MobiFlight Community Support

Hi all,

I have a quick question, if anyone has any info or similar setup. I'm only asking because i found contradictory information on the subject.
Basically, i was going to purchase a Hispapanels PCB pack with components etc, using the Hispapanels PCB board.

This i was going to connect to an ARDUINO MEGA and then Mobiflight.

Will this system work correctly going this route?

Many thanks,

Y

Hi

Basicly yes.... The Hispapanel PCB´s have not including a Controller.... So You can use them with the System of your Choice ( Mega and MF in your case)

Whatever they are designed to use a special kind of controller.... So for exampel the Output Connectors ( Mostly Flat wire) have a setup to directly fit on a special Microcontroller board.
BUT this is no matter for us.... We simply wire it to our Mega Pins or use a Mega shield that work same way like Hispapanel plan it for us.

3 Important facts you need to check.


1. Matrix
Mobiflight not support Matrix Inputs.... Each Button is a own Pin. Until now, all Hispapanel PCB´s i see have NO Matrix. So they are compatible.
Maybe in future they will use it. Then you get in trouble! So always make a short check of the Datasheet if the Inputs are NOT in a Matrix System.

2. 7 Seg Displays.
Also here Hispapanel work with a Logic that is designed for there own Controllers. Means the Displays often got connectors on the PCB and a Combined Output to a IC.
Here we use Max7219 instead. But again no Problem. You simply wire the Displays not to the PCB Connectors.... You wire them to your MAX7219 Ports.
Until Now Hispapanels use Common Cathode Logic.... Simmular to Mobiflight. So no problem at all.

3. Inverted LED Logic.
Hispapanels use in there Boards as i know Common ANODE LED Logics.
This is not usefull with Mobiflight..... Cause you need to invert all Configs so it send ON if LED should be OFF and backwards.

To solve this we must "invert" the Logic !
We solder the LEDs in opposit direction (Anode in the GRD Hole and Cathode in the 5v hole) .... And we also wire the PCB Outputs inverted. So the "Common Anode" Pin goes to GRD instead of 5V. The Wires from our LED Pins go same way as expected to the Hispapanel PCB.... Just they now represent 5V ( instead of planed GRD by Hispa).
Overall.... Also no Problem if you know this fact !

Interesting,

Seems like it might be a bit of a issue that could easily go wrong for me as a newbie so to speak.

It wouldn't be to much of a issue to move across to the HISAPANELS boards then, keep all the HP panels on one system, MCP, EFIS, Radios.

The remaining controls i can keep with the Arduino MEGAS?

Is this a reasonable idea while still using MF?

In Theory yes....

I not know the Hispapanels Software/Hardware System itself.... But i would think :

1. The Controller are much more expensive like Megas.
2. The Software maybe need Programming skills. Except of Mobiflight and some others like SimVim most Cockpitbuilder Software is pure Code ( Like SIOC) . So no real GUI.

Feel free to check this out.
But not do it in case your scarred about my last posting.

Point 1 is no problem till now..... And i think Manolo from Hispa will remain this policy also in the future cause "non Matrix" work for everybody and he like to sold his boards to everybody!

Point 2 sounds difficult.... But you already need to build Flat wires with Connectors in origional system. Its no matter to wire it to a other Connector instead that fit on the MAX.

Point 3 (LED´s) take the same time to build the board and you use the same hardware.... You just turn your LED´s 180° in your hand before solder it and you must change 1 wire on the Mega from 5V to GRD. .... No Magic !

I have Hispapanels' 737 MCP, EFIS and Radio working with MobiFlight. Yes, you need to reverse the LEDs, but the 7-segment displays can be connected to 7219's using the existing sockets on the main PCB's- no modification is needed. You'll need to check the manuals on how to connect the PCB's on Manolo's site (including the manual on controller boards- the full info on 7-segment connectors is available there).

Okay, one more time please...

When getting the Hispapanels you just need to turn the LED's and what was that about chancing GND to 5V?
Normaly the LED go from pin to LED and the trough resistor to GND?

