By Fritz Weinrebe on 16 June 2008

Building the prototype of the COM2 radio has been great fun and a learning experience.  I managed to hook up the rotary encoders with the PIC18F4550. When turning the knobs it changes the 'frequency' and displays it on the 7 segment LEDs.  Using the USB port, I send the frequency to my PC and capture it with a C# program, which in turn send it to Flight Simulator 2004 via FSPUIC.

Here is a photo showing the prototype COM2 radio interfaced with USB:

By Fritz Weinrebe on 03 June 2008

I've entered the exciting world of USB development using a Microchip PIC18F4550 microcontroller.  The PIC18F4550 supports USB 2.0 but only up to High Speed (12 Mbit/s).

On the PC side I got hold of a C# program that can send and receive data to and from the PIC.  I am planning to develop the Bendix/King standby radios (COM2 and NAV2) with this.  And of course to interface with the rotary encoders for the Heading and Course selectors for the PFD.

Here is a drawing of what the radio will look like.  Not shown is the 2 rows of the 7 segment LED that indicates the active and standby frequencies.

Bendix-King KFS-598 - COMM
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