How is this USB sim cable?

[aman_74]

I've done some searching. I need a sim cable for a Futaba 4EX. I figured buying the appropriate USB cable and using it with FMS would be the cheapest and easiest route, but I'm open to other suggestions if they are low cost and not DIY, I don't have the time for that at the moment.

I assume USB is simpler than the type that use the sound card?

If there are dedicated TX sim units that are cheap I will consider that, but I figure this will be cheaper.

Here is the one I found:

http://dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.4603

8 bucks with free shipping, but has anyone tried it?

What are my other options? I know GWS has one, but people say it's hard to get. Any others?

And why is this and the GWS so reasonably priced and others want over twice as much for there product.

Thanks,

Anthony

[FlopGun]

I got the GWS USB one from from www.ALLeRC.com for $10 and it works great with my Hitec Optic 6. I think they have one for futaba too. There's a round 5 pin DIN plug like mine or a square one. Check your radio because Futaba uses different jacks on different models.

Install automatically into Windows XP as a joystick device in your control panel.

Don't know about the one you reference but I bet it would work too.

[fraze1974]

How many analog channels does the GWS USB support? I presume it can be used with other sims other that FMS?

Cheers,

Fraze

[Endurance]

The GWS interface can support up to 8 channels and can only be used with the FMS software. Ive been using the Futaba square version and it works just fine.

http://www.endurance-rc.com/simulator.html

[FlopGun]

Endurance:

My GWS USB maps into Windows just like any game controller. It can be used with Clearview and AFPD too. Don't know about Realflight.

[fraze1974]

FlopGun, how many analog channels does your GWS USB adapter map to in your Windows Game Controllers?

Thanks,

Fraze

[FlopGun]

FlopGun, how many analog channels does your GWS USB adapter map to in your Windows Game Controllers?

Thanks,

Fraze

Fraze:

6 channels. I haven't experimented too much with advanced setups. I've tried setting up aileron differential on the radio to work with AFPD. It appears to behave different than the actual plane -- so I'm still figuring that one out.

But all of the functions like expo/epa work from my Hitec 6 radio work thru the interface.

What I did on my Hitec was name Model #1 "Sim". I can then experiment with the radio on the model SIM. Hell, I can take my radio to work and fly 'under the desk!'

Here's how it looks in the control panel.

[el-corazon]

Hi.
I bought an hitec interface like this(in Norway)
work very well in fms - clear view.
regards Arvid :)

[el-corazon]

Hi.
I bought an hitec interface like this(in Norway)http://www.pyreneesmodeles.fr/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=113&products_id=1448
work very well in fms - clear view.
regards Arvid :)

[fraze1974]

Nice one FlopGun thats exactly what I wanted to know.

Cheers
Fraze

[danfig]

i bougth the same cable than el corazon bougth and i see in the control panel like the pictures post in the tread but my eclipse 7 dont respond how do i do to get it works, pleas help me

danfig

[bluesky123]

The Chinese adapters sold everywhere under E-Sky and other names are a piece of crap: the USB plug is not mechanically connected to the circuit board, it would break off very quickly. Here are the pictures of the interface (with the plastic case taken off):

http://www.milehighwings.com/tmp/usb_bottom.jpg

http://www.milehighwings.com/tmp/usb_top.jpg

Look how the USB plug on the left is connected to the green PCB--the two standoffs, which have to be soldered into the holes in the PCB, are just hanging in the wind... Every time you insert this interface into the USB port, the four wires bend, which they should never do. At some point, the wires will break and you'll be lucky if your transmitter and your computer won't get damaged.

I am puzzled why the designer of this thing did it this way. There's no reasonable explanation to this other then this person was an idiot and/or didn't give a rat's ass.

Besides, the interface has 7-bit resolution! I am not kidding, only 7 bits!!! This means that the channels range of travel will have only about 100 levels. Any dicent transmitter has at least 1024 steps for each channel. Using such TX with this crappy interface means that the interface will see only 1 out of 10 channel level changes. A model in the simulator will act as if it has crappy servos, which jump suddenly. Helies will be unflyable, hovering (in a good simulator) will be impossible...

Disclaimer: I do represent a company making good interfaces, MileHighWings.com. But I am writing this because I'm appalled by the horrible quality of these Chinese interfaces!

