iMSB M-Link Hack 3.9.4

Screenshots

Description

iMSB is an advanced telemetry data display and logging application running under iPhone and iPad. It is targeted for Multiplex M-Link based RC transmitter systems and integrates support for a wide range of Multiplex, as well as third party telemetry sensors that are compatible with the MSB (Multiplex Sensor Bus) standard.

iMSB offers a state of the art replacement for built in and external telemetry displays, including many more advanced features. Fully customisable iMSB supports several model definitions and allows tracking vital information from your model. Flight data is displayed in an easy readable form on several thematic views in analogue or digital form. iMSB not only displays real-time flight data, but is able to record and save flight sessions for later playback and analysis. It can be configured to alert the user when critical values are reached and provides valuable flight time statistics data. Additionally, in order to enhance safety and as modellers generally focus on their model rather than on a visual display iMSB fully supports voice based commands and announcements.

iMSB integrates a wide variety of MSB compatible sensors from different vendors, such as Multiplex, Wstech and SM-Modellbau.

Features:
- Define individual models and assign each sensor value available in the real model from a list of available sensors
- Support for various thematic displays such as electrical and temperature values, vario, altitude, speed, heading and rpm, as well as flight track and model positioning on a map
- Minimum, maximum and average statistical data can be shown along the actual sensor value, as well as a graphical plot of it evolution over time
- Freely customise each display by assigning sensor values and their associated flight statistics to individual analogue meter views or digital display fields. The layout of each view can be defined among a set of predefined templates
- Individual alarm thresholds, as well as multiple level notifications for each sensor value can be setup directly in the application (no specific settings required at the real sensor level)
- Get notified of an alarm by issuing an alarm sound, display a message popup or a spoken notification
- Record real-time flight sessions and save them for later playback and analysis
- Control replay speed, cuing to a specific position, as well as pausing and resuming playback
- Integrated vario sound player
- Compare flight to flight, as well as model statistics. Plot several values simultaneously on a time graph for further data analysis
- iMSB incorporates a flexible voice based application navigation and command set for controlling various application features, requesting the announcement of a sensor value or even a whole set of values
- Displays sensor data in metric, imperial or nautical units
- Possibility to export flight log data over iCloud Drive, Dropbox or OneDrive in the LogView Open Format Zero (csv), Google Earth kmz or GPS NMEA format

Telemetry data is available at the transmitter in the form of a serial data stream. In order to transfer the data into an iPhone or iPad a dedicated iMSB Bluetooth Smart, also known as Bluetooth 4.0, module is to be used. This module is connected physically to the data port or an internal module expansion port of your transmitter. Further details related to hardware requirements can be found on the iMSB web site.

But even if your transmitter is not yet ready for real-time logging, you can jump start exploring the power of iMSB with the built-in demo flight recordings.

Version history

3.9.4

2022-04-12

Fixed an issue not handling correctly receiver voltage data.

3.9.3

2022-02-22

- Added possibility to customise value announcements
- Fixed MicroVario sensor that was not correctly displaying g values
- Fixed issue in the value scanner not displaying all values
- Minor improvements

3.9.2

2021-11-24

- Minor User interface improvements
- Compatibility with new iOS 15

3.9.1

2021-06-16

Fixed an bug when several vario sensors are available in a model

3.9

2021-05-06

iMSB release 3.9 is mainly focussed for experts wanting to extend the iMSB functionality by the means of specific lua scripts. In release 3.6 we already introduced the Lua Sensor Scripting library allowing a script to be associated to a specific sensor value, evaluated on a regular basis during data logging. Lua scripting is a perfect tool for adapting functionality to user specific needs and perform complex data processing not available in the standard app. With this release we even go a step further and introduce the iMSB Lua Widget Scripting library. With this library user specific widgets can be programmed and attached to an iMSB display view. Widgets are essentially a graphic representation of a display element, such as a meter, used to display sensor values or any other graphic representation. A Lua Widget is attached to a display view the same way as any other pre-defined meter. Lua Widget scripts interoperate together with the Lua Sensor scripting library, to access sensor values and other attributes that need to be displayed in a Widget. The Widget library offers a great means to extend you display capabilities to suit you particular need by adding features not commonly available in the application. Please refer to the iMSB web site pages for further information and to access the programming reference guide.
A couple of other features and enhancements are as well available for this new release.

