$10 USB interface cable

[skirtz]

$10 USB interface cable - you can get one here (http://www.helidirect.com/product_info.php?cPath=134&products_id=3171)

http://www.helidirect.com/images/FMS-70SIM.jpg (http://www.helidirect.com/product_info.php?cPath=134&products_id=3171)

Stefan
http://rcflightsim.com

[matthew954]

Hey thanks skirtz, I never would have found this thanks!

[Spidious]

Do you think it would work for a Futaba radio and Clearview ?

[skirtz]

Yes it works, I have tested it. The cable is defined in ClearView and when selected, ClearView will automatically assign the channels in the controller screen. There are two problems with this cable:
1. It provides only channes 1,2,3,4 regardless how many channels in the Tx.
With this cable, you must use keyboad F1/F2 for idle up on/off and F3/F4 for throttle hold.
2. It needs callibration with Windows (only once) and for best results, callibration in ClearView each time ClearView is started.

If you can live with these two limitations, the price is good. The best cable is indeed from http://milehighwings.com whith up to 8 channels but is a little more expensive.

Stefan
http://rcflightsim.com

[Spidious]

I think I will wait a while and get the milehighwings version. It looks like the other channels will work. Where as the other only has four channels with my Futaba..

[shaul_ei]

Stefan,
SmartPropoPlus will give him all 8 channels + the cable will cost him $2 at most.

[Spidious]

Stefan,
SmartPropoPlus will give him all 8 channels + the cable will cost him $2 at most.
$2 where ?

[shaul_ei]

Just buy one Futaba connector and one mono-jack and a piece of cable and make yourself one.
In some rare cases, you will have to add a resistor or two.
The software is free - www.SmartPropoPlus.com.

[Malc C]

Stefan,
SmartPropoPlus will give him all 8 channels + the cable will cost him $2 at most.

LOL

Not only have we been subject to the "my sim is better than yours" threads of late.. now we're getting the "my interface method is better and cheaper than yours" threads :D

[shaul_ei]

OK, I'm through with it. have fun.

[OnGuard]

I ordered one of those cables, I was going to use it with my airtronics radios.
Found out it will only recognize a negative shift signal, no problem I changed the shift. Now the channel assignments dont match my transmitter. Don't think it will work for me. Other thing is my computer won't boot with the cable plugged in. I'am going to continue the use SmartPropoPlus. Thanks shaul ei nice piece of software.

[skirtz]

I do think that SmartPropoPlus is great and Shaul have done trememdous job on it, but some people are not that good setting up software, and USB cable is rather easy to set up. These days there are so many possibilities the problem becomes what to choose.

Stefan
http://rcflightsim.com

[Alan Kaf]

How would using the audio input & SmartPropoPlus work on a laptop? Doesn't the computer also need to support a parallel or serial interface as well from an internal software perspective?

[Malc C]

How would using the audio input & SmartPropoPlus work on a laptop? Doesn't the computer also need to support a parallel or serial interface as well from an internal software perspective?

it works by plugging your TX into the laptops audio input (Mic or Line-in), and uses a "virtual" port. http://www.smartpropoplus.com/BlueAndGrey/default.asp for more info

[nicaDd]

it works by plugging your TX into the laptops audio input (Mic or Line-in), and uses a "virtual" port. http://www.smartpropoplus.com/BlueAndGrey/default.asp for more info

It works great on a laptop.

I just got a DX7 yesterday and had a Mono cable laying around. I downloaded the software AND the ppjoy software as well. Installed ppjoy and set that up, then re-calibrated the windows game controller then the smartproplus.

I also downloaded the FMS software from the smartproplus site and installed it. You have to calibrate it once more within the program.

Took me about 30 mins from start to finish.

[teched88]

Could somebody help me identify a radio and which cable to use with FMS?
I have a walkera dragonfly radio, however I'm not sure of a model number. It has a blue screen at the top where the power level would be with a picture of a helicopter traveling to the right. The radio appears to be a 4 channel with two toggle switches at the top which are not connected to anything. It also has an 8 position DIP switch in the back and an S video plug.
I would like to use this radio with FMS for my students.
Please tell me exactly what type of cable, plug, and program I should use.
I think I would buy an S video plug, 3.5 mm monojack, and smartpropoplus and ppjoy. I am not sure of the s video pin placement. Does this sound correct?

