Wefly Thunder JF-17 Instrument Panel

[diycockpit]

Hello everyone

We have created the jf-17 simulator

I hope everyone can give more suggestions

Email: diycockpits@gmail.com

WhatsApp：+86 13341585391

https://www.diycockpit.com/product/wefly-thunder-jf-17-instrument-panel/

[Schmidtfire]

Great design!

But 3.999 USD (on sale) for the front panel? It will put your products way out of range for most DCS/JF-17 "non-professional" customers.

WinWing has the complete TOP GUN MIP with UFC + 3x displays for 825.90 USD. So it's hard to understand why the
Wefly Thunder JF-17 Instrument Panel is that more expensive. Unless it's aimed at the professional market. 

Edited July 20, 2023 by Schmidtfire

[Napillo]

I assume it's because they're doing small batches, probably made when you order it, or in very small quantities. It takes scale to get the prices down that much.

[PLAAF]

I purchased the UFCP recently. 

I like the overall quality but the software needs an update. Because currently, it is not working properly.

The device needs its software to synchronise its display with the corresponding display in the game. This software also dictates all of its button functions.

So basically, once the software is activated, you don't need to map your buttons, the device will automatically function as intended when you play JF-17......in theory. The software may have been designed to search the corresponding values in the game, and that is how their buttons work without mapping them. But the issue is that the values for controls have been changed quite a few times. I am sure some of you still remember there were times we had to remap some of our keys and buttons after an update. And that's what's causing the problem.

When I first received the UFCP, I didn't know this and had mapped all of its buttons. And that caused conflict between the software and my key mapping. Every time when I press a button, it will get double-tabbed. For example, when I tried to enter the coordinates 44'12"22, I will get 44'44"11 instead. After trying to correct it a few times, the conflict between the software and the key mapping will be so great that it will get what I called a "software crash" and when that happens, some buttons will lose their function. But the issue is, no matter how you restart the game or the computer, those buttons which lose their function will NOT work again. Why? Because the crashed software is still in its crashed state. Please see the picture below.

Note the display is still on even after I turned off the computer. Because of this, the software inside the device is still on.

So the only thing you can do to reset the software is to completely shut off the power of the computer. Turn off the power source. Only then, the UFCP will not be able to receive any power and be shut down. And after a restart, everything will be reset.

Some of you may want to ask, why not just clear all key mapping and just rely on the software?

As I mentioned above, the controls of JF-17 have been changed a few times and some of them no longer have their original value therefore, many of the buttons won't work.

Secondly, there are some buttons on the UFCP never had any functions in real life and we as players would like to map them for our convenience. For example, the button on the right side of the number "0"; the buttons below function buttons "A/P" and "FPM". 

I have contacted the company "Wefly" and their representatives promised that they are going to update the software. The new software will only be used to synchronise the display and leave all buttons alone, returning the key mapping decisions to us players. But it may be a while.

So currently, I can only play it without the software thus, without a synchronised display.

 

Edited July 31, 2023 by PLAAF

[MAXsenna]

Thanks @PLAAF! 

That's really important info! 

[jonny415]

I got the UFCP couple of days ago without any instruction provided, so I thought it was just plug-and-play like it says on the website. I had to contact Wefly to get the software that was needed to connect with the panel. It was glitchy at 1st the buttons weren't working properly the knobs were sluggish. Contact them again regarding that they sent me a new link to the updated software still have a minor issue with it FPM and HSM not working. I hope they just unbind all the buttons and knobs from DCS BIOS and let the user just assign pushbuttons/knobs to the game settings. DCS Bios only control the display and led lights. On their website, there are download sections where they should have the latest updated software but it's empty. I guess they are new to the market. The overall great product the shipping was super fast. No one is making anything for Jeff besides them.     

[jonny415]

@PLAAF for me everything is working fine now with minor issues still present are FPM and HNS don't work knobs are sluggish that's something with the software. Contact them on the whatsapp you will need three files that you need to drop into the monitor setup folder but don't change anything in the game setting for the monitor view.

[PLAAF]

11 minutes ago, jonny415 said:

@PLAAF for me everything is working fine now with minor issues still present are FPM and HNS don't work knobs are sluggish that's something with the software. Contact them on the whatsapp you will need three files that you need to drop into the monitor setup folder but don't change anything in the game setting for the monitor view.

For me, the knobs are sluggish only when I use the software without the key mapping. They work fine with keymapping without the software.

And my comment above was only for the UFCP. I haven't purchased the monitors yet. So I can't comment on what you said about the monitor.

34 minutes ago, jonny415 said:

Contact them again regarding that they sent me a new link to the updated software still have a minor issue with it FPM and HSM not working. I hope they just unbind all the buttons and knobs from DCS BIOS and let the user just assign pushbuttons/knobs to the game settings.

That's exactly what I suggested in my comment above. I also sent them text messages and they told me that they are going to do that later.