Boris

[FlopGun]

Danfig:

Is your tx turned on? If the cable is plugged into the USB port then it will show up in the control panel. But it won't actually work unless it is powered up. Also, use the calibration options in the control panel to check it. You should see the cursor(+) moving!

[danfig]

Danfig:

Is your tx turned on? If the cable is plugged into the USB port then it will show up in the control panel. But it won't actually work unless it is powered up. Also, use the calibration options in the control panel to check it. You should see the cursor(+) moving!

I tried with the tx on with and without spectra module, i can see it in the control panel window, but there is no imput when i move the sticks. is the same when i just plug the usb cable without the tx plugged. i dont now what is happening with it.

thanx

[FlopGun]

bluesky123:

Do you know the GWS USB cable? What chip does it use and resolution?

[TasKiNG]

Ive Just bought an E-Sky USB interface from ebay that plugs into my Futaba.
It was from Hong Kong and only cost £3.70 plus £2.50 postage.
Its limited to 4 channels but is easy to set up and works very well.
Bluesky123 makes some valid points about this interface but with the plastic case on it it is quite sturdy. ( alot of memory sticks are also built this way ).
Also although only 7 bits, This gives a resolution of 128 steps over the movement of your transmitter stick ( 45 degrees ish ) which gives 2.8 steps per degree. After trying this with FMS the movement seems very smooth.
So to sum up, great for the money but if you want more than 4 channels then pay more. a uk ebay search for "FMS Simulator USB Turborix Futaba E-Sky Interface Cable" will show you the item I tried. Cheers

[bluesky123]

...Bluesky123 makes some valid points about this interface but with the plastic case on it it is quite sturdy. ( alot of memory sticks are also built this way ).
The plastic case indeed looks good from the outside, this is where the good looks end. The two halves aren't even glued together--stick your finger nail in the crack and the case will fall apart, exposing the scary guts.

Also although only 7 bits, This gives a resolution of 128 steps over the movement of your transmitter stick ( 45 degrees ish ) which gives 2.8 steps per degree.
Not exactly! The real resolution of ESky interface is most likely less than 128 steps as few PPM pulses ever span 1 to 2 millisecond duration range (which roughly corresponds to -140% to +140% channel travel in "Futaba units").

Please do the following experiment: connect your TX to the computer with this interface, then go to Control Panel/Game Controllers, select "PPM#" (or whatever your interface is calles) in the list of the installed joysticks, click Properties button, then Calibrate and check "Show raw data" on one of the first calibration pages. Then look at the numbers as you move TX sticks. Most likely you'll see the numbers changing from 10 to 90, at least that's what I saw.

A typical transmitter stick can easily be tilted by 45 degrees up and 45 down. This is less than 1 step per degree!!!


After trying this with FMS the movement seems very smooth.
Yes, planes will fly kinda ok. In the old days people were flying planes with non-proportional controls, 'full left', 'straight', and 'full right'. This interface certrinly does a little better...
Besides, FMS is a rather poor simulator, it's flight model is good only for initial orientation training. Helicopers are as stable as helium filled balloons--you ain't need no sensitive controls to fly them.


So to sum up, great for the money but if you want more than 4 channels then pay more.
I'd put it differently--"You get what you paid for!".
:(

Boris

[danfig]

any body can help me i have the cheap interface you talk about but i can make it work with an eclipse 7, please help me (i know this have to be plug and play but i cant) :(

[FlopGun]

The real resolution is most likely less than 128 steps as few PPM pulses ever span 1 to 2 millisecond duration range (which roughly corresponds to -140% to +140% channel travel in "Futaba units").

Oh boy. Now I'm sucked in to exploring all this. So what you are saying is PPM is limited to something less than 128 steps. So then what good is 1024 resolution?

And Boris, what about the GWS cable ($10)? Is that a good or bad one?

What numbers does your unit give in raw data?

What is the resolution of the typical hobby servo?

[FlopGun]

Danfig:

Is there maybe a setting on your eclipse for PPM/PCM? And maybe you have it set to PCM? Or you have the output disabled somehow?

