Warthog Boat Switch for MAGIC/Gun/PCA

[Jetguy06]

Hey guys!! I've been getting loads of headaches trying to figure this out. What I want to do is have the Boat Switch on my Warthog throttle Select the MAGIC when in the forward position, the Gun in the aft, and the PCA Select in the middle. I can get the forward and aft to work, but I can't get the PCA when I recenter the Boat Switch. I've Googled this problem and have found many responses, mostly creating a new TARGET configuration (No luck with that yet), and editing the .lua (I have NO IDEA what I'm doing there).

 

Any help is greatly appreciated. Also, my apologies, but the more detailed and "idiot-proof" you can make the instructions, the better. Thanks guys!!

[dolfo]

I think I have mine on 3-pos switch abstractions, fwd=gun else pca, back=magic esle pca... Surely someone will chime in before I have a chance to go home and check.

[Jetguy06]

That's how I have mine set up as well. But, as I said, the middle position does nothing. If I move the switch aft, the cannon symbology shows up on my HUD, with "CAN" in the bottom left. If I move it forward, I get "MAG" in the bottom left, but middle position doesn't get rid of those.

[dolfo]

It used to work for me. to keep it dummyproof, I would ensure guns else PCA, magic else PCA is the command setup, not guns select magic select. Also I would check and ensure I have selcted the 530 in the PCA with switch in center position, then test if it works.

Can not offer more at the time, hope you can sort it out.

 

-edit: did not use target, just in-game control setup.

Edited February 28, 2017 by dolfo

[CrashO]

That's how I have mine set up as well. But, as I said, the middle position does nothing. If I move the switch aft, the cannon symbology shows up on my HUD, with "CAN" in the bottom left. If I move it forward, I get "MAG" in the bottom left, but middle position doesn't get rid of those.

What does your HUD has to do with it?

 

The 2 bindings in your 3-pos switch abstractions control the "priority" mode used for weapons selection. Meaning, it will select the weapon of choice, but, if not available (empty or not present) will default back to the primary weapon (Cannon).

 

So if your boat switch is centered. You can select weapons on the PCA panel by clicking on them. If no weapon is selected by you (or is not mounted under the wings) it will just default back to the cannon. If the weapon you have selected (by clicking) when you where on the center position, was the magic, then it will just select that when you use it.(try setting the boat switch to center, select the 530 with your mouse or bind on the panel, and then toggle between the 3 positions and see what happens).

 

*edit*

And make sure you are using "AA Gun SELECT, else PCA SELECT" and "'MAGIC SELECT, else PCA SELECT", from the `3-Pos. Switch Abstractions` category.

Those are also available as normal buttons ("AA Gun SELECT" and "MAGIC SELECT"), and those of course wont work in the center position. No need for target.

Edited February 28, 2017 by CrashO

[Jetguy06]

What does your HUD has to do with it?

 

The 2 bindings in your 3-pos switch abstractions control the "priority" mode used for weapons selection. Meaning, it will select the weapon of choice, but, if not available (empty or not present) will default back to the primary weapon (Cannon).

 

So if your boat switch is centered. You can select weapons on the PCA panel by clicking on them. If no weapon is selected by you (or is not mounted under the wings) it will just default back to the cannon. If the weapon you have selected (by clicking) when you where on the center position, was the magic, then it will just select that when you use it.(try setting the boat switch to center, select the 530 with your mouse or bind on the panel, and then toggle between the 3 positions and see what happens).

 

*edit*

And make sure you are using "AA Gun SELECT, else PCA SELECT" and "'MAGIC SELECT, else PCA SELECT", from the `3-Pos. Switch Abstractions` category.

Those are also available as normal buttons ("AA Gun SELECT" and "MAGIC SELECT"), and those of course wont work in the center position. No need for target.

