This is the second simple simpit I have come up with. The first used a secondary monitor laid out almost flat in front of the big one and Autohotkey to move all the external MFDs to the right position.
This is a little more work to set up for each flight but in the end you get an F35-like cockpit style that looks and functions well.
Hardware Ingredients:
1. Computer
2. Enormous monitor
3. Saitek X-52 with pedals
4. Targus color changing mouse
5. ??? brand keyboard with rotary volume dial
4. Bose bookshelf speakers (small Bose stuff can be good)
4. Asus Transformer TF-101 with keyboard dock (for positioning)
5. Asus Transformer TF-300 with keyboard dock (for positioning)
6. Samsung Galaxy Note (lightly duct-taped to one of the tablets)
7. Big computer desk to hold all this stuff
Software Ingredients:
1. Orbiter
2. WebMFD (running on both tablets to provide touchscreen MFDs)
3. Unified Remote (running on the phone to provide a touchscreen mouse and keyboard)
4. Wake Lock power manager (to keep the phone from sleeping)
5. Autohover MFD (for touch screen attitude and engine control)
6. Sensor MFD (for detecting any alien ships)
7. Thrust control MFD (for permanent killrot)
That is the beta Arrow Freighter in orbit with what I have found to be an optimal set of instrumentation.
MFDs displayed are sensor, orbit, sync orbit, align planes, surface, autohover, thrust control, and map. Transx and Map3D are then displayed on the "HUD view" displays when preparing for maneuvers.
So 8 + 2 MFDs are used. The software keyboard on the phone is used as a number pad or keyboard and the white space above is the virtual mouse pad for the touch mouse, which works with any Windows program. This actually works out better than the main monitor being a touchscreen because it is too big for that to be practical. Throttle and maneuvering with the touch keyboard are out of the question though because the programs I tried all sent only a very short keypress. The phone can display an MFD as well while cruising. As for MFD peculiarities, the Map3D MFD does not respond to keyboard control with external MFD or WebMFD. Also, Sensor MFD does not work well with WebMFD.
I don't use the camera pan controls, external view, or bridge movement controls This setup allows me to fly straight from the commander's seat and to move to the "HUD view" to plan maneuvers or when I want a better view. The advantages of this is immersion and not having to readjust the view "down" when switching views. If you notice I keep the camera panned down enough to see the main display and just be able to see the HUD as well. The external MFDs are located in blank spaces to the side as if they were mounted from the ceiling.
What could be improved:
More screens
WebMFD improvements
An MFD that incorporates the default autopilot controls (does it exist?)
Another nice thing about this setup is it can be easily moved around for cleaning or put to use doing other things. Also it fits in my closet.
This is a little more work to set up for each flight but in the end you get an F35-like cockpit style that looks and functions well.
Hardware Ingredients:
1. Computer
2. Enormous monitor
3. Saitek X-52 with pedals
4. Targus color changing mouse
5. ??? brand keyboard with rotary volume dial
4. Bose bookshelf speakers (small Bose stuff can be good)
4. Asus Transformer TF-101 with keyboard dock (for positioning)
5. Asus Transformer TF-300 with keyboard dock (for positioning)
6. Samsung Galaxy Note (lightly duct-taped to one of the tablets)
7. Big computer desk to hold all this stuff
Software Ingredients:
1. Orbiter
2. WebMFD (running on both tablets to provide touchscreen MFDs)
3. Unified Remote (running on the phone to provide a touchscreen mouse and keyboard)
4. Wake Lock power manager (to keep the phone from sleeping)
5. Autohover MFD (for touch screen attitude and engine control)
6. Sensor MFD (for detecting any alien ships)
7. Thrust control MFD (for permanent killrot)
That is the beta Arrow Freighter in orbit with what I have found to be an optimal set of instrumentation.
MFDs displayed are sensor, orbit, sync orbit, align planes, surface, autohover, thrust control, and map. Transx and Map3D are then displayed on the "HUD view" displays when preparing for maneuvers.
So 8 + 2 MFDs are used. The software keyboard on the phone is used as a number pad or keyboard and the white space above is the virtual mouse pad for the touch mouse, which works with any Windows program. This actually works out better than the main monitor being a touchscreen because it is too big for that to be practical. Throttle and maneuvering with the touch keyboard are out of the question though because the programs I tried all sent only a very short keypress. The phone can display an MFD as well while cruising. As for MFD peculiarities, the Map3D MFD does not respond to keyboard control with external MFD or WebMFD. Also, Sensor MFD does not work well with WebMFD.
I don't use the camera pan controls, external view, or bridge movement controls This setup allows me to fly straight from the commander's seat and to move to the "HUD view" to plan maneuvers or when I want a better view. The advantages of this is immersion and not having to readjust the view "down" when switching views. If you notice I keep the camera panned down enough to see the main display and just be able to see the HUD as well. The external MFDs are located in blank spaces to the side as if they were mounted from the ceiling.
What could be improved:
More screens
WebMFD improvements
An MFD that incorporates the default autopilot controls (does it exist?)
Another nice thing about this setup is it can be easily moved around for cleaning or put to use doing other things. Also it fits in my closet.
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