DIY Knobster Project- Part 2

[@davemcconnell9216]

Thank you for the wiring diagram and the 2 videos. I am just getting into simming after being a pilot for 40 years.... Thanks...

[@HoNau77]

I am planning the opposite direction. 😀 Thx a lot for these videos.

[@jamesm791]

Peter...Thanks so much for taking the time to make these videos. I am in the final planning stage for my cockpit build and this CLEAR explanation is welcome and appreciated!

[@peterlanoie]

Glad it helped. If there's anything else I can go over in more detail, please let me know.

[@jamesm791]

@@peterlanoie Finally got out to garage and got everything soldered up. Worked great! Thanks again.

[@peterlanoie]

@@jamesm791 Post a video of your build if you can! Love to see what others are doing.

[@chizzysmith9575]

I like your work. But I am finding operating the knobs with the streamdeck and flighttrackr-mobiflight plugins easier than the actual physical knobs. I can operate all knobs (ALT, NAV, RADIO, GPS) on the Mooney Ovation in MSFS2020 with the stream deck now. One streamdeck advantage is advantage is you don't have to select and activate a gauge first and the numerical display in also on the streamdeck keys. Just wish we can enter Airports codes and Waypoints via Alphanumeric display. What you have done here is awesome and I like you work. Just FYI for anyone: The stock Vertical Speed Button serves as the ARM button in the Mooney.

[@peterlanoie]

Interesting, I had never considered something like a streamdeck for that (I don't have any streaming paraphernalia). One of my goals for my flight sim cockpit build has been to make it as much "not computery" as I can but also make it flexible. I didn't want to make a sim pit that's very specifically one aircraft. So obviously there are some concessions like using touch screen displays to support highly variant instrument styles and layouts (although with modern glass cockpits it's becoming more realistic to have just a display). Also, the programmable keyboard is certainly not a great analog to normal cockpit equipment. But in my view buttons are buttons. I have found that the knob has worked well (MSFS input bugs aside). I like having that physical knob to manipulate. It's easy to locate without looking and I find I am not changing the knob's target instrument frequently enough to make the "tap and turn" pattern annoying yet. But to be fair, I haven't been doing much with ATC yet where I would need to be changing back and forth between radios and navigation controls. The programmable keyboard has autopilot inputs on it so that reduces some of that need too.

[@patricktricoteaux3765]

Can we associate the encoder with a screen that is not touchscreen thank you very much for this video

[@peterlanoie]

While the Knobster (DIY or commercial) is most effective when used with a touch screen, you can use it on a non touch screen. As long as the Air Manager panel has Knobster input enabled, a regular mouse click will activate a knob input that the physical knob can control.

[@kristianjorg418]

It would seem Siminnovations have now made a new KnobFS version that rules out the DIY Knobster of yours. Do you know of any Open Source projects that has made it possible to use a DIY project like this and still get similar functionality as described here? As a DIY:er myself I was very much looking into building a knobster clone like this, but if there is no support from Air Manager then that is out the window I'm afraid. Any input on this maybe?

[@peterlanoie]

I haven't been following what they've been doing for a while unfortunately so I don't know what the latest is. Sorry.

[@kristianjorg418]

@@peterlanoieThey mention the "DIY Knobster" as not compatible anymore so at least you have made yourself famous, or maybe infamous. :) I'm looking into making my own add-on that somehow mimicks a knobster but with more rotaries (like 5), and few buttons that you can feel (while in VR and memorize what they are mapped to. Like the G1000 knobs. A popup toolbar window that shows you your hardware knobs and which of them are mapped to what to help if you forget the mappings. And some configuration switcher control also in hardware that can be used to switch out a config to another. Also a bit like knobster, but for a whole set of mappings in one step. MobiFlight has all the functionality needed to create the encoder mappings and the config switchings (via preconditions). But I haven't figured a way to connect to mobiflight from an external program via an api to get the status of the config switch, which I need in order to feed the toolbar window the grapics for the current setup. So, veery early in my possible project for this, but creating something like this would be really neat I think. The end result is a "knobster" panel with more than one rotary and a number of buttons that is connected to selected knobs in the cockpit, with the hardware designed for VR use and everything configurable in mobiflight (which makes it easy to create configs). No promises of any success in this. But it looks doable IMHO.

[@peterlanoie]

@@kristianjorg418 That sounds great! Definitely talking my language. Unfortunately, I haven't "flown" in too long, being consumed with family, work, and 3d printing so I haven't even seen what doesn't work any more. I look forward to hearing what progress you make on the project.

[@diogosantos3188]

I will try to build one also! Thanks a lot for the diagrams and everything! :) Is the code found in the first video the one you use? Kind regards Diogo

[@smartsimtech7416]

Great vid, hey do you know if you can use direct with MSFS2020 if you don’t use Airmanager and it would recognise it as a programmable device so I can assign to Comms etc?

[@peterlanoie]

As a Knobster it's intended to be used with AirManager. There are Arduino programming libraries that can make an Arduino appear to the computer as a standard joystick but that would require custom programming.

