Question Always need to use Pololu JRK utility first before SimTools???

Quick question here regarding my motion platform startup routine.

From day one I've always had to use the Pololu JRK Configuration Utility's "Motor Start" and then "Motor Stop", after which I exit out of before using SimTools for any gaming session.

If I just fire up my sim rig and start SimTools, then choose a game I don't get any motion from the platform.
The JRK's fail to initialize.

When I do the scenario which I first mentioned, I'm good to go with SimTools and any games for that session, unless I have to reboot my PC for any reason....then I need to do it all again.

Am I missing some simple setting which allows the JRK's + motors to be initialized without first starting and stopping them with the Pololu JRK Config Utility?????

Does SimTools have a startup setting which will eliminate the need for me to use the Pololu Config Utility/Quit out/ Then start SimTools first?

Thanks for any info if it's available.

This does not seem zo be the problem here. The problem is that @Kranky Pantz needs to start the JRK Utility every time before starting SimTools, because otherwise his motors won‘t move.

I changed to Arduino and Sabertooth, but I am still using JRK 12v12 with one of my motors, and I did not ever have this problem. I only have to start the Utility for changing the configuration. Howecer, I don‘t know how to solve the issue.

Thank you both for the questions & answers so far.

To confirm, yes that is correct that I cannot get the JRK's initialized without FIRST opening the Pololu Config Utility, then starting & stopping the motors, and finally quitting out of the Config Utility.

Only after that can I start SimTools and proceed to play games with motion.

I've had this same issue for both my old PC and my recent build, so it has spanned over 2 different PC's so far.

I will check to see if the JRK's appear in Windows Device Manager, as that is something I have never looked for up until now.


If for some reason they aren't listed, can anyone recommend the best way to remedy this issue?

THX

So after some testing I think I've figured it out.


It all comes down to the order in which I fire things up.

Since I don't always know whether or not I may be using my motion platform during a session, I usually just turn on the PC first.

The JRK's are connected with a USB hub which is powered on every time the PC is on, but they along with the motors are not receiving power until I turn my sim rig on.


If I did decide to do some racing/flying at some point, then I would usually power on the cockpit & motion platform motors.

In doing this scenario, I would always need to also use the Pololu JRK Config Utility to then initialize the JRKS's/Motors, quite out of it and then start SimTools.

I have discovered that if I turn the cockpit on FIRST, then fire up the PC afterwards I can go right into SimTools and everything works as it should, no "pre-load" of the JRK Config Utility necessary.


It seems that the JRK's require their power source (12v in my case) to be active prior to initializing/turning on the PC, rather than afterwards, otherwise I need to use the JRK config utility to "jump start" them.


TLDR : In order to solve the problem, the fix is to simply make sure that my motion platform + JRK's are powered on BEFORE turning on the PC.
The JRK's seem to like to have their power first, then USB (or both simultaneously), which in turn initializes them in Windows Device Manager.
Supplying them with power afterwards once Windows has loaded seems to require that config utility to get 'em going.


Sometimes the easiest fixes are the simplest ones!

Perhaps it's not a widespread issue because people always have their rigs on beforehand???



Thanks @noorbeast & @MarkusB for your input and confirming that it wasn't a normal situation or startup with the rig.

Cheers!!!