NEED ASSISTANCE WILL PAY

[Bravohorn1]

HEY,

I am 60 years young, smart and have been using computers since the 70's. I'm now retired and I've spent mega bucks on just about everything for flight sim, but I cannot make any of my controllers function properly. I've been at this for over a year starting with the Thrustmaster Combined FCS, and got so frustrated with it, and the lack of support that I shelved it. Began again a few months later, and figured I just buy a different set up Logitech X52 Pro HOTAS. They all say plug and play, and that works for a bout a day, and then everything starts acting erratic.  I know its probably something I'm doing, or not doing, but after about 2 years, and several hundred hours of not flying and enjoying, but trying to get this working, and I'm about ready for a bonfire. I'm not sure how this can be resolved, but I do have team viewer for remote work, and will pay for a successful outcome. No scammers. Just a legitimate arrangement to get me off the ground, and this needs to happen fast.

My sysytem is:

Windows 10 Pro  Device name    DESKTOP-
Processor    Intel(R) Core(TM) i9-10850K CPU @ 3.60GHz   3.60 GHz
Installed RAM    32.0 GB (31.9 GB usable)

Storage at 7GB combination of Nvmi, and 2.5 and  3.5 I use for storage only 25% used
Device ID    3BB2C173-5F7A-46E5-9A69-AB772A9FAE99
Product ID    00330-71442-59151-AAOEM
System type    64-bit operating system, x64-based processor
Pen and touch    No pen or touch input is available for this display

I have NVidia Ge Force GTX 1080 in this PC

I have NVidia Ge Force GTX 970   in another system equal to this one

I have an AMD Radion R9 380 in another system only its an I7 processor 

The other two have 128 GB Installed RAM, and each as 2 GB M2 NVMA

 

 

 

[Sacarino111]

Hi.

No need to pay, please! I also have a Saitek X52 pro. Mine works pretty well since 6 or 7 years (bought it 2 hand, but unused). If you can explain to me what's wrong, maybe I could help somehow. My PC is way less powerful than yours, and I get quite a good flying experience.

Saludos.

Saca111

[draconus]

I'd start with deleting any additional software and drivers from the device vendor as they are pretty advanced and known for confusing rather than helping users. Then just follow the advice in the video:

 

[GoodHope]

I can't really offer help, but I'll offer some encouragement.  I'm similar to you in age (59) and tinkering with computers not quite as long and I've been at DCS for about a yearish.  My encouragement would be to stick with it and don't get frustrated--DCS is incredibly expensive in time and hardware, but the payoff is enjoyment several fold. Between YouTube and this forum (along with some luck) I've been able to solve (mostly) every issue I've had and I'm thankful for it because DCS gives back more than I've put into it.

[Bossco82]

Hi Bravohorn,

Ok mate no need to pay at all. Plenty of very decent and knowledgeable people in this community forum to help you out with this. Can you please read the questions carefully and try to answer as best as you can. That way anyone responding can read them and provide specific answers to your problem. These threads can go off topic and only confuse the subject matter.

#1. What flight sims are you trying to get to work, only DCS or are there others?

#2. Are the controllers your only problem? What is it they are not doing, describe anything and everything no matter how daft it sounds?

#3. Have you gone on Youtube and searched for "DCS controller Hotas setup"? If not please do and check out "Matt Wagners" or "Grim Reapers" they do very well explained guides. Look at what "Dracanos" posted its a direct link to one.

#Do you have USB power savings disabled? This stops Windows interrupting your USB controllers. Check here please, Windows Icon (bottom right) /Settings "COG" icon / System / Power & Sleep / Additional Power Settings / "Your selected power plan, should be High" / Change Plan Settings / Change Advanced Power Settings / USB Settings / USB Selective Suspend / Set this to Disabled. This is the one that screws Track IR too.

#5 Are you trying to use the Logitech HOTAS Profiler? You can simply set your X52 hotas up in DCS directly. Refer to the Youtube videos I suggested.

#6 Are you using a USB hub? Is the X52 plugged into the back of your motherboard directly?

#7 Have you checked that the X52 Hotas is working outside of DCS? You can test it in Windows. Go to Windows Icon (bottom right) /Settings "COG" icon / Devices / Devices and Printers (on the right in blue) / Right click on your controller, X52 / Game Controller Settings / Properties.... Rotate all your axis's and check all your buttons. This simply helps to problem solve the issue.

Thats what I can think of for the moment, best of luck and please let us know how you get on with this.

