IFF Panel Problems

byteman59 · November 1, 2022

Thanks, want to give that a try and see what happens.

byteman59 · November 1, 2022

Looks like Arduino Library v0.2.11 hub works fine.

Does this mean it will not work if try to use DCS-Bios forked version?

byteman59 · November 2, 2022

Found this on gitHub, looks like there is class for BCD already written. Seems to work fine.

https://github.com/DCSFlightpanels/dcs-bios-arduino-library/wiki/BcdWheel

byteman59 · June 8, 2023

On 11/1/2022 at 1:14 PM, Vinc_Vega said:

Hi Bob,

I use DCS-BIOS Version: v0.10.0+64, most files of the Library are from April 2019.

The A-10C II modul should be from October 2020.

Regards, Vinc

Vinc,

When wiring a BCD, should i use 5V as common or GRD as common?

Thanks

Vinc_Vega · June 9, 2023

Hi,

I used common GND for my BCD switches.

Regards, Vinc

byteman59 · June 15, 2023

I'm confused why this code works in DCS-BIOS but not in the game.

#define DCSBIOS_IRQ_SERIAL

#include <DcsBios.h>

// Thumbwheel Code

//Mode-1 Wheel 1 ROTARY ENCODER

DcsBios::BcdWheel iffMode1Wheel1("IFF_MODE1_WHEEL1", 25, 26, 27);

//Mode-1 Wheel 2 ROTARY ENCODER

DcsBios::BcdWheel iffMode1Wheel2("IFF_MODE1_WHEEL2", 23, 24);

//Mode-3A Wheel 1 ROTARY ENCODER

DcsBios::BcdWheel iffMode3aWheel1("IFF_MODE3a_WHEEL1", 54, 55, 56);

//Mode-3A Wheel 2 ROTARY ENCODER

DcsBios::BcdWheel iffMode3aWheel2("IFF_MODE3a_WHEEL2", 60, 59, 58);

//Mode-3A Wheel 3 ROTARY ENCODER

DcsBios::BcdWheel iffMode3aWheel3("IFF_MODE3a_WHEEL3", 64, 63, 62);

//Mode-3A Wheel 4 ROTARY ENCODER

DcsBios::BcdWheel iffMode3aWheel4("IFF_MODE3a_WHEEL4", 68, 67, 66);

void setup() {

DcsBios::setup();

// ThumbWheels

pinMode (23, INPUT_PULLUP);

pinMode (24, INPUT_PULLUP);

pinMode (25, INPUT_PULLUP);

pinMode (26, INPUT_PULLUP);

pinMode (27, INPUT_PULLUP);

pinMode (54, INPUT_PULLUP);

pinMode (55, INPUT_PULLUP);

pinMode (56, INPUT_PULLUP);

pinMode (58, INPUT_PULLUP);

pinMode (59, INPUT_PULLUP);

pinMode (60, INPUT_PULLUP);

pinMode (62, INPUT_PULLUP);

pinMode (63, INPUT_PULLUP);

pinMode (64, INPUT_PULLUP);

pinMode (66, INPUT_PULLUP);

pinMode (67, INPUT_PULLUP);

pinMode (68, INPUT_PULLUP);

}

void loop() {

DcsBios::loop();

am i missing something?

}

No1sonuk · June 15, 2023

I don't know how bcdwheel is supposed to work, but generally speaking you don't need the pin mode lines as DCS-BIOS does that for you.

Try removing those pinmode lines in case they're interfering.

byteman59 · June 15, 2023

7 hours ago, No1sonuk said:

I don't know how bcdwheel is supposed to work, but generally speaking you don't need the pin mode lines as DCS-BIOS does that for you.

Try removing those pinmode lines in case they're interfering.

When removed nothing happens at all.

No1sonuk · June 16, 2023

I've got some BCD switches coming, so I'll do a proper test, but from jury-rigging using an SPST switch and jumper wires, it looks OK.
Maybe you have a hardware fault?

lesthegrngo · June 17, 2023

Getting the IFF BCD thumbwheels working on my IFF panel was on my 'to do' list, so this morning after seeing this I started as I always do with a simple test to understand the components a bit better. In pursuit of that I soldered on the connections to one of the Hampolt BCS thumbwheels, and downloaded and installed the sketch from here https://www.instructables.com/Arduino-and-Thumbwheel-Switches/ to check it out. I soldered in some 10K resistors on a patch board and wired up accordingly

Trouble is, it doesn't work! The serial monitor displays '15' when the thumbwheel is at zero, and '0' for any other value

So, I have searched for an alternative test sketch that maybe uses an alternative schematic, but can't find one. If someone does have a simple test sketch I would like to know about it

Les

No1sonuk · June 17, 2023

I think there's an error in that instructibles code.

