Having trouble configuring reverser axis

[Luke Kolin]

I have a registered copy of FSUIPC 3.411, and I have the CH Yoke, Pedals and Throttle (all USB). Downloaded it tonight. I am attempting to get reverse thrust working, by using the mixture axis.

I started off by configuring the mixture axis. I am using the leftmost axis on the CH Yoke. I move it fully forward to set maximum; and all the way back to set minimum. My min value is -16193, my max is 16192. As I move the lever back and forth I see the OUT values go from -16384 to 16384. All looks good thus far.

I then go to page 7 to calibrate the reverser using the mixture. I click SET for the reverser. Currently IN =-16193, OUT=0. Since the lever is all the way back (ie. no reverse) I click the SET button under idle, and the Idle value becomes -16193. I then move the lever full forward for reverse and the IN value goes to 16192, but the OUT value stays at 0. If I try and click SET under Reverse I just get a ding and it refuses to take.

I know reverse works because I can hit F2 and watch the buckets deploy.

I have looked through the manual and tried this numerous times over the past few days/weeks and have not gotten it to work. I am obviously missing something basic but I don't know what it is.

Cheers!

Luke

[Pete Dowson]

I then go to page 7 to calibrate the reverser using the mixture. I click SET for the reverser. Currently IN =-16193, OUT=0. Since the lever is all the way back (ie. no reverse)

That's wrong. Reversers work by pulling them towards you! Idle (no reverse) is full forward. You have it the wrong way around!

You can reverse it if you like (there are now two ways -- the "Rev" checkbox or the option below), but the default is the more realistic.

Just calibrate it correctly. The left hand box (under the "reverse Set" button must be lower than the right-hand box (under the "Idle Set" button. All the calibrations throughout FSUIPC work that way -- calibration values increase left-to-right.

Also the reverse is interlocked to an idle position on the thrust levers, so, after calibration, for normal flight you have the reverser full forward and operate the thrust levers (throttles). To engage reverse you pull the thrust levers right back to a stable, calibrated idle, then pull the reverser back.

I click the SET button under idle, and the Idle value becomes -16193. I then move the lever full forward for reverse and the IN value goes to 16192, but the OUT value stays at 0. If I try and click SET under Reverse I just get a ding and it refuses to take.

Yes, because you are trying to set reverse with a higher value than idle. Reverse is negative thrust, it has a negative value, or certainly a lower value than idle, for sure.

Regards,

Pete

[Luke Kolin]

That's wrong. Reversers work by pulling them towards you! Idle (no reverse) is full forward. You have it the wrong way around!

OK, I tried reversing things and even this didn't solve matters. No matter what I do, either full forward or backwards, the reversers don't want to deploy. What OUT value will deploy them? I go from a minimum of -5404 to 0, and at no setting do the reversers deploy.

Cheers!

Luke

[Pete Dowson]

OK, I tried reversing things and even this didn't solve matters. No matter what I do, either full forward or backwards, the reversers don't want to deploy. What OUT value will deploy them? I go from a minimum of -5404 to 0, and at no setting do the reversers deploy.

As I said, they won't deploy if your main thruster(s) aren't securely at idle -- meaning the throttles are giving zero OUT value. There is an interlock to prevent deployment of reverse thrust when there's any forward thrust set. Seems you need to calibrate a bigger null idle zone on your throttles.

-5404 for full thrust is okay, a bit more than the nominal 25%, but as I said, it varies from aircraft to aircraft (it's defined in the AIR or CFG file for the aircraft, I thonk).

Rgards,

Pete

[Luke Kolin]

As I said, they won't deploy if your main thruster(s) aren't securely at idle -- meaning the throttles are giving zero OUT value. There is an interlock to prevent deployment of reverse thrust when there's any forward thrust set. Seems you need to calibrate a bigger null idle zone on your throttles.

I'll give it a whirl when I get home today and set the minimum value for the throttle a touch further forward. I haven't calibrated the throttle in FSUIPC at all (just the mixture axis). Out of curiosity, is the fact that I can engage reversers via the keyboard (using F2) significant? I tried the keyboard specifically to check for the reverser interlock, or does FSUIPC impose its own restriction in addition to what FS provides?

-5404 for full thrust is okay, a bit more than the nominal 25%, but as I said, it varies from aircraft to aircraft

I just wanted to make sure what to expect on the OUT value so I know that the proper numbers are coming out of FSUIPC to FS9. I'm sorry to pester you with so many questions, but I'm trying to learn this so I can get it working right in the future without assistance.....

Cheers!

Luke

[zip]

So you know, I had major problems with the CH Throttle Quadrant when I hooked it up to FS. All the axis sensitivity settings were completely off the mark using FS "defaults". I had to manually reset all the sensitivity settings for the CH THQ, clean it up through FSUIPC's joystick calibration page, reverse the spoiler axis, and voila, perfect range including reversers.

The moment I change something in the joysticks order or configuration, my sensitivity assignments in FS get completely messed up, causing range or centering problems.

Hope this helps.

[Pete Dowson]

is the fact that I can engage reversers via the keyboard (using F2) significant?

No, F2 reduces thrust. It doesn't just operate reverse -- it reduces forward thrust as well. It just happens to keep reducing it when it gets to zero.

Regards,

Pete

[Pete Dowson]

So you know, I had major problems with the CH Throttle Quadrant when I hooked it up to FS. All the axis sensitivity settings were completely off the mark using FS "defaults". I had to manually reset all the sensitivity settings for the CH THQ, clean it up through FSUIPC's joystick calibration page, reverse the spoiler axis, and voila, perfect range including reversers.

According to the expert, Bob Church, you have two choices with the CH TQ -- either use the CH Control Manager to sort it all out for forward thrust with reverse handled via F1 and F2 keypresses actioned by its buttons (the ones either side of the detente), or, use FSUIPC. He tells me that users can get help on all this over at http://www.ch-hangar.com.

Best regards,

Pete

[Luke Kolin]

No, F2 reduces thrust. It doesn't just operate reverse -- it reduces forward thrust as well. It just happens to keep reducing it when it gets to zero.

Ah, that explains it. I *think* I'm at zero, but probably just a touch above and so F2 works but not the mixture control. I added a touch of a null zone in the throttle and that did the trick perfectly.

Thanks for your assistance and your patience!

Cheers!

Luke