Great video! I have come to the conclusion that everything that Saitek makes is a design problem. It's hard to find a single product that doesn't have a known problem that either requires 3rd party software or the customer to void the warranty in order to fix it themselves.
Brilliant cockpit and thanks for sharing the Saitek fix. One of the very first articles I wrote, in 1998, was a step by step of fixing the Saitek X-36!
Hi, as far as I can tell from other sources, the original knobs are not rotary encoders. They simply actuate two micro-switches, one for each direction, that send pulses. As any switch, they are subject to bouncing issues. Thus, sometimes they send more pulses in a row.
You sir, are a hardcore flightsimmer. Seeing your setup from the side there is VERY impressive. Someday I hope to have something like that, provided I dont get the real thing.
Thank you for the detail and clear speech in your video. Having just purchased three Saitek panels I'm very interested in the modification and would be happy to install it. However, I am troubled by the price and to make that aspect worse, none of the comments or yourself mention import tax + VAT which could make it a very expensive option. I would be interested to know if you had knowledge of this aspect and whether you feel the $160 would be the total cost of the mod.
+donald brookes Yes, you will have to pay VAT and maybe import duty. I had to pay £26 on mine, of which I think £11 was VAT and the rest a customs clearance charge by the carrier. Mine was written up on the paperwork with a value of $39.99 (and that was a complete panel).
A lot of people avoided their products, I'm one of them. Their product's lack of quality and inexistent support really hurt their brand (and also their sales probably). Anyway, they don't exist anymore and no one misses them one bit.
Fantastic work! Please keep the videos up they are fantastic and we certainly appreciate them. Might give the mods a go, just a quick bit of soldering then for the self-fit? Only wish PilotEdge covered the UK as well but I get why they don't.
+Jimboz SimRigs From the horse's mouth: "The install is super simple. Unscrew everything and take apart. Then solder our board on with the encoders and done." I haven't done it, nor have I yet seen the manual. But I'm confident it's not that hard to do. As for PE - yep, UK would be good. But I learned to fly in SoCal, so I like it ;)
+Alex's Flying Club PilotEdge is great - that was my first flight, with a bit of editing to remove some of my mistakes :) I think I am going to sign up!
You should! I was a member for many months and really enjoyed it -- flew almost every day. The only reason I'm waiting to re-sign up again is because I am out of work and saving $$. Once that problem is solved, PE will be my little reward :)
Thanks for the info, great channel. Would you happen to know about the newer version panels, after Logitech acquired Saitek, are there any differences in terms of quality, support, drivers and so on? I want to build a cockpit so i am starting my research before buying anything. Cheers!
I am not sure about this, although I suspect there have been no manufacturing differences. I have made a newer video since this one, looking at a post-Logitech radio panel. The results were not conclusive...
Having owned several Logitech products (8-9) over the last decade and having contacted Logitech two times with a faulty product, im sorry to say that i in no way thinks that Logitech have any desire to improve or in any way change the manufacturingprocedures and/or quality level of the parts.
what a setup!!! also, how can i replace the left side mode switches, they are VERY hard to operate. I would like to completely replace the switches with a better quality. Or do they "break-in" ok and everything perfect? seems like they take a pair of vice-grips to turn them (just kidding but not really). Additional question. You mentioned doing the mod ourselves by just having the kit sent to us. I don't see that option on their website. Can you give me the name of the company that will send us the endcoders so that we can do the replacements?
It looks like the self-install option has gone. I think it's more than just replacing the encoders, so I wouldn't try DIY. As for the mode knobs, try a Google for 'saitek gorilla knobs' (seriously!)
+Almost Aviation Thank you for the very fast reply. :) Thats very interesting. I will check that out now. Your TH-cam channel is fantastic. Thanks for all your videos. :)
Thanks for the review! I'm not to happy with the encoders, but if I change them I'll see if its possible to remove the radio panel from the original housing, make my own, buy a couple of new quality dual concentric encoders and run the through a Leo Bodnar board(or similar). I like the idea from Motivemods, but the price is insane. Maybe it's possible to do the mod with just a set of new encoders??
