Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => Hardware and Software => Topic started by: Sarnack on April 17, 2004, 08:07:20 AM
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Hello, my Thrustmaster FLCS finally gave up the ghost after 9 years of loyal service (had to have a memorial for it) so I received the Saitek X45 as a gift. Not quite the same unit but it works, except with my CH peddles but that is another issue. I am looking for a .dat file for the X45 and a website with a good listing of files, the Saitek site seems pretty out of date. Thanks for any help.
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http://www.pogbird.com/X45/
works with ch pro peds
also check out my comments here:
http://www.hitechcreations.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=114018
gl
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Thanks for the files. My CH pro peddles are game-port hookup not USB does this matter? Also I did not think peddles would work with the X45. How did you get them to work? I do not like the rudder on the throttle, next to the CH peddles it really sucks.
:)
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Correction to my last post, I remembered I do have a set of USB Pro peddle and a set of game-port peddles. I got the USB about 4 years ago and never used them with my Thrustmaster set up.
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you would better go buy CH product stick my third X36 just broke ... 3 in 4 year is a bit to much for me ...
I'm buying a CH now .
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Originally posted by Sarnack
Thanks for the files. My CH pro peddles are game-port hookup not USB does this matter? Also I did not think peddles would work with the X45. How did you get them to work? I do not like the rudder on the throttle, next to the CH peddles it really sucks.
:)
you have to assign the Z axis in AH under the joystick setup to your ch pro peds. all the other inputs should be defaulted to the X45
my profile has the X45 throttle rocker rudder programmed as the aileron trim
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I will give that a try, one more question are you using USB peddles?
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Originally posted by Sarnack
I will give that a try, one more question are you using USB peddles?
Yes
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There is a small prog at the stickworks site
http://home.att.net/~stickworks/
that lets you set up analog peds without a joystick attached. Called clickit or something like that. Have used it and it works very well for W98se. Don't know if it's usuable in XP.
Think it's under rudderonly.
I used it when I had my X45 hooked up USB and some analog rudder peds.
Set up the axis and stuff in the AH controler sections.
Hope it helps.
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The information was helpful and I got the rudder peddles working as a second controller. I just started flying AH after taking a year or so off and the AH community has always been very friendly and helpful. Thanks. :aok
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Beware of the hat ...
I started the surgery ...
Joystick opened ...
(http://www.onpoi.net/ah/pics/users/33_1082473729_surgery1.jpg)
the microswitchs I'll change tomorrow (one is already removed)
(http://www.onpoi.net/ah/pics/users/33_1082473750_surgery2.jpg)
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Glade it helped :D
Yo I opened mine but saw no way to get the micro switch off? Gettin old and eyes aren't so good since then I purchased a magnify hoop light rig and next time :)
It was still under warrenty anyway and sent it in and they replaced it with a brand new one.
How ever Can't make out how you removed the micro switch???
Also where do you get replacements????
Care to share?
And final question are you running 98se or??? this way I'll know if rudder only works in other then 98se :D
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wrag if both are usb you don't need the stickworks file
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Yep
Wanted to know if it was used or not for future info :)
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Originally posted by wrag
Glade it helped :D
Yo I opened mine but saw no way to get the micro switch off? Gettin old and eyes aren't so good since then I purchased a magnify hoop light rig and next time :)
It was still under warrenty anyway and sent it in and they replaced it with a brand new one.
How ever Can't make out how you removed the micro switch???
Also where do you get replacements????
Care to share?
And final question are you running 98se or??? this way I'll know if rudder only works in other then 98se :D
sorry to be late but I'll give you the answer ;)
First I opened the X45 as seen on the picture, nothing very difficult ,
To remove the PCB on the second picture hat you have to unscrew the screw on the the bottom of each hat so you will be able to remove the hats.
Next you will see 4 screw per hat ,those screws are maintaining the translucid part on wich the microswith are placed and so keeping the PCB on the upper part of the stick.
You will need a tool as a level because it's glued averywhere (quite badly ...)
