Basic Huey Input with DCS Bios

[Woody81]

Hi!

   I'd like to set up a basic input to chang ethe ADF freq in the Huey. I'm trying to fly the soldier rescue mission in the campaign and at the point where he directs you to change the adf freq he doesnt take the controls and the helo crashes. I've also tried using active pause, but as the diy collective i've made doesnt stay up, it also crashes when i restart.

   Simple solution i thought, Use a rotary encoder to change the adf freq through an arduino mega and dcs bios. And herein lies the problem.... I don't know a thing about code, dcs bios web interface does'nt seem to be helpful in this instance and i've had a search about with not much luck. A spanish guy has made the full panel but i don't understand spanish enough to get the code i need in order for the encoder to work..... Can anyone help at all please? I'd love to understand why the code works too. muchas gracias!

Edited August 3, 2024 by Woody81

[No1sonuk]

If you can link to the panel you speak of, I might be able to help.  My Spanish isn't wonderful, but I do understand the DCS-BIOS code. 

Also, if all you want is a rotary encoder, a Mega is overkill - a Nano would suffice.

And you said you made the collective:  What does it use for the interface to the PC?

[Woody81]

Hi there, 

Thanks for the response! The link to the panel I'm interested in is https://www.cruzdesanandres.com/foro/viewtopic.php?f=10&p=168709#p168709

I do have a couple of nanos lying around, so would be able to move to one of those, I just had the Mega at hand at the time and i've used it before to sort of prototype the AOA light in the Tomcat, Thankfully that was just a case of copy and paste the code snippets. 

My collective is 3d printed parts mounted on a piece of pipe and interfaced with a BU0836 from Leo Bodnar. The files I got from thingiverse and have been modified to look more like a Huey collective head. It's not amazing and I'll be buying a commercial one probably in the next few months, but if you're interested, this is the link to the 3d printer files I started with.   https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:5226353  

 

Many Thanks

[No1sonuk]

I'll look at the panel in detail later.
VERY interesting idea putting a rotary encoder on a rotary switch knob!

BTW, did you know Google Translate can work on web pages?
Try this:  https://www-cruzdesanandres-com.translate.goog/foro/viewtopic.php?f=10&p=168709&_x_tr_sl=es&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en-US&_x_tr_pto=wapp#p168709

The only real difference for your case between a Nano and Mega would be pin numbers in the code.  The Arduino IDE sorts out the device programming differences.
If you were making the whole panel, a Mega might be needed, but for a single control, that's overkill.

I asked about the collective because I was hoping you'd say it was a Bodnar BU0836.  You could possibly use that with your encoder if there's a bind for the function you want in the DCS controls page for the Huey. That would entirely bypass DCS-BIOS and make the control almost update-proof.
Leo Bodnar have a piece of software that you can use to configure the BU0836 to use 2 inputs for an encoder, and set the number of steps per detent to match your encoder.  That then adds 2 "virtual buttons" to the BU0836 output to Windows. One virtual button pulses when the rotary is turned one way, the other pulses for the other direction.
Those virtual buttons can be bound and used for anything that uses an encoder in any module that has binds available. 

I don't have the Huey, so I can't see if the controls you want have binds available.

[Woody81]

I've had a look and the Huey indeed does have binds available for the ADF frequency change. I've downloaded the software and I'll have a play with it tomorrow. Thanks for the assistance! 

[Woody81]

@No1sonuk Hey, Just thought I'd let you know that the encoder and the BU0836 work a treat! I had considered making a panel for the huey with the most used controls on it, still might do at some point, but for now this works great. I'm just gonna jump in and fly that mission that i've been unable to complete. Thanks again for the help, Much appreciated