This should be applicable to all the CH sticks - I think their internals are all the same, bar FFB models.

I made a PDF of the process - get it here:
http://www.members.optusnet.com.au/julian265/il2/pot_guide.pdf
(please tell me if the hosting is bad, or if the pdf appears weird!)

In a nutshell:




The conversion is based around Leo Bodnar's fantastic BU0836 USB interface, 3503 hall effect sensors, neodymium (aka rare earth) magnets, and modified pots of the flightstick.

I haven't made any rudder pedals yet, so for the moment I'm stuck with the logitech, as the flightstick doesn't twist.

However my 'throttle box' (tm) is working great. I previously used usb to gameport converter for it, but the BU0836 needed a housing, and it's simply better than the gameport interface:





I'll do a more complete write up once the pedals are done and it's all in use. But for now, the pdf describes the hardware conversion fully.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: julian265,

Nice Work.
It would be interesting to know how to convert a whole ch gameport system (fighterstick and pro throttle) to usb .. using leo bodnar card...

Aww cool!
Is the response still linear?
Will keep this info in case my pots ever get bad.

I've flown a decent amount with it now...

And no - the response is not linear! However it is pretty much what I set my sensitivity settings to previously. ie - sensitivity increases as the stick gets away from center. In other words, I like my sensitivity to start at 20% and work up to 100%. The geometry of the current setup seems to give something like this.

I can see the reason when looking at the field lines around the magnetic disc.

In game settings will be able to modify the curves, of course.

A bit more flying done... And it really does need more sensitivity around the center.

Maybe this can be done in software, or maybe i'll change the magnet-sensor geometry.

quote:

It would be interesting to know how to convert a whole ch gameport system (fighterstick and pro throttle) to usb .. using leo bodnar card...

Fenice _1965

To convert Fighterstick + CH PRO Throttle with Bu0836 you need to change some thing:

Fighterstick need 16 buttons (12 in 3 HATS), a 8 way HAT and two Axis or tree - to you wheel throttle.
CH PRO Throttle need 20 buttons (16 in four HATS), and one AXIS.

oh, oh, 16 (plus POV HAT) + 20 buttons = 36 (or 40 if your count POV HAT)> Bu0836 alow 32, plus one POV HAT...

Soluction: change one HAT - the front one - in CH PRO Throttle to one rotarie (AXIS), look at Ghost Franken Potato CH PRO Throttle for ideas, in http://www.ch-hangar.com/forum/showthread.php?t=2488&page=9

I convert one CH F16 Combatstick + CH PRO Throttle using BU0836, is easy, and result great.
Details: http://www.simhq.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&...=2334380#Post2334380

Sokol1

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Sokol__1,

The BU0836 allows 36 buttons, 4 of which may be used in an 8 way hat switch - so it should fit perfectly!!

And what about hall sensors ? Is it difficult to substitute original pots with hall sensors ?
I think perfect everlasting mod should have bu836 and hall sensors...

You mean pre-constructed hall sensors, yes?

I'm sure it's possible, and probably easier than the way I did it. However I wasn't willing to pay over AU$100 for them!

If I were to do it using them, I'd cut off the shaft of one of the original pots, drill a hole longitudinally in it (on the axis of rotation), put the HE sensor's shaft in that, then use the original pot's mounting plate (that slots into the trim mechanism) to mount the HE chassis to the stick.

Il2 decided that my logitech's rudder was jammed all the way to the left... so I was forced into using the flightstick early. I unplugged the logitech, reset the input settings in Il2, slapped together some pedals (with hall sensor), and now the stick seems to have a fantastic sensitivity curve, with all the input sliders at 100%! I figure there was some interference between the BU0836 and logitech.

So a good result!

Julian,

Can you make a test using JoyTester2?

http://personne.newmail.ru/JoyTester2-MouseJoystick/JoyTester2.exe.zip

Rotate the joystick to reaching yours maximum angles, the more round are the graph, better is the result.

Sample, of Saitek Aviator test by Saitek.ru



Sokol1

The flightstick's axes are very defined, it uses separate springs for each axis, unlike the saiteks. This makes it quite hard to make a circle with, as it really likes to run vertically or horizontally.

I don't understand what drawing a circle tells you about a stick's performance though - I like the separated feel of the axes.

bump... and slightly updated guide 'cos I couldn't find the edit button:

http://www.members.optusnet.com.au/julian265/il2/pot_guide.pdf

A suggested wiring diagram:

quote:

Originally posted by julian265:
bump... and slightly updated guide 'cos I couldn't find the edit button:

http://www.members.optusnet.com.au/julian265/il2/pot_guide.pdf

Wow, that's a nice little thing you've built there.
The PDF really helped me, and the updated one even more. Keep making that kinda stuff!


diamondblast from Jemsite