:::: &nbsp; card that 
:::: &nbsp; &gt;&nbsp;:::: &nbsp; will=
 allow a 
:::: &nbsp; &gt;&nbsp;:::: &nbsp; real F-16=
 base and grip to work with the PC game port 
:::: &nbsp; or EPIC. 
:::: &nbsp; &gt;&nbsp;:::: &nbsp;=
 &nbsp;;-) 
:::: &nbsp; &gt;&nbsp;:::: 
:::: &nbsp; &gt;&nbsp;:::: &nbsp;=
 Marv 
:::: &nbsp; &gt;&nbsp;:::: 
:::: &nbsp; &gt;&nbsp;:::: 
:::: &nbsp; &gt;&nbsp;:::: &nbsp;=
 _______________________________________________ 
:::: &nbsp; &gt;&nbsp;:::: &nbsp;=
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:::: &nbsp; &gt; 
:::: &nbsp; &gt; 
:::: &nbsp;=
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