[bluesky123]

Now I'm sucked in to exploring all this.
Isn't it what hobby is about, exploring the fun stuff?
:)

So what you are saying is PPM is limited to something less than 128 steps. So then what good is 1024 resolution?
No, I'm not saying this! I'm saying that ESky interface has only 7-bit (128 steps) resolution, while PPM signal has higher "resolution". The previous word is quoted because PPM is an analog protocol. At the same time, PPM stream is generated by an encoder microchip, which is, of course, a digital device--even the cheapest "non-computer" transmitters have an encoder and digitize the potentiometers' readings before forming the PPM signal. Different transmitters employ different resolution encoders: the current crop of indigenous Chinese radios have 8-bit ADC in their encoders (this is determined by the microchips they are using, often made by Elan). Quality mid-range transmitters from major manufacturers like JR or Futaba have 10-bit resolution. High end radios use even higher resolution, as high as 12 bits.


...what about the GWS cable ($10)? Is that a good or bad one?
Sorry, don't have this one.

What is the resolution of the typical hobby servo?
I am no servo expert, but, as far as I know, analog servos get a single PPM pulse from the receiver--the wider the pulse is, the more the servo moves. New DSP (Digital Signal Processing) receivers digitize the incoming signal to filter out the interference. Not sure which resolution they use, probably 16 bits.

Boris

[FlopGun]

Here's what I've learned about these USB cables.

1. There are many forum posts of these 'chinese' cables, both GWS and ESky, working successfully.
2. Despite claims of substandard quality there is no evidence these cables fail because of their design/construction.

Some additional comments.

I have my doubts that a typical hobby servo has significantly more than 100 steps of 'resolution'. Therefore for the vast majority of pilots, the 7-bit USB interfaces are adequate.

My GWS USB cable reported these numbers for 'resolution'

Ailerons 43 - 149 106 steps
Elevator 72 - 222 150 steps
Throttle 74 - 224 150 steps
Rudder 72 - 218 146 steps

Which is something more than 7-bit. I would be interested in numbers from other cables.

I fly both Clearview and AFPD with my $10 GWS cable. Planes fly a lot better than 'kinda ok'. Helis are certainly not 'unflyable' or 'impossible to hover'. The interface will *not* act as if it has crappy servos.

So let's end the FUD concerning these. These cheap chinese cables work fine. Do the higher resolution USB interfaces work better? Maybe, but I couldn't find any anecdotal evidence to support that.

[FlopGun]

Danfig:

Did changing the setting to PPM solve your problem?

[TasKiNG]

Just poped the top of my Cheap Hong kong Esky interface and the quality is good. the circuit board is permanantly firmly attached to the bottom half of the case. Also the usb connector PCB stand-offs are soldered onto the board ( good quality soldering too )
So looks like there are good and bad designs for these cheap interfaces.
The board says FS-SM100 V1.1 on it.
For anyone interested the raw cal values were: 52 - 150

In use, the resolution seems fine.

I agree there are better interfaces with higher resolution and more channel support but for £3.70 plus postage this is excellent value.

[Malc C]

I agree there are better interfaces with higher resolution and more channel support but for £3.70 plus postage this is excellent value.

At those prices its not worth building you own, given the fact that the PIC micro cost as much on its own !

With regards to the resolution, its more applicable to the sampling resolution of the PPM signal rather than the value that is sent to the PC, that makes for a good controller. Its often the poor sampling and stability that causes the issues of not being able to maintain a stable hover or keeping the plane on a level flight

[danfig]

Danfig:

Did changing the setting to PPM solve your problem?

No FlopGun dident work?

[MSelig]

<snip>

I have my doubts that a typical hobby servo has significantly more than 100 steps of 'resolution'. Therefore for the vast majority of pilots, the 7-bit USB interfaces are adequate.

<snip>


It's a very easy experiment to tape a 36 inch long carbon stick to a servo horn and check the resolution. I think a good servo will be way better than 100 clicks full throw. Most good Tx's these days are pushing out 1024 counts on each channel ... and I don't think any of that data is wasted. Pilots can feel the difference between 1024 counts and cheaper radios.

128 clicks for +-50 deg throw is ~1 deg resolution (using round numbers).
This means if you track a 36 inch long stick centered on a servo horn, going 1 click (1 deg) gives 0.314 inch of travel at the tip (18 inches).

1024 clicks for +-50 deg throw is ~ 0.1 deg resolution (using round numbers).
So moving 0.1 deg produces .0314 inches of travel, which is probably very achievable.

