VKB Gladiator Pro Joystick and Warthog Adapter

[LeCuvier]

I managed to buy a Gladiator Pro and have used it quite a bit. It is delivered with the yellow-marked springs and I found those a bit weak. I have replaced them with the green-marked springs and this feels good. I did not change the cam. The stick enables me to manoeuvre with very high accuracy and I absolutely love it when I fly WW II fighters.

For modern fighters I need a stick with more buttons, and the TM Warthog stick suits my fine from that point of view. But it has a main spring that must come from a truck it's so strong. When I switch from the Gladiator Pro to the Warthog stick it feels like a muscle-building exercise. And the hard center doesn't help.

So I bought the Warthog adapter which alllows the Warthog stick to be used with the Gladiator Pro Base. And I tried to install it. So far it's a disaster.

1. You have to disconnect a cable from the Warthog PCB and I could only get it out by destroying the connector. In my opinion, a TM quality problem.

Unfortunateley I will no longer be able to use that Warthog stick. Does anybody repair these?

2. The Warthog adapter from VKB includes a small PCB that seems to convert signals from TM's 5-wire interface to VKB's 3-wire interface. This PCB and its wires combined are so big that I found it impossible to get the grip cover back on. I will not apply brute force as the wires are very thin and I don't want to end up with wires broken or shorted together.

 

So for now I have a fairly new Warthog stick that's useless and a Warthog adapter that I cannot install. I'm frustrated!

[Kapsu]

The adapter PCB goes under the grips own PCB, unscrew 2 screws that hold the PCB in place and then carefully put the adapter PCB under it. This probably is the only way to install that adapter inside the warthogs grip.

 

[Sokol1_br]

1. You have to disconnect a cable from the Warthog PCB and I could only get it out by destroying the connector. In my opinion, a TM quality problem.

 

Buy a replacement PCB from Tm. What exactly you "destroy" in the connector?

 

A alternative is replace only the connector - require solder tools and skill.

[FeistyLemur]

Those little white connectors and the crimp ends for them are standard and can be bought. The only trick with that kind of stuff I find is knowing the right name to search for at electronics supply places.

 

It might be worth looking at 3d printer supply places, of which there are many options to choose from in Europe.

 

Or you can always just solder wires right on to the pins. My advice is if you are going to be working on electronics, spend the money and get a nice little solder station. I got this one for 100 bucks and it's fantastic. There are tons of youtube videos that can teach you to solder correctly as well.

 

https://www.amazon.com/Hakko-Soldering-Station-599B-Cleaner/dp/B01DUPRXCE/ref=pd_lpo_328_tr_img_3?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=1NPTVWDBCYYSAMJSTJFV

[Thadiun Okona]

If you destroyed one of the microJST 1.25mm connectors (presumably the one that connects the tailpiece to the board) you definitely did it wrong. Those little plugs come apart fine, but you have to pull on the right spot and use hemostats if your fingers are too clumsy.

 

If you grab from the wrong direction you are pulling on the socket and not the plug but the socket is soldered down and will break if you do this (my guess to what happened). Your board might be able to be repaired, TM gonna charge you a lot of money for replacement though.

 

TM has plenty of issues, but their use of microJST 1.25 on their pcb is not one of them and honestly a cut above what other manufacturers have done so far which is usually to hard solder everything because it's cheaper/easier.

[FeistyLemur]

Spend 100 bucks on an iron and learn to solder and you will never need to pay them to fix anything for you on it again. You will probably make use of it when the buttons inevitably start failing one day and need to be replaced too. My philosophy is never be shy to buy tools as you need them. They don't go bad or obsolete.

 

I didn't know the name, but Micro JST seems popular for drone building, so you should have zero trouble finding replacements if need be.

Edited January 19, 2017 by FeistyLemur

[SinusoidDelta]

Post a picture of the damage. There should definitely be some way to salvage it.

[rrohde]

http://vkbcontrollers.com/?product=tm-warthog-adapter-for-gladiator-pro-quick-guide-2

 

Edit: I can see that you're already received the above link by Ron61 on the official VKB-Sim Support forum.

Edited January 19, 2017 by rrohde

[LeCuvier]

I managed to complete adapter installation.

Now I guess I have to run a configurator, but I'm totally confused as to which tool, which version, and how to use it.