Now to remove a soldering iron and a "tresse à dessouder" or a "solder pump" this kind of hardware
(http://www.gotronic.fr/outil-opt/13580-opt.jpg)
Once you have removed all solder you just put a screwdriver under the microswitch and use it as a lever and the thing should popup nicelly :)
My new swith are coming from http://www.radiospares.fr I'll give you the refference in another post as the stick is at work and I'm leaving for a week vacation.
if you need me to explain more or need picture just shot me a email : fdejager at club-internet.Fr
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I have looked everywhere for the replacement tactile switch but cant find it...What is the part number for the correct replacement switch. I removed one and soldered in a switch with a shorter shaft and it was too short to engage with the hat. It will be a life saver if you can get me that part number...Thanks, Kev
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I don't remember ,I'll try to find you the reference by monday.
(if I forget , punt this thread tuesday ;))
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is the switch the little push button thingy?
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I'm not sure to understand Eagler, for all external button the user can press there is a microswitch.
the pinky boutton got one like the detent the A and B button etc ...
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Eagler,
The switch is what Straffo has circled in the second picture. For each hat there is a series of 4 Tactile switches black in color. They are all in a plastic aperature that holds them near contact with the hat post. I have asked Saitek for an IPB (Illustrated Parts Breakdown) so I can order the switches, however they refuse to give it to me. I have found replacements from dealers but can only order them in quantities of 1000 or more. You will need some soldering skills to replace these.
Here is a link to some simular switches. Items number 19 and 20 are simular but not the exact replacement parts.
http://www.ittcannon.com/products/products.asp?pid=1022&cf=pl
Kevin
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have you tried a radio shack?
are they the same in an old analog X36 stick as they are in your stick?
I have one I'd be gald to help if I can
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These are very common but specialized parts. I dont have access to an x36 and not sure they would work. I have checked Radio Shack and several electronics distributiors in my area and none have them in stock, or even carry them for that matter.
I was hoping to find an online source for these parts so I could post a how to "at your own risk" replace these switches.
I ordered the number 19 switches from an ITT distributor and found they were incorrect, I straightend two of the posts and cut the other side. Then I installed, fit was perfect, but the button shaft is just a bit too short to make contact with the hat.
At only $.07 each its a much better alternative than shipping it off to get repaired everytime one of these switches go bad. All I need is a good distributor and we will be GTG.
Kevin
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Originally posted by straffo
Beware of the hat ...
I started the surgery ...
Your a brave man Straffo :)
I have a cougar stick opened up like that, be durned if I can stuff all the innards back in again.
So I went and bought a X45. works well even if the springs seem somewhat wimpy.
I do have a question about the Saitek that maybe someone can help with. I downloaded the drivers for the X45 off the website and installed before hooking the joystick up. Using in game mapping it works well, but where do you find the software to utilize the rotaries,rockers etc? SGE v3 only recognizes .psi and someother kind of file (duu) but I see peoples posted setups as .dat?
tia
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Depending on the current state of your Cougar and if you can provide some picts ,there is possibly a way to make it work again :)
Concerning the X45 there is several choices of drivers:
-Stock microsoft windows drivers
Pro : it work
Con : no programability
-Saitek SGE
Don't work with NT 2K XP and not anymore supported by Saitek.
-Saitek SST driver (
win9X : http://ftp://ftp.saitek.com/pub/software/SD_Win9X_3_2_0_18master.exe
win NT 2K XP : http://ftp://ftp.saitek.com/pub/software/SD_WinNT_3_2_0_18master.exe
Pro : it work
Con : not as programmable as the Dhauzimmer's driver
To convert a .psi file to the new .dat format right click on the .psi file there should be a menu entry to convert
next put the .dat file in something like C:\Program Files\Saitek\Software
Don't take my words as definitive on this subject I don't use the SST myself anymore.
-Dhauzimmer's drivers not supported at all :)
more programmable than the saitek driver read a discution
here (http://www.simhq.com/simhq3/sims/boards/bbs/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=79;t=002308)
Pro : you can program more freely your stick and axis, not like a Cougar or a Ch stick but more than with Saitek driver ...