So only the FPM and HSM buttons are not working for you when the software is activated? That's odd. Because they work for me. But numbers 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 0, return and one of the arrow keys aren't.

Edited July 31, 2023 by PLAAF

[jonny415]

@PLAAF I also bought the UFCP only but the display didn't sync only when I added the monitor file that was provided from the WhatsApp link it worked and sync.

[jonny415]

@PLAAF 

Quote

So only the FPM and HSM buttons are not working for you when the software is activated? That's odd. Because they work for me. But numbers 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 0, return and one of the arrow keys aren't.

That's the old software try this link http://cdn.diycockpit.com/software/DCSCockpit.zip

IF the UFCP doesn't sync try this but only copy the monitor files: www.pcflier.com/ufcp.zip 

[PLAAF]

58 minutes ago, jonny415 said:

@PLAAF 

That's the old software try this link http://cdn.diycockpit.com/software/DCSCockpit.zip

IF the UFCP doesn't sync try this but only copy the monitor files: www.pcflier.com/ufcp.zip 

Thanks. But no need, didn't you say FPM and HSM still won't work?

Also, as I mentioned before:

20 hours ago, PLAAF said:

Secondly, there are some buttons on the UFCP never had any functions in real life and we as players would like to map them for our convenience. For example, the button on the right side of the number "0"; the buttons below function buttons "A/P" and "FPM". 

So I am going to wait until they make the new software where we can map the key ourselves.

[J-20]

22 hours ago, PLAAF said:

I have contacted the company "Wefly" and their representatives promised that they are going to update the software. The new software will only be used to synchronise the display and leave all buttons alone, returning the key mapping decisions to us players. But it may be a while.

Good to know . I will wait until they update the software before I purchase it then.

[J-20]

5 hours ago, jonny415 said:

I hope they just unbind all the buttons and knobs from DCS BIOS and let the user just assign pushbuttons/knobs to the game settings. DCS Bios only control the display and led lights. 

Agree. To much hustle and too much hassle.

[PLAAF]

11 hours ago, jonny415 said:

@PLAAF 

That's the old software try this link http://cdn.diycockpit.com/software/DCSCockpit.zip

IF the UFCP doesn't sync try this but only copy the monitor files: www.pcflier.com/ufcp.zip 

I have checked out the link you posted. Your software isn't new. We have the same files. The same size same creation date etc.

 

There are other issues too regarding the software. Noticed that some buttons in this picture appeared to be pressed down. That means the software is not sending the "press-and-release" signal, but the "press-and-hold" signal.

[jonny415]

@PLAAF My bad I think I may have mixed some files they provided to make it work, I have 3 versions of their software can't tell which one is which 

I also had that problem press and hold I just switch few files and it worked let me test it today again, hopefully, they roll out the update soon  

[PLAAF]

Great News, everyone who is using the Wefly UFCP. The representative from Wefly contacted me earlier and gave me the updated software. That was a fast response from them. I thought I had to wait for a month before we can get our new software. But, it has only been a few days. They really took our calls seriously.  I have tested it and it works like a charm.

It gives us the option to not use their button preset function. So if you have a problem with their preset button, all you need to do is to turn it off.

Just one thing before you use it though:

Remember a few days ago I said this,

On 7/31/2023 at 11:47 AM, PLAAF said:

But the issue is, no matter how you restart the game or the computer, those buttons which lose their function will NOT work again. Why? Because the crashed software is still in its crashed state. Please see the picture below.

 

Note the display is still on even after I turned off the computer. Because of this, the software inside the device is still on.

So the only thing you can do to reset the software is to completely shut off the power of the computer. Turn off the power source. Only then, the UFCP will not be able to receive any power and be shut down. And after a restart, everything will be reset.

It's the same deal here. After installing the new software, it won't work because the old software is still inside UFCP. So after installing the new software for the first time, you need to completely shut off the power of the computer to reset it. Once that's done, everything works as intended. 

So @jonny415, and any other people who are using the UFCP, I will post the new software below. Feel free to grab it.   
 

DCSCockpit.zip

[jonny415]

@PLAAF thanks works better, sometime i had issue with L4 arrow key had to unplug and plug back power to UFC. Rotary knobs are sluggish hard to map maybe they can mimic them to axis like winwing has done

[Falconeer]

looks good, but the price is way to much

[PLAAF]

On 8/4/2023 at 4:29 PM, jonny415 said:

@PLAAF thanks works better, sometime i had issue with L4 arrow key had to unplug and plug back power to UFC. Rotary knobs are sluggish hard to map maybe they can mimic them to axis like winwing has done

Yep, I wish the knobs are axis instead of dials too. You can try to rotate them at different speeds. Some speed is more sensitive than others. That's why I dislike dials. It's the same on Virple controls.

Wait, a stream deck? Do you have a channel of your own? What's your channel?

 

22 hours ago, Falconeer said:

looks good, but the price is way to much

I feel that too.

