As per the title, I’m wondering if there’s any accessory that allows you to directly program the G1000 without needing a mouse? I know there is a replica Garmin for hundreds of dollars, but I was hoping for something way cheaper and simpler for around the £90 my Saitek radio cost me?
I’ve just started using the Cessna 172 G1000 after spending an eternity with the 152 and I love the plane, but trying to enter flight plans is a real chore with the mouse.
A lot of the planes I plan to advance to eventually like the Kodiak use G1000’s as well so I’m willing to invest a couple hundred quid into a solution, but not the $1000 insanity the replica suite costs.
I only fly in VR so it doesn’t need to actually have a display, I just want the buttons modelled.
We use touch screens, and Air Manager instruments (in this case the G1000 bezel) and then pop out the G1000 panels and place them into the bezel. This allows the buttons to interact and use the knobster for a dial.
The two 15.6" panels below the main screen are touch screens running air manager software and hardware knobsters.
I use the Class Echo (video on it at Microsoft Flight Simulator | Class Echo Controller | THE BEST!! - YouTube ). It’s not a GPS replica like the RealSimGear etc., but it let’s me completey control the G1000, G530 and G430 by touch (in addition to controlling autopilot, com/nav, aircraft lights and systems, etc.
It’s not as expensive, but you do have to buy the parts and build it yourself.
There are other options that are completely software (a display on a screen or tablet) or software/hardware (such as using a stream deck).
Hey there, @Kjaye767. I moved your post here to the #self-service:pc-hardware category where peripherals are discussed. Also added a “peripherals” tag to help with searchability. Good luck.
Thanks for the reponses guys. To be clear, it’s not a display I want, as I’ll be in VR, I just want the buttons, and really, I only care about the dual rotary encoder buttons as they are ■■■■ near impossible to operate in VR.
I’ve seen some button boxes on eBay but they don’t have that Bodnar Elma E37 encoder that I agree looks like it would be great to use.
I have the DIY/electronics skillset of a child so definitely don’t want to build something, I’m just hoping I can buy a ready made button box style solution for ideally under £250 that will really make using all the Garmin’s in VR much more intuitive and pleasurable, so that I don’t have to reach for my minikeyboard’s trackpad or a mouse.
Of a child. That means you could build a robot from some electric tape and chewing gum wrappers. Right? JK.
You should take a look at the build @LTMcComb is working on. He’s about done with his G1000 panel replica. I think he mentioned doing a little building for others as well.
I currently use a button box for the steam gauge (530/430) C172. I only use the mouse for some menu stuff. I will be building a life size panel soon that matches the switch and button placement like LtMcComb has done.
Here’s a pic of my box. Works great in VR.
Something like that is definitely what I want although I already have the honeycomb yoke and throttle quadrant so wouldn’t need the throttle, magneto and master/avionics on your box so could have something smaller that I could mount on top of the yoke.
That looks great though, did you build that yourself or buy it like that?
