Button Assignments on 2nd Joystick

[chris18p]

I have a Logitech Extreme 3D Pro and Thrustmaster Hotas X. I have just tweaked fsx to provide 100% linear control having read several topics on the subject (as well as videos).

 

The Logitech seems a better controller for flight, especially for landing practice (yet to determine if the new settings have improved it or not), it seems less "twitchy". I am however using the throttle slider on the Hotas X as this is more convenient and comfortable.

 

As I now have both joysticks I was wondering anyone can suggest the best (i.e useful) button assignments for both seeing that I now have 6 extra buttons on the Hotas X.

 

I am still in a learning curve with landings so anything that would give a better view on approach plus gauges, would be helpful. I have looked at the controller settings and see there are a number of views with entries like camera o, camera 1 etc. but no idea what they mean or how to programme them.

 

Any suggestions much appreciated.

[ScatterbrainKid]

Just because you've got buttons on your joystick doesn't mean you have to assign them.

I've got a bunch of buttons on my stick but don't use them, I use the stick purely for moving the control surfaces, its hat switch for panning, and the trigger for braking.

I use the dear old keyboard for everything else..:)

PS- and before you start messing with file-tweaking, always try the standard ingame options first, for example you mention wanting a better view on approach, so simply raise your eyepoint position or raise your seat to peer over the nose as explained on page 35 of this thread-

 

https://www.flightsim.com/vbfs/showthread.php?248567-How-do-you-keep-FSX-interesting/page35

[lnuss]

Just to show a different view, my Warthog has lots of switches, etc., and they're all assigned and heavily used. The keyboard is so awkward, while using the on-stick controls is easy and I don't even have to look, thus keeping a more natural flow to operations which allows more attention to flying the airplane. It's closer to real world that way, for me, and helps a lot since too many things such as seat-of-the-pants feeling are missing with the sim, things you depend on in real aircraft.

 

Different folks have different ways of looking at it.

 

So, to the OP, I have gear, flaps, elevator trim, displaying the GPS, switching views (S and SHIFT-S), operating the floats (on the Goose, for example), spoilers, cowl flaps, engine start, engaging the autopilot, setting NAV and ALT hold and a few other things programmed into my stick and throttle, all right at hand and not taking attention away from flying.

[HoratioWondersocks]

Hello Chris

I also have the Hotas X.

By the way! I would never want to use the keyboard for all commands ,much to fiddly and awkward. I always regard my keyboard with suspicion :) in a Sim session its best left alone ,in the past I have had instances of it being knocked onto the floor ,were its actually hit the key which shuts down the sim ....most aggravating indeed, although I do still use it occasionally ,for instance FSnav is on both the keyboard and also on the Hotas X .

I can't remember all my button commands ,but all the most commonly used are there ,for instance I use the fire button to cycle the views ,2d ,virtual ,spot etc ( I think? It's the fire button) the trigger button for braking ,a button next to that for full stop brakes. Other keys for viewing or removing the 2d view.

Anyways there are some of what I use my X for.

One little tip, to get FSnav to work with X you do have to use a third party ( free )program to achieve this.

My old Cyborg stick came with its own software tha t did allow FSNav to be added to its functions directly.

Anyways 2

Don't know if your an X man or fs9er if the former then you can ignore all references to FSNav as it doesn't work with X.

Anyways 3.

IMO utilising the buttons on your joystick is a must .Keep your keyboard to hand yes! but leave it alone to avoid any unexpected and unwanted key presses mucking up your session.This advice is particularly valid if like me you like to partake of ale during your flight. :)

 

Cheers Andy

[ScatterbrainKid]

I suppose the bottom line is which buttons do real-world planes have on their sticks and yokes? For example watching TV docus of airliner startup procedures, their hands are whizzing about all over the various panels pressing buttons and throwing switches, and our keyboards simulate that pretty good.

PS- I just spotted this on the net, a guy is using two keyboards, one has got neat labels on the keys-

 

http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g64/PoorOldSpike/sub2/FSX-K132_WWII_keyboard_mod_zps6lihwodc.jpg~original

http://dangerdogz.com/forums/topic/7194-keyboard-mod-diy-flight-sims/

[chris18p]

Thanks for the replies, all valid points and I suppose it is down to individual preference.

 

In my case I can't remember all the keyboard commands (can remember G for gear and W but that's about it) and having to refer to a crib sheet is a bit off putting. Also, my keyboard is in a sliding tray to save space so needs to be slid out to use and gets in the way.

 

Haven't worked out a way yet to actually label the buttons themselves, also as I am also fiddling about with x-plane to see how it compares I need some sort of template that will fit over the keys if I switch games although I have tried to match the buttons to both games.

 

I prefer to have things like autopilot-flaps extend-flaps retract on buttons so I don't have to think, it's what other regularly used command would be best on buttons.

 

Since my original post I have removed the linear control as I found it didn't work for me, the joystick was very "heavy".

 

Andy

 

As I said I have started to use the Logitech because I found the Hotas-X very twitchy when doing practice landings which I am not very good at. The slightest movement of the stick and the aircraft would have exaggerated movement. The Logitech doesn't seem as bad but will have to see over time.

[lnuss]

I suppose the bottom line is which buttons do real-world planes have on their sticks and yokes? For example watching TV docus of airliner startup procedures, their hands are whizzing about all over the various panels pressing buttons and throwing switches, and our keyboards simulate that pretty good.

PS- I just spotted this on the net, a guy is using two keyboards, one has got neat labels on the keys-

...

