MobiFlight Community Support

Hi!

Does this software support something like CD74HC406, to have loads and loads of I/O?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/16CH-Analog-Digital-MUX-Breakout-Board-CD74HC4067-Precise-module-Arduino-/182580673016?epid=853830901&hash=item2a82a7f9f8:g:U4gAAOSwuMZZHU6v

Hi Peter,

no, MobiFlight does not support ICs like 74HC4067 (analog multiplexer/demultiplexer). What do you want to switch with?

Well, in ArdSim (the X Plane equivalent of Mobiflight), the next version is going to suppprt it, and use it for having 16 I/O pr. Arduino Mega pin.

Sounds pretty clever

Hi

At First Thank you for this input.... We still happy for every new idea and inspiration !

We talk about all this stuff some time ago.....
Some users request for a LED System over Max7219.... Some others for a shift register... Or another System like this.

I know via Open source a guy startup to build some things but i think he stop already and not come back. For Sebastian it´s difficult to implement all these things with his verry limmited time.

Summary Mobiflight got ONE big argument at the moment..... It have no limit for used Arduinos. ( Maby Windows Limit of 128 but nobody reach this) .... So even if you need 1000 Switches and 1000 Outputs..... That can be done with maby 40-45 Arduinos..... That means... A System to have 16 Switches on One Pin is maby cool but not needed absolutly.... cause you simply can use more Arduinos and get same result.... With a price of below 10$ for a MEGA that is not a problem at all.

BUT:
Information is checked..... Support for Matrix Input/Output is on wish list ! Maby Sebastian still work on it !

Hi

At First Thank you for this input.... We still happy for every new idea and inspiration !

We talk about all this stuff some time ago.....
Some users request for a LED System over Max7219.... Some others for a shift register... Or another System like this.

I know via Open source a guy startup to build some things but i think he stop already and not come back. For Sebastian it´s difficult to implement all these things with his verry limmited time.

Summary Mobiflight got ONE big argument at the moment..... It have no limit for used Arduinos. ( Maby Windows Limit of 128 but nobody reach this) .... So even if you need 1000 Switches and 1000 Outputs..... That can be done with maby 40-45 Arduinos..... That means... A System to have 16 Switches on One Pin is maby cool but not needed absolutly.... cause you simply can use more Arduinos and get same result.... With a price of below 10$ for a MEGA that is not a problem at all.

BUT:
Information is checked..... Support for Matrix Input/Output is on wish list ! Maby Sebastian still work on it !

Awesome to hear! And thank you for your great work!

And of course, we are almost unlimited, it just feel better jo connect to a few Arduinos instead of having 10 of them

i hope new version will have for CD74HC4067 to use

How can possible is the using Lua script with mobiflight .
Lua ; seem on configurator when building up the sooftware
can anyone describe how to use can using Lua because if possible,
Using 74HC4067 multiplexer can use for input so we will have more ports
we were used Lua inputs( button switch and comutator ) for FWD and AFT overhead with 2 arduino mega
but need to working hard to use this for outputs

Ich habe gehört und es auch selber bemerkt, dass wenn viele Arduinos am USB drann sind nicht alle immer mit starten oder plötzlich vereinzellnt aussteigen. Oder kann man dies fixen ?

Hi Klausi,

wenn ein Board nicht in Ordnung ist oder Windows, aus welchen Gründen auch immer, hakelt, dann kann sowas schon mal vorkommen. Dies liegt dann nicht an MF. Daher wird man das auch nicht fixen können. Wie lange soll MF denn auf jedes Board warten, bis es in die Liste kommt?

Wenn Boards vereinzelt aussteigen, so dürfte dies auch an den Boards liegen. Andere User haben hier berichtet, daß es an billigen USB-Kabeln oder ausgenuddelten USB-Steckverbindungen lag. Das muß man dann herausfinden und selbst ändern. Das ist auch nicht fixbar.

Ich selbst habe derzeit "nur" 7 Boards an MF hängen und die kommen immer sauber hoch, obwohl es China-Clones sind.

Hi all,

I was wondering if there is any news on this topic...

Does MF support connecting the CD74HC4067 to a 2560?

I know the 2560 is not that expensive, but I am seriously running out of USB ports. I'm already connecting USB hubs to other USB hubs and I'm affraid that this will cause system stability issues. That is the main reason why I want to use these multiplexer cards for my homecockpit running P3Dv5.

Thanks for any feedback!

Hi TWIVEZY,

welcome to MobiFlight!

No, at the moment MF does not support the CD74HC4067 but as pizman says, it is on the whishlist.