[jonny415]

@PLAAF thanks will try, no I don’t have a channel just using the stream deck to control the game via stream deck interface and DCS bios 

[PLAAF]

@diycockpit

Hi, after intensive tests I have done. I have found that there are still bugs in the system.  The buttons still have similar problems. But I have isolated different variables and I think I now know what's causing the problem here.

Firstly, the problem appears to be software related. Because everything works very well without the software and I do mean very well. Every button reacts to my pressing very fast. You can do speed dial on this thing easily.

Things change when the software is activated. First of all, almost every button becomes sluggish. If you dial too fast, the panel will not recognise some of the input. For example, if you dial 66 very fast, you will get just a 6. This is very similar to the problem we had a few days ago.

On 8/1/2023 at 7:15 PM, PLAAF said:

There are other issues too regarding the software. Noticed that some buttons in this picture appeared to be pressed down. That means the software is not sending the "press-and-release" signal, but the "press-and-hold" signal.

 

All buttons' commands are recognised by the computer in the following way. 

1. pulse on press
2. pulse on release
3. Press and hold

I guess that the software may not have clearly definition of the 3 types of commands I listed above. It may be the type of bug we are looking at here. But that is just my guess. But again, I am not a coder, I can't say for sure. But the bug's behaviour certainly suggests that way. 

The second bug is that if I press the same button twice or more times in a row, especially if I press them at a fast rate, 1 or 2 random buttons will lose their function. This is in fact the same bug we had before. Remember a few days ago, some of my buttons lost their function but I thought it was because of the conflict between the preset and the player's keymap. But turns out, it is not. A few days ago, when I had both the preset buttons and my own key mapping, I get 2 inputs every time when I press a button. For example, when I try to dial 42'24"56,  I get 44'22'22. Because of that, I was constantly trying to re-type the coordinates. And by doing so, I would press the same button multiple times in the process. So we are actually looking at the same bug here.

 

And I can see why Wefly didn't notice this bug before. Because they probably always start their missions in mid-air. So they only need to click those buttons once when needed. But a hardcore player like me, we always start our missions in the hangar and thus always need to dial in our coordinates. 

Please see my video attached below. It is me pressing every button at a consistent rate when the software is active. You will see that in the game, the buttons are not responding at the same rate as my pressing. There will first be sluggish and then pick up the pace. And in this video, you will also see that button 6 was not responding at all. As I mentioned earlier, if I press a button too fast multiple times in a row, 1 or 2 random buttons may stop functioning. And in this case, it was button 6. And this phenomenon does NOT exist if the software is not active.

So the software clearly still has some influence over the buttons. Can you please ask your colleagues in the coding department to write another software that not just gives us the option to disable the preset commands, but has no codes for buttons at all? Thanks very much in advance. 

 

Phew, took me a whole afternoon and night to test them out. Every time I must turn off the power to reset the software in the computer. imagine the workload. I am on the verge of a mental breakdown. It appears we still have to make do without the display for now.  

 

Edit:

The software is definitely influencing our controls. I forgot to mention earlier that whenever the software is active, our axis tunning would become a mess, particularly for the rudder. It would become very sensitive. A small input would lead to a 100% rudder value.

Edited August 7, 2023 by PLAAF

[PLAAF]

Here is my button-pressing test without the software. You will see that every button responded to my pressing instantly. 

 

 

 

[jonny415]

I think you have nailed it that it is somehow still communicating with pushbuttons at the moment the two empty buttons under A/P and FPM stay pushed which shows it still binds with the software where I would like is that the software-only control display and LEDs. There are a few other bugs that display don't sync missing the top row sometimes and require a restart of UFCP if you restart UFCP it shuts down or enables uncage throttle which should not happen to aircraft so even the power button acts or mimic pushbutton. From time to time it has a problem with not recognizing the pushbutton needs UFCP restart so totally a software issue I think they took a shortcut with disable option. For me, the UFCP BRT knob reads the input in the game but does not really work I compared it with the Winwing MFD knob the Winwing work perfectly. I will probably need to talk with them tomorrow if they can replace my unit with axis knobs or at least a working knob. for $500 + shipping I need everything to work. I hope we didn't get a half-backed potato haha.

[Napillo]

On 8/5/2023 at 12:03 AM, PLAAF said:

a stream deck? Do you have a channel of your own?

If you have the JF-17, the Stream Deck XL (as seen in the photo) makes an excellent UFCP for it. There's a stream deck profile for it, and it's excellent, even allowing you to control the radio.

 

Edited August 8, 2023 by Napillo
example screenshot

[jonny415]

@Napillo Yeah, I wanted to dedicate UFCP for my deskpit for JF-17 cuz I mostly fly in that for the rest I use the stream deck. I am aware of the stream deck profile I have made for almost all the modules I own. Here are the links to my profiles: My Files (digitalcombatsimulator.com)