Noe of the TM Viper TQS mission pack OFF setting register as a button press in DCS or in any other SIM

[RTS354]

I just received my replacement TQS after some of the switches failed on my previous version. My issue is that none of the  switches work in the off position, and this also applies to the Gear switch as well; for example, in DCS, I can bind the gear up position, but not the gear down position. I can bind the CAT 1 position, but not the CAT 3 position.  This applies to all buttons and switches on the throttle. Although with some of the switches, I can select the button off option for binary functions, I cannot do this with the OFF option in the MODE switch or the BIT option on the Program switch. I had no issues with my previous the version of the Viper TQS and I didn't even need to install any drivers for it. It just worked perfectly out of the box. I thought it might be an issue with Thrustmaster switching to virtual buttons, but I could not find any options in Windows 11 , or in the TARGET software to enable virtual buttons. Any suggestions?

[MAXsenna]

@RTS354 You don't need T.A.R.G.E.T for this in DCS.
I assume the TQS is made like the Warthog, with two position switches only wired for one of the positions, and three positions wired only for two positions. Hence sims can't detect the off positions without logic build in.
I'm a little confused. Say you bind "gear up" to one of the switches, "button1" and then you have to bind the same switch to the off position "button1_off" for "gear down". You already tried this and it doesn't work? That's the issue? That's odd. Never experienced that.
In other sims, if they don't provide the same "off" logic like DCS does, your just out of luck, or must use T.A.R.G.E.T.

Cheers!


Sent from my SM-A536B using Tapatalk

[RTS354]

I think I fixed the issue with the keys not binding. I had to copy the program 2024_TFHT_1.exe from my old computer to my new one. This is the Thrustmaster Control Panel program that allows you to enable virtual buttons.  There is no documentation on the Thrustmaster support site that states that this is a required program to get the full functionality if the TQS throttle, nor is there any link to this file on the TQS support page as to where to download this program. I down loaded this program on 2024 and it looks like it was discontinued. The only software to download for the TQS Throttle is the TARGET software, and I never used it on any of my Thrustmaster joysticks. Luckily I had a second computer with this program installed. If it works, I will mark this post as solved, but I working on this issue for 8 hours and its time to sleep.

I also have an other issue where  the landing gear knob is loose and just touching it causes the the up button to turn off which should not happen since I didn't do the full swing of the level to the down position. Note that this is a new joystick replacement for my old one. This is the last time I buy a Thrustmaster product.

[MAXsenna]

@RTS354
Sounds strange. You didn't answer my question though. Because I guess that's where the error is, if WHATEVER_BUTTON_OFF doesn't work. Should be no need for virtual buttons.

Sent from my SM-A536B using Tapatalk

[GPatricks]

3 hours ago, MAXsenna said:

@RTS354
Sounds strange. You didn't answer my question though. Because I guess that's where the error is, if WHATEVER_BUTTON_OFF doesn't work. Should be no need for virtual buttons.

Sent from my SM-A536B using Tapatalk
 

 

Yes, DCS uses the DX# button OFF for switches that don't output a DX press for aa position, BMS uses "DX Release" to accomplish the same thing..

[RTS354]

14 hours ago, GPatricks said:

 

Yes, DCS uses the DX# button OFF for switches that don't output a DX press for aa position, BMS uses "DX Release" to accomplish the same thing..

The issue is that this method only works with up to two separate DX# button off conditions, and not four DX# button off conditions which is the problem that I had trying to program the OFF function of the MODE selector switch. The MODE selector has four other button functions that I would have to select in the key bindings as off, which didn't work. My main issue was that the default configuration of the Viper TQS disables the virtual buttons, and the TARGET software doesn't have an option to enable virtual buttons. I needed the Viper TQS driver software "2024_TFHT_1.exe" which has the control panel option to enable virtual buttons. I uploaded a screen shot of the Viper TQS software page and you can see that there are no drivers or "2024_TFHT_1.exe" software listed. Luckily, I had a copy of this file downloaded on my previous Windows 10 computer.

