I just learned that there is a way to transform the LPT-switch interface into a joystick. No more need for my software I think. Just some drivers. Other good news is that the drivers see 2 joysticks of 30 switches each. This means 60 !! total per LPT port. And the maker of the drivers sais he could possibly do even better.http://ppjoy.bossstation.dnsalias.org/Docs/PPJoyMain.htmFeel free to check it out !

>I just learned that there is a way to transform the>LPT-switch interface into a joystick. No more need for my>software I think. Just some drivers. Other good news is that>the drivers see 2 joysticks of 30 switches each. This means>60 !! total per LPT port. And the maker of the drivers sais>he could possibly do even better.>>http://ppjoy.bossstation.dnsalias.org/Docs/PPJoyMain.htm>>Feel free to check it out !Combine this with the fact that you can use joystick buttons to connect phase-shifted rotary encoders directly with FSUIPC (read the "..for advanced users" -document!) if you have a registered fsuipc, and this is pretty interesting information! Also, joystick buttons can be "toggles" meaning they can be left "on" (how many simultaneous "on" connections does lptswitch support?) - this makes the possibilities pretty good!//Tuomas

With LPT-switch one can hang 40 switches or push buttons. No limit on either. I don't know 'bout PPJoy.I didn't know about phase-shifted rotary support via fsuipc. I'll check the document.PS: you mean the "for programmers guide" ?PSPS: ah no, it's not in the SDK zip but in the fsuipc zip itself, got it.PSPSPS: search in the document for the word "Similarly". From the second time it is found you can start reading ;)

Most interesting indeed !I might concider using the LPT-switch with PPJoy afterall. Then I can re-use my phase shifted encoders (because they are more solid metal ones compared to the plastic knitters).Obviously I added this info to the wiki :D

>Most interesting indeed !>>I might concider using the LPT-switch with PPJoy afterall. >Then I can re-use my phase shifted encoders (because they are>more solid metal ones compared to the plastic knitters).>>Obviously I added this info to the wiki :DCool!And now a surprise bonus offtopic pic for fellow builders, fresh from today!Turning final on our club TurboDiesel Cessna 172 :)http://gallery.tigert.com/tigert-albums/ef...-02-28/aax.jpegThe fadec-controlled engine's information gauges can be seen here: http://gallery.tigert.com/tigert-albums/ef...-02-28/aba.jpeg..showing 1940 rpm on the prop and 66% power.Some more very chilly pics from today are in http://gallery.tigert.com/gallery/efhf2005-02-28//Tuomaswww.malminilmailukerho.net

Just an innocent question from California :-)Richard

I built one, works great.Thanks much for the tip, Philippe!Wolfgang

Hi Philippe,I intend to make your LPT switch as an exercise for some more cockpit electronics (FsBus or IOcards etc.).In your website instructions something is somewhat unclear:"5 x 4700 ohm resistors (? => not sure 'bout this yet)"Question, before I go shopping:Can I presume that it are indeed 4700 ohm resistors ?Thanks for helping.Hessel Oosten, Netherlandshttp://members.chello.nl/h.oosten/Plaatjes.htm

Hi,Had to create a new account here for my home (sim) pc. I am leaving my laptop at my dorm now and only take home my external drive. And the password for the old account is in my outlook on my laptop so ...Either way .. I am very much sure they are 4700. I am not sure why they are used. They are called "pull up resistors" though I do not seem to understand what that means. A number of people tried to explain to me in english what they are for though I'd need dutch n00b-proof explanation to understand. I got the impression that "it's better to have them there". Some LPT ports can do without, others not. So my guess is .. for that price .. you better do them ;)Cheers,Philippe Vanagt @ Homehttp://www.fokker50.infohttp://www.productdesignforums.com

Bedankt Philippe !Hessel

Hi Philippe,Sorry for another stupid question but this are my first electronic exercises ...You mentioned: "defuse plugs".In Dutch that has something to do with "zekeringen" (fuses).Is it right that you simple mean the Marklin plugs and that it has nothing to do with fuses ?Is the thickness of the wires on those plugs of importance (or the same as used for the previous mentioned "Marklin train accessories") ?Hessel

Any input, be it analog or digital, doesn't like to be left "floating" (not connected to some reference, for example +5V or gnd for digital, or some bias point for analog). BAD things can happen if this isn't done.... race conditions or even oscillations. The term pull-up refers to the input (or the output in the case of open collector devices, for example.... comparators like the LM339) being tied to some "positive" voltage through a resistor and is a "active low" (connected to gnd or whatever the Vdd voltage is).

Nothing to do with fuses ;)'k bedoel gewoon blokjes zoals je in de Brico "suikertjes" kan kopen .. 2 draadjes aan elkaar vast zetten met zo'n schroef-blokje der tussen. Ik heb zo male/female dingetjes zodat ik makkelijk de draden vast/los kan koppelen.Ivm dikte van de draad weet ik niet. Hoe langer de draden, hoe meer kans op storingen echter. Best zorgen dus dat je je interface zo centraal mogelijk legt en dat je afgeschermde kabel gebruikt naar je interface vanaf je pc.

