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Posted

Peter,

I appreciate all your time an effort fixing the slope problems I found before... unfortunately I think I found a few more related things in version 4.718.

1. When going to the negative side of an axis, the slope initially outputs a slight positive rise before beginning to output negative values.

That is when the axis input goes below 0, the slope output rises to the positive side before it drops below 0.

1.png shows everything centered and at 0

2.png shows negative input, but positive output from slope

3.png shows negative input, and the first negative output form slope (crossover)

2. When the center of an axis is not 0 but negative, the slope will only begin to output non-zero negative values after the input is below the negative center and above 0, but not in between.

That is, if my center is -512, the slope will output only a 0 value between -512..0, but will then begin to output negative values below -512, and positive values above 0.

4.png shows center at -512, input at -456, but output still 0

5.png show input above 0 with output correct

6.png shows input below center, and output as non zero

3. On my aileron axis, the minimum step of 16 that I set in the INI seems to be ignored and defaults to 512

However, this seems to be fine on the elevator axis, so I'm not sure if it has something to do with the center, since with a center 0 it loads correctly.

7.png shows the 512 step but below is the part of the INI where it's set to 16

Aileron=-16192,512,16,15808
Elevator=-16192,-512,16,16192
Rudder=-12288,0,16,12288

Regards,

John

post-21350-0-83696600-1313372411_thumb.p

post-21350-0-06395500-1313372418_thumb.p

post-21350-0-67793100-1313372424_thumb.p

post-21350-0-01637700-1313372447_thumb.p

post-21350-0-91836900-1313372454_thumb.p

post-21350-0-24877400-1313372461_thumb.p

post-21350-0-33305600-1313372468_thumb.p

Posted

1. When going to the negative side of an axis, the slope initially outputs a slight positive rise before beginning to output negative values.

That is when the axis input goes below 0, the slope output rises to the positive side before it drops below 0.

I can't reproduce that nor see how it can happen. And I'm sorry, but your "png"s are way too small for me to see. Rather than taking pictures why not just state the numbers?

2. When the center of an axis is not 0 but negative, the slope will only begin to output non-zero negative values after the input is below the negative center and above 0, but not in between.

That is, if my center is -512, the slope will output only a 0 value between -512..0, but will then begin to output negative values below -512, and positive values above 0.

The "centre" is a range between two values, not "at -512". If the range is set at -512 to 0 then what you say happens is exactly right, as designed.

3. On my aileron axis, the minimum step of 16 that I set in the INI seems to be ignored and defaults to 512

Most hardware axes cannot give very small increments. For example my PFC throttle quadrant axes only have an output value from - to 127. This is scaled up by the driver to get the -16k to +16k standard range, so the minimum increment is 256. some axes are 'better' some worse. And they can vary on the same device. For instance on the Microsoft Sidewinder's the throttle wheel has much less resolution than the aileron/elevator axes.

If you want to see the raw hardware inputs you have to set RAW mode. This stops the Windows scaling. However, all axes on a single joystick have to be RAW or scaled. Windows doesn't allow different axes on the same joystick to be read in different modes.

However, this seems to be fine on the elevator axis, so I'm not sure if it has something to do with the center, since with a center 0 it loads correctly.

You showed the calibrations from the INI but I would need the slope settings and the Assignments (Axes settings) too.

[LATER]

BTW if you use one of the latest interim FSUIPC4 update (see Download Links subforum), and add

Debug=Please

LogExtras=9

into the [General] section of the INI file before loading FS, then it will log the pre-calibration and post-calibration values. You'll get big logs but perhaps you can cut to the parts showing what problem(s) you seem to identify.

I'm afraid there's no similar facility in FSUIPC3.

Regards

Pete

Posted

I can't reproduce that nor see how it can happen. And I'm sorry, but your "png"s are way too small for me to see. Rather than taking pictures why not just state the numbers?

If you click/download on the PNGs they should be full size, but I'll enable logs with the new version and post those...

The "centre" is a range between two values, not "at -512". If the range is set at -512 to 0 then what you say happens is exactly right, as designed.

So in the INI excerpt I posted, what defines the "range" on the center? Is it always the second number to 0? On the elevator 512 seems to be the center (not range) but on the aileron -512..0 seems to be the "center".

Most hardware axes cannot give very small increments. For example my PFC throttle quadrant axes only have an output value from - to 127. This is scaled up by the driver to get the -16k to +16k standard range, so the minimum increment is 256. some axes are 'better' some worse. And they can vary on the same device. For instance on the Microsoft Sidewinder's the throttle wheel has much less resolution than the aileron/elevator axes.

