SimVimCockpit - Terms of Use
The SimVimCockpit / SimVimPanel Software is free and provided AS-IS for personal, non-commercial home use only without any warranties, it constantly develops and improves. Both the plugin protocol and firmware were significantly changed several times from version to version and new releases of the interface can have further changes in protocol and configuration.
The system consists of the plugin and firmware, which cannot work separately. Arduino is used only as a convenient controller platform for SimVimCockpit firmware and cannot be custom-programmed as the "usual" Arduino.
I am opposed to excessive commercialization of the home cockpit building hobby, overpriced Plug&Play hardware that often are represented as "cheap" product for home builders due to the lack of information that people have..
This project and all information on these website pages should inspire people to technical creativity, showing them that it's not necessary to spend a lot of money to realize their dreams.
Any enthusiast with the desire to create a home cockpit should have free access to all needed software and technical information, and they should know that instead of purchasing expensive hardware, they can build any panel themselves, spending a few hours and using very cheap or free materials and free software.
This website is for home cockpit builders, not for cockpit buyers and money-makers! Please don't ask me for any "license" to use SimVimCockpit software in your expensive products.On the other hand, I welcome really cheap cockpit parts and handy "DIY kits" for home cockpit builders, any instructional resources, 3D printed parts, free 3D and CNC models, and so on!
Summary
- It's not allowed to embed (upload) SimVimCockpit firmware (or older ArdSimX code) to any commercial hardware product and use the SimVimPanel software as part of commercial Panels.
- It's not allowed to keep any of our files on other web resources and include them in the package of any products you sell.
SimVimCockpit software, firmware, plugins can be freely downloaded from SimVimCockpit.com website only.
For Cockpit Builders:
The SimVimCockpit interface is very easy to use with your DIY cockpit hardware. You can easily install and update the firmware directly from the plugin menu and create or change the configuration for any cockpit of any complexity. You don't need to buy something special, all you need is common switches, buttons, LEDs, display modules and one controller board. And few plastics (PVC), wood, cardboard and your hands. Read "To buy or make?" here.
If you are going to buy some panels, modules, devices to implement them in your cockpit and use with SimVimCockpit interface only, note that all you need is that they have the necessary switches, LEDs, displays to which you have free access to connect (solder) wires.
Before buying of some enclosed device (MCP, G1000, Radio), check with the seller that there is NO built-in Mega2560 board inside this device to wich all the switches, encoders are already connected permanently.
- If yes, don't buy it, because it will be impossible for you to use all other cockpit controls with SimVimCockpit.
- Find another device that includes all switches, encoders (and maybe multiplexers) that are available for external wiring,
- Or ask that seller to provide you a device without embedded and connected master board, but only controls wired to convenient headers.
- Consider the price - without firmware it's just a box with few switches, LEDs and displays.
! We do not provide support for any commercial cockpit hardware that you could buy somewhere as a "Plug&Play" module with an embedded controller board (Arduino) for SimVimCockpit firmware, with all the switches connected to it. We are not responsible for any problems that you may encounter, or once this device stops working after next updating of the SimVimCockpit plugin.
For Hardware Sellers:
If you are going to produce and sell hardware products/modules for home cockpit builders and you would like to use them with the SimVim Cockpit, consider the following:
- Design your product (device) so that all wires from switches, encoders, displays, and multiplexers are accessible or connected to the terminal blocks (headers) of your device chassis. This way, users can easily wire them into an external SimVimCockpit main board (or multiplexers) and make custom configuration along with all the other hundreds of cockpit I/O controls.
- Don't integrate controller board (Arduino) into your "fully-enclosed" device, if it intended to be used with SimVimCockpit interface only, even if it doesn't include SimVimCockpit firmware - this not only adds costs but limits SimVimCockpit users in connection options for a large number of other input/output controls.
Think, you have an opportunity to produce cheap, convenient bezels, kits and DIY-modules with all knobs and switches in their places, but without the need to include any complex electronics inside your products! - Do NOT mislead people by trying to present your product as more complex and expensive than it actually is (when it can be just a few switches), by including a controller board (Arduino), which functionally fully depends on SimVimCockpit software, into your fully enclosed device. Such enclosed device will always look like a fully independent finished product for the customers, no matter what you write on your sales page.
- So, all you need is NOT embed the master board into your device, just describe that your product is used with SimVimCockpit Interface and place a direct link to the SimVimCockpit website pages, online configurator. Don't think that people are not capable to connect two wires and make configuration.
If you want to use our software as a simulator interface for the purposes of technical education and creativity in some non-profit institutions and public places (schools, museums, etc), please contact us, we will provide the suitable version for you. When you start using SimVimCockpit Interface, please specify all our credentials on the webpages displaying your project.
Vlad.