interfacing a dx7 for a sim

[j'flyr]

Wow, I'm totally fustrated! 25+ years of working in I.T. and I can't get my new dx7 to interface with my pc....embarrassing to say the least.

I've bought a usb cable and could not get it to work and now just tried using a mono mic cable and smartpropoplus and nothing.

Using smartpropoplus:
I set everything up as the directions suggested but when I go into game controllers in my control panel and select the properties for ppjoy virtual joystick1 there's only 3 red bar graphs that are bouncing up and down. I cannot calibrate with this issue. I've tried changing from mic to line in and found line-in works best. I've also tried reversing the polarity in smartpropo with no luck. Is there settings on the dx7 that I might have wrong? Where should the input level of the lin-in be set at?

If anyone has ran into these issues I would sure appreciate your help.

Thank you,
frustrated j'flyr

[Malc C]

Try searching this forum for DX7 and I'm sure you'll find comments on how others have faired.

In essance, provided you can set the trainer port to send a PPm signal out, you should be able to use any USB interfaces. You can't simply plug the TX into a computers USB port via a hacked lead. It needs some electronics in-between (normally PIC micro based).

If you have one of those sound card cables, try downloading the free PC based windows oscillocsope programs and see if you can detect the PPm signal by probing the pins on the trainer port of the TX. You should see something like this
http://www.micro-heli.co.uk/scope.jpg

Once you have that, then try using the smartpro driver application ( personally I prefer a hardware option, and if you have acess to a PIC programmer there are threads in the DIY Electronc section which include the hex files and schematics to build your own USB interface.) or purchase one of the cheap USB interfaces that emulate a windows joystic

[j'flyr]

I figured the usb connector would be harder to config that's why I tried the soundcard, smartpropoplus way. After reading how most have easily configged it to work I figured it would be a no-brainer. I'm getting the signal into the soundcard and can hear the com. tone when I move my pointer over the speaker icon in smartprop and can see the bars move in the game contollers in my control panel but they're moving erractically.

[j'flyr]

malc c,

The usb cable is for a tx. It has electronics in the usb plug.

[bpm]

Hi j'flyr,
I've spent the last hour or so playing with my DX7, SmartPropoPlus, and PPJoy. These are the SPP and PPJoy settings I've used. All other setup is as per the instructions for each piece of software respectively.

I'm flying in Clearview so I can use a PPJoy virtual Joystick interface.

The only frustrating thing I've found is that SPP will only connect to PPJoy virtual joystick # 1 so I've had to move around my other joysticks to accommodate it.

The latest version of SPP seems to be less noisy; although this may just be I'm using a better Tx now I used to use an ESky one. Control is very smooth.

I've just used a stereo 3.5mm jack cable I had laying about. It seems to work great.

I've set my DX7 Model 20 to an unmixed heli, select that model and turn off the Tx. Plug in the cable and I'm off.

Hope this helps.

Cheers
Barry M

[Unterhausen]

it isn't easy. You really need an o'scope program. Can't imagine why a USB to JR cable wouldn't work right out of the box though