VPC Configurator - Light · The VPC Configurator Light software is designed for home use, allowing accurate axes calibration and f irmware u pdate o f v arious V PC d evices, s uch

VPC Configurator - Light Quick Start Guide

Version 1.0 - 11/2017

VPC CONFIGURATOR LIGHT QUICK START GUIDE

INTRODUCTION

This quick start guide is intended to be used to get you started with the functions and operation

guidelines of the VPC Configurator Light software.

The VPC Configurator Light software is designed for home use, allowing accurate axes calibration

and firmware update of various VPC devices, such as the VPC MongoosT-50® Base.

Please read this guide carefully and follow the provided instructions to ensure smooth operation of

all provided features including calibration, firmware updates and profile resets.

Only use the VPC Configurator Light software as provided by the official VirPil.com website.

SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS Minimum Hardware Requirements: 1 GHz or higher x86/x64 CPU 2 GB RAM, Video card with DirectX9 support 100 MB free hard disk space Broadband internet connection (for some software functions)

Supported OS: Microsoft Windows 7/8/10, Home and Pro versions.

The VPC Configurator Light software must be used with administrative privileges.

PREPARING THE VPC CONFIGURATOR LIGHT SOFTWARE To begin using the VPC Configurator Light software, extract the downloaded ZIP file to a convenient

location and navigate to the destination folder.

The included files and folders in the archive are as follows: Folder “Firmware” contains the latest VPC MongoosT-50 Base firmware version which may be

required to operate the VPC Configurator Light software. Folder “res” and “tools” are auxiliary folders containing support files ensuring the correct operation

of the VPC Configurator Light Software. The included files and folders must not be moved, modified or deleted as this will cause the software

to malfunction. To run the VPC Configurator software, double click on “VPC_JOY_SETUP.exe”

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OPERATING THE VPC CONFIGURATOR LIGHT SOFTWARE After running VPC_JOY_SETUP.exe, you will be presented with the VPC Configurator Light main

window as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1. The main window of the VPC Configurator Light software

Connect the VPC MongoosT-50® to your PC via USB. Once the VPC MongoosT-50® is connected, the “N/A” indicator will change to “READY” as shown in Figure 2, indicating that the software has successfully connected to the device.

Figure 2. Device connection is successful and the software is ready

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VPC CONFIGURATOR LIGHT SOFTWARE FUNCTIONALITY

Figure 3. 1. Connection indicator with 2 states:

○ N/A (Red) - Indicates no connection to a VPC device. ○ READY (Green) - Indicates a successful connection to a VPC device.

2. Button for switching to the axis configuration tab. 3. Button for switching to the firmware update tab. 4. Button to launch the www.virpil.com website. 5. Help button to access this PDF manual and other resources. 6. Import a saved profile for the VPC MongoosT-50® Base. Allows the user to reset the device's

default axis and device button configuration as well as upload a previously saved user profile.

7. Export the current device profile to a local file. Allows the user to create various configurations of device profile settings (e.g. for different types of aircraft) which can then be re-imported with button 6.

8. Button to launch the VPC Device Tester utility. 9. Button to access the axes calibration screen. 10. Button for loading the profile from the currently selected VPC device. 11. Button for saving the profile to the currently selected VPC device. 12. Device window showing all available VPC devices. Each device can be selected with the left

mouse button.

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http://www.virpil.com/


Figure 4.

1. Axis headers - a total number of 8 unique axes can be displayed. 2. Axis name display field, e.g. “X”, “Y”, “Z”. 3. The type of sensor used for the axis. “VPC_Sens” used on the VPC MongoosT-50® Base, and

“VPC_Stick” for the VPC MongoosT-50® Grip. 4. Indicator of the sensor count value for the axis, e.g. If the stick is moved fully along the Y

axis, the count will be reported as “0”, at the full opposite deflection the count will be reported as “4095” with a center position of 2047 (± 3).

