Want to build a descent simulator....help

[roxiedog13]

I would like to build a descent flight simulator for home to gain some IFR time.

I own a 172 on floats that is IFR and would like something close just to get familiar with the instruments, radios etc.

I would prefer a three to four monitor setup for that added realism .

[shoumi]

Hi Roxie,

Your setup may be a lot easier than what most of us are trying to do here (which is build Airliners).

Here is my 2 cents on your situation.
I would look at the following.

1. FSxpand - will give you most of the GA instruments that are on your 172 float. Or if you wish to use the FS default 172 panel on a monitor, then skip the FSXpand.
2. Purchase FSX or FS9 (depending on what you like). If the level of detail and reality is not an issue, then stay with FS9(can be run better on average computer)
3. Ensure your pc is upto par with handling 3-4 monitors. Good graphics card, lots of RAM, and a large HD.
4. Think of getting a TH2GO or ATI eyefinity 5XX (if your computer can handle it)
5. Purchase your yoke, pedals, and even stack from CH PRODUCTS or SAITEK (there may be others as well).
6. Build a small enclosure if you like
7. Hook up your system.

Hope that gives you an idea. I am sure you will have loads of fun building it too!

Best of luck, and post some pics on your progress.

Taufeeq

[kermit]

first of all know your budget ,time
greetz

[roxiedog13]

first of all know your budget ,time
greetz

I don't want to invest too much Money, just enought to get me to my goals.
Time is a factor too for sure. Good yoke, Rudder Pedals and better visual is all I need. A simulated panel is good enough for what my needs are . If I wanted a true simulator I probably would not have purchased the plane.

[roxiedog13]

Hi Roxie,

Your setup may be a lot easier than what most of us are trying to do here (which is build Airliners).

Here is my 2 cents on your situation.
I would look at the following.

1. FSxpand - will give you most of the GA instruments that are on your 172 float. Or if you wish to use the FS default 172 panel on a monitor, then skip the FSXpand.
2. Purchase FSX or FS9 (depending on what you like). If the level of detail and reality is not an issue, then stay with FS9(can be run better on average computer)
3. Ensure your pc is upto par with handling 3-4 monitors. Good graphics card, lots of RAM, and a large HD.
4. Think of getting a TH2GO or ATI eyefinity 5XX (if your computer can handle it)
5. Purchase your yoke, pedals, and even stack from CH PRODUCTS or SAITEK (there may be others as well).
6. Build a small enclosure if you like
7. Hook up your system.

Hope that gives you an idea. I am sure you will have loads of fun building it too!

Best of luck, and post some pics on your progress.

Taufeeq

Thanks for the advise though being out of the computer techno limelight for a while I struggle to keep up with the latest and greatest technology .

My current computer is a two year old Intel duo @ 2.19, 2 G ram and no graphics card that I am aware of, just the integrated one on the board.
I am running XP as far as I know and that itself is corrupted to a degree
so I have at the very least some cleaning up to do.

I think I will dust off FS98 that I still have, get the cable adapters to use the CH yoke and rudders with serial port plugs to use on the USB ports. If I'm still
hungry for more I will investigate and upgrade to the next level .

[kermit]

For hardware you have the right gear already picked out
For training purpose
I can advise Flight 1 cessna 172, although it doesn`t have floats.
It has al the instruments for nearly real IFR training.
there are others but I like this one for myself
greetz

[shoumi]

Your computer is adequate for FS9, which you can probably purchase from ebay for almost nothing!
Find a descent video card and a few monitors.

If I can suggest budgeting something like this.
1. Video Card - you can get good AGP (if you motherboard allows it) or PCIE for around $150-$200 CDN. Find out what your motherboard is and google to find out what you can do.
2. You can buy old CRT monitor for cheap if you do not wish to spend $$$ on LCD (to me they look just as fine). All it will need is a bit more space. check www.kijiji.ca or even factorydirect.ca for 19-20 inch monitors.
3. CH yoke and pedals - also you can buy from online (used) for less. I saw a set of good Saitek Yoke/Pedals/Throttle for $220 on www.kijiji.ca.
4. Buy your hardware for shell from home depot or something like that.
5. You can probably set everything up with 1 computer, 1 video card and 4 monitors.

So, in short the budget maybe something like
1. Video Card - $150 to $200
2. 4 monitors (used) - $300-$400
3. FS9 (from ebay) $15-$20
4. Yoke, pedals and Throttle - $300
5. Wood, screws, etc for building small shell - $250

Give and take budget around $1000 to $1250, you should have a descent GA simpit.

