Enable IFF datalink?
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I have searched inet, searched distribution documents, searched this forum and watched YT vids.
There seems to be disagreement how to activate/host IFF datalink so other aircraft and their activity shows up on HSD.
Various keys are suggested/claimed not working.I selected CONT on FCR
Tried: contrl-alt-F1 (Digital Sw Toggle) Activates WARN and “DBU ON”
Tried: LIST LINK = no bold CONT
com1/2 mode toggles:
Tried: shft-alt-o for several seconds = no bold CONT
Tried: shft-alt-p for several seconds = no bold CONTTried: delete for several seconds = no bold CONT
Tried: pg dwn for several seconds = no bold CONTI see in the HSD control page both ADLINK and GDLINK are already enabled.
Request assistance. Using unmodified “FULL” key file.
Added:
Confirmed shift-alt-o and shift-alt-p are bound to comms1/2 toggle in the controller UI.-Pv-
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You seem to have misunderstood some details. IFF is another system, not available to BMS. What you are seeking is Datalink. You can click on the appropriate MFD button for CONT, then in order to activate it / initiate the Datalink operation you simply need to press for more than 1sec the COMMs switch on the throttle to the left. Search the BMS documentation, -34, page 34 and fw for details.
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Yes datalink (IDM)
Is there a key binding for the switch? I do not have a Cougar or Warthog hotas so these switches are not mapped to the hotas by default and the graphical throttle switches are inaccessible.
Tried Home, Del Pg UP, Pg Dwn.-Pv-
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Pretty sure it’s CTRL-O, held until it activates.
C9
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I had consulted BMS-34 prior to your post above and on page 103:
SimCommsSwitchLeft -1 0 0X18 2 0 0 1 “Comms Switch Left”
SimCommsSwitchRight -1 0 0X19 2 0 0 1 “Comms Switch Right”For HOTAS Cougar users, SimCommsSwitchLeft (used for A-A operations) should be programmed to the ―IFF OUT‖
switch and SimCommsSwitchRight (used for A-G operations) should be programmed to the ―IFF IN‖ switch. For
other joystick users, it is highly recommended to have these programmed as well to
allow easy hands-on control.In the controller mapper UI, these two switches are indeed mapped to delete and pg down which I tried in my first post.
-Pv- -
“Pretty sure it’s CTRL-O, held until it activates.”
When I consult the "Falcon BMS Keyboard Layout (US) PDF which came with the install, contrl-o is not mapped.
When I try it, nothing happens.Added:
When I press control-o in the game controller UI it’s “unassigned”
If I knew what it was supposed to be assigned to, I could put that in.Added:
I loaded all assigned default key files which came with the install: Full, minimum, basic. They are all unassigned for control-o. The pit builder has that assigned to ground jett.-Pv-
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Then map Comms Switch Left to Ctrl O in Setup>Controllers and save it.
C9
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@-Pv-:
I had consulted BMS-34 prior to your post above and on page 103:
SimCommsSwitchLeft -1 0 0X18 2 0 0 1 “Comms Switch Left”
SimCommsSwitchRight -1 0 0X19 2 0 0 1 “Comms Switch Right”For HOTAS Cougar users, SimCommsSwitchLeft (used for A-A operations) should be programmed to the ―IFF OUT‖
switch and SimCommsSwitchRight (used for A-G operations) should be programmed to the ―IFF IN‖ switch. For
other joystick users, it is highly recommended to have these programmed as well to
allow easy hands-on control.In the controller mapper UI, these two switches are indeed mapped to delete and pg down which I tried in my first post.
-Pv-Well apparently you quote the manual better than you comprehend it. You see that little 2 after the 0x18 and 0x19? That means you need to add in the control key modifier. Which you did NOT try in your first post.
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“That means you need to add in the control key modifier.”
I don’t even know what that means nor why I should know what that means.
“Then map Comms Switch Left to Ctrl O in Setup>Controllers and save it.”
Since I already have comms switch left mapped to “delete” by default in the key file, uncertain why I should map it yet again to another key combo.
-Pv-
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@-Pv-:
“That means you need to add in the control key modifier.”
I don’t even know what that means.
-Pv-
Heh. That means you don’t just hit the delete key or the page down key. If either of those had been correct then the key file would have read 0x18 0 and 0x19 0. Since they both read 0x18 2 and 0x19 2 that means the proper input is holding down the control key AND then either the page down key or the delete key. Or if saying control key isn’t getting it how about the key on your keyboard that says Ctrl.
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This is how “SimCommsSwitchLeft” looks in the “full” key file I’m using:
SimCommsSwitchLeft -1 0 0XD3 0 0 0 1 “TQS: COMMS Switch Left - IFF OUT”
…SimCommsSwitchLeft 22 8 -2 0 0x0 -1
What do I need to change in order to use the keyboard to make the “cont” indicator in the FCR change to BOLD/Highlighted?
-Pv-
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This post is deleted! -
SimCommsSwitchLeft -1 0 0XD3 0 0 0 1 “TQS: COMMS Switch Left - IFF OUT”
This is the keyboard bind.
