Problems with 4-/8-way switches and encoder dials on CM3/Constellation Alpha

[SaschaFFM]

I have received my CM3 throttle and my WarBRD/Constellation Alpha grip just today. I managed to go through the axis-configuration etc and initially all looked fine. But I do have some major problems with my encoder dials on the throttle and *all* of my 4-/8-way switches on my throttle and the grip.

The encoder dials always trigger both actions (that is button 62 and 63 for the left one for instance), no matter if I turn left or right. I tried with and without buffered. Does not make any difference. Button depress of the encoders work fine.

The 4-/8-way switches always (!!!) trigger the button for depressing the switch in addition to the direction. There is no way that I could only make a direction action without depressing, no matter how hard I tried. Is this normal? This kind of renders the whole idea of depressable 4-ways useless, doesnt it? Could I at least configure it that it does not trigger the depress button when I enter a direction?

I am hoping that this is just some kind of misconfiguration on my end. I would be happy if you could provide some assistance.

 

Thank you
SpiteFFM

 

P.S. I have also posted this on the Virpil forum, but this here seems to be more "active", so I am hoping for any ideas

[SaschaFFM]

Oh man, I just found someone on Reddit with just the same "issue". This is simply how it works within the VPC Configuration Tool (how the hardware works). In VPC Joystick tester and within DCS this is compensated and all is working well. Sorry guys

[FeistyLemur]

It's important to make the distinction between the VPC configurator and the Tester.  The configurator button tab is showing you the raw output of the hardware.  The tester is showing you the virtual button output.

 

Myself I dislike the way the hat switches are not gated and for example when held in the down position, you could easily rock the switch back and forth between the corners resulting in dual button presses.  The result being, you just have to be very precise about how you use them.  I turn everything but the POV hat to 4 way instead of 8 way in the alps decoding.  The result of this is there are no longer diagonal double button presses.  But the downside is you can for example now press the hat down diagonal and it will not register anything at all.  Meaning you still have to be precise with your direction press.

 

On my CM2 grips this is less of an issue.  But my CM throttle especially on the right grip face buttons it can be annoying to use those hats because the throttle is rotating and changing the angle at which the hat has to be pressed.  I see someone had a thread complaining about that very issue elsewhere in this forum.

[SaschaFFM]

Yes, after one evening of testing I have to fully agree with you. I am coming from a Thrustmaster Warthog setup. I absolutely love the axis of the stick and the whole feeling that the throttle plus the stick give (talking about the Virpil).

 

But the hat switches are somewhat of a big downside. I configured them for 4W4B as well now. While this eliminates the accidental actions of the hat-diagonal missed presses, it still introduces a lot of trouble. This was working much better on the Warthog. I wonder why they did not just leave one hat switch with 8W8B possibility per device and just leave the rest as hardware-gated 4W4B. The need for diagonal buttons is not really there. Not in flight-sims and not in space-sims I assume.

 

Well, hope that I can get used to this.

Edited September 4, 2021 by SaschaFFM

[Meatshield]

The ungated hats are insane, driving me crazy after one day as well. Why the heck is the software logic for 4 way action to drop the first pressed direction when the second pressed direction is detected? I would assume if I move it up, and it registers as up, and it's in a 4-way config, that as long as that up input is held, the output should hold, but if it sees fore or aft in conjunction with up, it freaks out and doesn't output anything, when you clearly are pressing on the switch. 

Virpil, if you are listening, the proper 4 way logic would be to output whatever direction when it is pressed individually, and continue the last output when two directions are seen at once. (not drop it)