How to convert my R/C transmitter into a joystick? - I'm a tech newbie, please don't blame me

[Ace_NoOne]

Well, this might be a bit off-topic (well, no, actually it's not - I think!?), but I wouldn't know where (or whom) else to ask:

I read that some people apparently managed to use their R/C transmitter as a normal PC-joystick - and I'd just love to do the same on my Windows XP machine here.
Problem is:
a) I'm pretty much of an incompetent nerd when it comes to tech-stuff. (my brother might help me out though; he's an experienced R/C driver, so he should know a thing or two about these things)
b) Since I'm not a Real Lifeâ„¢ R/C pilot (yet?!), I don't have a multi-channel transmitter. So I would wanna use one of my bro's 2-channel transmitters (Graupner XS-6, Futaba Attack II or Sanwa Seven Ace) instead - that would be just fine for the games I'd wanna use the controller in (e.g. the upcoming RC Squad Land Machines from ).

So I wonder if one of you tech-pros could tell me what I'd need to turn one of those R/C transmitters into a fully functional PC-joystick, and how to perform this miracle.

Thanks a lot in advance!

[olivier2]

Hi,

(In your case check B4a : through the game port)

A) For Win 95-98-Millennium with FMS, 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
(http://n.ethz.ch/student/mmoeller/fms/index.html) or some examples on my
website which I personally tested (http://users.belgacom.net/TX2TX) figure
7f-fms and others in chapter 7. Or here : (German).

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

If you think you're not able to make such a cable, buy eventually one :


(German)

B) For Win 2000 and Win XP with FMS, a SIMPLE connection through the
parallel-port or serial port is not working, those 2 versions of Windows are
handling other protocols on these ports than Win 95-98-Millenium.

Your options then :

1) THROUGH THE SOUNDCARD
With smartpropo :
The advantage is that it's simple to make : 1 audio-cable and a resistor or
potmeter

2) 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
b) or the same electronic interface that you can buy ready to use here :




(German)
(French)

3) THROUGH THE USB-port
(selfmade)







(French)
(French)

(German : kit)
(German)
(German)
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

4) THROUGH THE GAME-port
a) with an interface which transforms the signal of the transmitter in a
joystick-signal
(selfmade)



(French)
(German)
(German)

b) buy a 4-axis-controller joystick

(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 :

(French)
(French)

5) 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

[Ace_NoOne]

Wow, thanks a lot - I'll definitely look into some of those options!

[phildc]

Another PIC cable from Belgium:
see 'Article' about (simple)PCM at

Is part of a research project around RC xmtrs and PC.
There is also a new soft to apply all corrections to your joystick input like on a real RC transmitter: reverse, trim, expo, travel limit. look for 'joystick' article at same place.

Philippe
Brussels