Just moving my controller, the smallest incremental change that appears is about 10 (I'm using one of Bodnar's controllers, 12-bit, that exhibits a raw range of about 400-3600) so I was forcing it to 16 in the INI. I'll post the full section when I post the logs. But the issue still is that upon loading it picks 512 on the aileron axis despite it being set at 16. This is likely the result of the centering setting though.

Posted

So in the INI excerpt I posted, what defines the "range" on the center? Is it always the second number to 0? On the elevator 512 seems to be the center (not range) but on the aileron -512..0 seems to be the "center".

The four numbers in the INI are the same four numbers you "SET" in the calibration, left to right:

minimum, low centre, high centre, maximum

The centre range in the part between the two centre values. That's why there ARE two centre values you set on screen. Isn't that clear from the documentation? What did you think there were two centre values in the calibration section on screen for? The step by step instructions do tell you to set them both.

Just moving my controller, the smallest incremental change that appears is about 10 (I'm using one of Bodnar's controllers, 12-bit, that exhibits a raw range of about 400-3600) so I was forcing it to 16 in the INI. I'll post the full section when I post the logs. But the issue still is that upon loading it picks 512 on the aileron axis despite it being set at 16. This is likely the result of the centering setting though.

Without the relevant parts of your INI file to look at I can't really comment on this part.

Checking the code, the default is 512, and there's no minimum Delta imposed on axes X Y Z R U V S and T, which are the usual 8 analogue ones. However, but 0 is set for P Q M and N with are POVs ("Points of view"), which either switch in 45 or 90 degree angles or (possibly) every individual degree (though I've never seen any of the latter, it can be done by software).

Regards

Pete

Posted

Got it about the "center". My confusion... this also answers my step question.

Here's the output for the calibrated values going positive first, when input goes negative:


