Help needet ... HELIOS and potiometer on hardware panels

[TomDK]

I am still in trouble with Helios and a potiometer :(

 

Under Helios I have 2 joysticks emulated by B256A13.

I use in Helios so far only joystick 1.

Connected to joy1 are several switches a 1 potiometer.

The potiometer is assigned as "slider0".

I can use and see slider0 as a axis and it reacts.

 

How to bind it now to f.eks. formation light ?!

 

I tried all possibilities but did not get it to work .....

[Gadroc]

Drag the set lighting action from the A-10C to slider changes as you have. The trick is that direct x supplies 0-65536 and the game expect 0-1. Just change the binding vallue from trigger value to lua script and use:

return TriggerValue/65536

[Hansolo]

Hi TomDK,

 

Take a look at my modification to Gadrocs Single Touch.

 

Attached example is for the volumen buttom for VHF AM radio:

1. Find the panel display in Helios you want to control.

2. Mark the volumen button on the panel and you will see the dotted square around the mark.

3. Under binding push the Input tab. The signal you are giving is an input to Helios which in turn is sending it to the game.

4. Under Input tab in the Action field browse to Interface - Joy1 -at the far bottom you will find the Slider0.

5. Mark and drag the Slider0 to Binding - Set

6. As Gadroc describes then set return TriggerValue/65536

 

ps. The set value "to trigger value when VHF AM Radio Volumen on DCS a-10C changes" as in my example won't work after connecting the potentiometer. Reason is that Helios cannot move the potentiometer, so once you set another volumen in the game or Helios, it will jump back to the setting og the potentiometer.

 

Hope this helped a little bit.

 

All the best.... Hans

Edited September 24, 2012 by Hansolo
wrong screen dump

[TomDK]

Thank you both ! Will try it in the evening !

[Dropship Pilot]

Ah, nice!

Didn't know that this was possible with Helios. :book::doh:

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think it's only possible to connect pots to values that can be SET (as the VHF AM Radio Volume). The 1st Frequency Selector of the VHF AM Radio for example can only be incremented or decremented so connecting a pot wouldn't make sense. Or did I miss something?

 

Cheers,

Stefan

[Gadroc]

That is correct. For those controls you would need to use a rotary encoder.

[TomDK]

Now I am completely confused ....

 

I tried first what Gadroc told me:

Changed in the setting "Export/Joy1/slider0" to "LUA: return TriggerValue/65536". The result was in the sim nothing happened to the lifgts but on the lightpanel in sim and also in Helios the know was flattering wild.

 

Than I added to the "Monitor/Input/Lightpanel/knob for formationlight/LUA= return TriggerValue/65536" as HMA described so good. Same effect ... knob not working, flattering wild.

 

Than I deleted the "Export/Joy1/slider0" to "LUA: return TriggerValue/65536" value but did not touch the "Monitor/Input/Lightpanel/knob for formationlight/LUA= return TriggerValue/65536"

Same result ....

 

 

Where is my fault ? Maybe the poti is not the correct one with 10K / Ohm ?!

 

If the knob in sim/Helios not react is okay to me, but the function should be there.

 

:cry: Hjaelp ....

[Dropship Pilot]

Hi Tom,

 

for a first test, just use one of the axes of your warthog throttle instead of Brydling's board. That should do fine if you do it as described above (and if not the error has nothing to do with the B256A13).

 

Oh, now I see where the error might be:

use "return TriggerValue/65536" instead of "LUA: return TriggerValue/65536".

 

Cheers,

Stefan

[JG14_Smil]

Also note that if your controller software allows it, you may be able to assign a keystroke or analog button pulse to cetain ranges on the potentiometer (TM allows this as as example). You could then use the pot as a fake encoder for channel switching. This is what I am doing now with my R-828 and ADF channel selectors.

 

 

 

Very big thanks for the lua line for the analog pots in Helios!! I thought there was one as I had them working before in the past..

[Dropship Pilot]

So what's TM? Touchpal?

 

Cheers,

Stefan

[TomDK]

@Dropship Pilot: For sure I wrote only "return TriggerValue/65536", it was just to show in the thread that I changed to LUA.

 

Thanks for your idea ! But .. I think on the TM Warthog are only switches and axis. There are no potis.

 

I tried in the A-10 setup to give a function directly to the joystick but in A-10 are no potios to use, only axis. So therefor I have to use Helios as a "command interpreter"

 

 

@HMA: Did it work for any input with a poti for you ? I would like to "rebuild" your setting ! Which kind of poti do you use ? Your post is the best "show me the way" so far for me.

[Dropship Pilot]

I think on the TM Warthog are only switches and axis. There are no potis.

