What is joystick sensitivity?

[Tenfore]

Pete, this question is not specifically related to FSUIPC, which I must say is a wonderful piece of middleware, but what do the joystick "Sensitivity" sliders actually do in FS? What is more sensitivity versus less sensitivity?

For example I find that the elevator control launches a Cessna 182 to a VS of 1000' to 1500' fpm - increasing the risk of a stall - even with only a slight pull on the stick. I would like more of a variable ratio VS - more sensitivity (less VS) above and below the center position and less sensitivity at the extremes.

Similarly to get a slower rate of turn I would like the ailerons and rudder to be slower acting near the center of the axis, etc.

I don't think that FSUIPC can do this - correct me if I am wrong - but do the sensititivity sliders at least slow down or increase the action of the controls even in a linear manner? The answer may be to use a yoke rather than a joystick but that is not in the cards at the moment. Any clarification would be much appreciated.

I also wanted to take this opportunity to say that your commitment to the flight simulation community, your patience with all types of questions, the seamless integration of your software and your efforts to make flight simming more fun and realistic for all of us is is appreciated.

Thanks, Bruce Stewart - registered user.

[Pete Dowson]

what do the joystick "Sensitivity" sliders actually do in FS? What is more sensitivity versus less sensitivity?

More sensitive = more effect for less input.

Less sensitive = Less effect for more input.

I would like more of a variable ratio VS - more sensitivity (less VS) above and below the center position and less sensitivity at the extremes.

I think you want it the other way round! :wink:

I don't think that FSUIPC can do this

No, not at present. I used to use such "S" shaped response curves with EPIC, and I have incorporated such in my PFC driver. It's on the list for FSUIPC but not at the top at present.

There is a package that will probably do it -- FS Communicator. See http://www.flightsimulator.at/frm_fscom.htm. There's a document you can download called "FS-Com Analog Channel Processing V3" which seems to show that you can do a lot with the package. But it is payware again, like FSUIPC.

correct me if I am wrong - but do the sensititivity sliders at least slow down or increase the action of the controls even in a linear manner?

Apart from operating in the reverse direction to what you are thinking, I think they are just scalers -- so yes, they would be linear if you have the analog inputs set to behave linearly. Since FS2002, by default, FS has treated joysticks in a kind of linear-by-time fashion rather than a direct connection.

If you haven't tried it, you could add "stick_sensitivity_mode=0" to the [Controls] section of FS9.CFG. This makes FS treat the analogs like it did in FS98 days, more sensibly in my opinion.

Regards,

Pete

[Tenfore]

Pete,

Thank you for your prompt reply and for literally "straightening" me out about the joystick sensitivities. Of course you are right about having it backwards so I will play with the sliders and see if I can optimize the joystick a little better. I have also added the {CONTROLS} statement as you suggested.

Another day, another piece of FS software! I looked at the FS-Communicator site and it says it also requires a registered copy of WideFS so I will just experiment with FS for now and keep Communicator in the back of my mind.

Bruce...

[Pete Dowson]

Another day, another piece of FS software! I looked at the FS-Communicator site and it says it also requires a registered copy of WideFS so I will just experiment with FS for now and keep Communicator in the back of my mind.

I think the WideFS bit is assuming you are running a Network with bits of cockpit all over. Yu don't need WideFs for a single PC, it cannot do anything then.

Regards,

Pete

[Tenfore]

The flight controls do seem "softer" than they did, which must be as a result of the addition of the [CONTROLS] statement. Now I can play with the sliders to see if I can get the feel that I want.

Thanks for the response about FS-Communicator and WideFS. I thought the same thing but his home page did not go into detail about why there was a requirement for WideFS.

Bruce...

[Pete Dowson]

The flight controls do seem "softer" than they did, which must be as a result of the addition of the [CONTROLS] statement. Now I can play with the sliders to see if I can get the feel that I want.

Okay. Watch the announcements at the top of the Forum for new facilities in FSUIPC. When I get time I will try to add the response curves option for the main joystick controls. The actual facility isn't hard, it's finding a tidy implementation for the user interface that takes all the time! I can't promise it for any particular release, but I'll have a look soon.

Regards,

Pete