   218900 Axis calibration: Control=65763, Original=34, Calibrated=36
   218931 Axis calibration: Control=65763, Original=43, Calibrated=56
   218978 Axis calibration: Control=65763, Original=53, Calibrated=76
   219009 Axis calibration: Control=65763, Original=43, Calibrated=56
   219056 Axis calibration: Control=65763, Original=24, Calibrated=16
   219103 Axis calibration: Control=65763, Original=43, Calibrated=56
   219259 Axis calibration: Control=65763, Original=34, Calibrated=36
   219462 Axis calibration: Control=65763, Original=24, Calibrated=16
   219493 Axis calibration: Control=65763, Original=14, Calibrated=0
   219540 Axis calibration: Control=65763, Original=24, Calibrated=16
   219587 Axis calibration: Control=65763, Original=4, Calibrated=0
   221989 Axis calibration: Control=65763, Original=-5, Calibrated=500
   222020 Axis calibration: Control=65763, Original=0, Calibrated=0
   222067 Axis calibration: Control=65763, Original=-15, Calibrated=480
   222098 Axis calibration: Control=65763, Original=-45, Calibrated=420
   222145 Axis calibration: Control=65763, Original=-35, Calibrated=440
   222176 Axis calibration: Control=65763, Original=-45, Calibrated=420
   222348 Axis calibration: Control=65763, Original=-55, Calibrated=400
   222426 Axis calibration: Control=65763, Original=-74, Calibrated=362
   222457 Axis calibration: Control=65763, Original=-64, Calibrated=382
   222504 Axis calibration: Control=65763, Original=-93, Calibrated=322
   222535 Axis calibration: Control=65763, Original=-64, Calibrated=382
   222582 Axis calibration: Control=65763, Original=-74, Calibrated=362
   222660 Axis calibration: Control=65763, Original=-64, Calibrated=382
   222707 Axis calibration: Control=65763, Original=-84, Calibrated=342
   222816 Axis calibration: Control=65763, Original=-103, Calibrated=302
   222894 Axis calibration: Control=65763, Original=-113, Calibrated=282
   222987 Axis calibration: Control=65763, Original=-132, Calibrated=244
   223019 Axis calibration: Control=65763, Original=-142, Calibrated=224
   223097 Axis calibration: Control=65763, Original=-132, Calibrated=244
   223190 Axis calibration: Control=65763, Original=-142, Calibrated=224
   223221 Axis calibration: Control=65763, Original=-132, Calibrated=244
   223299 Axis calibration: Control=65763, Original=-123, Calibrated=262
   223346 Axis calibration: Control=65763, Original=-152, Calibrated=204
   223377 Axis calibration: Control=65763, Original=-132, Calibrated=244
   223424 Axis calibration: Control=65763, Original=-152, Calibrated=204
   223455 Axis calibration: Control=65763, Original=-142, Calibrated=224
   223502 Axis calibration: Control=65763, Original=-152, Calibrated=204
   223533 Axis calibration: Control=65763, Original=-132, Calibrated=244
   223580 Axis calibration: Control=65763, Original=-142, Calibrated=224
   223627 Axis calibration: Control=65763, Original=-162, Calibrated=184
   223658 Axis calibration: Control=65763, Original=-152, Calibrated=204
   223705 Axis calibration: Control=65763, Original=-172, Calibrated=162
   223736 Axis calibration: Control=65763, Original=-162, Calibrated=184
   223783 Axis calibration: Control=65763, Original=-172, Calibrated=162
   223814 Axis calibration: Control=65763, Original=-162, Calibrated=184
   223861 Axis calibration: Control=65763, Original=-172, Calibrated=162
   223908 Axis calibration: Control=65763, Original=-181, Calibrated=144
   223939 Axis calibration: Control=65763, Original=-172, Calibrated=162
   223986 Axis calibration: Control=65763, Original=-201, Calibrated=104
   224017 Axis calibration: Control=65763, Original=-172, Calibrated=162
   224064 Axis calibration: Control=65763, Original=-201, Calibrated=104
   224095 Axis calibration: Control=65763, Original=-220, Calibrated=66
   224142 Axis calibration: Control=65763, Original=-210, Calibrated=86
   224189 Axis calibration: Control=65763, Original=-201, Calibrated=104
   224220 Axis calibration: Control=65763, Original=-240, Calibrated=26
   224267 Axis calibration: Control=65763, Original=-250, Calibrated=6
   224345 Axis calibration: Control=65763, Original=-240, Calibrated=26
   224376 Axis calibration: Control=65763, Original=-259, Calibrated=-7
   224423 Axis calibration: Control=65763, Original=-250, Calibrated=6
   224469 Axis calibration: Control=65763, Original=-259, Calibrated=-7
   224547 Axis calibration: Control=65763, Original=-279, Calibrated=-27
   224579 Axis calibration: Control=65763, Original=-259, Calibrated=-7
   224625 Axis calibration: Control=65763, Original=-279, Calibrated=-27
   224906 Axis calibration: Control=65763, Original=-289, Calibrated=-37
   224984 Axis calibration: Control=65763, Original=-279, Calibrated=-27
   225093 Axis calibration: Control=65763, Original=-289, Calibrated=-37
   225187 Axis calibration: Control=65763, Original=-279, Calibrated=-27
   225218 Axis calibration: Control=65763, Original=-289, Calibrated=-37
   225296 Axis calibration: Control=65763, Original=-279, Calibrated=-27
   225343 Axis calibration: Control=65763, Original=-289, Calibrated=-37
   225546 Axis calibration: Control=65763, Original=-298, Calibrated=-46
   225655 Axis calibration: Control=65763, Original=-308, Calibrated=-56
   225733 Axis calibration: Control=65763, Original=-318, Calibrated=-66
   225780 Axis calibration: Control=65763, Original=-327, Calibrated=-75
   225905 Axis calibration: Control=65763, Original=-318, Calibrated=-66
   225936 Axis calibration: Control=65763, Original=-337, Calibrated=-85
   225983 Axis calibration: Control=65763, Original=-347, Calibrated=-96
   226014 Axis calibration: Control=65763, Original=-357, Calibrated=-106
   226061 Axis calibration: Control=65763, Original=-337, Calibrated=-85
   226092 Axis calibration: Control=65763, Original=-347, Calibrated=-96
   226217 Axis calibration: Control=65763, Original=-367, Calibrated=-116
   226263 Axis calibration: Control=65763, Original=-357, Calibrated=-106
   226295 Axis calibration: Control=65763, Original=-347, Calibrated=-96
   226341 Axis calibration: Control=65763, Original=-357, Calibrated=-106
   226373 Axis calibration: Control=65763, Original=-367, Calibrated=-116
   226419 Axis calibration: Control=65763, Original=-377, Calibrated=-126
   226451 Axis calibration: Control=65763, Original=-386, Calibrated=-135
   226497 Axis calibration: Control=65763, Original=-377, Calibrated=-126
   226622 Axis calibration: Control=65763, Original=-367, Calibrated=-116
   226653 Axis calibration: Control=65763, Original=-377, Calibrated=-126
   226700 Axis calibration: Control=65763, Original=-406, Calibrated=-155
   226731 Axis calibration: Control=65763, Original=-425, Calibrated=-175
   226778 Axis calibration: Control=65763, Original=-445, Calibrated=-195
   226825 Axis calibration: Control=65763, Original=-454, Calibrated=-204
   226856 Axis calibration: Control=65763, Original=-474, Calibrated=-224
   226903 Axis calibration: Control=65763, Original=-484, Calibrated=-234
   226934 Axis calibration: Control=65763, Original=-474, Calibrated=-224
   227012 Axis calibration: Control=65763, Original=-484, Calibrated=-234
   227137 Axis calibration: Control=65763, Original=-503, Calibrated=-253
   227184 Axis calibration: Control=65763, Original=-513, Calibrated=-272
   227215 Axis calibration: Control=65763, Original=-503, Calibrated=-253
   227262 Axis calibration: Control=65763, Original=-513, Calibrated=-272

