MMJoy2 vs FreeJoy

[JG13_opcode]

Can anyone who's used or is familiar with both weigh in on the practical considerations?

 

As best I can see:

 

• FreeJoy is open source, wheras MMJoy2 is only partially open source (firmware only seems to come as .hex blobs)
• FreeJoy runs on the STM32F microcontrollers at CMOS logic levels (3V3) whereas MMJoy2 runs on the ATMEGA32u4 which is a TTL/5V chip

 

... and that's it.

 

Is there any other reason I might want to choose one over the other that I'm overlooking?  Right now if I look at my parts drawers I have some stm32f411's and some ATMEGA328s but no 32u4's.  Digikey appears to have none in stock and it looks like it's been discontinued.  That might be the deciding factor right there unless there's a more compelling reason to stick with MMjoy2.

 

Edited June 18, 2022 by JG13_opcode

[Sokol1]

Although MMjoy2 will fill the needs of >90% of simmers, is "abandonwhare" (autor now work with VirPil) - ATMEGA32U4's capabilities are exhausted; and last firmware has a unsolved bug, seems related with the use of many buttons.

 

Plenty of ATMega32u4 (5 v, 16 MHz) cards in eBay, Aliexpress, can use too Teensy 2.0, ++2.0.

 

FreeJoy  has active development, being more flexible in features.

 

The only downside is the need of an (cheap) USB dongle for write FreeJoy firmware, MMjoy2 use the USB cable.

 

Anyway you need a STM32F103C8 microcontroller.

 

 

[JG13_opcode]

Thanks sokol, I have some F103 Black and Blue pills in a drawer with an stlink programmer, and in a pinch I'm certain I could port it to the F411 with some work.

 

Sounds like the decision is made, thanks again.

Edited June 19, 2022 by JG13_opcode

[vonrickenbecker]

I also recommend freejoy, it has a very active user base and ongoing development, and plans for supporting new and better hardware as it appears in the future. The developer, magners, is a great guy and very responsive to questions. He's a gift to the diy sim community!