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

Ido Dekkers simpits-tech@simpits.org
Thu, 17 Oct 2002 13:50:09 +0300


Totally agree,
Also note that some of us don't use EPIC but phidgets or some thing else,
and the gameport is an absolete connector.

Ido


                                                                           
             Steve Wilson                                                  
             <mafsix@attbi.c                                               
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             10/17/2002                                            Subject 
             12:27 PM                 Re: [simpits-tech] The Cougar Has    
                                      landed - Mating Season               
                                                                           
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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.  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.  If you think the interest in
knobs was intense, Marv, the interest in this conversion will probably be
twice as much, or more.  Be sure to factor in your sanity, dude!!  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.  Having accomplished that, it 's no big leap for the user
to toss said electronics and go all EPIC.  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.

Just my 2 cents as an extremely interested party.  Hopin' to help!

Steve
--
Steve Wilson, mafsix@attbi.com on 10/17/2002


On Thu, 17 Oct 2002 06:06:52 -0400, Marv De Beque wrote:
::::
::::   The output has that potential and more.  I just don't know how
::::   I will skin
::::   this cat yet, but there are a lot of options, including
::::   interfacing to the
::::   Cougar's base or building a custom solution.
::::   --
::::
::::
::::   > From: Steve Wilson <mafsix@attbi.com>
::::   > Reply-To: simpits-tech@simpits.org
::::   > Date: Wed, 16 Oct 2002 21:55:31 -0400
::::   > To: <simpits-tech@simpits.org>
::::   > Subject: Re: [simpits-tech] The Cougar Has landed - Mating
::::   Season
::::   >
::::   > Is there a sane way, when operating an EPIC on a second
::::   independant PC, to
::::   > transfer rotary input data to the PC on which one runs one's
::::   flight sim? ( I
::::   > have an ISA EPIC, and I'm pretty sure my ultimate sim PC
::::   will not have an ISA
::::   > slot).
::::   >
::::   > Will the output of the force transducers be as precise as a
::::   Cougar if used on
::::   > a soundcard gameport?
::::   >
::::   > Considering how easy it is to unplug the pots on the Cougar,
::::   it sure would be
::::   > simple swap out if the transducers could be electronically
::::   adapted.
::::   >
::::   > Hehe, I've taken my Cougar apart too!!  ;-)
::::   >
::::   > Steve
::::   > --
::::   > Steve Wilson, mafsix@attbi.com on 10/16/2002
::::   >
::::   >
::::   > On Wed, 16 Oct 2002 19:47:33 -0400, Marv De Beque wrote:
::::   > ::::
::::   > ::::   I stole a quick look inside the grip.  There is good
::::   news and
::::   > ::::   bad news:
::::   > ::::
::::   > ::::   First the Bad News:
::::   > ::::
::::   > ::::   The screw on gray collar must go.  In fact, so too,
::::   the shaft
::::   > ::::   that it
::::   > ::::   attaches to on the grip side.  The screw on collar is
::::   too big
::::   > ::::   for a real
::::   > ::::   base.  Also, the mounting angle is wrong.  The Cougar
::::   sits
::::   > ::::   strait up off its
::::   > ::::   mount.  The real grip leans forward 13 degrees.
::::   > ::::
::::   > ::::   I will need to make a coupler that adapts the Cougar
::::   grip to
::::   > ::::   my base and
::::   > ::::   corrects the mounting angle.  This will add a little
::::   to the
::::   > ::::   price of the
::::   > ::::   base, but not much.
::::   > ::::
::::   > ::::   The user will need to open his grip to make the mod (4
::::   > ::::   screws).  Once made,
::::   > ::::   it will not fit the original base unless you remove
::::   my adapter
::::   > ::::   and reinstall
::::   > ::::   the original parts.  At least it is not a permanent
::::   mod.
::::   > ::::
::::   > ::::   Some Good News:
::::   > ::::
::::   > ::::   I can make an adapter that is easy for the user to
::::   install.
::::   > ::::   Fortunately,
::::   > ::::   Thrustmaster used a tiny plug and socket on the
::::   inside PC
::::   > ::::   Board for the
::::   > ::::   wires, so you can unplug their mount and plug mine
::::   in.  That
::::   > ::::   means no
::::   > ::::   soldering required!  There is one screw you need to
::::   unscrew
::::   > ::::   inside the grip
::::   > ::::   It is easy, even for the mechanically declined.
::::   > ::::
::::   > ::::   Right now it looks like I will make an extension
::::   cable to plug
::::   > ::::   into the
::::   > ::::   Cougar base.  This will allow the user to keep his
::::   software
::::   > ::::   the same.  I
::::   > ::::   don't know how I will interface the output of the
::::   force sensor
::::   > ::::   to the
::::   > ::::   Cougar's base, if at all.  If I can, it will require
::::   a mod to
::::   > ::::   the base.  I
::::   > ::::   am steering away from that idea.  You may need to use
::::   the game
::::   > ::::   port or EPIC
::::   > ::::   for the force transducer interface.
::::   > ::::
::::   > ::::   All in all, it is good news for Cougar owners.
::::   > ::::
::::   > ::::   If you are thinking about a Cougar, I wouldn't
::::   hesitate to get
::::   > ::::   one.
::::   > ::::
::::   > ::::   For those guys that have the real grip and base, hang
::::   in
::::   > ::::   there.  After I
::::   > ::::   finish my stick base, I'll be building am interface
::::   card that
::::   > ::::   will allow a
::::   > ::::   real F-16 base and grip to work with the PC game port
::::   or EPIC.
::::   > ::::    ;-)
::::   > ::::
::::   > ::::   Marv
::::   > ::::
::::   > ::::
::::   > ::::   _______________________________________________
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::::   > ::::   To unsubscribe, please see the instructions at the
::::   bottom of
::::   > ::::   the above page.  Thanks!
::::   >
::::   >
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