CH Products MFP with FS2004?

[BTilson]

I am considering purchasing the MFP (Multi Function Panel) from CH Products to go with MSFS2004. I have one question though. Can I bind some of the buttons to be up/down in freq on the various radios? I looked through the control mapping in MSFS but I couldn't seem to find a specific command to control the frequencies.

Anyone have any ideas?

Thanks!

[Xyn_Air]

I wish I was at home so I could be looking at the FS screen right now, but I will do my best from memory and edit later.

There is a command to "select function" (or something worded like that).  If memory serves correctly, this command switches you around all the various cockpit controls.  I don't know if you have the radio stack open if this will just move you around the radio controls or not, but it is worth a try.

Now, if you have the radio tuner function selected, you should be able to adjust it with the "increase selection" and "decrease selection" commands, and these you can bind to specific key commands (one for increase, one for decrease).  The problem would be that those buttons will increase or decrease whatever is actively selected, not just your radio freqruency.

That probably made horribly little sense, and when I get home I will promptly (after a stiff shot or two) go about looking up those specific commands.

Good luck,
~Darrin

[BTilson]

No that made perfect sense actually. I don't suppose you've made it home yet? One of the main reasons I want to get the MFP is to simulate a radio stack, so I'm looking forward to your answer.

Thanks!

[Xyn_Air]

OK, this is going to be a bit of a long explanation, and I am afraid I won't make any guarantees about efficacy.  But, this is something you could try out.

1) You will want to use the Controls - Assignments menu in FS2004 to assign your key controls.  This can be found in the Settings menu of FS2004 right after you start the program.  However, the CH MFP has its own software that helps it assign functions to the buttons.  So, you will need to become familiar with that, too.  Right now, we are going to just look at the assignable control functions in FS2004.  Whether you assign them to keys or to MFP buttons, these are the controls you will want to keep in mind.

2) In the Radio Commands Event Category, you will want to assign the following commands:
->a) COM radio (select)
->b) DME (select)
->c) NAV radio (select)
->d) Transponder (select)
If those commands are assigned, then with the touch of a button you can select them and make them active.  There is also a command to cycle through the various radio stack functions, and you may want to assign a button to this as well.

3) In the Simulator Commands Event Category, you will want to assign the following commands:
->a) Decrease Selection
->b) Decrease Selection Slightly
->c) Increase Selection
->d) Increase Selection Slightly
By assigning these commands keys or buttons, you should be able to adjust the functions listed above.  You may want to note that all of these events in part 3 have default assignments.  There are also commands to select Item 1, select Item 2, etc.  However, I do not know at this time how to assign specific "items".
My patchy memory tells me there is a way to set the increase/decrease increments.  However, the specifics are a bit beyond me at the moment.

It is important to remember that the increase/decrease commands in part 3 above will affect whatever you have actively selected.  To make sure you do not accidentally change the wrong thing (for example, trim or throttle), you will want to make sure you always select the intended radio stack function before using the increase/decrease assigned buttons if you only intend on using them to adjust your radio frequencies.

Good grief, I hope some of this is both correct and makes sense.  I have had quite a few shots since I got home, and my reasoning ability is pretty shoddy to begin with.  Do let me know how it works out.  For those of us who are unwilling or incapable of building FS control entirely from scratch, I really think CH Products offers the best gear out there for the best price, IMNSHO.  So, I would love to know how things go for you.

And, and, and, if any of you wiser folk out there in SimV land see any glaring errors in my advice, for goodness sake, tell me.  My disclaimer is that I am always making wild guesses, so I don't mind being corrected.

Hm.  Well, that looks like enough rambling for one post.

All the best,
~Darrin

EDIT:
I live in Japan, so when I get home from work in relation to where you live is beyond me without further info.
~D~

[BTilson]

Hey, all makes good sense to me. I will hopefully be ordering my MFP today. If not today, by the end of the week for sure.

But yes, CH Products, while still somewhat pricey, seem to have just the right price/functionality ratio to appeal to me. I'd really like to go with some of the more advanced sim hardware (GoFlightInc.com, etc) but I don't know that I'll be able to afford any such setup any time soon.

I live in the Eastern US, so it is right at 7am right now.

Thanks for all the advice and input! It's always nice to see someone willing to take the time to type out a thoughtful, worthwhile response.

[JBaymore]

EDIT:
I live in Japan, so when I get home from work in relation to where you live is beyond me without further info.
~D~

Darrin,

East coast USA to Aomori-ken, Japan is 11 hours difference with Daylight Savings Time in place here in the USA.

[BTilson]

I'm not entirely sure, to be honest. It could go either/or. I figure anyone reading here who has one of those will be flying 2004, since this is the 2004 forum, but not everyone over there who has one will necessarily have experience with it in regards to 2004. It could go either way. *shrug*  :o

[Xyn_Air]

One quick change to the information I posted above, you may not have to switch to the Simulator Commands Event Category to assign increase/decrease selection functions.  Looking at my kneeboard, I see that there are assignable increase/decrease selection commands in the Radio Commands Event Category.

In either case, you should be able to assign CH MFP buttons to the commands you want to adjust your radio frequencies.  I think CHP even has radio stack graphics templates you can print out from their website and put on the surface of the MFP.  I know they have various graphics templates, but I didn't look through each one.

Best of luck,
Darrin