How to make an FMS interface for GWS Dreamstarter II (Win XP)

[naX]

Sorry for the lengthy topic. :)

I've been searching like crazy, but can't find a solid schematic for making an interface to use between my GWS Dreamstarter II and FMS. I've seen the picture of the audio jack, but now I need to know what to connect up to where (PCB) on the other end. Does anyone have or know where I can find a schematic that will work with Windows XP? I've seen the $10 one, but I don't want to spend $5.00 + for shipping on a 0.1 pound item. :eek:

Thanks!

[aeropal]

...

[naX]

Yeah, that's the one I was looking at. I'd still like to build my own, but I think parts may be more than $15 anyway.

BTW, will that one work with other sims in the future?

[aeropal]

...

[Malc C]

Have a look at the download page of www.rc-electronics.net there are several interfaces for download from a simple PIC based serial interface for FMS through to a USB gameport design.

[zeppo]

Are you guys aware of smartpropo? If you install smartpropo the only kable you need is a standard audio cable (3,5mm jack-->3,5mm jack) Stereo or mono. The cable goes from TX and your line in or mic in on your sound card.. It works with XP and FMS. :D

[naX]

Are you guys aware of smartpropo? If you install smartpropo the only kable you need is a standard audio cable (3,5mm jack-->3,5mm jack) Stereo or mono. The cable goes from TX and your line in or mic in on your sound card.. It works with XP and FMS. :D

And I can't get this to work.... any insight? I've tried all 4 of the files. When I go to calibrate, the calibrations are going crazy, but don't respond to my input.

[Bruce Abbott]

The GWS Dreamstarter II transmitter outputs a PPM signal on the Ring connection of a 3.5mm stereo jack, not the tip. Using a mono cable will not work. A stock stereo cable may work, but to be sure you should wire the Ring at the TX end to both the Tip and Ring at the sound card end.

There is no need to connect directly onto the PCB inside the TX, as it already has a suitable output at the trainer socket. Leave the power switch off when you plug in the cable, and the RF section will be disabled. This extends extends battery life and removes the possibility of causing interference.

GWT-4AII trainer connections (http://homepages.paradise.net.nz/bhabbott/fms.html)

[mv2]

Any luck setting up the Dream Starter II TX with FMS?

I purchased the parallel cable from GWS, had trouble, then purchased a USB cable from Simblaster.com, and STILL cannot get the GWS Dream Starter II TX to work with FMS in Windows 2000.

I actually purchased a second TX as a buddy box for my son, and wanted him to learn on FMS before risking a plane!

When I plug in the stereo mini plug half way, I can see the calibration screen moving around with the sticks. When I plug it in all the way, it just goes to the corner and sits... I'm getting pretty frustrated, even my IT guy at work couldn't get it going.

Any help would be appreciated...

MV2

*

[naX]

I couldn't get it to work at all.... so I ended up buying a cable specifically for it.

[Bruce Abbott]

Q: How many software engineers does it take to change a light bulb?

A: None. It's a hardware problem ;)

As previously explained, you need to re-wire the plug to get the signal onto the ring connection, not the tip.

[gbagley]

Things that make you go Hmmmmm…
$15.00 for a cable shipped to your door that came from TW to start.
Please amuse me with the Actual Cost of this Cable you are going to make!!
I'm sitting here LMAO with a big Grin thinking its going to be somthing like $215.00 by the time your done. What's your hr/rate? Please don't tell me you drive a V8. LOL Sorry to poke fun but some of you guys make me crazy.
How much Time and Effort…plus Gas running about looking for the right parts.
Heck you could be nose in hovering by now!!! :D
Just for you if you want a cable and want it shipped by 1st class mail I will only charge you $12.00 Send me a PM. Heck the bubble envelope cost me $1.
However, there is no delivery confirmation or Insurance. You get what you pay for.
-gerald



Sorry for the lengthy topic. :)

I've been searching like crazy, but can't find a solid schematic for making an interface to use between my GWS Dreamstarter II and FMS. I've seen the picture of the audio jack, but now I need to know what to connect up to where (PCB) on the other end. Does anyone have or know where I can find a schematic that will work with Windows XP? I've seen the $10 one, but I don't want to spend $5.00 + for shipping on a 0.1 pound item. :eek:

Thanks!

[Malc C]

Any luck setting up the Dream Starter II TX with FMS?

I purchased the parallel cable from GWS, had trouble, then purchased a USB cable from Simblaster.com, and STILL cannot get the GWS Dream Starter II TX to work with FMS in Windows 2000.

I actually purchased a second TX as a buddy box for my son, and wanted him to learn on FMS before risking a plane!

When I plug in the stereo mini plug half way, I can see the calibration screen moving around with the sticks. When I plug it in all the way, it just goes to the corner and sits... I'm getting pretty frustrated, even my IT guy at work couldn't get it going.

Any help would be appreciated...

MV2

*


Read Bruces post above, it sounds like the Simblaster interface has the signal wire connected to the tip of the buddy box plug which makes temporary contact as you insert it into the TX.

Pop down to radio shack or any other component supplier and purchase a 3.5mm stereo plug, then cut the existing plug off the interface and strip back about an inch of the outer cover of the cable. You should see a single inner cable surrounded by loads of thin wires, twist these thin wires together and solder them together, then strip the end off the inner cable and solder this to the ring connection as per Bruce's instructions below. All being well this should now work

[naX]

Things that make you go Hmmmmm…
$15.00 for a cable shipped to your door that came from TW to start.
Please amuse me with the Actual Cost of this Cable you are going to make!!
I'm sitting her LMAO with a big Grin thinking its going to be somthing like $215.00 by the time your done. What's your hr/rate? Please don't tell me you drive a V8. LOL Sorry to poke fun but some of you guys make me crazy.
How much Time and Effort…plus Gas running about looking for the right parts.
Heck you could be nose in hovering by now!!! :D
Just for you if you want a cable and want it shipped by 1st class mail I will only charge you $12.00 Send me a PM. Heck the bubble envelope cost me $1.
However, there is no delivery confirmation or Insurance. You get what you pay for.
-gerald

Well, if you want to poke fun then I'll ease your amusement....

