Help with controls

[Zeb]

I have returned to AH after a very long absence, dusted some old controllers off and am in the process of trying to set things up.  I have a Saitek X52 Pro which I don't mind using as a throttle but didn't like the stick.  So have paid the throttle up with a Thrustmaster Extreme 3D Pro for now.  A CH Fighterstick and Saitek pedals are on the way.  The problem I am having is with some of the analogue axis.  I have the usual X and Y axis on the joystick to aileron and elevator and the Z axis to rudder ok.  On the X52 Pro throttle the throttle axis has been mapped to the engine throttle fine.  But as I have three other analogue axis unused on the X52 I thought I could bring them into play too.  First the slider I thought would be perfect for elevator trim, so I mapped it.  I can see the analogue values varying ok but it doesn't seem to alter the elevator trim.  OK I thought try another.  So I mapped the X52's top rotary analogue control to the cockpit move forward and back view.  The same as the default up down on the keyboard does.  Nothing.  Once again I see the analogue values changing correctly, but seems to have no effect in the cockpit.  I end tried unmapping the arrow keys and the elevator trim keys in case they were over riding somehow.  These analogue options are supposed to work aren't they?  They aren't left over from some earlier version and are redundant now?  Any suggestions appreciated.

[Rich52]

You are mapping in SST arent you? For your sliders, wheels, and rotaries you are setting 3 bands for them right? With the center band empty? When I band them I normally edit the bands to the top/lowest to 10% leaving 80% in the middle unbanded. SST can also be picky about accepting macros. Most of all the sliders, rotaries, and wheels can be picky about accpeting micros. Try right clicking and using "Advanced commands" to set your micros. Also check Saitek control panel to make sure nothing is spiking. The mouse wheel stick is notorious for that and you might have to move it a bit, set a bigger deadband, or even set it to do nothing in SST.

Playing with SST can be an adventure. Ive had to reset keymaps just to get SST to accept them, most of all the macros. And of all the buttons the slider,wheel,mouse, and rotaries can really be a pain.

[Zeb]

If SST is Saitek software, no.  I am not using and configuration software for the X52 or the TM stick.  I am mapping the axis and buttons within AH.  So when I look at the X52 Pro in Map Controllers in AH the Y rotation values are happily changing from 0 to 65535 as I rotate the control.  I allocate it to the forward and back function but nothing happens.  The same result when I tried the slider with elevator trim.  I can see the the analogue values changing but just don't seem to be having any effect on what I assign it to apart from the primary analogue functions.  Elevator, aileron rudder etc.

[Rolex]

The slider doesn't have a center position, so you might not be able to map it trim.

I use the two rotaries for trim (elevator and rudder) and have the slider mapped to rpm. The rotaries have a small detent in the center.

Make sure you calibrate the rotary dials and the slider along with your throttle, rudder and stick throw.

[Zeb]

Thanks Rolex, that was it.  It appears that although the axis were showing as moving ok I needed to move them within calibration so that AH knows they exist.

[Flench]

I use my slider for brake .

[Rich52]

Yeah if you want to map to trim you have to band it in SST.

[morfiend]

Thanks Rolex, that was it.  It appears that although the axis were showing as moving ok I needed to move them within calibration so that AH knows they exist.

  If you have combat trimenabled you wont have the analog function! you need to disable CT before the analog controller will take effect,my X52 did the same thing and it wasnt until I mapped a button to toggle CT off before I used the analog control.

   Personally I set the slider to rpm and used the big thumb wheel for elevator and the small 1 for aileron trim. The keystrokes over ride CT,as in if you press K for instance but analog controls dont so you either have to map a button to toggle CT on/off or and I'm not totally sure on this but AH analog controls were changed so you can imulate keystokes so you could try that and see if it will override the combat trim.

   Hope that helps!


   

[Rolex]

Good to hear you got it sorted, Zeb. Now go shoot someone down!

