TheAwesomeCobra

Hi TheAwesomeCobra,

I'm looking for the cable of your throttle quadrant... can you sell it to me?

Thanks in advance

Piergiorgio

 

Hi Piergiorgio,

Sure, you can contact me at galaxygamingelite@gmail.com if you're still interested.

Yeah, some crazy times right now. And yes, it's the default w/repaint, oh and it also has the Advanced VC addon by Alejandro Rojas Lucena. That might contribute to the VC rain lag, but I still get low FPS with any other aircraft, default or addon.

Hi, back again from the cycle of "play FSX -> get tired of low frames -> get tired of tweaking FSX for FPS -> give up on FSX (for a while)". I'm sure some can relate ;)

 

Anyways...

 

I can get OK framerates (20-30, usually not consistent) with my system specs, but only without rain and with everything looking just a bit too old-gamey. I'd like to be able to increase settings a little, fly in weather other than perfect, use some (freeware) detailed aircraft, maybe some really light shaders... you get the idea.

 

I know that FSX, being a simulator, is way more CPU-bound, but I've heard of people with GPUs, and CPUs worse than mine, get higher frames than me.

 

SO, would a sub-$50 GPU be an improvement from no GPU at all? Also, is rain based on CPU or GPU?

 

Thanks! Specs and settings below:

--------

Windows 10 Pro

Intel i5-2400 @ 3.10GHz

8GB RAM

1920x1200 Monitor

--------

GRAPHICS

 

1024x768x32

Bilinear

Global Texture: Very High

Preview, Lens FLare, Light bloom, and Avd. Anim. are all off

 

AIRCRAFT

 

"Ultra High" preset

 

SCENERY

 

"Terrain and water"

Medium

42

38m

1m Mid 2x

Checked

 

"Scenery Objects"

Normal

Normal

Unchecked

Medium

 

WEATHER

 

"Medium Low" preset

 

Traffic

 

"Very Low" preset

 

Here's an idea of what that looks like:

20 FPS in the rain, even lower in the cockpit.

I was about to ask the same thing. Basically I need it to see each toggle (off to on, on to off etc.) as the same button press.

(moved from FSX section)

Hi,

 

I'm trying to make reverse thrust usable on a throttle by assigning a keypress (F2) to an area under a certain percentage, below what I would set to idle. But I can't find such software to do so, and although the full version of FSUIPC can probably do it, I don't need all of the extras it comes with. A more in-depth (read, 'confusing') explanation of the setup below.

 

It uses a saitek throttle quadrant, but the version that doesn't have its own controller board (it would go through a saitek yoke), so I wired its (the throttle's) pots to the 'board of an old joystick.

 

This means that calibration through windows is like a joystick - it has me move an axis over its entire range, then leave it at center, then do the next axis. I noticed that if I leave the sticks at the detent when it asks me to "center" the axis, then the 50% mark is then set at the detent - upper 50% requires more movement, while lower is smaller and much more sensitive.

 

So I then could set the upper 50% to "normal throttle" and the lower band to a button for decreasing throttle below idle. But, I can't find a program that has this banded mode. I think the x52 software has something like this.

 

Also, I'm using two separate axes for throttle, if that matters.

 

 

P.S. - Would JoyToKey work? I hear of people using it for this purpose but no explanation of how...

I think the full version of FSUIPC will enable you to program the throttle(s) as you require, but you're better off asking this in the Cockpit Builders forum - click the Forum button at the top of this page, scroll down to the Technical Forums and Cockpit Builders is the third one down.

 

Oh, forgot about that. Thanks!

Assign the F2 button (the default reverse command).

 

I know that that's the button, but my problem is that I can't assign F2 specifically to the throttle reverser range (or any other button). I'm trying to set up a sort of "banded mode" where I can assign the idle position at the detent and a button press for the range below that.

 

I might as well include a better description of the throttle if that helps anyone. It uses a saitek throttle quadrant, but the version that doesn't have its own controller board (it would go through a saitek yoke), so I wired its (throttle's) pots to the 'board of an old joystick.

 

This means that calibration through windows is like a joystick - it has me move an axis over its entire range, then leave it at center, then do the next axis. I noticed that if I leave the sticks at the detent when it asks me to "center" the axis, then the 50% mark is then set at the detent - upper 50% requires more movement, while lower is smaller and much more sensitive.

 

So I then could set the upper 50% to "normal throttle" and the lower band to a button. But, I can't find a program that has this banded mode. I think the x52 software has something like this.

 

Also, I'm using two separate axes for throttle, if that matters.

