Ep: 7 - The Only DCS Bios Setup Guide You Need!!
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 1 มิ.ย. 2024
- Get started coding with DCS Bios right away!! The only start up guide you need to get your first flight panel working with DCS. If you have had Bios for a while - keep watching to see if you have the latest version
0:00 - Intro
0:52 - How to Download DCS Bios
1:23 - How to Download BoRT for DCS Bios?
2:21 - Install DCS Bios
6:44 - How to Code with DCS Bios
19:55 - Connect DCS Bios to DCS
20:43 - Game Play
🖇 DCS Bios - Fork
github.com/DCS-Skunkworks/dcs...
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This is just amazing. You are a natural. Thank you very much for these clear and thorough video's. Can't wait till the next one. You have teached me more than 3 years of searching the web.
Thank you so much! That means a lot
Welcome to the AHN community 🙌🏻 can’t wait to see you next video
Hey man, it's Alessandro from Italy. I don't know how gratefull I am for this video that you are doing. Thanks to you I can finally make my dream come to life. I am building an F16 cockpit and I already connected few switches. Thanks again!!! next step is to buy a 3d printer a do some serious job. THANKS!!!! I owe you a beer at least, when I will be back to downunder!
Thanks so much mate!! It’s comments like these that remind me it is worth the effort 🫡🫡 all the best with your sim building 😊 keep me up to date on its progress
dude, you're amazing. thanks for these videos
Thanks mate!! 😊😊
Just successfully connected my first 2pos switch to the BF-109K and it actually works fine from the beginning. Thank you very much Scott, that my journey with Arduino goes on! 🙂
That’s so exciting! Nice work 🫡😃
So again, Thank you really for that Video, it help so much!! The way you explained it, like you drag the files dont just say something and finsh.... I was really looking for this Video! You did a really good job, hope you get more clicks and support! Merry Christmas!
Thank you so much!!! I’m glad you got something out of the video!
Have a wonderful Christmas and happy new year 😃😃
Thank you, Scott, for this new installment. Happy and prosperous 2024. Greetings from the Canary Islands.
Thank you!!!! And you too 😀 have a wonderful rest of the year and I hope 2024 has something exciting waiting for you 🙌🏻🙌🏻
Great teaching, so patient, methodical and helpful. Thanks so much for this.
Thank you!!!! Have a great rest of 2023 🎉
Amazing work! Really looking forward to EP8!
Thank you very much!!
It was a very easy to understand explanation.
To you and the DCS-BIOS team for teaching me a new way to play DCS.
We would like to express our gratitude from Japan.
I have the steam version and it worked without any problems.
Thank you so much!!! ☺️ see you next episode
This was a fantastic tutorial. Your explanations were very clear and easy to follow.
Thank you so much!! I really appreciate it 😀
Excellent tutorials. Appreciate all the work you put into your videos. Would love to see you cover programming gauges using servos and x27 steppers using DCSBIOS in Arduino.
That would be a great tutorial!!! Definitely will make one of those - the Hornet has some gauges that definitely have X27s included
And we can definitely make a Servo motor tutorial as well!
Thanks for the great idea 🙌🏻🙌🏻
literally, thank you so much. ive been searching for this endlessly.
Thank you 🙌🏻🙌🏻 welcome to the channel!
I hope you had a good Christmas and new year celebration 😃
Merci beaucoup thanks a lot for such a clear explanation. I follow with great interest your tutorials and already enjoy the next one. Only have to be patient til after XMas. Best wishes from an other Hornet pit builder
Thank you!!! Have a great Christmas and I’ll see you soon 🙌🏻🙌🏻 thank you for being a part of A Hornet’s Nest
Great videos, thanks for sharing your knowledge! Could you make a short video on how you use the matrix wiring with the code used from Bort ?
Thank you! I can definitely add them to the list 😊
Awesome video Scott! Now, I am really looking forward to the PCB video and hopefully a video on how to add lot of switches to one Arduino board :)
Thanks mate :) I think the PcB vid will show how simple it is - and not have to work through pages of forums learning how to do it
100% that one is still in the queue ready to go
This is so easy 😮
I'm definitely going to make my own F-18 panels like that, thanks for the tutorials
Awesome great to hear!!! Thank you! Have a great 2024
Looking forward to the next ep!!
Thank you!!!
Excellent tutorial. Really well done.
Thank you so much! 🙌🏻🙌🏻 I loved your last video with the plasma cutting!
Nice work! I´m just learning Arduino and DCS BIOS, and this will definity will help me a lot!!
