PC will see your radio as a 4 analog axes (minimum resolution of each axis is about 5000 points from
-100% to 100%) and 8 buttons joystick. This interface provide a jumper to set the correct assignments
between radio channels and joystick axes/buttons, according to your radio type. On ICSP connector
socket put a jumper between pin 3-4 for JR/Graupner radios, between 4-5 for Futaba/Hitec ones.
Further details here.
The firmware only take care of the first 12 channels. If your radio have more the remaining are ignored.
If it has less the remaining buttons will be left as not pressed.
I have tested this circuit only with a Graupner MC12 that has only 7 channels.
Click here to view a txt file that describe the ppm signal characteristics of Graupner MC12.
This interface will be seen by your operating system as a USB HID (Human Interface Device); so no additional drivers is needed for linux and win98/se/xp.
For example with win98 when you plug the interface in USB port, will detect the new hardware and will prompt you for installing it, you will find the driver on win98 installation cd.
If the drivers is correctly installed and the radio correctly connected and powered you should see the blue led turning on. At this point in windows control panel you will be able to see your joystick already calibrated (if you need you can refine the calibration).
Probably your flight simulation software will need a separate calibration and remapping of the axes.
From this site you can download two version of the firmware, labeled as A1 and A2: A2 is based on the most recent version of Microchip® USB PIC16C745/765 firmware (Ver. 2.0) that is intended for use with the PIC16C745/765 revision A2 only and doesn't run on revision A1. You can recognize A2 revision through the date code stamped on the surface of the chip: 0231(31th week of 2002) and later.
If the date code is before, than you have revision A1 and you have to use the A1 firmware based on microchip® version 1.25. You can find differences between the two version on Rev.A1 and A2 Silicon/Datasheet errata here.
The PCB come in two versions, either SMT; the small one use PIC16C745 in SO28 package and is only 4x2cm but is programmable only once (OTP), the greater one use PIC16C765 in DIP40 package and is UV erasable and reprogrammable.
NOTES:
1) If you prefer to use low voltage leds (red, green, yellow...) instead of blue ones
you have to replace R6 resistor with 1K one, or your led will be destoryed :-).
2) Components listed on pdf files are approximated, see full parts list on parts list page.
We are sure We have not to remind you that we are not responsable in any way if some smoke begins to come out from your computer and/or radio controller ;-)
