Thrustmaster RCS/CHPRo Rudder USB Adapters?

[Recluse]

Sorry if this is a FAQ. I did a search and found some interesting DIY solutions, most of which are above my skill grade

So, I am currently running an aging COUGAR with old Thrustmaster RCS gameport pedals. I also have a set of CHPRO Gameport pedals, but they gave up the ghost, but might be resurrected with a new Potentiometer or Magnetic sensor replacement.

I just took the plunge and bought a WinWing ORION to replace the Cougar, but the question is how to connect my rudders.  I was going to keep them connected to the COUGAR and just remove all axes except the rudder pedals in the Control Panel, (I think DCS would support that) but I wondered if any of those cheap Gameport to USB adapters would work for the RCS or CHPRO.  IT would be a PLUS if I could get the CHPRO toe brakes working as well which I could never do with the stock Cougar, but I will settle for just the rudder inputs.

Thanks for your advice.

Edited November 13, 2021 by Recluse

[edmuss]

I tried all sorts to get my RCS rudders to work, originally had them hooked up to an FLCS/TQS which obviously went the way of gameport with the advent of windows7.  The gameport usb adaptor box that I tried sort of worked but it was very low resolution with something like 8 steps of different input over the range of movement which was impossible to use except for gross rudder movements.

In the end I cannibilised an old PS2 logitech driving force wheel that someone had given me, bodged together* a linkage to actuate the main wheel axis pot and stashed the motherboard whithin the frame with a bit of plastic to protect it.  I retained the remaining pots so I could use them at a later date, I did so by firstly creating a DIY clutch pedal and then a DIY handbrake (clutch has since been superceeded with the T3PA pro but I still use the handbrake rig).  I dare say it would be a better solution to use a leo bodnar board or similar to read and transcribe the input from the original pot but I was being a skinflint and hacked something together.

* it's still going strong some 8 years later!

[Recluse]

Thanks for the  info! I guess for the foreseeable future I will just keep my COUGAR plugged in for RUDDER support

[Sokol1_br]

RSC is very easy for "USB'erizing", since there just one potentiometer inside.

Get a USB "joystick" controller, like Leo Bodnar BU0836A, Dereksphearedesign DSD12... that are both overkill/costly for the job, but ready to use.

Or get an Arduino PRO Micro (ATMEGA32u4, 16 MHZ, 5v) clone that cost around $5 in eBay, Aliexpress... and flash then - though the USB cable; with MMjoy2 firmware, and have a 10 bits (1024 steeps - more is possible with external ADC) USB "joystick" controller.

Get too a multicolored cable with individual Dupond connectors (BU08336A came with connectors for assemble the cable).

Then get rid of all original wiring and gameport connectors, they will more hinder than help.

Separate 3 wires from the cable, connect or solder one end in the potentiometer in RCS, and the other side in the USB controller. 

Done. All the mentioned USB controllers are plug and play devices for Windows, using Windows native HID drivers.

Same is applicable for CH PRO Pedal, just that there are 3 pot's.

See in Rel4y "CH upgrades" topi ready to use option for an USB controller and contactless sensor.

Edited November 22, 2021 by Sokol1_br