Force feedback settings

[woodzwalk]

I recently got a Microsoft sidewinder force feedback 2 and was wondering what settings/bindings I should use. 

 

When I use no curve and deadzone the aircraft feels almost impossible to hover or control precisely, but when i start to add curves the stick starts to kick back whenever I trim instead of holding the stick where I trimmed. Is there any way to solve this?

Also is the default trimmer force of 100% too much or should I leave it as is?

 

[Shadok]

I put a dead zone of 2 and saturation on Y of 85.

Also in special setting of AH-64 I choose: "Trim in center position".

This is not perfect, but better than curve.

For the trim force I choose 65%, but I don't know if this is realistic.

Edited January 5, 2023 by Shadok

[corbu1]

Trim in Center position mode for FFB joystick?

I‘d guess FFB friendly/ instant trim would fit?

I have no FFB joystick, just thinking.

[woodzwalk]

33 minutes ago, corbu1 said:

Trim in Center position mode for FFB joystick?

I‘d guess FFB friendly/ instant trim would fit?

I have no FFB joystick, just thinking.

I've tried both settings and the results are the same 

[admiki]

OK, friend says that you have to use no curves and full saturation. Problem is that stick thinks it is in different position and then tries to get where it should be.

Maybe you can try to modify output with Joystick Gremlin. It's free so it will only cost time if it doesn't pan out.

 

[Shadok]

1 hour ago, corbu1 said:

Trim in Center position mode for FFB joystick?

I‘d guess FFB friendly/ instant trim would fit?

I have no FFB joystick, just thinking.

This is what I thinking first.

 

49 minutes ago, woodzwalk said:

I've tried both settings and the results are the same 

With "trim in center position" the AH-64 stick is more reactive. Move your real stick left and right quickly and see the difference with the virtual stick. I find it easier, but it is also a matter of preference.

[MAXsenna]

I recently got a Microsoft sidewinder force feedback 2 and was wondering what settings/bindings I should use. 
 
When I use no curve and deadzone the aircraft feels almost impossible to hover or control precisely, but when i start to add curves the stick starts to kick back whenever I trim instead of holding the stick where I trimmed. Is there any way to solve this?
Also is the default trimmer force of 100% too much or should I leave it as is?
 

Don't change dead zones, curves or saturation.
Your issue is that there's "a bug" in DCS, so you have to open control settings, chose axis, click on the MS FFB2's column, choose FFB settings and then select "swap axis".

Cheers!

Sent from my MAR-LX1A using Tapatalk

[woodzwalk]

2 hours ago, MAXsenna said:

Don't change dead zones, curves or saturation.
Your issue is that there's "a bug" in DCS, so you have to open control settings, chose axis, click on the MS FFB2's column, choose FFB settings and then select "swap axis".

Cheers!

Sent from my MAR-LX1A using Tapatalk
 

 

3 hours ago, Shadok said:

This is what I thinking first.

 

With "trim in center position" the AH-64 stick is more reactive. Move your real stick left and right quickly and see the difference with the virtual stick. I find it easier, but it is also a matter of preference.

I've tried both of these and mow the stick feels much more precise and smooth, thank you!

[MAXsenna]

I've tried both of these and mow the stick feels much more precise and smooth, thank you!

To be honest. Trim centre position is incorrect for an FFB stick though. The default is the correct one, while "without springs and FFB" works too I believe.

Sent from my MAR-LX1A using Tapatalk

[paynterf]

I'm brand-new to DCS and I'm having trouble getting my Sidewinder2 (red button) FFB joystick configured.  The joystick and slider work fine (by default the slider is bound to throttle which is OK as a starting point), but DCS doesn't recognize any other MSFFB joystick buttons or the hat switch.  I found the control adjustment page and it does have a MSFFB column, but when I double-click any of the axis trim (aileron, rudder, elevator) cells in this column, the binding dialog opens up but none of the FFB buttons are recognized.

 

I tried using JoyToKey and binding keyboard keys, but that didn't work either.  It appears that the only things that DCS recognizes for the FFB are the pitch, roll, and yaw (twist) controls and the slider.  