The only other thing is regarding your system. For the one you play DCS on stick to using your GTX 1080, its the best GPU, you have for DCS. Other than that your CPU and Dram look ok.

Edited November 28, 2021 by Bossco82

[Bravohorn1]

Hey,

Thanks for responding. Here we go:

1) I have MFS, DCS World stand alone, as well as the steam edition War Thunder, Comanche, Ace Combat. Start Wars and Elite Dangerous. The only ones that seem to function properly are Star Wars - Elite Dangerous and ACE Combat

2) I don't use the standard handheld controllers like xbox, I only use flight sticks.  As example DCS I have Flaming cliffs, and supercarrier, and I purchased MIG 29, F14 and F15 and the Hornet There are a few others planes that came with the game itself, but  starting from runway I can't get lift, so pulling back, or using rudder to turn (Saetek X52 Pro, or Thrustmaster FCS Combined all I do is go straight of runway and crash and burn. Same thing on the carrier, I just slowly fall off into the water. My Logitech software and Windows based joy.cpl all indicate Axis, sliders and buttons registering perfectly. I've recalibrated several times without success.

3) Yes I have tried YouTube tutorials, and I tried to follow all examples. I don't recall The names associated with the channels I've watched. I will look for those you mentioned as soon as possible. 

4) I use my PC for Music production 90% of the time, so I have all my pc's optimized which included the USB Selective suspend is disabled. There are about twenty different settings that I've changed to enhance the performances specific to recording music, and mixing and mastering sound. I don't think any of these settings would inhibit gaming, but I couldn't rule it out except that I have the three Sim programs that work well. I'm really only interested in DCS World, and Microsoft Flight Sim. The latter was my main interest as I used to fly small fixed wing aircraft many years ago. DCS though is some terrific software, and Ive really become obsessed with it's possibilities, but It's has been challenging.

I have went through the the update and repair process, and I have uninstalled all of my sims, games using third party paid uninstallers, and then reinstalled them. As I mentioned initially they seemed okay, but as I began to expand the mappings for more control of each aircraft in options/control I actually start loosing control. This is why I'm certain it's an issue that I'm causing rather than my system. Though systems become dated pretty quickly nowadays I over built my towers with care, and quality components with music and gaming in mind. I would installed  better GPU's, but they are harder to find these days, and being relatively new at gaming spending $3k on a GPU seemed unwise. I have become a fan of sims though now, and if I can graduate to a level of consistent play rather than computer programming frustrations I would build me a sim setup that would rival any out there.

 

I think I've answered your questions, and I will follow your advice, but I may have to do another uninstall and clean install to get back to square one. I fear I've pushed to many wrong buttons trying to make this work.  I really appreciate your help, and I'll update my progress.

 

Thanks,

 

[LeCuvier]

This must be frustrating! I cannot believe it's the game controllers themselves. A lot of people have experienced erratic behavior of their game controllers because they were connected via cheap USB hubs that draw power from the PC via their USB feed. Game controllers should be connected directly to the PC, or via powered USB hubs.

[Sacarino111]

Hi.

Just out of my mind; Saitek X52 has to be pluged in a 2.0 USB only, not 3.0 or above. Be sure it is not otherwise. 

Still thinking...

Saludos.

Saca111

 

Edit: and MSI motherboard struggle with saitek old drivers. The ones from Logitech I don't know, as y don't buy MSI moterboards as a rule of thumb to avoid past problems.

Edited December 1, 2021 by Sacarino111

[Sacarino111]

3 hours ago, Bravohorn1 said:

Hey,

Thanks for responding. Here we go:

1) I have MFS, DCS World stand alone, as well as the steam edition War Thunder, Comanche, Ace Combat. Start Wars and Elite Dangerous. The only ones that seem to function properly are Star Wars - Elite Dangerous and ACE Combat

2) I don't use the standard handheld controllers like xbox, I only use flight sticks.  As example DCS I have Flaming cliffs, and supercarrier, and I purchased MIG 29, F14 and F15 and the Hornet There are a few others planes that came with the game itself, but  starting from runway I can't get lift, so pulling back, or using rudder to turn (Saetek X52 Pro, or Thrustmaster FCS Combined all I do is go straight of runway and crash and burn. Same thing on the carrier, I just slowly fall off into the water. My Logitech software and Windows based joy.cpl all indicate Axis, sliders and buttons registering perfectly. I've recalibrated several times without success.

3) Yes I have tried YouTube tutorials, and I tried to follow all examples. I don't recall The names associated with the channels I've watched. I will look for those you mentioned as soon as possible. 