Features:
• Added SM-Modellbau MicroVario to the available sensors list
• Introduces the iMSB Lua Widget Scritpting library allowing developers to program user specific display view elements
• Added a widget scripting editor and simulator to the display view layout configuration view
• Added the possibility to import and store external imaged to be used with a lua widget script

Improvements:
• Added a filtering mechanism in the flight logs view. Flight logs may now be sorted and filtered according to their model names
• Extended the iMSB Sensor Scripting Library with a couple of new functions
• Improved iCloud storage capability

Bug Fixes:
• Corrected some issues in the transmitter event triggering mechanisms that were not bevaving correctly, especially when start logging
• Small bug fixes and improvements

3.8.6

2021-01-07

New features:
- On a sensor alarm an new option allows now to repeat the alarm notification at defined time intervals
- Within the GPS and OLC sensors a new value has been added to indicated the distance, inside or outside, from the ideal triangle path. As with every sensor value alarms and reached value notifications can be set. Additionally the set alarm threshold can be visualised on the map alongside the triangle path.

Improvements:
- Enhanced compatibility for iOS14
- The minimum iOS version required to run iMSB is now iOS12

3.8.4

2020-09-10

- Added a model type parameter that allows to select a specific icon shown on the map view
- Corrected display ranges for imperial and nautical units
- Speed values expressed in knots and miles are now displayed with one decimal precision
- Added second voltage value to the receiver sensor to accommodate receivers with dual power supply
- Small UI adaptations and improvements

3.8.1

2020-05-07

- Fixed dark mode color issue for devices not running iOS 13
- Fixed some dark mode color adjustments

3.8

2020-01-20

Release 3.8 introduces dark mode for all iOS 13 devices.
We took this opportunity as well to streamline the overall user interface in order to make it more consistent to the user.
We also upgraded the flight statistics value plotting framework. This new framework enhances overall performance and provides some additional features, such as pinch zooming on both x and y axes and allows saving the display as an image to the camera roll.

Enhancements:
- Support for dark mode
- New flight value plotting framework
- Round meters can now show red alarm zones
- Simplification and standardisation of the UI

Bug fixes:
- Some minor bug fixes and stability improvement

3.7.4

2019-10-31

iOS 13 adaptations

3.7.3

2019-09-03

- Sensor value scanner was not working anymore. This has been fixed
- Fixed Issue with transmitter events that were not working correctly anymore
- Fixed crash when trying to export Google Earth (kmz) files
- Enhanced information displayed on the Bluetooth configuration view

3.7.2

2019-06-30

- Corrected GPS coordinate display and announcement
- Added a transmitter event task allowing to start an OLC/GPS triangle contest
- Improved coordinate calculation algorithm

3.7

2019-04-24

With iMSB release 3.7 we are glad to introduce support for GPS triangle racing. A GPS triangle is setup as a global map overlay that can then be reused in each of your models. The standard classes such as scale/SLS and Sport class are supported. In addition a free class is available that allows to fully customize triangle size and parameters. The existing OLC sensor, that is now available for all GPS sensors, has also been extended to support GPS triangle racing. When the OLC sensor is activated, you first need to select if you want to fly an FAI or GPS triangle task, as well as select the desired triangle. You may then specify task parameters and customize the different values. GPS triangle task results are written to the recorded flight log and can be accessed from there. Detailed tasks statistics are also available in the flight statistics section.
Please note that iMSB is not currently homologated for official GPS triangle racing and is still in an experimental stage.

Features:
- iMSB now supports GPS triangle racing and GPS triangle overlay
- Added GPS triangle racing support to the existing OLC sensor
- GPS and FAI triangle are now available to all GPS sensors

Improvements:
- Exported Google Earth, LogView and NMEA data files can now be stored in the iCloud iMSB folder
- Screen layout was updated and enhanced to support the new iPad Pro
- Various UI improvements and fixes
- Development of new generation iMSB BT Smart module range

Bug fixes:
- Fixed several bugs in the iMSB Lua sensor library
- Various bug fixes and enhancements

3.6.3

2018-11-07

iOS 12.1 bug fixes

3.6.2

2018-10-13

- Data logging under locked screen conditions is again possible
- On the iPad version, display elements can now be bigger
- Flight distance was not computed correctly
- Updated Lua scripting library
- Small bug fixes

3.6

2018-07-10

iMSB release 3.6 introduces some nice features for experts who need to handle specific sensor and value processing. First, the generic sensor was extended with a custom value allowing to define specific units of your choice and number formatting. Decoding the raw telemetry data stream can be controlled by specifying a scale factor, pre and post offset. Second, if you need even greater flexibility we introduced scripting sensor values. A script value is nothing else than a sensor value whose processing is handled by a user definable Lua script attached to the value itself. It can be visualized, announced and logged by the standard iMSB functionalities. Not only can you handle standard scalar, time and coordinate based data, but we event introduced a string based value, allowing to show any text messages directly in a display field. The iMSB Lua library also adds a variety of functions that allow to programmatically controlling several aspects of the application. Please refer to the iMSB web site for further information and to access the programming reference guide. Note that you need to enable the advanced mode in order to use these new features.

