Axair MIAP V2 User manual

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MIAP V2-V5 MANUAL
MANUAL
MIAP V3-V5
Mini Autopilot

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MIAP V2-V5 MANUAL
Contents
INTRODUCTION................................................................................3
CONNECTIONS.................................................................................4
BUTTON AND SWITCHES .....................................................................4
SOFTWARE .....................................................................................5
ASSIGNMENT EXAMPLES ......................................................................6
Warnings and notes: ....................................................................... 13
Troubleshooting: ........................................................................... 13

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MIAP V2-V5 MANUAL
This manual covers the basic information required for use and set-up of the MIAP
(Mini Autopilot) controls for flight simulator PC software.
INTRODUCTION
The MIAP is designed to give flight simmers easy control over several cockpit functions
where normally interaction with the mouse pointer is required. All switches and
buttons can freely be configured in most common flight simulator PC packages but
works best for use in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 (FS2020). Different functionality
is available where FS2020 is regularly releasing updates for better controller support
so the MIAP can be used to its full potential. In FS202 and some other software
packages, the controller functions can be doubled or even tripled since the flight
simulator software supports the use of combined switch/button and rotary functions.
This functionality makes an endless amount of switch combinations possible.
The MIAP can be used in combination with other AXIAR devices or joysticks. Beware
that your PC USB buses have a limited power output, so it is advised to use different
USB buses built in your PC over a non-external powered USB hub.
The MIAP unit consists of 6 rotary knobs with a top press switch function, 2 position
toggle switches, 11 momentary buttons, a back-lit engraved front panel, an external
5V adaptor connection socket, and a USB connection cable.
Version V2 to V5 have identical functionality but the acrylic-made unit casing differs
slightly in design. Version V4 and V5 have decreased backlight luminance to decrease
glare in darkness. The rotary buttons from V3 and up now have a white top surface to
give the user the ability to add personalized additional text to the buttons, best done
by using decal stickers. All casings have bottom anti-slip bumpers mounted.
The engravings are chosen to support a variety of flight simulator software packages.
There are 2 versions available with slight engraving differences as shown in the
picture below. The text on the front panel shows the most commonly used Autopilot,
EFIS/SIM, and Radio functions where a rotary is required to select the value in the
cockpit. Not all functions might be available in the software package the user has
chosen.
Figure 1: MIAP Panel layout

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MIAP V2-V5 MANUAL
CONNECTIONS
The USB cable is made of silicon to maximize flexibility and longevity. Nevertheless,
we stress never putting strain on the cable to prevent damage or loose cable
connections. USB2 and USB3 ports can be used to connect the cable. Once connected
the MIAP will be recognized as a game controller and the back-lit panel will light up.
In some rare cases, your PC may encounter instabilities after connecting the MIAP
unit, and the external power connection is available on the left side of the some
units for this purpose. On older versions of the MIAP where the connector is available
an adapter can be connected to add additional power if the USB port of the PC used
cannot deliver enough power. NOTE: Only use a 5V adapter with a maximum
current of 1.5A to prevent damage to the unit or your PC. AXIAR cannot warrant
be held responsible for damage related to powering the unit with a wrong adapter
type.
BUTTON AND SWITCHES
The rotary knobs can rotate 360 degrees left and right and have a switch build in,
activated by pressing the top of the rotary knob. All the switches have momentary
functionality except the frequency knob (18) which acts as a toggle switch, on/off.
Technical note: Rotary switches build in the MIAP unit are of a digital type because the common
PC flight simulator software does not support analog signals to process most cockpit dials. The
rotaries are therefore debounced by timing the internal press and releases. This means that the
functionality may differ per simulator software package. You might encounter slower or faster
processing differences.
The Momentary buttons are of click-to-feel type can be used to control cockpit
buttons and if the simulator software supports it, also function as a toggle switch.
Technical note: Ghosting of the buttons is minimized by using hardware shift
registers instead of a button matrix.
The Toggle switches can be used to switch function on and off but also to switch to
different functionality of the rotary and momentary buttons.
Technical note: The switches are hardware connected via shift registers to minimize
possible switch ghosting.