Taufeeq

[shoumi]

sorry,

forgot to mention, on your computer you may need to purchase TH2GO which may be a bit expensive @ $300-$400.

Thanks,

[roxiedog13]

For hardware you have the right gear already picked out
For training purpose
I can advise Flight 1 cessna 172, although it doesn`t have floats.
It has al the instruments for nearly real IFR training.
there are others but I like this one for myself
greetz

So your saying my 2.19 intel core 2 duo, 2G ram, with integrated graphics card on my current computer is sufficient ?
My old CH yoke and rudder pedals has serial port connectors which I can get adapters for USB if this is acceptable.
And the FS98 is good enough for now with Flight 1 Cessna 172 or suold I upgrade to FS9 ?
FSX has issues if I understand what others are saying .Only good on a super fast computer .

[kermit]

Can`t tell if your onboard graf.card will be oke,
as for your other specs it will be fine, as long as you are using fs9 out of the box.
if you want to use some scenery or planes , you need to upgrade your pc
Or you like to fly with 2/4 fps
Flight1 will not go with fs98.
greetz

[Skylane]

Hi there,

My 2 cents worth of opinion...
"Want to build a descent simulator...",
Do yourself a favour and buy some new up to date stuff to reach your goals. You bought a plane so if you want to have some training/test time just to be sure.... don't be miserly on the sim :|

kind regards, Nico

[roxiedog13]

Hi there,

My 2 cents worth of opinion...
"Want to build a descent simulator...",
Do yourself a favour and buy some new up to date stuff to reach your goals. You bought a plane so if you want to have some training/test time just to be sure.... don't be miserly on the sim :|

kind regards, Nico

I just bought a new super fast computer as follows:
intel core is-750 processor
2.66 GH7- 1mb L2 cashe + 8mb
8 GB DDR3 Ram - 1 TB HDD
DVD Super multi Drive
Wireless A/B/G/N HDMI
!.5 GB Nvidia GeforceGT230
Windows 7 Premium

I'm sure this will handle the flight sim X but now I'm wondering
if the graphics card is good to run multiple monitors or will I
need another card.
Someone also mentioned the Nvidia 3D card that uses the video
glasses as an alternative to the multiple monitors. Is this a good
alternative to multiple monitors?

[Skylane]

The GT230 comes with 2 DVI outlets. One of 'm is surely Dual_DVI type.

You could use a large(er) screen LCD TV for the outside and/or virtual cockpit view. That would leave you with a 2nd monitor outlet to use for what you want displayed on a second monitor.
As you probably know, many views in FS are undockable. You could undock the radiostack and the GPS divice to your second monitor. That would still give you full view over all instruments in the main virtual cockpit view on the main screen.

If you want less panning and zooming in your (main screen) virtual cockpit you could alway use the Matrox Triple Head 2 go screen splitter on your dual_DVI monitor outlet... lots to be found here at MyCockpit regarding the Matrox Triple and Dual-head 2 go screen split devices.

The PC you purchased gives you about all you need for a descent and usefull sim-pit.
There is also a lot here to be found about Tweaking Windows and FS for better performance. Frame rate will not be your problem, I can asure you.

Kind regards, Nico

[kermit]

I`m not sure what to think,
first you say you have bought a waterplane,
but you don`t want to buy to much equipment to do some training.
after 1 day you suddenly bought an all singing all dancing computer, but all you want to fly is fs98.
On another topic you ask for more details for a complete flightsimulator costing about 10k.
I personnally think you have a big thumb.
If not I`m truly sorry.
greetz

[roxiedog13]

I`m not sure what to think,
first you say you have bought a waterplane,
but you don`t want to buy to much equipment to do some training.
after 1 day you suddenly bought an all singing all dancing computer, but all you want to fly is fs98.
On another topic you ask for more details for a complete flightsimulator costing about 10k.
I personnally think you have a big thumb.
If not I`m truly sorry.
greetz

Not sure what "Big Thumb means" but I think I get the idea.
Like I said, I want to get a realistic IFR trainer similar to the
172 basic IFR that I "almost have" if the deal doesn't fall through.
I flew out yesterday then drove 5 hours return to take it for a test
flight and was very impressed. If I get the trade deal we negotiated
I will buy for sure.
As for the computer that I was "about" to buy, my wife talked me out of it, for the time being that is. I spent all of last evening going through all of
my old PC stuff to discover I still have two pentium 4's , a
19" square flat screen that I didn't even know that I had, one 15" and one 19" crt. Can I use some of this stuff? I'll have to figure this out because
I am not up on the entire techno stuff any more. I'm here to ask questions
and hopefully build somethink to assist in what are my goals. It's not about a BIG THUMB, it's more a state of confusion and I appreciate some of the
advise that everyone has given. I just have to figure out what I want.

