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As main interface between the PC and the sim I will use FSBUS developed by Dirk Anderseck. The software is freeware. You have to make the hardware yourself although there are some fellow builders that make them for you. See the links page for this.
FSBUS Classic
FSBUS NG Boards
I stacked the NG Boards, 4 x IO and 2 display sixpacks.
As there is very much info on the net about FSBUS I will not explain this any further here.
I updated his excel document with the newer boards and added the catalognumber of Reichelt also (much cheaper). You can see it here. I made a second excel document for the partsnumber of the new FSBUS NG.
On this page I try to show and explain some electronic gems I found during my search on the internet regarding rotary switches. For turning things up and down like heading and course on the MCP, radio's etc you will need rotary encoders or rotary switches. Most rotary encoders give such output that you can not directly connect them to a keyboardencoder. In that case you would need the so called redec pcb.
Well, I do not want to make things more complicated than necessary, so I found some rotary encoders that do NOT need redec; these are:
ALPS SRMB1L Seller:Elfa
Knitter MRP1-20 Seller:Knitter
Dutch rotaries: Voti
The alps SRMB1L has 4 connectors, 2 for left and 2 for right. So when turning cw pin 1 and 2 will close and open again and again. Turning ccw does the same with pin 3 and 4. The advantage is that these will take only 2 positions per rotary encoder on your FSKEY PCB. The disadvantage is that they are expensive. Encoders go for about € 5 to 7. So I decided to go for rotary switches. You can buy them for € 1,80 at Reichelt
I use this type: 
You can buy these with pins to mount it direct on a PCB (shown), better is to buy them whith a little opening in the end of the pin for easier soldering. Thera are several types: 1 x 12, 2 x 6, 3 x 4 and 4 x 3. The 1 x 12 has one central pin and has 12 outer pins and 12 position for the switch. The 2 x 6 has two central pins and has 12 outer pins and 6 position for the switch. And so on.
If you look into the FSBUS documentation you will find how to use the 1 x 12. You have to connect the outer pins 1-5-9, 2-6-10, 3-7-11 and 4-8-12. It is far more easy to use a 3 x 4 type. Just connect pin 1 2 3 and 4 to the 4 pins on the FSKEY (on the line closest to the diodes) and pin A to one of the 4 opposite pins on the FSKEY. Thats all. No further wiring on the pin of the switch as in the picture.
Normally these switches will not turn more then 360 degrees, so we have to modify them. Open the switch, take care of the 2 little balls and the spring. Inside you will notice a little plastic notch that prevents turning more than 360 degrees, just remove it by a Dremel for example. These rotary switches also have a little ring on the outside (under the washer and nut) with a notch with which you can block the switch so that it can turn to less than 12 position. A standard 3 x 4 will normally allow only 4 positions. Remove this ring also.
If you have a 2 x 6 open it and you will find 2 bridges in it (the bridge closes the center with the outer pins). Remove 1 bridge, adjust it for endless turning and then you have a 1 x 12 switch. Now do the wiring as in the FSBUS documentation. Normally these switches feel quite heavy when turning. This is easy adjustable. Open it. Between the 2 balls you will find a little spring. Shorten the spring and it turns more easy. Make little adjustments to find the feel you like.
You can do a lot more with these switches.
Because there are some good tutorials on the web, I link them here:
Building a concentric rotary switch
Building a rotary switch with push button
There is also a way to use rotary encoders for radio panels. You have to use another technique. It needs a bit more space then the dual rotary switches. I use encoders that can be connected to FSbus without the need of a REDEC PCB. The encoders are beside each other and use gears. The pics speak for them selves I believe.
