DaddySchlich

Are the key commands, etc., the same in DCS World for the Su25T as they were in the Flaming Cliffs series? Did a search of the forum and didn't see a direct answer, but it appears likely. I can just pull out my old dog-eared annotated manual if so. Thanks, DaddySchlich

Thanks for the training mission! Quick question - what's the best way to increase the volume of the voiceover, compared to the other sounds in the pit??

Thanks for taking the time to reply, and giving me something else to tell the wife when she finds me upstairs with BS2 on! Not sure I totally understand this tip - my guess is that - without this - while FFB2 keeps the joystick X and Y axes in place when I release the trim button, my non-FFB rudder operates just like a non-FFB joystick and therefore has to be centered - either within .5 seconds or eventually - depending on the non-FFB option you pick. With this tip, I can leave the rudder as set manually and not have to worry about centering? Am I getting close?? Thanks. I hadn't realized that you had held the trim button down for several seconds during the track. That's helpful to know when viewing it. Thanks again. I wasn't sure what the two FFB variables affected, being new to all of this, and it's helpful to get these tips rather than just shoot in the dark! This will help me set things up more quickly and make my "practice, practice, practice" more productive!! Daddy Schlich

Hi, Well, I did get a MS FFB2 for Xmas! Yay! Just got around to setting it up today with BS2, vers. 1.1.1.1. Seems to work great - in that it stays put when I release the Trim button. (RCtrl-Enter tells me that.) It does seem like a different game. But I have noticed that there's a bit of a kick when I press the Trim button, which is more pronounced when I've moved the stick a greater distance from the last trimmed position. It's as though it temporarily adds more in the direction of the movement of the stick than I have moved it. It's therefore most noteworthy when I do a quick press-and-release of the Trim button after a significant change in the joystick. If I press the Trim button, hold, only then move the joystick to reorient the heli, and finally then release the trim button, I don't seem to have much of a problem. Zeroing out "shake" in the FF Tune option also seems to help somewhat. Is that what is intended here?? Any tips?? I have downloaded PeterP's BS2-1.1.1.1 MS FFB2 precision.trk. He doesn't appear to have the same issue that I can see. When I take control partway through the track, I have the same issues I describe above. Maybe I have something set up differently?? FYI - Yes, I have Swapped Axes in FF Tune (unswapped, boy what a mess!), and have Trimmer Force at 100. I have taped over the pinhole sensor near the base of the stick so it's in FFB mode all the time in the game. I have unchecked Central Position Trimmer Mode - but I'm not sure that matters with a FFB stick. I have kept my Axis Tune all straight lines. Any thoughts or advice would be much appreciated! Daddy Schlich

Thanks for the lead on changing out the X52 handle. I'm assuming I can away with plugging my X45 throttle and joystick into one USB port, and a MS FFB2 in another, and then program all the joystick buttons and axes in DCS BS2 into the FFB2, and all the throttle functions into the X45, and then just keep the X45 joystick out of reach.

Thanks, Schredder and Peter. I have a Windows 7 system, so no need for XP drivers, and I'll be sure to stick with USB stick. Good to know that power cable is standard, so I can get elsewhere if need be. As far as lack of buttons, I see that there are ways around it. Looking at the BS manual, I've tried to keep the buttons on the joystick mapped only to what's on the actual stick, and Black Shark is not too demanding from that perspective. Of course, absent a touchscreen, a lot of mouse clicks, but that's OK. I've seen there are "red" and "black" versions of the stick. Is this anything more than cosmetic? Also, any suggestions other than eBay to pick one up? (I'm in the U.S.) Thanks again for the help. Daddy Schlich

Hi, I have both BS1 and BS2, and was wanting to complement them with the Microsoft Sidewinder Force Feedback 2 joystick (FFB2) in light of what I've been reading on the forums. So it's on my Xmas list. Wifey reports that they're not being made any longer, so it's an eBay purchase. Yet there are so many variations on eBay. I have a Windows 7 system. Obviously, I need the USB cable and power cable, right? What about manual and CD-ROM? I would guess "no," but didn't want to end up with something that just wouldn't work. Many thanks for any advice!! Daddy Schlich

Thanks for the Manual reference for Selected Course Steering. Had not noticed that. Similar to using Overhead Mark Point.