Here's the calibration section from the INI (assignments are through FSX):


AllowSuppressForPFCquad=Yes
ExcludeThrottleSet=Yes
ExcludeMixtureSet=Yes
ExcludePropPitchSet=Yes
SepRevsJetsOnly=No
ApplyHeloTrim=No
UseAxisControlsForNRZ=No
FlapsSetControl=0
FlapDetents=No
MaxThrottleForReverser=256
SteeringTillerControl=0
MaxSteerSpeed=60
Aileron=-16192,0,16,15808
Elevator=-16192,0,16,16192
Rudder=-12288,0,16,12288
LeftBrake=-16192,20480
RightBrake=-16192,20480
Throttle1=-16192,0,0,16192/40
Throttle2=-16192,0,0,16192/40
Mixture1=-16192,0,0,16192/40
Mixture2=-16192,0,0,16192/40
PropPitch1=-16192,0,0,16192/40
PropPitch2=-16192,0,0,16192/40
SlopeRudder=3
SlopeRightBrake=4
SlopeLeftBrake=4
SlopeAileron=-2
SlopeElevator=-1

Posted

Here's the calibration section from the INI (assignments are through FSX)

Er, I don't understand. If the assignments are through FSX, not FSUIPC4, where does the step (delta) question come into it?

I'll look at your negative problem later this week, as I'm a bit tied up with other things. I cannot see anything likely in the code, and I have no easy way of testing anything like this as the best resolution input device I have only gives steps of 256, and I suspect it is to do with the granularity of the slopes. There are only 256 points pre-computed on each slope's curve, each interval representing 256 input points, and linear interpolation is used between them. Looking at your log it is probably no coincidence that the crossover point appears to be 256, or at least between 250 and 259:

224376 Axis calibration: Control=65763, Original=-259, Calibrated=-7

224423 Axis calibration: Control=65763, Original=-250, Calibrated=6

I'm going to have to write a software joystick input "device" to fiddle the input figures. If I don't get to it this week, please remind me in the first week of September. (I am on holiday all next week).

Regards

Pete

Posted

Er, I don't understand. If the assignments are through FSX, not FSUIPC4, where does the step (delta) question come into it?

Disregard the center/delta question. It was my misunderstanding.

I'll look at your negative problem later this week, as I'm a bit tied up with other things. I cannot see anything likely in the code, and I have no easy way of testing anything like this as the best resolution input device I have only gives steps of 256, and I suspect it is to do with the granularity of the slopes. There are only 256 points pre-computed on each slope's curve, each interval representing 256 input points, and linear interpolation is used between them. Looking at your log it is probably no coincidence that the crossover point appears to be 256, or at least between 250 and 259:

224376 Axis calibration: Control=65763, Original=-259, Calibrated=-7

224423 Axis calibration: Control=65763, Original=-250, Calibrated=6

I'm going to have to write a software joystick input "device" to fiddle the input figures. If I don't get to it this week, please remind me in the first week of September. (I am on holiday all next week).

Regards

Pete

It's interesting that as soon as the input goes negative, the output jumps to 500+ (could it be 512 at -1?) If it's linearly interpolated, the interpolation should be to the negative side, 0..-512. I'm sure it's some minor logic issue... Thanks!