Oh, and as for the link trainer flight simulator ? It caught my attention as
to it's capability. I made an inquiry, thats it. I never did get details about
what it can do. I mean after all, if it could do full motion simulation and was still in working order wouldn't that be a good deal given the amount of money
I've seen poured into a virtual simulator, especially if it was FAA certified?

[kermit]

there is a dutch saying( iets uit zijn duim zuigen)in english: making up a story .
I have read your topic all over again, but I and I think the rest of this topic readers.
Were under the impression that you already bought the plane and Computer.
And yes we want to help other members but please tell the story as it is
greetz

[roxiedog13]

there is a dutch saying( iets uit zijn duim zuigen)in english: making up a story .
I have read your topic all over again, but I and I think the rest of this topic readers.
Were under the impression that you already bought the plane and Computer.
And yes we want to help other members but please tell the story as it is
greetz

I was just trying to simplify my post. Getting into the "true" details of the purchase for the seaplane would have clouded my simple question about
setting up FS for IFR training . As far as I was concerned the aircraft purchase was a done deal and therefore not relevant to the question I was asking. I received many opinions and suggestions which is what I asked for and appreciate. I still do not clearly know what I want, I am still feeling out where I want to go if at all and how much I should spend if at all.
If you are not sure what I am asking, please do ask me to clarify instead
of making some bold assumptions and insults . I will cearly answer any questions if someone asks for the same.

[kermit]

As for your question,
you have to know what your budget is, and a timescale.
Do you want to make instruments and radio`s yourself
Or will you use TFT screens with instruments, there are Cessna like programs on the market.
Are you familiar with writing programs or do you need to buy things.

Can you make a decent instrumentpanel ea are you good with your hands.

Me for one I dont know much about electronics,

but give me a welding torch a some spanners I make you B747 in steel/carbon/titanium
I know a lot (I think) about Hydraulic and airdriven machines and can read technical drawings and make them.

But when I have to write and load a program I wil sweat all over the place .
You just have to know were your limits are.
greetz

[roxiedog13]

As for your question,
you have to know what your budget is, and a timescale.
Do you want to make instruments and radio`s yourself
Or will you use TFT screens with instruments, there are Cessna like programs on the market.
Are you familiar with writing programs or do you need to buy things.

Can you make a decent instrumentpanel ea are you good with your hands.

Me for one I dont know much about electronics,

but give me a welding torch a some spanners I make you B747 in steel/carbon/titanium
I know a lot (I think) about Hydraulic and airdriven machines and can read technical drawings and make them.

But when I have to write and load a program I wil sweat all over the place .
You just have to know were your limits are.
greetz

I already responded to this but the message lost in cyber space I guess.

As for a budget, right now I would say $1500 or less. Time is plenty, I am not in a hurry for sure. I will not fly the real thing until spring , but I hope to get something in the works within a month or so. I did buy FSX yesterday so, I
will start to build around that after the holidays. For now I'm going to set up my old P4 with FS98, the old CH serial port Yoke quadrant and Rudder Peddals. In the new year I will get a new faster computer, some new modern controls and a large main screen. I will use my older 19 " flat screen for instruments and the new24" wide screen for scenery. After that who knows , I may expand a little from there or keep as is, that remains to be seen .

It appears we have some common skills in that I can weld and build just about
anything. Not a pro but a good amateur I guess. I built my own Taylorcraft over a six year period and have been flying it since 1998. I'm pretty good with electrical and electronics as well though I have no desire to build up
a high end flight simulator as others have done. My goal is just to build a
entry level setup that I may expand on later but, for now I just want to learn
more about IFR flight since my aircraft will be so equipped.... "if" I buy it.

I'm no computer techie so any software or hardware will be bought. If I don't have a real aircraft to fly some day or I loose my licence( hopefully to old age) I would consider a VERY advanced flight simular but, not while I have
the real thing at my disposal.