 

Ok, I'm beginning to understand now. I'm flying the training mission #6, and I unload both of my Supers on the C-130. No problem. I then destroy the two Su-27's with my Magics. Again, all's good. I was running into confusion after that, when I engage the two Hawks with my cannons. What I was expecting was the center position of my Boat Switch bringing me back to Nav Mode once my Supers and Magics are gone. So basically, once all I have is cannon left, the only way to get back to Nav Mode is turning the Master Arm to Safe? That's how I'm understanding what you're saying, and what the sim has shown me so far.

[myHelljumper]

For the moment you can't be in NAV mode with master arm on. PCA select just select the last ordinance selected on the PCA, be it gun, magic, S530D, bombs, rockets... magic and canon select are just quick override buttons.

[Boris]

I've made a generic Target profile that activates ALMOST all of the 3 position switches on the Warthog throttle.

I programmed the throttle only, in order to have as many DX buttons as possible available to map. The stick remains a separate device.

There's not quite enough DX buttons for all of the throttle buttons, but I could cover most of them, including the boat switch.

 

Long story short, you can then map the throttle buttons in game, including middle positions, as normal controller buttons.

 

If you can wait, I'll upload it tonight.

[Nash]

I've made a generic Target profile that activates ALMOST all of the 3 position switches on the Warthog throttle.

I programmed the throttle only, in order to have as many DX buttons as possible available to map. The stick remains a separate device.

There's not quite enough DX buttons for all of the throttle buttons, but I could cover most of them, including the boat switch.

 

Long story short, you can then map the throttle buttons in game, including middle positions, as normal controller buttons.

 

If you can wait, I'll upload it tonight.

Please do upload

[Azrayen]

For this specific need, I use Target.

Target allows to asssign a command (PCA select) to the center position.

DCS (DirectX in fact) only recognizes the forward and rear position.

[Boris]

I've attached the target profile for the Warthog throttle with assignable 3-way switches.

 

Works for flaps, boat switch, lights and auto-pilot mode.

 

ENG OPER switches aren't assigned.

Assignable Throttle Buttons.rar

[Martini]

I have TMS left bound to PCA 2 select. On startup, you do TMS left once and the middle position on the boat switch with always select the Super 530. If you need to jettison tank or select a bomb, to make the middle switch go back to selecting the Super 530, simply press TMS left once. It's how the switch works in real life from my understanding.

 

As for returning to Nav mode, I don't think that's how the switch works and isn't a very logical behavior...it's a weapons select switch, not a Master Modes switch. Why would it go from changing your weapons to changing your master mode once you've used certain weapons? Even if you did desire this behavior, it would be incredibly complicated and cumbersome.

 

If you used all your super 530s but had magics and guns left, would you want the middle position to go to Nav? Wouldn't this break lock if you were in pursuit with magics selected and then wanted to switch to guns as you passed through the Nav (safe) position in the middle? What about rockets, bombs and tanks?

 

I could be mistaken, but I think you're trying to do more with one switch than it actually does or than you need it to do. I would recommend binding a separate switch for the master mode (nav vs attack) which in the actual plane is the red master arm switch. If you do this and have PCA 2 select bound (and possibly PCA 3 for the tank), you will have no need to use the mouse and everything will work seamlessly. LMK if you have any questions.

[Davee]

Here's my WH Script setting up the boatswitch per default parameters for the M2000C (with one change for AG guns). Enusure you have a key mapped for IO functions.

 

//BOATSWITCH//

MapKey(&Throttle, BSF, PULSE+L_CTL+'1'); //Magic

MapKeyIO(&Throttle, BSM, PULSE+L_CTL+'0', PULSE+'c'); //AG Guns - AA Guns/NAV

MapKey(&Throttle, BSB, PULSE+L_CTL+'2'); //Super 550/PCA Select/

[Jetguy06]

Hey guys. My apologies for the late response. From what I'm understanding, it's been working correctly from the start. :doh: I was trying to get the switch to work in the sim the way it works in the real aircraft, but I was misunderstanding how it actually functions. The in-game 3 Position Abstraction mapping works perfectly. Thanks for all the help!!