5. Visual slide indicator of the axis through it’s currently calibrated range of travel. 6. Signal type dropdown. This allows the user to select either “Normal” for standard operation,

or “Inversion” to flip the axis by 180°. 7. Deadzone limit fields. These fields are used to set the desired deadzone as a percentage of

the total travel, at various points of the axis travel. “Min” will set a deadzone at the start/lowest value of the axis travel. “Middle” will set a deadzone at the center point of the axis. “Max” will set a deadzone at the end/highest value of the axis travel. For the pitch (Y) and roll (X) axes, the following values are recommended (%): Min = 1 Middle" = 2 Max = 1 For the MongoosT-50 Grip brake axis (Z), the following values are recommended (%): Min = 4 Middle = 0 Max = 4

Values can be set by either typing directly into the text field, or by using the up and down arrows by each field.

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UPDATING THE VPC MONGOOST-50 FIRMWARE

Figure 5. 1. Button to enter the firmware update mode. 2. Button to start the firmware update process. 3. Button to exit the firmware update mode. 4. Path to the .hexc VPC firmware file. 5. Folder icon to specify the path of the .hexc VPC firmware file. 6. Progress window of the firmware update process.

A firmware update may be required if when the VPC Configurator software attempts to load the profile from your connected VPC device - an old firmware version is detected which will return the error seen in Figure 3.

Figure 6. Error when an old firmware version is detected.

In this case, it is necessary to update the firmware to allow use of the VPC Configurator Light software. The firmware update process can only be completed when the VPC device is connected and Indicator 1 according to Figure 3 must have the status "READY". Make sure that any anti-virus programs or firewalls do not block the VPC Configurator Light software. In case of any blocked access, you should add the application file "VPC_JOY_SETUP" to the list of exceptions or the list of trusted programs. This procedure for flashing the VPC device firmware should be followed exactly as described. Partial completion of steps can result in device malfunctions.

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1. Select the "FIRMWARE" tab button (#3 of Figure 3). 2. Select the required VPC device for the firmware update from the device list (#12 of Figure 3). 3. Click the "Open firmware update mode" button and make sure that the line "Set Device

[VPC-device name] to bootloader mode" appeared in the information field (#6 of figure 5). 4. Select the firmware file in the "Firmware file path" line (#4 to figure 5) using the folder icon.

The firmware file is included with the software in the folder "Firmware". 5. Click the "Start firmware update" button (#2 Figure 5) and wait until the firmware update

process has completed. The text "Firmware update procedure finished (please close bootloader mode)" in the information field (#6 of figure 5) confirms the successful update of the VPC firmware.

6. Click "Close firmware update mode" (#3 in Figure 5) and wait for the device to reconnect to your OS. A the end of the reconnection process, the status of the connection indicator should display "READY" (#1 to figure 2).

7. Press the "STEP 3: SAVE DEVICE PROFILE" button (#11 of figure 2) and wait until the profile is written to the device. This can take up to 10 seconds.

8. Click the "IMPORT PROFILE FROM FILE" button (#6 in Figure 2) and select that single file with the extension ".cnf " included with the VPC Configurator software, which is displayed in the selection window and open it;

9. Once again, press the "STEP 3: SAVE DEVICE PROFILE" button (#11 of figure 2) and wait until the profile is written to the device. This can take up to 10 seconds;

10. After the operations performed above, your device will appear in the display field of connected devices (#12 to figure 2), for example, "VID03EB PID: 2043 VPC-MongoosT-50 (VPC-JOY-171201-000)".

You have successfully updated the VPC firmware!

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CALIBRATING AXES WITH THE VPC CONFIGURATOR Calibration is possible when the VPC device is connected to the PC and the connection indicator (#1 in Figure 3) has the status "READY". The calibration window shown in figure 7 is accessed by clicking the “CALIBRATE AXES” button (#9 in Figure 3).

Figure 7.

