POLL: What kind of Saitek panels do you have?

Graphics Cards, Sound Cards, Joysticks, Computers, etc. Ask or advise here!

What kind of Saitek panels do you have?

Pro Flight Radio Panel
Pro Flight Multi Panel
Pro Flight Switch Panel
Pro Flight Instrument Panel
Pro Flight Backlit Information Panel
Other radio panel
Other Autopilot panel
Other switch panel
I use another monitor for instruments.
None, just my imagination
 
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Re: POLL: What kind of Saitek panels do you have?

Postby OldAirmail » Wed Mar 20, 2013 10:00 pm

U4EA wrote:WOW! O0 Y'all got me drooling a bit! :lol:

And here I though I had a cool set-up with an X52-Pro, Switch Panel, Multi Panel, and 4 Flight instrument Panels mounted around a 24" monitor. I have the instrument panels below, between the monitor and keyboard, and the multi & switch panels slanted toward me above the monitor.

Works rather well for me as space is a bit of a premium, but moreso is funding! The 'finance manager' keeps denying my request for an uppie to a 2 or 3 monitor 'pit. :violin:
{Although I am looking to "get away with" a graphics card uppie pretty soon! Shhhhhhhh!}

Almost forgot, I have a Saitek Cyborg keyboard.

Although I've seen where some folks have had difficulties with Saitek stuff, I have had nothing but an excellent time with putting together the set-up I have now, one piece at a time. <<s


"... and 4 Flight instrument Panels mounted around a 24" monitor ...."

Sounds interesting. Do you have a picture posted somewhere?


"... Works rather well for me as space is a bit of a premium, ..."

Space has been a bit of a problem for me too. I would like to build a simple dedicated "sim pit" but just don't know where I could do it.

My desk top started out as a simple (auctioned) large commercial printer desk/stand. I used 2 cheap boards (made for wall shelving) to make a stand for my monitor about 15+ years ago.
This is the type of laminated particleboard shelving that I used.
Image

The height of the shelf turned out to be the perfect height to (later) attach 2 Saitek panels to the underside, with space to slide my keyboard under the panels. I couldn't have done better if I'd tried. If you look at the small picture with the single Flight Instrument Panel you can see my keyboard under the Switch Panel.


"{Although I am looking to "get away with" a graphics card uppie pretty soon! Shhhhhhhh!}"

I've found the Radeon hd6XX0 & 6XX0 series to be VERY good with FSX. Not to mention VERY cheap. It also handles 3 monitors right out of the box, no TrippleHead2go needed. And on top of that it doesn't need a high watt power supply with a separate power cord to the card. My old power supply was a 400 Watt unit. No problem with that card.


"Almost forgot, I have a Saitek Cyborg keyboard. "

I'm quite happy with my wireless keyboard and wireless mouse. The keyboard lasts at least 6 - 8 months and the mouse only 4 - 6 months. Having been a Boy Scout I always have batteries available. No problem. Getting them out of the way takes only a second or two.
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Re: POLL: What kind of Saitek panels do you have?

Postby OldAirmail » Thu Apr 04, 2013 8:45 pm

OK. It's been a month, and these are my conclusions. Not necessarily in any order, and not necessarily rational.

This web site has the least wealthy flight sim enthusiasts in the world. Only a few people have any flight sim equipment and half of that equipment is mine.

Absolutely nobody likes that expensive stuff such as the $600 GoFlight - TQ-6 Advanced Throttle System or the $3,000 FlightLink KR-1 Avionics Stack.

Image . Image

Yes, fully one third of the flight simmers here are minimalists, foregoing any equipment other than, perhaps, a joystick, mouse, and a keyboard. And that person may not even have a computer, he, (or she) may just imagine that they are flipping switches and holding a yoke/joystick! BROVO sir, or ma’am, (or whatever you are) you have a better mind than I do.


I just checked the "Board index" stats on the main page. Just a few significant numbers;

Simviation Screenshots Showcase - 196,559 posts.
General Discussion ( If it doesn't fit .. It fits here .. - - ) - 103,293 posts.
Hardware - 44,344 posts.

At least that's better than "FS 2000" with 26 posts. :P
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Re: POLL: What kind of Saitek panels do you have?

Postby U4EA » Fri Apr 05, 2013 3:28 am

This is my "simpit". I have an overhead shelf that the panels are mounted to, and I use velcro under the keyboard leading edge, keyboard tail, the bottom and top of the FIPs, and lower edge of the monitor. That keeps the FIPS firmly in place.

In case you're wondering, the note-lookin' things around the monitor edge are all my favorite scenery places, and a knot/mph little chart.

Image
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Re: POLL: What kind of Saitek panels do you have?

Postby Fozzer » Fri Apr 05, 2013 5:05 am

A simple (cheap/low-cost) joystick has served me well for Flight Sims, etc, since 1982.... :D ...!

My present Flight Sim, Stick of Joy...>>> http://www.trustedreviews.com/Saitek-Cy ... ral_review

.....does the job, and does exactly what it says on the box, all that is necessary for me....nothing more...nothing less!....... :D ...!

Paul.... :mrgreen: ...!

