Have you been disappointed with Simkits - TRC Development - therealcockpit Products and support?
SIMKITS FORUM HERE NO FEAR OF CENSORSHIP BY Simkits - TRC Development - therealcockpit!!!
I have been banned from the Simkits forum as a result of posting criticisms about Simkits - TRC Development - therealcockpit lack of support and poor quality of products received. We have been struggling with the supply of their TRC2244 simulator. TIP If you want a quick reply from Simkits then post a complaint on the forum you can save yourself weeks of waiting. Either Curt Roth or Peter Brown will respond almost immediately.
Simkits - TRC Development - therealcockpit now claim that the problems are a result of my lack of expertise, I challenge anybody to come and inspect the TRC2244 and demonstrate how this is the case. If they prove to me that I am at fault I will gladly retract any unfounded criticisms.
I ordered the kit May 2006 and I was told it would be 10 days for delivery....the remaining parts are still somewhere between Simkits and UPS.........
I shall in due course present here the full documented history including emails, pictures and returns requests that will clearly demonstrate how Simkits - TRC Development - therealcockpit have failed to provide a satisfactory service to me.
I am waiting to hear from their lawyers regarding my criticisms but believe that my comments are a true reflection and accurate account of my dealings with Simkits - TRC Development - therealcockpit. When I have time I will post a critique of each component as was received from them and the resolutions if any that where offered.
Listed here are some of the Simkits - TRC Development - therealcockpit components that either do not work at all or I was sent faulty products.
Simkits - TRC Development - therealcockpit TRC2244 COLLECTIVE.
This item does not work!!!! Examination of the PCB showed that 3 capacitors and 1 IC are missing. Repeated requests for data regarding the capacitor values was requested and ignored. An IC was collected at my expense
I was never told the capacitor values and we have not been able to make any use of the USB collective as supplied to me from Simkits. I was accused of being technically incompetent!! would some one please explain how this is my fault? Its a piece of junk that Simkits - TRC Development - therealcockpit charge 600+ euros for.
I have completely redesigned the collective control and electronics. Our R22 collective has much impoved response and greater resolution than the low quality item supplied bysimkits.
A great alternative to
the Simkits 6-Analog Input USB controller
or collective USB device is here http://www.lbodnar.dsl.pipex.com/joystick/index.html
Also note on the photographs how a ribbon cable is employed to connect the PCB to the potentiometer (as we non technical people call them). This is totally unsatisfactory, the ribbon cable conductors will soon fracture after several movements of the collective. Indeed one conductor is already broken.
Note in the picture above C1,C2 & C3 are missing as is the IC.
Mixture Control
As you can see from the Image below this is clearly wrong! there is no way that this will fit, even if the cable at the exit was to be bent at 90 degrees the device is just to long. Once again I would be grateful if someone at Simkits or elsewhere would have the decency to explain how this is due my lack of technical expertise? Additionally the dimensions and style are completely different from what is to be found in a real Robinson R22 helicopter.
TRC2244 Cyclic (Flight Stick)
The USB port is shown here protruding from the right hand side of the assembly is a big problem, when fitted to the console it was flush with the side metal work, making it impossible to fit a USB cable - It appeared to me that the entire assembly was built incorrectly by 90 degrees. This suspicion was also supported when I attempted to calibrate the control as each axis was wrong. Pitching forward on the stick generated a roll to the right!!! hmm interesting
Please do let me know how this is my fault? I emailed support at Simkits and after an extended wait of several weeks they suggested I send the entire kit back to them at my expense and pay extra to them to correct their own errors.
TRC2244 Built Engine 6 panel
I had many problems with this, it was impossible to connect the panel to the CCU2 as the connectors on the extension board to connect the engine panel to the CCU2 connectors do not match!
These two photos show the problem with the faulty TRC2244 Built Engine 6 panel PCB
Once again I had to return the complete unit at my cost to Simkits! How is this my fault? Also it takes Simkits many weeks to reply to my queries before they even acknowledged they had messed up again!
Another problem with the panel supplied to me was the starter switch wiring was incorrect, in fact the switch was wired in the wrong sense so rotating the key to the first position actually resulted in the switch indicating the last position in MS flight simulator. So Mr Brown or Roth would you like to tell me how this is my fault? The forum is open for your comments?
Simkits charge 995 Euros for this and yet they cant even build it right, also I had to add to this the cost of returning the faulty item to them. In my opinion this is very poor value for the money and would not recommend this product to our customers unless improvements are made.
The whole thing is a complete disaster and was another waste of money, if your looking for an alternatives to the Simkits TRC2244 engine panel then these are a great starting point
Curt Roth and/or Peter Brown claim that the problems are due to my technical incompetence, here is what Simkits themselves say about the engine 6 panel
"No technical knowledge is necessary to mount the TRC2244 Built Engine 6 panel in the metal panel. It can even be mounted without any tools, using the rivet PCB extenders which come with the board"
THERE WAS NO RIVET EXTENDERS SUPPLIED WITH MY PANEL!!
COME ON GUYS SEND THE EXTENDERS
TRC2244 Adjustable Seat
Well you would have thought that Simkits could at least get this right, and under normal circumstances I would have forgiven them for not including any mounting bolts. However as they seem convinced that I should return the complete TRC2244 at my expense to them and then PAY THEM to put right their own errors I don't see any reason why I should not point out yet another of their recurring shortcomings.
SO I CANT USE THE ADJUSTABLE SEAT
COME ON GUYS SEND THE BOLTS!!
TRC 2244 Helicopter Pedals
The dual pedals they sold to us don't work. The reason for this is clearly shown in the following photographs. They could not even manage to drill two sets of holes and get them to line up!
Once again it's hard to imagine how they can mess up the supply of the extra set of pedals. This is typical of how an order placed with Simkits goes
COME ON GUYS COMPLETE THE ORDER
If you have had similar experiences with Simkits - TRC Development - therealcockpit then please contact me.
http://www.midlandsimulators.co.uk/