LINK2FS_Arduino_Keys.
For the ARDUINO MEGA,
DUEMILANOVE or NANO Cards.
For FSX,
FS2004 and just
about anything else?
Updated
to version Beta3 (12 May 11)
The
Arduino Cards ,,,,
Looking
around my site you would have noticed I have been using Arduino for some time,,
None of what I had done was documented or shared.
After
a while I felt quite guilty about this and
put up the “starter” output card in another page. ,,, Well things have snowballed from there and I was finally talked into doing an input
card for switches etc.
I
pondered this for a while and thought, why not, but do one as an input card for
just about any program (Not only FS) so people could use their Arduino card as
an input for their favorite game or what ever. ,, Hence here is the BETA version.
Overview.
"Link2FS
Adruino_keys" basically sends keystrokes (or groups of keystrokes) to your
chosen program.
It
sends them whether your chosen program is in focus or not.
At
this stage it is a "beta" and still in development. A lot of
improvements are still to come but I have released this beta to
give
people something to play with and use in the meantime.
The
interface ,,,
Rather
simple and self explanatory ,,
In normal run
mode In programming mode
Requirements,,,
An
Arduino card that has a serial USB port. ( Mega, Uno, Duemilanove or a Nano or ???.)
Some
switchs connected to the above card. (Push button, toggle or rotary) ,, (Rotary
encoders will come later)
The
Arduino software (Free) for inputting the PDE .... NOTE ... This needs version 0019 or above. (I use Version 0022)
You
don’t need a power supply,, only the USB cable.
The
program itself,,,
It
has 4 different profile buttons so once they are programmed for your favorite
games its just 1 click and its all go.
It
saves the profiles to your disk drive.
It
has the usual “shift” keys, Shift, Control and Alt. (Hold one down and press
another)
You
can send multiple letters at once if you like. (You could even send “Hello Jim”
to notepad if you get the urge)
As
it stands at the moment, the Mega card will give you 66 switch inputs , the Uno
card, 17 switch inputs.
These
can (with my software) send keystrokes to just about any program you like.
Even
if the program is not “in focus” or behind another program on your screen.
BUT
I
haven’t tested it on any exotic games (I haven’t got any ! ) ,, so I don’t know what it will work on.
It
works great on FSX, FS2004, notepad and I’ve tested it thru to Microsoft
Office.
Basically
it should work on any program that expects keyboard entry.
I’m
a hobby programmer and I’m not trying to sell anything to anyone.
Use
at your own risk.
The
files ,,,,
Updated to version Beta3 (12-5-11)
You
can download my BETA file here ….. http://www.jimspage.co.nz/link2fs_arduino_keys_beta.zip
The
PDE files for all the cards are included.
Note:
While in programming mode this program reads your keyboard input directly
(obviously !) but so does some malware (Keyboard loggers).
If
you get warnings about this from your UAC or your security program then you
will have to over-ride them.
Setting
it up ,,
It
couldn’t be easier,,,
There
is no need for an external power supply.
Load
the PDE file (sketch) into the Arduino.(With Arduino’s free software) (See my
other page “How to load a PDE file”)
Connect
some switches to the Arduino.
Load
my program.
Read
the instructions !!!!!
Input
what program you want it to send to.
Input
the keys you want sent for each switch state changes. (‘On close’ or ‘On open’)
Then
save that profile for easy loading next time you use that game.
The
wiring for the Mega card ,,,,
The
above diagram is included in the download.
The
wiring for the Duemilanove or Uno cards ,,,
The
above diagram is included in the download.
Feed-back
and Support ,,
For
the first time in all my releases, I will have a go at helping people with
problems running this on their setup. (To many operating systems to test with)
Not
only that ,,, I would be grateful for any feedback as to improvements so we can
all make this better.
Of
course, the best posts would be just 2 words ,, “Thanks Jim” ,,, that way
I know I’ve made some-one happy. !!!
That
being said ,,, remember this is a BETA release and even now I know of things to
improve and some minor ‘bugs’.
Be
gentle ,,, I’m an ‘Old Fart’ just
playing with my hobby !!!!.
I
will be watching at (Click on it) ……
In
this area …. (Click on it) ……..
Hint
No.1 ,,,,
I
don’t use plugs for the inputs for these boards. What I do is similar to what
is on one of my other pages but I just use the wire off some junk small
resistors.
Sooo,,, Find some resistors you have heaps of (or
some stiff wire the right size), get some “Heat-shrink” and make your own.
Doing
it this way is far more cost effective and versatile.
Putting
the card into a high sided box helps this physically. (See my other Arduino
page)
Remember,,
you don’t have to keep track of what wire goes where,, my program will tell you
what switch was switched and to what state.
The
only wire you need to know is the GND wire so if it looks the same as the rest
,,, run a felt marker pen along it.
Be
careful of old resistors that were ‘taped’ together in a roll ,,, don’t use the
first 5mm of these as there is probably old glue still on the wire. (Bad
connection in the socket)
A
picture of the above method, showing the 3 steps and one of my ‘testing’ board
,,,
Hint
No. 2 ,,,
Read
the instructions.
Confused ????
If
you have never heard of these cards, I’d be surprised,,, You just might not
have noticed.
There
are even ‘Clones’ out there.
They
are available everywhere around the World,, Hobby shops,, Robotic shops,, Electronic shops etc etc.
Look
for them locally ,,, I guarantee you wont have to import one. (Well,, You know what I mean )
The
main site ,,, http://arduino.cc/en/Main/Hardware
Dated 20 April 11
Updated
24 April 11
Updated
12 May 11 to Beta3