[@ccruzsanta]

I have Dual encoder and button knob from PropwashSimulation and the Arduino nano. But what is the name of those cables in colors and jumpers and where you bought those.

[@peterlanoie]

The wires are testing leads or "jumper wires". The pin slide on plug on those are called "Dupont connectors". The ones I used are female-to-female. On end connects to the encoder board's pins, the other to the Arduino GPIO pins. I got them from Sparkfun: www.sparkfun.com/products/12796 Depending on what you want to tinker with, it's helpful to have male-to-male and female-to-female style as well. www.sparkfun.com/products/12794 www.sparkfun.com/products/11026 Plenty of options around such as at Adafruit: www.adafruit.com/?q=jumper+wires&sort=BestMatch

[@janmenzinga]

Do you have to buy the full version of Air Manager for using the Knobster?

[@peterlanoie]

I think I set it up on the free version but I can't recall for sure and I haven't run it in some time to test/check. Sorry, I know that doesn't help much but wanted to reply with something.

[@janmenzinga]

@@peterlanoie No problem, Peter. I think I'll order some parts anyway. Thanks for your time!

[@JamesRichardson-u9m]

Peter, I built my knobster, at first with a clone Nano, then with the $$Nano. In both cases they failed to flash. It gives me a message Closed Com port, avrdude.exe:ser_open(): can't open device etc. Did you run into this when installing your device. I cannot find a remedy anywhere on the web. Am I missing a program? Thanks

[@peterlanoie]

It was a long time ago when I did mine. Honestly don't recall if I had any major issue. I vaguely recall a problem but I think it was just me not selecting something correctly. I think I flashed it right from airmanager.

[@lopesrf]

Thank you, did you manage to fix the step skipping issue?

[@peterlanoie]

Unfortunately not yet. This is a known issue with a bug directly in flight simulator. The signals from the knobster to air manager are fine, likewise the commands from airmanager to flight sim are fine. Flight sim is handling internal logic for button inputs poorly. I have an idea but haven't tried it yet.

[@halucinateenquiry2337]

Should we load any specific Code to arduino nano from air manager?

[@peterlanoie]

Air manager has the built in function to flash the Nano with the Knobster code. No additional steps should be needed.

[@Skinny-me]

Thanks! Great job Peter!, and thank you for sharing your knowledge. Your panel looks great! :) Question, was i difficult to program? and did you connect the Arduino with usb to the computer running Air Manager? Thanks Again! David.

[@peterlanoie]

Thanks! The initial programming I did to experiment with it was not too bad once I figured out how the encoding stepping worked. Setting up as the Knobster was all handled by Air Manager, I just flashed it from directly in the program. Yes, the Arduino is directly connected (via a hub) to the computer's USB using a regular micro USB cable for data and power. Flight Sim and Air Manager all run together. I haven't tried the networked Air Manager viewer app.

[@Skinny-me]

@@peterlanoie Thanks Peter for this info! I really appreciate it! I contacted propwash for the dual concentric encoders, but they wanted 50 dollars min for shipping to sweden!! So i will try to find the items needed from some supplier in europe. My first goal is to build a simple unit that kan change frequencies in x-plane & FS2020. I will then use my regular monitor for scenery and 2 old iPads for extra screens to display air manager instruments and maybe the G1000. Further down the line i would likt to have something like you done, i don't want a complete cockpit (Due to space), just the instrument panels and glare screen and a big 2k or 4k TV. What sources on the net did you find most useful to learn Air manager programming or setup and the electronics stuff? Thanks! David.

[@peterlanoie]

@@Skinny-me it's been a while since I set this up so I don't remember details if where I found info. I'm a programmer by trade so that was just experience apart from reading documentation on arduino specifics. Setting up air manager has been mostly trial and error. Anything else was just googling. Sorry that getting the encoders outside of the US is such a pain. I've that from others too.

[@ChrisDrumgoole]

Great video thanks. I have same issue with msfs and the honeycomb yoke. I unplug the yoke then it works perfectly. Have you by any chance found any other solution other than waiting for MS to fix it!? :)

[@peterlanoie]

Unfortunately, I have not yet found a fix for the button repeat problem.

[@peterlanoie]

I forget exactly when they fixed it but a recent program update resolved the button/knob repeat issue.

[@Double-D_291]

@@peterlanoie Hi, sorry for replying to an old thread but are you saying the update fixed the skipping by 10 degree issue when rotating the knob?

[@peterlanoie]

@@Double-D_291 yup!

[@Double-D_291]

@@peterlanoie awesome! Thanks mate!

[@megatech1966]

Does air manager work with MSFS2020?

[@peterlanoie]

Yes. That's FS2020 in the video.

[@josemanueldelcerro1123]

Dónde compraste el dual encoders

[@peterlanoie]

Dual encoder: www.propwashsim.com/store/dual-encoder-kit See the first video for more: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nHLTYWB8rsd-iq8

[@josemanueldelcerro1123]

@@peterlanoie muchísimas gracias