• Which the release of FS2020 we see an explosition of activity on the forun and of course we are very happy to see this. But having all questions about FS2020 in one forum becomes a bit messy. So therefore we would like to ask you all to use the following guidelines when posting your questions:

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Introduction

R

RB211

Messages
3
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us-california
Hello all, my name is Bill and I am a commercial pilot changing careers.
My background is that I enjoy electronics as a hobby and program Atmel AVR's, and arduinos for fun. I have dabbled in programming on the PC as well, currently teaching myself C#.
While on the subject of C#, I noticed that the SDK has some quirks with C# and my ultimate goal here is to interface my own sim hardware I make with arduinos and the like to Flight sim and I want to do it for the PMDG 737NGX with their SDK.
Their SDK is written in C++, so I am thinking that I better switch to C++?
I've read some posts by a guy named Beatle who has done some work with the managed code SDK..
For now I'd just like to say hello and little nudge with which direction to take? I must say I really like the C# language, and it has been since High School when I last touched C++!
 
Hey Bill,

Welcome to FSDeveloper!

Soon, some of the gauge guru's will chime in about your questions.

Cool to hear about your being an actual airline pilot. I have a friend that is going in the opposite direction, from sim to pilot.

Hope you enjoy your visits here and find the answers and advice you are looking for.




Bill
LHC
 
Welcome Bill :)

I am not a gauge programmer but I think the choice is either C++ or XML. If you want to interface with FS either via SimConnect or FSUIPC then I would say that C# is a better option. However it can be done as well with C++ and if you have not become deeply involved with C# then C++ might be the way to go.
 
Thanks guys. I never went to the Airlines, I stayed as a flight instructor then flew cargo with Flight Express in the small stuff. Right after I graduated from flight school, I sent an application to Colgan Air, four hours later I was talking to Chuck Colgan himself! He wanted me to go to an interview in two days, something I was not prepared for, so I turned it down!
Needless to say, I can only think how things would be different right now if I had gone to the interview!

As of this minute, I don't have any need for gauge programming, at least I don't think I do?
My main goal is to extract the data from FSX and also insert data back into it through a serial port connection to my external hardware.
Last night I figured out how to use the Input method in C# and was really excited I was able to press a button on my joystick and it changed a switch in FSX. Next goal is to set up the serial port and the buffers for sending and receiving data.

On another note, few years ago I bought a whole bunch of actual avionics from a real L1011, including a throttle quadrant. I started to interface the altitude select module to FSX, didn't get far until Flight Express gave me a call and moved me from South West Florida, to Oakland California! So all of that stuff is still in Florida at my uncles house.
And thats one of the main reasons why I am switching careers, I want to settle down and have a family!
 
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