Some 3D airplanes w/ +-50 deg of control surface travel (e.g. on the elevator) need a resolution of 0.1 deg of surface throw to make the airplane trim in steady level flight. So again there's a lot of good reason to get 1024 clicks/counts (or better).

Michael

[bluesky123]

...Do the higher resolution USB interfaces work better? Maybe, but I couldn't find any anecdotal evidence to support that.

I hope that the word of Dr. Selig, the head of development of the fixed wing flight model in FS One simulator (which, in my opinion, has the best plane flight model among all the contemporary sims), is more than "anecdotal evidence".
:)
Boris

[FlopGun]

Michael:

What is the sample rate of the FS One USB controller?

[MSelig]

What is the sample rate of the FS One USB controller?

I don't know what the rate is (as in Hz). Do you mean resolution? The resolution is 8 bits (256).

Michael

[FlopGun]

Michael, sorry, I meant to say sample size. So that's 8-bit which is consistent with most of the controllers on the market.

Can you try BlueSkys test where you check the raw data under the control panel game controller? I'm curious to see how many steps. Bluesky, have you tried that with yours?

[nixxon]

I've done some searching. I need a sim cable for a Futaba 4EX. I figured buying the appropriate USB cable and using it with FMS would be the cheapest and easiest route, but I'm open to other suggestions if they are low cost and not DIY, I don't have the time for that at the moment.

I assume USB is simpler than the type that use the sound card?

If there are dedicated TX sim units that are cheap I will consider that, but I figure this will be cheaper.

Here is the one I found:

http://dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.4603

8 bucks with free shipping, but has anyone tried it?

What are my other options? I know GWS has one, but people say it's hard to get. Any others?

And why is this and the GWS so reasonably priced and others want over twice as much for there product.

Thanks,

Anthony

Try it out. You can't go wrong!!! This site has the cheapest products I have ever seen? It looks too good to be true with the worldwide free shipping. Hope they don't rip you off with your credit card info...

[aman_74]

Try it out. You can't go wrong!!! This site has the cheapest products I have ever seen? It looks too good to be true with the worldwide free shipping. Hope they don't rip you off with your credit card info...


No need for the alarmist banter. This site has been ordered from by people from RC Groups and I have yet to hear a bad report.

Anyone know of the best place to get one of the Sim Interfaces that has it's own controller? I see alot of the E-Sky ones on Ebay for around 40 dollars. That's when I started looking at these USB cables, but then I heard that some places have the controller type for 14 bucks, but I can't find them.

[nixxon]

I actually ordered the US$ 7.97 "Mystery USB interface" on 9/3/2007. The day after I got an e-mail confirmation that the order had been shipped from Hong Kong, China. I received the shipment in my mailbox in Oslo, Norway today, 9/11/2007. The mail was only 7 days! Pretty impressive, I must say, for a shipment from far east to northern europe. The envelope had 6 ordinary stamps totaling Hong Kong $ 19.60. This equals approx. US$ 2.50.

The box contained the USB interface with a JR plug. Also, inside the box, there were 2 adapters: one Futaba 6 pin DIN-plug and one S-video plug (GWS, NE-KO etc?). Attached with tape to the back of the box, there was a Futaba square 6-pin mini adapter. Pretty good.

The plastic parts do not smell bad (compared to many other cheap asian tools I have bought).

None of the adapters have pins shorted to automatically power up the radio without RF activated. (just like the Realflight G3 adapters that ships with the Game Commander). This means you should remove the crystal or transmitter module from your radio when using it with the interface.

A mini CD-R with drivers for Windows 98 was also enclosed ("For Namacha Panda MP3"?!?) I did not use this CD-R as I use Win XP.

I plugged in the bulky USB plug and it was installed automatically as a HID in Win XP. The red LED actually blinks as soon as the interface gets power from the USB port. The USB plug itself is a little shorter than other USB plugs, so it tends to disengage if a little pull is accidentally applied to the cord (the weight of the cord i sometimes enough to disengage the interface).

It should not be a problem if the USB plug should not be mechanically connected to the circuit board (as informed by bluesky123 in post #12) as the plastic case seems to hold the unit together as a pretty sturdy whole.

