OpusMSFS Flight Simulator Interface for

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OpusMSFS Flight Simulator Interface for MSFS

FSC Motorised TQ Driver for the MSFS Simulator

11 June 2024

Opus Software Limited

Email: opusfsi@opussoftware.co.uk Website: www.opussoftware.co.uk/opusfsi.htm

Introduction

Software Installation

Create a Shortcut

General Operation

First Time Using the Driver

Test TQ Digital I/O

Test TQ Analog I/O

Calibrating Your Motorised TQ

Release Notes

System Requirements

Introduction

The OPUSFSCTQ.EXE program is supplied free of charge as part of the OpusMSFS software installation. The latest release version for OpusMSFS can be downloaded from the following link,

http://www.opussoftware.co.uk/opusfsi/OpusMSFS.msi

Beta versions of OpusMSFS are often posted and these may include upgrades to the TQ driver software. Details are usually posted in the Announcements topic of our SimForums.

https://www.simforums.com/FORUMS/opus-software_forum49.html

All software can be downloaded from our Downloads web page,

http://www.opussoftware.co.uk/opusfsi/downloads.htm

Software Installation

Simply install the downloaded OpusMSFS.msi Microsoft Installation File into its default C:\OpusMSFS folder. Other install drives may be specified but always install OpusMSFS into a ‘root’ folder, that is, do not install OpusMSFS into any sub-folder.

Create a Shortcut

After installing the OpusMSFS software we recommend you create a shortcut on your desktop for the OPUSFSCTQ driver program. This shortcut will allow you to manually start your driver without too much fuss.

1. In Windows Explorer, navigate to your installation folder (OpusMSFS) and right-click on the OPUSFSCTQ.EXE program.

2. Select the Send to - Desktop (create shortcut) option.

3. Right-click on the new desktop icon, select Properties, in the Shortcut tab check the program is configured to Start In: your installation folder (c:\OpusMSFS). Select the Shortcut tab, click on Advanced and tick the checkbox to Run as Administrator.

The OPUSFSCTQ driver program accepts the following optional program arguments,

·         TEST - Operates in test mode

·         MOTORISED - Selects the Motorised operation (default)

·         NONMOTORISED - Selects the Non-Motorised operation

By default the driver program powers up in the MOTORISED state.

General Operation

The OPUSFSCTQ driver uses the SimConnect interface to the MSFS simulator. At present the OPUSFSCTQ driver uses an assigned serial COM port to communicate with the Motorised TQ.

Now you are ready to run OpusMSFS and then run the OPUSFSCTQ driver. You will be presented with the following form (you may need to minimise or window the simulator’s display).

First Time Using the Driver

The first time you use the driver simply select the TQ’s assigned serial COM port and click on the Connect button. If a good connection is made then the button’s legend will change to Disconnect and the status box will turn green and display the Connected message.

After connecting you should use the Test… dialogs to check and calibrate the interface with the Motorised TQ.

N.B.

The driver software will remember your configured options and all positions of displayed dialogs along with the driver’s main form.

All the greyed out items are options used in ‘in house’ for testing and diagnostics.

The driver will not establish its connection with the simulator if the simulator is Paused.

After you have completed the above connection. Open, position, and size the driver’s Spy window, then leaving the Spy window open, shutdown and re-start the OPUSFSCTQ driver. You should see something like the following messages within the displayed Spy window (see figure below).

Note also that using the Spy window will have an impact on the speed of the driver. Hence the warning, so the Spy window should not be left open in normal operations.

In the Spy window all messages marked as TX are actual transmissions to the TQ and all messages marked RX are the actual received data from the TQ.

Test TQ Digital I/O

The Test TQ Digital I/O dialog allows you to test all digital inputs from and control outputs to the FSC Motorised TQ. The digital inputs are all self explanatory, simply operate the input or switch on the TQ and the signal should register in the dialog, highlighted in a green colour.

The Trim Up and Trim Down digital outputs operate the TQ’s trim wheel, moving the wheel in a clockwise and anti-clockwise direction respectively (the Stab Trim indication will not change as this is a separate analogue control).

The FSC Trim Wheel Speed can be set from 2 (slow) to 12 (fast), the default is 7.

To check the Park Brake Release you must first set the parking brake; the control will then release the brake lever.

