Flight control settings (x52 stick and throttle)

[xJUGGOx]

Just curious... I took the old x52 out of retirement, and notice it has a lot of movement before pitch or roll is actually initiated on my FE. Is there a good deadband or dampening setting to help this? I tried sliding them around and it seems to go from one extreme to the other. Or does DB need to be greater then dampening? Or vice versa?

Thanks in advance

<{S}>

[FLS]

Try zero deadband and damping. If you don't see improvement it's likely the stick is worn. I assume you calibrated the stick in AH.

[xJUGGOx]

Yes I have. It works fine in other games. It probably has less the 30 hours of play. Took it out of commission because my old PC system USB couldn't handle the power demand for the USB causing spikes during flight which would cause uncontrollable flight.

[morfiend]

 Juggo,


  I would recommend a powered usb hub for use with the X52 because of the power demand they have. You could turn off the lights and turn down the MDF display and that may help with the power draw until you get a powered hub.

  IIRC the X52 uses halon devices for the x and y axis and potentiometers for the z rotation ot twist rudder,this can act up but the X and Y axises{axii} should be working ok.Sometimes the cable between the throttle and joystick can be loose or come loose and this can cause problems so check to be sure it is secure.

  You need to watch the "raw" window to see how the stick is functioning when you remove all the deadpan and dampening,if it moves smoothly you should then be able to add some dampening and or deadpan,dampening dapens the whole axis,deadpan makes center slightly larger.  Be sure you dont have scaling enabled when testing as it will alter the scaled window depending on how you have the scaling set.

  Hope that helps.



   

[PFactorDave]

Back when I used an X52, I saw a video showing how to use the cover of a CD-R spindle stack to stiffen the stick up a bit.  It's a quick and easy mod that doesn't require any disassembly of the stick and, in my opinion, really improves how it feels.

[xJUGGOx]

@morfiend thanks I will try that tonight. Regarding the USB power spike, that was on my old system haven't had any on my new one so far it does have a slightly larger then normal power supply so I hope that is helping.

@Pfactordave  thanks that is a great idea. If above doesn't work then that will be next step.
 
 

[Big Rat]

JUGGO,

I'll be in the TA tonight around 9 central with a student but I can walk you through how mines setup if interested.

 
BigRat

[PFactorDave]

@Pfactordave  thanks that is a great idea. If above doesn't work then that will be next step.

If you need a photo or two, I can easily dig my X52 out of the closet and post something up for you.

[morfiend]

@morfiend thanks I will try that tonight. Regarding the USB power spike, that was on my old system haven't had any on my new one so far it does have a slightly larger then normal power supply so I hope that is helping.

@Pfactordave  thanks that is a great idea. If above doesn't work then that will be next step.
 
 

 



  Juggo,

  the psu in your comp has little to do with the power output of the USB,it's controlled by the motherboard and may or maynot supply adequate power to the X52.

  I would highly recommend you get a powered usb hub to be sure the X52 is getting the proper amount of voltage. I had an X52 for years and it never gave me a problem,after I connected it to a powered hub and made sure the cable between the throttle and joystick was always secured. A small piece of duct tape secured the cable.




    

  PS: I did the mod Pfactor mentioned and it did improve the spring tension,I went alittle further and added some cardboard shims to stiffen even more.

[PFactorDave]

 



  Juggo,

  the psu in your comp has little to do with the power output of the USB,it's controlled by the motherboard and may or maynot supply adequate power to the X52.

  I would highly recommend you get a powered usb hub to be sure the X52 is getting the proper amount of voltage. I had an X52 for years and it never gave me a problem,after I connected it to a powered hub and made sure the cable between the throttle and joystick was always secured. A small piece of duct tape secured the cable.




    

  PS: I did the mod Pfactor mentioned and it did improve the spring tension,I went alittle further and added some cardboard shims to stiffen even more.

I would second the powered hub thing too.  All kinds of wonky problems disappeared when I added a powered hub.  I never had a problem with my cable coming unplugged like a lot of guys do though.

It was an ok stick.  I upgraded to a Warthog though and love it.

[xJUGGOx]

Thanks all for the input it worked well. The scaling was enabled so it was messing it up. Now I only have to move it 1/4 instead of to the max for input.

<{S}>

[morfiend]

Thanks all for the input it worked well. The scaling was enabled so it was messing it up. Now I only have to move it 1/4 instead of to the max for input.

<{S}>

  I'm glad you solved the issue,I would still advise you to pick up a powered USB hub,a small 4 port hub shouldnt be more than 20 bucks at any electronics store,you can even find them at walmart.

   Trust me on this I went years without ever having to calibrate my X52 once I started using a hub.



   

[Wiley]

  I'm glad you solved the issue,I would still advise you to pick up a powered USB hub,a small 4 port hub shouldnt be more than 20 bucks at any electronics store,you can even find them at walmart.

   Trust me on this I went years without ever having to calibrate my X52 once I started using a hub.



   

This.  I never have to calibrate mine either and I've used a powered hub all along.

Wiley.

[JimmyD3]

  I'm glad you solved the issue,I would still advise you to pick up a powered USB hub,a small 4 port hub shouldnt be more than 20 bucks at any electronics store,you can even find them at walmart.

   Trust me on this I went years without ever having to calibrate my X52 once I started using a hub.



   

I also have a X52 & powered hub, with no problems.