URGENT QUERY RE NEW PFC GEAR

[saxon]

Pete,

As you read below I have just ordered a PFC yoke and throttles for IR training. The problem is that I am using them on a Sony GRT 815m laptop with no gameport. (it's far faster than my 1Ghz desktop). PFC said that they can supply a Serial to USB adapter which will work fine but I already have a gameport to USB adapter I am using on my old Gameport CH yoke and it doesn't provide full button functionality although the main axes, rudder, 4 buttons and HAT work OK. Is the PFC gear standard gameport or something different?

I'm very worried that not all functions on the units will work via an adapter plugged into USB - can you confirm whether I will be able to use mixture, prop, throttle for a twin plus the bulk of yoke buttons working OK via a USB-gameport adapter. I would really have preferred all USB gear but this isn't possible with the throttle console and PFC indicated their preferred connection was serial not USB on the yoke.

Is PFC's adapter likely to be special in some way ie different to a standard gameport to USB adapter? IF it is I guess I might have to order it. Trouble is I think they are hoping to despatch tomorrow (Friday) so I need to verify it should work OK.

I know it's not your job to support PFC's products as such but so far they have implied it should all work but I don't want an expensive paperweight!! Incidentally I'm not expecting you to guarantee it WILL work - just to say whether you think it SHOULD work. WHat functios if any would you expect me to lose?

Many many thanks - would much appreciate if you can put my mind at rest asap.

Best regards,

Jonathan

[Pete Dowson]

As you read below I have just ordered a PFC yoke and throttles for IR training. The problem is that I am using them on a Sony GRT 815m laptop with no gameport.

You ordered the game port version of the yoke, not the one connecting via the throttle system? If so, then, sorry, that is not handled by any of my software. The PFC driver I prepared for PFC equipment only operates via the COM port. Game port drivers are something separate.

Is the PFC gear standard gameport or something different?

PFc make all sorts of things, but all the stuff my software supports connects to a serial (COM) port. You can use USB with a USB to serial adapter. None of that is anything to do with game ports. You can buy a game port version of their yokes, for use without the throttle system, but the latter connects to a serial port and yoke and pedals connect to the throttle system. The latter contains the controller..

I would really have preferred all USB gear but this isn't possible with the throttle console and PFC indicated their preferred connection was serial not USB on the yoke.

You need to find out what you've ordered. PFC is the place to ask questions about PFC equipment. I am not PFC and only know about the serial port stuff, which is all I have.

There's a lot of USB equipment around which is basically serial port implementation using a serial port USB driver in the PC. This is fine. Serial protocols run well on USB, and it is easier for manufacturers then to use existing generic drivers. USB drivers are a pain to write and even more so to debug. I won't go near USB.

If you want to know more about my software just go to the Schiratti site and download the PFC DLL package, read the User Guide.

Regards,

Pete

[saxon]

Pete,

Incidentally the serial-USB adapter I bought was originally to allow me to use the laptop with my Garmin GPS 196 for nav updates etc. So far it works fine. Does PFC use 9 pin serial like my GPS or something else like gameport..

many thanks,

Brg Jon.

[Pete Dowson]

Does PFC use 9 pin serial like my GPS or something else like gameport..

many thanks

Is there really no information on their website these days?

Serial port 9-pin for the Console. The cable comes with it. The pedals and yokes have 15-pin game port type connectors but they will plug into the rear of the console. I think they will also work, but not so well (and without the yoke buttons correctly working) if connected to a game port, but if you wanted game port connections you should have specified that when ordering. If you ordered them with the throttle console they would probably assume you meant to connect them that way.

I must admit that I am a little surprised that you ordered all this stuff without any knowledge of it at all.

Regards,

Pete

[saxon]

Peter,

Many thanks for your information - I did go into it quite thoroughly over the past 2 months and corresponded with Kimberley Budak several times to ensure the set-up I ordered would work. What I have ordered is the 15 pin serial version of the yoke (rather than the USB). I ordered that version because I was told if I ordered the USB version I would lose some of the button functionalities if I plugged it into the throttle via an adapter. Kimberley advised this was the best option for me.

As I understand it the yoke plugs into the throttles via 15 pin serial (isn't this effectively gameport then??) and the throttles plug into the computer via 9 pin serial. I plan to use a serial to USB adapter for this which Kimberley indicated would still offer full button functionality.

Sorry if I got confused but it was late last night and I probably got myself tied in knots with the diagrams. I've been researching this and deciding which kit to buy intensively for over 2 months and before that have been toying with investing in such a high end set-up for many years so it's far from a rash purchase. Most of the diagrams on PFC's website always seem to show the avionics console as part of the connection set-up and I haven't ordered that due to cost. I think I probably just got myself into a last minute panic due to the cost of all this and being paranoid about ensuring it all works OK.

Many thanks and let me know your thoughts,

Jonathan

[Pete Dowson]

What I have ordered is the 15 pin serial version of the yoke (rather than the USB).

Never heard of a USB version. Probably they built a serial-USB adapter into the base. They a;; used to have a 15-pin game port plug on, but the circuitry inside the unit is a bit different depending on whether it is designed for a real game port, or the 15-pin connections on one of their consoles.

As I understand it the yoke plugs into the throttles via 15 pin serial (isn't this effectively gameport then??) and the throttles plug into the computer via 9 pin serial.

That's what I said earlier. (I thought you said you didn't know, or at least you implied you didn't know by your questions). Sounds like you've sorted it out now.

Regards,

Pete

[saxon]

Peter,

Thanks for the help I think we both agree that I have ordered the right option now!

Yes, they do the column yoke in USB version wherein only 8 of the buttons work and a 15 pin serial version called 'SE' where all 12 buttons work. See:

http://www.flypfc.com/entertainment%20pliner.html

I think my confusion stemmed from the fact that I had ordered the 15 pin serial but then started to worry whether I would lose some button functionalities through using a 9 pin serial to USB adapter between the throttle and the PC because evidently all 12 buttons, 2 joystick axes and a further set of buttons and 6 axes on the throttle all have to pass un-molested through my adapter for USB.

I hadn't fully appreciated that 9 pin serial to USB conversion isn't a problem in the same way that 15 pin gameport to USB can be with my existing ch gameport yoke losing some button functionality.

Best regards,

Jonathan

[Pete Dowson]

I think my confusion stemmed from the fact that I had ordered the 15 pin serial but then started to worry whether I would lose some button functionalities through using a 9 pin serial to USB adapter between the throttle and the PC

The yoke and pedals are handled by the controller card inside the throttle quadrant. This operates like a superior game card, if you like. The link between the console and the PC is not a "joystick" or "gameport" link at all but a bi-directional digital link handled according to a PFC devised protocol supported by PFC.DLL.

If you download the PFC.DLL package from http://www.schiratti.com/dowson and look at the documentation I provide, all should become clear.

I just had a quick look at the PFC website and see that their offerings of PFC driver and FSUIPC are both well out of date. I advise you to get both from the Schiratti site in any case.

Regards,

Pete