Diagnostic techniques and tools - in case of problems

[phildc]

As a high number of appends are related to CONNECTION and INTERFACE problems,
I suggest to list here techniques and tools that can help in case of connection and usage problems.

First of all, know (and write in your posts) your environment:
PC hardware
Windows version
drivers...

Other software used (DLL ?): smartpropo, PPJoy,..

FMS version

Input device: transmitter or joystick make, model, type,...

PPM or PCM ?

Connection(from a HW point of view): USB, serial, parallel, game
from a signal point of view: simple (resistor, transistor), or coded (PIC ,)
and code if known
..........................................
Then describe the problem...
..........................................
with these elements you can start a SEARCH on forums to see if the problem is known
..........................................
Or you may first do deeper diagnostics with some tools:
here a first list.
You will be able to see if you do have an input signal, if your system is viewing the connection, which channels are present and where, how they react to the stick movements, a.s.o
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TOOLS
The virtual scope (input on PC mike input) to view the signal:
or
[url=http://mywebpages.comcast.net/fel4u/oscope/winscope.htm]http://mywebpages.comcast.net/fel4u/oscope/winscope.htm
[/url]



A serial signal analyser:


select the COMx, speed, a.s.o, then do start
The default setting is for FMS PIC serial 19200 x'FF' on COM1

A PPM signal analyser

from the menu select interface=audio, do MONITOR

See the joysticks in your system:

This soft also generates a PCM signal ((simple)PCM code) on the COM port from the joystick input, that can be used elsewhere, with a null modem cable, e.g. to FMS, or to another soft, to record, analyse, etc...


And, as a reminder, Olivier's document about RC transmitters connections:

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If you used other diagnostic tools, please append here, for the benefits of all.

Philippe

[phildc]

No other diagnostic tools or methods?
Surprising, considering the number of connection problems that appear almost every day.

Please append, so more problems can be resolved without creating a new thread.

Thanks,
Philippe.

[overhead]

I came across a problem a while back that I could not find a solution for. Maybe somebody nows how to solve this one.

A PIC serial interface did not want to work. All settings in FMS were ok but no response to stick movement. My interface will send test characters when the transmitter is not connected so we tried to monitor these using HyperTerminal. As soon as HyperTerminal tried to connect to Comm1 we would get an error saying that Comm1 was already in use. Trouble is there was nothing running that uses Comm1.

We checked the Start menu for startup programs, there we none. We checked the modem, it was using Comm3, there might be a conflict there so we diasbled it. Then we used MSConfig that disable ALL startup items. Still we kept getting Comm1 in Use errors.

So is there a utility that can report which program is using Comm1.

Dennis ???

[phildc]

No immediate clue, but I would try to re-boot, and then NOT RESTART FMS or any other applic, just do the diag tests:
- hyperterminal
OR:
-
-

[phildc]

Up....
Remember to do some diagnostics when you are in trouble, you could spare time!

[phildc]

New download site where you can find my softwares and documentation:

[phildc]

The PPM stick also called 'PPM thermometer' allows you to quickly (no parms, no options, no commands) visualize up to 12 PPM channels.
Just take the signal and ground from your transmitter and input it on the audio (mike) input of your PC. You can use a shielded cable or two SHORT pieces of wire.



Download RCAudio.exe here:


Channel 1 is on top, left is left...

Useful to plan for the connection to a simulator, for a buddy box cable, to look at mixers, a.s.o..

A tool that everybody should have at hand.

For transmitter connections please refer to TX2TX explained above.

Enjoy,
Phil.

addtl keywords: mix mixer program software freeware free probe visualize signal radio rc model problem simu fms monitor student analogue modulation

[phildc]

The latest updates of 'Diagnostic techniques and tools' may always be found (in french) at


There are also references to connectors, PC stuff, a.s.o.

For the PPM audio stick (or "Thermometer") preferably use a MONO audio cord.

Phil.

[phildc]

There is a new version of the ppm audio thermometer online:



Phil.

[phildc]

The audio thermometer for PPM signals has a lot of new functions:

- read servo signal, also behind gyro, frequency measurement
- simulate plane and helicopter behaviour
- standard and customized channel configurations are supported
- recording of a PPM signal (snapshot) for diagnosis purposes
- ...

Version 3.0 (in beta test) is online today.


Phil.

Older versions remain available:

[phildc]

Some pictures:

The standard "thermometer" showing a ppm signal without entering any command or parameter:



Going to advance functions, you can see an animated plane (glider ?) or helicopter:




and change parameters:




A servo signal is also automatically detected, and the refresh frequency measured:
(here behind a Futaba GY401 in DS mode (Digital Servo) announced at 270 Hz):

[Lindsay]

[phildc]

The soft to look at a snapshot:



A 'good' signal. But the cable adaptation is not perfect:



A bad signal (disturbed by HF, use shielded cable, remove crystal or HF module):



White line is the ppm signal. Green refers to smartpropo detection, red to thermometer detection.

Phil.