These new features provide a great deal of new possibilities and much more flexibility in the way you want to process your data, as well as display them in the application.

Features:
• Introduced the iMSB Lua scripting libraries that allow attaching a Lua script to a sensor value for user defined value processing and application control. Please refer to the document on the iMSB web site for detailed information
• Added a custom sensor value to the generic sensor allowing to customize decoding of a given sensor value
• Removed support for the older WiFi module.  Note that users still using this device should not upgrade to release 3.6 or switch to the newer BT Smart module.

Improvements:
• The vario player can now be parametrized to your personal liking by adjusting the center pitch, as well as the climb and decent frequency steps
• There is no more limitation on the value types that can be shown on the map view

Bug Fixes:
• Default log file name generation was not handled correctly in the english locale
• Small bug fixes and improvements

3.5.1

2018-02-15

- Added missing voice commands for clock and date values
- BLE device and GPIO configuration screens where not displayed correctly
- Improved some iPhone X screen layouts
- General user interface improvements

3.5

2017-12-05

Release 3.5 brings essentially some improvements to the user interface. In particular, we added a couple of new analog meter displays, as well as new sensor values.
Additionally the application has been updated for iOS 11 and the new iPhone X.

Features:
- Added a new date and absolute time sensor value to the receiver sensor
- Added a new analog time meter, that allows to show existing flight time and engine time values, as well as the absolute time
- Added a date display field
- Added an acceleration analog meter for displaying acceleration values
- Maximum and minimum statistics markers are now visible on most of the analog meter displays
- Added True Air Speed sensor to the available sensor list
- Added Lipo Saver sensor
- Added G-Rate sensor
- Replaced the MultiCont Expert sensor with Roxxy Smart Control

Improvements:
- When the application quits while a flight recording is still being performed the log file is now properly saved before the app is shut down in order to prevent data loss
- Added the possibility to store each flight session under a different default name, such as the previous recording does not get overwritten. Note that this feature has to be enabled in the data logging section of the application settings
- In the SM Modellbau GPS Logger it is now possible to specify if 2D or 3D distance is acquired
- Fixed a bug with the VSpeak vario where the absolute altitude was not correctly calculated

Bug fixes:
- Announcements on level notifications where not working correctly
- Storing model and log file documents was broken since iOS 11. This is now working correctly again
- The map display view was not showing the pilots location in some circumstances
- Fixed a bug with the VSpeak vario where the absolute altitude was not correctly calculated
- Fixed a bug in the SM Modellbau GPS Logger where coordinates were not calculated when 2D distance was selected

3.4.1

2017-05-08

- Fixed bug in GPS coordinate display on the Link Vario sensor
- Fixed inaccurate time display when performing a real time logging

3.4

2017-04-25

The supported sensor base just got bigger in the current iMSB release. We are glad to announce that we introduced the Vspeak vario to the list of available sensors. In addition to the height measurement, the vario also has a 3-axis accelerometer and a single cell monitoring. All Vspeak vario values from the sensor are available for logging, along some additional calculated values.

In iMSB release 3.4 you may now use map shapes for annotating specific zones on the map view. A map overlay is a polyline, polygon or ellipse shape that can be associated to your map, such as simple map shapes, forbidden flight zones and FAI triangles. Map overlays are application wide feature objects that can be reused by all your models. Map shapes can easily be created and edited with the visual overlay editor.
Additionally, to help you fly your FAI triangle we defined a new virtual sensor that is be used in conjunction with such a triangle. The OLC contest sensor has been added to every GPS sensor and provides calculated values and statistics, such as number of laps flown, the actual waypoint headed to, the remaining distance to the next waypoint or to the goal, the speed when the start circle was left, etc.
A detailed introduction to map overlays, editing and usage, as well as configuration for using with the OLC sensor can be found in the news section of the iMSB web site.

Features:
- Added support for Vspeak vario and Vspeak Vario pro to the list of available sensors
- Various simple shape, flight exclusion zone and FAI triangle map overlays can be added to the map view
- A map overlay editor allows to graphically edit your map overlays, as well as fine tuning their graphical appearance
- Added a search functionality to the map overlay editor to easily find locations and shapes
- Added the possibility to customize flight exclusion zone alarms and FAI triangle flight notifications
- Added an OLC virtual sensor to each available GPS sensor, to assist in flying FAI triangles
- Updated the flight statistics screen to cope with the new OLC sensor values. Added statistics data for each lap flown in an FAI triangle

Improvements:
- Visual improvements to the map view and icons
- The display field layout on the map view is no more static. Additional display fields can now be added to the view and freely configured
- Added a GPS coordinate display field that can now be added to each view
- The color and line width of the GPS track trace on the map view can now be configured in the application settings
- Added voice commands to cope with new OLC sensor values
- Some graphical adaptations made to the model finder

3.3

2017-01-31

A really user friendly model finder that allows to easily find lost models is one feature iMSB was desperately missing until now. The last model location, once a logging session is ended, can now be retrieved and displayed along your current position on a map. It also gives you directions to follow to get to your model. The model finder can be accessed in your model's flight log. Please consider that this functionality is only available for new recordings.

