Feedback
Many of the improvements and functions in the apps come from people suggesting changes and I am always interested in receiving feed back and ideas. If you have a suggestion or find a problem please let me know through the the contact form.
dropControllerV4
Update the firmware through Settings => Update.
See dropControllerV4: Updating The Firmware for details.
dropControllerV4
Firmware: DC4_0624R
Firmware: DC4_0621R
Firmware: DC4_0620R
Firmware: DC4_0610R
Firmware: DC4_0606
Firmware: DC4_0605
Changes
DC4_0624R
– added trigger test. See here
– turn key error beeb ON/OFF
– minor update to screen layout for small screens
DC4_0621R
– added Loop Page SPACE key to STOP
– delta buttons no longer turn grey when off
– upload function more robust
DC4_0620R
– Added Load/save drop data function in the Settings Page
– Added keyboard short cuts. See the shortcuts page
DC4_0610R
– bug fix: Fixed an issue with the shutter trigger time when using SYNC mode and large offset times.
DC4_606
– added valve drain time out. More details for the valve drain time out here
– bug fix: shutter trigger time using BULB and large offset time
dropControllerV4 mkII
Firmware for dropControllerV4 mkII 8 Valve and dropControllerV4 mkII 16 Valve versions.
Firmware: DC4mkII_031R
Firmware: DC4mkII_027R
Firmware: DC4mkII_025R
Firmware: DC4mkII_016R
Changes
DC4mkII_031R
– added trigger test. See here
– turn key error beeb ON/OFF
– minor update to screen layout for small screens
DC4mkII_027R
– added Loop Page SPACE key to STOP
– delta buttons no longer turn grey when off
– upload function more robust
DC4mkII_025R
– added Load/save drop data function in the Settings Page
– added keyboard short cuts. See the shortcuts page
DC4mkII_016R
– fixed an issue with the camera trigger pulse duration when using SYNC mode and large offset times
– added AUX Trigger SYNC. SYNCS the AUX Trigger to the Camera shutter. Used for connecting two cameras at the same time.
DC4_mkII_R1-007c
– initial release.
dropControllerV3
dropControllerV3 firmware
The dropControllerV3 device firmware is maintained in Arduino IDE 1.8.19. I use portable versions of the IDE and, at the time of writing, IDE 2.x is not fully portable. I am therefore staying with the older IDE for now.
Please see Updating the Firmware for full instructions on how to update the firmware.
The firmware is available as an Arduino sketch or as a pre-compiled HEX file.
Windows App
The Windows app is created in VisualBasic.net. (Net 4.8) It is currently maintained in Microsoft Visual Studio Community 2022. Visual Studio Community is free to use for hobbyists, students, individuals, and some others. You do not need Visual Studio to use the app.
The Windows program does not need to be installed and is run directly from a folder, double click the file to start. It requires the .net framework, minimum version 4.0, available at Microsoft .net 4 download page and will run on Windows XP SP2, Win7, Win10, Win11. The program is not signed and you may receive a security warning on the first run.
If you are worried about security warnings you can download the source files and compile the app yourself using Visual Studio.
Android App
The Android app was created and maintained in App Inventor 2. You do not need App Inventor to use the app.
I no longer upload the Android app to the Google Play Store. This means the app requires to be side loaded on to a Android device. I have been fighting the Play Store for a while and I have simply given up. As a part time hobby developer I simply don’t have the time or energy to continue with the Play Store.
June 2025 Updates
I finally managed to get time to start implementing some of the long planned updates. Unfortunately the new updates are not compatible with older firmwares or apps. This means, if you update, you will need to update them all (the device firmware, the Windows app, and the Android app).
dropControllerV3 Firmware Updates
– can now handle up to 24 drops
Windows App Updates
– increased the number of drops to 24
– added add/remove drop controls
– drop labels can be edited (double click the drop label)
– moved the Loop Mode controls to the drops page
– totally new graph that looks just like the old one!
