Bendix Nav/Com KX-165A project

[Kerbo]

All I have so far is some front panel art and a half finished schematic. I will add to the thread as the project progresses.

The goal is to create a circuit board with display, encoders and buttons along with an optional faceplate that people can then integrate into their avionics panel. The current design includes 20 digit display (4 separate frequencies), 2 dual encoders and two frequency swap buttons.

http://winchester.homelinux.net/images/kx-165a_panel.png

[No Longer Active]

Hi,

What I have done, which makes life so much easier is to build the radio equipment as 1 panel, you could simply design the whole radio stack as 1 which I have done.

You dont really need to display the whole 20 digits width ways you could have 2 layers of 10, or dont display the standby digits at all.

I have this idea where I can display the standby digits of the NAV1/COM1 on the NAV2/COM2 from NAV1/COM1 if I needed the standy digits displayed. I dont really use NAV2/COM2 due to the fact that I do a lot of VFR flying, so my clever idea is to display the standbys on the second radio! But if I did want to use NAV2 /COM2 I would simply do so, but I wouldn't have the standbys.

[Kerbo]

Why go the easy way? That's no fun! :p

I really like the look of having all four frequencies on one line. I am giving up a CDI and other display items but don't want to compromise on the digits.

[No Longer Active]

Why go the easy way?

I am a man of simplicity! lol

The costing so far for my entire radio stack so far:

Acrylic and printing of entire radio stack onto panel: £19
Encoders: £14
Toggles: £10
Encoder Knobs: £6

Total = £49 ($78)

Getting there!!!! Slowly!

Will post pics next week of the panel for you!

Cheers.

Alex

[Kerbo]

My LED displays arrived yesterday and I am looking forward to getting this project rolling. The next step will be breadboarding the prototype circuit I have designed and checking functionality.

[DanTheSasquatch]

If you get this thing working that would be a huge help to me, this is exactly what I wanted to make for myself. I'll be sure to follow this pretty closely, and good luck!

[Kerbo]

http://www.mycockpit.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=2433&stc=1&d=1256267579

Test fitting the LEDs with a paper cutout. I really need to get a bigger breadboard. :-(

These are the modules I found here (http://www.futurlec.com/LED/7FR3641BS.shtml) and are just the right size.

http://www.mycockpit.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=2434&stc=1&d=1256268328

This is a test image I created to see what 5 of these modules would look like end to end. I was concerned there would not be enough space between the frequencies but think it looks fine.

The first draft schematic is pretty well finished but I don't seem to have any shift registers in my stock so lighting this up will have to wait a while. I am really anxious to see if my design for driving 20 digits is sound.

[DanTheSasquatch]

Lookin good so far! This is exactly what I had in mind for one of my first projects. if you would like to share any schematics and or coding you use that would be wonderful and make my life so much simpler lol.

[Kerbo]

Lookin good so far! This is exactly what I had in mind for one of my first projects. if you would like to share any schematics and or coding you use that would be wonderful and make my life so much simpler lol.

Hi Dan,
I will definitely be sharing the details once the design works. If there is interest I plan to sell circuit boards (maybe even kits) but the project will be open source for the people that want to roll their own from scratch.

[Ronson2k9]

I redrew your template for you with arial narrow fonts. I think the correct font would be a block font but I couldn't find one as close to this with the range of arial narrow. I made a few custom graphics and hand kerned the text as well to match that as best I can of the BK radio faceplate. Hope you like.. I've sent the TIFF format version to your email address. I know you can't display TIFF images here? Well I know I can't upload them to photobucket anyway but it's the best for doing this kind of stuff. You get compression with no loss or degradation to the image.

http://i416.photobucket.com/albums/pp244/Ronson2k3/Cessna%20T206H/kx-165a_panel_2.jpg

[DanTheSasquatch]

EDIT: Haha, thought you were talking to me lol. I probably just looked pretty dumb :oops:

[Steve1970]

Hi William,

How is your project going? Do you have an update?

Thanks

Steve

[Kerbo]

Hi William,

How is your project going? Do you have an update?

Thanks

Steve

Hi Steve,
I wish I had an update but my hobbies have not had much attention lately. The parts did arrive and I have the displays on a breadboard but that is as far as I have gotten. The good news is I have a lot of days off this month. The bad news is the wife has been working diligently on her honey-do list. ;)

Stay tuned

[Kerbo]

I need to buy a bigger breadboard. The layout is just too cramped using multiple smaller breadboards. :(

http://winchester.homelinux.net/images/radio_display01.jpg

[Steve1970]

I need to buy a bigger breadboard. The layout is just too cramped using multiple smaller breadboards. :(

http://winchester.homelinux.net/images/radio_display01.jpg

Looking good, do you plan to make this USB plub and play?

[Kerbo]

Looking good, do you plan to make this USB plub and play?

Yes, the radio will be USB and interfaced to FSX by my usbSimCentral program.