+TumzDK I don't know why it costs so much - I haven't opened it up but I understand there is a custom board involved. I think your DIY solution would work, or just using the panels for display only and mounting a couple of rotaries somewhere else. On the other hand, a Bodnar Board and two dual concentric rotaries with knobs will already cost you about £70!
+Almost Aviation I just went to the shop at calculated the price with shipping, then I'll have to pay £144 and since I'm also in the EU, there is a risk of tax as well. I'm planning on getting a Leo Bodnar board anyway ;-) My guess is the new board is necessary in order to fit the new encoders inside the panel. Again, I must say I think the Motivemods did a good job. The panel looks great!
+TumzDK Tax aside, I had to pay £26 just for it to get through customs! Dunno if that varies with different carriers, I'm sure I have ordered stuff before without having to pay. (P.S. Actually some of that charge was VAT, so the cutoms clearance charge wasn't as big as I thought.)
+TumzDK Unfortunately, running the radio panel and the Bodnar solution simultaneously won't work. Thats's what I tried initially with the result that every encoder is hard coded to a function through FSUIPC. So... let's say you add the Bodnar board with 1 encoder and assign it to COM1 and it all works. Now you go to the saitek panel and change from COM1 to COM2 by using the rotary switch on the left, it will still only operate COM1. Now one step further and add a second encoder for COM2 but what about NAV1, NAV2, ADF, DME, XPDR? You'd either need a bunch of them (about 7) and at that point, my solution becomes more cost effective. In the end it comes down to what you'd like to achieve. If you'd like a completely custom panel then I would suggest Bodnar. However, If you have the Saitek radio panel, then my solution would be best option.
+MotiveMods I wondered if you could replace the selector rotary switch with a two-pole version, so as well as selecting the Saitek device it would also connect the rotaries to a different input on the Bodnar board. Then I realised it needs to be a five-pole switch, not two, as the rotary is actually four inputs! I'm not sure if such a switch exists!
I wonder if Saitek should just open-source their software or release an SDK so that the community can get involved with keeping these panels working properly given things seem all so hit and miss.
Just use SPAD.next, Saitek panels work perfectly with it, 1 click is 1 step. The software tool is extremely versatile, programmable you can do whatever you want with it and it comes as a download for around 20 bucks. Also, it works perfectly with payware add-ons like the big birds from PMDG. But there is one question I have for you. You have built a great cockpit, as far as I can see almost everything needed is there, why do you have your FSX setup to still show a VC? Isn´t that ruining the immersion?
Saitek radio panels do not work perfectly with SPAD.neXt, that would require magic. Indeed SPAD.neXt is far from 'perfect' because it doesn't have Lua scripting like FSUIPC does. Yes, it's a great product but it's hard to do anything really sophisticated with it.
well, you can set SPAD.next up to interact with FSUIPC, so if you really need LUA it´s possible to use it. But on the other hand, I was able to have my Saitek Radio and Multi Panel to do everything I wanted without the need for any Lua scripting. And yes they do work perfectly, on the radio panel 1 click is exactly 1 step, what is the major setback when using the standard Saitek drivers and they also do work with any of my payware aircraft, be it Aerosoft, PMDG, IFly or Carenado. Sure you have to set them up for every single one, but once this is done they simply work. That´s pretty perfect enough for me.
Well okay, but you keep changing the script. If SPAD.neXt is 'extremely versatile' and lets you 'do whatever you want with it', it seems to me you aren't just talking about the Saitek radio panel. And I'm using SPAD.neXt with X-Plane, so it matters little that it can interact with FSUIPC.
great, you are promoting a 149,99 US$ hardware solution, with all the strings that are attached to hardware solutions like having to wait for delivery, possible loss by carrier, being not at home for delivery and having to get the package at a parcel shop etc., for a problem that is easily solved at a mere 24,99$ with a downloaded piece of software. You also just complained about Spad.next not being able to use LUA.script, but your 149,99 solution isn´t able to use it just as well, your LUA capabilities come from FSUIPC and SPAD.next doesn´t stop you from using this just as well. So please enlighten me, what makes your 149,99$ hardware solution better than a 24,99$ software solution that fixes the problem just as well?
Like I said, in my experience SPAD.neXt doesn't fix the radio panel. The radio panel is built with cheap rotary encoders that do not work properly. You cannot fix this in software, so if you want the radio panel to work properly you have to throw the encoders away and use proper ones. If you are happy with yours, either I am wrong or you are more accepting of compromise than I am. I think it's the latter because so many other people have reported the same problem with the Saitek radio panel.