 

Did any of that make sense? :confused:

Hi,

 

I have a throttle quadrant that I sort of hacked up myself (see here). Is there a way to set up a reverse thrust range by assigning it a keypress below a certain range (it has a detent below "idle", but after calibration as a joystick, It seems that I could only have idle set to below the detent)? I would use FSUIPC, but free doesn't include the right settings and I don't need all the extras of full.

Hi,

It depends on which gps unit you are looking to recreate and for which aircraft. I made a Garmin G1000 unit for my cockpit using an off the shelf touchscreen and a Bodnar card.

 

I chose a difficult aircraft in the Carenado Phenom 300, but if you just wish to recreate the standard fsx Garmin GPS500 this should be easier as Microsoft gave access to the control assignments.

 

I guess the hardest part would be getting a touchscreen the right size. My 10inch touchscreen is straight usb and is effectively plug and play, i just drag a gps window onto it within fsx, then i used the bodnar card to interface the switches and rotary knobs of the side bezels, so no need for raspberry pi programming.

 

I only needed to do any programming because i chose the Phenom.

 

Cheers

Stinger

 

 

 

Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

 

Thanks, never thought about the assignments thing. I forgot to mention I'm not building a whole cockpit or replicating anything specific; just the GPS and possibly a few simple buttons (but I can imagine it being somewhat similar to the default for the assignments reason). So, what kind of monitor do you mean? As in plugged directly into your PC? I've never heard of a USB monitor, much less a touchscreen one. Just looked them up, seems expensive (over $100). I was thinking of using a raspberry pi because it seems cheaper; pi for under $20 (pi zero, for example, for $5), touchscreen (most under 8") for the same price. I think there is free software for "casting" the GPS video, or the GPS live info (i'm terrible with the nomenclature :D) to GPS emulator software on the pi.

Hi all,

How hard would it be to make a GPS (for FSX) out of a Raspberry Pi? Maybe even some buttons via a Leo Bodnar board? There are small touchscreens made for attaching directly to the various Pi models (I think it uses GPIO), possibly eliminating the need for physical buttons? My main worry would probably be software - I have very little knowledge in terms of how to interface with FSX. I could probably 3d print the case/frame.

 

any ideas are appreciated!

 

p.s. this page of a thread lightly touches on my idea, but like I said earlier, I'm barely understanding the talk about the coding/interfacing part: https://forums.simviation.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=27826&p=1293170

Adding to what @johnost said-

Agreed, that future addons (or even sims) will eventually make your new pc feel very limited. But, those addons, along with the computers capable of running them, don't exist yet, and you'll have to pay a fortune to change that. I'm not an expert at computers, but the new one that you chose seems about as good as it will get. IMO, no point in spending an extra 200+ on 0.1GHz. Out of curiousity, why don't you want to overclock? Some processors are surprisingly more powerful after OC.

From what I understand, the ground plane is necessary, correct me if i'm wrong. I think I'll try to find another stick without the base plate/ground, since I don't want to deal with it, and I could find another, more compact one, for really cheap. This would be my first controller mod, and I don't want things to get too complex. If you have any easy suggestions for the base plate, let me know. I just want to keep it as tidy as possible, not too many loose wires/components. Also, PhantomTweak, ntydk, and whoever I missed, thanks, the instructions on wiring are clear and helpful!

I have no real-world aviation experience, but since you would be the people to know, I posted here.

 

Do you know of any non-fighter jet type plane that has carrier landing capabilities, such as the E-2 Hawkeye?

 

Tags (forgot to add them before posting) Carrier, arrested, landing, tailhook

OK. Thanks! The photo is really helpful. Provided the Microsoft Sidewinder usb board is in good condition.

The 3 axes that you mentioned are workable and can be converted to Saitek Throttle axes with no problem. In fact the 4th one you can turn that to an extra Speed brake if you could by adding additional lever (homemade stick) with the OEM pot intact. Since you have a ground wire ID in the photo, that means you may use it to ID the ground wire on each OEM pot with VOM and then ID the 5v and signal wires will be much easier. Give it a try! Please let me know if I am incorrect.

Is it possible to measure the power line to the OEM pot is really 5V before connect to the throttle pots. You know the calibration will be done as Microsoft sidewinder in your computer system.

 

How do you recommend attaching the 4th pot? Maybe 3d printing? Also I'm not sure what you mean by "Ground ID." Also, where would I put the ground plate? Bend it into a square and hot glue it to the bottom? lol.

 

P.S. Napamule and ntydk - thanks for the links!

It makes perfect sense.:)

I hadn't realised the Saitek throttle had three levers.

Thanks.

 

My first thought was that saitek lever (1) to sidewinder board throttle connection should work. The board should send a value in a range from zero to 100.

 

But that saitek levers 2 and 3 might not work in fsx all that well when connected to the two sidewinder joystick axis. The two joystick axis on the sidewinder board may be expecting (and sending) a signal such as

100% left---center---100% right.