I did get a large breadboard and have started laying out my prototype circuit. Someday I may actually get a display lit up.

[Kerbo]

Last night I finished hooking up the displays and validated my design for multiplexing the 20 digits. I think the next step will be designing some PCBs so I can start refining the firmware. Here is my current schematic design. I have only had one encoder working so far so this might not be the final design.

[image links are broken]

[Steve1970]

you are one clever guy, wish I knew how all this PIC stuff works. Where did you learn how all this works? So far I have only played with SIOC coding and the open cockpits card.

Steve.

[Kerbo]

you are one clever guy, wish I knew how all this PIC stuff works. Where did you learn how all this works? So far I have only played with SIOC coding and the open cockpits card.

Steve.

Thanks for the kind words. I got something very similar to this (http://www.amazon.com/Vintage-Sports-Cards-MX-906-Electronic/dp/B00005K2SY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=toys-and-games&qid=1265059019&sr=1-1) when I was about 10 and have been fiddling with electronics ever since. I am self taught so can't hold a candle to the real EE's out there but I have a lot of fun playing. :)

[pilotwannabe]

I agree with Steve. What PCB design package are you using? I've got DIP Trace free version. There seem to be hardly any components I want to use in the libraries.

[Kerbo]

I agree with Steve. What PCB design package are you using? I've got DIP Trace free version. There seem to be hardly any components I want to use in the libraries.

This schematic was done in Eagle. You can get their free version here (http://www.cadsoft.de/freeware.htm). I will probably have to lay out the PCBs in something else as the free version of Eagle limits the dimensions. Another good freebie is ExpressPCB (http://www.expresspcb.com/). I highly recommend their PCB service or you can also etch your own if you take a little care printing the right layers.

[Kerbo]

Work has been keeping me too busy to get a PCB designed and etched. Here is a shot of it displaying some numbers on the breadboard. Just ignore the rat's nest of wires.


10027

[Steve1970]

Looking good, lots of wires!!

cant wait to see this one all done.

regards
Steve

[Kerbo]

The two PCB boards are complete. I was all set to start etching but was out of larger PCB material so that will have to wait. Before I can go too much further I also need to place an order for some Elma E37 encoders and knob sets. Slowly but surely the project moves on. :)

Display board
http://workbench.freetcp.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/usbSimRadio_v1_0-1_all.png
http://workbench.freetcp.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/usbSimRadio_v1_0-1_pcb.png

USB controller board
http://workbench.freetcp.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/usbSimRadio_v1_0-2_all.png
http://workbench.freetcp.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/usbSimRadio_v1_0-2_pcb.png

[Steve1970]

Wow, I am looking forward to this one, great job.


The two PCB boards are complete. I was all set to start etching but was out of larger PCB material so that will have to wait. Before I can go too much further I also need to place an order for some Elma E37 encoders and knob sets. Slowly but surely the project moves on. :)

Display board
http://workbench.freetcp.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/usbSimRadio_v1_0-1_all.png
http://workbench.freetcp.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/usbSimRadio_v1_0-1_pcb.png

USB controller board
http://workbench.freetcp.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/usbSimRadio_v1_0-2_all.png
http://workbench.freetcp.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/usbSimRadio_v1_0-2_pcb.png

[Kerbo]

This project isn't dead I just haven't had time to play lately. :(

[Kerbo]

There was a little more progress this week, I have etched the display board.

http://workbench.freetcp.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/usbSimRadio-003-300x224.jpg
http://workbench.freetcp.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/usbSimRadio-005-300x224.jpg

http://workbench.freetcp.com/archives/795

[No Longer Active]

Thats great Wriley!

I think in about 2012 your radio will be ready lol, where you been again? lol

[Steve1970]

Lokking good, mind it is about time. Looking forward to seeing this one complete :-)

Steve

[Kerbo]

Thats great Wriley!

I think in about 2012 your radio will be ready lol, where you been again? lol

I've been working 50-60 hours a week and we have another little co-pilot due for landing October 1st so I think 2012 is a conservative estimate. :D

[No Longer Active]

Brilliant, congratulations to yourself! Don't wear yourself out doing all them hours!

All the best sir, Alex

[Leo Bodnar]

I've been working 50-60 hours a week and we have another little co-pilot due for landing October 1st...
Congratulations! Ed: You should have probably split it in two sentences! :D

[Ronson2k9]

Congrats as well from me. Remember the sis teen chapel was painted in a day. A work of art takes time. So as Montgomery Scott would say. Let it take time laddie. Star Trek moment over.

[Kerbo]

Congratulations! Ed: You should have probably split it in two sentences! :D

:oops: Note to self, proofread posts more carefully.

[Kerbo]

Sorry to resurrect an old thread but I still get requests for more info on these old projects so have uploaded all files to GitHub. It is unfinished so use at your own risk. https://github.com/wriley/usbSimRadio