CAE MCDU - mapped Matrix HELP PLEASE?

[Matt Olieman]

Anyone having a CAE MCDU and have mapped the 50 pin connector to the keys, would you please share the Matrix map with me.

Also, interested in knowing if you lit the keys, how did you do it?

Thanks,
Matt Olieman

[RadarBob]

Hi Matt,

Does the CAE MCDU use a Jay-El Keyboard ?

Rob

[Matt Olieman]

Hi Matt,

Does the CAE MCDU use a Jay-El Keyboard ?

Rob

I'm assuming you mean a keyboard or a PCB with Jay-El Switches. The answer would be no.

Also, on a other note, I think I was not clear regarding what I was asking. I need a key to pin configuration, also the lights to pin configuration. Then also how you lit the keys. LED's would have to be mounted internally. Buttons are clear plastic.

Matt Olieman

[RadarBob]

Ah ok Matt,

I have the matrix/keymap/annunciator/backlight info for the original Jay-El assembly which comprises the keyboard itself and the keyboard and backlighting PCB's.

The keys are black and operate dome switches on the PCB.

The connector for this is a rectangular 44 way type.

So it sounds as if we are not talking about the same beast - Sorry I can't help you with that one, but I wish you luck in finding the info.

Best Regards,

Rob

[Matt Olieman]

Thanks for the try Rob.

I hope someone else will come along with some info for me :) It's my understanding there are quite a few of these around in our group of hobbyist, so hopefully someone can help me. :)

Also would like to know what interface you used.

Matt Olieman

[RadarBob]

I haven't actually implemented the interface to the CDU yet.

The plan is to use Opencockpits USBkeys card.

I will probably use Michael Delvos's driver for PMDG.

However, because the OC CDU uses a different matrix, I can't get the same USBKeys codes sent back, so I think I will have to do a translation in SIOC:

As I recall, the script that is used with the driver is just a couple of lines that reads input keyvalue and then writes it to output variable lastkeypress or something like that - So just need to read my value and substitute the equivalent OC value into lastkeypress I think.

However, with this route there is currently no means of driving the annunciators.

I have been meaning to check out what the latest version of ProSim can do on that front - But I haven't got round to it yet.

Cheers,

Rob

[mnovak22]

Hello Matt,
just out of curiosity, what is a CAE MCDU? I am always looking around for a suitable mcdu unit for my sim, but I have never heard of this one. Is it an actual mcdu unit from one of CAE´s sims? If so, how do you go about getting one of those?
Thanks in advance,

Michal

[Matt Olieman]

@ Michal, the two that I have are CAE FTD MCDU's. The look and feel just like the real thing, except, they are not back lit. All the components are their but the LED's for back-lighting on the PCB board are omitted.

How to get one of these? Mine were listed here at the classifieds.

It's my opinion, your better off buying a nice quality one from one of the Flight Sim component vendors. They're usually complete and plug and play. Check with Flight Deck Solutions, Engravity, SISMO, I can go and on :) :) :)

Matt Olieman

[mnovak22]

Ok, well just thought I would ask... you never know.
Thanks anyways. In the meantime I have a homemade version working, but it is missing a (realistic looking) panel. Basically it is just a circuit board with buttons and an lcd, it does the job, but doesn´t look very good. But at least it beats a keyboard ;)