I think the line:

int readSwitch()

Should be:

void readSwitch()

Edited June 17, 2023 by No1sonuk

lesthegrngo · June 17, 2023

Thanks, I'll give that a go

In the meantime, someone sent me this

// TEST For "Profile switch" currently set to read BCD switch 
// once during setup; move code as noted below for repeated reads

// BCD Switch inputs attached to pins D4-7, common to Ground 
// (use internal pullups)

// Define data bit pins
    int      profile_BIT1  = 4;
    int      profile_BIT2  = 5;
    int      profile_BIT4  = 6;
    int      profile_BIT8  = 7;

// Define profile variable, set to 0

    int      profile = 0;

void setup() {
// initialize serial communication at 9600 bits per second (only needed
// for debugging:
  Serial.begin(9600);

// make the profile switch's pins inputs, with internal pullups on:
  pinMode(profile_BIT1, INPUT_PULLUP);
  pinMode(profile_BIT2, INPUT_PULLUP);
  pinMode(profile_BIT4, INPUT_PULLUP);
  pinMode(profile_BIT8, INPUT_PULLUP);
  
// to make read on each pass move all below this to "loop",  
// uncomment profile reset


// read the input pins: NOTE - CLOSED switch (binary 1) returns "0"
  int val_profile_BIT1 = digitalRead(profile_BIT1);
  int val_profile_BIT2 = digitalRead(profile_BIT2);
  int val_profile_BIT4 = digitalRead(profile_BIT4);
  int val_profile_BIT8 = digitalRead(profile_BIT8);



//int     profile =  0; needed in loop to reset to 0 for each pass

// turn bit values into single profile value by adding decimal value 
// of each bit to profile variable

if (  val_profile_BIT1 ==  0)    { profile = profile + 1; }
if (  val_profile_BIT2 ==  0)    { profile = profile + 2; }
if (  val_profile_BIT4 ==  0)    { profile = profile + 4; }
if (  val_profile_BIT8 ==  0)    { profile = profile + 8; }

// DEBUG - prints out the state of the switch bits and profile value

   {Serial.print("[profile_BIT1: ");
    Serial.print(val_profile_BIT1);
    Serial.print("] ");
    Serial.print("[profile_BIT2: ");
    Serial.print(val_profile_BIT2);
    Serial.print("] ");
    Serial.print("[profile_BIT4: ");
    Serial.print(val_profile_BIT4);
    Serial.print("] ");
    Serial.print("[profile_BIT8: ");
    Serial.print(val_profile_BIT8);
    Serial.print("] ");
    Serial.print("[profile: ");
    Serial.print(profile);
    Serial.println("] ");}
    
  }
  
// delay in between reads for stability, uncomment if in loop
//  delay(1000); 

  void loop() {
    
}

You have to reset the Nano after every move of the thumbwheel switch so that it shows on the serial monitor but it does work

For info I tried it with the '8' connection disconnected and predictably position 9 reports as 1 and position 8 reports as 0. I know that the in-game numbers don't go past 7 but I am unsure how to stop the thumbwheels from physically moving to those positions and was hoping to use three connections rather than four to help with that. However it looks like I will have to find another way

Les

Edited June 17, 2023 by lesthegrngo

No1sonuk · June 17, 2023

Did you notice this part? It's why you have to reset the device every time.

// to make read on each pass move all below this to "loop",  
// uncomment profile reset

lesthegrngo · June 17, 2023

Yeah, saw it and tried it, but gave errors - as I am a) pretty hung over and b) also trying to watch the cricket I found myself not trying too hard to fix it!

Cheers

Les

No1sonuk · June 17, 2023

LOL.
I think it should be this:

// TEST For "Profile switch" currently set to read BCD switch 
// once during setup; move code as noted below for repeated reads

// BCD Switch inputs attached to pins D4-7, common to Ground 
// (use internal pullups)

// Define data bit pins
    int      profile_BIT1  = 4;
    int      profile_BIT2  = 5;
    int      profile_BIT4  = 6;
    int      profile_BIT8  = 7;

// Define profile variable, set to 0

 int  profile = 0;

void setup() {
// initialize serial communication at 9600 bits per second (only needed
// for debugging:
  Serial.begin(9600);

// make the profile switch's pins inputs, with internal pullups on:
  pinMode(profile_BIT1, INPUT_PULLUP);
  pinMode(profile_BIT2, INPUT_PULLUP);
  pinMode(profile_BIT4, INPUT_PULLUP);
  pinMode(profile_BIT8, INPUT_PULLUP);
  