I explored the interface in Control Panel --> Game Controllers and it showed up as "PPM[]" in the Properties window. I noticed that maximum stick input from my Futaba 8 UP Super only moved the crosshair cursor a tiny bit around in the feedback box. The actual data was approx. 64 - 143 (range 80) for maximum stick input. (In comparison, my Hitec interface shows data values from 0 - 255 (range 256)). After calibration the cheap USB interface also ranged from 0 - 255. The difference is that the increments are 3 or 4; i.e. 0, 3, 6, 10, 13, 16, 20 etc. up to 255.

The Crosshair also jumps around considerably in the Properties window when Radio stick is not touched.

Only Channels 1, 2, 3 and 4 worked. (This means no flaps, gear, or other stuff from radio). The 3 buttons could not be activated from my radio in the Properties window.

Stick 2 (roll and pitch) moves the crosshair correctly. Stick 1 - throttle - moves "Z Ax.." and - rudder/yaw - moves "Y Ro..".

In actual simulator use, the USB interface was OK. I didn't notice the jittering and low resolution here! I didn't get the rudder to activate, but this should be possible with some fiddleing with the channels in the simulator.

Conclusion: A cheap and rough USB interface that will let you control a simulator with your radio. It has many adapters. The interface is not suited for feinschmeckers, but will serve as a low cost entrance to PC simulation for beginners using the free FMS. You get what you pay for.

[aman_74]

Thanks for the thorough report!

Is this the one from Dealextreme that I linked to in my first post?

[nixxon]

Thanks for the thorough report!

Is this the one from Dealextreme that I linked to in my first post?

Yes, it is. Had to try it out :)

[nubli]

I bought also from e-sky the cable for my JR radio going from dsc port at the back of radio to parellel cable (not to usb)..

1. this cheap cable work fine with FMS, we have to set the radio to PPM mode. My problem is it, did all the things for airplane, but for helicopter it don't have negative pitch.. so cannot train inverted hover.. how to set it? anybody can help? nixxon sir, do you know.. thanks

2. This cable give good response to FMS, but give no response to Reflex at all, how to setup in Reflex xtr to use our own transmitter.. thanks

thanks again

nubli

[nixxon]

I bought also from e-sky the cable for my JR radio going from dsc port at the back of radio to parellel cable (not to usb)..

1. this cheap cable work fine with FMS, we have to set the radio to PPM mode. My problem is it, did all the things for airplane, but for helicopter it don't have negative pitch.. so cannot train inverted hover.. how to set it? anybody can help? nixxon sir, do you know.. thanks

2. This cable give good response to FMS, but give no response to Reflex at all, how to setup in Reflex xtr to use our own transmitter.. thanks

thanks again

nubli

I'm sorry, I don't know how parellel cable interfaces work.

Nixxon

[Malc C]

2. This cable give good response to FMS, but give no response to Reflex at all, how to setup in Reflex xtr to use our own transmitter.. thanks

thanks again

nubli

That's because you need the Reflex XTR interface for XTR to work. The USB interface that Reflex supplied with XTR forms part of the copy protection.

[cmulder]

i have the esky one too and i did a simple "mod" i poend up the top case , put some hotglue near both the cable and the usb plug and closed the case while the glue was still hot.
Now the interface is extremely sturdy.

And regarding the resolution no idea but it does what i want from it so i am verry happy with it.

[johntyfeu]

Hi to all,

I have a JR x2610 (x6120) radio with a DSC port at the back. Just wondering if any of you guys have had success getting to work with this controller or brand? Also, does the JR plug provided in Mystery USB interface have a 3.5mm (1/8") mono plug?

Thanks in advance.

John

[Malc C]

Hi to all,

does the JR plug provided in Mystery USB interface have a 3.5mm (1/8") mono plug?

Thanks in advance.

John

Yes JR use a 3.5mm mono plug

[othmanskn]

I actually ordered the US$ 7.97 "Mystery USB interface" on 9/3/2007. The day after I got an e-mail confirmation that the order had been shipped from Hong Kong, China. I received the shipment in my mailbox in Oslo, Norway today, 9/11/2007. The mail was only 7 days! Pretty impressive, I must say, for a shipment from far east to northern europe. The envelope had 6 ordinary stamps totaling Hong Kong $ 19.60. This equals approx. US$ 2.50.

I ordered the same item from dealextreme, most probably influenced by this post,but mine arrived 3 weeks later. Malaysia is nearer, especially my place, Sabah, but it took much longer to arrive.