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I don't remember ,I'll try to find you the reference by monday. if I forget , punt this thread tuesday
Punt
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dohhh ... I forgot :(
I'll search it ASAP ,I just need to go to the other building at work expect an answer in 45mins :)
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I've seen the guy who got the micro-contact he doesn't remember the part number :(
He promised to give me the answer today ,I know him ... and I don't trust him :) so I'll jump on him tomorow again
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The scumbag is now in vacation for 2 weeks !
I was right this guy is a pain , btw I got the brand : it's an Apem product http://www.apem.com and his collegue say he would search the ref for me ,stay tuned :)
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Thanks for all the effort, I have found a part that will work the problem is finding a source to get them in quantitys less than 1000. Nobody seems to want to sell them in small numbers (20-30), must not be cost effective. If your guy gets the part number can he also tell me of the source? Thanks again!
Kev
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Wow your research is faster than I can post...Thanks!
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I love doing several things at once ;)
Btw I'm suppose to have the time to test really my X45 tomorrow (I'm not at home since 2 weeks).
I hope the feeling will be good (I tested it quite fast 2 week ago but not in "real" flight conditions).
If you have so much trouble finding the part as I've 10 left just send me your snail mail adress I'll send you the parts.
my email is : fdejager@club-internet.fr.
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You are the greatest!! I believe I have found something that will work. http://www.apem.com/pdf/APEM_F.pdf its the MJTP1230 series. Do you know wich is the correct length. I dont have one in front of me so I cant tell offhand. I believe it is the 8mm MJTP1230C but not sure. This company has a $25 minimum order so I can just order a bunch of each and figure it out that way.
I do really appreciate your offer but as you will probably need them in the future I dont want to take your supply. I need 8 of them anyhow.
Oh on the MJTP1230C they have 4 posts, I can cut two and straighten the other side. then they fit perfect, and can also be used as the regular surface mount switches also. I am interested in these as I dont need to find two seperate parts. Let me know what you think.
Kev
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it's not a problem for me to provide you the parts as I can have it on http://www.radiospares.fr/ in less than 24 hours :)
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email sent...Thanks!!!!!
Kev
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Bad news after testing offline in IL2/FB last night the feeling is worst than before and the behaviour is pretty bad.
I ordered some new micro-contact ...
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Changed all tact switches
It's still a no go ,stick work badly ,feeling is crap I give up.
I've ordered the CH suite : Stick,Throttle,Pedal
Now I'm poor but I'll be happy !!!!!
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With the information you gave me I ordered replacement switches to put into my stick. Hopefully I will be able to succesfully repair mine. If not I will be broke just like you because I will also order the CH setup.
What was the problem with your replacement switches? I gather that maybe the shaft of the hat wouldnt engage the switch? That was the problem with the first switches I ordered but the new ones will fix that problem (longer tact button). I will post here and let you know the outcome. Thanks again Straffo for all the help!
Kev
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It was a all or nothing situation giving that the new switchs are a bit too long I was having contact from time to time to 3 switches and so having immediate return to default view
So I reduced the height of the button and I was having a good feeling only on the left side the right side was not good so yet another time I dissassembled the stick to try to have is right...
This was to much ,pissed I missed my soldering and almost destroyed almost all that tiny wires skiding with the iron.
I hope it will turn better for you but for me it's to much (I know I'm not the best at soldering I prooved it again today :))
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wow - all that to save $80 ? :)
get the $10 12 month replacement with initial purchase and get a brand new X45 every 10 months for $10 thereafter .. been doing it that way for years at CompUSA
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Yep saving $80 to me is great but not the real excitement here. I enjoy tearing stuff apart and putting it back together. Electronics is a hobby of mine and a way to make my living. Its really no big deal to replace, and for the price of $ .11 per switch its alot easier than taking it back every 10 mos for it to only do it again. I am hoping the switches I am buying are going to be more reliable. They are rated for 1,000,000cycles between failure. If all goes well I will have stick as good or better than new by the middle of next week.
