Remap USB keypad for ATC commands?

[JBaymore]

In my simpit I want to use a small IBM usb add-on keypad mounted in the left sidestick area to input keyboard commands for the use of ATC responses.  

The keypad plugs in and is read as an additional keypad with the usual numbers and so on.

The problem is that the keypad numbers are used to show various views.....not act as the numeric responses to the ATC ....... as in the keyboard numbers one through nine above the letter keys.

So my question is ........ can I some how remap this keypad so that the numbers are "read" as if they are the numbers across the top of the keyboard?  Those keys appear to not be "reassignable" from within the sim itself.

Any thoughts would be appraciated.

best,

...................john

[stormbird]

Perhaps you are tackling this the hard way ?
Why not use one of the voice to keycommand programs like Game Commander2 or the MS equivalent [whose name I have forgot !].
I use GC2 in Rowans Battle of Britain and just speak my radio commands which are converted into key presses.
GC2 is avalable as a Demo which allows 5 commands per profile.
regards paul

[JBaymore]

Stormbird,

Hi and welcome to SimV.

Thanks for the suggestion.  I plan on using Voicemaster Pro for certain commands....I have had it for about a year now.  It works great.  Pretty much no framerate "hit" that I can see.

That approach however will be pretty much reserved for verbal communications with ATC.  You know...... stuff that would normally be done via radio.  I may also use some "co-pilot" type commands....I have a bunch of them programmed already and occasionally use them.  In a "tight situation" it is nice to be able to tell "someone else" FLAPS DOWN instead of fumbling for the switch  ;).

But the rest of the controls in the simpit I want to be set up for a somewhat realistic setting.  So I will be wanting to map a couple of those keypads for certain functions....and will still need to figure out how to "remap" them.

best,

.......................john

[stormbird]

hi john
can FSUIPC remap those keys ? up to version 3 is free and works ok with FS2002.
regards paul

[JBaymore]

Paul,

Yes, I believe that FSUIPC can remap them for "feeding" to the sim on the main machine via the simpit LAN.  That's a GREAT idea to solve it for the ATC conmmands.  I'll have to look into that seriously.  Thanks for getting me started in that direction.

I have the latest version of FSUIPC (payware) for use on the LAN for the glass cockpit I am building along with WideFS.

The programs that I will be wanting to control with the other keypads will be running as stand alone gauges on the glass cockpit machines....... so that gets a little more complicated.  I may have to write an interface of some sort in compiled VB6 ...... but that remapping idea is a task I've never tried.


best,

.....................john

[stormbird]

John

Seen this
http://www.fokker50.be.tf
goto to index and look at LPT Switch , could you wire your keypad to this ? not sure what the software does tho ?
Seen this
http://www.betainnovations.com/
Look at keyboard studio
any use ?
regards paul

[JBaymore]

Paul,

Those are a couple of great resource links!  Thanks for posting them.

best,

.................john

[stevewilson]

John; I may be way off base on this, but the number keys across the top aren't active for atc untill you turn on atc with eather the ~ key or by selecting atc at the start of the game.

My point is, by opening atc window, would this cause the extra usb key pad to be usable with atc. I know that the number pad to the right of the keyboard won't work for atc at all. Just woundering.

[JBaymore]

Steve,

Thanks for the possible solution.  Unfortunately..... FS204 ONLY recognizes the numeric keys above the keyboard for ATC input.

best,

..............john

[P-40_Warhawk]

why don t you just add the keypad in in FSUIPC and then just assign commands to it in the assignments menu of the sim?