i have not yet flown my aircraft and would like to practice on a simulator before doing so.
i live in australia and i am considering buying a cable from the internet.
can anyone recomend a reputable source with prices and shipping that will not break the bank.
most sites i have found are over seas , is there a fms interface cable dealer in australia?
i have xp home computer and airtronics 5 pin transmitter.
usb,serial,printer,joystick port don't matter just as long as it works and is good value.

Not sure about shipping overseas, or Windows XP, but this guy (Matt Clements) is pretty nice to deal with. He started making the interface cables to help pay for college, and he's still making them. Most reasonable price I've seen too. (Less than $20 shipped in the U.S.)

E-mail him and ask if he can get one to you.
http://www.mattclement.freeservers.com/fms/fms.html
Dennis-

E-bay is where i bought my interface cable.Cost $35.Just go to e-bay.com, type in FMS in the search,and your there.I do recommend
getting a cable that connects to your serial port, if your using windows xp.It just makes it very simple to use.With this deal you get a cable and a fms cd.

Here's what you want.

http://www.rc-electronics.co.uk/fms.htm

Lots of offerings around, but these are a known commodity. ie: They work, are well made, are inexpensive & include prompt delivery with Paypal or Credit Card (via Paypal) payment options. Will set you back somehwere between AUD$40 to 45 inc delivery depending upon the state of the GBP/AUD and your card/cash commission/exchange rate at the time you order.

Like Jim said, best value and problem free way to go is with an FMS PIC serial interface cable which connects from your TX buddy output to your PC serial port. I can confirm the one suggested works well with the current beta and alpha versions of FMS. Make sure you select the correct 5 pin buddy connection for your Airtronics TX when you order.

The link I provided is a "known commodity" as well. And while I don't know the exchange rate, $16.00 US, shipped, which includes FMS on CD, is the BEST deal around.
Dennis-

Matt's appear either Win98 only or "email me if you want one for Win XP" and though it's difficult to determine accurately or easily from the info presented on his website, therefore presumably not PIC Denis? If so, different 'fish'.

PIC is the only way to go.

As for it being only USD$16, you overlooked Matt's vague "Shipping is included in the price (international orders are more)!!!!" Pig in a poke shopping is about as much fun as buying used bridges.

I appreciate your buyer loyalty and patriotism, but Matt's site presents relatively as amatuerish, US order only orientated, with too many vagaries unanswered upfront posing questions and emails required to resolve - and to save a paltry couple of AUD if even that! Measure twice cut once.

And although it doesn't affect our particular inquirer, Matt doesn't do a JR interface, whose presence locally outnumbers Futaba by around 9:1.

http://www.rc-electronics.co.uk is certainly not the only show in town, but it's arguably the best. Upfront international buyer friendly, Oz friendly, PIC for FMS, JR friendly, immediate, precise and pain free to use at an equitable cost.

Ultimately it's up to the buyer to choose, and I'm glad you're as happy with the product you sourced as I am with mine.