Awesome!! Great to hear 😃
THANK YOU !!! 🤗
🙌🏻🙌🏻 see you next episode 😃
As a clueless noob who has decided to enter the maker space and the world of Arduino solely for the purpose of making an F-18 / DCS compatible cockpit I can't tell you how happy I am that I have stumbled across your channel. It's exactly what I've been looking for. On top of that your content format, concise articulation and presentation manner are a cut above the rest. I can't wait for the rest of the series. I did notice that the library notes said that iy was compatible with any board using the ATmega328 MCU but you were using the Mega which uses the ATmega2560. Does this not make a difference? Also, I was under the impression that you could only use a Leonardo/Micro/Pro Micro as a USB game controller. Is this not true in this case as you are connecting directly to the DCS BIOS?
Hey mate :) thank you so much for the kind words!! It’s comments like these that keep me inspired to create tutorials 🙌🏻🙌🏻
Yeah, I saw that note that mentioned the mega328 MCU compatibility - but I have had no issue with the Arduino Megas 😃 I find they process a lot faster… and it may be a placebo effect, but it feels like they reduce the input lag (but that could just be in my imagination 😅)
That’s correct :) any Atmega32u4 has the capability to be a HID device, where as we can now use most of the other Arduino boards as we are sending “messages” straight to the game to change switch state in the backend game code
Thanks again for being part of AHN! If you got any questions always feel free to ask through the comments or shoot me a message on Instagram or Facebook 🙌🏻
Soo grateful you’re making this stuff.
I do have a request though: could you do a video on how to handle multiple Arduinos? I think you need to modify the connect to multiple ports app to include com ports of all connected Arduinos, and then run that.
May be worth a tutorial, or include it into another tutorial.
Hey mate! Yeah that’s the way to do it
Yeah it’s coming up as a tutorial very soon 😃
@@aHornetsNest Great videos. I have updated my "old" DCS BIOS installation. As ask by baronvon..., how to connect multiple arduino cards will be great (not in my case for the moment...but could be usefull). I just regret that the "old" DCS BIOS was very user friendly to connect multiple arduino cards (just via a web interface). I have tested on (recent) multiple module and it works perfectly. Thanks 🤙
@@ChristopheDeZanet thanks mate!!!! I’m super pleased to tell you both @baronvonrichthofen2021 that Tuesday’s episode is about that! 😃😃 how to connect multiple arduinos 🫡
@@aHornetsNest, just watched it this afternoon, great going there mate! I do think I need to reinstall my dcs bios as I saw the multiple port file didn’t have a line to insert the ports. I watched this one again as I was not getting lights to light up, but now I noticed dcs needs to be running. Good tip!
What I also like about your programming style, is that it’s very organised. I actually work in the aviation industry and interfaces are so important and complex, it’s good to see someone using good programming practices (though I’m not a software guy, so I could be completely wrong haha)
Thanks mate!!! 😃😃 what part of aviation are you in?
See you next episode!
Excellent video. Really the entire series is great and hugely appreciated. I have 2 concerns. 1, the number of ground pins for 'common' if there are a ton and switches to the single arduino board,....and 2, my ocd in keeping connections to the arduino clean and logocally organized. For instance, rather than connecting each switch to a common ground (for sake of your example here of the fire test panel using pins 5 and 7) couldn't you use pins 5,6,7 using a pull-up high on 6 with 5 and 7 low. when pins 5 or 7 go high from switch toggle the game reads that movement. Seems to me that keeping a switch with 3 wires pin grouped keeps wiring clean.
Hey thanks for the comment! 100% keeping wiring clean and simple is the aim on the game
For this episode the panel was directly wired to Arduino purely for simplicity and choosing 5 and 7 spaced out the pins so it was easier to see on camera - episode 8 goes into designing PCBs and how I tidy up the wiring
I use PCBs to allow each of my panels to be modular - and they then connect to a Central Data Unit which will process all the avionics and will have multiple arduinos shielded onto it.
You can definitely go the pull up pull down method like you said :) I find connecting every switch to a common ground reduces the amount of coding needed, and allows the pins that connect to Arduino to be only input and output
The Hornet has around 230ish inputs/outputs and space on arduinos are at a premium - so connecting them to a common ground allows me to to use methods like multiplex to reduce the amount of pins used etc
I hope that helps ☺️ any other questions just let me know 🙌🏻
@@aHornetsNest That makes sense. Keep the videos coming. They're helpful.
@@Nick-xe2hu thanks mate!!