Straffo sorry to hear, it sounds like the length is the problem I am ordering several different sizes to hopefully stop this from being an issue. The measurements I made exactly fit one of the switches I am ordering and the others i have on order will be just in case I made an error. I have a Pace PRC 2000 Soldering station with a vacuum to pull the solder out of the existing pads. It really keeps things neat. I know what your talking about with the wires. The first time I attempted to repair I ended up rewiring most of those poor solder joints. The factory didnt do a real great job in production. I hope this to be bulletproof when I am complete. If not its off to the CH shop to give them alot more than the $80. And all those switches will be added to my future project...the cockpit!
Kev
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Originally posted by Eagler
wow - all that to save $80 ? :)
Yeah ,but it was supposed to be fun at first :)
get the $10 12 month replacement with initial purchase and get a brand new X45 every 10 months for $10 thereafter .. been doing it that way for years at CompUSA
This service is not available at my place ... I guess this is the place they send the used X45 :p
Good luck Kevin !
Btw the parts of the X45 are not lost ,I guess I'll retry next week I'll have to rewire the stick try with some new switches and give it to a friend
If all fail I'll make the throttle gameport then build some home-made rudder pedals for the cockpit I'm dreaming off since some years
I never started builing it because I was to lazy to search the parts now I have some :)
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Straffo Im happy to report that all is well in X45 land. I did the repair on my stick and it works just like it did the day I pulled it out of the box.
I wanted to thank you for the info you gave me, it pointed me to a company that has the switches needed to repair this thing. I photographed everything I did while doing this repair and I also didnt use all the cool tools I have. I used a cheap $6 soldering iron from radio shack to do the job. It was alot more difficult to do it that way but I wanted to know that it could be done with more common tools before I post a "How to repair".
Thanks again Straffo!!
Kev
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no problem mate :) happy to have been helpfull
My X45 is rebuild too ,my son and my daughter are quite please to have a hotas and I'm learning the CH FighterStick getting killed in all lame possible ways :D
My next step is builing some home made rudder pedal and throttle to integrate the whole in a cockpit I plan to build this summer or at the fall
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Originally posted by straffo
If you have so much trouble finding the part as I've 10 left just send me your snail mail adress I'll send you the parts.
Straffo do you have those parts yet ?
My 6 view not working well any more (after only 8 months of use :confused: ) and I can't find the spare part here in Italy :mad:
If you can send a couple of them, of course I'll pay for them, for the shipping expenses and for your disturb.
Thank you
Promet
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Send me a mail at : fdejager(at)club-internet.fr with your adress.
No need of money for shipping and so on ,it's quite cheap and sending a letter to Italian won't pork my budget :D
But don't expect the part before 2 weeks cause I've no more part left and I need to make anothe order plus I'm leaving the office for 2 weeks.
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Rgr that, TY very much Straffo ;) :aok
Are you going to order those parts anyway or buying them for me ?
Ever considered to start up a Saitek assistence centre in UE ? :D
Best regards
Promet
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Originally posted by 13Promet
Rgr that, TY very much Straffo ;) :aok
Are you going to order those parts anyway or buying them for me ?
They will be perhaps used here but cost will be hidden among the hundred part we buy per week :D
Ever considered to start up a Saitek assistence centre in UE ? :D
NEVAR !
I can do it from time to time but I won't make it my day job :p
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Originally posted by straffo
They will be perhaps used here but cost will be hidden among the hundred part we buy per week :D
You mean that the company you work for pays for your joystick spare parts ?
In case, are they looking for new emplojees ? :D
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Originally posted by Eagler
http://www.pogbird.com/X45/
works with ch pro peds
also check out my comments here:
http://www.hitechcreations.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=114018
gl
Eagler,
I downloaded your profile for the X45 and have been using it and like it prety much so far. One question that I don't see. How do you set it up to talk on the voice channel? I see that you use the mousefire switch to talk on the Range (F12) channel, but don't see anything for voice. Any suggestions or hints on how to go about doing that?
Thanks,
Debuman
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well that's easy, I don't use VOX :)
I had at one time, I had the little button on throttle next to thumb set for vox. switching differnet mode (M1, M2, M3) would give it different ranges..