I ran the WIZZO program "wizzo_v0_83.exe" and loaded the profile "GLPro_W_A7_B37_HAT0.cfg". When I hit "APPLY" I got an error message like "Get-feature error". Now when I run the WIZZO again, I get "Error CPUID read".

Edited March 8, 2017 by LeCuvier

[Sokol1_br]

Try load the profile with VKB Device Config v.079.04 - this Wizzo, despite their intention to "be easy", seems that more hinders than help:

 

http://forum.vkb-sim.pro/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=908

[LeCuvier]

Thanks Sokol,

unfortunately, my knowledge of Russian is very basic. I cannot figure out what all that information means. For example there are 4 .RAR files, each containing a file named "VKBDevCfg-C.exe". Are these different versions? Or do they need to be stitched together?

[Sokol1_br]

Due that forum limitation for files size upload the VKB DevCFG is split in 4 parts.

 

Download all, click on first that WinRar (or compatible) will build the file, then extract for some folder.

 

Tip for Russian pages, past their URL in Google Translator and select Russian > English (other languages don't work well), the result is "comprehensive". :)

[LeCuvier]

Buy a replacement PCB from Tm. What exactly you "destroy" in the connector?

 

A alternative is replace only the connector - require solder tools and skill.

a bit belated: I did not destroy the socket. I destroyed the connector. I'm a learned electrician and can solder, and my Weller solder station is probably good for the job. But I will not try to repair this microscopic stuff. I will use this TM WH grip only with the VKB adapter. I have a second TM WH joystick that I can use for A-10C and jets.

[LeCuvier]

Try load the profile with VKB Device Config v.079.04 - this Wizzo, despite their intention to "be easy", seems that more hinders than help:

 

http://forum.vkb-sim.pro/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=908

Thanks again Sokol, I managed to build the config tool EXE using 7Zip. This tool seems to behave better. But a little user guide would help. Observations/Questions:

1. When I launch the config tool it displays a line beginning with "VKBsim Gladiator v1.801 Pro ..."

2. When I click on that line, it displays in the title bar "...NJoy32 firmware v1.82+..."

My first thought was that it has detected that firmware version in the devive. But now I rather think that it requires firmware v1.82 or later.

Where do I find firmware 1.82 or later?

2. I tried to load the profile "GL_A7_B30_HAT1_0.cfg". I clicked on "Load", selected the file and clicked "Open". That seemed OK.

Then I clicked on "Set". A status line displayed "write data" for a few seconds. Then an error message popped up: "Error read CPUID".

Should I try to use a different profile?

3. I exit from the configurator, unplug the joystick and restart the configurator. Now, when I click into the device line I get a different error message:

Title bar: "!!! CRC Error !!!"

Message: "Read data error, try again"

Well, I tried again; but no luck.

 

The roll and pitch axes as well as the buttons in the VKB base are still working; but none of the buttons in the TM WH grip does anything.

 

Any advice?

Edited March 10, 2017 by LeCuvier

[Sokol1_br]

Really confusing about firmware, the latest Gladiator ("vanilla"/PRO) firmware loaded in VKB Ftp is v1_81_7.zip

 

http://ftp.vkb-sim.pro/Firmware/Gladiator/Gl_v1_81_7.zip

http://ftp.vkb-sim.pro/Firmware/Gladiator/

 

To know what firmware version is loaded, use the tab INFO in DevCfg.

 

Make sure that in the place you extract the DevCFG.exe are the file ZBootloader-C.exe, if not download from there:

 

http://ftp.vkb-sim.pro/Programms/ZBootloader-C.zip

 

This ZBootloader-C file is that make firmware flash - case you need update firmware first.

[rrohde]

Thank you Sokol for your support! Greatly appreciated! :)

[LeCuvier]

Sokol, first of all thanks so much for your patience!

I combined all the files incl. the profile "GL_A7_B30_HAT1_0.cfg". Then:

1. I start the "VKBDevCfg-C.exe" and select the line of the Gladiator Pro.

2. I click [Get]. It reads the data from the device and displays "Read data - ok"

3. I don't see a tab "Info" but under the tab "Tools" there is a button "Device Report". I click on that.

The displayed report tells me that the Controller VKB NJoy32 PRO v1.801 has 29 logical buttons and one HAT. I don't see an explicit statement about the firmware version.

What's worse, an error message pops up stating an access violation at address 0042FDA1 in module "VKBDevCfg-C.exe, Read of address 00000000.