Until now owners of the Profi TX or newer Cockpit SX transmitters could not use the iMSB BT Smart module without going through the Multiplex Souffleur. We are glad to announce that we have built an iMSB BT Smart module version that can be plugged directly in the internal transmitter module expansion slots of these transmitters. Thus the module can now be used without any restrictions with the Profi TX and Cockpit SX. Details and ordering information are available on the iMSB web site.

Bug Fixes:
- The use of Bluetooth headsets was broken since some time. This has been fixed and these headsets should be able to work properly again
- Fixed an issue with the vario player that was not muted when flight log playback was paused or the speed not nominal
- Various bug fixes
- The allocation of a generic sensor could under some circumstances crash the application

3.2

2016-10-16

It happens often that we don’t remember which sensors were installed in a model and which basic configuration they actually have. In such cases configuring a model in iMSB can be a tedious and frustrating task. In order to help you troubleshoot your setup we added a sensor value scanner feature. The sensor value scanner scans all your sensors and values and lists them for you. Simply go into the “Application settings” and with your RC transmitter switched on select the “Sensor & value scanner” option.

Improvements have also been done to the transmitter events. Transmitter events are triggers that allow to execute various tasks you may specify, such as announcing an individual value or a value list, controlling application navigation or switching the vario sound player on and off. Such triggers can now additionally be issued via external switches. If you own an iMSB BT Smart data module you can connect up to eight switches to the module’s GPIO ports. For a detailed description to setup the required configuration please refer to the iMSB web site.

Additionally transmitter tasks are now also available for flight logs. All events and tasks you define in a model are copied over into the log file, where they can be used during playback. There are however some obvious limitations to this. All events that are linked to the real transmitter cannot be used in log files, such as some adaptations might be necessary to your setup. Note also that per default all tasks are disabled in a log file and need to be reenabled manually.

Features:
- Added a sensor value scanner allowing to scan for available sensors and displaying their configuration
- Added the possibility to connect up to eight switches to the iMSB module GPIO ports in order to control transmitter tasks. This feature is only available to the iMSB BT Smart devices.
- Transmitter tasks and events are now also available to recorded log files. Note however that they are all disabled per default
- Added support for Wmin value for the SM Modellbau Unilog 2 sensor (available with firmware 1.12)

Improvements:
- Added a unique timer trigger in the transmitter events
- In the transmitter tasks added warning messages in case of ill constrained or inconsistent trigger and state events
- iOS 10 specific adaptations

Bug fixes:
- Corrected a few bugs in the transmitter events, where some events in certain configurations were not executed correctly
- Fixed a bug in the LogView file export generator, that for some values made LogView Info not to load the file
- Fixed a bug in the flight statistics display that were not updated upon consecutive log sessions
- The voice command for displaying the menu view was not recognized in the english version
- Minor bug fixes

3.1.1

2016-07-02

Bug fixes

3.1

2016-05-27

Release 3.1 brings some drastic speech recognition improvements for the german and french versions of the application. In the french version speech recognition is now fully supported in the native app language. Thus the same voice commands as for the other languages can now be used natively. For a full set of available voice commands please refer to the respective reference. In the german version speech recognition robustness has been dramatically improved. Additionally the full set of recognition features that are available in the english version are now also available in german. Please also check the voice command reference for changes to previous version.

Features:
- Alarm and notification sounds can be individually customised for each value and event type. A set of new system sounds were added to the application
- The real time and file recording rate can now be adjusted between 1x, 2x and 4x per second, such as to increase value accuracy
- Speech recognition is now also available in the french version of the application. French voice commands are described in the voice reference of the application settings

Improvements:
- Improved german speech recognition. Speech recognition in german is now much more robust than it previously was
- Improved graphics framework

Bug fixes:
- In certain situations saving a model could crash the application
- Smoother display of sensor values in the corresponding views
- General bug fixes

3.0.2

2016-03-02

Bug Fixes:
- Azimuth and Heading values are no more displayed with decimal value
- Calculated elongation value was not correct and has been fixed
- Fixed incorrect display range value settings
- Missing display of model and flight statistics have been corrected
- Corrected some German and French translations