Posted

On a quick unrelated topic, I'd like to ask you a weather related question since FSUIPC handles some of that...

Would you know what the units are for Min/MaxGustTime, Min/MaxVarTime etc. in FSX.cfg (seconds, 1/10 sec, 1/100)? I find that the gusty winds are not gusty enough, at least not like they are here in real-life, and would want to start tweaking.

I just thought I'd ask an authority. :)

Posted

Would you know what the units are for Min/MaxGustTime, Min/MaxVarTime etc. in FSX.cfg (seconds, 1/10 sec, 1/100)? I find that the gusty winds are not gusty enough, at least not like they are here in real-life, and would want to start tweaking.

Sorry, I've never twiddled with those. If I needed to I'd try to find out by trying changes and seeing what happened.

Regards

Pete

Posted

I'm going to have to write a software joystick input "device" to fiddle the input figures.

Okay. I managed to reproduce it with a software "joystick" with a resolution of 10 units over the 32k range. It looks like my correction to your previously reported problem was not correct, and in fact was responsible for introducing this new problem. Basically the crossover point, pos to neg or vice versa, was one "slope table" division out (512 units) because of a sign error in a remainder. The remainder needs to take the sign of the dividend and it wasn't because I stupidly used "&" instead of "%"!

Please try FSUIPC 4.725 and re-check that i haven't reintroduced the original error please.

Regards

Pete

Posted

Please try FSUIPC 4.725 and re-check that i haven't reintroduced the original error please.

The new version fixed this problem, but I think reintroduced the original one... on the negative side of input, the outputs flip-flop (decrease then increase then decrease etc.)

Notice the decrease in "original" at -14358 but an increase in "calibrated", and the same thing at -15100. This seems less pronounced than originally though, but it's still visible in-cockpit.


286527 Axis calibration: Control=65763, Original=-14173, Calibrated=-15168
   286559 Axis calibration: Control=65763, Original=-14193, Calibrated=-15188
   286590 Axis calibration: Control=65763, Original=-14212, Calibrated=-15207
   286621 Axis calibration: Control=65763, Original=-14222, Calibrated=-15217
   286652 Axis calibration: Control=65763, Original=-14251, Calibrated=-15245
   286683 Axis calibration: Control=65763, Original=-14281, Calibrated=-15275
   286715 Axis calibration: Control=65763, Original=-14319, Calibrated=-15312
   286761 Axis calibration: Control=65763, Original=-14358, Calibrated=-15350
   286793 Axis calibration: Control=65763, Original=-14407, Calibrated=-15104
   287011 Axis calibration: Control=65763, Original=-14632, Calibrated=-15363
   287042 Axis calibration: Control=65763, Original=-14680, Calibrated=-15411
   287073 Axis calibration: Control=65763, Original=-14710, Calibrated=-15440
   287105 Axis calibration: Control=65763, Original=-14739, Calibrated=-15469
   287136 Axis calibration: Control=65763, Original=-14768, Calibrated=-15497
   287167 Axis calibration: Control=65763, Original=-14846, Calibrated=-15574
   287198 Axis calibration: Control=65763, Original=-14885, Calibrated=-15612
   287229 Axis calibration: Control=65763, Original=-14963, Calibrated=-15689
   287261 Axis calibration: Control=65763, Original=-15051, Calibrated=-15775
   287307 Axis calibration: Control=65763, Original=-15100, Calibrated=-15823
   287339 Axis calibration: Control=65763, Original=-15159, Calibrated=-15616
   287760 Axis calibration: Control=65763, Original=-15412, Calibrated=-15874
   287791 Axis calibration: Control=65763, Original=-15461, Calibrated=-15922

Posted

The new version fixed this problem, but I think reintroduced the original one.

Weird.

It is very difficult to debug without any suitable input devices. I have to try to devise ways of simulating things by program. All my analogue devices are PFC via serial port and handled directly via my PFC drivers.

I might not have time to look at this in sufficient detail for a couple of weeks. I'll have a quick look now for anything obvious, but the code is so simple for the slope application I really can't see how it goes wrong. i have to actually feed the numbers through it at just the right point for it to throw its wobbly. not easy to do.

Looking now .. but if you haven't heard back by mid-September, remind me,

Pete

Posted

Please try FSUIPC 4.726. This has to be my last attempt before September I'm afraid. I've tested as best I can and "dry run" it with assorted near-boundary conditions.

I think this fixed both problems... Thanks, and have a good vacation!

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