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Thanks for purchasing the Deluxe TBM900 panel by M9 Aviation! The fully built version of the panel utilizes an Arduino Mega 2560 as the interface board and can use RealSimGear, ArdSimX, or Mobiflight plugins to connect to X-Plane (the newer SimVim plugin is not compatible without a bunch of customization). The panel may also be driven by custom plugins or interfaces if customer desires. The fully built version comes pre-loaded with the RealSimGear firmware designed to work with the RealSimGear Plugin. As the processing board is an Arduino Mega2560, you can also choose to reload the firmware with any other Arduino compatible interface software, such as Mobiflight, Aviatek Connector, or SimVim.
** M9 Aviation does not support the use of software other than RealSimGear. If you choose to do so, all support for that must come from the authors of the chosen software.
Please note, while M9 Aviation and RealSimGear have a business relationship, RealSimGear does NOT currently provide any support for the desktop version of this panel outside of permission to use the RSG Plugin. For all support related to this panel, please us via our website or Discord channel.
The instructions below cover the RealSimGear plugin installation.
New Installation
Update the Firmware
If you have an existing TBM panel (Generation 2 with a small ELT switch), you can update the firmware to the RealSimGear version by following the instructions below.
At this point, the TBM panel and the plugin should be set. It should be noted, that while the panel was designed around the HotStart TBM900, the panel can be used with any Aircraft in X-Plane, subject to a custom CommandMapping.ini file being created. By default, the RealSimGear Plugin uses a default CommandMapping.ini file found in X-Plane 11\Resources\plugins\RealSimGear to control any aircraft that does not have a custom CommandMapping.ini defined (like you did above with the TBM version).
Start X-Plane and load the aircraft. Once fully loaded, the TBM panel should be active. You can check the status of the panel by navigating to Plugins > RealSimGear > Connected Hardware within X-Plane. This will open up a new window in X-Plane showing all the devices using the RealSimGear firmware (this panel will be on line 7).
The files below provide the necessary support for interfacing the TBM panel to X-Plane.
XLoader - This provides an easy to use firmware update application for putting the firmware on the TBM panel (also contains a test firmware)
RealSimGear_Plugin - This is the X-Plane Plugin that interfaces the panel to X-Plane
RealSimGear_Firmware - The firmware that runs on the panel and is compatible with the RealSimGear plugin
HotStart TBM900 Config - This is the specific CommandMapping.ini file that maps all the TBM panel switches to an X-Plane action (used by the RealSimGear Plugin)
TBM Panel - Reference Images - This document provides some images related to building the panel kit such as switch alignment, and pin identification
Support Documents
See above in the DOWNLOADS section two documents:
Part 1 of the build process
Part 2 of the build process
Part 3 of the build process