DCS-Skunkworks DCS-BIOS

DCS-BIOS is a Export.lua file for use with DCS: World. It provides a stable, documented interface for external hardware and software to interact with the clickable cockpit of a DCS: World aircraft.

This version is a fork of DCS-BIOS created and programmed by jboecker. While the original repo has gone stale this is continously updated.

DCS-Skunkworks' DCS-BIOS is similar to the original DCS-BIOS before it was updated to the BIOS-HUB version. Fully compatible for pit builders and Arduino users.

• Release/Prerelease are mostly for the stable version of DCS.
• DCS Beta Users should use the DCS-BIOS Openbeta nightly release. Starting a mission will generate the json files.
• Arduino Users should download the Source code(zip) on the Release page to get all needed files

Remember to look at our wiki for troubleshooting

For Users

What do I download?

For Panel Builders

You don't need to be a programmer or electrical engineer. The release includes a DCS-BIOS User Guide that shows you step by step on how to connect your panel to DCS using DCS-BIOS and the beginner-friendly Arduino microcontroller platform. You don't have to write any program code yourself.

For Software Developers

Included in the release is the Developer Guide that explains how to connect to and interpret the DCS-BIOS export data stream and how to send commands to DCS-BIOS to operate controls inside the cockpit.

Is My Aircraft Supported?

Currently, DCS-BIOS supports the following aircraft modules:

• A-4E-C _(contributed by Dehuman, revised by WarLord) get the mod here

• A-10C / A10C-II (contributed by FSF-Ian, extended by WarLord) (use A-10C for All Versions)

• A-29B _(contributed by WarLord) get the mod here

• AH-6J _(contributed by WarLord) get the mod here

• AH-64D (contributed by WarLord)

• AJS-37 (contributed by pdmarsh extended by WarLord,ArturDCS,Matchstick)

• Alphajet _(contributed by WarLord) get the mod here

• AV8BNA (contributed by WarLord,Matchstick)

• Bf-109-K-4 (contributed by ArturDCS)

• C-101CC / EB (contributed by WarLord,cdpkobra) (use C-101 for All Versions)

• Christen Eagle II (contributed by WarLord,cdpkobra)

• Edge-540 _(contributed by WarLord) get the mod here

• Extra-330SR _(contributed by WarLord) (use Edge-540) get the mod here

• F-14B / A (contributed by WarLord,ArturDCS,Bullitt) (use F-14 for All Versions)

• F-15E (contributed by WarLord,Maverick87Shaka)

• F-16C (contributed by WarLord,cdpkobra,Matchstick,BuzzKillington)

• F-22A _(contributed by WarLord) get the mod here

• F-5E-3 (contributed by geebeer2, extended by WarLord)

• F-86F (contributed by ArturDCS)

• F/A-18C (contributed by AndrewW)

• FW-190-A8 (contributed by WarLord,MD44)

• FW-190-D9 (contributed by ArturDCS)

• I-16 (contributed by WarLord,NightStalker)

• JF-17 (contributed by WarLord,cdpkobra)

• Ka-50 / Ka-50 3 (contributed by airtom, revised by WarLord)

• L-39ZA / C (contributed by kadda11, revised by WarLord) (use L-39 for All Versions)

• M-2000C (contributed by Exo7,ArturDCS,Matchstick)

• MB-339 (contributed by WarLord) (use MB-339PAN for All Versions)

• Mi-8 (contributed by ArturDCS,revised by WarLord)

• Mi-24P (contributed by WarLord,BaD CrC)

• MiG-15bis (contributed by WarLord,Steve Gee)

• MiG-19P (contributed by WarLord)

• MiG-21Bis (contributed by wraith444)

• Mirage F1 (contributed by WarLord) (use Mirage F1 for All Versions)

• Mosquito FB Mk.VI (contributed by WarLord)

• NS430 (contributed by Capt_Zeen, extended by Imp, revised by Celemourn)

• P-47D (contributed by WarLord and Donators) (use P-47D for All Versions)

• P-51D (contributed by pdmarsh)

• Spitfire (revised by WarLord)

• SA 342 (all Versions; use SA342 for All)

• T-45 _(contributed by WarLord) get the mod here

• TF-51D (contributed by pdmarsh, ArturDCS) (use P-51D)

• UH-1H (contributed by FSF-Ian)

• Yak-52 (contributed by WarLord,cdpkobra)

• Externals for all Airplanes (Speedbrake and Lights; Weight on Wheels Code from DeadMeat)

• All Flaming Cliffs 3 Modules (FC3) (A-10A; F-15C; J-11A; MiG-29A; MiG-29S; Su-25; Su-25T; Su-27; Su-33) (contributed by danvac, extended by WarLord)

• Superbug mod (F-18 E+F+Growler)

• Mods (FC3): VSN-Mods, PAK-FA Project, Civil Aircraft mod, Upuaut's Bell-47G, Mirage F.1, SU-30 FAMILY PROJECT, MIG-23UB Project, Virtual Cockpits, AC-130

  Always use the latest version of the Mods!

If you want to add support for another module, please get in touch.(see below)

For Hardware Developers

If you are working a lot with hardware, it may come in handy to log and replay dcs-bios data. There are two scripts in \Programs\tools that allow you to do so.

python connect-logger.py will log all dcs-bios data to dcsbios_data.json. Ensure that you start the logger before loading a mission, to capture the mission-start message properly.

python replay-log.py will ask for a serial port like connect-serial-port.cmd and replay the data to that com-port. When it reaches the end of the file, it will loop forever until you close it. The first message will not be repeated as this is usualy the mission-start message and should only be sent once.

dcsbios_data.json This file contains the logged data in hex format. If you are familiar with the format of dcs-bios messages, you may modify the file by hand if needed. The included sample file is a recording of the A-10C with a blinking Master Caution light.

Mod Support

If you want to add a FC3 based mod (eg. VSN_Mod Planes) for commondata support, you must follow these instructions:

Add at the bottom in \DCS-BIOS\lib\AircraftList.lua the entry :

a("PlaneName", false)

To get the correct plane name, open the DCS-BIOS Reference Tool (MetadataStart) while you fly that plane and look what value _ACFT_NAME has.

Connect DCS-BIOS stream to your serial ports

You can use either socat or DCSBIOSBridge.

DCSBIOSBridge

Download here

socat

There are 2 socat versions, 32 and 64 bit. Choose that version that fits best for you. The files in the zip File must be unzipped direct in the socat folder.

The path must be: /socat/socat.exe

Video Tutorials

DCS-BIOS Channel on Youtube

Contribute

If you have a question or found a bug, please open an issue on the GitHub issue tracker.

If you want to contribute code or documentation, please send a pull request on GitHub.

License

The original DCS-BIOS was created by [FSF]Ian.

DCS-BIOS is released under a slightly modified Simple Public License 2.0 (think "a version of the GPL readable by mere mortals"). Please see the file LICENSE.

The copy of socat that comes with DCS-BIOS is licensed under the GPLv2 (see /Programs/socat/COPYING).

Support

• DCS-Skunkworks Discord Server
• Arduino Library
• Arduino Examples
• Bort DCS-BIOS Reference Tool
• BIOSBuddy DCS-BIOS Reference Tool
• DCS-BIOS Bridge