744 MCP control using Cockpit Simulator's 737 MCP.

[JG]

Good Evening,
Thought this information deserved a new thread because the beginnings of this are at the tail end of a thread about CDU's.
After discussion with Cockpit Simulator about this subject, their developers have begun some enquiries to make this happen and have forwarded to me a button assignment plan that I think would work quite well. I am waiting permission from them to publish that info on the forum.
Hardy may want to contact them directly about this rather than have a go between on the other side of the world?
Cheers, J.G.

[JG]

OK that permission has arrived.
Here is a link to the CS737X mcp
https://www.cockpit-simulator.com/shop/cs-737x-mcp/
A look at a picture of the thing while evaluating the button assignments will help.

This is the button assignments proposed at this time by Cockpit Simulator.
CS 737X MCP on 747 aircraft

BANK LIMIT:
    10 - AUTO
    15 - 10
    20 - 15
    25 - 20
    30 - 25
N1 - THR
SPEED - SPD
VNAV - VNAV
LVL CHG - FLCH
HDG SEL (see below)
LNAV - LNAV
VOR LOC - LOC
APP - APP
ALT HLD - HOLD (alt)
V/S - V/S
CMD A - CMD L
CMD B - CMD R
CWS A/B (see below)
C/O - IAS/MACH SEL
SPD INTV - IAS/MACH knob push
ALT INTV - ALT knob push

HDG SEL button
    Press and release within 1 second: push SEL knob
    Press for more than 1 second: push HOLD button

CWS A and CWS B button
    Simultaneously press then release: push CMD C button

Provided by our software developer.
Best regards,
CS

I'm not sure what would happen with the green lamp on the HDG SEL button, presumably it would be off after a short press, and on after a long press......be nice if the led could do different colours for different modes.
Cheers J.G.

[JG]

Folks, CS has reported support for MCP and EFIS sometime in March.

J.G.

[Kurt]

Folks, CS has reported support for MCP and EFIS sometime in March.

J.G.

nice - if they ever produce a 747style MCP with dual efis and eicas it will be a sure buy for me as my current original Aerosoft MCP combo is not fully featured and needs a very old PC to get working with PSX via RS232.

Fingers crossed

cheers

[JG]

Hi Kurt, had correspondence with CS about this, also suggesting there may be a market for it because of the similarities between 747, 757, 767 and 777 MCP's. Unfortunately, they believe the cost of tooling for mass production of these wouldn't be covered by the available customer base....and they may well be right. So the discussion changed to implementing and easy way for PSX users to interface a 737 glareshield panel set to PSX.
The more people enquire direct with CS about 747 MCP's the better the chance something may be available in the future.
I wish I had available at the time I built my MCP an Aerosoft MCP....I would have given it a first birthday with new electronics interfacing directly to PSX via ethernet! Making the panels and fitting switches and encoders is the hardest bit of the build. Hang on to your MCP.....they are very rare! Rod at Sim Solutions can help with the electronics and programming, they also do OEM solutions. In fact Rod got me a really nice OEM MCP that now sits as a museum piece in my living room because the OEM solution was going to take too much power from my off grid household. No it's not for sale.
Cheers,
J.G. 

[Will]

I have an old Aerosoft MCP, I wonder if there is still a market for them...

[Kurt]

Hi Kurt, had correspondence with CS about this, also suggesting there may be a market for it because of the similarities between 747, 757, 767 and 777 MCP's. Unfortunately, they believe the cost of tooling for mass production of these wouldn't be covered by the available customer base....and they may well be right. So the discussion changed to implementing and easy way for PSX users to interface a 737 glareshield panel set to PSX.
The more people enquire direct with CS about 747 MCP's the better the chance something may be available in the future.
I wish I had available at the time I built my MCP an Aerosoft MCP....I would have given it a first birthday with new electronics interfacing directly to PSX via ethernet! Making the panels and fitting switches and encoders is the hardest bit of the build. Hang on to your MCP.....they are very rare! Rod at Sim Solutions can help with the electronics and programming, they also do OEM solutions. In fact Rod got me a really nice OEM MCP that now sits as a museum piece in my living room because the OEM solution was going to take too much power from my off grid household. No it's not for sale.
Cheers,
J.G.

Hey - yes my thought as well - last resort is to build an MCP from scratch and use SimSTack. I already have two of those in my sim (technically only one right now but the second one is in transit from Australia ))

Currently I have solved the missing features in the Aerosoft via separate switches (EFIS Baro/Mins Mode), buttons (TFC and CTR) and one rotary selector (Bank angle) but would be nice with a non frankenstein version now that I finally have a full-featured 1-1 sized PSX based cockpit build at home.

The Aerosoft MCP/DUAL-EFIS/EICAS works well and the good thing is that I was clever enough to get 2 EFIS units back in the days even though it PS1 only supported one unit.

I will reach out to CS and flag my interest in a 747 version.

Cheers

[JG]

G'day Kurt, sounds like you and I have covered the same ground at different times, very happy with all my Simstack solutions, it is used for glare shield panels (Inc EFIS, EICAS & MCP), lighting and Comms in my Sim. It is possible to make the concentric rotary switch and encoder for the MCP fairly cheaply, same for the switches behind the EFIS rotaries.....I ordered the CS 747x CDU yesterday, I'll let you know how it flies when I eventually get a hold of it.
Cheers, J.G.

[JG]

Good evening all. This email in from Cockpit Simulator today.
Hello JG,
Our software developers have completed the adaptation work for Aerowinx B744. Currently, our 737 MCP&EFIS can already support Aerowinx B744. Please download our latest version of Bridge (https://www.cockpit-simulator.com/firmwares/CockpitSimulator%20v2025.2.7.exe).
If convenient, please also provide us with feedback on any issues encountered during operation.
Thank you and best regards,
CS.
I don't own either of these hardware accessories yet so if anyone else has them please give it a try and give feedback as requested to CS as well as the forum.
Cheers, J.G.

[asboyd]

nice - if they ever produce a 747style MCP with dual efis and eicas it will be a sure buy for me as my current original Aerosoft MCP combo is not fully featured and needs a very old PC to get working with PSX via RS232.

Fingers crossed

cheers

I have an Aerosoft MCP with a single EFIS (looking for second). I have it running under Windows 10 (x64) with a USB to serial adapter. The only issue is you have to use a specific version of Java and AdaptPSX (not the latest version)

When I finally make our relocation move to Gundagai and get my machines setup. I will try and setup a doco on what you need to run the Aerosoft under Win 10 with a USB adapter.

Cheers,
AlexB

[JG]

Hello again, in light of Alex's addition above, to clarify, if you own the CS Boeing 737 series MCP plus 1 OR 2 EFIS and 1 ,2 or 3 CS747X v2 CDU's, it is now possible to run them all directly with PSX using just one bridging software via USB on the same PC. This is a good option if starting to build a cockpit and the first NEW off the shelf quality hardware that has been available for a long time that should connect directly to PSX with "minimum FAFF".
J.G.