MobiFlight Community Support

I am finishing up my COM/NAV and MCP build and have run into a problem.

I can read the COM1 & 2, NAV1 & 2 and transponder from the PMDG 737 NGX. I can also read the CRS value. All of these use the standard FSUIPC offsets.

If I try to read the MCP values for SPD, HDG, ALT and V/S, my LED's just show zeros instead of the values. My LEDs are working, as tested in MobiFlight but even the software is reading zero values.

Any ideas? (BTW, I'm still searching Google and the forums for info on this if it has been answered already...)

Thanks!!
Mike

[UPDATE!]

I have SPD and HDG working now - used example found in the forums here. Thanks!

However, I cannot get the ALT correct.

About my setup: I have 3 MAX7219 LED modules chained together - soldered connections from IC to IC. It works! This means, I can fit all the digits next to each other without the space required for the pins (those were cut off).

So, on module 2, I need the last 4 digits to display the first 4 digits of the MCP ALT setting.
On module 3, I need the last digit of the MCP ALT setting to display in position 1 of the module.

Right now, when I have 10000 (ft) or higher in the MCP ALT, my display shows the 10000 If I go below 10000 (ft) on the MCP, my display shows 99000 (the last 0 is the first digit for module 3). I need that last 0, which is a separate output setting, to disappear.

Any ideas?

Thanks (again),
Mike

Hi Mike.

Please search our Mobiflight Board.... THIS is all explaned here multible times.

In short words....

The Radio Panel your right... Here PMDG use Standard Offsets for most displays ( Like 99% of all Addons do )....
The CRS is wrong... Shure it is simmular to the FSX Course, BUT Here PMDG normaly have a OWN Offset !
The other things (for example the MCP Displays) are supportet all in PMDG own Offsets.

You can find the OUTPUT Offsets in a List that is include in the FSUIPC Folder ( Standard /fsx/modules/documents )
File named "Offset Mapping for PMDG 737NGX.pdf"

NOTE:
1. Get shure you enable Data Broadcast in the PMDG Ini File withn a text Editor ( Explaned in the first page of this List Document. )
2. Get Shure your PMDG is Up To Date AND FSUIPC is UP to Date, too. Else some Offsets are not supportet even they are listed !

If you need more help please ask exactly what function is not working for you !

Thanks for the help. I figured out the display error, looking at the forums on here and offset documentation you mentioned.

I created a precondition on my last digit to show nothing if the MCP ALT is below 10000 ft.

Here is (I hope) a pic I took of the prototype. The LEDs sit behind a dark tinted acrylic. The square cutouts are not good and will be redone in the future.



Mike

Hi Mike

I´m sorry... You see on the Time Stamp of the posting my last awnser was written before ( or more correct "while" ) you post the "Update Posting 2".

To your additional question....

I see your still advanced enough to find out the Precondition. Thats what i would recommend to you in that case..... Simply "If Value below 10000 then Diggit Blank else Diggit =0 "

BUT.... I can tell you that is a verry poor solution !
Your just lucky to get a situation that is pretty easy... in 99% of other cases the solution is verry difficult or not possible at all.
For Example.... What do you do, if you need to use Course Display... 1 Diggit on Max A and the other 2 Diggits on Max B ?? I don´t know a math calculation or a precondition to split up this. Only in ALT this was possible cause last diggit is always Zero or Blank and can not have another vallue.

******
So.... I will recommend you 2 Things....

1. If you Chain your Displays like you said with wire from IC to IC i high recommend to NOT USE the 5v Connector here.... as Stephan explaned multiple times in other Topics.... The Max include a Diode that reduce Power by 0,7v .... That Means 1 Display got 4,3v seccond got 3,6v ( Both are running fine already) But 3 Display and the follow get not enough power to work.
Simply solution.... In A Chain you can use 4 of 5 Cable IC to IC.... BUT the 5v Cable should come DIRECT from Arduino to each Display. Alternate you can replace the Diode with a bridge but this need advanced solder skills.


