Adding two very simple switches with IO Cards?

[Boeing 747 Flyer]

hey everyone,

I would like to start my first ever building epxerience for my FS with IO Cards. Basically, I'd like to add a "RECALL" and another simple switch to just above my EICAS Panel.

Now, how would I do this? I'm looking to implement this with the 757 Captain add-on (FSX). Which IO Card would I need to get, how would I need to wire, and what about the coding in SIOC? Will it be a simple script as it is literally only two switches with two positions on each?

Also, how does power get to the IO Card? I appreciate this is not an easy topic for me, so any help you can give is appreciated! I'm pretty much a beginner in terms of SIOC scripting and IO Cards.

Thanks very much,

Jack

[Buddym]

Hi Jack,

The OC IOcards and SIOC will be great to begin with. They are a good value and very well supported. The Master Card is the place to start, and I suggest that you use the USB expansion card too. This way the Master Card can plug into the USB expansion card and helps you avoid parallel port compatibility issues. I'm not familiar with the add on you are using, but even if you end up using mouse-trapping to activate your functions it should still work fine. You can probably get this up and and running in one night after work!

Buddy

[Boeing 747 Flyer]

Okay thanks.

Sounds good then, I will of coruse need more information but your post has given me something to think about.

Just to practice, how exactly would I go about (in SIOC) interfacing the OC Transponder "ALT Source" and "XPNDR" switches with the 757 add-on? I know you're not familar with it, but what do I need to look out for?

[Buddym]

it depends.... if the add-on has it's own FSUIPC offsets, or if it uses the same offsets as the FS internals you have it made.. just reference those offsets in your SIOC script and you're off and running.

If the add-on doesn't have any offsets then you may be limited to trapping mouse-clicks and/or keyboard keypresses and then triggering via FSUIPC. Maybe someone else here has info on that add-on. Nigel just did a tutorial on mouse trapping so if you go that route then that's a great place to start. Over on Kiek's website theres some awesome tutorials on getting things going with SIOC.

LINK:

http://www.lekseecon.nl/sioc.html


Buddy

[Boeing 747 Flyer]

thanks Buddy for your help.

First of all, how do I know if this add-on has FSUIPC offsets?
Then, how would I script those in SIOC (I took a look at Nicos website but still am a bit lost).
The switches are just two simple ON/OFF switches, that's all.

Jack :D

[twisted8]

Jack, I would highly recommend switching to the Level-D 767 for now and hopefully their 757 version will come out soon. With the level-D SDK + nico's lekseecon + opencockpit cards you'll have a great platform to build a sim with lots of accessible inputs and outputs. If you really just want those basic buttons then captain sim should be ok. If you can map those buttons to keyboards shortcuts it should be simple enough
Key generation tutorial for SIOC: http://www.lekseecon.nl/howto.html#keygen

[Boeing 747 Flyer]

Hi there,

I'm definitely sticking with the CS 757, it should hopefully work.

To get it to interface, will I need registered FSUIPC? Please remember, I am a complete novice in terms of programming, having never done anything like it before.

[Buddym]

Hi,

Yes, for certain get a registered copy of FSUIPC and WideFS too for that matter. There is a discount if you buy both at the same time. WideFS will allow you to run wideserver on your PC where FS is resident and then widefs can run on other PCs and still see all of the variables thast FSUIPC exposes. You may not require the funtionality now, but you probably will in the future, if your cockpit expands past the limits of a single PC.

I forgot to mention, the OC mastercard does require 5 VDC. The USB expanslion card gets power from the PCs USB port.

Buddy

[Buddym]

I looked over the User Manuals for that add-on... I didn't see a key command chart, so I would suppose that there are only mouse clicks for controls. When you are using this plane can you control different cockpit functions with keyboard clicks or only mouse clicks? Looking like mouse trapping.

Buddy

[Boeing 747 Flyer]

I think it is pretty much mouse trapping. Can mouse trapping work with SIOC, IOCards an Ultimately the Opencockpits Transponder?

[twisted8]

Yeah you can do the mouse trapping with FSUIPC then assign a keyboard shortcut to the mouse trap and then use SIOC to call they keyboard shortcut.
The OC transponder would probably use built-in FS offsets, as long as captain sim uses the default FS offsets I think it would work.