Again thanks both.Hessel

Hi Philippe,Please can I ask a few questions with regard to the LPT switch ?1. I produced two of them and in principle they do work (a little bit). Did send you the pictures privately, but probably you did'nt receive it.When having installed the "AVSIM version 2" and installing the frame network on the laptop of my son (he has enabled EPP+ ECP and this works; Normal bidirectional does not work ... ?) both switches do work for the matrix, B to E with channel 1 to 8. Both switches DON"T work on A channel 1 to 8, so 32 keys are working now.My conclusion is that the switches are all right in principle, the diodes are right placed etc. As far as I know the position (right up or down) of the 4700 Ohm resistors does'nt matter (of course in contrary to the diodes). Since the A channel does'nt work on BOTH home brew switches there seems to be a sytematic fault in the (my) construction. I checked the connections with a multimeter and current is flowing normal in the A channel (the same as in the other working channels), nevertheless here no green keys. I assume there is no fault in the connection picture because others have not reported that to you. Is the crux something with the fact that de A channel has another position on the parallel port than the other 4 channels (B-E) ? Suggestions ? Solutions ? Need pictures ?2. A more annoying problem is that Bothe the switches (which work on the PC above mentioned) Don't work on my flying pc. In fact I've three of them (wideview setup with tree monitors). The netfamework is installed, the BIOS is bidirectional (other settings do not work as well).When I go to the LPT1 tab in the menu an error messag aapears. When pushing the details button of this message the following appears.This is all on the server pc, but when tryoing on one of the clients the same happens. Has it something to do with missing visual basic files ?3. Last (simple) question (I presume...). If the business is working here ...., is it possible to use the printer ports of the clients as well for a second and third switch ? (In stead of adding pci printer cards (my motherboard is full !)).Hope you can bring some light in this dark moment ...Hessel Oostenhttp://members.chello.nl/h.oosten/Plaatjes.htm---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Error message:See the end of this message for details on invoking just-in-time (JIT) debugging instead of this dialog box.************** Exception Text **************System.ArgumentException: The currency separator information specified in the NumberFormatInfo is ambiguous for parsing. at Microsoft.VisualBasic.CompilerServices.DoubleType.Parse(String Value, NumberFormatInfo NumberFormat) at Microsoft.VisualBasic.CompilerServices.ShortType.FromString(String Value) at Microsoft.VisualBasic.CompilerServices.ShortType.FromObject(Object Value) at LPTPortINPOUT.Form1.pcbLPT3_VisibleChanged(Object sender, EventArgs e) at System.Windows.Forms.Control.OnVisibleChanged(EventArgs e) at System.Windows.Forms.PictureBox.OnVisibleChanged(EventArgs e) at System.Windows.Forms.Control.OnParentVisibleChanged(EventArgs e) at System.Windows.Forms.Control.OnVisibleChanged(EventArgs e) at System.Windows.Forms.ScrollableControl.OnVisibleChanged(EventArgs e) at System.Windows.Forms.Control.SetVisibleCore(Boolean value) at System.Windows.Forms.Control.set_Visible(Boolean value) at System.Windows.Forms.TabPage.set_Visible(Boolean value) at System.Windows.Forms.TabControl.UpdateTabSelection(Boolean uiselected) at System.Windows.Forms.TabControl.OnSelectedIndexChanged(EventArgs e) at System.Windows.Forms.TabControl.WmSelChange(Message& m) at System.Windows.Forms.TabControl.WndProc(Message& m) at System.Windows.Forms.ControlNativeWindow.OnMessage(Message& m) at System.Windows.Forms.ControlNativeWindow.WndProc(Message& m) at System.Windows.Forms.NativeWindow.Callback(IntPtr hWnd, Int32 msg, IntPtr wparam, IntPtr lparam)************** Loaded Assemblies **************mscorlib Assembly Version: 1.0.5000.0 Win32 Version: 1.1.4322.2032 CodeBase: file:///c:/windows/microsoft.net/framework/v1.1.4322/mscorlib.dll----------------------------------------LPTPortINPOUT Assembly Version: 1.0.1447.9408 Win32 Version: 1.0.1447.9408 CodeBase: file:///C:/Switch/LPTreload_v2.exe----------------------------------------System.Windows.Forms Assembly Version: 1.0.5000.0 Win32 Version: 1.1.4322.2032 CodeBase: file:///c:/windows/assembly/gac/system.windows.forms/1.0.5000.0__b77a5c561934e089/system.windows.forms.dll----------------------------------------System Assembly Version: 1.0.5000.0 Win32 Version: 1.1.4322.2032 CodeBase: file:///c:/windows/assembly/gac/system/1.0.5000.0__b77a5c561934e089/system.dll----------------------------------------System.Drawing Assembly Version: 1.0.5000.0 Win32 Version: 1.1.4322.2032 CodeBase: file:///c:/windows/assembly/gac/system.drawing/1.0.5000.0__b03f5f7f11d50a3a/system.drawing.dll----------------------------------------Microsoft.VisualBasic Assembly Version: 7.0.5000.0 Win32 Version: 7.10.6001.4 CodeBase: file:///c:/windows/assembly/gac/microsoft.visualbasic/7.0.5000.0__b03f5f7f11d50a3a/microsoft.visualbasic.dll----------------------------------------Accessibility Assembly Version: 1.0.5000.0 Win32 Version: 1.1.4322.573 CodeBase: file:///c:/windows/assembly/gac/accessibility/1.0.5000.0__b03f5f7f11d50a3a/accessibility.dll----------------------------------------************** JIT Debugging **************To enable just in time (JIT) debugging, the config file for thisapplication or machine (machine.config) must have thejitDebugging value set in the system.windows.forms section.The application must also be compiled with debuggingenabled.For example:When JIT debugging is enabled, any unhandled exceptionwill be sent to the JIT debugger registered on the machinerather than being handled by this dialog.