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DCS Hornet – IFEI and UFC to external monitor

Note: You can use OvGME with this .lua edit.

DCS version used: openbeta 2.5.5.37626

Note! Files edited in DCS game folder (…\Program Files\Eagle Dynamics\ DCS World\…) will be overwritten in every update. Make sure to have backups of your edits.

Open C:\Program Files\Eagle Dynamics\DCS World\Mods\aircraft\FA-18C\Cockpit\Scripts\IFEI\indicator\IFEI_init.lua
and add following lines in end of file:

--ViewportHandling
dofile(LockOn_Options.common_script_path.."ViewportHandling.lua")
update_screenspace_diplacement(1, true, 0)
try_find_assigned_viewport("F18_IFEI")

Open C:\Program Files\Eagle Dynamics\DCS World\Mods\aircraft\FA-18C\Cockpit\Scripts\UFC\indicator\UFC_init.lua

and add following lines in end of file:

--ViewportHandling
dofile(LockOn_Options.common_script_path.."ViewportHandling.lua")
update_screenspace_diplacement(1, true, 0)
try_find_assigned_viewport("F18_UFC")

Open your monitor setup file (in this example it is HornetMonitorSetuo.lua) from C:\Users\YOUR_USER_NAME\Saved Games\DCS\Config\MonitorSetup and add following lines after Viewports = { text:

F18_IFEI =
{
x = 1720; -- x starting location of IFEI
y = 700; -- y starting location of IFEI
width = 640; -- width of IFEI
height = 300; -- height of IFEI
}

F18_UFC =
{
x = 1920 + 600;  -- x starting location of UFC
y = 0; -- y starting location of UFC
width = 640; -- width of UFC
height = 440; -- height of UFC
}

Remember to check and edit locations and sizes of your views to get good results.

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DCS Hornet – DDIs and MFCD to external monitor

Create a folder for monitor profile files:
C:\Users\”USER NAME”\Saved Games\DCS\Config\MonitorSetup

Create HornetMonitorSetup.lua text file and open it with text editor.

Add this code into it:

_ = function(p) return p; end;
name = _('HornetMonitorSetup');
Description = 'Visual on 1st monitor, DDIs and MFCD on 2nd'
Viewports =
{
Center =
{
x = 0;
y = 0;
width = 1920;     --visual monitor width
height = 1080;    --visual monitor height
viewDx = 0;
viewDy = 0;
aspect = 1920 / 1080;  --visual monitor aspect ratio
}
}

LEFT_MFCD =
{
x = 1920;     -- x start location of left DDI
y = 0;        -- y start location of left DDI
width = 450;  -- width of left DDI
height = 450; -- height of left DDI
}

RIGHT_MFCD =
{
x = 1920 + 1280 - 450; -- x start location of right DDI
y = 0;                 -- y start of right DDI
width = 450;           -- width of right DDI
height = 450;          -- height of right
}

CENTER_MFCD =
{
x = 1920 + (1280 / 2) - 225;  -- x start of center MFCD
y = 1024 - 450;               -- y start of center MFCD
width = 450;
height = 450;
}
UIMainView = Viewports.Center

Explanation of monitor locations:

Start DCS and from Options, change resolution to your maximum calculated monitor size:

Then change to your monitor setup file to your own setup:

Click Ok. Go to fly and test it:

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DCS force update

If you know that there is an update for DCS but starting DCS does not offer an update for you, you can start update from command prompt by going to DCS bin folder and starting dcs_updater.exe with update option:

After this command update should be offered:

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DCS Finnish Air Force Hornet liveries and board number

Finnish Air Force liveries for DCS Hornet.

Download liveries from:
https://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/en/files/3302822/

And save them to:
../Saved Games/DCS/Liveries/FA-18C_hornet

To use a livery with every “country” in DCS, edit livery’s “description.lua” file by adding to lines – – in front of countries line in bottom of file:

When done, start DCS and from radio’s ground crew… re-arm… page you can change livery and board number

 

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DCS Hornet: custom kneeboard pages and checklists

To add Hornet full/quick check-lists into DCS Hornet. Start by creating /kneeboard/FA-18C_hornet folder into ../Saved Games/DCS/ folder.

Create check-lists by making an images of .png or .jpg type. Make them e.g. 750 x 1169 size (width x length).

And photos to a created kneeboard folder:

 

Start DCS and in Hornet, open kneeboard with RShift + K and look for pages with [ ] buttons (å and ¨ in finnish keyboard):

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DCS Hornet: Alternative keybindings to DCS with OvGME

When trying to get Warthog HOTAS throttle  EAC switch (or any other manufacturers controllers switch) to work as an landing gear handle  on a Hornet, it only works every time when switch is turned into up “ARM” position:

To get on/off switches working normally (turn switch ARM -> gears in, turn switch OFF -> gears down) on a DCS, you can use Alternative keybindings mod for DCS. To add this mod into DCS, a software called OvGME is used. OvGME can make selected mods to work in DCS.