@@bubbashrek007 Not sure I understand the question, but it uses an infra-red emitter and camera to track head movements. You can see the camera at the top/centre of the screen and it is tracking a set of three reflectors attached to a clip on my hat.
If i get two or three or four of the Mulit-Panels (orange buttons and auto-pilot). Can i use each one for a different purpose (one of V/S, one for Altimeter, one for this that or the other? Just wondered if repeating all those orange buttons is not a smart thing with 3 to 4 of these stacked on top of one another. Would it confuse the software and the flight SIM?
@@AlmostAviation AH, that makes sense. Ok, i wonder why I see people with two of these beasts. Anyway, great show and appreciate the feedback and videos
Mark as much as I love your videos I disagree that SPAD doesn't perform as well as suggested. I Have to say that I use it for all my Saitek panels and have done so for many years without a Glitch. This upgrade you suggest is way too expensive for the average Simmer so for me I will stick with what I have got.Thanks for the info anyway as always keep those videos coming Cheers.
If i have two of the radio panels, will it differentiate the two so that i could have COM1 and NAV1 on one and COM2 and NAV2 on the other , will that work? I also will have the multi-panel too (the one with the auto-pilot orange-ish weird buttons)... i'd like to get all three of them working. the reason i don't need the switch panel is that i already have a Alpha Flight Yoke (Honeycomb)...any help is appreciated !!!!
In practice, can you delete the simulator configurations (xp11, p3dv4, fsx and c) and have all of them be managed by Spad? If yes, fsuipc for xplane and p3dv4, should it be installed anyway? When opening the panel settings, I am asked if I want to set default, xplane or simconnet, but which one should be set? I use all three simulators? Last question: if for example I 747 pmdg with 10 liveries, how can I tell spad to stop the same settings for all? Thanks for the assistance and info N.B: I bought the full version
Yes, as far as I know SPAD.neXt can completely manage the radio panel for each sim (assuming the correct setup). You will need to have the appropriate licence(s), as the support for each sim costs extra. I am not an expert with SPAD.neXt so you may be better visiting their support forum. Simconnect and FSUIPC are different alternatives for connecting to FSX/P3D, so I think you can choose either. FSUIPC may allow you to do things that are not possible with Simconnect, which is the official API. As far as the different liveries go, I don't know if this is possible.
That's a big question. There are 55 videos on the build if you want to know the details. Essentially I am using a single PC and a single three-screen display using nvidia Surround. In more recent videos I have a second PC to run the instruments.
so this fixes the ones digits from changing when you change the decimal numbers from .97 to .00 or versa vice right? And do I just send them my radio panel or multi panel and they send a replacement for a fee, or do I have to fully buy these upgraded units?
+SuperCellProductions I do not understand the logic, but there appear to be two different things to download from the Saitek driver page. One is called 'drivers' and gives you something called 'saipanels.exe', the other is called 'plugins' and gives you 'SaiFlightSimX.exe'. The latter appears to be newer and is what I am using.
I was looking into buying some of these panels but the Saitek name was a non starter for me. Personally, I always stay away from anything with the name Saitek on it ... they only sell junk. Now that Logitech has bought them, I hope they'll eventually redesign them with better quality parts.
Hello, I use this mod with Spad.next and need 2 clicks to change a value, But when i use it with logiteck drivers (spadnext off) it just needs one click to change a value, does this happen to you? All that is just in Multipanel in radio panel all works great.
I found that the MotiveMods panel behaved this way with the original SPAD - i.e. the digits only changed with every two clicks - but it worked correctly with SPAD.neXt. I have not tried it with more recent versions of SPAD.neXt, so I can't say.
I find it to work ok with version 0.9.5 but with spad.next i don’t remember what version was start the bug with 2 clicks, do you remember what version of spad.next you tested it
Almost Aviation thank you, seems mine working all the way around I’ll send it to motivemos to check It out to see if everything it’s connected correctly, did you tested with normal Saitek drivers ?
