TLDR: AutoHotkey Macros for switching MPDs in AH-64D similarly like A10.
I tested a little bit of A-10 last week and I fell in love with the way it uses joystick switches to control modes of MPD.
And although I have two VKB Gladiator NXT with modifiers, I still feel I do have not enough buttons.
By using Symbology Select Switch on the right HAT I had left and right directions empty - perfect for mapping switching left and right MPDs!
DCS AH64C AHK MPD.mp4
In the video you see me using only three buttons:
VID to TADS, VID disable and TSD (yes, disable first - because DCS renders video even under map overlay on)
WPN, A/C, FCR
ACQ to TADS, ACQ to FXD
AutoHotkey script below.
Notes:
Joy12, 14 and 19 are keys on VKB Gladiator NXT. Yours might be different. AFAIK Autohotkey detects only one Joystick.
You have to map keys on your keyboards to buttons on MPDs; I use keys 3,4,5,6,7.. for right MPD and keys e,r,t,y,u.. for left. You got the idea.
That is it for now. I also use buttons R1 and R2 for the Scale of the map.
What do you think? And what other function on MPD should deserve Macro? Let me know!
SetKeyDelay, 200 ; Add 200ms delay between clicks
Joy12::
TimesA++
If (TimesA = 3)
TimesA:=1
If (TimesA = 1)
Send, 346 ; Right MPD: VID to TADS
If (TimesA = 2)
Send, 37 ; Right MPD: VID disable and TSD
return
Joy14::
TimesB++
If (TimesB = 4)
TimesB:=1
If (TimesB = 1)
Send, e ; Left MPD: WPN
Else If (TimesB = 2)
Send, t ; Left MPD: A/C
Else If (TimesB = 3)
Send, i ; Left MPD: FRC
return
Joy19::
TimesC++
If (TimesC = 3)
TimesC:=1
If (TimesC = 1)
Send, yu ; Left MPD: ACQ to TADS (Only WPN)
If (TimesC = 2)
Send, yy ; Left MPD: ACQ to FXD (Only WPN)
return