MobiFlight Community Support

Hello everyone,
I am totally new to this programming lark so bear with me if I come out with what may appear to be simple requests to the experienced. I am trying to make a radio panel for my Grob 115e Tutor IRIS Simulations. I am using an Arduino Mega 2560 clone with Max7219 display tubes. My question to start with is how many Max7219 can I power off a Mega 2560 without external power and how many with external power i.e. 12v. Secondly I have followed the tutorial on the Max7219 and COM1 Active and have activated the display "123.45" however when I am using my P3dv4 the display only shows 028.05 when on my radio in the Grob it is displaying 128.05. I have checked the FSUIPC value ond output value on Mobiflight Connector and they show 28.05. The first digit"1" is missing and shown as "0" on my Maxx7219.
Any suggestions why.
Thanks for any assistance.
Colin

Hi Colin,

welcome to MobiFlight!

If you just have tried a MAX7219-Board then you have a good base to connect more than one Board.
It is possible to daisy-chain 8 MAX7219-Boards in one Row. These would be 64 Digits wired with only three lines (add. Vcc and GND)
A total of 4 daisy-chains is possible with each MEGA. This would be an amount of 256 7-Segment Digits.

I myself use 14 Displays (1 x 8 + 1 x 6 - with 5 Digits each) on one MEGA without power-problems. If you need more than 500mA you need an addtional power-supply. Let me know if you want to use an add. power-supply. I will explain you the connection.

Eminently important is to forget the 12V in connection with the MEGA unless you want to destroy it once and for all!
The only tension with which we work in this context is 5V.

In this forum are some hints for the MAX7219. If they are in German, you can translate them with Google-Translator

https://www.mobiflight.com/forum/topic/618.html?page=1
https://www.mobiflight.com/forum/topic/697.html

It is important while connecting several boards together!

The fact that the 1 is not shown with frequencies is described in the documents of FSUIPC. But there is a trick:

Run MobiFlight and go to the list with the outputs.

Open your config for the COM1-Active-Frequency (0x034E), click on "edit" - the three "..." - and activate the FSUIPC-Tab.

At the bottom you see one entry called Transform. Activate this line with a hook at the beginning of the line: enter here: $+10000
$ is the value the Sim returns and with +10000 you add this value to the returned one.

If you had tuned in the sim a Frequency of 130.45 you saw only 30.45. Stroke the decimal and you have 3045. If you add 10000 to this value you get 13045 and with the decimal you get 130.45. Simple, isn't it?. Do this always if you display frequencies and you will always have success

Please provide a feedback and don't hezitate to ask further questions.
I wish you access!

Hi Collin... Welcome to Mobiflight

The fact that the 1 is not shown with frequencies is described in the documents of FSUIPC. But there is a trick:

Just to prevent problems in the future.....

FSUIPC not support a vallue "direct" all the time..... Some Offsets include a math calculated value..... Some others are not in a decimal format.... In others like this there is a missing part.....
In that Case all frequencys for COM and NAV are ALWAYS 1xxx.xx The "thousends" Part is always 1.... So FSUIPC simply not support this cause it can´t change anymore.

PLEASE... Search for the "FSUIPC OFFSET MAPPING.PDF" File in your Flightsim folder (Modules Subfolder If its the same like in FSX)
In this document Every existing Offset is explaned.... And there is a Note if you have to manipulate the Value to get your needed Output Data.

Hi Stephan,
Thanks for the detailed reply, yes it did work editing "$" with "$+1000" and not "$+10000" as you suggested. When you talk of daisy chaining 8x Maxx7219's together. Do you mean physically linking 8 units together by wire i.e. wiring soldered to the left of the display on the pins and continuing from the right of the display joining onto the next display units pins hence creating a chain or is the daisy chain created in the Mobiflight software. Where do you create the other power inputs from, do you piggyback off the existing power points on the mobi board i.e. 3 power supplies from 5v on the pin above pin 22 on a Mega2560 board. Sorry for sounding stupid but as iI explained I am completely new to this game.
Thanks
Colin

Hi Colin,

you are welcome!
Please note: There are no stupid questions, just stupid answers

The transform-term should already be $+10000. The Sim returned a Frequency of i.e. 2345. This can be viewed in the output-list of MobiFlight to the Frequencies of COM and NAV. You set the decimal point to the 3rd digit of 5 so your Display shows 23.45 but the value you get is still 2345. To have an output on your display you have to add a value of 10000 so 12345 can be displayed. With your manually decimal point you get 123.45. If you only add 1000 you should only get 33(.)45. Otherwise you should check your config or your P3Dv4 sim returns a different value.