Hi Scott, excellent videos, I am learning a lot thanks to you. One question, what key combination do we use to see the cmd window in DCS? No matter how many times I press the Alt key it doesn't show me anything. I'm frustrated with that.😥
Hey mate! Depending if your game is in full screen mode … generally I’ll open up the Serial Connect before dcs
Then I use ALT + TAB to switch between my programs :) hope this helps
Only found your tutorial series yesterday researching DCS-Bios. I have stored away two Mega 2560's, one I want to use for a 12 Pot box for the F5-3. Would I be able to distribute the 12 between different panels with the one Mega? I need to brush up on Analog also. Any help appreciated.
Hey there! Welcome to AHN 😃 it’s awesome to have you here 🙌🏻 you definitely can do that … the mega accommodates 15 Analog pins
And using Bios as well will make easy work of it :)
Next Tuesday which is in a couple days is a lesson just on potentiometers and understanding how and why they work
And then the next episode is using analog inputs for DCS Bios
Hi Scott, I have a doubt... When I finish my project and have the final version of my panel, will I always have to open Connect-Serial-Port to comunicate with DCS or there is an "automatic" way to do it?
Hey mate!! You will need to always open it as an app - but I have a much easier way to do it especially with multiple arduinos - stay tuned for episode 12 😃
you..... are.... the best.....
Thank you! I appreciate it 🫡🫡 I hope you enjoy the rest of the series 😃😃 the next couple of episodes are real exciting
@aHornetsNest I am from aus too.. I looked at this stuff once and freaked out... but watching your video I now have confidence!! Only watched a little cant wait to watch the rest!! Hopefully I can build a simpit!!!
Awesome work mate!! Take it one step at a time and at the end you’ll have a sim… I find the same thing … if I look at it as a big picture it’s overwhelmingly large of a task - so I just focus on it in “episode sized” chunks
Hey, I really like your video. It got me started on building a cockpit. But now I have a question. Where can I buy the switches? For the fire test, for example.
Hey mate! Thank you very much
I use the 12mm small backed red switches from AliExpress
@@aHornetsNest okay, Thanks
@fire.fighter.6428 😃😃
mhh I like the FreeJoy with STM32-controllers more. But nice to see that is also possible with Arduino
Oh nice! Will need to check it out
Welp, now my weekend plans are set.
Haha! 😂 enjoy the rabbit hole
Love your work! Would it be possible to do some videos on connecting displays to DCS-bios. I am building a AH64D Helicopter Simulator. The connection of switches and leds to the arduino lineup is fairly simple but when it comes connecting displays such as the CMWS display, the EUFD display and other display formats, it becomes confusing. The DCS-Bios does include the code snippets for what is actually displayed but obviously you need to add code to load the code to a display and the obviously the drivers for the respective display. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.
Hey there!! 100% we can definitely look at that
My full cockpit is being cut as we speak! So I will be hooking up displays very soon 😃😃
Thanks Scott@@aHornetsNest
@@martinforber4702 😃😃
How would you connect multiple COM ports simultaneously using the connect-serial-port.cmd
Hey! Go check out Episode 12 😃😃
Handshake worked and got results through the connect serial port shortcut, but nothing in game. Will continue to experiment :)
Nice one! Let me know how you go 😊
Hey somebody had this same issue! They’re solution was to double check the saved games folder, because when the update happened where Stable / Open Beta merged - their saved games folder now has a different name
Outstanding tutorial. As always.. One question; we will eventually have multiple panels with multiple arduinos running. Is there any way to have the connect com command running automatically? would be a b.... having to initiate each and every panel manually every time?
Hey mate! Thank you very much 🙌🏻 when it comes to multiple arduino panels - there is a connect serial (multiple) command application (in the programs folder) where you can enter multiple COM numbers in separated by commas, and I believe (but don’t quote me, I’ll test it out and message you) it saves your comport numbers 😃 but if not I’ll find us a way to make it automatic ✌🏻
@@aHornetsNestyou're a legend. thank you!
@@Snugggg 🙌🏻🙌🏻
Great video, I also have a system with several arduinos panels that I would like to have operating. So I'm also very interested in your finding on this question.
@@larrywilliams8153 thanks mate!! I’ve got it on the list to do a tutorial on this 😃
So I have an entire cockpit running right now with dcs running the old dcs bios, everything works, I have almost every led in the f16 cockpit modeled and connected, and it’s working. The reason I was going to switch to skunkworks is because I just installed the landing gear handle light and it wasn’t acting right. When I paste the code snippet from the new bort reference, it tells me the f16c_xxx wasn’t defined. The old dcs bios you just cut and paste it all and it just works. What am I doing wrong? And I really don’t like the whole type each com port into the command prompt and run them, what happens when you have 4 or 5 boards? You have to open a window for each and start them all every time you play? The old bios you just opened and it connected by itself and hid in system tray. Not sure why they had to go change everything, doesn’t seem like they made it better lol
Hey mate, go check out Episode 12: How to connect multiple arduinos to DCS Bios
when I get home I’ll have a look into your landing gear issue 👍🏼👍🏼
this might be a big ask, but is it possible to make the switches work in DCS bios AND appear as HID game controller inputs too so they can be used for other aircraft?