Just wanted to add this alternative: 1. Get ATC instructions 2. Make Overhead Mark Point via CDU or UFC 3. change AAP to Mark - so you switched to Mark Points 4. cycle to relevant Mark Point, if not there already, and fly at heading directed by ATC. 5. follow increasing distance from Mark Point, as displayed on HUD, or on HSI 6. turn to runway heading when you hit the distance specified by ATC, changing AAP to Flight Plan and picking WP at airfield. So, now there are at least 3 ways on this thread to respond to ATC directions.

Not sure what you mean by Selected Course Steering. But if you mean Autopilot/Path, you could do that. But I think the question has been how do you judge distance in that case. That's why I was trying to figure out how to set a new waypoint consistent with the ATC's direction.

As a follow-on to andyfoot's message, here's my take at the "hard way," that is, putting an offset waypoint into the flight plan after getting ATC instructions for landing. I think this should work. Obviously, use of the TACAN method is simpler if the airbase has a TACAN. Hopefully, this will be helpful for those interested in use of the Offset Page. Daddy Schlich I think that virtually all the steps can be input via the CDU, or via the UFC and RMFCD if you have the CDU Repeater on: 1. Get heading and distance from ATC 2. Create Overhead Mark Point at current location. note Mark Point letter. 3. Bring up Offset Page 4. Type in Mark Point letter (e.g., A) in scratchpad, and hit +-0 button - which will establish Mark Point as the Initial Point for Offset. 5. Enter Heading and Distance given by ATC (enter distance in three digits - probably have to start with an initial zero), and hit button to the right of MH/DIS on CDU. 6. Hit button next to ?x on the right side of CDU to enter offset point was waypoint x (it appears to be next numeral after last waypoint.) 7. Change AAP switch to Mission to confirm new waypoint by cycling through them. 8. Change AAP switch to Flight Plan 9. Call up FPM page. 10. Select current Flight Plan from list by hitting button on right side 11. Enter number of offset waypoint in scratchpad - click on left button next to the Waypoint you're currently heading toward (should be marked with asterisk). It will substitute offset waypoint for that waypoint. 12. Confirm that offset waypoint is in Flight Plan on TAD, and is current Steerpoint. Cycle through waypoints to make it Steerpoint, if necessary.

Thanks!! Didn't think to look on simhq.com, which gave the reference to the patch.

Thanks to both andyfoot and BBQ for you help. What I was doing wrong was pressing the 2d and 3d LSK after just entering "A" in the scratchpad. Hadn't tried 1st LSK. andyfoot, thanks for all the detailed steps on the possible ways for incorporating the offset waypoint into the nav system. Not the easiest thing in the world to get right, but I understand them. BBQ - agreed, it does sort of ruin the fun! But it works. Thanks for the tip!!

I must be missing something simple. My Modman 7.3.0.0 appears to be up-to-date but doesn't give an A10C option. Checked out checksix-fr.com, and can't find anything more recent. Help!

Ok, I give. I must be missing something. I'm trying to set a mark/waypoint when I receive the ATC instructions for landing. When I'm given heading and distance info, it would seem easy to set: 1. Set an Overhead Mark Point (p. 461 of Manual) 2. Set that Point as the Initial Point on the OFFSET Page (p. 246) 3. Set Heading and Bearing on OFFSET Page. 4. Fly to that Offset Point The problem is that I cannot seem to set Mark Point A from #1, as the Initial Point in #2. I can get Heading and Bearing in #3, so I have the CDU basic method down, I think. What I do in #2 is enter "A" in scratchpad, then hit LSK button right next to the IP entry, and I get CDU Input Err message. I've tried hitting both the 2d and 3d keys on the left side and no joy. What am I missing? Any assistance appreciated. Daddy Schlich

on #1 - so, should one turn off the APU GEN when the warning sounds - even though that's not when any startup procedure suggests that? on #2 - it didn't really make sense to me, but that is what I observed. Maybe just a coincidence. Best