    
  }
  


  void loop() {

// read the input pins: NOTE - CLOSED switch (binary 1) returns "0"
  int val_profile_BIT1 = digitalRead(profile_BIT1);
  int val_profile_BIT2 = digitalRead(profile_BIT2);
  int val_profile_BIT4 = digitalRead(profile_BIT4);
  int val_profile_BIT8 = digitalRead(profile_BIT8);



       profile =  0; needed in loop to reset to 0 for each pass

// turn bit values into single profile value by adding decimal value 
// of each bit to profile variable

if (  val_profile_BIT1 ==  0)    { profile = profile + 1; }
if (  val_profile_BIT2 ==  0)    { profile = profile + 2; }
if (  val_profile_BIT4 ==  0)    { profile = profile + 4; }
if (  val_profile_BIT8 ==  0)    { profile = profile + 8; }

// DEBUG - prints out the state of the switch bits and profile value

   {Serial.print("[profile_BIT1: ");
    Serial.print(val_profile_BIT1);
    Serial.print("] ");
    Serial.print("[profile_BIT2: ");
    Serial.print(val_profile_BIT2);
    Serial.print("] ");
    Serial.print("[profile_BIT4: ");
    Serial.print(val_profile_BIT4);
    Serial.print("] ");
    Serial.print("[profile_BIT8: ");
    Serial.print(val_profile_BIT8);
    Serial.print("] ");
    Serial.print("[profile: ");
    Serial.print(profile);
    Serial.println("] ");}

// delay in between reads for stability, uncomment if in loop
   delay(1000); 
    
}

Edited June 17, 2023 by No1sonuk

lesthegrngo · June 17, 2023

Yep, that did it after I put // in front of the word 'needed' - works great! it's a good way to test

still ruminating on how to limit the wheel movement, although maybe I'm overthinking it

Les

No1sonuk · June 17, 2023

Limiting movement of the type with an "operating crown" should be relative easy, but the pushbutton types would be harder. I'll have a look when mine come later.

No1sonuk · June 17, 2023

Just ran a test using code byteman posted on Discord with a Mega and single BCD switch.
Both Mode 1 wheels work perfectly as written.
None of the Mode 3 wheels work at all as written.
Pins 54+ are A0+ and don't work reliably for the Mode 1 wheels.
I rigged them all to repsond to pins 25, 26, and 27 at the same time. Both Mode 1 wheels responded as expected. None of the Mode 3 wheels moved at all.
So my conclusions are:
1) ~~There appears to be a fault with the Mode 3 wheels in DCS-BIOS (or DCS itself)~~
EDIT: There was a code error: The 4 code lines said "IFF_MODE3a_WHEEL1", etc. but should be "IFF_MODE3A_WHEEL1", etc...

2) The analogue pins might not be reliable for digital input.

Edited June 17, 2023 by No1sonuk
Correcting after fault found

lesthegrngo · August 10, 2023

****EDIT - SOLVED*****

I had to reinstall the 'DCS-bios-arduino-master-library', once I did that it recovered it

Hi all, I have just gone to try to test the BCD thumbweels with a Mega on a dedicated PCB, but now I am getting a "'BcdWheel' is not a member of DCS Bios" error message

I never had that before, here's the sketch below. Have I forgotten to include something?


#define DCSBIOS_IRQ_SERIAL

//#define DCSBIOS_RS485_SLAVE 75
//#define TXENABLE_PIN 2


#include <DcsBios.h>
#include <Wire.h>
#include <SPI.h>


void setup()   {                
   {

// Thumbwheel Code

DcsBios::BcdWheel iffMode1Wheel1("IFF_MODE1_WHEEL1", 4, 5, 6, 7);
 
DcsBios::BcdWheel iffMode1Wheel2("IFF_MODE1_WHEEL2", 23, 24);
 
DcsBios::BcdWheel iffMode3aWheel1("IFF_MODE3A_WHEEL1", 26, 27, 28);

DcsBios::BcdWheel iffMode3aWheel2("IFF_MODE3A_WHEEL2", 30, 31, 32);
 
DcsBios::BcdWheel iffMode3aWheel3("IFF_MODE3A_WHEEL3", 33, 34, 35);
 
DcsBios::BcdWheel iffMode3aWheel4("IFF_MODE3a_WHEEL4", 36, 37, 38);
  
}
DcsBios::setup();
}

void loop() {
  DcsBios::loop();
  
}

Cheers

Les

Edited August 11, 2023 by lesthegrngo

Rapti · August 14, 2023

should there not be a special library you have to call?

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