MobiFlight Community Support

Hi all,

i don't know whether it is needed at all whats in my thought.....

Assume you're having an installation with some displays, switches, servo-gauges.....

When starting MF and e.g. FSX and FSUIPC the radios and other displays will be set to the value coming from FSUIPC.

But what is with the actors or other mechanical driven (servo) things?

Assume further that some of the actors were moved by accident when MF was off, e.g. a switch for the landing light was set to on.
Then at the next start the Flight-Sim Software (with landing light off) and the named actor are out of sync, as MF got no "impuls" to send a value to FSUIPC.

Here an initialization routine would be nice, which not only sends the actual values from FS over FSUIPC to MF (for LEDs) but also scans the actual settings of any switches, servo-positions and so on and send these values back to FSUIPC to FS.
Or to send the servo to zero-position and back to the value FS over FSUIPC sends out. Which will work for servos, but not for switches.
I don't know any standard rocket switches with an electronic / mechanic inside which can be controlled from outside without touching the knob....

Cheers

Kai

Hi

What you need is still exist !
Called "Mobiflight Auto SYNC"

this can be used by set this function to a Button/switch Input..... e.g. a Hidden Button somewhere in the sideplate of your Pedestal ( In the future we also like to provide a AUTO system choose within the Settings Tab for every Startup)

If you use this "MF Auto Sync" on a button e.g. and you press this Button.....
Then MF will execute every single INPUT Config for one time for there current state.....

So Every Momentary Button is simply leaved ot, cause a Momentary Button have no release Action but is always on release, cause you not press it active by hand at the moment.....
All Latching Switches ( Whatever ON-OFF or Multi Pos Switches) will now send there current state.....

Lets say you have a ON-OFF Switch that say "On Press set Landing Lights ON ..... On Release set Landing Lights OFF"
If Button is in ON Position while you press the SYNC Button then this Input will send the "Set Landing Lights ON" Command one time.

******************

Summary: All still working.... You just not know the needed function!

I assumed honestly that the problem is between my ears....sorry.

I will look at / search for it on the weekend.

Momentary switches is obvious, they are always off as long as you don't hold your finger or toe on it.

Latching switches, if i got you right, will be read out at startup when AutoSync is enabled and the according command will be send out by MF. Right?

And the future will bring also Auto Sync for servos and so on. Right

Thanks

Kai

Latching switches, if i got you right, will be read out at startup when AutoSync is enabled and the according command will be send out by MF. Right?

NO

There is no "Auto Sync" in current MF Version ( 9.2)
May it will come in one of the next releases......

the Sync Function is "optional" and can be used by set the "Input Actiion Typ : MF Sync" to a Button!
Then if you press this Button ( While MF is in RUN Mode) the Sync procedure is startet and will fire every single Input Config one time.

The "Auto Sync" is the same.... An we plane to implement it in a future Version like a "Settings tab Checkmark Option"
THEN you not need to define this to a button and press it.... THEN MF will automaticly run this procedure on every time you press the RUN Button !

BUT.... For now.... There is not automatic thing..... Sync exist but it must be started by a Button press of yourself !

*****

And the future will bring also Auto Sync for servos and so on. Right

Also NO

A Servo NEVER need a Sync.... It show / while in RUN Mode) all time the Value of the Config that is selected in it´s output Config! . AND it move back to "0" if you STOP Mobiflight !
So a Servo can NEVER be "unsync" !

A Servo NEVER need a Sync.... It show / while in RUN Mode) all time the Value of the Config that is selected in it´s output Config! . AND it move back to "0" if you STOP Mobiflight !
So a Servo can NEVER be "unsync" !

Shall a servo move to its zero position when Mobiflight is stopped? I have eightteen servos in my dashboard and none of it moves from its current position when Mobiflight is stopped. Contrary to the steppers which always move to their zero position.

cheers

Volker

I not use Servos myself.... Just in the past for testing some user requests.

So i think so.... May this chage within the Versions and Seb remove this "Automatic go back" .
Buti wondering..... A Sevo got a 5V and GRD wire AND it got a Data Line where it receive the Signal it should show.
Means if MF get Stopped then 5V and GRD is still there ( from Mega) but now the Pin that give the Data Signal is set to GRD (0V)
So logical the Servo should now turn to the Zero Point by itself !

Whatever.....

Also if your right and Servos "remain" in position.... There is no need of a Sync !.
In the moment you RUN Mobiflight once again, the current Value of each single Config is send to the Servo.....
Basically a Servo is a OUTPUT..... and a Output NEVER need to get Sync .... It still show always the current Sim Value. so it must be sync by itself !

steppers which always move to their zero position.

There are steppers with a Zero-Position indicator? So a signal goes high or so, if the angle of the axis is 0°?

Well, the 28BYJ-48 driven by the ULN2003 does not have this.

You mix up 2 things.....

A "Stepper" ( Controlled via MF Stepper logic and NOT via a "On-OFF / Left Right) System will have a "Zero Point"

There are TWO Ways to define this Zero Point.....

Without a "Indication Input" ..... The Zero Point is one time calibrated by the user when he create this Config (by the +/- 1 /10 Buttons).
Then if you Run MF and the Stepper make a move, MF "count" all the Moves over the whole RUN Periode.....
When you press Stop, then MF simply turn the Stepper back to the Starting Point.....
Extreme example.... In a altimeter you climb 20.000 ft..... So over time your Motor turn 20 times 360 ( nearly 60.000 Steps)
When you now would press STOP in MF while inflight then the Stepper will now turn 20 full circles back..... Cause to reach the Zero Point it will go "backwards" all the Moves he have done while it was started.
Simply Idea.... you Start from Point X .... And you go back to Point X after shoutdown.
(EDIT: With Compass-Mode it makes only one turn ..... But thats no mater for this discussion)

Second way is to use a INPUT Button for that.... e.g. a contact or a Sensor.....
Then MF not care about the position of the Stepper at beginning.....
It simply turn the Motor "endless" in one direction, until there is a signal on that Input Button Pin.
Means when Signal is received, the motor is at the "Zero Point".

**************
BUT
Both systems NOT handle situations like Manual movement or so..... They only "calibrate" the Zero Point ONE TIME ..... System 1 at the End of the seasson ( do be already on Zero for the Next one) ..... System 2 Always at beginning of a seasson.
But both.... Never while MF is in RUN.

I just wanted to implement my "Reset Plane" functionality.

I created a switch in modules and than went to Inputs, created a new config bound to this switch.....and now? Where can i set the "Input Actiion Typ : MF Sync" to a Button?

During creation i choose my Mega-Board and from the list of all possible actors i defined prior in modules, the switch i want it to assign.

In the list of Action Types is only this:


UPDATE

Gosh, the entry to be choosen is labeled "Retrigger Switches"

Sorry about that.....
In a early Alpha or Beta Version this feature was called "MF Sync" (if i remember right )

In case i never used it myself, i not see that it was renamed while time goes by into "Retrigger Switches"

No problem.

I'm (more or less) educated and can read, think, interpolate.....