Actually, a pot on the B256A13 is an axis (the B256A13 is a joystick controller after all - just like the throttle of the TM Warthog). Thus the behavior should be exactly the same.

 

Cheers,

Stefan

[Hansolo]

Hi TomDK,

 

Jep I checked that it worked this morning before replying to you. Just out of curiosity have you set also the output from Helios to DCS A-10C?? If not set then I don't think Helios is sending the information anywhere.

 

I have attached some screen dump from my settings of the example you were asking about.

 

1. (pic "Formation light Input binding") Is basically the same as this morning but set for the formation light example to make sure we are on the same page.

2. (pic "Formation light output binding") Are the output binding for the formation light in your example.

3. (pic "Formation light joy output binding"). I have not done anything to this but suspect that Helios will automatically set this when you set input binding.

 

I have just made a quick start up to check the both Helios and the game is "seeing" the changes. Knob in Helios is turning based upon potentiometer value and when checking aircraft from outside formation light are also changing.

 

 

Hope this will assist. Otherwise I can send you my Helios profile if you like :music_whistling:

 

Ps. my potentiometer is a 50kOhm linear. Nothing fancy.

Edited September 24, 2012 by Hansolo

[TomDK]

Yihaaa !!

 

Thank you for your time !

After Stefan´s post I tryed to bind the TM Throttle "INCREASE/DECREASE" with the formation light and it worked directly in Helios and the sim.

Switched this over to the poti .... here we go !!

 

Also thanks again to HMA for your nice support !

 

But now I have a problem and a question:

 

Problem .. on the B256A13 are not enough potis for all panels :)

 

Question ... what is on the TM throttle the INC/DEC slider for ?! I ched the optionsmenu in A-10 but there is no binding for this slider ... am I wrong ?!

 

 

Cheers

 

Tom ... if my poormans panels are all working I will introduce my little pit ;)

[Dropship Pilot]

On the original A-10 the INCR - DECR slider is used to adjust the friction of the throttle. As the TM Warthog throttle is build with differend mechanics they had to move the fricton control to the front of the throttle box. Thus the silder is free for you to use.

 

Cheers,

Stefan

[Hansolo]

Tom..

 

Depends on how many potentiometers you are missing. I have connected the radio volumens directly to DCS A-10C using encoders and a Leo Bodnar BBI-32 card.

Very easy setup.

 

Hans

 

ps. looking forward to see your pit. I have also just started building

Edited September 24, 2012 by Hansolo

[TomDK]

@DrpShpPlt: Thanks for the information, nice to know that there is a slider free.

 

@HMA: What is an encoder ? I think the hardest thing will become the radios with the wheels. So far I will have all panels needet for normal flying as hardware in combination with the touchscreen and LOZ layout.

I have some really lasered, good panels, waiting for more to come from user linden. The others are just stickers on a thin wood ... looks not so fancy but it works. The rel ugliest thing on the pit is my "art of flying". But I like also to work on the pit :)

[Hansolo]

TomDK,

 

Well I think the correct term for what I call encoder is actually encremental rotary encoder (below just named encoder), which is a electrical device which does not provide you with an actual position but will provide you with cyclic output when rotated. Please be adviced that I am not an expert on the subject thus had to check wiki about(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rotary_encoder).

 

The encoder emplements output A & B both of wich can be logic "0" (e.g. low) or logic "1" (e.g. high). A & B are not in sync which means that they will not both turn from "0" to "1" at the same time. This means that they will always change one after the other.

Depending on the direction of rotation A and B goes high/low in a different pattern (see attachment).

 

For each encoder you need two digital inputs and some software to enterpret which direction you are turning the encoder. Basically your BA256A13 input can be used BUT the software part does not support encoders. The B256A13 can take many input but can't handle the encoders.

 

A simply way around this is to buy a Leo Bodnar BBI-32 interface card at app. 20/30 £ plus delivery because here you can get the software that can enterpret the rotation(http://www.leobodnar.com/products/BBI-32/). It has 32 digital inputs which can be set for 16 encoders (two inputs paired for one encoder)

 

Then it is "simply" hooking up the wires (two digital inpus and one common), connect the card using USB so the DCS A-10C sees it. Then you can assign the the encoder directly into the game.

 

Attached is a small picture of the radio panel I have tried to build combining Brydlings B256A13 and the Leo Bodnar BBI-32. It is not very fancy but to my abilities :smilewink:

 

All the best.... Hans

[TomDK]

Wow .. very nice ! Tak for hjaelp !

Thanks for the information, will also try my luck with this card (after my 3. and 4. monitor arrived :pilotfly:).

 

Your work is very very nice !! Looks perfect just missing the first layer. Looking forward to see more ....

