Just what the subject line says. I fly a lot of IFR in MSFS, so obviously I use autopilot pretty much all the time. Just trying to decide if it's worth spending $150 on and whether or not it's proven to be functional with MSFS. I consider this to be (probably) the last piece of hardware I'll need to complete my sim experience.

Link to product here for clarity's sake: https://www.logitechg.com/en-us/products/flight/flight-simulator-autopilot-multipanel.945-000028.html

I have had one for years .. They work but to make life and all planes work well I don't use Saitek Logitech software.... I use Spad.next so that i can use it with all the Add On planes that need to have LVAR and HEvents in MSFS or just LVARs in P3D....

Example -- you want to use this with AS CRJ, PMDG DC-6, FBW A320 and even the WT CJ4 -- you will need to be able to interact with their LVars and HEvents....  Cant use the "default plane" commands in the Sim Bindings..

14 minutes ago, LesOReilly said:

I have had one for years .. They work but to make life and all planes work well I don't use Saitek Logitech software.... I use Spad.next so that i can use it with all the Add On planes that need to have LVAR and HEvents in MSFS or just LVARs in P3D....

Example -- you want to use this with AS CRJ, PMDG DC-6, FBW A320 and even the WT CJ4 -- you will need to be able to interact with their LVars and HEvents....  Cant use the "default plane" commands in the Sim Bindings..

Hmm...sounds like more than I'd like to deal with. Fortunately I have plenty of buttons between my throttle and joystick, I binded a bunch of buttons normally on that panel to my controllers. Maybe I'll just stick with that.

Unless I win the lottery and buy this: https://www.acer.com/ac/en/GB/content/predator-thronos

either way -- you want to bind events to complex add on aircraft you can't do that in the SIM ...  you will need external software like Spad.Next / AAO / FSUIPC / Mobiflight(arduinos) to be able to interact and have hardware interfaces to the Sim

Have you considered the Bravo throttle quadrant? $250 and it includes all of the above except the LCD readout. However, all that readout info shows up in the cockpit AP’s.

Also  six levers, a bunch of toggle switches, flap lever and a great trim wheel. Great value for the money really.

Edited July 15, 20214 yr by James Callan

The Saitek/logetech stuff is IMO too limited, it's fine for C172, but for more complex airliner...not so much.

I also didn't care about LCD readout, so this is what I came about for Autopilot control....based on a MMJOY32 borad

Total cost is under like 25USD.

Before this stuff, I used to use keyborad and that also works quite nice, eg I use up down arrorw for ALT dec and inc, left and right for HDG, num7\1 for SPD and 9/3 for VS, as all these default key funcitions are already moved to joystick.

I did consider the Bravo throttle, but my desk space is limited and it would just take up too much. I'm satisfied with my CH Products throttle, it does the job well enough.

I also thought about building my own but I lack the skill and tools necessary for such a project. And time (dad to a 5yo and 3yo).

19 hours ago, LesOReilly said:

either way -- you want to bind events to complex add on aircraft you can't do that in the SIM ...  you will need external software like Spad.Next / AAO / FSUIPC / Mobiflight(arduinos) to be able to interact and have hardware interfaces to the Sim

Wait, what? If I buy an add-on aircraft, it won't recognize the bindings to my controllers that I use for the default aircraft in the sim? That's going to be a problem...

🙂

Edited July 16, 20214 yr by FreeBird(Josh)

On 7/16/2021 at 9:57 AM, CLE_AA-5B_GrummanTiger said:

Wait, what? If I buy an add-on aircraft, it won't recognize the bindings to my controllers that I use for the default aircraft in the sim? That's going to be a problem...

This is the same problem that has existed for "ever" in flight sim.  Advanced Aircraft as I stated (FBWA320, WTCJ4, ASCRJ and PMDG DC-6 plus those to come...) have to run their own Autopilot systems to "simulate" the aircraft systems and controls they have.  This requires that you interact with their commands and controls...  These are L:VARS for the Data that they have like their Heading/ALT etc... and then they have H:EVENTs or L:VAR Data Modification that is required to be able to bind to Hardware...

Again same statement I made earlier...

Here is how easy to use Spad.Next.

first video shows his changes.

second video shows how he used Spad.Next to accomplish.

Of course he is only using Simconnect commands not LVARS.

The forum at Spad.Next will have people buying PMDG DC6 who have made changes to their Logitech panel. You could see what they are doing over there, to get an idea if buying the panel and buying Spad.Next is worth it to you.

The AP panel is NOT $150. It is $130 on Amazon right now (sold and shipped by Amazon). The panel with the lights and gear is $100.

 

 

Edited August 14, 20214 yr by Fielder

He also has part 1 and part 2 'tips and tricks' for the Logitech Radio Panel in other videos.

 

 

Edited August 14, 20214 yr by Fielder

If the majority of your flying is with GA aircraft then the Multipanel works great and you do not need Spad for it .For MSFS the logitech plugin works fine with it. I have SPAD and use it with my Class Echo (it's required for that), but disable it's logitech support and use the actual logitech plugins for both the Multipanel and Switch panel and it works fine. I do the majority of my flying in the JF Arrow III and the NextGen EMB-110 Bandeirante (could be considered Commercial) with other GA aircraft thrown in from time to time.