Download Alternative keybindings mod from:
http://dcsfinland.fi/forum/viewtopic.php?t=158

Create folder to you computer where you want to save Alternative keybindings mod. Here a C:\Users\USERNAME\Documents\DCS\Mods is used. Save “Tools – Alternative keybindings vX.XX” to Mods folder.

Download OvGME from:
https://wiki.hoggitworld.com/view/OVGME
and install it. When running OvGME first time select correct folders.

After clicking “Go!” you should see “Alternative keybindings” mod on a list. Enable it by selecting it and clicking “Enable selected” or by double clicking it.

Leave OvGME running and start DCS and go to Control settings. Now you should see alternative controls in control list. Then just map Warthogs EAC switch to Landing Gear Control Handle as seen in pic below (JOY_BTN24)

And now it is working as it shoud be:

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Xplane and SIMVIM: 7 segment display (direct connection)


This guide will show you how to use SimVimPlugin to show Xplane’s radio frequencies on 7-segment display to be used on homecockpit. For more information about plugin visit: www.simvim.com

Components needed:

  • Arduino Mega
  • 7-segment led display with Max7219 chip
  • Wall wart to power led display

Software:

  • Xplane 11.30 (Cessna 172 used)
  • SIMVIM 0.9.33
  • This guide was done with Ubuntu but it should work also in Windows

Wiring:

  • Wall wart +5V to led display VCC
  • Wall wart GND to led display GND and arduino GND
  • Led display:
    • DN to pin 28 on Arduino Mega
    • CS to pin 27 on Arduino Mega
    • CLK to assigned pin (pin 36 on this guide)
  • USB connection between Arduino and PC

How to:

  • Go to SIMVIM configurator page: http://simvim.com/config.html and first choose following selections:
    • Parameter Table
    • Number of engines 1
    • COM/NAV
    • Com/Nav Displays
SIMVIM www page configurator
  • From Com/Nav Displays:
    • Click Com1_Stby_6 and…
    • …from opening windows select 7-segment display
Click Com1_Stdby_6 and select 7-segment display
  • After 7-segment display selection, select proper pin (36 on this guide) from table on right side of www-page. Check that MAX7219 is selected and click Done
Settings of 7-segment display
  • Go to top off configurator page and click red save button. It downloads a data.cfg file for you.
Configurator page’s save button
  • Copy data.cfg file from your downloads folder and replace old data.cfg file on Xplane’s SimVimCockpit plugin folder (…\X-Plane 11\Resources\plugins\SimVim).
  • Switch to Xplane, and with a plane running, go to plugins and SimVimPlugin’s status window. Click reload if needed.
  • Now try to change planes NAV1 radios standby frequency. Changes should be seen in 7-segment led display.

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Xplane and SIMVIM: Firmware upload to Arduino Mega

This guide will show you how to install SIMVIM firmware to Arduino Mega to be used on a home cockpit. For more information about hardware and SIMVIM Xplane -plugin visit: www.simvim.com

Components needed:

  • Arduino Mega
  • USB cable

Software needed:

  • Xplane 11.30
  • SIMVIM 0.9.33
  • This guide was done with Windows but it should work also in Ubuntu

Note if using Ubuntu! purge “modemmanager” program if not needed. It reserves Arduino Mega USB port when connected to a PC and SimVim firmware upload does not succeed. You might also need to eject USB before upload can be achieved.

Wiring:

Arduino Mega with USB cable to PC. (Do not connect it now!)

How to install SimVimCokcpit plugin:

Download SimVimCockpit plugin from https://www.patreon.com/simvim.

Extract it and copy SimVim folder to Xplane plugins folder
(…/X-Plane 11/Resources/plugins).

Check that plugins starts with X-plane. Start a plane in Xplane and look for SimVimCockpit from Xplanes Plugins drop down menu.

SimVimCokcpit plugin working in Xplane.

How to upload SimVimCokcpit Firmware to Arduino Mega:

In Xplane and plane running: Go to Plugins… SimVimCockpit… Firmaware upload…

From Firmware Upload window: Click “Next” button.
Plug in Arduino Mega with USB cable to PC and click “Detect port ->” button.
Now we are making a Master board so select correct settings and click “Upload” button. Wait for an empty black window to open. It is seen for a while when SimVimCockpit uploads hardware to Arduino.
When window closes, firmware upload should be ready and SimVimCockpit informs it “Upload attempt completed”
Go to Plugins… SimVimCokpit and click “Hardware Reconnect”. It reconnects Arduino.
Go to Plugins… SimVimCockpit… Status… You should now see your Arduino as connected device.