SimVimX Firmware
The SimVimX Firmware needs to be uploaded only once, directly in the SimVimX plugin configuration window.
Then the firmware will be automatically uploaded to the board by the plugin when the next firmware version released.
You can see the firmware version on every connected LCD after the config initialization in the second line.
This guide is for SimVimX version 2.22 only!.
New SimVimX System v. 3.xx coming soon!
Fresh (first time) Firmware upload
- Open the "I/O Hardware" window from SimVimX plugin menu.
- Make sure the master board (Mega2560) is not connected to USB and click the "[Continue] button.
- Plug the master board (Mega2560) USB cable into X-Plane computer USB port.
- Click the button >> "Master" in the Firmware Upload section on the left. The [Upload] button will appear in the window.
- When you see "Controller Board Connected" click "UPLOAD" . Wait until firmware upload is complete (about 3-5 s).
If you need to upload the Ethernet firmware version set the "Ethernet" checkbox before pressing "Upload".
- After upload the plugin will connect to this controller automatically.
On successful connection you will see the messages "Master Board: Connected (USB/LAN)" and "Configured: 1 Input, 1 Output"
This means your board is working correctly, and you can start wiring all input controls and output devices to the controller and use the Configuration tool to assign all of them, but before you can run a simple test to make sure:
- Load some standard X-Plane aircraft (Cessna or Baron 58). Connect a toggle switch to pin #5 / GND and flip it on/off.
- The on-screen Pitot switch will change its position accordingly with your real switch. The on-board LED on the master board will change its state (Pitot Heat is on/off).
Connection, notes
- If you have changed the configuration "data.cfg" file while X-Plane is running, just click the "Reload Config" button in the Status window.
- The plugin should always establish connection automatically every time X-Plane is started, no matter how many times you have done it.
- Note for Linux users: Some Linux distributions do not grant the user access to serial ports by default. In this case you need to add your user name to the "dialout" group.
Firmware Auto-Update
The plugin checks the currently used firmware version on connection, and if it needs updating (the new stable firmwre is included to the plugin or plugin finds a beta SimVimX file in the plugin folder), the program uploads the new firmware to the board and then establishes connection. There's nothing more for you to do for the serial USB version.
For Ethernet version you need to connect your master board to USB (or reconnect it) and click "Upload" - just like during the first upload.