To check the SPLR UP Release first move the Speed Brake lever to the ARM position, then tick the SPLR UP Release option (you should hear the SPLR motor lock release). You will now be able to move the Speed Brake lever all the way to the UP position. Move the lever back to ARM, turn off the SPLR UP Release option (you should hear another click) now the Speed Brake lever will only move to the FLIGHT DETENT position. This check can only be performed when the spoilers are enabled (Disable Spoilers checkbox not ticked) within the Test TQ Analog I/O dialog.

N.B. separate ENABLED and ARMED Speed Brake calibrated positions allow the Speed Brake lever on the TQ to be raised out of the gate on take off without registering in the ARMED position. This enables the speed brake motor to be controlled during RTO operations in the 737 without generating a 737 Config warning (due to the Speed Brakes being ARMED) during the take off roll.

Test TQ Analog I/O

The Test TQ Analog I/O dialog allows you to test all analogue inputs from and set-point (analogue control) outputs to the FSC Motorised TQ. This dialog is also used to set the required calibration data for your Motorised TQ. Note, the calibrated min and max values will also be updated ‘on the fly’ so to speak. For example, if the driver detects a larger maximum throttle position then the calibrated Max value will be amended.

The Analogue OUT motor controls should be used with caution. The individual motors can be enabled using the tick boxes below the relevant track bar. When the motors are enabled the position of the control can be adjusted using the sliders (min and max calibrated values are not used to limit the control values) or by typing a value into the control text boxes above the track bars.

Do not enable or move the SPLR position when the Speed Brake lever is locked in the DOWN position. The Speed Brake lever cannot be moved when it is locked down.

Calibrating Your Motorised TQ

First open and position both the Test TQ Digital I/O and Test TQ Analog I/O dialogs. All calibrations are done using the Test Analog dialog but the SPLR UP Release digital control will be needed to calibrate the Speed Brake lever.

Setting the Minimums

This is a simple process. Simply move all levers to their off position so the Speed Brakes will be DOWN, both throttles levers will be fully back, and both reverser levers will be fully down.

Now press the Set buttons under the Min label to assign the minimum input values.

Setting the Maximums

Exercise and move both throttles to the fully forward position. Then ARM the Speed Brake and click on the SPLR UP Release control in the Test Digital dialog. Now move the Speed Brake Lever fully back beyond the UP position. Now press the Set buttons under the Max label to assign the maximum input values.

For the reverser levers, move both throttle levers fully back. Now raise both reverser levers fully up and down. Press the Set buttons under the Min and Max labels to assign the reverser minimum and maximum input values.

Finally stow the reversers moving both levers fully down.

You have now completed the Max Calibration step.

Checking the Speed Brake Lever

This check can only be performed when the spoilers are enabled, that is when the Disable Spoilers checkbox is not ticked.

First move the Speed Brake lever to the ARM position. Make sure you have released the spoilers by ticking the SPLR UP Release option in the Test Digital I/O dialog. The SPLR UP Release control allows full movement of the Speed Brake lever, without it the lever will not move beyond the FLIGHT DETENT position.

Starting with the Speed Brake lever in the ARM position and the SPLR UP Release control on;

Click on the FLIGHT DETENT, UP, and ARM Goto tick boxes to move the Speed Brake lever to each position. The default control values (analogue set-points) of 48, 184, and 224 can be modified to position your Speed Brake lever over the marked positions on the TQ.

When done simply close the Test dialogs.

All calibration data will be saved when you shutdown the OPUSFSCTQ driver program. If needed shutdown and restart the driver program to save all your calibrated data and preferred dialog positions.

Checking the Throttle Synchronisation

First ensure the Move Both TQs Together check box is ticked. Now use the TQ Motors TQ1 or TQ2 position ‘Goto’ boxes to command the throttles to various positions. If there is a slight mismatch of the throttle positions then adjust the value in the TQ2 Offset and repeat the ‘Goto’ tests until both throttle positions are aligned. The TQ Offset may range from -20 to 20.

Calibrating the Stab Trim Indicator

At present the Stab Trim Indicator calibration values are fixed within the driver as,

Stab Trim Position 0 = 50

Stab Trim Position 5 = 95

Stab Trim Position 10 = 135

Stab Trim Position 15 = 175

Calibration of these values will be included within a future version of the driver.

