butlerbd

Pete and Paul, I believe implementation of reverse in B377 is different as Paul says. I set axis and calibrated in FSX for left and right throttles. In Beachcraft 350 and the B377 the throttles moved from idle to full power but would not move either aircraft into or out of reverse. In B377 only left two throttles moved. In each aircraft the F2 button moved throttles into reverse and the F3 button moved the throttles out of reverse. In the B377 the buttons moved all four throttles. Movement of throttles into reverse and out of reverse was less stable in the B377. I then calibrated the axis using FSUIPC. I calibrated for reverse, idle, and maximum with small dead space at idle. In the Beachcraft 350 the throttles moved the controls from idle to full power and also into and out of reverse. Controls functioned as in real aircraft. The F2 and F3 buttons functioned as before. In the B377 the throttles moved from idle to full power but not into or out of reverse as before. In the B377 the FSUIPC calibration did not result in controls functioning as in the real aircraft. The F2 and F3 buttons moved the controls (all four) into and out of reverse. Movement of controls still was not smooth but jittery. Because of the jittery controls when trying to move throttles into reverse in the B377 I did one other thing. I calibrated the controls with FSUIPC checking the "no reverse zone". I thought this might separate any interaction between throttle function and reverse function. In the B377 the throttles went smoothly from full power to idle but not into reverse. The F2 and F3 buttons functioned as before and movement into and out of reverse was smooth. The Beachcraft 350 controls were irratic under this calibration. The throttle reverse behavior of the B377 in the different calibration schemes tends verify as Paul said: the function is implemented differently in this aircraft. Also there has been much discussion on other forums including A2A's about B377 throttle/reverse function without much resolution. Maybe it has something to do with the four engines controlled by one throttle quadrant with only two levers. It does take FSUIPC to enable each lever to control two engines and the F2 and F3 buttons control all four engines. There are so many variables that the realism of the aircraft simulations in our hobby are a wonder and wonderful. For the short term I plan create a "no reverse profile" for the B377 and use to F2 and F3 buttons after landing to slow the aircraft. It is a reasonable compromise. I will work on implementing Pauls "lua script" suggestions to make the B377 throttles function more like the real aircraft. Thanks for all the help Willaim

You are correct the Saitek throttle quadrant has no mechanical detent or area after which the in + out - is reversed. There is no button that I can find that implements a reverse function. The throttles move smoothly from full increase to full decrease. When I calibrated I created dead zone slightly behind the middle of the throttle. I thought the FPUIPC calibration "created a reverse zone" or area where A2A implemented the reverse zone. The throttle levers clearly move up and back in the B377. This can be done with my Saitek levers but they vibrate (as if receiving unrecognized input) at the detent point in the B377 and will move back no further. As you say reverse is implemented by program signal (I did not know that) and the x55-Rhino apparently does not have this capability. I tested my throttles on a twin beach without reverse I did not think to test it on aircraft with reverse. I will do that. Thanks for your help. I learned a lot. I will try your suggestions. Paul Your suggestions are very helpful too. I verifies what Pete said about implementing the reverse zone with buttons. I am not familiar with scripts or "lua". It looks like I may have to learn to get the B377 to function realistically with my hardware. Thanks for your help. I will get back if I have more questions William

I am relatively new to FSX and have assigned axis within FSX and calibrated using FSUIPC. My controller is a Saitek X-55 Rhino with a separate stick and throttle quadrant with two levers. This method of setting controls has worked well until I acquired the Boeing 377 aircraft from A2A (a wonderful simulation of a great old aircraft). For the B377 I followed the "The Easy Step-by-Step way to Calibrate Your Controls" beginning on page 47 of the FSUIPC4 Manual. First I set up axis in FSX and checked that each lever worked correctly. Then I followed section 5, 6 last paragraph setting the dead zone, and 7. I checked the "filter" for each throttle and checked the option that allows twin throttles to control left and right engines in 4 engine aircraft. In the Aircraft the throttle levers operate correctly from the reverse detent forward. Throttle levers vibrate when moving into détente and will not move into reverse or move back to full reverse. Using the F2 button the levers go into reverse move back to full reverse. Power functions correctly increasing as levers move back. Holding the F3 button moves levers forward and out of reverse. Once levers are moved beyond détente with the F3 button the levers function correctly. There are problems using the throttles to control the reverse function. I have questions: If F2 and F3 buttons move levers into and out of reverse why won't throttle levers work? As the throttles won't move over détente could there be problem in creating the dead zone? Should one calibrate each throttle separately or together setting reverse, idle, and max button on both throttles together? I don't know how A2A or FSUIPC programing implements the throttle/reverse function but it is interesting that the buttons function correctly? Should I try calibrating with the one throttle section of FSUIPC? Would using FSUIPC to fully control axis functions in an FSX profile for the B377 be more likely to function correctly? I would like to have throttles setup that smoothly move through the range and move into and out off reverse. Any help/thoughts you could provide me would be appreciated. William