 

Maybe with registered Fsuipc you can set up a working profile. Change the output the pc recieves from the board to a signal 0---100 using fsuipc.

 

But that's just a thought from a layman. Not sure at all.

 

Judging by the reply that came from ntydk it's not a problem at all.

I'll think about it some more later.

 

Thank you for the info. Good luck on it.

 

Interesting, never thought about the '200%' turn before. I'll see how it goes when its all wired up.

il88pp:

 

Hey, great to have some interest:

"I'm just trying to read along. If I read you correctly you want to connect the pot from your saitek throttle to

the board of your sidewinder. In the same way as the sidewinder throttle is connected to that board at the moment.

Do I understand that correctly?"

 

pretty much, but read on:

 

"Also two questions about the non-throttle axis of the sidewinder. From your picture I see an indication for axis 1 and axis 2 on the sidewinder board.

Do I understand correctly that those 2 axis will not be used for this throttle solution?"

 

No, I didn't really think about how the labels would have translated. What I meant was, the "throttle" is the physical throttle and potentiometer on the sidewinder, and axis 1 & 2 are the x and y axis on the sidewinder. I'll need three of the axis from the board for the three-lever throttle. On the board, I'll disconnect all the sidewinder's pots from it, and use 3 out of the four axis (on the board) to connect to the throttle's three axis (so no, I WILL be using the throttle axis, as well as axis 1 &2). If I have time, I'll try to wire the buttons.

 

"And the second question about the axis. I do not see axis 3 indicated. Does the sidewinder not have a third axis? (I am not familiar with that stick. Is it not a stick you can twist to control the rudder with.)."

 

Yeah, It has a twist axis, just forgot to label it. It's probably the three wires (stuck together) to the right of where axis 2 connects to the board.

 

I hope this makes sense, and feel free to ask any more questions!

Just remembered, I have a Microsoft SideWinder Precision 2 (USB) that I.. um.. broke :D (no electronics affected). @ntydk pictures below:

All internals

 

Wiring axis/buttons (forgot to take note of which axis were which)

actually don't have a joystick yet, is there any features or sticks I should look for? Ntydk - yeah, that helps thx!

Yes. Just make sure you connect all wires (+5v, signal and Ground)correctly.

 

Awesome, thanks! Are there any obvious and/or definite ways to tell the connections apart? I heard you can fry something if its connected wrong. I have a multimeter if it helps.

I get a similar issue. Along with the real world weather problem, my (FSX) home screen shows the steam edition logo and says something about not connected to the internet. Multiplayer, Firefox, etc. work fine.

In a post a while back, I realized that the ps/2 version of the Saitek throttle quadrant doesn't actually have a physical controller board. I'm considering a Bodnar board, but what if I took the board of a cheap 3-axis USB joystick and wire the throttle's pots to that? Would it work?

 

P.S. - By now you've probably noticed I'm the El Cheapo of flight sim ;)

Wanna hear about a real yard sale steal?

 

I went to a yard sale in 2010 and three before my eyes glistening in the sun were a CH Products yoke and pedals. I immediately asked the guy how much he wanted for them. "$25 for both", he said. I was like wow! So I immediately bought them but at the same time had my doubts if they'd even work. I even heard him mutter to his wife, "glad those are gone." So I really thought I bought some lemons. Well, I came home, plugged them in and set my button assignments in FSX and how be damned if they didn't work. No issues thus far that I know of. I've been using them now flaw free for about 9 years.

 

Now that's a steal! LOL

 

I have similar experiences. Maybe someone needs to start a thread on "What are your best 'steals'?" lol.

Awesome, been looking for something like this! Do they require live voice ATC? How about the Built-in ATC (the automated voices one)?

Getting "back into" flight sim recently, I heard about using the 3d anaglyph and how it looks so amazing. However, most of these are for Nvidia graphics cards only (I have Intel HD Graphics 2000). To clear things up, I'm using a normal (probably non-3d) monitor and I plan to get some cheap red/blue or red/cyan glasses.

 

Is it possible to get this effect using add-ons or drivers?

 

Thanks!

Dang, one thing I keep forgetting is that I did cheat a little and install some early FS9 mod. textures for things like the Sun, Moon, stars, and water. :pilot:

 

Getting it right took a little time but the results were spectacular. :cool:

 

Just check the FS9 Misc. section. One thing I used was the more-yellow sun texture.

Its been years since I found the combo I wanted, if anyone's interested I could look up the download file names (pretty sure this was all from the same author except for the star data).

 

Ah, the days of 60+ fps! Will definitely try this out sometime, thanks!

 

-Cobra