The daisy chain is physical. Have a look to the pictures of the links I wrote above. Mobiflight is able to control 4 different daisy chains with a maximum of 8 boards each. So you have to define with which board you want to display, preferably in a logical way

In terms of the daisy chaining you have to note the following:

On every MAX7219-Board is a protection diode which reduces the voltage from board to board by 0.7V.The 5V voltage is therefore not looped through (maybe an error by the constructor) So the 1st have 4.3V, the 2nd 3.6V and so on. So latest your 3rd and the #4...8 board won't work correctly because the power is under the limit of 3.4V (view data-sheet of MAX7219).
You have 2 solutions:

1st is to remode the diode (SMD - D1) and replace it with a soldered wire-bridge. So you have at the output of every board a power of 5V. Then you have to be carefull not to exchange Vcc and GND because this kills every MAX7219-chip in the chain immediately!
In this case you can take the 5 pins at the right (output side) and wire them to the input side (left one) of the next board.

2nd is to wire the 5V to every board separately (this is the safer way). Then you keep the protection diode and every board runs with 4.3V (enough to work correct).
Here you connect only 4 wires (without Vcc - 5V) to the next board and connect every board separately to 5V. It's correct that you have not enough 5V pins on a MEGA. But in your testphase you can take a breadboard so you have enough pins. Finally you should solder the wires for a safer connection.

One of these solutions you should take and success is guaranteed

Reagrding to the power you have to know, that the digits are multiplexed. That means that on every board is only one digit in operation. And if you use 8 boards in a daisy chain there are within the 64 Digits (at maximum expansion) only 8 digits in operation (one on every board simultaneously).

Hope, I could help you

Hi Stephan,
Your explanation is absolutely clear I could not ask for anything better, again I thank you and the team that is the MobiFlight family for all your help and kindness. I will of course post some images as I progress.
Thanks
Colin

Hi Colin,

we would be happy if you would share your experience with MobiFlight. Other users can benefit from it.

Hi Everyone,
I have decided to put Mobiflight onto a second PC I have downloaded the latest version 7.4.0. when i was using the previous version on my P3dv4 PC everything was fine displaying all the frequencies used on the COMM1 Active and Standby the new install will not pick up the FSUIPC values the MAX7219 displays only 100.00 on each display. Mobiflight has the modules box checked. i have run the test on each display and all show 123.45 i have opened the firewall to allow Mobiflight to talk to the P3dv4 PC. Any suggestions where i have gone wrong. My P3dv4 PC is Windows 10 and my second pc is Windows 7
Thanks
Colin

Hi Collin

First: The showed Display Value of "100.00" is just in case of your Transform "$+10000" In real the Value is 00.00 and that means you get no connection to FSUIPC (or current value of FSUIPC is Zero at the moment)

Little Problem here is, you make 2 changes same time.... You Update to 7.4.0 AND you use a Client based System now.
It´s hard for me to see now WHAT Change is the Problem.

If you can confirm 7.4.0 on the P3D PC is working fine already, then the Problem is still in the Client installation.....
If it already not work on the P3D PC ( Like in the Past) Then it can be a Problem in Mobiflight.

To test this.... Simply install 7.4.0 on the Server PC and test it.

***********

Additional Question.
Please Confirm you use FSUIPC V5.x ...A Special release for P3Dv4 ... The new P3D is 64bit and need a individual FSUIPC Version (instead of FSUIPC 4.x like FSX and P3dV3.x)

Additional confirm you got a registred version of WIDECLIENT....
If you like to work with FSUIPC on a Client ( Whatever with a AddOn or with Mobiflight in our case) then you need the Wideclient Tool from FSUIPC (Payware)
Without, FSUIPC not allow us to talk to via Network !