How is it possible that you run out of USB-Ports? OK, the mainboard does not habe so much USB connectors but with USB-hubs you can connect up to 127 USB-ports.
We have a user with a full B737 cockpit an he uses 34 Megas for this work.
If you connect USB hubs to your PC that would not make your system unstable. If a USb can't be handled anymore you will got a message. But as I said, if you have a good mainboard you can connect up to 127 USB devices (direct and with hubs). But be carefull and use only hubs with an external power supply because the PC ones can only deliver 500mA each (USB 3.0 and higher 900mA/each)..

I know the 2560 is not that expensive, but I am seriously running out of USB ports. I'm already connecting USB hubs to other USB hubs and I'm affraid that this will cause system stability issues.

LOL.

As Stephan said.... a modern Computer ( Build maybe 2005 or later and run with Win XP above) can handle min 64 or normaly 128 USB devices . In case a Full B737 Sim need less then 50 Devices this is no factor.

But lets make a extreme example and expect you need more..... Then i will say you build a verry advanced cockpit ! And here i never see a Build that is based on One Computer.
All HighEnd Sims use multiple computers to handle the Screens ( E.g. a second PC that show the PFD/ND/FMC screens and the Main Computer only manage the Outside View)

And here we go again.... This second Computer have again 64-128 USB Ports.... You simply install Mobiflight there in a own instance and build forward.
Number of Computers in a Network should be 32.


In theory you can Build a Cockpit with up to 3800 Arduinos and more then 200.000 IO Pins !

Thanks for the response.

You would be surprised what I actually have running on only one PC for my 320 DIY homecockpit based on FSLabs:
4 USB to HDMI adapters (8 screens in total)
10 Mega 2560s
9 LeoBodnar control cards
3 Packled64 cards
1 TQ
3 joysticks
2 sets of rudderpedals
1 "ACARS" printer
1 additional external soundcard

And I haven't even connected my overhead yet so there are many more cards to be connected.

I have often considered to set up a network but I have read many disadvantages as well. FSLabs has also suggested that 1 good PC could be preferable to a networked situation.

I believe you that Windows can handle many USB devices, but my problem is that at the moment I can only expand by plugging USB hubs into other USB hubs. I'm afraid that this is asking for problems. But maybe Mobiflight sometimes doesn't detect some of my MF Mega's because they are cheap clones from China. When that happens, MF asks me after a reboot to install MF firmware onto the detected Arduinos.

But maybe I am wrong about connecting USB hubs into other USB hubs. I hope it won't be a problem at all.

Update: After reading your replies I finally managed to look beyond the popular electronics stores and found a USB hub with 28 ports. With two of those my concerns about available USB ports are finally solved.

And here I have returned with more USB port problems even though I theoretically have enough ports available now having expanded my system with two Manhattan Mondo USB hubs with allegedly 28 USB ports each.

For the past few weeks I have been getting many error messages "USB device not recognized". Today I have tried to connect all control cards besides all the joysticks etc etc, just to see if my system could handle it::

2x LeoBodnar BBI64

6x LeoBodnar 838A

3x LeoBodnar BBI32

1x Sismo SC Joystick 084

11x Arduino Mega 2560

3x Ultimarc Packled64

5x DisplayLink USB graphics device (2x EFIS displays, 2x MCDU, 1x workscreen)

1x external USB audio card

1x Skalarki TQ

2x TCA joysicks

2x MFG crosswind rudders

1x Logitech Exteme3d joystick

1x thermal USB printer

1x external USB3.0 HDD

3x TV HDMI

1x VGA monitor

1x wireless keyboard/mouse

So far so good. But when I want to connect one more LeoBodnar BBI64 or another Arduino...Windows gives me the "last connected USB device is not recognized, device produced a fault" message. If I disconnect another device first...then the connecion is succesfull.

This gives me the impression that I have somehow reached a "number of USB devices" limitation. I have tried to connect in 4 different USB hubs, which are all externally powered...no difference. Same if I try to connect directly to a PC USB port. I have updated WIndows, de-installed the USB ports. I have done several reboots and checked the power supplies to the USB hubs, I have also tried to connect using different USB cables.

My system simply won't allow me to connect another control card or even a USB memory stick.

Sounds Strange.....

If i count the devices you post ( i not know the detailed USB connection numbers) But i come to 35-40 Ports maybe.....

And here it get confusing.

The Limitation in a Computer is always a 2^X Number.....
2,4,8,16,32,64,128,256,512,1024 and so on.

So from my opinion the Limit can be 32 USB devices OR 64 USB Devices ( Means maybe our idea with 128 is wrong) .....
BUT you tell us the problem occured somewhere between 32 and 64..... and thats make no sense to me.