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MIAP V2-V5 MANUAL
SOFTWARE
Since the unit does act as a USB plug ‘n play game controller it can be used in many
software packages, even other than flight simulator software. Software drivers are
not required and are therefore not available. It would be too much to sum-up all
software functions that can be controlled with the MIAP. A program called ‘JoyToKey’
can be freely downloaded if you would like to use the MIAP to control keyboard
buttons for instance for Video editing software. We would however recommend
checking out the recently released ‘AXIAR EASY’ unit which might better suit for other
purposes.
To demonstrate function assignment, FS2020 controller settings are used to show how
to set up buttons and switch assignments. FS2020 is or will be the most commonly
used flight simulator software for the near future. If you would however need help
assigning buttons and switches under other flight simulator packages visit the AXAIR
website and YouTube channel to find instructional videos.

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MIAP V2-V5 MANUAL
ASSIGNMENT EXAMPLES
(FS2020)
The MIAP buttons and switches are assigned as a game controller with the following
assignments. Note: Windows 10 is limited to show a maximum of 32 buttons. Button
33 will however operate as normal in your flight simulator software.
The MIAP unit is assigned as shown in the picture which corresponds to the numbers
showing up at the FS2020 control setting panel. This picture can bse used as a
reference for setting up the MIAP for all software.
Figure 2: MIAP game controller hardware assignment

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MIAP V2-V5 MANUAL
Step1:
Connect the MIAP to your PC and start FS2020. select the control settings menu from
the options tab or if you connect the unit while the FS2020 software is already
running, a selection windows will pop up where you can choose to customize which
will take you to the control settings menu automatically.
Step 2:
You can now create a new profile or start assigning directly which in turn will create a
new profile automatically. Several profiles for different aircraft configurations can be
made.

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MIAP V2-V5 MANUAL
Step 3:
On the left side of the assignment window select ALL under the FILTER option. This
will show all possible controller settings for the MIAP. In the search bar, you can
search for the button or switch you want to assign, which could be any function but,
in this example, we will assign Heading bug functionality to the MIAP. Type Heading in
the search and all assignment possibilities will be displayed. Next, click on the first
dark grey square to open the current function to the button assignment window.
Click on the box with the text ‘START SCANNING’. The box will grey out and is waiting
for input from the MIAP.
Click on the corresponding MIAP button, in this case, press swiftly on the top of the
rotary button with the HDG text. Press VALIDATE after Nr 15 has appeared.

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MIAP V2-V5 MANUAL
Step 4:
Repeat Step 3 but this time select ‘DECREASE HEADING BUG’ to assign.
Once you click on start scanning again and the windows will start flashing grey rotate
the rotary knob with the HDG text anti-clockwise untill number 5 appears in the
window.
Next click on VALIDATE.
Assign ‘INCREASE HEADING BUG’the same way but while assigning turn the knob
clockwise this time. After validating again the numbers become visible and the button
can be tested by pressing or rotating the HDG knob on the MIAP. The number next to
text will flash to white while the MIAP buttons are pressed, or the knob is being
rotated. Figure 2 can be used to verify if the number at the function corresponds to
the hardware number of the button.
Step 5:
Assign all buttons and rotaries in a similar manner following the steps as before. Step
6 describes how to assign multiple button and switch selections to one single function.

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MIAP V2-V5 MANUAL
Step 6:
In this example, we will program both the COM and NAV functions by operating the
toggle switch in combination with only one FREQ rotary knob and one SWAP button. In
the search bar type ‘COM1 SWAP’. Note that the time this manual is written FS2020
still has a bug that makes the SWAP functionality show up double. Only the top one
will work. Click on the first small dark grey rectangle. On the MIAP make sure not
COM but NAV is selected.
Once you click on START SCANNING again move the toggle switch to COM and
thereafter press the SWAP button.
Note that now the 2 corresponding hardware button numbers show up.