[shaul_ei]

You may find it a little tricky - You do not know what is the trainer socket pin-out and you do not know whether this is a PPM or PCM radio.
These are not insoluble problems of course:
The number of possible pin-out arrangements is quite small, and you can use an oscilloscope (real or virtual) to find the correct pin-out.
The type of modulation can be tested, once you have a correct cable, using the Thermometer or SmartPropoPlus.

[teched88]

Looking at the s video connector or mini din from the circuit side, the bottom left is connected to a capacitor and the top left is connected to major portion of foil on board which also connected to anode side of diode in the area of pin.
I can not tell if the other pins are used.


I do not know whether it is ppm or pcm. I do not have an o scope (virtual or real) to plug it into pc with.
The reciever that came with the radio says RX-401 4 channel Dragonfly if that helps.

[nicaDd]

go to the link below and on the right hand side, go all the way to the bottom. is has a pic of the svidio connector. click on the walkera link and it'll tell you the pin outs.

http://www.smartpropoplus.com/BlueAndGrey/Cables_Frame.asp

[shaul_ei]

nicaDd, this is my site. This refers to WK-0701. Are you sure that this specific transmitter is the same?
teched88, The one that is connected to "major portion of foil on board" is probably the ground pin. Use a virtual scope such as http://www.zeitnitz.de/Christian/Scope/Scope_en.html to find the pin-out. Should not be too difficult.
What does the receiver say? FM? PPM? PCM? if it does not say PCM then it is probably PPM which means standard modulation type. If it says PCM, then you have to check if is WK-0701 compatible (probably is).

[nicaDd]

I was just pointing out that there was a walkera svideo pin out for reference. I'm assuming (but you know what happens when you assume) that all walkera Tx's use the same pin outs?

[shaul_ei]

This is true with more established companies, JR, Futaba and such.

[IPFlyer]

You do not need a dongle "crack" if you own RF.

[jamesobrady]

You do not need a dongle "crack" if you own RF.
Well thats why i asked....Im under the impression you get a "fake" controller/transmitters with realflight, and you had to use a crack/smartpropoplus/ppjoy to use "actual" transmitters with the suggested leads on the smartpropo plus site?
I havent bought a copy yet, as you can get one with and without a controller...the one without is cheaper...so im gonna buy that copy if I can use my jr with it as described in other threads. I assumed the one without the controller, wouldnt include the lead/dongle to connect it, and if its possible, and legal to use a cheaper lead and smartpropoplus/ppjoy to enable it then great-beats a 30/40 dollar outlay for a usb lead any day.
The question about the crack was included as im unsure if its required in addition to the spp/ppjoy software..if it is id rather buy the realflight controller and not infringe copyright.
If its not required then id appreciate that question being answered please?

Apologies if my previous post wasn't clear enough, Hope I've clarified it/my intent successfully?

[Malc C]

Why is it that people don't use the search function or browes past the first few pages before making their first post !

Realflight, Reflex XTR, Phoenix and Aeroflight Deluxe Pro - If you buy the retail package for these sims you get all the required hardware and software to allow you to practice flying model aircraft. Some use a small plug in interface, others have this built into a replicar transmitter, but all have the option of interfacing a regular transmitter via the transmitters buddy / trainer port. Some support a wider range of transmitters than others, but all support the mainstream JR and Futaba PPM transmitters.

Clearview, FMS and a few other sims support a traditional windows joystick and as such you can use any of the USB interfaces that emulate this format when plugged in to the PC.

If you have aquired a copy of AFPD, XTR, G3 and want to use it with one of the cheap USB interfaces that emulate a window joystick then you are out of luck as the hardware supplied with the retail products also forms part of the protection. However, like most things in life there are some people who offer a means to an end and publish cracks or fixes for such programs. However as you know this circumvention is illegal and breaches the originators copyrights etc, and is not condoned on this forum, which is why you got flamed the way you did.

Oh and PPJoy / Smartpropoplus is not a crack... its a utility to create a virtual port / joystick and allow you to connect a standard TX via your audio card on the PC. It still emulates the windows joystick protocol

[jamesobrady]

Why is it that people don't use the search function or browes past the first few pages before making their first post !