 

For me it's not what real world planes have on the stick, it's: "How can I quit having to hunt on the keyboard to command some operation?" Because every time I have to find something on the keyboard it takes away from my awareness of the flight for a few seconds, unlike operating various controls in the cockpit in real life, since in real aircraft I just reach out and touch the control with maybe a split-second glance. The controls on the stick match that level of attention which, for me, is more important than trying to do it your way (glad it works for you, though).

 

And, for me, this is doubly true, since a large part of my sim work is in formation with a friend as we explore different areas of the country, especially the ORBX areas, to enjoy the beauty that's finally available to us in the sim, and having fun finding what interesting things that ORBX has added to each airport. "Finally available" meaning compared to even FS98 days, let alone to what was around before that, since we both started computing in the days of the TRS-80, going to Amigas with FS2, then to PCs.

 

In formation work you can't afford to take more than a split second glance -- not even that when in tight formation -- to do some task. And you shouldn't do more than that when in the traffic pattern, even when not in formation.

 

So, for me it contributes to immersion in the sim and to more precise aircraft control.

 

Each to his own...

[krasen]

Greetings All,

 

Chris, might I suggest you buy a copy of FSUIPC as it makes programming the various buttons and axis a snap. Also, it allows for multiple Joysticks, so you could use the Logitech for flight controls and the HOTAS throttle. I have the same Logitech stick; I wound up printing labels for the functions and taping them in place. (plan on getting a label-maker one of these days.

 

As for the assignments, I made a list of the most frequently used command, prioritized them and then assigned them. For me, I have the trigger activating ATC, the buttons 5+3 control the trim, 4+6 control zoom, the thumb button resets the view, 7 pauses the game, 8 pauses my TrackIR, 9+10 run the flaps 11 cycles the views, 12 brings up the knee board. Hope this helps.

 

Respectfully,

Brian

[il88pp]

Ha, he just beat me to it.;) I'll post anyway.

 

I think it's something like this.

With the Logitech connected you have a joystick and throttle. Not much you can do about that.

But now you have a second joystick as well, with throttle.

I don't think default fsx has an option to assign the throttle to a second stick.

 

Something that does have such options would be the (payware) registered FSUIPC program.

That has the option of setting up multiple controllers. And I'm almost certain you can "see" both sticks in there and be able to set up as only one to be used. (and the other to be ignored completely.)

It should be possible with that to use one stick's left-right, the other stick's throttle, all buttons on both sticks, and the hat switch of your preference.

 

I hear though that FSUIPC can be a bit tough to set up at first. For one, you have to undo all fsx keyboard assignments, and set all those up one at a time in FSUIPC. That can take a while to do I guess, but on the other hand, you will surely remember them better after all that.

 

Another great treat (trait?) of FSUIPC is that you can set up a different profile for each plane you fly if you want. Means that is you select a different plane you will get different functions assigned to buttons.

Example. The button that you use for "floats extend-retract" in one plane, could do "Radar gauge show-hide" (shift-8 really) in the 747.

 

I think FSUIPC is around 30 dollars US.

[chris18p]

Thanks for the replies.

 

I have the 2 joysticks working in parallel and no problems. Have made sure no joystick assignments are duplicated.

 

I have installed the unregistered version of FSUIPC but my memory from some years ago when I was also dabbling in FSX was that it's not the easiest of software to setup. FSUIPC costs about £22.00(GBP) which isn't bad but will carry on with what I have at the moment, I can tweak the assignments as I get more used to having the 2 controllers.

 

After several years absence I am having to more or less start from scratch and want to avoid getting bogged down with too many tweaks and concentrate on flying, and especially landing. At the moment I have several flights that I can load at about 10 miles distant from the runway using autopilot and then about 3 miles out I switch to manual with the hope that I will eventually get proficient at landing.

 

I did see the keyboard mentioned but at £99.00(GBP) more or less think that's not a flyer.

[lnuss]

Good -- glad you have it working. And we appreciate the feedback, too -- thanks.

[napamule2]

If all you use the HOTAS for is throttle then I have a suggestion. But only because I have been using this method for 10 years and won't have it any other way. And it only cost me $15 (US). It's adding a 10-Keypad. My joy sits to my right (NOT on the deskop) and is screwed down tight on top of an old speaker box, weighted down with dumbell weights (it DON'T move). The keyboard is front-n-center (and STAYS there) which makes it available for typing (as I am doing now) and for FS key presses (mostly 'G' and 'W' keys). The rest of 'assignments' are made to the Targus 10-keypad. See pic for 'layout'.

 

Since I assigned throttle (keys F1 thru F4) to the keypad, I did an in game calibration and when at throttle window set it to '0' and put a platic wedge on joystick throttle slider so it won't move. That is one thing that eliminates any 'spikes' in throttle (ie: makes it smooth as butter and can do 1 key press worth of throttle (as opposed to ? worth with the slider). You have to use this for a week or so to be convinced it 'works'. With this set up I can drive vehicles (spoiler='super' braking) and with helicopters 'hovering' smooth throttle is a MUST and very possible this 'method' or 'setup'. Patent Pending (hehe).

Chuck B

Napamule

PS: On the keypad make sure the 'Num Lock' LIGHT is OFF before you use or make assingments or it won't work.

On the joy, the 2 black buttons below hat switch are flaps extend and flaps retract and the '4' switch is when in locked spot view press (toggles) to change view to: flyby/top down/spot view then back to locked spot view.