How to: Settings required to bind the 'Headlight' (search and rescue light) to an X and Y axis

[Xtorris]

I have no idea, if these settings will require any tuning by individual players (hopefully they won't), but I figured I would share these settings anyways

 

1.) First and foremost, open the default.lua file found in: \DCS World OpenBeta\Mods\aircraft\Mi-24P\Input\Mi_24P_pilot\joystick

2.) Make a backup copy of the default.lua, if you are not comfortable with editing these files

3.) Paste the following lines AFTER join(res.axisCommands, {

 

--Seacrch & Rescue Light
{action=ext_lights_commands.HeadLightPilotControl_EXT, cockpit_device_id=devices.EXT_LIGHTS_SYSTEM, name=_('Headlight Up/Down')},
{action=ext_lights_commands.HeadLightPilotControl, cockpit_device_id=devices.EXT_LIGHTS_SYSTEM, name=_('Headlight Left/Right')},

 

 

4.) Save the default.lua file

5.) Load DCS and go to Options -> Controls -> Mi-24P Pilot -> Click the "Assign Axis" button, and you should see a new axis named Headlight Left/Right, and another named Headlight Up/Down

6.) Assign your desired axes.

7.) Both of the new axes will require specific customization, for the search light to respond properly to axis commands. Edit them via the Axis Tune button:

 

Left/Right axis settings

 

Up/Down axis settings

 

Once you are done editing the axes, load into a hot start Hind Mission (preferably a nighttime one), and check the searchlights response to your inputs.

 

***A few notes***

1.)

If you need to 'invert' either of the axes DO NOT USE INVERT! You will have to swap the numbers around. The deadzones remain unmodified. Only swap the non-deadzone numbers.

 

For Up/Down:

54 = Up

60 = Down

50 = Deadzone

 

For Left/Right

63 = Left

69 = Right

73 = Deadzone

 

2.)

The axis only responds to one input at a time. i.e. left, right, up, down is ok, but the light tends to become unresponsive by combining more than one direction.

Edited August 24, 2021 by Pacientis