[Zeb]

Thank's Morfiend and Rolex.  I am getting there slowly.  I did have a Warthog but donated that along with my pedals to my wife (Flossy).  When I played quite a few years ago I was using a Cougar but quite a few things have changed since then.  A Fighterstick and pedals arrived yesterday and got installed so last night was spent trying to get the best out of them all configuration wise.  I stuck a TrackIR 5 on as well, but the jury is still out on that one.

I have set it so combat trim is defaulted to off and I am using the rotaries as analogue trimmers aileron and elevator.  Do I still really need combat trim or will the ability for manual trim be the best option.  Having not got into any serious fights yet, I don't know.  I have rudder trim on one of the back hats on the throttle along with 2 of the 3 available autopilot modes.  I know at some point I am going to slap my head because I have missed out something important and have no room for it.  Thats why I am all ears trying to learn other peoples setups.

I think Flossy likes the Warthog, even though she is developing muscles in her right arm.  I don't think I would take her on at arm wrestling now!

[morfiend]

  Zeb,

  Because I'm lazy I use combat trim alot so I have a button mapped to toggle CT on/off . I then set CT to default on so I dont have to mess with trim unless I need or want to.

  I take it it's been awhile since you played,there's a new{well not that new} command called trim set I beleive the period key is default for it. You can use it with CT to lock the trim settings as they are at the time you press trimset.

  BTW it also overides CT and allows you to use the analog controls.

   Also the new analog control setup should allow you to set the analog input to immulate a keystroke,however I've never used this feature so maybe someone who has experience with it could chime in and explain it better.


   Hope that helps!


   

[Zeb]

Yes it has helped, its got me reading a lot more.  I tried finding out about Trim Set and as far as I can gather it's mainly used when you have digital trims (using buttons and not analogue inputs).  If your holding your stick off centre and want it to be centred the way the plane is flying then hitting Trim Set will adjust trims so you can now leave go of the stick and the adjusted trim will keep your current flight condition if that makes sense. Thats how I read it.  However if your using analogue trims then I don't think this works as the analogue trim position will override everything except an autopilot function.  Which is why combat trim won't work alongside analogue trims according to this article.  http://snomhf.exofire.net/ahtrim.html .  Trimming manually seems to make more sense.

Although I have the X52 Pro throttle and CH Fighterstick, I have not used any of the associated configuration software.  I am purely relying on remapping whatever comes out of the devices in AH.  I don't know if this is the best practice.  I believe the Saitek uses SST software to configure and CH has it's own configuration software.  My instinct is to leave well alone as the more extra drivers whizzing around in the background the slower things get.  Although I think I am missing out on different modes on each stick. 

I also have a Saitek G13 game controller thingy that I might add into the mix if I run out of things to twiddle 

[Zeb]

     Also the new analog control setup should allow you to set the analog input to immulate a keystroke,however I've never used this feature so maybe someone who has experience with it could chime in and explain it better.

I think I understand that feature.  In the Map controllers screen each controller has what appears as extra inputs down the bottom of the list shown as for example X axis Min, X axis Mid and X axis Max.  These can be assigned to what a button press would normally be used for.  I can't see me using that, but someone with a shortage of buttons and a few analogue knobs to spare might use it.

[morfiend]

 Zeb,

  I never bothered with the SST software and just used AH to program everything.

   There are a couple of things that dont seem to be recognize on the X52 throttle but if you open the saitek control panel and leave it open then start the game for some reason AH sees those controls.

  In the help and training forum there is a discussion about this so you might want to read up on that too.


  I have a warthog also,cant say I'd give it to my wife even if she flew,think I'd make her buy her own.....


   

[Zeb]

Well the Warthog wasn't getting much use.  She had worn her Cougar out and my old one too so I passed the Warthog on to her.  Then started to get interested again myself.  I like the Fighterstick though, I had one of the original analogue ones back in Air Warrior days. 

I don't have a Saitek control panel, I didn't install it.  Might be an idea to install it as I have noticed a few buttons that don't work.