What is programmed in Saitek and what is done in DCS?

[Mouse_99]

I am trying to get things dialed in, but I must be dumb or something, I am confused by these profiles I downloaded. I truly wish that DCS, or even one of the sim companies could do a in depth tutorial on how to set up a variety of controllers, as this is the most crucial important aspects to get anything out of this software. I have been playing around and now I discover that even though I have mapped buttons to commands, and even if I use keyboard commands, they work and now they don't work. Is that normal, do I have to save a profile, even though it shows up on the command panel? Even the manual doesn't help, it is pretty much "Good luck , thanks for your money", like we are supposed to be born knowing how everything is supposed to be set up. Very frustrating. I am using Saitek X52 throttle and stick, don't have a lot of money to throw around ( I'm retired) spending on this or that, especially if I can't even get this stuff to work right.

[ricktoberfest]

I am trying to get things dialed in, but I must be dumb or something, I am confused by these profiles I downloaded. I truly wish that DCS, or even one of the sim companies could do a in depth tutorial on how to set up a variety of controllers, as this is the most crucial important aspects to get anything out of this software. I have been playing around and now I discover that even though I have mapped buttons to commands, and even if I use keyboard commands, they work and now they don't work. Is that normal, do I have to save a profile, even though it shows up on the command panel? Even the manual doesn't help, it is pretty much "Good luck , thanks for your money", like we are supposed to be born knowing how everything is supposed to be set up. Very frustrating. I am using Saitek X52 throttle and stick, don't have a lot of money to throw around ( I'm retired) spending on this or that, especially if I can't even get this stuff to work right.

 

 

 

You have to save the profile; and then you have to select the profile to make it active. You can test if it works by clicking (in windows) somewhere you can type and seeing what happens when you push the joystick button. It should “type” the command (unless it uses control or alt modifiers)

I have a different profile for each aircraft and before I load up DCS I go to the taskbar and select which aircraft I’ll fly. You can also alt-tab out of DCS and select it without closing DCS

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Marcq]

I am trying to get things dialed in, but I must be dumb or something, I am confused by these profiles I downloaded. I truly wish that DCS, or even one of the sim companies could do a in depth tutorial on how to set up a variety of controllers, as this is the most crucial important aspects to get anything out of this software. I have been playing around and now I discover that even though I have mapped buttons to commands, and even if I use keyboard commands, they work and now they don't work. Is that normal, do I have to save a profile, even though it shows up on the command panel? Even the manual doesn't help, it is pretty much "Good luck , thanks for your money", like we are supposed to be born knowing how everything is supposed to be set up. Very frustrating. I am using Saitek X52 throttle and stick, don't have a lot of money to throw around ( I'm retired) spending on this or that, especially if I can't even get this stuff to work right.

 

Make your own profile from scratch, I have a X45 and DCS is probably the easiest sim to set up controllers. Before you start, make sure to choose the aircraft you intend to fly with the programmed controller

 

 

Marc..

Edited November 23, 2017 by Marcq

[Sideslip]

Make your own profile from scratch...

 

I agree 100%. Don't use anyone else's profile. Just because it works for them doesn't mean it works for you.

 

You want to use DCS as much as possible to assign your controls. If you have one thing assigned to control-D and other to F and you do both at once using Saitek keymapping, then the game might recognize control-F and then you get something unwanted happening. If controls are assigned as buttons that can't happen. You will want to use the Saitek software if you want a button to do something different in a different mode (if you have a mode switch) or if you want to do something like eject with a single button press (control-E 3 times).

 

Step 1) Use "Create fast mission" and set there to be no other aircraft or vehicles and start the mission with a Ramp Start.

 

Step 2) Open up the controls menu and click on a line under each controller and choose "Clear Category". I recommend leaving the keyboard bindings as default. You will now have absolutely nothing bound to your stick/throttle so you won't have to worry about stupid things like ailerons being bound to throttle 1 for example.

 

Step 3) Select the "axis" category" and set up all yaw, pitch, roll, throttle 1/2, zoom etc. Click OK and test them before you go further to make sure they aren't backwards.

 

Step 4) Go through each category and make sure you assign everything important to fly the plane first. Things like electrical power, trim, gear and flaps.

 

Step 5) Take the aircraft for a spin. This is how you will find out that you forgot something.

 

Step 6) Once all the important flight stuff is taken care of, start going through weapon systems, radar, countermeasure etc and get everything how you like it. You might need to make changes as you may find a better use for one of your buttons.

 

Once you are done all of that, click "save profile" for each controller so you have a copy. When switching to another aircraft, you may be able to load that profile and the majority of controls should work with a few modifications. Always clear the category before loading a profile.

Edited November 23, 2017 by Sideslip

[fitness88]

Many of the links in support offered great info but most have been cut because of the change of ownership.

This may help.

 

 

 

Saitek-X52FlightControlSystem-Manual.pdf

 

 

Capture.JPG

Saitek-X52FlightControlSystem-Manual.pdf

Edited November 24, 2017 by fitness88

[Mouse_99]

So, I see where most people setup without going into the Saitek controller software, but some of the controls don't seem to show up in DCS, so maybe that's where I'm getting confused. Add to that, I can set a control and I can operate the control and it works, and later it doesn't work. Sometimes if I go back in and select the control and reset the button (already indicated on the screen, it works, don't know if others are having the same issues? I have the Saitek control panel on the other monitor and I can see the buttons are operating, so I am totally confused about what is really going on. Thanks Sideslip, I am doing that because I am not doing well with others ;), thanks for everyone for helping out :)

[Sokol1_br]

Seems you are confusing things.

 

If you want use Saitek software - what if know how use give some advantages, but if don't know well more harm that help - don't use game controls GUI for assign buttons.

 

In that case set joystick button in Saitek software to press the keys need for a given command, e.g. "fire cannon".

 

If instead prefer the K.I.S.S. and don't use Saitek software, in this case in game controls options select a function and press the joystick button that want perform this command. E.G. Select "fire" cannons, press joystick trigger.

 

Joystick software (keymaper) is an optional, is not mandatory for joystick work.

Only drivers is required for install the stick on Windows - this for some brands, others use Windows HID drivers so are "PnP".

Edited December 27, 2017 by Sokol1_br