I'm building a series of Tomcat panels and would like to have them be controlled with DCS bios, but I also occasionally fly hornet and huey so would like to be able to bind some inputs for those aircraft too. is it even possible?
Hey mate! It could be possible, I’ve never tried Bios with a HID capable device (any board with a Atmega32u4 chip) - there is a way to code the same Arduino to be compatible with multiple aircraft
- in theory, it would register the new aircraft type and run that set of code
Maybe I can look into and make a tutorial on that :)
@@aHornetsNest you sir deserve the best Christmas possible! cheers!
@@Snugggg thank you!!!! 🙏
@@aHornetsNest That is a tutorial I need as well. I have researched but haven't seen a clearly worded tutorial. I have mine all set for F-16, but would like to make it work for others as well
@@davidmalmstrom6003 I’ve added it to the list :D I think a lot of people will get something out of it! 🙌🏻🙌🏻
I made a AH64D panel a year ago on the older dcs bios versions, lost all the arduino code (dead m.2 drive) that is on the arduino. Can I download the code from the arduino back to the computer? Thank you for the excellent tutorials!!
Very nice! That’s such a pity 😢😢 you can’t download the code as such, but there have been ways to just transfer the “compiled code” from one board to another - but it’s a bit of a mission
Thank you!
😊
Got my arduino working again, thank you. In the connect-serial-port program, how do you add more aruino devices if you have more then one.
@@aHornetsNest
figured it out, open the multiple-com-ports file with notepad++ and add the comports. Then use the multiple-com-ports instead of the serial port :)
I was really looking for this video, thank you! It work even better as the other tutorials, but the switches arent working in DCS everthing is working: Bort, The SerialPort-Log, everything, but not in DCS... can you help me? I am Using the newest DcsWorld OpenBeta and a Arduino UNO and try to switch the LASER ARM for my F16C...
You'd be Santa :)
Send me a message on Instagram or Facebook if you can :)
I fixed it, it was my Fault, as you said you have to know youre doing and my 7 years Arduino experience helped me@@aHornetsNest
Awesome great to hear!!!
Any tips for a matrix? I've managed to get it to compile with Matrix2Pos but it doesn't send the commands. Made sure it worked with Switch2Pos before making matrix and a little stumped at this one
Hey I haven’t personally worked with matrices in BIOS yet. But I’ll look at making a video for it :)
@@aHornetsNest that'd be brilliant! I've designed and a whole AH-64D left console, and thought I'd print out the the KU first but just couldn't get the commands going. Been away for a few days but will give it another go this week and can update if I figure it out :D
Awesome! Let me know how you go!
@@aHornetsNest Figured it out finally using case statements and send message instead of the Matrix2Pos command from DCSBIos tool:
case 'A': sendDcsBiosMessage("PLT_KU_A", "1"); break;
instead of
DcsBios::Matrix2Pos pltKuA("PLT_KU_A", ROW, COL);
with the main issue being that it only recognised the last letter in matrix: Case 'ENT' spat out 'T' command. Ended up using special characters for these but hey, it works :) Currently building out an Apache sim and plan to post the CAD/code once I'm finished and happy with it. KU done and dusted now
Nice one!
please help. first of all, great videos and I appreciate your time. I am having issues with getting DCS to register the inputs while I am in the cockpit. Connect serial port recognizes my input but it doesn't seem to be communicating with the game. I copied the export Lua info over to my saved games folder. what could I be missing?
Hey there, mmmm that’s annoying that it won’t communicate
If you can send me a picture of your export file and arduino sketch through Instagram and messenger and I’ll have a look :)
@@aHornetsNest just sent it. thanks
@@greglopez7025 😃
Could you give a link for the switches your using, they look quality
Hey I definitely can! Let me go find it 😃
www.aliexpress.com/item/4000598302546.html?spm=a2g0n.productlist.0.0.3dff1482K7SqxR&browser_id=efdfc0c2abed49358cb4159fb03aa874&aff_platform=msite&m_page_id=yimmhpeowkcadzrz18cf5e8ad4d24e8bc2097ca48c&gclid=&pdp_npi=4%40dis%21AUD%212.30%212.21%21%21%211.52%21%21%402103266e17049328147755567e06c3%2110000003738372394%21sea%21AU%210%21AB&algo_pvid=531f4736-8d07-4326-b0f9-8e6dcfb178fd&_universallink=1&m_page_id=yimmhpeowkcadzrz18cf5e8ad4d24e8bc2097ca48c
@@aHornetsNest Perfect! thanks
🙌🏻🙌🏻
Hi, I need some help.
