What to do if the Bravo lights don’t work under MSFS

[SimWare 814]

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What to do if the Bravo lights don’t work under MSFS

The Honeycomb Bravo Throttle quadrant has lights :

 

- 1 - Landing gear

- 2 - Autopilot

- 3 - Anunciator panel
 

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The way lights are managed is different from that of buttons and axes :

- Buttons and axes are simply SENDING data TO the simulator
  via the standard Windows HID built-in driver.

- Lights are READING specific data FROM the simulator.
  This requires a software specific to the the quadrant and to the plane in use

 

If the lights don’t lit, here are several steps to track the issue and in most of the cases, solve it.

 

STEP 1 :
Check the basic electrical function of the quadrant.
Use the Christmas Tree utility to manually lit the lights independently from any software (simulator, driver, etc.)

https://forum.aerosoft.com/index.php?/files/file/6080-honeycomb-bravo-throttle-christmas-tree-application/

 

-> If the lights don’t work, check the cable and test it on another computer. (No simulator or driver needed).
    If they still don’t work or only partially, the unit is defective and you may skip the rest of this procedure.
-> If the lights do work, then the Bravo quadrant is fine and the issue lies somewhere else. Goto STEP 2.

STEP 2 :

Is the appropriate driver installed ?
If the driver is installed and the lights don’t work, goto STEP 3.

Otherwise install the MSFS driver :

http://freeware.aerosoft.com/forum/downloads/AS_HONEYCOMB_MSFS.zip

Restart the computer and load a DEFAULT plane in the simulator.
NOTE : The MSFS driver does NOT have a user interface.
             It is supposed to start automatically with the simulator.
            So, don’t look for any icon or link to start it.

-> If the lights don’t work with a DEFAULT plane, goto STEP 3.
 

STEP 3 :
Windows hasn’t maybe started the driver with the simulator.
This happens sometimes with some Windows configuration and protection system.
Please follow this procedure :
https://forum.aerosoft.com/index.php?/topic/167498-how-to-start-the-msfs-honeycomb-configurator-manually/

 

-> At this stage, the light should work.

NOTE :  Of course lights will only lit if they correspond to an existing system in the plane.
              For instance, the gear light will only work with planes equipped with a retractable landing gear .

             Also note that the lights may not (or only partially) work with addons (third-party) planes.
             The driver only interfaces the MSFS default planes and the ones using the same interface variables.
 

[Ray Franks 0]

Okay so I know am probably doing something wrong but like a lot of folks am trying to get the Bravo lights to work.  I have MSFS 2020 on steam. 

I download the driver from Aerosoft but when it tried to install, I get " MSFS not found'     so am confused as to what am doing wrong for the install to not even see my program.

 

Been flying for a year on PC but just now trying to get the lights to work on Bravo.  Everything else work well, and I tried to Christmas light program just to be sure the lights would lite and they did. 

 

Any help be appericated. 

 

Ray

[SimWare 814]

Please post a screenshot of the error message.

[Captain_Wealthy 0]

Will Aerosoft be bringing out a compatible version of AFC_Bridge for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 ?

[SimWare 814]

Yes, within 7 to 10 days.

[MachRick1 0]

Finally got the download to work.  Landing gear up lights don't stay on (Red), but at least they turn green when gear is down!  Other buttons are lighting up also!  Thanks!

[SimWare 814]

You are welcome.

[BennyLandron 0]

I hope someone can help me with my Bravo annunciator lights. I use MSFS 2020 and 2024. My lights have been working normally until recently. The lights all illuminate except the AP Master button. I also noticed that also when I cycle my Parking brake the light that illuminates is now the Low Volts light. I checked all the lights out with the Christmas Tree and they all work but they are off in sequence from the Master AP down. When I turn on the ANC-Fuel light with the Christmas tree the Master AP lights up. Turn on the ANC-Anti Ice and the Low fuel lights up. Turn on the Starter and the Anti Ice comes on. Turn on ANC-APU and the Starter light comes on and so on down the line. Very frustrating. Any help very much appreciated.

[SimWare 814]

Can you make a short clip showing the issue ?
(What you do on screen and the Bravo lights at the same time)

[TwirlyGoat 0]

Thanks for the great Utility! I now know that my Bravo throttle works perfectly, as it has for years. It has been working in MSFS2024 but stopped working when I opted for the SU 1 beta. So now I will have to figure out why the lights aren't working in MSFS 2024 SU 1 beta. All of the functionality is there. just no lights. If anyone knows any way to make this happen, I would appreciate it! I'm gonna check the "....configurator manually" article.

[SimWare 814]

Yes, try to start the configurator manually.

If it works, try to reinstall it.

[BennyLandron 0]

I will share a couple of links to my Rumble Videos if that is ok.

https://rumble.com/v6iivcg-bravo-christmas-lights-mystery.html

 

 

Bravo Lights Mystery

[SimWare 814]

Thank you. I will have a look at it tomorrow. 

[SimWare 814]

After checking the Bravo Christmas Lights Mystery, it indeed appears that this light behavior with regards to the Christmas Tree is incorrect.
First to rule out any specific computer or setup issue, are you able to test the lights on another computer (any WIN10/11 machine will do)
You don't need any simulator nor driver.
Just download the Christmas Tree utility and hook up the Bravo.

[Ruud 33]

Try my work around in MSFS 2024, load your flight start the Bravo bridge software and after that reload your flight and the lights come on, I know this is a bit more work but thats the only way I get them to work, I tried everything else even take ownership of the file and full admin rights but that doesn't help also.

 

Cheers,

Ruud

[SimWare 814]

Hi Ruud,
Thanks for sharing this. 

[BennyLandron 0]

Thank You SimWare, Your suggestion to test the lights on another computer paid off. Lights were reading correctly on my wife's computer telling us my Bravo is fine. When I plugged it back in to my computer it started working again. So basically I rebooted the Bravo. I have it plugged into a powered hub that was not cycling when I rebooted my computer. Anyway, all is fine now. Thanks for the suggestion it saved the day. Cheers!

[SimWare 814]

2 hours ago, BennyLandron said:

Thank You SimWare, Your suggestion to test the lights on another computer paid off. Lights were reading correctly on my wife's computer telling us my Bravo is fine. When I plugged it back in to my computer it started working again. So basically I rebooted the Bravo. I have it plugged into a powered hub that was not cycling when I rebooted my computer. Anyway, all is fine now. Thanks for the suggestion it saved the day. Cheers!

You are welcome. 

[G-AYMO 0]

Hi everyone,

I have just taken delivery of my Bravo and have exactly the same problem as BennyLandron had, the lights on the annunciator light up in the wrong sequence. They light up in the same sequence as BennyLandon's so I am hoping that the same solution will work for me. Now I just have to find another PC.........

 

Regards

Alan

[G-AYMO 0]

I’m back!

 Well I don’t have another computer but I did solve the problem without one. The clue was provided by BennyLandron when he said he had it plugged into a powered hub. Mine was also in a powered hub and when I moved it to one of the computer’s USB’s it all worked perfectly. So thank you for that, I would never have thought of it and it is always tempting to blame the hardware first.

 Many thanks to you both

Alan

 

[SimWare 814]

Thanks for this feedback. 

Could both of you let me know what exact hub model you have ?