Realflight, Reflex XTR, Phoenix and Aeroflight Deluxe Pro - If you buy the retail package for these sims you get all the required hardware and software to allow you to practice flying model aircraft. Some use a small plug in interface, others have this built into a replicar transmitter, but all have the option of interfacing a regular transmitter via the transmitters buddy / trainer port. Some support a wider range of transmitters than others, but all support the mainstream JR and Futaba PPM transmitters.
l

Thanks for your reply Malc,
I did use the search function... but i couldnt find any posts relating to using a real JR transmitter successfully with realflight using the smartpropoplus software. As i havent actually yet bought a copy of RF, Im unsure as to whats in the box...if every copy contains a lead that can connect to my tx, then happy days :) I assumed the copies available without the dummy tx would not include the leads, which sounds a bit silly perhaps....

EDIT: just did a bit more reading into the copies available without tx's and noted in the small print that no instructions or boxes were available...very possibly pirate software ? Ebay no less.

[Malc C]

You don't mention which version of Realflight it is. RF2 came in two versions, interlinked that was supplied with the protection hardware, and non-interlinked that worked with a standard windows joustick. If its anything above RF2 non-interlinked then stay a way as the guy is ripping people off (a common occurance on e-bay).

We could advise more if you placed the link to the item in a post, but by the sounds of it you would be better off supporting your local model shop and purchasing a pucker copy

[jamesobrady]

You don't mention which version of Realflight it is. RF2 came in two versions, interlinked that was supplied with the protection hardware, and non-interlinked that worked with a standard windows joustick. If its anything above RF2 non-interlinked then stay a way as the guy is ripping people off (a common occurance on e-bay).

We could advise more if you placed the link to the item in a post, but by the sounds of it you would be better off supporting your local model shop and purchasing a pucker copy

Version 3.5.... I don't have a local model shop in this part of Ireland, and the nearest one, which is an hours drive away, doesn't sell simulators.

I've been warned again for my posting? Whats up folks? The only info I have to go on is the stuff on sale on Ebay, and the info on the Realflight website....I asked some honest questions here to try clear up the questions i have and I'm being warned etc.....

Could i ask a mod to please explain to me by Pm what I've done wrong?

This is what i've been warned for,

"Posted content contains copyrighted material and the poster does not have a license for distribution, or the post encourages or provides access in some way to pirated material."

And I've expressed clearly twice that my intent was otherwise,and my questions were honest and in good faith.

[Malc C]

The problem is that these days even the mention of dodgy copies of simulators on this forum results in someone reporting the post to the moderators. The issue is that under the rules you are not suppose to discuss the issue of pirated software or warez cracks etc. Someone took offence to your post (#23 which has since been removed and a warning placed) possibly becaus eit contained a link and was deemed as promoting the use of pirated software.

Ok now as its version 3.5 of RF then that is indeed copy protected by an interlink controller / interface. If this guy is selling copies of this without any hardware then it either won't work when you get it , or he's supplying the required additional 3rd party software that gets round the protection.. both of which is illegal

Now to anyone wishing to report me for discussing this subject, read my posts. I'm simply passing on good advice and promote the purchase of retail products ;)

James, to purchase a retail package try some of the large UK model shops like Midland helicopters or Sussex Models, both of which offer excellent mail order facilities.

[jamesobrady]

Thanks Malc,
I appreciate the time you've taken to share advice.
Fwiw There were no links in the post, i simply asked if a crack was necessary... and have since clarified why i asked..and been warned again- not the best introduction to the forum, but how ever...moving on :)

Thanks again.

[im_dragon]

$10 USB interface cable - you can get one here (http://www.helidirect.com/product_info.php?cPath=134&products_id=3171)

http://www.helidirect.com/images/FMS-70SIM.jpg (http://www.helidirect.com/product_info.php?cPath=134&products_id=3171)

Stefan
http://rcflightsim.com

Dealextreme.com has this USB cable (http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.4603) for $7.97 shipped. It is advertized to support 4 to 8 Channels. They also have the heli training legs (http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.3370) for $2.62 shipped.

Use code DX041500 for $2 off with any 5 items.