The box contained the USB interface with a JR plug. Also, inside the box, there were 2 adapters: one Futaba 6 pin DIN-plug and one S-video plug (GWS, NE-KO etc?). Attached with tape to the back of the box, there was a Futaba square 6-pin mini adapter. Pretty good.

The plastic parts do not smell bad (compared to many other cheap asian tools I have bought).



I bought this USB adapter more for the supplied connectors. I intend to use them for smartpropo.



None of the adapters have pins shorted to automatically power up the radio without RF activated. (just like the Realflight G3 adapters that ships with the Game Commander). This means you should remove the crystal or transmitter module from your radio when using it with the interface.

A mini CD-R with drivers for Windows 98 was also enclosed ("For Namacha Panda MP3"?!?) I did not use this CD-R as I use Win XP.

I plugged in the bulky USB plug and it was installed automatically as a HID in Win XP. The red LED actually blinks as soon as the interface gets power from the USB port. The USB plug itself is a little shorter than other USB plugs, so it tends to disengage if a little pull is accidentally applied to the cord (the weight of the cord i sometimes enough to disengage the interface).

It should not be a problem if the USB plug should not be mechanically connected to the circuit board (as informed by bluesky123 in post #12) as the plastic case seems to hold the unit together as a pretty sturdy whole.

I explored the interface in Control Panel --> Game Controllers and it showed up as "PPM[]" in the Properties window. I noticed that maximum stick input from my Futaba 8 UP Super only moved the crosshair cursor a tiny bit around in the feedback box. The actual data was approx. 64 - 143 (range 80) for maximum stick input. (In comparison, my Hitec interface shows data values from 0 - 255 (range 256)). After calibration the cheap USB interface also ranged from 0 - 255. The difference is that the increments are 3 or 4; i.e. 0, 3, 6, 10, 13, 16, 20 etc. up to 255.

The Crosshair also jumps around considerably in the Properties window when Radio stick is not touched.

Only Channels 1, 2, 3 and 4 worked. (This means no flaps, gear, or other stuff from radio). The 3 buttons could not be activated from my radio in the Properties window.

Stick 2 (roll and pitch) moves the crosshair correctly. Stick 1 - throttle - moves "Z Ax.." and - rudder/yaw - moves "Y Ro..".

In actual simulator use, the USB interface was OK. I didn't notice the jittering and low resolution here! I didn't get the rudder to activate, but this should be possible with some fiddleing with the channels in the simulator.

Conclusion: A cheap and rough USB interface that will let you control a simulator with your radio. It has many adapters. The interface is not suited for feinschmeckers, but will serve as a low cost entrance to PC simulation for beginners using the free FMS. You get what you pay for.


Mine does not work at all, with my brother's JR Propo X-3810, although I set the modulatioin mode to PPM and flicked the training switch at the right side,contrary to descriptions in the manual for the xp-8102.

My PC detects the adaptor as PPM[] but cursor does not move. The TX indicates that it is in the training mode when the plug is connected.

[brasscorpion]

Greetings

Yesterday I just received my GWS USB interface cable. I downloaded and purchased CLEARVIEW.

Plugged everything in. My TX is a Spectrum 2.4Ghz type. This uses the JR interface, since they are pretty much the same company.

I am running Windows Vista with a 19" wide screen (1440x900 res). Vista recognized my equipment as a PPM. I first calibrated my controller in windows...then fired up ClearView and went into "Controller Settings".

Set all my Axis and Rotations.

I have been flying perfectly and everything works as expected. The GWS USB interface cables are NOT junk and they are IMHO constructed with quality. I am a BIG PC gamer and I have yet to see and interface cable be a topic of discussion when selecting a controller. I have a Logitech MX518 Gaming mouse and about 8 other contolling type devices...the GWS USB cables are fine.

My experience with the simulator, to me, is just like being at the flying field and the planes have precision movements just like the real thing. Load up an F16 Jet and you will see what I mean.

Brass

[dpowellmeii]

Greetings

Yesterday I just received my GWS USB interface cable. I downloaded and purchased CLEARVIEW.

Plugged everything in. My TX is a Spectrum 2.4Ghz type. This uses the JR interface, since they are pretty much the same company.

I am running Windows Vista with a 19" wide screen (1440x900 res). Vista recognized my equipment as a PPM. I first calibrated my controller in windows...then fired up ClearView and went into "Controller Settings".

