DCS-BIOS Support

Install

Hornet’s Nest installation video

  1. Download the latest release ZIP files from the DCS-Skunkworks GitHub repository:
    • DCS-BIOS_vx.xx.xx.zip
    • arduino_tools.zip
  2. Extract the ZIP files to a temporary folder that is easy to access, such as your desktop.
    • Extract DCS-BIOS_xxx into one folder and arduino_tools into another.
  3. Open your Saved Games folder, usually located at C:UsersYOUR_USERNAMESaved GamesDCS or DCS.openbeta.
  4. Look for the Scripts folder. If it does not exist, create it.
  5. Open the extracted DCS-BIOS ZIP folder from step 2, find its Scripts directory, and copy the DCS-BIOS folder into the Scripts folder under Saved Games.
  6. Your Saved Games folder hierarchy should look like this:
    • Saved Games
      • DCS (or DCS.openbeta)
        • Scripts
          • DCS-BIOS
  7. In Saved GamesDCSScripts, create an Export.lua file if one does not already exist. The file must be named Export.lua, not Export.lua.txt. You can also copy the Export.lua file from the extracted ZIP folder from step 2.
  8. Edit Saved GamesDCSScriptsExport.lua. Add the following line and save the file: 
    dofile(lfs.writedir()..[[ScriptsDCS-BIOSBIOS.lua]])
  9. From the extracted arduino_tools ZIP in step 2, copy everything into a convenient permanent folder. Do not leave it in a temporary folder. For example, you can use Saved GamesDCSprograms.

Running DCS-BIOS

For each DCS-BIOS-enabled panel, you must run an instance of connect-serial-port.cmd. This program reads real-time data from DCS and sends it to DCS-enabled hardware on the configured COM port. Start the command and leave it running while DCS is running. You will need one instance for each DCS-BIOS-enabled panel you are using.

  1. Find the COM port for the DCS hardware.
    1. Open Device Manager from the Windows Start menu.
    2. Expand Ports (COM & LPT) and find the panel. The COM port will be listed in parentheses.
      1. If you are not sure which device is the panel, unplug it and see which entry disappears.
  2. Start connect-serial-port.cmd from installation step 9.
    1. When prompted for the COM port number, enter the COM port you identified.
    2. Leave this running. This program sends data from DCS to the panel.
  3. That’s it!

Other notes

The F-14 ACM panel uses DCS-BIOS for both inputs and outputs. All other ONYOURTWELVE panels use DCS-BIOS for output only. Inputs to DCS are still handled through the game controller, and you will need to map the commands in-game just as you likely did when setting up your HOTAS.