Hello! I have a pushwheel switch https://aliexpi.com/ga39 and have a question. I am completely beginner, is there any way to convert data from pushwheel switch to normal ON/OFF signals for use in a flight simulator as a game device? In theory there would be 8 simple buttons that you could assign any function to. Any help would be appreciated! Thank you.
The ‘thumbwheel’ switch you’ve tagged is a BCD encoded switch, the rarer alternative is a straight ‘pin per position’ decimal switch.
Both are fine BCD needs less pins, but both of them only allow one digit value to be set at a time.
You can do other things in your software.
What’s your specific project requirement ?
My main goal is to be able to use it in the flight simulator. DCS F-16. But there are up/down buttons only in game. 8 buttons. The game should accept ON/OFF like regular push buttons.
The switch you linked to is BCD and it looks like this.
Ron
these are not up/down buttons.. they generate a binary number output.
You can use code to read the values, and you decide if it’s up,or dow, but why not use simple buttons if you only want up and down..?
simply put -> YES
however that maybe its lost in translation but it is unclear what you are trying to achieve here.
whenever the button is pressed, the counter goes up, so
that could be translated to a PULSE whenever the counter ouput changes.
if its is a PULSE you need for you 'ON/OFF' operation, what is the duration of the pulse that you need?
if, on the other hand you want steady ON/OFF operation, then you need to tell us again what pattern u want. so for example:
0 -> OFF
1 -> ON
2 -> OFF
and so on and on.
your end use is of little interest at this point...
Please describe CLEARLY what the output you wish to get for each BDC value the pushwheel would generate.
Only then maybe we can give you some useful help....
The up / dn buttons are used to set your IFF numeric values for your IFF Mode replies. I see Mode 1 and Mode 3 and in your image Mode 1 is 00 and Mode 3 is 77. This is pretty straight forward the up down buttons are used to increment or decrement toe count.
Ron
Yeah, that's right. But I don't understand how to solder or if it will work at all. The buttons set the digits for the proper IFF code, I would like to use this switch as it is on sale at PCFLight for this panel, and it's quite authentic and similar. On the other hand I can try to use 4 mini mom-off-mom toggle switches and 7 Segment LED display 4 digits and again arduino. But I don't have the sketch or schematic and not really into Arduino yet, I can probably do the simplest things.
Work for what exactly. Exactly in detail what are you trying to do? Yoy are saying you don't know how to solder?
That's more of a project that you really want to take on. There are BCD to Decimal ICs out there including those which will take a BCD in and drive a 7 segment display. Now if you want a BCD switch for a flight sim game then yes, the switch you linked to will work just fine. This does not get any simpler.
Ron
Do you want to use all 10 digits, 0 through 9 ? Because that is what you will get with this switch.
I wonder, what do you need these thumbwheels for? To the best of my (limited) knowledge a plane uses IFF only for communication to air traffic control (transponder).
Having said that, if you want to connect 4 thumbwheels, each with 10 outputs, you need 40 inputs on your processor. 4 BCD thumbwheels need 16 inputs.
4 BCD thumbwheels multiplexed need 4 outputs, 4 inputs and 16 diodes, and you’ll need to learn to solder.
This?
Not quite. IFF is used aircraft to aircraft. Modes 1, 2, 4 and 5 are military only, with Modes 4 and 5 possessing encryption capabilities and being designated for use by NATO forces. Real world aside one problem with gamers is they incorrectly set up the modes for reply and constantly get shot down or they end up shooting down friendly forces. 
Mode 3 may be used by both military and civilian aircraft, and Modes A, C and S are civilian only. Again decades have passed since I worked with IFF.
Been years but I worked quite a bit with IFF. My current understanding is that Mode 4 is seldom used. I guess Mode 5 is popular but again it's been decades. Interesting trivia is when running on the surface subs run IFF so any friendly ASW aircraft can identify them as friend.
Ron
Correction: a plane uses IFF for communication to third parties (transponder). As such it is important for multiplayer games, not for singleplayer.
The picture I’m building in my mind is as follows: There is a black box, the flightsimulator. The reachable elements are several inputs (for buttons and such) and there is a screen. Few people dare to modify this black box, be it hardware or software. Certainly far beyond a beginner’s capabilities. Hence: black box.
It is possible to write a program that reads the tumbwheels. Maybe even within the grasp of the OP. It is possible to write a program that converts changes in the tumbwheels into something that simulates the 8 pushbuttons. This makes the program more complex. The real challenge is to keep the number on the tumbwheels (read by the Arduino) and the number within the flightsimulator (manipulated with the simulated pushbuttons) synchronized with some certainty. Now we are again far beyond a beginner’s capabilities.
As a dashboard like that is for sale, I don’t expect the OP to be the first with this question. Chances are this problem has been solved and some unit is for sale. First place to look is the same store that the dashboard came from.
If the goal is to play that flightsimulator, I advice to buy that unit.
If the goal is to learn Arduino, there are simpler ways to start.
Or maybe, hopefully, the manual packaged with the flightsimulator addresses this.
Reading a simple binary thumbwheel with an Arduino is easy enough. The problems begin when you want to read several. 1, 2, 4, 8 use 4 DIO pins so two switches use 8 pins and 3 use 12 pins and in short order we are out of pins. There are work arounds but now the learning curve becomes steep.
I still have no clue what the thread starter is looking to actually do or how anything Arduino figures into the scheme. Beats me?
Ron
I’ve done a lot of reading between lines. I assume the flightsimulator works as follows: the screen shows the IFF, a number of 4 digits, and the player can manipulate the 8 buttons as if they were the buttons of thumbwheels, while looking at the screen whether or not it shows the wanted number. And the OP wants to mimic this with actual thumbwheels.
Unless the simulator has the inputs to connect actual thumbwheels, in which case the question becomes irrelevant.
I suppose a panel could be created simulating the panel in assorted aircraft. The panels I see are for the F-16 Falcon an aircraft I never saw the interior cockpit of. I was NAVAIR and not USAF. Anyway I guess the simulator games mimics these panels. The same user interface panel could be created in C+ or VB to communicate with Arduino. No clue why but can be done. Just creating the panel would be hard with all the dashboard graphics involved.
While all this is entertaining in a few hours I am outta here to visit kids, grandkids and family for the holidays. Maybe when I get back I'll return to a similar project I was messing around with. I no longer even drag the laptop along when I travel. Have yourselves a happy and safe holiday.
Ron
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