CH Pro Throttle USB question

[Jumpp]

So I've got one of these and I'm wondering what others who have them do with the little mini-joystick on them.  So far all I've been able to do with it is map it to view yaw/pitch which gives me a really shaky camera control.

Anyone doing anything useful with it?

[icemaw]

Originally posted by Jumpp
So I've got one of these and I'm wondering what others who have them do with the little mini-joystick on them.  So far all I've been able to do with it is map it to view yaw/pitch which gives me a really shaky camera control.

Anyone doing anything useful with it?

  Nope nothing the view control blows no matter what you do it shakes. Too bad it would be kewl to use for that. I would like to use it for manual trim but it wont work for that either. Since you cant assign a button function to it its pretty usless. Maybe in a FPS it might be able to be used.

[FUNKED1]

If you use the Control Manager to set the deadbands and reduce the sensitivity it's not shaky at all.

[dracon]

Ok I got the CM.  Would you please share the settings?

Thanks,
Dracon

[LoneStarBuckeye]

I use it to enable differential throttle control in twin-engined planes like the P-38.  When the stick is centered, the throttle controls both engines.  When I move it away from center toward one side, the engine on that side is proportionally "braked" from full throttle down to zero.  The result is that moving the ministick to the right slows the right engine and induces yaw to the right and vice-versa when I move the stick to the left.  I find it both intuitive to use and useful.

[Jumpp]

LoneStarBuckeye: How did you map that?

[LoneStarBuckeye]

I set up two "virtual axes," one for engine one throttle and one for engine two throttle.  Then I wrote a script that assigns each of the virtual axes (e.g., cms.a1 and cms.a2) the input from the actual physical throttle, multiplied by a factor between 1 and 0, depending upon the x-axis deflection of the microstick away from the center position.  In the Control Manager GUI, I assigned the two virtual axes to Control Manager Device 2 axis U and V, respectively.  Then, inside of AH's joystick selection screen, I simply mapped those two DirectX axes to throttle 1 and throttle 2.

If you like, I can post a link so you can download my map and script files and check it out.

[JensK]

I know someone who are very interested to have a look at your files;
Myself...  
If theres not too much trouble.

I just got myself a CH throttle and fighterstick to my PRO pedals.

Tnx in advance!

[LoneStarBuckeye]

Jens:

No trouble at all.  You can download my profile  here.  

I've included a JPEG diagram that illustrates the profile's functions.  Just so the diagram makes sense to you, note that:

1.  I've defined two shift buttons, labeled "Shift 1" and "Shift 2".  Functions that are underlined are activated with Shift 1; functions that are italicized are activated with Shift 2; functions that are neither underlined nor italicized are activated without a shift key.

2.  The bracketed functions (i.e., "[function]") on the two shift keys are "time parsed."  That is, the shift keys always work as shift keys, but if they are pressed and released quickly enough (within about .25 seconds), the bracketed functions will be performed.  

3.  The triangularly bracketed functions (i.e., "") on the mini-stick are activated by pressing the mini-stick "button," along with a shift key if underlined or italicized.

4.  The key labled "HOTAS Trim" activates a special trim mode in which the stick and rudder axes will continue to control pitch, roll, and yaw, but they will also feed in trim if deflected away from their center positions.  I like to use this to manually trim the plane, because it feels more natural to me than just pressing trim keys (although those are defined in the profile as well).  

5.  The "Left Engine," "Right Engine," and "All Engines" keys select which engine(s) the throttle controls.  This is an alternative to using the throttle braking method that I desribed in my earlier post.

6.  The six "Position" keys are used with bombers and ground vehicles that have multiple positions defined.

7.  The "Toggle Elevated Front" view activates and holds the "alternate" foward view that is activated with the Keypad 8 key.  For all of my planes, I define that view with the head position as high as possible to afford maximum visibility over the nose of the plane.  I find this useful for landing and taxiing.  I know that some people also use it to see a target when pulling what would otherwise be blind lead.  I've set up it (and the instrument view) up as a toggle; you may prefer to remove the toggle functionality so that the views are activated only when the appropriate keys are pressed.

8.  The "Modes" listed on the trigger refer to the true modes of the CH HOTAS.  In my profile, the modes are switched by pressing the (unshifted) mini-stick button.  The active mode is indicated by the lighted LED on the Pro Throttle.

There may be some more confusion in the map, but I hope the above list covers most of it.  The profile (particularly the radio buffer commands) is customized for me.  Feel free to change it to suit your needs. If you have any questions, drop me an e-mail or respond here.

I hope this is helpful to you.  Enjoy your new HOTAS!  

- JNOV

[JensK]