 

 

Cheers and hilsen

 

Tom

[TomDK]

Me again :music_whistling: .. long time no see :)

 

Yesterday I tried to switch the working "formations light" to "Yaw Trim".

Bad luck .. the poti will only move the right side from middle to bottom but not the full way.

 

Okay .. I thought, maybe too stupid and I connected the "Console lightning" to the poto and it worked well .. is there something different on the "Yaw Trim " ?

 

Will buy the BBI32 next week. Are the used encoders also from their website ? Would also love to build a working radio expect the channelnumbers.

 

So you write I have to hook it directly to DCS, ni Helios support I guess ?!

 

Cheers

Tom

[Hansolo]

Hi TomDK,

 

I haven't tried the yaw trim, but perhaps the the problem is that the lightning is 0-100% wereas the yaw time is -50% to +50%. Thus you may need to manipulate the "return TriggerValue/65536". I not by my game PC now but can see if I can give you an idea tomorrow.

 

Yes I bought the encoders from Leo Bodnar also. The price seem fair compared to what I can get here in DK and the quality is ok. When you get the BBI then ofcause you need to do the wiring and then download the rotary encoder configuration software from Leo Bodnars webpage. Using this software you can set up a paired set of inputs. I can send you a screen dump tomorrow showing how. Once the encoder configuration is done you assign the direction in DCS A-10C just as you do when assigning a push button.

 

In case you also need additional potentiometer inputs then there is also Leo Bodnar BU0836X which can also do encoders but has 8 analogue input. A small heads up is that the rotary encoder configuration software is not the same for the two cards. I have one of each and they do the encoders in similar way

 

All the best

 

Hans

[Dropship Pilot]

Tom,

 

the value range of the Yaw Trim is -1 to 1 and not 0 to 1 as on the light input. Thus you'll have to change the lua line to include the offset.

 

Cheers,

Stefan

 

PS: I see Hans was quicker in typing ... ;)

[Hansolo]

Hi again TomDK,

 

I am back. As Stefan correctly writes the signal is -1 to +1. This means:

1. That the span (max value - min value) is 2 instead of 1 for the lightning potentiometer.

2. The lower value is -1

 

In the lightning LUA you had "return TriggerValue/65536" which would in Helios be interpreted as 0-1 = span of 1. Another way of saying this is the Helios is registring a max value of 65536 units from the B256A13 card.

 

Now you want the span to be 2 which basically means that you should just multiply by 2 (ps we are not finished yet):

"return (TriggerValue/65536*2)"

or

"return (TriggerValue/32768 ) "

 

Now you have the span of 0-2 but you want to start the minimum value at minus one, so you just need to subtract 1:

 

"return (TriggerValue/65536*2)-1" or "return (TriggerValue/32768 )-1"

 

Now in the game the adjustment knob is not capable of doing +-180º. It looks more like +-170º, This you can adjust in Helios by setting min/max value as I have in attached example. The rotation of the knob in Helios looks less than +-180º because the value can never reach -1.2 or 1.2.

 

Hope this helps

 

 

All the best

 

Hans

 

ps. there shouldn't have to be space behind 32768 and the bracket, but otherwise it is being interpret as a smiley 8)

 

pps. attached is screen dump of BBI-32 rotary configuration tool

Edited September 27, 2012 by Hansolo
Typo

[TomDK]

Thank you again !!!

You are very helpfull !! I am so happy that I found some guys with good experience in Helios setup ! Will try it on sunday !

 

But I see .. you guys are familiar with this LUA scripts, right ?!

 

For me is Helios hard work, for my little experiment with the yaw trim and the other light cot me around 2 hours of my live. For any reason, Helios is for me not easy learnable .. maybe not the right background. But I am very happy that there is something like helios out !! Great work from Gadroc.

 

I have an overlay in Helios for F1-F10 and Quit, Enter, etc but have no luck with adding RALT+TAB for tabbing in the game.

 

For a fisrt VHF radio I will order the leobodnar BBI-32 .

Question here .. will the encoders fit on the panel for channel selectors or should I look arounf for smaller encoders ?

 

 

Thanks again

 

Tom

[Hansolo]

Hi Tom,

 

Saying I am familiar with LUA would be an exaggeration. I just up a little along the way from some of the very skilled guys who are writting in to forum. Mostly it is like what I have sent you and hove to modify input from a toggle switch with just one input into becomming On/Off. I have been playing the game for, well I don't know, a year I guess and have been scouting Google with an extreme amount for "DCS a-10c ....." searches ;)

 

If it is the preset channel selector we are talking about I wound't know. I havent installed them in my panels but they looke somewhat the same size as Tachno's (http://tacnoworld.fr/)

 

 

All the best

 

Hans

Edited September 28, 2012 by Hansolo