Getting silly with the programmability

[streakeagle]

From the time I got my original MCG Pro with the GF2 base and 20 cm extension, I found the functionality out of the box to be very good and never messed with programming the stick. But since I started playing with the Axes2Buttons function to convert the DLC switch axis on the F-14 grip into buttons for aircraft that can't use the axis, I have gone hog wild maximizing the capability of VKB grips with extra axis features I haven't been using.

 

1) Out of the box, the MCG Pro has the ability to check off some options on the existing flip safety trigger. The key option is to see a button go hot when the switch is in the down position compared to the default behavior of seeing buttons go hot only when up, or when pulled all the way back. Some DCS modules need to see two inputs to synchronize a flip safety in-game with a physical lever, otherwise you need a toggle function and have to flip the switch up to toggle the safety back and forth. There is additional built-in capability to make the trigger pull 3 stages instead of 1. So, if you enable every single option, you end up having 5 buttons: lever up, lever down, trigger stage 1, trigger stage 2, and trigger stage 3. I don't very often have use for two-stage triggers, much less 3-stage triggers, so I decided to leave the flip up switch with just three buttons: lever up, lever down, and trigger pulled all the way back.

 

2) Out of the box, the MCG Pro has the ability to check off some options on the existing analog brake lever. You can have a staged trigger button turn on at an adjustable mid-range position as well as enable buttons to turn on at the full open and full close limits. I only need the limits, but you can't enable them without enabling the mid-range stage, so I now have all three positions: default full open, mid-range (stage 1), full closed (stage 2). This opens up a plethora of options for aircraft without analog brake levers and even opens of some possibilities for ones that use it, like the MiG-29 with its bonus take-off brake lever that is part of its regular brake lever.

 

3) Out of the box, the trim hat switch toggles between being a 2-axis analog trim switch and an 8-way pov hat using the trim hat center press to toggle modes and recenter the trim axes. I seldom use the analog function as real grips don't have analog trim hats, they are simple switches identical to 4-way pov hats. So, I changed the center press to a normal DX button that is far more useful to me. This leaves me with an always-on POV function that works in parallel with the analog trim axes. So I can still use both functions, but I can't turn either one off, which is not really a problem since I tend to only use one or the other with any aircraft rather than both.

 

4) Out of the box, the cursor control stick is purely 2-axis analog with a center press. This is perfect for controlling the radar cursor in many DCS modules and works much better than the mini-stick on the Warthog throttle. But I upgraded my Warthog throttle with the "yet another slew upgrade" from the TM forum, so for most aircraft that have cursor control on the throttle, I am using the upgraded Warthog mini-stick for that function. So, just like the trim hat above, I now have a parallel 8-way POV hat 2 and 2 axis analog stick with a center depress button.

 

5) I retrofitted my MCG Pro with a rudder twist axis and the same capability came on the F-14 grip and the SCG Pro grip. The only time I would need that axis in a flight sim is if my rudder pedals were broken, so I added buttons... but not just full left/full right/ and or center buttons. I mapped it into 5 zones which is 5 buttons: full left, partial left, center, partial right, full right. This is now my knee pad next page/previous page control. The full left and full right buttons are programed to pulse repeatedly while on, which means I can flip thorough the knee pad very quickly to get close to the page I want, then bump one page at a time with the partial left and partial right buttons. Sweet! An unexpected, extremely useful return on my investment.

 

I have always been very happy with all the VKB products I bought, but I am even happier now that I have learned to fully utilize the programming tool to get the maximum capability out of all of the controls available on these grips.

Edited May 24, 2020 by streakeagle

[AeroGator]

Thanks!

I know it is a pain to work through all configuration utilities but I believe it is rewarding. Time spent on it is time well spent, and always pays back!

[Ant0ine]

Well done! Good alternate use idea for the twist :thumbup:

[currenthill]

Thanks for the good ideas! I need to check some of them out!