I've been following your tutorials and they are really good, I understood many things 👍😀!
However to build my first panel I'm using the buttons that are included in the elegoo starter kit and I learned how to wire them to the breadboard. The only problem is that I 3d printed a panel and I'm trying to make it fit the buttons but since the buttons need power the wires are getting in the way😭, I wired the buttons like you did in the video where you showed how to turn on a led with a button, and you can see the wires are getting in the way. Please help me, I don't know what to do.
Thanks in advance 👍.
Hey you might want to check out the PCB design episode - this may be a case where you might need a PCB which will keep it keep and organised instead of wires 😃
@@aHornetsNestyeah I already watched the pcb video, the only problem is that I don't have a 3D printer (the panel I have was printed by a friend that just sold his 3d printer) and for now I don't have the switches (I'm looking forward to buying them in the future, for now I only have the 5 buttons that were included in the elegoo starter kit and they have to be attached to the breadboard to work, so when I try to fit the only panel I have to the buttons the wires are getting in the way🥲
@@Aviation_Maverick ahhhh following
@@aHornetsNestalso, I see that the switches you have are similar to some switches I found on Amazon, are they the same? Like, have you bought them from Amazon? And if so did you have to hardwire the 3 pins of the switches to the cable? Because I don't have that machine that releases that liquid that puts the metal thing together 🥲
Hey I got the switches from AliExpress
Yeah I solder the wires to the switches to make a nice connection 😊
hey could you make a tut how we can readout an for example a warning light to an variable
Hey I definitely can!! ✌🏻
@@aHornetsNest thx 👌
🫡
help DCS-TOOL REFERNCE does not connect. Cannot find the bios installation folder.
Hey there, DCS Tool reference has been changed to BoRT
Sorry as in you can’t find it on the GitHub?
I don't know, I opened the app
bort-0.2.4.Setup,
as explained by you, but it gives me the following error message. Unable to locate modules. Please set the path of the DCS-BIOS .json files from Menu > Select dcs-bios location. @@aHornetsNest
your videos are truly exceptional
@@francescoditrapani6409 thank you!! 🙌🏻
just enough
bort-0.2.4.Setup
gives me the following error message,
Unable to locate modules. Please set the path of the DCS-BIOS .json files from Menu > Select dcs-bios location.
I can't find the folder. I followed everything step by step.@@aHornetsNest
Can you do this with low fidelity models ?
The ones where you can't press buttons inside the cockpit, like the 🐸🦶
I’ll load up the PC and have a look :) how cool would that be if you could
Hey I just had a look to see if you could use Bios with FC3 …
You can only pull data from the plane, not send it
So you could have your gauges and instruments in your cockpit work, you just wouldn’t be able to send commands
@@aHornetsNest thx for checking out.
It might still be possible to bypass that by making the Arduino input keybinds directly to the computer, there's probably a library to do that and it would act the same 🤔
@@coucoul38 yeah there definitely is… I touch on it in Ep.2
Use either a arduino that is AtMega32u4 based
And then use the joystick 2.0 library
@@aHornetsNest oh ok, that's the one tutorial of yours that I skipped 😂
I can see your tutorials are targeted at the DCS environment, any chance you also "deal" with MSFS ? Have to confess like the simplicity created by DCS Bios.
Just future thinking, running a couple of switches up to the pin count of a arduino still simple, as you open that bios link and then supply one Comm port number, what happens when you're pin/switch count goes over what one board can use, when you might have one port in my case for a Collective and one for a cyclic/pedals, how does DCS handle multiple Arduino boards and the comm linking. This DCS Bios simplicity might make think of maybe using DCS vs MSFS2024
Hey mate! Yeah I definitely will expand into MSFS … because there are some great modules to be flown in there
In the ‘Program’ folder, you will see a serial connect multi shortcut - use that :) and it will ask you to enter all the com numbers you use - bios works great with multiple boards
For now most of the tutorials will be based off DCS as it follows along with the cockpit building starting soon
And then when the cockpit is up and running - I’ll move into different style “button box” modules for each era and industry 😃
Adblocked by TH-cam, couldn't watch :(
As in you had to wait for the ad to be done?
@naloxone04 let me can you send me a picture of the Adblock on Instagram or FB so I can sort it out with TH-cam 😃