Using the selector knob on a Honeycomb Bravo

The Honeycomb Bravo's autopilot inputs rely on a selector knob to indicate what autopilot feature the right knob controls. MobiFlight pre-conditions can be used to configure the appropriate events for the right knob based on the selector knob position.

A sample file that implements this is available. It provides all the input configs necessary to make this work, however you'll have to edit all the knob inputs to specify what events you actually want to have happen when the knob is turned.

This same technique can be used to do things like display different radios on a 7-segment display based on a knob position, or to use a single encoder with a toggle button to change different radio frequencies.

Want to build the file yourself and understand how it works? Here's how to do it.

Step 1: Create input configurations for the ALT selector knob position.

1. Create a new input config called Selector - ALT
2. Set the module to Bravo Throttle Quadrant and the device to Mode - ALT
3. For the On Press event select MobiFlight - Variable for the Action Type
4. Set the variable name to Selector
5. Set the value to 0

The input config should look like this:

Step 2: Create input configurations for the other selector knob positions

Repeat step 1 four more times, updating the name to and device to reflect the switch position (VS, HDG, etc.) and incrementing the value by one for each switch position. When you are done you should have five input configurations that set the Selector variable to the following values:

Input name	Device	Variable value
Selector - ALT	Mode - ALT	0
Selector - VS	Mode - VS	1
Selector - HDG	Mode - HDG	2
Selector - CRS	Mode - CRS	3
Selector - IAS	Mode - IAS	4

Your input config tab should look like this:

Step 3: Create an input config for a left turn of the right knob when ALT mode is active

Add the precondition

1. Create a new input config called Right knob - ALT decrement
2. On the Precondition tab click on <none> in the precondition list
3. Set the Use type of dropdown to MobiFlight Variable
4. Set the Choose variable dropdown to `Selector
5. Set the value to 0

The precondition tab should look like this:

Add the input device

1. Switch to the Input tab for the config
2. Select Bravo Throttle Quadrant from the Module dropdown
3. Select Encoder - Left from the Device dropdown
4. Configure the On Press event to do whatever event you want
5. Save the config

The input tab should look like this, with whatever action type configured you decide to use:

Step 4: Create an input config for a right turn of the right knob when ALT mode is active

Repeat everything in step 3, except select Encoder - Right from the Device dropdown and name the input Right knob - ALT increment.

Step 5: Create the increment and decrement configs for the other four knob positions

Repeat everything in step 3 and 4 except when configuring the precondition use the appropriate number from the table in step 2. For example, if you are creating the increment and decrement configs for CRS you would use 3 for the precondition value. Make sure to name the configs appropriately as well (e.g. Right knob - CRS decrement).

When you are done your input config tab should look like this:

Step 6: Create an output config for the selector (optional)

To assist with debugging it can be helpful to have an output config that references the Selector variable. To do this create an output config that looks like this:

There's no need to actually display it on any output device: this basic output config will show the value in the main Mobiflight window:

Step 7: Using the config with your flight simulator

After Run mode is enabled in MobiFlight you will need to rotate the left knob one position. There is no way for MobiFlight to know what position the left knob is in when you start so moving it once will ensure MobiFlight knows where it is set.

From there you can see in the input config list which configuration is active. All disabled configs will have a red ! next to them, while the two active configs won't. Here's an example of what the input config list looks like when the left knob was turned to the HDG position;