Just found this video, and thought it was a good idea, until I saw the outrageous price of $150. The radio panel itself was only $120, how on Earth can you justify Rotary encoders that cost more than the original panel. By the time you buy the radio panel and this overpriced upgrade, you could have bought a flight illusion radio that looks better takes up less room for about the same price.
I don't know much about the Flight Illusion radios, although from a quick Google a COM/NAV unit costs 540 Euros, which is about $660. So the modified Saitek compares quite favourably, I think, and it also provides considerably more functionality. I know this is an expensive upgrade but I don't see the logic of comparing it with the original price. The point is, at that price it's a piece of junk.
Almost Aviation 330.00 euro 479.00 us. directly from their website as of today. OK, a bit more expensive by the time you get done with shipping and vat. But this mod is not worth it IMO. Love your videos btw, just not in love with this mod. It shouldn't cost more than the actual unit that is being upgraded. Might have been a buyer below 95. I bought the Saitek panels as a stop gap until I get get the flight illusion stack. So definitely not worth it for me. I have purchased dual rotary encoders. They just don't cost that much to warrant the price tag of this mod. Again, love your vids and have learned allot from you. Thx for making them, I know it's time consuming. Take care.
I see the price listed as 390 euros and you need their interface to use it, which is an extra 150 euros. Those prices are exclusive of VAT, so add 20% for a total of 648 euros, or just shy of $800! As for the kit, granted it costs more than the components. That said, the dual concentric encoders with soft-touch knobs cost £30 each from Leo Bodnar, perhaps you can get them a bit cheaper but I couldn't when I was making kits. Then there's a PCB to interface it to the panel. There are a couple of messages somewhere in the comments here from the MotiveMods guy, I can't remember if he explains the costs. Anyway, glad you like the vids!
This panel sucks! Flying VASTIM after eg departing Heathrow I have to switch to Heathrow Director who's freq is 127.525 Mhz so I need 6 digits COM freq. NAV freqs don't matter but COMs do
Yes, it would benefit from an updated driver to be able to handle 8.33kHz channel spacing, although to be fair it isn't Saitek's fault that the infrastructure changed. It's also not only Saitek hardware that suffers, my Elite AP-4000 radios only have two fractional digits. The real BK radios (now) have a push-pull action on the fractional knob to change channel spacing. You could probably implement something like this in SPAD.neXt.
Almost Aviation, well yes, it’s how you program encoders. I have no problem programming my 3 dollar encoders in my projects. Either it’s bad driver or they have noisy inline circuit.
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Great video! I have come to the conclusion that everything that Saitek makes is a design problem. It's hard to find a single product that doesn't have a known problem that either requires 3rd party software or the customer to void the warranty in order to fix it themselves.
Brilliant cockpit and thanks for sharing the Saitek fix. One of the very first articles I wrote, in 1998, was a step by step of fixing the Saitek X-36!
Yes, everything Saitek seems to need fixing!
Hi,
as far as I can tell from other sources, the original knobs are not rotary encoders. They simply actuate two micro-switches, one for each direction, that send pulses. As any switch, they are subject to bouncing issues. Thus, sometimes they send more pulses in a row.
You sir, are a hardcore flightsimmer. Seeing your setup from the side there is VERY impressive. Someday I hope to have something like that, provided I dont get the real thing.
Thanks, you should see it now :)
Thank you for the detail and clear speech in your video. Having just purchased three Saitek panels I'm very interested in the modification and would be happy to install it. However, I am troubled by the price and to make that aspect worse, none of the comments or yourself mention import tax + VAT which could make it a very expensive option. I would be interested to know if you had knowledge of this aspect and whether you feel the $160 would be the total cost of the mod.
+donald brookes Yes, you will have to pay VAT and maybe import duty. I had to pay £26 on mine, of which I think £11 was VAT and the rest a customs clearance charge by the carrier. Mine was written up on the paperwork with a value of $39.99 (and that was a complete panel).
Hmm....very interesting. I never heard Saitek acknowledge a problem with their equipment. I was saving up to buy their product but I changed my mind
A lot of people avoided their products, I'm one of them.
Their product's lack of quality and inexistent support really hurt their brand (and also their sales probably).
Anyway, they don't exist anymore and no one misses them one bit.