I tested all the buttons with my F-16 profile and a few exceptions most of the virtual buttons match by previous TQS throttle. I did have to remap several HOTAS functions due to the issue that not all virtual buttons on the new TQS were the same as the older version so, I had to remap them to a difference set of virtual buttons; I not sure is this is due to a firmware update I did on the TQS or if there is a Windows 11 issue were Windows 11 detects the virtual buttons differently than Windows 10?

BTW, I still have an issue if I just slightly tap the gear handle down when it is in the up position, the gear handle up button disconnects and this shouldn't happen.  It should not disconnect until you pull the gear handle up and then move it into the gear down position. So far it doesn't affect DCS since I'm using a virtual button for the gear down lever position and not using the DX# button off condition. I plan on returning this TQS throttle because this behavior of the gear up button is not correct.

Thanks for all the info as I did try your suggestions, but the main issue was that the virtual buttons were not enabled by default and the software to fix this is no longer available on the Thrustmaster web site

[Joker Shadow]

On 10/5/2025 at 8:12 AM, RTS354 said:

I think I fixed the issue with the keys not binding. I had to copy the program 2024_TFHT_1.exe from my old computer to my new one. This is the Thrustmaster Control Panel program that allows you to enable virtual buttons.  There is no documentation on the Thrustmaster support site that states that this is a required program to get the full functionality if the TQS throttle, nor is there any link to this file on the TQS support page as to where to download this program. I down loaded this program on 2024 and it looks like it was discontinued. The only software to download for the TQS Throttle is the TARGET software, and I never used it on any of my Thrustmaster joysticks. Luckily I had a second computer with this program installed. If it works, I will mark this post as solved, but I working on this issue for 8 hours and its time to sleep.

I also have an other issue where  the landing gear knob is loose and just touching it causes the the up button to turn off which should not happen since I didn't do the full swing of the level to the down position. Note that this is a new joystick replacement for my old one. This is the last time I buy a Thrustmaster product.

Dude, I have the same problem after updating the firmware. I can't get access to this software and can't find it anywhere on the internet. Would you please upload it somewhere and share the link with me?  

[RTS354]

This issue is when a NORMAL user goes to a web site and looks for drivers, the NORMAL user goes to the product page that matches either the product number, or a picture of the product, and then selects the support link right? If you bought the VIPER TQS MISSION PACK, Thrustmaster doesn't include drivers for it because they figure you are smart enough to go to just the VIPER TQS Throttle page (the one without the Mission Pack) since in their perverse logic that is the same throttle that the mission pack is attached to.  I complained about this to their web developers about a month ago and they still haven't fixed it.

Anyway, here's the correct link to the 2025 drivers:

https://support.thrustmaster.com/en/product/viper-tqs-en/

Once you install the drivers, go to the Windows START MENU, and scroll down the program list until you see Thrustmaster and there is a program listed under the Thrustmaster title called "Control Panel". Right click on the "Control Panel" program and select "PIN to START", so you find it if you need to test your throttle in the future. You will need to open the "Control Panel" program to enable the virtual buttons which give you the full functionality of the throttle. If you do not do this many of the OFF positions of the buttons on the Mission Pack console will not work. You would think that once you install the driver, it would default to enabling the virtual buttons, but in my case the driver didn’t.

[KarryGun]

Nice post. Thank you very much, same trouble but no one else can solve it, except you.

[KarryGun]

2025/10/17 AM3点41分，Joker Shadow说：

Dude, I have the same problem after updating the firmware. I can't get access to this software and can't find it anywhere on the internet. Would you please upload it somewhere and share the link with me?  

You can download from support.thrustmaster.cn/en/cat-joysticks-en/,visit VIPER TQS page (dont visit VIPER TQS MISSION PACK page，this page didnt show this driver), and you can find Drivers - Package 2025_TFHT_4 + Firmware [System Requirement: Windows® 10 / 11]，download,install,you will find a new software named Thrustmaster TM Flight Series,open Firmware Update to update you TQS firmware,then open Control Panel,choose Enable virtual buttons,you can open your DCS and play happily.