SimCommsSwitchLeft 22 8 -2 0 0x0 -1
This is the joystick bind.
0XD3 is the key. 0 is the modifier mask.You don’t have to change anything to use the keyboard bind. Just press the key which is 0XD3.
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There is still a hole in the process I need to make which needs to be filled for me to fully understand what I’m being asked to do.
- Why do I need a modifier to make the “SimCommsSwitchLeft” work when I press Delete which is how the “comms IFF Out” is mapped in my UI and the keyboard chart?
- Why do I need to map “SimCommsSwitchLeft” to control-o when it is already mapped to “Delete” as per the keychart and the UI?
-Pv-
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A lot of this would be solved already if he understood the .key file and how the callbacks are laid out.
@-Pv-:
I don’t even know what that means nor why I should know what that means.
It means you need to RTFM and UNDERSTAND it. Having a non-standard HOTAS (read: not Cougar or Warthog) means you’ll be editing your controls a LOT. There is a reason there are many .key files. There is a reason why not all .key files have the same callbacks mapped to the same key combos. There is a reason why most people do not fly with the standard .key files. MAYBE they start out with one of the standard .key files, but they’ll still edit it to suit. There is a reason people share their HOTAS profiles.
Stubbies has given you the help you require, so I guess that’s your issue sorted.
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@-Pv-:
There is still a hole in the process I need to make which needs to be filled for me to fully understand what I’m being asked to do.
Again, makes me doubt your 20-year simming experience claim.
@-Pv-:
- Why do I need a modifier to make the “SimCommsSwitchLeft” work when I press Delete which is how the “comms IFF Out” is mapped in my UI and the keyboard chart?
Because not all callbacks can fit on the keyboard without having to use modifiers.
@-Pv-:
- Why do I need to map “SimCommsSwitchLeft” to control-o when it is already mapped to “Delete” as per the keychart and the UI?
You can map it to whatever you want as long as it’s an unused key combo. CTRL+O was just a suggestion.
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The goal of the whole process is to get the SimCommsSwitchLeft callback to fire. The key combination required is determined by the .key file. If your key file has that line above “0XD3 0” and you are willing and able to press that key, there’s no problem at all.
However if your key file says “0XD3 2” then you have to press that key instead. You don’t have to change it to anything in particular. In older versions of BMS it used to be Ctrl-O but now the modern default is Delete. You could make it space bar for all I care. All that matters is that the key defined in the key file matches what you actually press in the cockpit.
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@-Pv-:
There is still a hole in the process I need to make which needs to be filled for me to fully understand what I’m being asked to do.
- Why do I need a modifier to make the “SimCommsSwitchLeft” work when I press Delete which is how the “comms IFF Out” is mapped in my UI and the keyboard chart?
- Why do I need to map “SimCommsSwitchLeft” to control-o when it is already mapped to “Delete” as per the keychart and the UI?
-Pv-
Sigh. Your Falcon installed directory/Docs/Key Files & Input/BMS Key File Manual.pdf.
Read it and learn it then you will understand how the key file works.
If you have any questions as to what hex code is for what key the BMS Key File Editor.XLS in the same directory has all of those under the Key Code Data tab.
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“Again, makes me doubt your 20-year simming experience claim.”
Just keep hitting me over the head. This is not a claim to be an expert, only that I’m not a newbee and attempt to do some research before I ask as a courtesy to you so I don’t have to
hear “read and fully understand EVERYTHING in the many manuals and know the answer before you ask any questions.”
My forum profile:
Join Date August 7th, 2013
Flightsim.com:
Join Date 08-07-1996You can believe I’ve been simming since 1985 or not based on what you believe I know and experienced based solely on my questions in this forum.
The strong impression I get is if I don’t know what you know, understand how you explain things, I have no business here.
What have I learned in the time spent? Apparently totally wasted in this forum.I’ve not been insulting anyone on this forum, demeaning them, telling them they are wrong, or incompetent. All I do is ask questions and provide the data I know how to provide.
I’ve also learned the hard way in this forum if I claim ANY experience at all in simmimg, I’m a total expert and should not be asking questions because I should have
completely absorbed 10’s of megs of documentation (much of it cryptic or even contradictory, not always cross-referenced, some obsolete, some not included in the default installation distribution.)I had ZERO TROUBLE with my previous non 4.33 install using the same controller and PC.
Too bad everyone has to be an expert to ask for help. Too bad when I mention I at LEAST looked for answers myself before asking I’m assumed to be an expert and should understand everything explained to me.
What do I have to gain from claiming I’m a long time simmer if I wasn’t? Am I telling others how to solve their problems?
I’m still playing Falcon because it hooked me on version one on the Atari ST. I have the original Falcon4 disk and the spiral manual.If my response to being constantly berated and insulted gets me banned, then I deserve it for being SO stupid.
-Pv- -
“BMS Key File Editor.XLS in the same directory has all of those under the Key Code Data tab”
Sorry, the editor does not work on my PC. I’m not wanting to spend the time to make it work right now.
I was able to make 4.32 work without it.
Sigh… yes I know. My loss.
-Pv-
