#4140639 - 06/29/15 01:30 AM
Re: Bodnar board equivalents/alternatives?
[Re: CyBerkut]
|
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 3,955
Sokol1
Senior Member
|
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 3,955
Internet
|
[quote=- Ice] An Arduino (Uno, for instance) is not a USB/HID device as it comes out of the box. You have to do some extra programming in order to make it be seen as a USB/HID... then you can use the card (and its inputs) like a joystick/ HOTAS. With MMJoy Firmware - loaded through USB cable a ~10$ Arduino Pro Micro became a HID joystick controller, with inputs for 64 buttons + 6 encoders, 8 axis (14 bits), 8 way HAT.
|
|
#4140644 - 06/29/15 01:47 AM
Re: Bodnar board equivalents/alternatives?
[Re: Sokol1]
|
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 9,620
CyBerkut
Administrator
|
Administrator
Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 9,620
Florida
|
[quote=- Ice] An Arduino (Uno, for instance) is not a USB/HID device as it comes out of the box. You have to do some extra programming in order to make it be seen as a USB/HID... then you can use the card (and its inputs) like a joystick/ HOTAS. With MMJoy Firmware - loaded through USB cable a ~10$ Arduino Pro Micro became a HID joystick controller, with inputs for 64 buttons + 6 encoders, 8 axis (14 bits), 8 way HAT. Preach it, brother! Just remember, I'm sitting with the choir. Ice is out there in the pews. Seriously though, Ice... two of those Arduino Pro Micro boards and a bit of time learning to use MMJoy can get you there at low cost (leaves more money for buying other stuff/sims/plane modules). And there is a good MMJoy thread running here at SimHQ, that can be very helpful. Sokol wouldn't lead you astray!
|
|
#4140737 - 06/29/15 11:55 AM
Re: Bodnar board equivalents/alternatives?
[Re: - Ice]
|
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 16,082
- Ice
Veteran
|
Veteran
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 16,082
Philippines / North East UK
|
Let me steer the conversation in another direction for a bit --- wiring. What types of wires should I be looking at when connecting my switches/buttons/etc. to whatever board I am using? Are certain types of wires better than others? As for MMJoy, I've seen that thread but largely ignored it because I don't understand it. The first post alone was so I couldn't really appreciate what it can do.
- Ice
|
|
#4141023 - 06/29/15 08:17 PM
Re: Bodnar board equivalents/alternatives?
[Re: - Ice]
|
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 16,082
- Ice
Veteran
|
Veteran
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 16,082
Philippines / North East UK
|
Well, I assume I can separate the flat ribbon cable into pairs of wires, right? £4 for a meter - on this store
- Ice
|
|
#4141827 - 07/01/15 06:40 PM
Re: Bodnar board equivalents/alternatives?
[Re: - Ice]
|
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 16,082
- Ice
Veteran
|
Veteran
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 16,082
Philippines / North East UK
|
From what I understand now, MMjoy2 is a board that needs a firmware flash and a 8x8 matrix so that it can handle 64 buttons, otherwise it only has 8 buttons, 6 encoders, 8 rotaries, and an 8-way hat, is that correct? Your "compatible arduino boards" links are 404 btw. I really need to investigate this "matrix" thing. I think I got the basic idea but "understanding" and "working model" are two very different things in my experience.
- Ice
|
|
#4141886 - 07/01/15 08:56 PM
Re: Bodnar board equivalents/alternatives?
[Re: - Ice]
|
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 3,955
Sokol1
Senior Member
|
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 3,955
Internet
|
...otherwise it only has 8 buttons, 6 encoders, 8 rotaries, and an 8-way hat, is that correct?
No, a Arduino board without a program (firmware) is nothing for the computer, you need flash the firmware - did from someone or write your own - to the board became a device for the computer. And not all Arduino board has USB support (the liked ones has). Links - for postage bellow in that page - fixed. Matrix for Dummies. free photo hostingIn this example, you have a 6 column x 2 rows wiring a 4 buttons and (POV) HAT to BU0836 (from the possible 12 positions (6x2) was used 8). The diodes in one pole of each switch avoid that be pressing 2, 3 button at same time a a 4th "ghost" button became on. Notice that in this example some column wires (green, light blue) goes for 2 different switchs. Is this the trick: In a full (6x6) matrix each column wire goes for 6 (not 36 as before) switch poles and each row wire goes for 6 switch poles. Highly advisable use colored wires to do this.
Last edited by Sokol1; 07/01/15 11:35 PM. Reason: correct number
|
|
#4141933 - 07/01/15 10:42 PM
Re: Bodnar board equivalents/alternatives?
[Re: - Ice]
|
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 16,082
- Ice
Veteran
|
Veteran
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 16,082
Philippines / North East UK
|
Haha! Thanks for the help guys!
I think I know how the matrix works... in theory. Basically, in a 8x8 matrix, row 1 can work for 8 switches, row 2 can work for 8 switches, and so on until row 8. Like this:
R1, C1 R1, C2 R1, C3 .... R1, C8
then
R2, C1 R2, C2 R2, C3 .... R2, C8
I think that's right so far.
It's the actual "how do I build this damn thing" that worries me.
Sokol, So an Arduino board is like a blank slate, yes? By itself it is nothing, but depends on the firmware, it can be anything. Is that right?
As for your picture... I see the gray/blue wire is the ground?? Then I see two switches has a blue and green wire that goes to the switch and into the hat as well. Why does the yellow and orange not have this?
- Ice
|
|
#4141955 - 07/01/15 11:35 PM
Re: Bodnar board equivalents/alternatives?
[Re: - Ice]
|
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 3,955
Sokol1
Senior Member
|
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 3,955
Internet
|
So an Arduino board is like a blank slate, yes? By itself it is nothing, but depends on the firmware, it can be anything. Is that right? Correctly. As for your picture... I see the gray/blue wire is the ground??
In Matrix you dont think in ground wire (or signal) only "columns" and "lines". Ground (+5V and signal) is only for axis input - see this potentiometer wired in left side in other row of connector (ANALOG INPUTS). Then I see two switches has a blue and green wire that goes to the switch and into the hat as well. Why does the yellow and orange not have this?
Because the yellow and orange are "columns" - C1 and C2 - not used by HAT. HAT use C3 - greenC4 - blue lightC5 - blue darkC6 - purplex R6 - orangeHAT need be wired in this specific positions because there 2 buttons pressed at same time, e.g. N+E, press the intermediary NE, this is defined in firmware. When you add more switch's to this matrix, you see that this yellow and orange goes for another switch's poles, wired together by other column (like the R-1 did with S1, S2, S3, S4). This is exemplified be C3 and C4. In the same way this orange R6 that goes for HAT goes for 2 additional switch's. And all 4 column that goes for HAT - C3, C4, C5, C6 - goes for other 5 switch each in a full occupied matrix. For example C6 goes for S30, S24, S18, S12, S6. As AndyB say above this is more easy to practice than explain.
|
|
#4145437 - 07/11/15 04:27 PM
Re: Bodnar board equivalents/alternatives?
[Re: - Ice]
|
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 3,955
Sokol1
Senior Member
|
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 3,955
Internet
|
|
|
|
|