summary on fms interfaces : update March 2006

[olivier2]

Hi to all,

I hope Michael Moeller will replace the sticky thread by this one.

UPDATE : March 10th, 2006.


This is a small summary of possible interfaces for FMS. Good study!


The PC needs from your transmitter the following :
a) the ground
b) the PPM OUT-signal
If your transmitter is fitted with a buddy-box connector, check out my website http://users.belgacom.net/TX2TX chapter 3 where to find the ground and the PPM OUT-signal on the connector.

How to find those 2 contacts in case your transmitter is not fitted with a buddy box connector?
--> Check out my website http://users.belgacom.net/TX2TX chapter 1 paragraph 1.1 using a free downloadable oscilloscope
--> or easier : find the PPM signal through the microphone entry of your PC, download the small program PPM-stick (rcaudio.exe) from here : http://users.skynet.be/phildc (not any settings necessary).
Other very interesting RC-to-PC utilities can be found on this site.

, 2 easy possibilities (above all possibilities that are also possible for Win 2000 and XP, see section "B").

1) THROUGH THE PARALLEL-port (LPT1)
eventually with a resistor and zenerdiode, see the manual of FMS ("handbuch" in German) here
http://n.ethz.ch/student/mmoeller/fms/index.html or some examples on my website which I personally tested here http://users.belgacom.net/TX2TX figure 7f-fms and others in chapter 7.
Or here : http://www.pibros.de/ (German).

2) THROUGH THE SERIAL-port
See the manual of FMS ("handbuch" in German) http://n.ethz.ch/student/mmoeller/fms/index.html

If you think you're not able to make such a cable, buy eventually one :
http://www.customelectronics.co.uk
http://www.allthingsrc.com/website/fms/fms1.html
http://www.k-webdesign.com/modellflug/rc-interface.htm (German)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
,
A SIMPLE connection through the parallel-port or serial port as described here above is NOT working, those 2 versions of Windows are handling other protocols on these ports than Win 95-98-Millenium.

Your options then :
1) VIA PPJOY
By downloading and installing PPJOY and connecting your transmitter with a simple parallel or serial interface.
download : http://www.simtel.net/product.download. ... p?id=75176
installation : http://www.geocities.com/deonvdw/Docs/PPJoyMain.htm
http://nexstar4.free.fr/aero_bidouilles_cable_sim.htm (French)

2) THROUGH THE SOUNDCARD
With smartpropo-plus : http://www.geocities.com/shaul_ei/SmartPropoPlus.html
or http://www.rc-sim.de/art_engine/article ... 45175d42f5 (German)
The advantage is that it's simple to make : 1 audio-cable only, minimal software installation.

3) THROUGH THE SERIAL PORT (Com-port)
a) via an interface with a programmable IC (PIC), which is described in the
directory of FMS, see .FMS\Doc\Interface\readme_en.htm on your harddisk.
Or "Simple PCM" : this one has the advantage to use the power of the transmitter and not by the control-signals ofthe PC. And as such is neither depending on the system settings, neither of the used program : http://www.jdm-nivelles.be/fichiers/fms/SPCMliste.htm
Or http://myweb.absa.co.za/eric.brouwer/interface.htm

b) or the same electronic interface that you can buy ready to use here :
http://www.welwyn.demon.co.uk/
http://www.customelectronics.co.uk/index.htm
http://www.clonepac.freeserve.co.uk/prod03.htm
http://www.milehighwings.com/pic_cables.htm
http://www.rc-sim.de (German)
http://perso.wanadoo.fr/patrick.bicheron/acceuil.htm (French)
http://www.cb-elektronics.de/catalog_1.html (German)

4) THROUGH THE USB-port
The cheapest USB-interface : Multiplex USB or Hitec USB-interface : 2 identical products, except for the adaptor cable. This interface works with all brands of transmitters. For the Robbe FC18, a small capacitor of 100nano must be fitted in serie on the signal :
for Hitec : http://www.hitecrcd.com/homepage/product_fs.htm under "flightsimulator cable"
for Multiplex : http://www.multiplex-rc.de and search for the product n° 85148
Other USB-interfaces :
http://www.rc-circuits.com/USB%20Joysti ... erface.htm (English, selfmade)
http://perso.wanadoo.fr/rc-elec/ (French : to buy or in kit, schematics included)
http://www.rc-electronics.co.uk
http://www.welwyn.demon.co.uk/fms_lead/fms_lead.htm
http://www.customelectronics.co.uk/index.htm
http://www.milehighwings.com/usb_cables.htm
http://www.geocities.com/simblaster/
http://www.milehighwings.com/usb_cables.htm
http://www.ripmax.com/FS_Simulators_Accessories.html
http://www.ifrance.com/aerofly/GO.htm (French)
http://www.rc-scale.com/francais/_elect ... e_usb.html (French-German - selfmade)
http://www.heise.de/ct/04/20/230/ (German-selfmade)
http://www.harald-sattler.de/html/fms_unter_xp2.htm (German-Selfmade)
http://www.rc-sim.de/art_engine/article ... 25deb62934 (German-selfmade)
http://rcsim.flugmodellbau.de/downloads ... ce_USB.pdf (German : kit)
http://www.modellpilot.de/ (German)
http://www.k-webdesign.com/modellflug/rc-interface.htm (German)
http://alessioandrea.altervista.org/project_1.html

If you have a 4-axis joystick, you can use an interface-cable
gameport-->USB, for sale in every computershop, thus ideal for modern
laptops without a COM-port

5) THROUGH THE GAME-port
a) with an interface which transforms the signal of the transmitter in a
joystick-signal
http://membres.lycos.fr/silicium31/ (French)
http://perso.wanadoo.fr/aero2000/Techni ... Simpic.htm (French-selfmade)
http://www.geocities.com/simblaster/
http://www.ripmax.com/FS_Simulators_Accessories.html
http://www.k-webdesign.com/modellflug/rc-interface.htm (German)

b) buy a 4-axis-controller joystick
http://www.gamebird.de/de/index.html (German)

c) or make yourself a 4-axis joystick with an old RC-transmitter, removing
all electronics, replacing the 4 potmeters by potmeters of 200K (not 100K
like mostly mentioned), and wiring like in :
http://soldcentralfl.com/flyingpenguin/rcstick.htm
http://graccus.free.fr/joystick.html (French)
http://iquebec.ifrance.com/st-prime/modif_rc.html (French)

6) Or make a partition on your harddisk where you will install Windows
95-98-Millennium. Then you can connect your radio simply via the
parallel-port or Serial-port as described in the manual of FMS and start the
older Windows (see section "A").

Hope this helps,
Olivier
--
http://users.belgacom.net/TX2TX : buddy box compatibility problems between
different brands of RC-transmitters.