Jabo

Hi mayhem, I've also emailed Leo, and he says it's something to do with the high frequency pulses generated when the pins are scanned interfering with the RC circuit. This strikes me as odd as the circuit works find on all the column inputs but none of the rows. I'm using the gnd from one of the analog inputs. Is this the right thing to do? Jabo

Well, got the Bodnar board. Two things quickly spring to mind; a) It's really tiny and it's frickin awesome... I've built a test circuit to check I've understood things and it all seems to work as expected. Thanks Mayhem - I definitely owe you a drink. All I have to do now is try and understand the matrix wiring... Jabo <<<EDIT>>> There's something rather odd happening here. If I plug the v(sense) into any of the 'column' connectors, the switch and circuit works as normal. However, if I plug into any of the 'row' connectors, the corresponding light on the properties panel lights up and sort of flickers - except when the switch is flipped, then it goes steady for a moment then starts flickering again. I've tried a 'reset to default' in the properties window but it doesn't make any difference. Any ideas?

Yep, I ordered the DPDT sort - I think the website showed them as 'On(On)'. I've written off the others that I have - they'll go in a box of misc bits and bobs later Just got to wait for the Bodnar board now. Jabo

I don't think it was your explanation which was lacking. More likely something to do with me being a bear of very little brain. I think I have it now though. I've ordered the bodnar board and several of the preterminated leads. I've also ordered switches, caps, resistors and pots from Maplin. Gonna build a 6x2 matrix to start with and work up from there. Thanks for your help getting me to this point, I'll keep you posted. Jabo

I see, that makes things clearer, thanks m8. I'd better get that BU0836 ordered and a load more caps, resistors, switches and pots. This'll be fun!! Jabo

Thanks Mayhem. There's a couple of things I don't understand though. Where's the output to the joystick board? And where's the opto? Jabo

Currently I'm just looking at the toggles in IL2, so gear up/down, lights on/off, that sort of thing. I hadn't really considered doing anything much else except maybe trim wheels but that's a whole different ball game. Funnily enough I've been using momentary toggles (without realising the proper name for them) to avoid having to build additional circuitry but I'd like now to be using switches that model an On (up) and Off (down) sort of thing. The cap/res values I have are 22uF and 330ohms. Jabo P.S. If there's a way of adding a small LED to indicate an 'On' state I'd be interested in that too.

Yep, this is the point I've reached. I have purchased some resistors and capacitors to enable the RC circuit to be built and will provide a pulse of approximately 0.5sec which should be short enough. Personally, I'd rather not use on-off-on switches for two reasons. Firstly, I'd prefer the look of SPDT toggles and secondly I've got several ready to go. The finished article will use a Bodnar board but at the moment I'm using a controller board from a defunct joystick as a proof-of-concept. The board works fine, it's 'just' a question of how to get the pusle to the board. My aim here is to finish with a PCB to work in conjunction with the Bodnar board. I can get the PCB made no prob but apparently I need the circuit first Jabo P.S. This is the version of the Bodnar board I'm considering - feel free to tell me I'm making a mistake

Thanks Mayhem. Here's the thing. I want to use standard toggle switches on my new switchbox (spdt type). Problem is that this type of switch changes a state until switched to another state. Obviously this doesn't work for computers as they just see a constant repetition of a keystroke for example. So, what I want is something which will generate a pulse when the switch is flipped and then another when it's flipped back, but nothing inbetween. I've found a circuit design using an opto-isolator which should do the trick, but it won't work for me (can't get an identical component through, so maybe the reason.) Apparently, using an RC circuit is one way to be able to double trigger the isolator, but I'm not sure how to go about it. The isolator is an ILQ74. Thanks for any help you can offer

I'm trying to build some circuitry for my switchbox but I don't really know what I'm doing. Any experts out there who'd be prepared to led a dog a paw? Jabo

That's a very good point Mayhem and one I had overlooked. I'm off to try it in ROF... Jabo

I dunno m8, you've got a line the width of the radius of the wheel between success and failure. That's not all that wide. Jabo

Erm...Kira? Jabo

Yep, just plug in the new phone, register it with iTunes and prepare for awesomeness! iJabo

Nice work DT

No tern BA. I'm thinking possibly Marsh Harrier (although very unlikely) or Black Kite.

Not quite m8, the iPhone (like the iPod and iPad) uses iTunes for storage of media content and this also links into other Windows applications for storage of (for example) your contact list whereas the iCloud is an online storage method whereby your content is held on the net and is accessible from both your phone and other (apple) devices. Given that you have to pay for this storage, I've opted not to bother with it and just use iTunes instead. You have to use iTunes, the iCloud is optional. I love the iPhone, I'm now on my third upgrade (3G, 3GS and now the 4S) and I firmly believe it's one of the best smartphones going. I know people say the same things about the Blackberry and Android based smartphones but they haven't posted here yet. I reckon your rig would run Win 7 but you're going to get better performance from XP. MS offer a tool to indicate whether a system is suitable for 7. I don't have it I'm afraid but you'll probably find it in their download center. iJabo

Makes sense to me Col.

Man that's quick

If possible JP, it was a pretty good location last year. I doubt we could get into the one at Duxford now (which I would prefer - less travelling - but, meh). I hate to ask, but is there anything you can do? It would really help if we can get everyone in the same place (even though we 'lost' FT in the hotel... ) The Red Lion/Holiday Inn is out for regular bookings as they're taking the p**s again. £340 quid for two nights?? I'd rather sleep in the car. Jabo

I've pm'd JP. Don't know how things are fixed yet.

Pfft. Nothing compared to a Robin Reliant between the lights... Jabo

But we get to run away with style and creativity... Good luck with the change over Tom...