Cost: $0.00 - honestly. I already have both mono and stereo plugs from different equipment around the house. More than one of each to choose from.

Time: Yeah, I wasted some time... roughly 2-3 hours total, over the course of a week or so. But hey, I like to tinker so I don't really call it time lost. My wife would say otherwise though. ;)

Hr/rate: At home, about 25 cents per hour. The wife gets the rest. At work, a measily $16.50 (actually salary at $32,542).

Car I drive: Yep, I drive a V8. A nice gas-guzzlin' Dodge Durango, average 10 MPG city and 15-20 MPG highway. :D

If it was going to cost me more than the $15, I wouldn't have even tried it. The other guys may be crazy, but I'm not. And ya know what, it's not really nice to jump in to somebody's thread and criticize them for wanting to be creative and/or hand's on. If someone wants to spend top dollar for a home-built device, then so be it. At least they get the satisfaction of doing something on their own. So, unless you have something constructive to say, just stay the **** out, alright. :rolleyes:

[naX]

Sorry for the double post:

Bruce, I did mod the stereo plug as mentioned, but no matter what I did, there was too much "glitching" in the calibration. The sticks just wouldn't hold true and would jump around every 1/2 second or so. I tried with the tx off and on. Both mono and stereo plug. Both input and mic. Both on-board sound device and SoundBlaster Live! I had to have had something interferring on the hardware side in the IRQ or something. I do a lot of audio work so it could have been some of my drivers or programs.

[gbagley]

Sorry for jumping right in...I sure did. Hey, I drive that same truck a 1999 and the gas is terrible but the truck is paid for. So the $42.00 trip to the gas station doesn't sound to bad compaired to my buddies $485.00 note and $22.00 trip to the gas station for a small truck.
-->I like to tinker so I don't really call it time lost. My wife would say otherwise though. ;)
:D :D I know I have this exact same problem at my house... :D :D
Try running a home based Internet Hobby Shop...my wife thinks I'm always wasting time in-front the this computer. Heck this is relaxing to me...I hate watching TV.
Anyway when can you post the complete pictures? Are you going to share your invention with us? Should I unload all my cables before it hits this thread. :p I really do find it Great that some people can seem to recreate anything from junk laying around the house.
See ya around.
-gerald


Well, if you want to poke fun then I'll ease your amusement....

Cost: $0.00 - honestly. I already have both mono and stereo plugs from different equipment around the house. More than one of each to choose from.

Time: Yeah, I wasted some time... roughly 2-3 hours total, over the course of a week or so. But hey, I like to tinker so I don't really call it time lost. My wife would say otherwise though. ;)

Hr/rate: At home, about 25 cents per hour. The wife gets the rest. At work, a measily $16.50 (actually salary at $32,542).

Car I drive: Yep, I drive a V8. A nice gas-guzzlin' Dodge Durango, average 10 MPG city and 15-20 MPG highway. :D

If it was going to cost me more than the $15, I wouldn't have even tried it. The other guys may be crazy, but I'm not. And ya know what, it's not really nice to jump in to somebody's thread and criticize them for wanting to be creative and/or hand's on. If someone wants to spend top dollar for a home-built device, then so be it. At least they get the satisfaction of doing something on their own. So, unless you have something constructive to say, just stay the **** out, alright. :rolleyes:

[naX]

Shoot, I bet your 1999 is better than my 1998; though all first generation Durango's seem to like the taste of gas. Doesn't matter what octane I use either. My truck is also paid off, but $42 still hits hard; especially when that's every 7-9 days.

I know I have this exact same problem at my house...
Funny how wives are... unless your wife is also in to the hobby or has an equally time-consuming/etc hobby. I know she doesn't mind in the long run, but she does get hot-headed every once in a while... like yesterday after work when I went to the LHS to get just one servo and I returned home with 2 servo's, $15 work of carbon fiber, $3 worth of push rods, and $10 worth of misc items. :D

I'll see if I can't put together some pictures, but I never made anything final/professional. I wanted to get it to work first... but never could. Maybe I've still got some cables with the wiring on it.

Take it easy.

[gbagley]

You see if you open a hobby shop she can't tell what is yours and what is for sale...At least I don't think she can.
-g


Shoot, I bet your 1999 is better than my 1998; though all first generation Durango's seem to like the taste of gas. Doesn't matter what octane I use either. My truck is also paid off, but $42 still hits hard; especially when that's every 7-9 days.


Funny how wives are... unless your wife is also in to the hobby or has an equally time-consuming/etc hobby. I know she doesn't mind in the long run, but she does get hot-headed every once in a while... like yesterday after work when I went to the LHS to get just one servo and I returned home with 2 servo's, $15 work of carbon fiber, $3 worth of push rods, and $10 worth of misc items. :D

I'll see if I can't put together some pictures, but I never made anything final/professional. I wanted to get it to work first... but never could. Maybe I've still got some cables with the wiring on it.

Take it easy.

[lensrc]

You see if you open a hobby shop she can't tell what is yours and what is for sale...At least I don't think she can.

Works for me......:D

Len