Fantastic work! Please keep the videos up they are fantastic and we certainly appreciate them. Might give the mods a go, just a quick bit of soldering then for the self-fit? Only wish PilotEdge covered the UK as well but I get why they don't.
+Jimboz SimRigs From the horse's mouth: "The install is super simple. Unscrew everything and take apart. Then solder our board on with the encoders and done." I haven't done it, nor have I yet seen the manual. But I'm confident it's not that hard to do. As for PE - yep, UK would be good. But I learned to fly in SoCal, so I like it ;)
Excellent video! That sounded like PilotEdge in the background. How do you like it? Hope to see more flights in your awesome home simpit :)
+Alex's Flying Club PilotEdge is great - that was my first flight, with a bit of editing to remove some of my mistakes :) I think I am going to sign up!
You should! I was a member for many months and really enjoyed it -- flew almost every day. The only reason I'm waiting to re-sign up again is because I am out of work and saving $$. Once that problem is solved, PE will be my little reward :)
@@AlexsFlyingClub so, are you back 5 years later?
Thanks for the info, great channel. Would you happen to know about the newer version panels, after Logitech acquired Saitek, are there any differences in terms of quality, support, drivers and so on? I want to build a cockpit so i am starting my research before buying anything. Cheers!
I am not sure about this, although I suspect there have been no manufacturing differences. I have made a newer video since this one, looking at a post-Logitech radio panel. The results were not conclusive...
Having owned several Logitech products (8-9) over the last decade and having contacted Logitech two times with a faulty product, im sorry to say that i in no way thinks that Logitech have any desire to improve or in any way change the manufacturingprocedures and/or quality level of the parts.
what a setup!!! also, how can i replace the left side mode switches, they are VERY hard to operate. I would like to completely replace the switches with a better quality. Or do they "break-in" ok and everything perfect? seems like they take a pair of vice-grips to turn them (just kidding but not really). Additional question. You mentioned doing the mod ourselves by just having the kit sent to us. I don't see that option on their website. Can you give me the name of the company that will send us the endcoders so that we can do the replacements?
It looks like the self-install option has gone. I think it's more than just replacing the encoders, so I wouldn't try DIY. As for the mode knobs, try a Google for 'saitek gorilla knobs' (seriously!)
@@AlmostAviation got my knobs in, they work tremendously!!! thanks a ton! no more wrestling with the gorilla.
Thanks for all the good information. Had no idea about either the hardware upgrade or the new version of SPAD. Thanks so much
Cheers
Jim
+Jim Oates Me too, I didn't know about this until I saw a mention in an Avsim forum!
Hello, i have a question regarding you ATC.
What Software are you using for your ATC, It seems really good!
Keep up the good work.
Thanks
Sam
+Sam Tucker Hi. I am flying on Pilot Edge, which isn't software, it's real ATC. It is pretty awesome, although it only covers Southern California.
+Almost Aviation Thank you for the very fast reply. :) Thats very interesting. I will check that out now. Your TH-cam channel is fantastic. Thanks for all your videos. :)
So glad I stumbled upon this video. Thank you for the review.
No problem. I bought the review panel and it's still working good :)
Thanks for the review!
I'm not to happy with the encoders, but if I change them I'll see if its possible to remove the radio panel from the original housing, make my own, buy a couple of new quality dual concentric encoders and run the through a Leo Bodnar board(or similar). I like the idea from Motivemods, but the price is insane. Maybe it's possible to do the mod with just a set of new encoders??
+TumzDK I don't know why it costs so much - I haven't opened it up but I understand there is a custom board involved. I think your DIY solution would work, or just using the panels for display only and mounting a couple of rotaries somewhere else. On the other hand, a Bodnar Board and two dual concentric rotaries with knobs will already cost you about £70!
+Almost Aviation I just went to the shop at calculated the price with shipping, then I'll have to pay £144 and since I'm also in the EU, there is a risk of tax as well. I'm planning on getting a Leo Bodnar board anyway ;-) My guess is the new board is necessary in order to fit the new encoders inside the panel. Again, I must say I think the Motivemods did a good job. The panel looks great!
+TumzDK Tax aside, I had to pay £26 just for it to get through customs! Dunno if that varies with different carriers, I'm sure I have ordered stuff before without having to pay. (P.S. Actually some of that charge was VAT, so the cutoms clearance charge wasn't as big as I thought.)