...and..... like Dwayne...a goodly supply of; "Vivid Imagination", also helps considerably....(Very common in the Male population).... ;) ... :lol: ...!
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Re: POLL: What kind of Saitek panels do you have?

Postby OldAirmail » Fri Apr 05, 2013 6:10 pm

U4EA, I have to complement you on your.....ummm umm.....

Skill and capabilities. Yes, that it, Skill and capabilities.

I'd be proud to fly in any plane that you commanded.

Well done. An inspiration to everyone on this website!

Did you get the extra Pro Flight Instrument Panels for Christmas?
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Re: POLL: What kind of Saitek panels do you have?

Postby OldAirmail » Fri Apr 05, 2013 6:51 pm

Fozzer, I added the "None, just my imagination" option just for you. The Indefatigable man who only needs a joystick to be happy.

And for your tireless contributions let me give you this, a tune from my ancestral homeland.
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Re: POLL: What kind of Saitek panels do you have?

Postby U4EA » Sat Apr 06, 2013 12:17 am

Thanx for the condiments OldAir! :lol: Yes, Santa did bless me with another pair of FIPs. The first pair was last year for my birthday. Took me about five minutes into my first flight with the FIPs to realize that I wanted (needed!) another pair. They are too cool in my humble opinion!

As far as the other ornamentation, I got bored with the stock look not too long after I got the overhead panels, and was recovering from having my ACL replaced for the second time.......sooooooo, a lot of free time, a boxfull of old model parts, an x-acto knife, superglue, coupled with (children look away) prescription painkillers.......I came up with what ya see over a few weeks time.

And it ain't so much imagination Paul, well maybe it is. Me and my first PC, a laptop, had a bit of a blast when I discovered FSX. My first stick was an ST90, then I "graduated" to the Evo. Still have it as a matter of fact tucked away in a drawer in my simpit desk. At the time I thought it was the cat's meow!

But then I saw what other offerings were out there. So a piece at a time, I got to where I am now. But I gotta say, imagination is still really really important. Kinda almost brings out the kid in me!!!

Who am I kidding!!! It totally brings out the kid in me!

I can turn out the lights, drop the headphones on my melon and...........provide some awesome CAS (the lower right thingie is the CaptSim Weapons commands list) in an A-10.........do some heavy lifting with my SkyCrane.......drop retardant outta a DC-4 on a forest fire in central California.........deliver anything anytime anywhere in any manner of craft for either major carrier.....blast through mountain valleys at Mach 1 in my SuperBug.....

The possibilities are truly only limited by my imagination. Some say to keep in touch with your inner child, where I say screw dat, I AM MY INNER CHILD!!! :dance:

Besides, where else can you sport around at a few hundred knots blowing the leaves outta treetops in a B-52. Or better yet, an AN-225! :D
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Re: POLL: What kind of Saitek panels do you have?

Postby Fozzer » Sat Apr 06, 2013 2:10 am

OldAirmail wrote:Fozzer, I added the "None, just my imagination" option just for you. The Indefatigable man who only needs a joystick to be happy.

And for your tireless contributions let me give you this, a tune from my ancestral homeland.


I must admit that I spend most of my time and money on my vast range of musical instruments*....

...and talking about Scottish Lute playing....one of my examples...>>>

https://www.simviation.com/phpupload/upl ... 254430.jpg

https://www.simviation.com/phpupload/upl ... 304560.jpg

In my case, the playing of John Dowland!

Paul....you hum it.....I'll play it... :D ...!

* Yamaha MO6, MM6,DX7,DX11,DX21,DX100,MK100,EMT 10,PSR 400,PSS 780,Roland GW-8L v2,Roland TR 505,Casio MT-205, Korg CX-3v2 dual manual (Hammond B3 clone) + Leslie 760/770,M-Audio Pro-keys 88, Key Rig,Cubase,Keyfax4.Various Guitars.Orchestral,Baroque,Renaissance,Medieval Instruments....
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Re: POLL: What kind of Saitek panels do you have?

Postby OldAirmail » Sat Apr 06, 2013 9:53 am

U4EA wrote:... Yes, Santa did bless me with another pair of FIPs. The first pair was last year for my birthday. Took me about five minutes into my first flight with the FIPs to realize that I wanted (needed!) another pair. They are too cool in my humble opinion!

....

And it ain't so much imagination Paul, well maybe it is. ...

But then I saw what other offerings were out there. So a piece at a time, I got to where I am now. But I gotta say, imagination is still really really important. Kinda almost brings out the kid in me!!!

Who am I kidding!!! It totally brings out the kid in me!

... deliver anything anytime anywhere in any manner of craft for either major carrier.....blast through mountain valleys at Mach 1 in my SuperBug.....

The possibilities are truly only limited by my imagination. Some say to keep in touch with your inner child, where I say screw dat, I AM MY INNER CHILD!!! :dance:

Besides, where else can you sport around at a few hundred knots blowing the leaves outta treetops in a B-52. Or better yet, an AN-225! :D



I've never been big on gaming, so when I tried FSX it took about 10 seconds to realize that I had to buy a joystick.