– save & load drop data
– turn off/on text box formatting (cancel adding leading zeros)
– code improvements
Android App Updates
This is a temporary update to make the app compatible with the new device firmware.
A full update is planned and should be available after my holidays….
Arduino Sketch
The download is a zip file containing the dropControllerV3 Arduino sketch.
Download Arduino Sketch AS25006
Arduino HEX File
The download is a zip file containing everything you need to upload the compiled HEX file. The Arduino IDE is not required.
Download Arduino HEX file AS25006
Android App
The download is a zip file containing the apk file and the App Inventor aia file.
Download Android app AA25006
Windows App exe File
The download is a zip file containing the program exe file.
Download the Windows app exe file WA25.0.0.6
Windows App Source Files
The download is a zip file containing the Visual Studio Visual Basic files.
Download Windows app source files WA25.0.0.6 26585
dropControllerV3 Older Versions
dropControllerV3 Arduino Sketch files
Download dropControllerV3_2022_001.
dropControllerV3 HEX files
dropControllerV3_2022_001_HEX_File
The download is a zip file containing the pre-compiled HEX file firmware and the firmware upload app. The Arduino IDE is not required. Simply run the upload app, load the HEX file, point the app at the Arduino and click upload. Or, see the update guide.
dropControllerV3 Android App
I am having issues with Google’s Play Store and they keep rejecting the newer apps, therefore, the Android app version 2023-001 is only available here (not on the Play Store) and the app will need to be side loaded on to an Android device. The download is a zip file containing the apk file.
Download dropControllerV3 Android app version 2023-001
Changes
Version 2023_001
– Fixed a very obscure bug that never effected anything.
Version 2022_001
– Turn delta values off/on. No more setting the delta value to zero.
– Loop Mode COPY*.
– Hide/show FT2 and FT3
– New shutter SYNC mode. Syncs the shutter trigger to the Flash Trigger 1 time
– Simpler BULB mode
– Removed Mirror Lockup function
– New style graph with clearer display of drop times
– Tidied up the valve drain code. No more annoying error messages saying Bluetooth is turned off.
– Fixed an issue with missing drops when drop 1 is turned off.
*Loop Mode COPY is used to copy the current drop settings to the main screen.
Like the 5th drop from the sequence, copy it to the main Drop Data screen.
dropControllerV3 Android App Source File
The dropControllerV3 Android app was created in MIT’s App inventor.
Download the source file/blocks. The download is a zip file containing the aia file.
dropControllerV3 Windows Program
The program is not signed and you may receive a security warning on the first run.
dropControllerV3 Windows App version 2023.1.1.4
dropControllerV3 Windows App version 2021.1.1.3
Changes
Version 2021.1.1.3
– Minor update to make the code more efficient.
Version 2021.1.1.3
– Bug fix: Valves not turning off when leaving the Settings page or the app closing.
Version 2021.1.1.2
– Turn individual drops on and off
– Turn delta values off/on. No more setting the delta value to zero.
– Loop Mode COPY*.
– New shutter SYNC mode. Syncs the shutter trigger to the Flash Trigger 1 time
– Simpler BULB mode
– New style graph with clearer display of drop times
– Fixed an issue with missing drops when drops are turned off.
– Fixed an issue with the COM port list not resetting.
*Loop Mode COPY is used to copy the current drop settings to the main screen.
Like the 5th drop from the sequence, copy it to the main Drop Data screen.
dropControllerV3 Windows Program Source Files
The dropControllerV3 windows apps is written in VisualBasic.net (framework). The files can be edited using Microsoft’s Visual Studio. A free version (Visual Studio Community) is available for students, open-source contributors, and individuals.
Download dropController_WinApp-source-files_2023.1.1.1.4 – 2023_001.zip
Blurb
All rights reserved.
dropControllerV3 is source available rather that fully open source. You are free to change the code and designs in anyway you like for your own personal use but please do not copy and sell.
Source code is not available for dropControllerV4 at this time.