Hello Pizman82,
I have checked all that you have asked I do have Mobiflight 7.4.0 on my server pc and it functions fine picking up all the frequencies. I do have FSUIPC 5.103 registered and it shows Wide FS enabled. I do have Wide Client on my client pc but it did not come with FSUIPC 5.103 it got it whilst still using FSUIPC 4.999 for FSX and got it from Peter Dowson's web site. Do I have to get an updated FS Client to make it all work.
thanks
Colin

Hi Pizman82,
I have downloaded FS Client from Peter Dowson as his website suggested just in case mine was older. i have installed and no difference still the same outputs.
I have looked at the WideServer Log at it reads as such
******** WideServer.DLL Log [version 7.069] *********
Blocksize guide = 8192 (double allowed)
Date (dmy): 30/08/17, Time 18:29:04.152: Server name is COLIN-PC
15297 Initialising TCP/IP server
15297 Initialising UDP/IP server
16062 Broadcasting service every 1000 mSecs
748000 Incoming connection Accepted ok (skt=13756) TCP
748234 Restarting service due to zero reception!
750359 Incoming connection Accepted ok (skt=13416) TCP
753359 Incoming connection Accepted ok (skt=13756) TCP
755547 Incoming connection Accepted ok (skt=13416) TCP
755828 Connected to computer "USER-PC" running WideClient version 6.999 (skt=13416) TCP
I believe this confirms that there is communication between the 2 pc's
Hope this helps somewhat.
Thanks
Colin

Hi Again

Thank you for our great and fast testing !
Apollogy that i get no experience with Client Systems.... I Still work on 1 PC and not have Wiedeclient Myself or any experience with it !

****
Fact is... Mobi is working ok ( On the Server PC)
So Problem MUST be on the Client Side.

If Mobiflight is runnig i´m pretty shure the "Modules Checkmark" of FSUIPC is Green ( In Buttom Line of Mobiflight window ) Confirm This !

Maby a additional testing is to check other Offsets.... Is the Problem only on the COM Displays ? ( Then it´s maby a Bug in FSUIPC)
Please Try to Readout for example the Autobrake, some of the Lights, Flightdirector, Compas etc.....
Please look in the RUNNING Mobiflight Window what values are shown in the Output "FSUIPC Value" Section.
Are the ALL Zero ?
If Yes we can say 100% there is a communication Problem at all.

Additional you can test to change youre Firewall Settings ( If Used) CutOff Internet for a moment (If you are scared about disable Firewall while Online) and Kill your firewall for a testing. Maby it blocks communication !

Sorry i can´t tell you exactly WHAT is the Problem. I can´t test it.
Maby a BUG in FSUIPC/Wideclient ( I not believe )
Maby a Firewall/Network Problem (possible)
Maby a Problem in Mobiflight that it not see the new WideClient Version correctly ( possible)

Hi Pizman82,
i think i have solved my problem. In the settings page of Mobiflight there is a box on the general tab, Offline Mode that was ticked giving a green tick on the bottom of the assignment panel next to the modules tick i unticked the box and Mobiflight picked up WideClient and now I have all the frequencies working.
Thanks for all your assistance.
Colin

Hi All,
NOOB Colin here again. I would like to ask a couple of questions please, I have attempted to construct a basic auto pilot module using a Mega2560 and 4x Maxx7219 modules with 4x 5pin rotary encoders and 5 illuminated push buttons for activation of the different applications AP Master (HDG, IAS, VS, ALT). If I wire all the MAXX7219's together daisy chain fashion with the VCC on separate feeds. How do I configure them with Mobiflight to the Mega Card eg. if I use DN-pin26, CS-pin24 and CLK-pin22 via Mobiflight Modules do I number each of the MAXX7219 modules a different number in the drop down box to the right of CLK-pin number or do they all stay as number1. If I did not daisy chain them together and used different pin numbers for DN, CS, CLK, again would I use different numbers for each module from the drop down box. My second question relates to breadboards especially the 170 pin variety with no direct power supply. If I take VCC, GND, DN, CS and CLK from the 2560Mega and bridge them over to the breadboard obviously I can take all my 5v's and GND's from the board. What about DN, CS and CLK can I take them in the same fashion as my 5v's and GND's as long as they are in the same line of terminals on the breadboard they should still be daisy chained. Am I correct in thinking this.
Thanks for any reply
Cheers
Colin

Hi colin,

work through these links and you should come to a conclusion:

https://www.mobiflight.com/forum/message/916.html

https://www.mobiflight.com/forum/message/3705.html

https://www.mobiflight.com/forum/message/5767.html

https://www.mobiflight.com/forum/topic/827.html