That was so much fun that I wanted to buy a yoke. That was so much fun that I ....

It has taken a lot of effort to convince my wife and inlaws that what I want most for birthdays and Christmas is an Amazon card (for more FSX stuff). If they get me a card I get all enthusiastic. Clothes and other things get a very low key "thank you", and are put away on a shelf. At my age I don't want a surprise gift. I want what I want.

The few hours a week that I get to "fly" is better than a vacation. I have a yoke in my hand and I'm flying somewhere I'll never get to go in person. Sometimes in a bomber that my father flew in, sometimes one of my favorite GA planes to, or from, an airport that I've been to.


"The possibilities are truly only limited by my imagination"

"There's the runway, time to land. It's been a great flight."
Last edited by OldAirmail on Sat Apr 06, 2013 10:06 am, edited 2 times in total.
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Re: POLL: What kind of Saitek panels do you have?

Postby OldAirmail » Sat Apr 06, 2013 10:02 am

Fozzer wrote:...

I must admit that I spend most of my time and money on my vast range of musical instruments*....

...and talking about Scottish Lute playing....one of my examples...>>>

https://www.simviation.com/phpupload/upl ... 254430.jpg

https://www.simviation.com/phpupload/upl ... 304560.jpg

In my case, the playing of John Dowland!

Paul....you hum it.....I'll play it... :D ...!

* Yamaha MO6, MM6,DX7,DX11,DX21,DX100,MK100,EMT 10,PSR 400,PSS 780,Roland GW-8L v2,Roland TR 505,Casio MT-205, Korg CX-3v2 dual manual (Hammond B3 clone) + Leslie 760/770,M-Audio Pro-keys 88, Key Rig,Cubase,Keyfax4.Various Guitars.Orchestral,Baroque,Renaissance,Medieval Instruments....


Fozzer, I envy you.

My father and brother could play guitar, but I'm hopeless. I tried learning classical guitar figuring that it was mostly timing. What I played best was Silently At Night, and Far Far Away. Sometimes I want to pick up a guitar again. But I wouldn’t play any better now than I did then.

As to the lute, I'm not even going to ask how much that one cost. It's beautiful.
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Re: POLL: What kind of Saitek panels do you have?

Postby Fozzer » Sat Apr 06, 2013 10:41 am

OldAirmail wrote:
Fozzer, I envy you.

My father and brother could play guitar, but I'm hopeless. I tried learning classical guitar figuring that it was mostly timing. What I played best was Silently At Night, and Far Far Away. Sometimes I want to pick up a guitar again. But I wouldn’t play any better now than I did then.

As to the lute, I'm not even going to ask how much that one cost. It's beautiful.


That beautiful 13-course Renaissance Lute was made specially for me, by a professional Luther, many years ago.

It spends a lot of its time safely locked up in its case...in between constant tuning!....and playing :D ...!

Paul.... :mrgreen: ...!
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Re: POLL: What kind of Saitek panels do you have?

Postby U4EA » Sat Apr 06, 2013 11:07 am

That's way cool Paul! I have great respect for anyone who can play any instrument. :clap:

I do, however, play a mean stereo!!! :dance:


I could never get the coordination thing going. The left hand operating independently of the right hand was never anything I could master. I say cheers to those who have that skill! O0

<<s Although, I do have a way of using one hand to restrain a badguy while using the other calling for backup on the radio. <<s
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Re: POLL: What kind of Saitek panels do you have?

Postby U4EA » Sat Apr 06, 2013 11:24 am

OldAirmail wrote:.....It has taken a lot of effort to convince my wife and inlaws that what I want most for birthdays and Christmas is an Amazon card (for more FSX stuff). If they get me a card I get all enthusiastic......



You too?!? :lol: It took me darn near 3 birthdays and 2 rounds of Christmas to get the Amazon giftcard concept to take root. ;) But then I realized that one of those giftcards like Visa or Amex could be used to get awesome stuff to wear from anywhere............like Capt Sim, Just Flight, etc......

I just love climbing into FSX, selecting something to wear from the closet, then having whatever sorta go of it I'm in the mood for.

Like a little bit ago when waiting on a friend to drop by......it was a Sopwith and I breezing about the Grand Canyon for a spell. <<q
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Re: POLL: What kind of Saitek panels do you have?

Postby Fozzer » Sat Apr 06, 2013 12:49 pm

U4EA wrote:That's way cool Paul! I have great respect for anyone who can play any instrument. :clap:

I do, however, play a mean stereo!!! :dance:


I could never get the coordination thing going. The left hand operating independently of the right hand was never anything I could master. I say cheers to those who have that skill! O0

<<s Although, I do have a way of using one hand to restrain a badguy while using the other calling for backup on the radio. <<s


You should try my Hammond Draw-bar Organ U4...

Right hand on the upper manual...
Left hand on the lower manual..
Feet on the Pedal-board...

...and read the music at the same time...

..and maybe...even sing!.... :lol: ...!

Paul... :lol: ... :lol: ...!

...and you think its difficult, pretending to fly an aeroplane, whilst sat in your comfy armchair...?. ;) .... :lol: ....!
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