2. About the shared Displays for a Config.
Thats verry impractical.... A Config must always set to ONE Max Module.... If You split your Display over 2 Max Modules you have to use 2 Configs and you have to split the Value in 2 parts that show correct data.... Difficult and sometimes not possible at all.
Look... Max Modules are Realy cheap .... and there is no real Limit in Mobiflight.... You can set more then 1000 Max Modules ( 8000 diggits) if you like.
Why do you use a so difficult system? Why Cutting the Displays and clued together ?

For me personal the best way is to use individual Displays.... If i need a 5 Diggit Display i buy a 5 Diggit Display.... If i need 10 Displays i just use 10 Max7219. With that logic every Display is ONE Part ...got it own Config... got it own wire, got it own Device Name .... Got it own IC.
Thats verry tidiy.... Configuration and repair if needed is verry easy. .... In Youre Example Project it will get more costs of only 2-3 $ But is perfect !

Finaly.... You not have to use my solution.... If you like you can work again with the 8 Diggit Premade Blocks and with superglue and cutter ... BUT I High recommend to NOT make Displays that use Diggits from different Max Modules.... Just plan the Displays in a way that you NOT need to split them !
Not make your life harder then it is already !

Thanks for the reply and info.

I cut and glued the 3 MAX7219 displays due to space reasons. I was limited with the dimensions of my build. If I put the full module (no cutting) across the build, they would not fit. Cutting them down saved a lot of space and it looks better (IMHO). It wasn't easy but the soldering was good, this time, and the displays work.

I believe it is the same thing as keeping the modules intact, without cutting them - it is just a matter of bypassing the cut PCB parts and soldering directly to the MC7219 chip. MobiFlight still reads them as 3 separate LED modules.

On module 1, I have the CRS (3 digits) and IAS (also 3 digits), with a "blank" space in between.
On module 2, I have the HDG (3 digits) and first 4 digits of the ALTitude (4 digits), with a blank space between.
On module 3, I have the last digit of the ALT (1 digit) and V/S (5 digits).

This is working. I do not know how MobiFlight is displaying the ALT digits on 2 different modules, but it is working with one config.

The output of module #3 (I have the output PCB not cut), is wired to the Transponder LED module (4 digits) and is working also.

On the modules, I cut the MAX diode and soldered a bridge in its place. The voltage is the same on the 3 modules. The 4th module for the transponder is powered by separate 5v line.

It would have been much easier to keep the MAX7219 modules separate, which I did in my COM/NAV display, but due to size it was not possible with the MCP setup I built. Maybe in the future I will redo the MCP project but for now it is working.

Thanks!
Mike

As i Said.... It´s Ok if it´s work..
The last Altitude Part on the 1. diggit of Module 3 Can NOT show 0 without a config. And the Config that controll the first 4 Numbers on module 2 Can NOT controll this diggit at all. Pretty shure you got a 2.nd Config OR maby a coincidence result in that "0" ( Maby you use this diggit for VS Speed in other way )
BUT Not Important aslong it workes fine !


Finaly to your Technic.... SPACE is not the Problem or reason for doing this.
If you need for example 3x8 = 24 Diggits ( as in your System) you can do that without cutting Displays.

Simply use this ones... https://www.amazon.de/8-Digit-Display-MAX7219-Digital-Control/dp/B00P9277BE

Here the Displays are not solderd... Just connected. You can pull them Off and wire them to the Module. So the Modules are simply somewhere in the backpanel and only the Displays itself are in the Front placed. There you can simply glue the 4 Diggit Parts together (6x4=24) . No cutting is needed.

Additional here you got the choice to use OTHER Displays,,,, In your Case you can use 3x3 Diggit Displays and 2X 5 Diggit Displays.
Whatever a 3 Diggit, 4 Diggit or 5 Digit Display.... All can wire then to the now empty Max Modules.