 

Is there a magic trick to getting the other buttons recognized?

 

TIA,

Frank

 

[MAXsenna]

I'm brand-new to DCS and I'm having trouble getting my Sidewinder2 (red button) FFB joystick configured.  The joystick and slider work fine (by default the slider is bound to throttle which is OK as a starting point), but DCS doesn't recognize any other MSFFB joystick buttons or the hat switch.  I found the control adjustment page and it does have a MSFFB column, but when I double-click any of the axis trim (aileron, rudder, elevator) cells in this column, the binding dialog opens up but none of the FFB buttons are recognized.
 
I tried using JoyToKey and binding keyboard keys, but that didn't work either.  It appears that the only things that DCS recognizes for the FFB are the pitch, roll, and yaw (twist) controls and the slider.  
 
Is there a magic trick to getting the other buttons recognized?
 
TIA,
Frank
 

Because buttons are not axis. Go back to the keybinds, and not the axis settings, and configure the buttons as buttons.
Cheers!

Sent from my SM-A536B using Tapatalk

[paynterf]

Thanks for the hints.  I did go back to the the control adjustment page and looked at ALL the options (wow!), but was still unable to get the MSFFB 'hat' buttons bound to the aileron/elevator trim controls.  Looking further, I found that they were instead bound to the POV controls as shown in the attached screenshot.  

I thought that all I had to do was clear the POV bindings and then bind them to the aileron/elevator controls, but no joy - I can clear them from the POV controls, but they still don't show up as options for the aileron/elevator controls.

I know the 'hat' switch is recognized by DCS, because I went back to the POV controls, cleared all the bindings, and then re-bound the 'hat' switch to the POV controls.  Double-click in the MSFFB column to get the dialog up, then click the appropriate 'hat' switch, and voila! the binding shows up as 'JOY_BTN_POV1_x' (where 'x' is U/D/L/R, etc.  I was also able to program 'BTN2' on the MSFFB to 'View Center'.

Why would DCS prevent me from using buttons for aileron/elevator trim, and then allow me to use those same buttons for POV changes?

On a slightly different subject, is there a way to print the results of key bindings, so I could have a printed list to reference while flying?

TIA,

Frank

[firefox121]

clear the pov assignements from sidewnder, can do by selecting one for one and hitting the clear button or selecting the whole sidewinder column and hitting clear, this will remove all the asignements from your sidewinder, the at thecontrols tab find search, and type aileron, this will reach tou to the aileron keys and you eventually could assign hat buttons to whatever you want.

By the way, why you  want to controll manually the aileron, the computer does his job well enought in auto mode?

another question? where the hell are you settings controls? View at your screenshot that you have a FLAPS asignement, I am unable to find flaps at my ah-64 pilot page controls, neither trim elevator axis, ... are you at the correct plane?

[MAXsenna]

Thanks for the hints.  I did go back to the the control adjustment page and looked at ALL the options (wow!), but was still unable to get the MSFFB 'hat' buttons bound to the aileron/elevator trim controls.  Looking further, I found that they were instead bound to the POV controls as shown in the attached screenshot.  
I thought that all I had to do was clear the POV bindings and then bind them to the aileron/elevator controls, but no joy - I can clear them from the POV controls, but they still don't show up as options for the aileron/elevator controls.
I know the 'hat' switch is recognized by DCS, because I went back to the POV controls, cleared all the bindings, and then re-bound the 'hat' switch to the POV controls.  Double-click in the MSFFB column to get the dialog up, then click the appropriate 'hat' switch, and voila! the binding shows up as 'JOY_BTN_POV1_x' (where 'x' is U/D/L/R, etc.  I was also able to program 'BTN2' on the MSFFB to 'View Center'.
Why would DCS prevent me from using buttons for aileron/elevator trim, and then allow me to use those same buttons for POV changes?
On a slightly different subject, is there a way to print the results of key bindings, so I could have a printed list to reference while flying?
TIA,
Frank

Not sure Frank, but something's up, because it shouldn't be any issues. Could you post a screenshot of which module you're actually configuring?