If I understand your question correctly, in TIR5 software Profiles tab, look to the right of Exclusives box. You'll see a "+" sign. When hovering your mouse, it will say "create new profile." You name it, and then you can modify and save profile. Then, it should appear in various drop down menus in TIR, including the one for Titles to select. I have never downloaded someone else's Profile. I assume there is a folder to save it to and the software will see it in the various drop-down lists. As mentioned earlier in this thread, if you want a profile for A10C, it apparently has to be listed in the "Black Shark" title to work. HTH.

Certainly, your way is not wrong. I did find in 1.1.0.8 version of Flight Manual on page 190 that the INS configuration defaults to Ground alignment when first starting up the aircraft. Logical enough. On the question of the Master Caution toward the end of the Left Engine start, I've now noticed that the EGT of the APU immediately heats up when starting the engine, and that the Master Caution comes on when the EGT of the Left Engine surpasses that of the APU. When you hit Master Caution light to halt the warning sound, the EGTs of both the Left Engine and the APU decrease immediately. Spooling up the Right Engine has a similar effect on the EGTs, but the Master Caution does not come on. Not sure what this means, if anything, but it seems to be standard. Best

Sorry if I was unclear. I'm not saying that Alignment is not necessary. I'm just saying that it appears successfully to align without having to press OSB 7. Iif I wait long enough, the INS NAV READY starts flashing, and the EAC switch stays ON when pressed. At least that's what I'm getting!! Again, thanks for all your effort in putting together your Tutorials. They're a godsend.

One reason I asked was that I see no mention of the OSB 7 step in the Startup Procedure in the WH Manual (pp. 432-38), nor on p. 597 of the Manual in the Checklist. Certain things just appear to be a mystery.:unsure:

Thanks. A couple of follow-up observations: Step 13: I'm getting the Master Caution Light, plus a blinking APU Gen on the Caution Panel as the Left Engine nears the end of spool-up. I'm pretty sure I've followed all the previous steps carefully. I'm using the Black Sea-Ramp Start mission under Missions in 1.1.0.8. Is there something I should be doing differently? Step 26: I get T=4.0.0.8 without ever hitting OSB7, and can proceed successfully by hitting OSB 9 at that stage. So it's not clear why OSB7 is needed. Thanks for all your work in putting this together. It's very helpful cheat sheet, especially with the accompanying pictures!!

Ahh ... I was having the same difficulty. It appears that the key is to assign whatever Track IR profile you want for DCS A10C to the BlackShark title in the TrackIR software. Rather than to the DCS A10C title!!?? Is that mentioned anything in the docs/helpme's?? Thanks so much for clearing that up.

Follow-on: At least for me, there appears to be difference in the time when you can successfully enter into NAV mode, and have the Nav info appear on the TAD, and the later time when the EAC switch will stay "on", as opposed to falling back to "off." Assume there's no way to predict when the EAC switch is operable? Given the delay, can one move that part of the startup procedure earlier? With the current sequence, it appears that getting the EAC setup can be a timing bottleneck? Thanks.

I thought I'd add to the community's knowledge. I have a newly purchased Sony VAIO that has Insert/Pause on one key, and Delete/Break on another. In Options/Controls, the Pause function is mapped to the Pause key, and there is no Break function. I did, however, discover that Fn-Pause successfully started things running!! Hope this helps others out there. Daddy Schlich

Just wanted to report that disabling Desktop Composition in Shortcut/Properties/Compatibility in both Black Shark and Flaming Cliffs 2, as suggested by Frederf above, solved the problem in both problems in Windows 7 on my Sony VAIO. I did not disable aero, and I have not tried running the games with Firefox open because I want all resources devoted to the game. Frederf, a tip of the hat - I can't imagine how you ever figured that out. Daddy Schlich