Need Help with CH throttle quadrant

[ducaud]

I have spent days trying to make my CH throttle quadrant to work properly. I have read John Cooks guide and it really help me, I have been able to configure and calibrate it to use it with PMDG 737 NG, and works really nice even using thrust reversers. I have used aircraft specific settings, as I fly aircraft with different configurations.

My nightmares started when I try to configure my PMDG 747 (Both are the FS9 versions). I have not been able to make the four throttles to work correctly. Even after giving up on using reversers, I can not still get it to work. I have set up the option "map to 4 throttles" on page one of the calibration, then I go to page three to calibrate. Once there I get the following options (see attached pic)

1. Calibrate throttle 1 and throttles 2,3 and 4 will copy throttle 1 ,but throttles 1,3, and 4 have the word "direct" in parenthesis,and throttle 2 does not. Also in the attached picture there are two boxes for the in and out of each throttle. Even though the calibration is done at throttle 1, you can still can see the values move when moving the levers, all except throttle 2. Once I calibrate throttle 2 is always at full throttle.

I first thought that there is something physcally wrong with throttle 2 of the CH quadrant, but it works perfectly in the PMDG 737 NG.

What Is wrong?

Thank you

Juan Ducaud

I have FSUIPC version 3.98A and

Windows 7 64bit.

[Pete Dowson]

My nightmares started when I try to configure my PMDG 747 (Both are the FS9 versions). I have not been able to make the four throttles to work correctly.

4 throttles are no different from 2. How many do you actually have, real ones that is?

Even after giving up on using reversers, I can not still get it to work. I have set up the option "map to 4 throttles" on page one of the calibration

So you only have the one throttle lever? What did you do for the 737?

then I go to page three to calibrate. Once there I get the following options (see attached pic)

1. Calibrate throttle 1 and throttles 2,3 and 4 will copy throttle 1 ,but throttles 1,3, and 4 have the word "direct" in parenthesis,and throttle 2 does not. Also in the attached picture there are two boxes for the in and out of each throttle. Even though the calibration is done at throttle 1, you can still can see the values move when moving the levers, all except throttle 2. Once I calibrate throttle 2 is always at full throttle.

So it sounds like you have something else assign to throttle 2, preventing the correct mapping of your one and only throttle to throttles 1,2,3 and 4.

I first thought that there is something physcally wrong with throttle 2 of the CH quadrant, but it works perfectly in the PMDG 737 NG.

Er .. hang on a moment. You have TWO throttles? If so, what are you doing even considering using the generic all-engine throttle on Page 1, and then, worse, mapping it to all 4 throttles? How did you expect your throttle 2 lever to contribute without a complete mix-up?

You have a fundamental misunderstanding. How? I can't imagine how you even got anything working on the 737. The page 1 throttle is the basic FS single throttle for all engines. The same as using the keyboard throttle (keys 9 and 3, or F1 - F4). If you have 2 throttle levers you NEVER EVER use that! You assign throttle 1 to throttle1, and throttle 2 to throttle2 (logical, eh?), and use the 4 throttles page to calibrate. For 4 engines you select the "map 1->12, 2->34" option on that page. All exactly as documented. There's also a 3-engined option with 1->12, 2->3.

The same sort of thing with the generic throttle happens in FS as well, without FSUIPC. In the assignments there 's a "throttle" as well as a throttle 1 and throttle2 etc. The generic throttle is just that, one for all. NEVER use it if you have more than one! How have you managed to miss all this?

Pete

[ducaud]

Thanks for your reply Pete, let me try to clarify the problem I am having.

Let me first explain how I assign and calibrate the joystick commands (CH Flight Yoke, CH Pro Pedals, and CH Throttle Quadrant) to be used with my PMDG 737.

I start by disabling joysticks in FS9

For axis assignments I used the "aircraft specific" option whithin FSUIPC.