 

Edit: I just tried and loaded the firmware v1_81_7_8 and that seems to be successful. When I run the Device Report it now shows the firmware changed to v1.817 and the number of buttons = 30. However, the error message window still pops up with the same message "Read at address 00000000".

I also loaded the config "GL_A7_B30_HAT1_0.cfg" and that seemed to work OK.

However, when I test the joystick in Windows 10, the buttons on the Warthog grip still do not show any effect.

Edited March 11, 2017 by LeCuvier

[Sokol1_br]

Seems you set the software (firmware, profile) right... maybe the problem can be in hardware due the previous "accident", but will be difficult sort this...

 

I find strange this VKB options: they plan use TmW grips as alternative for their bases but at same time make their bases connections and electronics proprietary in a way that difficult this.

 

Require a extra electronic adapter and a "surgery" inside TmW grip requiring a level of DIY skill that some buyers don't have, in their forum has case of "accident" with installation of the previous more simple TmW adapter for Black Mambas.

Edited March 12, 2017 by Sokol1_br

[LeCuvier]

I agree Sokol.

The Gladiator PRO by itself is an excellent product for flying WWII aircraft.

But the solution for using the TMWH grip with that base definitely sucks.

And I wonder how VKB survives. Each time I look at their store, it says that the Gladiator PRO is sold out. This is probably their best product, and they cannot take orders. Sad!

[Sokol1_br]

Test base with KG12 grip, it this buttons/HAT behavior has changed (pressing other numbers) means that TmW profile was installed successfully and the issue is in the connection between base and TmW grip.

Edited March 13, 2017 by Sokol1_br

[LeCuvier]

Yes Sokol, I had to re-map the control bindings each time I put the KG12 grip back on. And yes, the symptoms lead to the conclusion that the problem is somewhere in the hardware. Maybe I damaged the socket when I pulled the connector of the tailwires out, or I squeezed one of the very thin wires, or whatever. I opened the TMWH grip once more and made sure all connections were solid, and then tried once more. Same result as before, and now I pull the plug. I will no longer try to make the TMWH adapter work. I have wasted too much time, I have ruined one of my two TMWH grips and I have wasted the money for the Warthog adapter.

The VKB Gladiator PRO is an excellent product, but the WH adapter sucks.

1. There is no clear documentation of the process. I had to spend endless hours on the forums (incl. VKB's forum) until you Sokol pointed me in the right direction.

2. Support from VKB was disappointing. They pointed me to various URL's which usually contained multiple versions of profiles, firmware, configurator software and firmware loader, whithout indication of which to use. Actually, the configurator that worked in the end was not even on any of these links.

3. The process for physically installing the Warthog adapter in the TMWH grip requires surgeon's fingers and skills. I don't have these. And I ruined my TMWH grip when I tried to pull out the connector of the tailwire that connects the grip to the base. The connector broke. And it may be that I also damaged the socket. This would explain why none of the WH grip's buttons has any effect, while everything in the base (incl. axes) worked.

4. No documentation about how to use the configurator tool

 

The engineers who designed the mechanical part of the joystick did an excellent job. I love the joystick when I fly WWII birds. I also use it with the Viggen as I have a DSD button box that provides me with plenty of buttons and switches, although switches on the joystick grip would be better.

But the electronic part was not designed to facilitate the adoption of other grips and therefore requires this awful process.

I also don't like the ingenious method for mechanically fixing the grip to the VKB base. I had to do this many times for my trials, each time fiddling with a 2.5 mm Allen wrench to loosen the 2 cylindrical elements that fix the grip in its position and then putting them back in for the other grip. The TM solution in that case is easier and faster. Again, if you only use the VKBbase with the VKB grip that's no problem.

[Sokol1_br]

And I ruined my TMWH grip when I tried to pull out the connector of the tailwire that connects the grip to the base. The connector broke.

 

This grip is repairable - with Tm parts or 3rd party like Debolestis Shift Register board.

 

In last case announce in eBay or there 'as is', someone will interest.

[LeCuvier]

This grip is repairable - with Tm parts or 3rd party like Debolestis Shift Register board.

In last case announce in eBay or there 'as is', someone will interest.

 

I'll keep the "ruined" grip as a spare parts collection in case one of the switches on my good one develop a problem.

 

Again, thanks for all your help, I really appreciated!