Firmware Update ?

[Len62]

I am currently on firmware version 20200325, which is now quite old. I have the T-50 throttle (1st version), the T-50 base (1st version) and the T-50 CM2 grip. Are there any significant improvements with the latest version of the firmware? I don't have any issues with the current setup, but curious to see if I should update or not.

[dburne]

Probably mainly in the software aspect. For instance adding buttons to axis is more easily done.

Be aware it would likely change your device VID's so you would need to re-assign game controller settings.  I had luck exporting my controller settings in DCS and then importing them back in iirc.  I am sure others more knowledgeable on the Virpil software will chime in as well.

[Hiob]

Don't update, if you have no issues.

like dburne mentioned. It will give your controllers new IDs which will confuse DCS and may make it necessary to redo all assignments.

[speed-of-heat]

or use vjoypro and not have to worry Holdi601/JoystickProfiler: Joystick Profiler Utility (github.com), it takes work, but dear god its brilliant.. you have a couple of choice on how to use it , but, I assign all of my controls through it, and then if one device changes VID or whatever you just re-export and you instantly have your control mappings back

it also has the advantage, that you can re-map common controls to switches and buttons/axis for multiple aircraft (easily)

[Len62]

Thanks all for the tips and advice. My DCS assignments are in need of revamping anyway, so just maybe.

[zildac]

1 hour ago, speed-of-heat said:

or use vjoypro and not have to worry Holdi601/JoystickProfiler: Joystick Profiler Utility (github.com), it takes work, but dear god its brilliant.. you have a couple of choice on how to use it , but, I assign all of my controls through it, and then if one device changes VID or whatever you just re-export and you instantly have your control mappings back

it also has the advantage, that you can re-map common controls to switches and buttons/axis for multiple aircraft (easily)

This looks VERY interesting....and like it's going to need some serious brain bashing initially

 

[Hiob]

You can do other "dirty" tricks if you don't want to do everything from scratch.

Make a copy of your savegames/dcs/input folder and store it somewhere save outside the savegames folder. Than you delete it and let DCS generate new config files for your device. Than you can open the old one from the backup and the new one and just copy over the assignements.

I hope that was halfway understandable.

[speed-of-heat]

Yep, but it is smegging awesome 

 

[EbonySeraphim]

Going from 20220407 to 202206xx (forget the exact date/number) didn't reset my already bound DCS controls. That being said, the update certainly resets any profile info set up and is certainly capable of resetting hardware IDs.

[dburne]

2 hours ago, EbonySeraphim said:

Going from 20220407 to 202206xx (forget the exact date/number) didn't reset my already bound DCS controls. That being said, the update certainly resets any profile info set up and is certainly capable of resetting hardware IDs.

I always export my profile just before updating and import it back in after updating.

[Double Dutch]

9 hours ago, dburne said:

I always export my profile just before updating and import it back in after updating.

Will the export - import work if some options do axis to buttons diffently?

 

[dburne]

1 hour ago, Double Dutch said:

Will the export - import work if some options do axis to buttons diffently?

 

Usually it will.

[Dallas88B]

On 7/12/2022 at 10:21 PM, Len62 said:

I am currently on firmware version 20200325, which is now quite old. I have the T-50 throttle (1st version), the T-50 base (1st version) and the T-50 CM2 grip. Are there any significant improvements with the latest version of the firmware? I don't have any issues with the current setup, but curious to see if I should update or not.

For what its worth my own approach to this sort of update is to check the suppliers change log and see if there are new features or if there are fixes for problems that I currently have.... if not then I normally don't update.

Updates like Virpil's firmware are not security updates - they are bug fixes and improvements - it ain't like Microsoft windows that you need to do regardless (with around a 100 security problems month after month after month https://krebsonsecurity.com/ )

So I suggest just take a look at the change logs Virpil publish here https://support.virpil.com/en/support/solutions look at the releases that have come out since yours (you will need to search thru the list by the date - they are not in order). Update if its going to be of advantage to you.

If it turns out that an update does create a problem for you there is plenty of support available at Virpil and in forums like this.

Do what dburne said and export your profiles from DCS first. Use VPC Configuration tool to check the device PID before the update and that the PID is unchanged after the firmware update.

 

Edited July 13, 2022 by Dallas88B
note about checking PID

[Len62]

Thank you! I had not thought about looking for the change logs.

[Dallas88B]

1 hour ago, Len62 said:

Thank you! I had not thought about looking for the change logs.

Your welcome !

Forgot to mention:

Make sure your logged out of DCS before you do the firmware update.  Then check your Product ID number before doing the the firmware update and check again after the update.

Make sure you only have only one controller connected at a time, when you do firmware updates, so nothing gets confused.

When unplugging and re-plugging controllers make sure you use the same USB port when re-plugging the controller - dont swap them around - swapping to a different port can lead to problems.

If the Product ID number has changed you can use the Virpil VPC Configuration tool to change it back to what it was.

Then when you re-connect to DCS it will see the controller as the same device (same PID).

This combined with what doing what @dburne said.... "export your profiles from DCS first".... and you should have no problems.

 

As an aside - this is one of the many advantages of Virpil software compared to VKB software. I have a VKB Gunfighter Mk.III Modern Combat Edition Ultimate which is an excellent stick - but the software is, at best, sub-optimal, in my opinion.... I only use the VKB software for essential firmware updates

[Len62]

Thanks again for the advice!

[imacken]

VPC firmware/software updates often contain changes to functionality that are not mentioned in the changelogs. IMO, the latest  - 20220623 - is the best version as it has new functions regarding setting detents, defining buttons and other stuff.

Just follow @dburne's advice on exporting/importing profiles and @speed-of-heat's on JoyPro and you'll be OK. (JoyPro is THE essential utility for everything to do with DCS, IMO.)

[greyeagle787]

Exactly which profiles should I export/Import? The whole saved games folder or just the input section? And when you say “export”, do you mean saving a copy to another location. Sorry for the dumb questions, still learning!

[imacken]

Sorry, we’re talking about exporting the device profile from Virpil software. 

[greyeagle787]

So still copy saved games maybe as a precaution? Also, is there a separate update for the individual controllers in addition to the virpil main firmware?

Edited November 29, 2022 by greyeagle787

[imacken]

Won’t do any harm to copy saved games, but the firmware update won’t affect that. The only issue that might occur is a change of windows device ID.
Read above about JoyPro which can get round that issue so you don’t have to re rebind everything. 
No other updates for devices needed apart from Virpil firmware.  

[greyeagle787]

Thanks, will look at that. Do I need to have at least 1 device connected when updating firmware?

[imacken]

You can have all your devices connected if you like.  For safety's sake, it might be best to just have the one you want to upgrade connected just in case of a mistake.

What Virpil devices do you own?

[greyeagle787]

I have the constellation Alpha on the T50 base and the collective TCS Base with the Hawk grip

[imacken]

Ah OK. CM2 or CM3 base?