FSXA ADF Radio Coding

[Tako_Kichi]

I am currently building a 3D ADF radio like the one in the picture below:

I've searched in the usual places but cannot find any sources for code (or coding hints) with regard to animating and tuning the digit drums and selection knobs. I do have working code for the matching drum type transponder unit and I have looked at trying to convert the code myself but as it has to be in 'BCD32' format it is way beyond my coding skills.

Does anyone have any working 3D code for this type of ADF radio they would be willing to share or any pointers to get me going in the right direction?

It's just the drums and tuning knobs I need code for as I believe the ADF compass card, pointer and HDG knob have stock code available for them.

Thanks for any assistance.

 

[Heretic]

You don't have to use BCD32. "Hz" will do just fine as a unit for the A: var. Tuning is done with the appropriate K: vars.

As for the drums, each one's animation can be controlled by taking modulo for 1s 10s and 100s of the active frequency (I think).

 

[Tako_Kichi]

Thanks I will look into that.

 

[n4gix]

That is correct, and quite frankly is one major advantage of using XML script rather than C code. In C one must use BCD32.

 

[Heretic]

Shouldn't the emboldening and the underscore be for the "must" instead of the "use", Bill?

 

[n4gix]

Changed emphasis.

 

[Tako_Kichi]

I've got the tuning side of the radio working very nicely now but I've run into issues on the gauge side. For some reason the needle only works if the signal is coming from the right side of the aircraft (i.e. the 12 o'clock to 6 o'clock position on the gauge face) and I'm not sure it's even pointing at the right heading when compared to a 2D RMI gauge in a pop-up window I'm using for testing/comparison. The needle is animated through 360° in a CW direction starting at the 12 o'clock position. If the signal is coming from the left side of the aircraft the needle points straight up and if I circle the aircraft it will eventually start tracking the NDB when it is on the right side again.

This is the code I'm using for the needle:

<PartInfo>
     <Name>Mallard_ADF_needle</Name>
     <AnimLength>360</AnimLength>
     <Animation>
     <Parameter>
          <Code>
           (A:ADF radial:1, degrees)
          </Code>
     </Parameter>
     </Animation>
    </PartInfo>

I'm also having issues with the HDG knob and compass card as I can't seem to get those to play together and the compass card doesn't move at all. I'm obviously making a stupid mistake somewhere but can't seem to find it. This is the code I'm using for both the knob and the compass card and the card is animated through 360° in a CCW direction while the knob is animated through 360° in a CW direction (KF'd at 0-90-180-270-360 in both cases):

<PartInfo>
        <Name>Mallard_ADF_card</Name>
     <AnimLength>360</AnimLength>
        <Animation>
            <Parameter>
                <Code>
                (L:ADF_card, enum) 10 *
                </Code>
            </Parameter>
        </Animation>
        <MouseRect>
            <Cursor>Hand</Cursor>
            <TooltipText>ADF Card</TooltipText>
            <CallbackCode>
                (L:ADF_card, enum) ! (&gt;L:ADF_card, enum)
            </CallbackCode>
        </MouseRect>
    </PartInfo>

Looking at the 2D gauge in my pop-up window I can see that the compass card on that RMI head is actually working like a gyro compass with no need for a HDG knob to manually adjust the compass card and while I could code the card that way (using the code from my gyro compass) it wouldn't be right for this type of radio so I'm reluctant to do it that way.

Any suggestions on what I'm doing wrong with the needle and compass card/knob?

 

[tgibson]

It appears to me your variable (L:ADF_card, enum) only has the values of 0 and 1 (true/false), starting with false. If you want it to rotate, you would need to add one (or another number) to that variable at each click, not negate it. And rotating cards often have a left click (CW) and right click (CCW) mouserect.

 

[Tako_Kichi]

Thanks for that Tom. I now have it all working perfectly thanks to help from Roman (Spokes2112).

We even tied the needle into a set of conditions so that it will only move if:

a) The radio power knob is ON.

b) The ADF radio is receiving a signal (i.e. it is tuned to a correct freq.).

and

c) The avionics circuit is ON and it has power from either the battery or generator.

 

[n4gix]

This is the code I'm using for the needle:

You need to "normalize" the A:variable Larry.

(A:ADF1 Radial,degrees) dnor

I like to add check conditions so that the ADF needle will "park" in the East position when no signal is present, or power is not available:

          (A:ELECTRICAL MASTER BATTERY,bool)
          (A:AVIONICS MASTER SWITCH,bool)
          and
          if{
              (A:ADF SIGNAL:1, number) 255 >
              if{ (A:ADF1 Radial,degrees) dnor }
 
              (A:ADF SIGNAL:1, number) 256 <
              if{ 90 }
          }
          els{ 90 }

 

[Tako_Kichi]

Thanks Bill and yes the needle does park in the East position.

 

[JB3DG]

That is correct, and quite frankly is one major advantage of using XML script rather than C code. In C one must use BCD32.

Not necessarily. If you are using execute_calculator_code, aircraft_varget, or simconnect you can use Hertz.

 

[n4gix]

True enough Jon, but then you are really using XML then...

 

[JB3DG]

Not really the latter 2 methods but either way