Sent from my SM-A536B using Tapatalk

clear the pov assignements from sidewnder, can do by selecting one for one and hitting the clear button or selecting the whole sidewinder column and hitting clear, this will remove all the asignements from your sidewinder, the at thecontrols tab find search, and type aileron, this will reach tou to the aileron keys and you eventually could assign hat buttons to whatever you want.
By the way, why you  want to controll manually the aileron, the computer does his job well enought in auto mode?
another question? where the hell are you settings controls? View at your screenshot that you have a FLAPS asignement, I am unable to find flaps at my ah-64 pilot page controls, neither trim elevator axis, ... are you at the correct plane?

Seems I can see a different screenshot.

Sent from my SM-A536B using Tapatalk

[marosvarics]

Hi

I also use FFB MS Sidewinder and love it (modified for extension).

You only need to swap axis in FFB settnigs (in every module, ex. F14 is same). I use deadzone : 1 , and curve :10 for pitch and roll. Perfect.

Offcourse NO other contolrer should be binded for pitch and roll.

Csaba

[MAXsenna]

Hi
I also use FFB MS Sidewinder and love it (modified for extension).
You only need to swap axis in FFB settnigs (in every module, ex. F14 is same). I use deadzone : 1 , and curve :10 for pitch and roll. Perfect.
Offcourse NO other contolrer should be binded for pitch and roll.
Csaba

Unfortunately the MS FFB2 has a hardware deadzone, so you really should remove any user deadzone. This is especially noticeable with an extension. Very bad for AAR and helicopters.
Gonna mod mine when I have time, to remove it.
Cheers!

Sent from my SM-A536B using Tapatalk

[hannibal]

i have no idea of what to do, how to test the MSSFFB2 stick..

upon getting one of these joysticks, what do you do, besides putting a check mark on 'enable force feedback' in special options?

is there other software to install?

how does one do a test? i tried huey and tf51 and it doesnt feel like anything going on... im not sure if im suppose feel shake or anything anywhere

help please @MAXsenna @Shadok @admiki

[Floyd1212]

The true test IMHO is to trim the aircraft for forward flight and see if the stick stays in place.  Not sure about rumbles and shakes, but holding the trimmed position of the cyclic is where the magic is.

[Shadok]

I can feel it jerking with the TF51 or F14 on a sharp turn, for example, but not with the Huey, even if it's going too fast. As Floyd 1212 says, you should feel the trimmed stick position being applied.

I didn't install any special software to make it work.

 

[MAXsenna]

i have no idea of what to do, how to test the MSSFFB2 stick..
upon getting one of these joysticks, what do you do, besides putting a check mark on 'enable force feedback' in special options?
is there other software to install?
how does one do a test? i tried huey and tf51 and it doesnt feel like anything going on... im not sure if im suppose feel shake or anything anywhere
help please @MAXsenna @Shadok @admiki

No additional software needed. There are no effects in the Huey except for the trim. To test if it works, just turn of the magnetic brake/force trim switch, and the stick will go completely limp. Which it should.
Cheers!

Sent from my SM-A536B using Tapatalk

[hannibal]

2 hours ago, MAXsenna said:

No additional software needed. There are no effects in the Huey except for the trim. To test if it works, just turn of the magnetic brake/force trim switch, and the stick will go completely limp. Which it should.
Cheers!

Sent from my SM-A536B using Tapatalk
 

i see ppl using a utility called simffb... ?

[MAXsenna]

i see ppl using a utility called simffb... ?

Yeah, it's a workaround, in modules without FFB support, and if you want like hydrolic effects. I don't really use it.

Sent from my SM-A536B using Tapatalk

[hannibal]

you do the resistor mod your you MSSFFB2?? @MAXsenna

[MAXsenna]

you do the resistor mod your you MSSFFB2?? @MAXsenna

Not yet. Gonna do it, just haven't had time yet. Did also plan to put two together as I have five of them.

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