Standard Motor Settings

At present the OpusMSFS driver sets the following motor speed and timing settings,

Trim Wheel Speed = 7 Range 2 to 12, slow to fast

Throttle Servo Motor Max Speed = 10 Range 80 to 5, slow to fast

Throttle Servo Motor Min Speed = 70 Range 80 to 5, slow to fast

Throttle Servo Motor Spin Time = 50 ms

Release Notes

01 Sep 2020 Version 1.00.0 Beta

Initial prototype of the OpusMSFS for Microsoft's FS2020. Includes support for Live View, ButtKicker, FSC TQ Throttele Quadrant (motorised and unmotorised), and a GDL-90 SkyDemon/ForeFlight interface. Provision has also been made to support drivers for the CPflight MCP and EFIS panels.

The Live View server-client connection can be a mixed sim link. For example, using OpusFSI v6 and P3D on the server system and OpusMSFS with Microsoft's FS2020 on the client system(s). A new Auto Height Adjustment option in combination with the Live View Vertical Axis Offset can accommodate any scenery differences between the installed sim types.

15 Sep 2020 Version 1.00.2 Beta

The OPUSFSCTQ throttle quadrant control program now initialises its analogue min/max calibration data to prevent problematic range scaling of throttles, reversers, and spoilers. Improved spoiler control to account for arming spoilers on Airbus type aircraft.

01 Apr 2021 Version 1.10 Beta

The Disable Spoilers option added to the OPUSFSCTQ driver's Test TQ Analog I/O dialog. When set, this option will disable all Speed Brake (SPLR) inputs and control outputs within the FSC TQ (Throttle Quadrant) driver.

06 Mar 2023 Version 1.14.0 Beta

Modified the OPUSFSCTQ.EXE FSC Motorised Throttle Quadrant driver program to interface with the latest PMDG 737 SDK. Corrected anomalies with the Parking Brake, TOGA operation and Reverse Thrust lever control.

07 Mar 2023 Version 1.15.0 Beta

Modified the OPUSFSCTQ.EXE FSC Motorised Throttle Quadrant driver program to include separate ENABLED and ARMED Speed Brake calibrated positions. The separation allows for the Speed Brake lever on the TQ to be raised out of the gate on take off without registering in the ARMED position. This allows the speed brake motor to be controlled during RTO operations in the 737 without generating a 737 Config warning (due to the Speed Brakes being ARMED) during the take off roll.

Removed a conflict between the OPUSFSCTQ and PMDG 737 speed brake (spoiler) controls which was causing the MSFS code to disconnect it's SimConnect links.

10 Mar 2023 Version 1.15.3 Beta

The OPUSFSCTQ driver program now accepts the following program arguments,

TEST - Operates in test mode

MOTORISED - Selects the Motorised operation (default)

NONMOTORISED - Selects the Non-Motorised operation

By default the driver program powers up in the MOTORISED state.

The default FSC Trim wheel speed is now set to 7. The FSC Trim Wheel speed can be set from 2 (slow) to 12 (fast) within the FSC Digital IO Test dialog. The min, max, and default setting of 7 as indicated within the dialog.

12 Mar 2023 Version 1.15.4 Beta

Tweaked trim wheel sensitivity to trim adjustment settings in OPUSFSCTQ driver program, also differentiated between ground and in-flight trim wheel operation.

Removed all Test buttons on the OPUSFSCTQ main form. Added a minor version number to OPUSFSCTQ driver.

28 Mar 2023 Version 1.15.5 Beta

OPUSFSCTQ data filename changed from FSCTQ.DAT to OPUSFSCTQ.DAT. All FSC Throttle Quadrant users should rename their data file in the c:\OpusMSFS folder to preserve their settings.

28 Mar 2023 Version 1.15.6 Beta

The OPUSFSCTQ driver program now controls the FSC TQ's backlight in sync with the PMDG 737's Pedestal Blight knob. N.B. The backlight control on the TQ is purely on/off with no brightness control.

29 Aug 2023 Version 1.17.2 Beta

The OPUSFSCTQ driver program now allows the Backlight and Trim Wheel directional controls to be reversed. The reverse options can be adjusted within the Digital I/O Test dialog, default condition is false (off).

19 Dec 2023 Version 1.18.2 Beta

Corrected problems with running the OPUSFSCTQ driver in NONMOTORISED mode and the auto shutdown of the OPUSCPFMCP driver.

System Requirements

OpusMSFS http://www.opussoftware.co.uk/opusfsi/OpusMSFS.msi
Microsoft MSFS simulator.
Windows 11/10/8/7 operating systems.
Microsoft .NET Framework Version 4.8.

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