The widely available cheap CD74HC4067 multiplexer breakout board is used in the RSC/SimVimX system as main inputs extension. This multiplexer works as electronic "switch" when only one channel of 16 is selected at any given time. The firmware functions very quickly scan all multiplexer inputs in every X-Plane frame and send all changes to the plugin.
Thus, you can connect 16 toggle switches or momentary buttons to the multiplexer inputs, or use appropriate number of inputs for rotary switches and encoders. All multiplexers used for inputs are connected to 4 common address lines: S0,S1,S2,S3 (or pins #22,23,24,25).
To extend a number of 7-segment displays or LED drivers, the same CD74HC4067 module is used as reversed (output) multiplexer. You can use up to 4 multiplexers for output, but most likely only one-two output expansion boards will be sufficient for your entire system (32 displays).
The difference from the input multiplexer is the connection and direction of signals, in this case the SIG (Z) is used as input, and all 16 channels are used as outputs:
The SimVimX firmware program receives formatted data from the plugin that need to be changed for particular display. In the moment when needed channel is opened it sends data for output device connected to the selected channel.
Note: Any single extension board can be used either for inputs or outputs only! Don't try to connect switches to output multiplexer.
NOTE: Though the main input/output connection options mostly stay intact, the configuration protocol and hardware connections can be changed, sometimes drastically.
You don't need to order or make some kind of complex PCBs, the SimVimX architecture is specially designed the way when anyone can simply buy ready-to-use, cheap modules and breakout boards listed on this website, connect them as described on our pages, that's all.
You can also use the 8-channel 74HC4051 multiplexer
1) For 8-bit INPUT multiplexer board you should not connect the "EN" input to the "GND". Instead you need to use the first 3 bus address lines for S0..S2 and connect the 4-th address line to the "EN" input of this multiplexer board.
2) For 8-bit OUTPUT multiplexer board the address line S3 is not used at all.
