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SmartPropoPlus was designed for the Remote Control (R/C) community. In enables you to use your own R/C transmitter (a.k.a. Controller) to control your simulator.
Using your transmitter, rather than a standard joystick, gives you a more realistic simulating experience.
The transmitter hooks to your computer's audio input (e.g. Microphone socket) – you just have to buy or create a suitable cable.
SmartPropoPlus is compatible with most transmitters and runs on Windows 2000, Windows XP Vista and Windows 7.
SmartPropoPlus is free, open source software that is under constant development since 2006 and has thousands of users.
Advantages & Disadvantages Requirements Caution And now... Acknowledgements
There are nowadays only two ways to connect to your computer, namely USB and Audio (e.g. Microphone). All other options such as Parallel, serial and games ports are now obsolete.
Most vendors offer to connect a controller to the USB port. SmartPropoPlus does not. SmartPropoPlus is the only way I know of to connect a controller via the computer audio input. SmartPropoPlus does not support USB.
Here is a table comparing between the typical USB solution and SmartPropoPlus:
USB Solution
SmartPropoPlus
Remarks
Input socket
USB
Audio (e.g. Microphone)
Required Software
Part of the solution
SmartPropoPlus PPJoy
Required Hardware
Special USB cable which is a part of the solution
Homemade cable
Price
$
Only the price of the cable
In most cases, the cable will cost you between 50c to $8
Experience
Usually not your own transmitter
Your own transmitter
Most USB solution come with a basic controller. It will definitely have a different look & feel than your own transmitter
Quality
Perfect
Good (PPM) to perfect (PCM)
If you have a PPM transmitter, SmartPropoPlus will give you about 25 steps per stick which is good.
Configuration
Plug-n-Play
Not Plug-n-Play
You will have to spend a moment configuring SmartPropoPlus.
There are a few requirements that your system should meet. Make sure it does before starting:
Operating System: Windows 2000/XP/Vista/7
Sound card with a microphone and/or Line-in input socket. (Mono or Stereo).
Any simulator that can be controlled from a joystick.
Specific support for FMS.
Create or buy according to the Cables section
Most transmitters will fulfill the following requirements:
Should be equipped with trainer socket
Supports one of the following modulation types:
Standard PPM (all types)
Walkera Non-standard PPM (Transmitters WK-24xx)
PCM (Walkera, JR, Futaba, Sanwa, Airtronics)
Note: Most 2.4GHz are standard PPM
Two things may damage your transmitter – overloading the RF circuits & overloading the trainer circuit.
You may avoid both hazards very easily.
Your transmitter should not transmit while simulating. Some transmitters RF circuit is automatically disconnected when you plug the cable into your trainer socket. Other transmitters will require you to temporary remove the crystal or the RF unit.
If you are not certain your RF circuit is disconnected – extend your transmitter's antenna while it is on.
The only way to damage this circuit is by using a wrong cable. Make sure you use the right cable. Note that different cables may have identical look while being electrically different. Make sure you use the right cable.
Go to the Set-Up section where you will be instructed about the cable, what software you need to download and how to install and configure it all.
At this point you will probably be using your simulator. Enjoy.
SmartPropoPlus is based on the excellent SmartPropo by Tsutomu Seki.
The support of E-Sky CCPM Transmitters was added with the help of Juan José Rubio Marín who initiated the project and Speed Control, who was kind enough to lend me an E-Sky R/C Transmitter for a long period of time – totally free of charge.
The support of Walkera PCM Transmitters was added with the help of Hans-Friedrich Fuge who initiated the project, Eilert Johansson who much improved the algorithm and Anton Heiss of RC-Toy you sent me a transmitter all the way from Germany, on his own expense.
The problem with Windows Vista was detected and fixed by Mr. Antony Briggs. The support of Walkera WK-2401 (PPM) Transmitters was added with the help of Vince Patti.
The problem with Windows Vista was detected and fixed by Mr. Antony Briggs.