Saitek Yoke, rudder and ThQ help wanted

[Crewecut]

Hi, just purchased FSUIPC cause I couldn´t get my double throttle quadrant from Saitek to work. And I´m simply not able to figure out which way to go in FSUIPC to get my throttle axis etc. calibrated and working. So far I went into the Axis Assignment page (controls disabled in FSX, and Saiteks cal. software deleted), and the more I fiddle with it the more I seem to ruin it. At the beginning I had a leaver working for the spoiler and flaps. But the throttle handles wouldn´t travel the same lengths. Now I´m where multiple leavers in the cockpit (default 747 for now) move simultaneously back and forth when activating just ONE leaver on my ThQ????!!!! Yeah, I messed it up good :oops: and I´m afraid I´ll blow up the entire plane with a single touch of a button if I continue (or I´m gonna blow up :evil: ).

Should I use the Joystick Cal. or one of the other ways? FYI: The extra ThQ that came along with my Yoke+ThQ package doesn´t have usb, but keyboard plug (PS/2?). The ThQ that came with the yoke has usb, but they both plug into the yoke. In FSX setup one of the quads was accessed through the yoke-setup, and the other was selected separately in the drop-down menu (but all´s disabled in FSX now).

I would be very happy to know which way to go in FSUIPC to get my stuff up and running. Hope you can help me!

[Pete Dowson]

I´m simply not able to figure out which way to go in FSUIPC to get my throttle axis etc. calibrated and working. So far I went into the Axis Assignment page (controls disabled in FSX, and Saiteks cal. software deleted), and the more I fiddle with it the more I seem to ruin it.

What are you "fiddling" with? You just assign the axis, don't touch anything else there, and then go to the Joystick Calibrations tab and calibrate it. It isn't complicated, and you shouldn't be fiddling with anything.

Should I use the Joystick Cal. or one of the other ways?

What "other ways"? If you want to use FSUIPC for your joysticks you MUST calibrate. If you don't calibrate in FSUIPC what's the point?

I would be very happy to know which way to go in FSUIPC to get my stuff up and running. Hope you can help me!

Have you found the User Guide? It is supplied with the program and has extensive sections on both joystick calibration (which you can use with FS assigned axes or with FSUIPC assigned axes, it is the same for both), and on axis assignment -- which is where you should start if you've disabled all joysticks in FS and want to use FSUIPC only. There are even pictures provided to help. I cannot reproduce everything here, please do take a look.

If you've been "fiddling" with things and got yourself into a mess (why?), just delete the FSUIPC INI file (from the Modules folder) before loading FS, and you can start again. But don't fiddle. Do one thing at a time. Read the relevant sections first.

Pete

[Crewecut]

By "other ways" I mean ways within FSUIPC. I was using the manual, but somehow didn´t get the results I wanted. I´ve deleted the INI and I´ll have another go. Thanks.

[Pete Dowson]

By "other ways" I mean ways within FSUIPC. I was using the manual, but somehow didn´t get the results I wanted. I´ve deleted the INI and I´ll have another go. Thanks.

If you are assigning axes in FSUIPC, there are only two "ways" -- (1) assign to an FS control. That routes it back to FS, and then FSUIPC calibration is optional. This method is less efficient, but gives you the complete range of FS axis-type controls to choose from. Or (2) assign "Direct to FSUIPC", which bypasses FS altogether, going direct to the calibration section. Using that you MUST calibrate in FSUIPC, or you won't get any results. This way is more efficient, but you are then limited to the axes FSUIPC can calibrate for you. Provided they cover all you want, it is the best way.

I'm pretty sure it does say most of this in the documentation some place, too.

Regards

Pete

[Crewecut]

Hmm...odd. I see the pattern now: After dragging down the spoiler leaver I´m not able to push it back neither with ThQ nor by hand in VC. But pushing forward on throttle handles some how drag the spoiler leaver along and back to its initial position.

Even does that with FSUIPC uninstalled, controllers disabled in FSX and unplugged! This phenomenon just never occurred to me before. May have been caused by the initial install and uninstall of Saiteks calibration program? I think I´ll try a systems restore (using XP) and see if that does the trick, otherwise I´ll reinstall FSX and FSUIPC all together.

[Pete Dowson]

Hmm...odd. I see the pattern now: After dragging down the spoiler leaver I´m not able to push it back neither with ThQ nor by hand in VC. But pushing forward on throttle handles some how drag the spoiler leaver along and back to its initial position.

If you are testing the spoiler lever on the ground, DON'T!

With FS, as you operate the spoiler lever it naturally passes through the "ARM" position (detente). If you are on the ground at the time, FS sees the ARM and the fact you are on the ground, and deploys 100% spoilers automatically (as if you'd just landed). Getting them back down is then difficult until you spool up again (e.g. as if for a Go around), as you've found.

the same thing can be seen if you use the mouse to drag the spooler lever on the Quadrant gauge in your FS panel.

Regards

Pete

[Crewecut]

I´m a happy guy now, got it working neatly now. Only thing missing is getting thrust reversal mapped to the button action on the ThQ levers´ bottom detent. But I´ll have a look around for a solution, think I came across some info on that somewhere.

Thanks for your patience and dedication, Pete!

Cheers

Crewe

[Pete Dowson]

Only thing missing is getting thrust reversal mapped to the button action on the ThQ levers´ bottom detent.

I think the way to make that work is to assign the "Press" action it to "Throttle decr" with repeat enabled, and "Throttle cut" on release (or the individual engine versions of these two controls). This is not sure-fire knowledge though, it is only a hazy recollection.

Regards

Pete