+TumzDK Unfortunately, running the radio panel and the Bodnar solution simultaneously won't work. Thats's what I tried initially with the result that every encoder is hard coded to a function through FSUIPC. So... let's say you add the Bodnar board with 1 encoder and assign it to COM1 and it all works. Now you go to the saitek panel and change from COM1 to COM2 by using the rotary switch on the left, it will still only operate COM1. Now one step further and add a second encoder for COM2 but what about NAV1, NAV2, ADF, DME, XPDR? You'd either need a bunch of them (about 7) and at that point, my solution becomes more cost effective.
In the end it comes down to what you'd like to achieve. If you'd like a completely custom panel then I would suggest Bodnar. However, If you have the Saitek radio panel, then my solution would be best option.
+MotiveMods I wondered if you could replace the selector rotary switch with a two-pole version, so as well as selecting the Saitek device it would also connect the rotaries to a different input on the Bodnar board. Then I realised it needs to be a five-pole switch, not two, as the rotary is actually four inputs! I'm not sure if such a switch exists!
I wonder if Saitek should just open-source their software or release an SDK so that the community can get involved with keeping these panels working properly given things seem all so hit and miss.
The community seems to be doing okay by itself, both LINDA and SPAD.neXt allow you to program the Saitek panels any way you want!
Just use SPAD.next, Saitek panels work perfectly with it, 1 click is 1 step. The software tool is extremely versatile, programmable you can do whatever you want with it and it comes as a download for around 20 bucks. Also, it works perfectly with payware add-ons like the big birds from PMDG.
But there is one question I have for you. You have built a great cockpit, as far as I can see almost everything needed is there, why do you have your FSX setup to still show a VC? Isn´t that ruining the immersion?
Saitek radio panels do not work perfectly with SPAD.neXt, that would require magic. Indeed SPAD.neXt is far from 'perfect' because it doesn't have Lua scripting like FSUIPC does. Yes, it's a great product but it's hard to do anything really sophisticated with it.
well, you can set SPAD.next up to interact with FSUIPC, so if you really need LUA it´s possible to use it. But on the other hand, I was able to have my Saitek Radio and Multi Panel to do everything I wanted without the need for any Lua scripting. And yes they do work perfectly, on the radio panel 1 click is exactly 1 step, what is the major setback when using the standard Saitek drivers and they also do work with any of my payware aircraft, be it Aerosoft, PMDG, IFly or Carenado. Sure you have to set them up for every single one, but once this is done they simply work. That´s pretty perfect enough for me.
Well okay, but you keep changing the script. If SPAD.neXt is 'extremely versatile' and lets you 'do whatever you want with it', it seems to me you aren't just talking about the Saitek radio panel. And I'm using SPAD.neXt with X-Plane, so it matters little that it can interact with FSUIPC.
great, you are promoting a 149,99 US$ hardware solution, with all the strings that are attached to hardware solutions like having to wait for delivery, possible loss by carrier, being not at home for delivery and having to get the package at a parcel shop etc., for a problem that is easily solved at a mere 24,99$ with a downloaded piece of software.
You also just complained about Spad.next not being able to use LUA.script, but your 149,99 solution isn´t able to use it just as well, your LUA capabilities come from FSUIPC and SPAD.next doesn´t stop you from using this just as well.
So please enlighten me, what makes your 149,99$ hardware solution better than a 24,99$ software solution that fixes the problem just as well?
Like I said, in my experience SPAD.neXt doesn't fix the radio panel. The radio panel is built with cheap rotary encoders that do not work properly. You cannot fix this in software, so if you want the radio panel to work properly you have to throw the encoders away and use proper ones. If you are happy with yours, either I am wrong or you are more accepting of compromise than I am. I think it's the latter because so many other people have reported the same problem with the Saitek radio panel.
when changing the frequency on the logitech nav/com radio panel... does it automatically change the freq on the GNS-530 of the same COM
??
Yes.
What are you using to articulate the POV to your head?
TrackIR, which is probably the best hardware add-on since joysticks were invented.
How does trackIR connect to the sim to follow where you look in real time in the sim?