[Boeing 747 Flyer]

Okay then.
If I'm using default Offsets will I still need registered FSUIPC? If so, is there any way to get it to interface without registered FSUIPC?

[Boeing 747 Flyer]

Hi guys,

I would appreciate an answer if this is possible without purchasing FSUIPC. Thanks.

[AK Mongo]

FSUIPC is very cheap. Pete Dowson has created an excellent piece of software, that is worth every penny. Just buy the thing!

There is though an unregistered version you can get. It does not offer full function on everything, but you can take a look and see if it fits your needs.

But just buy it.

*disclamer--I am in no way affiliated with Peter or FSUIPC, but have paid a lot more for programs that did not do nearly as much.*

[Buddym]

Yeah, same here ... FSUIPC is an incredible value and has awesome support from Peter and the community.

I have no experience mouse trapping without FSUIPC so to be honest I don't know of another way to do it

Buddy

[Boeing 747 Flyer]

I have owned unregistered FSUIPC for a few years now, I am just wondering is it possible with the unregistered version?

Also, can things like rotary knobs, three-way switches, etc be programmed in FSUIPC?

Furthermore, does the 757 Captain add-on definitely support mouse trapping?

Kind regards,

Jack

[Boeing 747 Flyer]

Would appreciate an answer to the question below guys:).

[Buddym]

I have not used unregistered FSUIPC so I cannot say, maybe ask Peter over on his support forum, he is always more than helpful.

If we were talking about registered FSUIPC then realize that the purpose of FSUIPC is to deal with the task of reading and writing to MSFS addresses using the published offsets, not interfacing to hardware. As far as I know you have to have something like SIOC or IOCards (for example if you are using Open Cockpits hardware) to generate reads and writes to the offsets, which FSUIPC then processes to act upon MSFS internals. Trapping a mouse click and then sending to FSUIPC is very different than rotating an encoder or flipping a switch, programatically speaking. FSUIPC has (as far as I know) no method of identifying with or interfacing to any hardware other than game controller devices that show up in the Windows Device Manager. That being said, you could use Leo Bodnar's cards or an MJOY16 card to connect switches and encoders and then possibly trigger your trapped mouse events via FSUIPC without needing anything like SIOC or IOCards software. Have a look at the tutorial on mouse trapping that Nigel did. I would pose the question to Peter Dowson as:

"can I use a button press on a joystick interface to trigger an event based on a trapped mouse click to write to an offset, and can I do this using unregistered FSUIPC?

Also, maybe Kiek chan chime in here, but I think if you look at his stuff over on leekseecon there is some info on trapping and SIOC as well. I will do some experimenting myself this weekend as I am most likely going to be in the same boat with my addon, probably the Wilco A320.

Hope this helps, I am just not as far along on this subject as I need to be yet.

Buddy

[AK Mongo]

Sounds like you need to take the following steps:

1. Start FSX
2. Go to Modules Menu
3. Pick FSUIPC
4. See if your unregistered version will allow you to Mouse Trap. Instructions are here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ccpIHJgoWIo"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ccpIHJgoWIo
5. If it does not appear to, read the manual or their forums to find out if you are doing something wrong, or need to buy the license.
6.Report back to the forum on your findings.

Good luck...

[Boeing 747 Flyer]

Thanks very much guys, all of that information was very helpful.

So, lets say I establish that I can do mouse trappnig (weather I have to purchase or not)...

I want to try making push switches for the Yaw Dampers. What products exactly would I need to do this? I am thinking IO Card, USB Card... What else?

Also, how are the connections wired up? I may try and get the yaw dampers working with the LDS767 somehow.

I am getting there, I understand most of it, but it is just bringing it all together that I cannot grasp!

[Buddym]

Thanks for that Mongo, very easy after watching the video.

Tons of hardware options out there... IOCards, FSBus, Bodnar, MJOY, Desktop Aviator... many more. The thing to do is decide what you want to do in the sim, long term. The Bodnar card is awesome, but has no outputs. The IOCards are great, but require additional software and can be intimidating. The FSBus stuff looks good, I have not played with it, but it looks like you have to build it all yourself.

