Afterburner detent setting issues

[friggindead]

Hey fellow simmers- so I'm having an issue that I hope someone can help with. I've been away from the Tomcat for a few months, cheating on her with the Phantom- absolutely no guilt there. Anyways, I go into my options to make sure all is well and start a quick training mission I made on the editor. I'm in the A model on the carrier, I take off but the engines don't come out of AB even though the nozzles move accordingly. I reset and try again- they now come out of AB but the nozzles are stuck open. I check out the B model and I can't get the engines to go into AB and the nozzles are stuck open. On both the A and B the RPMs, TIT, FF, etc respond to throttle inputs. I even tried to use the afterburner gate setting (the checkbox option) but it doesn't work at all on either model. I have a VKB STECS Throttle System Mk.II Max with my AB gate set at 91.5% and I tried to mess around with the AB detent deadzone setting from 0 all the way to 10 with no luck whatsoever. My DCS is fully updated and I even did a cleanup and repair. I tried to search the forums for answers- I see some others have had the same exact issue a few months back but I couldn’t find if they were resolved. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

Edited December 11, 2024 by friggindead

[WarthogOsl]

I just got a STECS as well, but my AB setting is at 80% (I actually have the detent physically back around 70%, but CRV set to 80% in the VKB software, so 80% is what's reported to the game at that position).  No in-game curves, and no gate binding.  The only issue I've noticed is that just a past the detent, the AB turns on, but goes straight into zone 3 (on the A-model) rather than zone 1.  But pushing a tiny bit past that point and it goes into zone 1, and proceeds normally from there.

And just in case, I gotta ask...are you using the VKB software to set up the detents?

Edited December 11, 2024 by WarthogOsl

[friggindead]

Yes, I used the VKB software to set-up the detents. I have been flying the F-4 for months like this with no issues, works perfectly. And my mil/AB setting is at around 90% because I do not need that much slop past the gate. Yeah, I know there are 5 stages of AB in the -A but I don’t need all that- its either mil or the firewall for me

Edited December 11, 2024 by friggindead

[WarthogOsl]

That's weird then.  Have you checked what's going on with the controls indicator inside DCS?

[friggindead]

Bro- you did it. I put up my controls indicator and it was showing my mil power setting around 80% or so (as compared to the F-4 which is at 91.5%). I lowered the slider setting to match and it works perfectly. Whats your cashapp, paypal, etc- I owe you a case 

Edited December 11, 2024 by friggindead

[WarthogOsl]

Hah, glad I could help!

[WarthogOsl]

So BTW, I noticed that the F-15C also has AB at 90% rather than 80% like the F-14.  So what I did was use another detent config in the VKB software where I set the CRV of the AB detent to 90% instead of 80%...but I'm still using the same detent frame as with the F-14.  So that way, I just need to change the setting on the knob of the STECS when I switch plane, but I don't need to change the frame.

[friggindead]

I have yet to go into the settings and reconfigure. I went back into my "old school" way of removing the detent and using AB gate button option. I will most definitely look into it after the holidays when all the chaos settles lol- thanks again, man

[JupiterJoe]

On 12/11/2024 at 5:25 AM, WarthogOsl said:

The only issue I've noticed is that just a past the detent, the AB turns on, but goes straight into zone 3 (on the A-model) rather than zone 1.  But pushing a tiny bit past that point and it goes into zone 1, and proceeds normally from there.

I have this happen too. If you reduce throttle slightly after it skips Zone 1, it will find it eventually.  Not very precise and frustrating, but perhaps that's the way it was with the TF-30. I have a VIRPIL Mongoose CM3 split-throttle and no matter what I set in the Special Menu it seems to skip Zone 1 most of the time.  If you call up the control indicator it shows you passing through Zone 1 with no ignition.  Does this match what happened in real life?  It's like it's having trouble lighting the burner.

EDIT: @WarthogOsl  I adjusted my Saturation X to 99 and it seemed to do the trick.  I have zero deadzone on the Special Menu slider.  I guess everybody's controller is different tough.  I have the Virpil Mongoose CM-3.

Edited February 12 by JupiterJoe