Description

This is a footswitch I devised for use with the iaxRpt software application written by Steven Henke. It allows you to take advantage of the Joystick PTT feature. That feature can be enabled in the iaxRpt software under Options --> Devices --> Joystick PTT. The core components of this project consist of an Arduino Pro Micro with the ATmega32U4 microcontroller chip, and a Heil Sound FS-3 footswitch.

Any Arduino Leonardo compatible board should work as long as it has the ATmega32U4 microcontroller chip. This project will NOT work on the popular ATmega328 microcontroller that's found on the Arduino Uno. The reason is because the ATmega32U4 can emulate a USB HID device, and the ATmega328 doesn't have that capability.

A Heil Sound FS-3 was the footswitch I chose to use, but any normally open momentary switch could be used for this project. All that's required is to short one of the digital pins on the Arduino to ground to simulate a joystick button press.

The software needed to make this work can be found in the Arduino Joystick Library available on GitHub. Just upload the JoystickButton.ino example code to the Arduino. There are no code modifications necessary. The example code allows for digital pins 9, 10, 11, and 12 to be used. Just ground any of those 4 digital pins to simulate a joystick button press. In turn that will key PTT in iaxRpt.

Enjoy!

Links

Heil Sound FS-3 Footswitch
M-Audio SP-1 Footswitch
KeeYees Arduino Pro Micro
Beetle DFR0282 Arduino
Arduino Joystick Library

Contact

Andrew Sylthe - KC9ONA - asylthe@kc9ona.com