I think the Bodnar card is a great card to start with. itcan read switches, encoders, and pots, all on a USB-based plug and play board that has push terminals for connections. It requires no drivers and no external power source. If you need outputs then probably add a USB expansion card and Mater card from OC after you play with the Bodnar card for a while. If funds are tight and you are handy with a soldering iron take a look at the MJOY 16 project. It's open source, very cheap to build and supports switches, encoders, and pots as well. It plugs in with USB and requires no drivers.

[Boeing 747 Flyer]

Right then. Lets say I bought an IOCard, and a USB Card. How would I connect these together?

Once connected, is that it for now unless I wish to add a switch (ie Yaw Damper)?

[AK Mongo]

The Leo Bodnar card is an input card. It accepts inputs from your hardware(switches, rotary switches, buttons, etc.) and outputs them to your computer and looks like a game controller in the control panel. You can then assign those switches functions via the flight sim settings for basic stuff, or through FSUIPC for more advanced options. I do not know why there are commands that can be used in FSX that are not available through their own configuration menu, but FSUIPC will allow you to access them. Most people on this forum seem to be using the Bodnar card for their inputs.

The opencockpits cards can be used for inputs and outputs. Outputs take signals from FSX and add them make something happen in your hardware. (light leds, turn switches, engage mechanical gizmos, etc.) these seem to be the best way to get these external world things done, but require programming in a basic language called SIOC. The programming seems to be the stumbling block for most (myself included.) to using these for inputs.

So bottom line: figure out whether you want inputs to the sim, or outputs from it, or both. That will determine which choices in hardware you need to look at.

Most start with inputs and may move on to outputs.

[Boeing 747 Flyer]

Right, I think I'm getting there.

For things like switches, knobs, buttons, the Leo Bodnar card is best.

For things like LEDs (which require an output from the Sim), Opencockpits IOCards are better.

Am I correct?

[AK Mongo]

You got it, although you may get arguments about brand x or y, most go the route I described.

If you are good at programming, you can do inputs on the open cockpits system, but that is jumping into the deep end for most....

[Boeing 747 Flyer]

Thanks Mongo,

When you say brand x or y, what exactly are you referring to?

Also, if I did purchase the Bodnar card, odes it come pre-built? What do I then need further to this before I start soldering on my own switches?

[AK Mongo]

Thanks Mongo,

When you say brand x or y, what exactly are you referring to?

Also, if I did purchase the Bodnar card, odes it come pre-built? What do I then need further to this before I start soldering on my own switches?

BuddyM had a post a few ago that lists some other brands.
For instance, I am only currently using input cards. My inputs are run off Desktop Aviator cards, and a hacked ch products yoke. Both work, did not know about the Bodnar cards before I purchased the Desktop Aviator stuff.

Were I to do it over, and I lived in Europe, i would definitely buy the Bodnar card. It does not require soldering. You plug the wires into the card, and can crimp terminals onto the switch ends.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eB7FTO87Mzo"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eB7FTO87Mzo

It is a well though out, well supported piece of equipment.

It is built and plug and play into Windows.

[Boeing 747 Flyer]

This is fantastic. I am learning so much from you guys... Thanks so much!

Okay so let me get this straight.

Say I wanted to (keeping simple for now), wanted to attatch one single ON/OFF switch to the card. I buy an ON/OFF switch like this: http://www.opencockpits.com/catalog/onoff-switch-p-124.html?cPath=24_55

I then solder one wire to each "leg" of the ON/OFF switch.

I then insert one wire into the ground, and the other into the "button" slot.

Then, connect to computer via USB and we're done. It will appear as button 35 (if I slotted it into button number 35 slot). This "button" (acutally switch) can be used however I feel within FSX, it appears as a game controller button so it easy to use. If I want to add more advanced switches, I use FSUIPC to do this.

Correct?

[AK Mongo]

Just that simple! Although 3 euros for the switch sounds high. It is not a special switch. Does the UK have Radio Shack?

[Boeing 747 Flyer]

Hi Mongo,

I won't necessarily be buying that switch, I just used it as an example. I will probably buy from a shop called "Maplin", they sell all sorts of electronics such as switches, rotaries, etc.