Thanks

HI @ "Chefanden"

Since this toping was opend "Hispapanels" meanwhile sold special "Mobiflight Adapter" Boards. So its a factor if you use them.
We designed that pannels with a simple "Jumper" so you can choose for "Mobiflight Logic" and "Hispapanels Logic" .
This save you the change of 5V and GRD on Mega Side.

Basically....

As i said Above. Hispa workes with Common anode.
Means the Lines from its PCB to the Controller ( To Mega in Our Case) represent the "Cathode" Side..... And the Common Pin on the PCB that is serial to all LED represent the "Anode".
Thats 100% Inverted to MF Logic!!
In MF the Lines to the Pins are the "Anodes" and the Common Line is the Cathode (what should be set to GRD)

Way 1:
If you work with the HISPA System you will wire all LED as recommend by Hispa..... You wire 5V to the Common Pin on the PCB.....
But HERE you need in MF to Invert the Configs.... Means LED will now light if Config show "0" and it will be OFF if Config show "1".
So you need e.g. a Compare in each Config that say.... IF Value =1 THEN 0 ELSE 1 to reversed the logic.

Way 2:
You Turn all LED before solder them by 180° ... So the Anode is set to the former Cathode Hole and the Cathode into the Anode Hole.
AND
The Common Pin on the PCB ( by Hispa directed to 5V ) now need to connect to GRD on Mega Instead.....

In easy words:
Hispa expect 5v comes from the Common Pin and GRD is connected by the Controller lines.... MF is inverted. It support GRD from the commen Pin and give 5V from the lines.
The "magic key" is the direction of a LED.... Cause it only light if 5V and GRD is in right seqence.... You can NOT turn a LED in both directions.... Only the right one works!

I got the PCB for the Sixpack from Hispapanels and was a little annoyed regarding the inverse logic.

You should in bold letters write this matter in this section.
This could save many people from unnecessary trouble

I must order now the PCB and solder the LEDs in reverse direction and change the place for +5V.

The own PCB to Connect with mobiflight directly is a little too much afford for me.

And to operate with reverse logic is possible, but I don't like to see all LEDs light until mobiflight starts.

Sorry about your trouble....
But where should we do this ??

The basic PCB is a product from Hispapanels.
Its NOT build or designed for Mobiflight. Its planed to be used with the hispapanel own Controllers and there own Software.

Thats why we create our own "Adapter PCB" ....
Means the IDC Flat wire connector that are build by Hispapanels to connect the Panels to there controllers can remain.... we just connect them instead to our Adapters.
The Adapter on other side is connect to a Arduino.
All the needed adjustment work like change GRD and 5V for LED and the splitting into the Mega Pins is done on that PCB.

The reason why we offer this "Jumper" to decide for MF Logic or Hispa Logic is exactly for people like you!
If somebody already build the Panel by the Hispa logic he can set the Jumper that way.... If somebody mount the Hispapanels already reversed in case he know the problematic before then he can use our Adapter, too by set the Jumper the other way.

So...
That Adapters was designed by Stephan and me for own usage.... We give Hispapanels the files to make them available for other users, and these guys produce and sold now that PCB´s. Thats all.

Summary:
I´m sorry about your trouble.... But its not our fault i think.
If you buy a Panel from a other shop and you like to use it with MF, then you must inform yourself before if this is basically possible or if you maybe need some reworks and additional parts to make it compatible.
I do the same! Before i order the Hispa PCB i send a Email to the Shop Owner and ask him exactly that question if his LED are common Cathode or not.

It is certainly not your trouble.

But you tell that mobiflight can be used with Hispapanels.

And here you should warn regarding the other logic.

It is not easy to ask something, if you don't know that it exists

It is certainly not your trouble.

But you tell that mobiflight can be used with Hispapanels.


And here you should warn regarding the other logic:
https://www.mobiflight.com/forum/topic/6738.html


It is not easy to ask something, if you don't know that it exists