Model Forum / Radio Controlled / Helicopters / April 2006

trouble is it needs a decoder normally a PIC chip running the right code
have you looked at the FMS website as it does answer your questions if you
look in the right places

The interfaces they show on the FMS site (both serial and parallel) are
simple but do not work with Windows NT based operating systems (NT, 2000, XP
and 2003).

Very simply, the reason is that the simulator attempts to use the
serial/parallel ports in a non-standard way and the security restrictions of
NT operating systems prevents this.

I assume like most you have NT.  I can recommend two approaches

(i) Buy a PIC-based lead kit from this place - £11 including P&P and I
guarantee this works because I have built two myself for friends.

(ii) You may be able to build a parallel lead as described on the FMS site
and get it working using freely downloadable software utility called PPJOY.
This effectively makes the parallel port look like a joystick .  Many have
said this works - however, like many others, personally I have not had any
luck with it.

If you have a parallel lead already you have nothing to lose in trying (ii).

If you need to purchase/build either way then (i) is the only sensible way
to go.

Cheers,

Nigel

Refer to  -
Alan's Hobby, Model & RC Web Links
http://homepages.ihug.co.nz/~atong/

sub section:   "Buddy Boxes. Servo Leads. Flight Simulator & Interface."

TX 2 TX ***
Buddy Box System Operation - RCFU
Interface Adapters & Connectors - inc new Futaba
Hitec USB Flight Sim Interface (for Hitec Futaba JR & Zebra TX) + FMS ***
Flight & Sailing Simulator controllers

and
"Flight Simulators (Airplane, Heli & slope) & Sailing Simulators "

Interface Adapters & Connectors - inc new Futaba
Aerochopper Review
Aerofly & Easyfly = IPACS
ClearView RC Helicopter Simulator
CSM
Dave Brown RCFS 2001
Dragonfly for FMS and FAQ - Paul L Daniels's
Fly RC Free simulator = Ron's Software Page
FMS Homepage - Freeware
FMS Links
FMS - Downloads, arguably the best personal effort ***
FMS - Links to many downloads for FMS and scenery design etc ***
FMS - additional Scenery downloads ***
FMS Serial Interface for GWS
Glider 3D ; RC Sailplanes Simulator
Home-built flight simulators - 23 Freeware programs
Offshore Sailing - Free simulator
Pre-Flight (Free Download - buy interface kit)
RCFSim v6.01 (2004) - Freeware
RealFlight Home Page
Reality Craft - RC Plane Master
Reflex Flugsimulator
Reflex models and scenery - additional downloads by W3 Group
RC New Zealand - Free skins for realflight
RC-Sim Downloads for Aerofly, FMS, Reflex, RFG 2, etc ***
Sail simulator.com - Free download
Slope Soaring Simulator - Free download
Tru-Flite Technology
TTi Tom's - How to set up PC USB Port, Calibrate TX and more
Vertigo flight simulator
YSFlight - Freeware

FWIW have 32+ heli including T-Rex X 2,  GWS Dragonfly,  Hirobo X 3  and
many more amongst 320 odd models downloaded from the links shown above.

Above links copied direct from my page do not always show as clickable URL
on all newsgroup servers but this one entered separately should:
http://www.acehobby.co.nz/ossb2/root/OSSBEC1/showitem.asp?PID=52310 = (about
US$33.00 and probably about same price in your own LHS)

regards
Alan T.
Alan's Hobby, Model & RC Web Links
http://homepages.ihug.co.nz/~atong/
.....................................................

Well, I received the components and proceded to build the interface
from the webiste Nigel suggested.

Hum.. solder... where oh where did i put it !!

The only thing which I thought was missing from the bag that appeared
in the post following the order, is a peice of paper saying how to put
the interface together, or even a thank you for the order. but, a
quick search on the website I got it from provided the information I
required.

ah.. resistor colour code... how many years... 16 years ago is when I
last used the resistor colour code... suprising how quickly it comes
back ;-)

The end product rearly fitted well together, I had to cut a little
from the cable strain releif but i was actually very happy with the
way it all fits together.

so, a week later, after practicing each day for about 2 hours, I can
hover quite well with a 2m per sec wind :-)

the real test is (i hope) sunday when I try out my skills (or lack of)
for real on my raptor...

and that will be in another post...

Cheers..

Pete.