Set all my Axis and Rotations.

I have been flying perfectly and everything works as expected. The GWS USB interface cables are NOT junk and they are IMHO constructed with quality. I am a BIG PC gamer and I have yet to see and interface cable be a topic of discussion when selecting a controller. I have a Logitech MX518 Gaming mouse and about 8 other contolling type devices...the GWS USB cables are fine.

My experience with the simulator, to me, is just like being at the flying field and the planes have precision movements just like the real thing. Load up an F16 Jet and you will see what I mean.

Brass

with the gws usb connector can you get more than four channels to work?

[m1d4p5]

...

[Malc C]

Antonio, much of that thread advocates the use of a dongle emulator to try and circumvent the copy protection built into G3. The copy protection is the interlink controller, and unless you have this then I think its a bit much posting request for assistance in breaching the copy protection on a forum that has stong ties with the manufacturer

[m1d4p5]

Hello MalcC

I have the Original RealFlight system and control. My problem is that I'd like to use my Futaba control on it... every numbers that I'm using are my numbers, like serials etc... Now I solved everything. I'll remove my quote...

Thanks,
Antonio

[m1d4p5]

I returned the RealFlight Control to the store and get a new one. The Futaba adapter was broke and with contactless! Now everything is ok :D

[Malc C]

Hello MalcC

I have the Original RealFlight system and control.

That's alright then ;)

Glad to hear you have it resolved

[jlh050965]

Here's what I've learned about these USB cables.

1. There are many forum posts of these 'chinese' cables, both GWS and ESky, working successfully.
2. Despite claims of substandard quality there is no evidence these cables fail because of their design/construction.

Some additional comments.

I have my doubts that a typical hobby servo has significantly more than 100 steps of 'resolution'. Therefore for the vast majority of pilots, the 7-bit USB interfaces are adequate.

My GWS USB cable reported these numbers for 'resolution'

Ailerons 43 - 149 106 steps
Elevator 72 - 222 150 steps
Throttle 74 - 224 150 steps
Rudder 72 - 218 146 steps

Which is something more than 7-bit. I would be interested in numbers from other cables.

I fly both Clearview and AFPD with my $10 GWS cable. Planes fly a lot better than 'kinda ok'. Helis are certainly not 'unflyable' or 'impossible to hover'. The interface will *not* act as if it has crappy servos.

So let's end the FUD concerning these. These cheap chinese cables work fine. Do the higher resolution USB interfaces work better? Maybe, but I couldn't find any anecdotal evidence to support that.


OK, im having a major problem hooking up my futaba radio with the same cable you have.

I can't program it, it does wild stuff.

thanks

[gerry_gerry]

I have recently bought one of these cables (£5GBP inc P&P from Hong Kong). The cable works fine, but I need to be able to re-assign the channels in windows XP. Is this possible? (I'm trying to use it on my ripmax rc simulator which does not allow it's own channel reassignments and relys on XP's HID contreoller settings which I can't seem to change!)

All help much appreciated.

PS calibartion in XP works fine it's just beind able to assign the chanels to the right joystick axis.

[Malc C]

I have recently bought one of these cables (£5GBP inc P&P from Hong Kong). The cable works fine, but I need to be able to re-assign the channels in windows XP. Is this possible? (I'm trying to use it on my ripmax rc simulator which does not allow it's own channel reassignments and relys on XP's HID contreoller settings which I can't seem to change!)

All help much appreciated.

PS calibartion in XP works fine it's just beind able to assign the chanels to the right joystick axis.

Please don't duplicate posts (cross threads) - I've tagged on a reply to your other thread

[belier]

I bought this item fs sm-100
http://cgi.ebay.ca/Mystery-USB-Simulator-FS-SM100-FMS-cable-270-models_W0QQitemZ270282652705QQcmdZViewItem?hash=it em270282652705&_trkparms=72%3A1215%7C39%3A1%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C 240%3A1318&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

It works for my hitec optic, jr xp7202 and old futaba conquest 4 channels.
The problem is that I can't get to configure for more than 4 channels. Although it claims to accept inputs of 4-8 channels.

Is it a software/driver issue or the hardware itself?

[Malc C]

Check the configuration in windows control panel, or channel mapping in FMS - do you see more than 4Ch movement ?

