Antenna Elevation Controls

[Mike Wazowsky]

Hi, I own a Thrustmaster TWCS and I am relatively happy with the antenna elevation set up on the pinkie wheel.

 

Currently, if I roll up/down the antenna moves up/down, then stops when I center.

 

It would be awesome if the antenna position on the elevation scale was directly tied to the wheel position (eg, up when the wheel is up, centered when the wheel is centered etc.).

 

Any ideas on how to do it?

 

Thanks, ciao!

[BigMotor]

+1 / Ch FighterStick here and find a similar situation with the wheel. Tied elevation is an excellent suggestion.

[Capn kamikaze]

Needs implementing in DCS, people have been asking for this for a long time.

[Nospin44]

I use the TWCS as well. I use the little up and down rocker instead. On the real Hornet the wheel is also spring loaded and returns to center on release IIRC.

[Deano87]

+1

 

Yeah absolute positional tracking would be better for me too.. although I don't know how the wheel on the real jet works,

[Anonymous User]

Currently, if I roll up/down the antenna moves up/down, then stops when I center.

 

It would be awesome if the antenna position on the elevation scale was directly tied to the wheel position (eg, up when the wheel is up, centered when the wheel is centered etc.).

 

So confirm you want the antenna position indicator on the Radar B-scope to indicate the position of the elevation wheel, not the actual antenna position itself? If so then that would be both unrealistic and pointless..

[backspace340]

So confirm you want the antenna position indicator on the Radar B-scope to indicate the position of the elevation wheel, not the actual antenna position itself? If so then that would be both unrealistic and pointless..

 

No think you're misunderstanding - the wheel scrolls from 0 to 100, when it's at 0 he wants the elevation to be at it's bottom limit, when it's at 100 he wants it to be at it's maximum limit, and for 50 to be the mid-point of the elevation (so the elevation indicator right in the middle) - and the same for all points in between, so if he puts the scroll wheel at 75, then that's where it stays. You can see a similar control principle with the Harrier nozzle axis - 75 on the controller is 75 on the nozzles.

 

Right now it doesn't work like a 0 to 100 scroll at all, different positions on the scroll wheel add to the elevation at different rates so if I have the scroll wheel at 75 it's (fake numbers, rough example) adding +10 elevation every second so if I leave it at 75 it will continue raising the radar until it's at its maximum azimuth. If I then put it at 49, it'll slowly move the antenna until it reaches the bottom elevation azimuth limit.

[unknown]

No think you're misunderstanding - the wheel scrolls from 0 to 100, when it's at 0 he wants the elevation to be at it's bottom limit, when it's at 100 he wants it to be at it's maximum limit, and for 50 to be the mid-point of the elevation (so the elevation indicator right in the middle) - and the same for all points in between, so if he puts the scroll wheel at 75, then that's where it stays. You can see a similar control principle with the Harrier nozzle axis - 75 on the controller is 75 on the nozzles.

 

Right now it doesn't work like a 0 to 100 scroll at all, different positions on the scroll wheel add to the elevation at different rates so if I have the scroll wheel at 75 it's (fake numbers, rough example) adding +10 elevation every second so if I leave it at 75 it will continue raising the radar until it's at its maximum azimuth. If I then put it at 49, it'll slowly move the antenna until it reaches the bottom elevation azimuth limit.

 

If i remember correctly the Mirage uses this for the radar elevation axis. Would be nice to have this for the Hornet, right now i have to move the wheel axis on my hotas just a couple of mm and the radar elevation axis is changed quite quick, so fine adjustments are a little tricky sometimes. :joystick:

[Flamin_Squirrel]

+1

 

Yeah absolute positional tracking would be better for me too.. although I don't know how the wheel on the real jet works,

 

I believe it's realistic. The crucial difference is the wheel is spring loaded to the middle in the real thing, which no desktop sticks have to my knowledge.

[Mike Wazowsky]

No think you're misunderstanding - the wheel scrolls from 0 to 100, when it's at 0 he wants the elevation to be at it's bottom limit, when it's at 100 he wants it to be at it's maximum limit, and for 50 to be the mid-point of the elevation (so the elevation indicator right in the middle) - and the same for all points in between, so if he puts the scroll wheel at 75, then that's where it stays. You can see a similar control principle with the Harrier nozzle axis - 75 on the controller is 75 on the nozzles.

 

Right now it doesn't work like a 0 to 100 scroll at all, different positions on the scroll wheel add to the elevation at different rates so if I have the scroll wheel at 75 it's (fake numbers, rough example) adding +10 elevation every second so if I leave it at 75 it will continue raising the radar until it's at its maximum azimuth. If I then put it at 49, it'll slowly move the antenna until it reaches the bottom elevation azimuth limit.

Correct.

 

The little rocker switch is similar to what the old Tornado F.3 / ADV used and so it is somewhat realistic, but Still trying to use the wheel instead.

 

I have mitigated the pain by gluing two little magnets, one on the wheel and one on the grip, so I feel a detent in the middle position. Works very well, but still not ideal.

[backspace340]

I believe it's realistic. The crucial difference is the wheel is spring loaded to the middle in the real thing, which no desktop sticks have to my knowledge.

 

It works with something like the mini-joystick on the back of the TWCS throttle (if you just use it in one axis), though it's a bit of a waste of a perfect TDC control. Right now I've got it assigned to buttons, but would also really love to use the pinky wheel for it - I know Wags also has the same throttle so hopefully he can understand and hear our pleas...

[Deano87]

Absolute mapping would be really nice for people who don’t have a self centering axis to map it to. It’s not so bad with my TM Warthog as I just use the throttle friction lever and that has a centre detent but it is irritating if I accidentally knock it just slightly out of place and a minute or so later I find that I’m scanning an area of the sky from 40k up to 80k lol. I imagine if you had rotary like you have on a F-16 throttle for instance then it would be a nightmare.

 

Perhapse a “Special Option” in the future or something.

[Pikey]

+1 there's another thread on this too.

[Svsmokey]

+1 / Ch FighterStick here and find a similar situation with the wheel. Tied elevation is an excellent suggestion.

 

I have the CH Fighterstick as well . What wheel are you using ? Did you use CH Control Manager ? I would like to map at least the throttle wheel , as i have the pro throttle , but am thus far unable to do so in the DCS control menu .