The calibration procedure is usually necessary after physical changes to the VPC device, for example, with the replacement of cam profiles and/or springs in the base of the VPC MongoosT-50® Base. This procedure for flashing the VPC device calibration should be followed exactly as described. Partial completion of steps can result in device malfunctions.

1. Select the “AXIS” tab button (#4 of figure 3). 2. Select the required VPC device to calibrate from the device list (#12 of Figure 3). 3. Press the "STEP 1: LOAD DEVICE PROFILE" button (#10 of Figure 3). The process of reading

the profile can take up to 10 seconds. 4. Press the "CALIBRATE AXES" button (#9 of figure 3). The calibration window appears, as in

Figure 7. 5. Click “Clear Calibration Stat” to delete the current calibration. 6. Slowly move the joystick to the end of the axes in every direction, being sure to reach all the

edges. Also, if applicable, pull the brake lever on the VPC MongoosT-50® grip. 7. Return the device to the center position and click “Set Center”. 8. Press the "STEP 3: SAVE DEVICE PROFILE" button (#11 of figure 3) and wait until the profile is

written to the device. This can take up to 10 seconds. 9. Press the "STEP 1: LOAD DEVICE PROFILE" button (#10 of Figure 3). The process of reading

the profile can take up to 10 seconds. 10. Check the operation of all axes by selecting the "AXIS" menu (#3 of figure 3) and deflecting

the axes. The indicator sliders (#5 of figure 4) should indicate the correct response on the axes.

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USING THE VPC DEVICE TESTER Before using the "VPC DEVICE TESTER", you need to press the "STEP 1: LOAD DEVICE PROFILE"

button (#10 of figure 3) to load the profile from the currently selected device. An additional window "VPC DEVICE TESTER" will open. The main functionality is shown in Figure 8.

Figure 8.

1. Device selection window. In Figure 8, the VPC MongoosT-50® Base is chosen as an example. 2. The button "WEB" opens the official virpil.com website. 3. Displays the status of the buttons on the device. Red buttons are shown in the pressed state. 4. Displays the status of the buttons on the device. Gray not shown buttons are pressed. 5. Displays the status of the buttons on the device. Blue shows the pressed buttons. 6. The field for displaying the status of buttons. The number of buttons, the time of pressing

and holding in ms are displayed. 7. Set the color for the display of the axes. It is convenient to use the "GFX-OSC" function on

button 8. 8. Opens the additional function window "GFX-OSC", allowing to see the operation of the axes

in the form of oscillograms (the window "GFX-OSC" is shown in Figure 15). 9. Opens the additional functional window "GFX-AIM", which allows the user to quickly

determine the accuracy of axes alignment in the center (as shown in Figure 15) and allows to compare physical deviations on the axes to their virtual representation with the trajectory traced (as shown in Figure

10. Button to close the window "VPC DEVICE TESTER".

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The "GFX-OSC" window shows the response of the Y, X and Z axes as shown in Figure 9. Each axis is marked with its color in accordance with the settings #7 of Figure 8.

Figure 9

The "GFX-AIM" window with the central position of the Y and X axes is shown in Figure 10. In the center position, each axis is indicated in red. If one or two axes deviate from the center, the color changes to blue.

Figure 10

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VPC Configurator Light software is distributed free of charge (Freeware). Downloading the VPC Configurator Light distribution is recommended only from the official VirPil Controls site - https://virpil.com/ Downloading the distribution from other sources does not guarantee the functionality of the program. This distribution is a beta version in demo mode. Therefore, it can encounter various non-essential errors (bugs). In cases where you have experienced any bugs or faults with the VPC Configurator Light software on your PC and therefore it is impossible to configure your device in accordance with this manual, please contact us at [email protected]

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https://virpil.com/mailto:[email protected]

Documents

VPC Configurator - Light · The VPC Configurator Light software is designed for home use, allowing accurate axes calibration and f irmware u pdate o f v arious V PC d evices, s uch