TeamSpeak "Push for Talk" with X-55 Throttle Slider

[Bearfoot]

I figured out how to use the (otherwise useless, IMHO, due to the odd way it operates) thumb slider on the X-55 throttle to serve as a "push-to-talk" control for TeamSpeak, and thought I would share in case other folks would like to do something like this.

 

I. In TeamSpeak

   -   Select a suitable unique key combination, e.g., "Right Windows Key + Application Key" or "LCtrl + LAlt + RCtrl + RAlt"

 

II. In Saitek's/Mad Catz's configuration:

   -   Select the "Advanced Command" under the Slider Button.

   -   In "Press", press and release the key combination sequence selected above (e.g., "Right Windows Key + Application Key" or "LCtrl + LAlt + RCtrl + RAlt")

   -   For each key in the your key combination sequence, there should be two icons: one when the key is pressed and one when the key is released. Select the icons for when the key is released individually and delete them. So, for e.g, if you used "Right Windows Key + Application Key", you should see:  [Right Windows] [Application] [Right Windows] [Application]. The first pair of these are the keys being pressed, while the latter pair are the keys being released. Delete the latter pair, so that *only* the key sequence combination being pressed is emulated.

 

Now, pushing the slider forward emulates the key sequence being pressed and held, and pushing the slider backwards emulates emulates the keys being released.

Edited June 29, 2016 by Bearfoot

[Jumbik]

It's not that useless. I was using it for Air brakes, just had to map it with advanced command to make it working... similar way how you did it.

 

This way it can be mapped for anything that has two stages... for example gears, radar on/off etc.

[Bearfoot]

I was using it for Air brakes, just had to map it with advanced command to make it working... similar way how you did it.

 

For things like air brakes, I prefer to have a control that allows intermediate stages set, instead of 1/0. I suppose with advanced mapping you could do the push forward = hold down the air brake extend button, and then push backward to stop extending. But then how do you retract?

 

This way it can be mapped for anything that has two stages... for example gears, radar on/off etc.

 

Yes ... awkwardly.

 

For something that toggles on/off by a single key, you can effect it by setting the push forward to the key. But then you have to push forward to switch it on, and the push backward and then forward again to switch it off.

 

You *could* set the "release" (in advanced mode) to emit the same key again. But then it is easy to get out of sync, depending on what position the slider is when you start DCS or enter the mission, with sometimes push forward being activating the effect and at other times push forward being deactivating the effect. Don't like the clumsiness.

 

For something that has one key to switch on and another to switch off, the latter issue is still there. Though easier to get around by fiddling. But all in all, a clumsy and awkward solution.

[Sokol1_br]

For something that toggles on/off by a single key, you can effect it by setting the push forward to the key. But then you have to push forward to switch it on, and the push backward and then forward again to switch it off.

 

For planes that Landing Gear use the same key, e.g. G for up, G for down.

 

>50% of the axis send G

<50% of the axis send G

 

Slider up = G, landing gear up

Slider down = G, landing gear down

 

No need this back and forth ( this happen with ON/OFF switch on button box).

And setting a deadzone for this axis the slider lever can be leaved in the middle without send key press, for mimic planes that have neutral position for LG knob.

[Bearfoot]

For planes that Landing Gear use the same key, e.g. G for up, G for down.

 

>50% of the axis send G

<50% of the axis send G

 

Slider up = G, landing gear up

Slider down = G, landing gear down

 

No need this back and forth ( this happen with ON/OFF switch on button box).

And setting a deadzone for this axis the slider lever can be leaved in the middle without send key press, for mimic planes that have neutral position for LG knob.

 

X-55 throttle slider is not analog, and does not have neutral position.

 

It is either (full) forward or (full) back. No > 50% or < 50%. Full forward is detected by DCS like a single button press and release. Full back is not.

Edited June 30, 2016 by Bearfoot

[Jumbik]

For things like air brakes, I prefer to have a control that allows intermediate stages set, instead of 1/0. I suppose with advanced mapping you could do the push forward = hold down the air brake extend button, and then push backward to stop extending. But then how do you retract?

 

 

 

Yes ... awkwardly.

 

For something that toggles on/off by a single key, you can effect it by setting the push forward to the key. But then you have to push forward to switch it on, and the push backward and then forward again to switch it off.

 

You *could* set the "release" (in advanced mode) to emit the same key again. But then it is easy to get out of sync, depending on what position the slider is when you start DCS or enter the mission, with sometimes push forward being activating the effect and at other times push forward being deactivating the effect. Don't like the clumsiness.

 

For something that has one key to switch on and another to switch off, the latter issue is still there. Though easier to get around by fiddling. But all in all, a clumsy and awkward solution.

 

 

No, you can map it to do one action when it goes up and one when it goes down. I do not have to press it twice to do one thing.

 

For example regarding the gears I would have mapped it to retract them when the slider moves forward and release them when it moves back. It can be done, but you have to use the advanced command and map different keys for press and release.

[Bearfoot]

No, you can map it to do one action when it goes up and one when it goes down. I do not have to press it twice to do one thing.

 

For example regarding the gears I would have mapped it to retract them when the slider moves forward and release them when it moves back. It can be done, but you have to use the advanced command and map different keys for press and release.

 

Ah yes, but then you find that no matter what you are doing, the throttle is always "transmitting" a key, because the slider *has* to be either in the forward or backward position (no neutral). Sometimes, depending on the key, this interferes with normal (outside flying) or other (outside DCS) operations. Maybe not a big deal for most folks, but, either way, as I said, awkward and clumsy.