[belier]

Hi thanks for reply, I've checked all of that. In game controllers, PPM properties, I can't move more than four axis. Same goes for FMS.

Do you have the same USB fs sm-100 and it works for more four channels?

[crabstick]

I too have a Deal Extreme USB connector that a friend gave me, it picks up channels 234 and 5 and leaves me with no channel 1 which is pretty much useless, Does anyone know a way to re-map the channels ?

[Malc C]

I too have a Deal Extreme USB connector that a friend gave me, it picks up channels 234 and 5 and leaves me with no channel 1 which is pretty much useless, Does anyone know a way to re-map the channels ?

Depends on the sticks that correspond to each channel. If when you move the throttle stick it shows up as ch 2 on the software then simply map that to the throttle channel in the software. If however you are not getting one of the sticks showing up in the software then there is not much you can do

[crabstick]

yeah its in game controllers im talking. it picks up a PPM device and automatically assigns the 5th channel switch to an axis.

i did however notice if i have throttle stick down and move from side to side it makes a couple of axis's move - note this is no mixing on my radio etc.

very strange

[Malc C]

If more than one channel moves when you operate a stick, and all mixing on the TX has been disabled then there is something radically wrong with the way the interface is encoding the PPm signals.

[Wasp09]

Hi thanks for reply, I've checked all of that. In game controllers, PPM properties, I can't move more than four axis. Same goes for FMS.

Do you have the same USB fs sm-100 and it works for more four channels?

I am new to RC and just bought a Wasp V3 and I am looking for a simulator to train up.

I bought the same USB cable too (FM-SM100 v1.1).

No, it maps PPM into a 5 axis joystick with 3 buttons and only 4 channels work from my transmitter. Luckily I have the usual 4, making it possible to fly FP on the simulator.

I guess which channels the cable would be able to handle will depend on the transmitter you have. Otherwise the USB cable has to be configurable, but to my understanding it is not.

My transmitter is Skyartec TX-701 or labelled as SKY701. It has 7 channels, with the last channel implemented as the gear switch.

Why I say it would be transmitter dependant, because before I received my USB cable today, I made up an audio cable and used smartpropoplus in generic mode together with ppjoy to pick up PPM signals from the same transmitter to emulate a joystick.

I had to configure ppjoy to map into a 6 axis joystick with 1 button for it to pick up all 7 channels from TX-701. If I configured the mapping in a different way, some channels would not work.

My $6 USB cable is kind of generic, it was definitely not tailor-made for the Skyartec TX-701 with the correct mapping. I don't think it ever will at that price. I may have been customized to one of the famous brandnames but I don't know which one.

Hence it just picks up whatever it does, a cheap, fast and dirty way.

If you really want more than 4 channels, you may try to find a cable tailor made for your transmitter or try using the audio cable.

The audio cable is really simple, basically a 2 wires connecting the transmitter PPM output to the audio input of your sound card with a couple of optional resistors in between for protecting the sound card from overloading. And you already have half the cable, i. e. the adaptor piece to your transmitter. (If you don't need protection, basically you need a male to male mono audio cable to complete the connection.)

The rest is free software, and you map it out according to your transmitter to give you all the channels. It works and picks up all 7 channels on my transmitter under generic mode.

Here is where I learnt about it:

http://www.darkhorserc.com/other/esky-simcable.htm

(Pinout and mapping would be transmitter dependant)

Cheers,

[Wasp09]

By the way, regarding the whether it is a driver issue, I believe it is the firmware in the cable. It shows up as a 5 axis and 3 button joystick under linux as well as windows.

It won't be able to carry my 6 axis + 1 button through unless we can change the firmware.

If your transmitter has 5 axis's and 3 buttons in the right order, the cable may work in full.

[Malc C]

I think that the problem people are having with these "kit" transmitters from the far east is that whilst they send all the 6/7/8 channels out of the trainer socket, they don't send them in the correct order, or they designate the channel assignment in a non standard format. By this I mean that channels 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 on Futaba and JR equipment are used for the primary functions, and whilst Futaba and JR assigned these primary functions to different channels, they both send these 1st 5 channels in this order from the port. Now if these package transmitters still follow these channel assignments but send them in a different order, say 1,2,3,5,4 then this could be the main reason most people report that they have no rudder control when using that transmitter with a flight sim and an interface that is only looking for the first four channels.