Virtual Fly SWITCHO Radios User Manual

: June 3, 2024
: Virtual Fly

Table of Contents

IN THE BOX
HARDWARE SETUP
SOFTWARE SETUP
START UP
RADIOS FUNCTIONS
References
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Download This Manual (PDF format)

SWITCHO RADIOS
USER’S MANUAL
Rev. 2.0 – November 2022

IN THE BOX

A) SWITCHO RADIOS
B) Anti-slip legs
C) “H”connecting piece between modules
D) USB-A to USB-C Cable
E) USB-C Power supply (with four regional interchangeable heads)
F) Allen keys (n.2, n.3) Virtual Fly SWITCHO Radios -

HARDWARE SETUP

2.1 ATTACHING TO DESKTOP/HOME COCKPIT SETUP
OPTION A: Using Anti-slip Legs
Introduce both anti-slip legs (B) in the lower slots from the backside, as indicated below. Using the n.2 Allen key (H), tighten the screw on each anti- slip leg until you feel resistance. To secure your SWITCHO RADIOS into your desktop, simply place them the device on the surface it will rest, and the antislip legs will ensure it won’t move.

OPTION B: Using SWITCHO CLAMP (not included)
Set up your SWITCHO RADIOS in your home cockpit using the SWITCHO Clamp to fix it into your support base. This item is sold separately in our website at: https://www.virtual-fly.com/shop/avionics/switcho-radios#accessories.
Slide in the SWITCHO Clamp into the lower slots of the SWITCHO RADIOS as displayed in the diagram below, and attach the clamp onto the support base.

2.3 MODULE ASSEMBLY
If you own another SWITCHO module, you can combine the modules with the provided connecting pieces (C).
The modules can be combined forming rows and columns.
Expand your SWITCHO Family and configure it to your preferences.
Join the modules you want to combine and introduce the connecting pieces (C) as displayed below. Tighten the screw with n.3 Allen key (H) until you feel resistance.

2.4 CONNECTING TO PC
Connect the USB-C power supply cable (E) to the back of the SWITCHO RADIOS labelled as “Power 5V” and the USB-A to USB-C cable (D) to the back of the SWITCH module labelled as “PC USB”. Connect the power supply to a wall power socket and the free end of the USB cable (D) to the computer where the flight simulator software is running. Virtual Fly SWITCHO Radios - CONNECTING TO
PC

SOFTWARE SETUP

The SWITCHO RADIOS module interacts with any computer using our own custom protocol through VFHub, which makes it compatible with MSFS, Prepar3DV4-V5 and X-Plane 11/12.
VFHub is the software developed by Virtual Fly to simplify setting up our products. With VFHub, you can fly your favorite flight simulation software without worrying about configuring your Virtual Fly flight controls.
You can download the latest VFHub version from this link: https://www .virtual-fly.com/setup-support. The VFHub installer takes care of installing VFHub and all the required modules.
VFHub is compatible with MSFS, Prepar3DV4-V5 and X-Plane 11/12.
After installing VFHub, make sure your SWITCHO RADIOS is connected to your computer. Run VFHub and verify that the YOKO status displayed in the Dashboard is “Connected”. Virtual Fly SWITCHO Radios - displayed in the
Dashboard

VFHub takes care of making your SWITCHO RADIOS module work with MSFS and X-Plane 11/12, so it must always be running when you use the SWITCHO RADIOS.

If you want to customize how your SWITCHO RADIOS works, select the device’s options button ( ) in VFHub’s Dashboard. For detailed instructions on all the tuning and customization possibilities, check the USER’s MANUAL button in the VFHub software.

START UP

4.1 ACTIVATING PROCEDURES

Start your preferred flight simulation software (MSFS, Prepar3D or X-Plane 11/12).
After the RADIOS is connected to the PC, VFHub is running and showing a “Connected” status for the RADIOS, press the push button (a) indicated below to start the RADIOS. ! It is very important to activate/deactivate the device using the ON/OFF button and to wait for the software to load before deactivating the device.

4.2 DEACTIVATING PROCEDURES
Press the push button of the SWITCHO RADIOS and wait until everything has stopped before unplugging the SWITCHO RADIOS from the power source. Virtual
Fly SWITCHO Radios - RADIOS is connected

RADIOS FUNCTIONS

5.1 KEYS AND KNOBS
The SWITCHO RADIOS contains push buttons (keys) and rotary switches (knobs) to control RADIO and AUTOPILOT functionalities. The knobs have three different functions depending on whether the user rotates the knob (1), pushes it (2) or push-holds whilst rotating (3).

RADIO

NAV key: Transfers the standby and active NAV frequencies.
COM key: Transfers the standby and active COM frequencies. Pressing and holding this key for two seconds automatically tunes the emergency frequency (121.5 MHz) in the active frequency field.
NAV knob: (1) Sets the kHz of the active NAV frequency. (2) Transfers the active NAV source to the standby frequency of the same NAV source. (3) Sets the MHz of the active NAV frequency.
COM knob: (1) Sets the kHz of the active COM frequency. (2) Transfers the active COM source to the standby frequency of the same COM source. (3) Sets the MHz of
the active COM frequency.
ADF knob: (1) Sets the kHz of the active ADF code. (2) Transfers the standby and active ADF codes. (3) Sets the active ADF code in larrger steps.
XPDR knob: (1) Sets the selected XPDR code unit. (2) Changes the selected digit of the code (3) Sets the XPDR mode.

AUTOPILOT & NAVIGATION FUNCTIONS

AP key: Engages/disengages the Autopilot and Flight Director.
YD key: Engages/disengages the Yaw Damper.
FD key: Engages/disengages the Flight Director.
A/T key: Engages/disengages the Autothrottle mode.
FLC key: Selects/deselects the Flight Level Change Mode.
HDG key: Selects/deselects Heading Select Mode.
NAV key: Selects/deselects the Navigation Select Mode.
VNAV key: Selects/deselects Vertical Navigation Mode
APR key: Selects/deselects the Approach Mode.
REV B/C key: Selects/deselects Back Course Mode.
ALT key: Selects/deselects the Apltitude Hold Mode.
VS key: Selects/deselects the Vertical Speed Mode.
UP and DN keys: Control the active pitch reference for the Pitch Hold, Vertical Speed, and Flight Level Change modes.
CRS1 | CRS 2 knob: (2) Changes the CRS .
HDG | GYRO knob: (1) Sets the Heading Bug position in the HSI. (2) Transfers between Heading and Directional Gyro mode. (3) Syncs the Heading Bug to the current heading.
BARO | IAS knob: (2) Sets the knob mode to control BARO or IAS. (3) Sets the BARO or IAS depending on the selected mode.
ALT knob: (1) Sets the Altitude Bug in the altimeter. (2) Syncs the Altitude Bug to the current altitude. (3) Increases/decreases the Altitude Bug in the altimete in
steps of 1000s ft.