 

EDIT: if you are not emulating a held-down key press, then my statement above does not apply. I.e, it will not always be transmitting a key. But then the case I describe above obtains. If it is the same key effecting the action mapped to both forward and backward (e.g., "G" for gear toggle), then depending on what position the slider is in when you spawn and what state the gear is in when you spawn, sometimes forward means gear down and backward means gear up.

 

Works ... but clumsy.

 

Or if it is a dfferent key, e.g. "b" for brakes extend mapped forward and "shift-b" for brakes retract mapped backwards, then if you have the slider in the forward position when you spawn and your brakes are retracted, then to extend you have to move the slider backwards and then forwards to effect the action.

 

Again, works .... but clumsy.

Edited June 30, 2016 by Bearfoot

[SkateZilla]

Back when I used a Saitek Stick, I Used the Slider for Zoom.

[Bearfoot]

Back when I used a Saitek Stick, I Used the Slider for Zoom.

 

Was that the 52 or 55? I think the 52 has an actual analog slider, that behaves as one would expect an analog slider to behave. It's a shame about the X-55's implementation of the slider, because I think an analog zoom function would be great, but I hate giving up a rotary for that. I now use TrackIR Z-axis for zoom (instead of "longitudinal move neck forward" or whatever is the default).

[SkateZilla]

I had a -52

[Sokol1_br]

X-55 throttle slider is not analog, and does not have neutral position.

 

Ah, OK. I mistaken the "slider" term as axis.

 

Seems that in X-55 this "slider" work like the"speedbrake" switch Cougar TQS: ON-OFF-(MON).

[Jumbik]

Ah yes, but then you find that no matter what you are doing, the throttle is always "transmitting" a key, because the slider *has* to be either in the forward or backward position (no neutral). Sometimes, depending on the key, this interferes with normal (outside flying) or other (outside DCS) operations. Maybe not a big deal for most folks, but, either way, as I said, awkward and clumsy.

 

EDIT: if you are not emulating a held-down key press, then my statement above does not apply. I.e, it will not always be transmitting a key. But then the case I describe above obtains. If it is the same key effecting the action mapped to both forward and backward (e.g., "G" for gear toggle), then depending on what position the slider is in when you spawn and what state the gear is in when you spawn, sometimes forward means gear down and backward means gear up.

 

Works ... but clumsy.

 

Or if it is a dfferent key, e.g. "b" for brakes extend mapped forward and "shift-b" for brakes retract mapped backwards, then if you have the slider in the forward position when you spawn and your brakes are retracted, then to extend you have to move the slider backwards and then forwards to effect the action.

 

Again, works .... but clumsy.

 

I think you still not get it.

 

1.

Action: Slider moves forward.

Reaction: Key kombination Lctrl+g is presses and released.

Ingame reaction: Gear goes up

 

2.

Action: Slider moves back.

Reaction: Key kombination Shift+g is pressed and released.

Ingame reaction: Gear goes down.

 

So in whatever position the slider is it will always do the action I expect from it regardles of the ingame spawn.

 

You can map this via the advanced command in the saitek software.

[Bearfoot]

I think you still not get it.

 

1.

Action: Slider moves forward.

Reaction: Key kombination Lctrl+g is presses and released.

Ingame reaction: Gear goes up

 

2.

Action: Slider moves back.

Reaction: Key kombination Shift+g is pressed and released.

Ingame reaction: Gear goes down.

 

So in whatever position the slider is it will always do the action I expect from it regardles of the ingame spawn.

 

You can map this via the advanced command in the saitek software.

 

Actually, I do get it.

 

I really do.

 

Maybe you did not read the previous post, but what you describe is EXACTLY the second case I reference.

 

That is, imagine, with the setup you describe, you have an air start with the gear all clean up ... BUT your slider switch happens to be already in the back position (maybe from the position you were in the last time you flew). So, how do you get the gear down when you need to land? You cannot move the slider back, because it is already back. You have to slide the switch forward and then back. Not a big deal? Ok. Awkward/ugly? For me, yes, enough to just use the toggle switch for a much better approach.

 

Opposite case also holds: i.e., you start off on the ground and then take off and then want to push the slider button forward to raise gear but find that the slider switch is already forward ... so you have to push backward and the forward again. Again, awkward.

 

And that is for a relatively rare situation with a clear on/off indicator (i.e., mapped to gear). With air brakes and flaps, things get really confusing when in mid-air and action, and the switch position does not correspond to the state of the action.

[Jumbik]

Actually, I do get it.

 

I really do.

 

Maybe you did not read the previous post, but what you describe is EXACTLY the second case I reference.

 

That is, imagine, with the setup you describe, you have an air start with the gear all clean up ... BUT your slider switch happens to be already in the back position (maybe from the position you were in the last time you flew). So, how do you get the gear down when you need to land? You cannot move the slider back, because it is already back. You have to slide the switch forward and then back. Not a big deal? Ok. Awkward/ugly? For me, yes, enough to just use the toggle switch for a much better approach.

 

Opposite case also holds: i.e., you start off on the ground and then take off and then want to push the slider button forward to raise gear but find that the slider switch is already forward ... so you have to push backward and the forward again. Again, awkward.

 

And that is for a relatively rare situation with a clear on/off indicator (i.e., mapped to gear). With air brakes and flaps, things get really confusing when in mid-air and action, and the switch position does not correspond to the state of the action.

 

That's why I have upgraded to Warthog, well one of the reasons... to have things work as intended and to stop making work arounds to make half functioning axis and hats to do what I want from them.