@@bubbashrek007 Not sure I understand the question, but it uses an infra-red emitter and camera to track head movements. You can see the camera at the top/centre of the screen and it is tracking a set of three reflectors attached to a clip on my hat.
I had the same question. It seems to respond very quickly like VR. There's almost no latency. 👍
I just ordered a Track IR5. Woo-hoo!
If i get two or three or four of the Mulit-Panels (orange buttons and auto-pilot). Can i use each one for a different purpose (one of V/S, one for Altimeter, one for this that or the other? Just wondered if repeating all those orange buttons is not a smart thing with 3 to 4 of these stacked on top of one another. Would it confuse the software and the flight SIM?
I would guess the software will not handle this as it will expect to be in one mode at a time.
@@AlmostAviation AH, that makes sense. Ok, i wonder why I see people with two of these beasts. Anyway, great show and appreciate the feedback and videos
Mark as much as I love your videos I disagree that SPAD doesn't perform as well as suggested. I Have to say that I use it for all my Saitek panels and have done so for many years without a Glitch. This upgrade you suggest is way too expensive for the average Simmer so for me I will stick with what I have got.Thanks for the info anyway as always keep those videos coming Cheers.
+jodonbaker43 Your mileage may vary, as they say. There is no doubt this upgrade is expensive.
If i have two of the radio panels, will it differentiate the two so that i could have COM1 and NAV1 on one and COM2 and NAV2 on the other , will that work? I also will have the multi-panel too (the one with the auto-pilot orange-ish weird buttons)... i'd like to get all three of them working. the reason i don't need the switch panel is that i already have a Alpha Flight Yoke (Honeycomb)...any help is appreciated !!!!
Yes, of course. You just set the selector switches at the left of each radio to COM1/NAV1/COM2/NAV2 as appropriate.
@@AlmostAviation perfect
In practice, can you delete the simulator configurations (xp11, p3dv4, fsx and c) and have all of them be managed by Spad?
If yes, fsuipc for xplane and p3dv4, should it be installed anyway?
When opening the panel settings, I am asked if I want to set default, xplane or simconnet, but which one should be set? I use all three simulators?
Last question: if for example I 747 pmdg with 10 liveries, how can I tell spad to stop the same settings for all?
Thanks for the assistance and info
N.B: I bought the full version
Yes, as far as I know SPAD.neXt can completely manage the radio panel for each sim (assuming the correct setup). You will need to have the appropriate licence(s), as the support for each sim costs extra. I am not an expert with SPAD.neXt so you may be better visiting their support forum. Simconnect and FSUIPC are different alternatives for connecting to FSX/P3D, so I think you can choose either. FSUIPC may allow you to do things that are not possible with Simconnect, which is the official API. As far as the different liveries go, I don't know if this is possible.
@@AlmostAviation i believe this product works with MS FS 2020 as well. Microsoft wanted to support Logitech products for obvious reasons.
What computing power are using and how is it all connected and plugged in?
That's a big question. There are 55 videos on the build if you want to know the details. Essentially I am using a single PC and a single three-screen display using nvidia Surround. In more recent videos I have a second PC to run the instruments.
so this fixes the ones digits from changing when you change the decimal numbers from .97 to .00 or versa vice right? And do I just send them my radio panel or multi panel and they send a replacement for a fee, or do I have to fully buy these upgraded units?
+SuperCellProductions oh god that's expensive even to self install. spad will do for me.
+SuperCellProductions No, that is a software issue. The whole and fractional digits seem to work independently with the latest Saitek plugin, though.
+SuperCellProductions Yep, no question it's expensive.
latest saitek plugin? the latest saitek drivers you mean? and thanks for answering
+SuperCellProductions I do not understand the logic, but there appear to be two different things to download from the Saitek driver page. One is called 'drivers' and gives you something called 'saipanels.exe', the other is called 'plugins' and gives you 'SaiFlightSimX.exe'. The latter appears to be newer and is what I am using.
I was looking into buying some of these panels but the Saitek name was a non starter for me.
Personally, I always stay away from anything with the name Saitek on it ... they only sell junk.
Now that Logitech has bought them, I hope they'll eventually redesign them with better quality parts.