4) I use my PC for Music production 90% of the time, so I have all my pc's optimized which included the USB Selective suspend is disabled. There are about twenty different settings that I've changed to enhance the performances specific to recording music, and mixing and mastering sound. I don't think any of these settings would inhibit gaming, but I couldn't rule it out except that I have the three Sim programs that work well. I'm really only interested in DCS World, and Microsoft Flight Sim. The latter was my main interest as I used to fly small fixed wing aircraft many years ago. DCS though is some terrific software, and Ive really become obsessed with it's possibilities, but It's has been challenging.

I have went through the the update and repair process, and I have uninstalled all of my sims, games using third party paid uninstallers, and then reinstalled them. As I mentioned initially they seemed okay, but as I began to expand the mappings for more control of each aircraft in options/control I actually start loosing control. This is why I'm certain it's an issue that I'm causing rather than my system. Though systems become dated pretty quickly nowadays I over built my towers with care, and quality components with music and gaming in mind. I would installed  better GPU's, but they are harder to find these days, and being relatively new at gaming spending $3k on a GPU seemed unwise. I have become a fan of sims though now, and if I can graduate to a level of consistent play rather than computer programming frustrations I would build me a sim setup that would rival any out there.

 

I think I've answered your questions, and I will follow your advice, but I may have to do another uninstall and clean install to get back to square one. I fear I've pushed to many wrong buttons trying to make this work.  I really appreciate your help, and I'll update my progress.

 

Thanks,

 

Hi. Once you  have "restarted" your system, I would be very happy to contact trough Discord or similar and share screens so I could give some help. Best time for me is weekend. Give me a shout (or  PM me) on friday so I can plan a way to meet. 

Saludos.

Saca111

[Bossco82]

HI Bravohorn,

I have to ask a question and please take it the right way. Did you know that in DCS you have to set the controls up for each plane individually? Even the axis commands? The HOTAS controllers will do absolutely no plug and play at all. You have to set them up for each individual aircraft.

For example I have DCS working with the F-14, F-18 and F16. I have never got around to setting up the MIg-29 for example. If I went and loaded a mission for that it would do exactly like your saying no input at all.

So in DCS please try the following. GO to settings and for a test select F-14 Pilot controller settings. On the settings page is a drop down menu for each individual plane. Go and see if your axis commands are working in there. It will be similar to Windows, you get a box that moves when you move the stick or rudder. Sometimes when you set them up they can be the wrong way around. So please check the axis points the right way.

Settings for controls and HOTAS can be very fiddly. I have made all these mistakes myself when I got into DCS. What I would do is focus on getting one game and in DCS getting one plane working properly first then move on to the next. If you can try the F-15 to start its one of the simpler ones. Check this video for help

Golden rule. IF you can see the controller working in the windows properties for that controller. AND you can see that controller as an option in the headers on the controller page for example the F-15 in DCS. It should work its just not setup in DCS controller settings correctly. Check these screens from my own PC as a guide. Check the video for help to. I have been playing flight sims and setting up PC's since 1998. I make schoolboy errors all the time and regularly want to throw it on a bonfire some days, its normal because there are just so many settings to consider now. Worth it in the end though.

If you can see all that like I have in those screens but for your X52 you should be ok once its setup in DCS like on the bottom two screens. Here is a video...it might not be completely relevant to your X52 hotas but it will help you get the idea.

Good luck come back to us if you have a problem but please check if you can replicate what I have shown you or not. If you cannot replicate what I have shown in the screens and in the video. You must have a hardware problem. 

You are more than welcome to PM me for any advice. NO payment mate i'm happy to help.

Edited December 1, 2021 by Bossco82

[Sr.]

Also, make certain the to devices (throttle and stick) aren't duplicating controls... particularly under axis commands.

This has been my experience with DCS any time I've changed HOTAS or had to do a fresh install.

Once you do get it banged out to your liking, be sure to back up the SavedGames profile. 

[admiki]

Bravohorn, you already received some excellent advice here, but if you need talk on, just PM me and I'll try to help you.

Oh, and just like other said, no payment please.

[Baldrick33]

Good advice here. In my experience there is a wealth of knowledge and willingness to help on these forums. I feel I know my way around the DCS control systems, it is incredibly flexible but sometimes that flexibility means needing some initial setting up rather than working out of the box. Happy to help if I can.

[AngleOff66]

Not trying to muddy the waters, but would Dview or DXtweak help?

https://derekspearedesigns.com/technical-guide.html