1. Axis Assignments

Flight Yoke : Joy# 2- x axis = Aileron y axis = Elevators

Pro Pedals: Joy#1 - z axis = Rudder x axis = Left Brake y axis = Right Brake

CH Throttle Quadrant: Joy#0 - x axis = throttle 1, y axis = throttle2, R axis Spoilers

2.Joystick Calibration

Page 1 of 11 Main Flight Controls

Here I calibrate Ailerons, Elevator and Rudder.

Page 2 of 11 Prop Mixture and Brakes

Here I calibrate Left and Right Brakes

Page 3 of 11 Separate throttles per engine.

Here I calibrate separately engines 1 and 2

I have working thrust reversers when pulled back of the detent.

Only issue with the PMDG 737 calibration is that, before every flight I have to calibrate the elevator. It seems to lose the calibration. everything else works fine.

Picture 1 shows the CH throttle and how I use it with both PMDG 737 and PMDG 747.

The problem arises when I try to do the same for the PMDG 747. All the control surfaces worked perfect with the exception of the throttles.

Here is how I setup the 747:

I assigned the axis in the same way I have done with the PMDG 737, only difference is that I have to extra axis to assign, axis Z and axis V for the 3 rd and 4th engines respectively.

picture 2 shows the engine calibration page, Notice that engines 1,3, and 4 have the word "Direct in parenthesis" engine 2 does not.

After the calibration all engines in detent (see picture 3).

Now I move all four engine levers to full and only engines 1,3,and 4 go to full, engine 2 does not move. see pic 4.

I have the joysticks disabled on FS9 I have checked the assignment and engine 2 is not assigned to any other axis. If I go back to the assignment page, press the rescan button, and move the second lever it recognizes it correctly as throttle 2.

I hope this make the issue that I am having more clear. Thanks again for your help.

Juan

[Pete Dowson]

Page 3 of 11 Separate throttles per engine.

Here I calibrate separately engines 1 and 2

Great. From you earlier message, where you said you were mapping to 4 throttles I assumed you were using the facility for the single generic throttle, because that's the only place where there is such an option.

Only issue with the PMDG 737 calibration is that, before every flight I have to calibrate the elevator. It seems to lose the calibration.

The calibration is defined in the FSUIPC INI file. There's no way it can "lose" those numbers. Are you sure the pot in your yoke isn't loose and twisting? Or else you are using a trim on the yoke which actually physically changes the centre position -- CH used to have such things, but they should never be used. I don't know if the still do this.

Here is how I setup the 747:

I assigned the axis in the same way I have done with the PMDG 737, only difference is that I have to extra axis to assign, axis Z and axis V for the 3 rd and 4th engines respectively.

You have 4 throttle levers, not two?

Why are you using any "mapping" whatsoever?

The picture you showed in the first post shows you have throttle 1 mapped to throttles 2, 3 and 4. Why? Why on Earth would you do such a thing if you actually have 4 throttles anyway? I don't understand what you are trying to do. The 4-throttle mapping facilities are for folks with one throttle lever only! With 4 levers you never have to map anything!

picture 2 shows the engine calibration page, Notice that engines 1,3, and 4 have the word "Direct in parenthesis" engine 2 does not.

That's completely and utterly irrelevant. None of the three sections for engines 2,3,4 are being used in any case. Do you not see the words "axis copied from Thr 1" as well, prominently displayed for each axis? Don't you think it a wee bit odd that you are using a copy of throttle 1 on all 4 engines when you have 4 throttle levers? What did you intend to do with the other three?

I hope this make the issue that I am having more clear.

It actually did not need to be any "more clear", because I told you about mapping in my first reply. Please review it. You are completely misunderstanding the facility to map one throttle to 2, 3 or 4 engines. I don't understand why. You apparently have 4 throttles so why on Earth map throttle one to all others? It makes no sense, as I said in my first reply. Please read it again and tell me what you still don't understand.

Pete