Having watched only a few of your videos, I get the impression that you only buy saitek products so you have something you can fix :P
+aviationFan5418 Well, it's true I seem to spend more time tinkering than flying :)
Hello, I use this mod with Spad.next and need 2 clicks to change a value, But when i use it with logiteck drivers (spadnext off) it just needs one click to change a value, does this happen to you? All that is just in Multipanel in radio panel all works great.
I found that the MotiveMods panel behaved this way with the original SPAD - i.e. the digits only changed with every two clicks - but it worked correctly with SPAD.neXt. I have not tried it with more recent versions of SPAD.neXt, so I can't say.
I find it to work ok with version 0.9.5 but with spad.next i don’t remember what version was start the bug with 2 clicks, do you remember what version of spad.next you tested it
@@FGCH03 Looks like it was with Version 0.95.81 (see here: th-cam.com/video/_VqZuFAHTMQ/w-d-xo.html).
Almost Aviation thank you, seems mine working all the way around I’ll send it to motivemos to check It out to see if everything it’s connected correctly, did you tested with normal Saitek drivers ?
@@FGCH03 Yes, it works correctly with the Saitek plugin for FSX. I haven't tried it with X-Plane.
i get this one but i didint setup i have xplane 11 if any one information could you give me please
Just found this video, and thought it was a good idea, until I saw the outrageous price of $150. The radio panel itself was only $120, how on Earth can you justify Rotary encoders that cost more than the original panel. By the time you buy the radio panel and this overpriced upgrade, you could have bought a flight illusion radio that looks better takes up less room for about the same price.
I don't know much about the Flight Illusion radios, although from a quick Google a COM/NAV unit costs 540 Euros, which is about $660. So the modified Saitek compares quite favourably, I think, and it also provides considerably more functionality. I know this is an expensive upgrade but I don't see the logic of comparing it with the original price. The point is, at that price it's a piece of junk.
Almost Aviation 330.00 euro 479.00 us. directly from their website as of today. OK, a bit more expensive by the time you get done with shipping and vat. But this mod is not worth it IMO. Love your videos btw, just not in love with this mod. It shouldn't cost more than the actual unit that is being upgraded. Might have been a buyer below 95. I bought the Saitek panels as a stop gap until I get get the flight illusion stack. So definitely not worth it for me. I have purchased dual rotary encoders. They just don't cost that much to warrant the price tag of this mod. Again, love your vids and have learned allot from you. Thx for making them, I know it's time consuming. Take care.
I see the price listed as 390 euros and you need their interface to use it, which is an extra 150 euros. Those prices are exclusive of VAT, so add 20% for a total of 648 euros, or just shy of $800! As for the kit, granted it costs more than the components. That said, the dual concentric encoders with soft-touch knobs cost £30 each from Leo Bodnar, perhaps you can get them a bit cheaper but I couldn't when I was making kits. Then there's a PCB to interface it to the panel. There are a couple of messages somewhere in the comments here from the MotiveMods guy, I can't remember if he explains the costs.
Anyway, glad you like the vids!
2:00 = Dead on!
+Kevin Davis Yeah, totally dishonest in my view.
This panel sucks! Flying VASTIM after eg departing Heathrow I have to switch to Heathrow Director who's freq is 127.525 Mhz so I need 6 digits COM freq. NAV freqs don't matter but COMs do
Yes, it would benefit from an updated driver to be able to handle 8.33kHz channel spacing, although to be fair it isn't Saitek's fault that the infrastructure changed. It's also not only Saitek hardware that suffers, my Elite AP-4000 radios only have two fractional digits. The real BK radios (now) have a push-pull action on the fractional knob to change channel spacing. You could probably implement something like this in SPAD.neXt.
The kit is $149 dollars? For a few 3 dollar encoders? No thanks.
Well no, the encoders retail for around £25 each. That's kind of the whole point, which is that Saitek used crappy ones that don't work properly.
Almost Aviation, well yes, it’s how you program encoders. I have no problem programming my 3 dollar encoders in my projects. Either it’s bad driver or they have noisy inline circuit.
@@lastactiongamers2619 But coming back to the point, the MotiveMods kit isn't 'a few 3 dollar encoders'.
Almost Aviation, maybe not but I can, with 100% accuracy, say that this mod kit is over priced. Which is a shame.
@@lastactiongamers2619 You don't say what you mean by 'over-priced'.