Thrustmaster MFD Cougar pack

[Vekkinho]

Anyone got his hand on this already?!!

 

I'm interested if there's unbiased user overview anywhere, I'm interested in this product and would like to know more on programming possibilities of it.

 

I got used to a TM Cougar HOTAS and I really like Foxy, application that makes programming easy and logical so I wonder if MFDs can be programmed in same or similar way (thru Foxy and/or Cougar Control Panel). What's the HOTAS/MFD compatiblility, I believe there should be since both come from TM.

 

And finally, we're gonna press those buttons a lot so how should one secure MFDs from moving during use?!

[CyBerkut]

The manual can be downloaded from here:

http://ts.thrustmaster.com/eng/index.php?pg=view_files&gid=1&fid=3&pid=298&cid=6

 

The Cougar Control Panel is mentioned / shown in the manual. I didn't notice any reference to Foxy.

 

The Cougar MFDs are shown to have a removable base that you can adjust to several angles of tilt upon your desk. There appear to be screw holes available at the back end of the base so that you could screw them down to a board or desk. The bases can be removed, and the MFD button rings have 4 screw holes if you want to panel mount them.

[Vekkinho]

The manual can be downloaded from here:

http://ts.thrustmaster.com/eng/index.php?pg=view_files&gid=1&fid=3&pid=298&cid=6

 

The Cougar Control Panel is mentioned / shown in the manual. I didn't notice any reference to Foxy.

 

The Cougar MFDs are shown to have a removable base that you can adjust to several angles of tilt upon your desk. There appear to be screw holes available at the back end of the base so that you could screw them down to a board or desk. The bases can be removed, and the MFD button rings have 4 screw holes if you want to panel mount them.

 

Panel mounting?! Yes, I'll consider that!

 

Thanks CyBerkut!

[HellMutt]

Hi,

 

got mine today, picked it up at the Simware shop. Installation is pretty straightforward, first you install the drivers from the CD, reboot, then connect the two devices (USB). You set up some properties in the Control Panel (backlight strength, which MFD is device 1 / on the left, ...). There is no software to control which commands are being sent to your simulation, you have to do that in BlackShark - Options. The advantage is you don't have to switch profiles when you switch simulators. There are two plugins for MS FS2004 and MS FSX and preprinted cards with those profiles. To program the MFD's for BS, select a command (in Options - Controller) you want to configure, f.ex. Toggle Gear, doubleclick in the Cougar MFD 1 column in the row corresponding with the command, click a button on the MFD and that gets added, just like you would to re-program keyboard commands. It works OK in the game, I've only programmed part of one of the MFD's for ABRIS, Autopilot and UV-26 programming. It helps with the ABRIS as I did have problems before looking down and using the mouse to click on the ABRIS buttons. For the UV-26, I found that sometimes for one particular key, the command didn't get send to BS. This may be a hardware or a software issue.

 

I don't think it's possible to use Foxy to program the MFD's. As far as programmibility is concerned, I don't believe there is anything more than setting up all your buttons to send a command. I don't think scripting is possible (that I could find, anyway), so stuff like BTN1 => Toggle Master Arm / SHIFT + BTN1 => Lower gear is probably not possible.

It's easier than remembering all the different key combinations, especially if you program one side for one type of function (I have one row of buttons set up for ABRIS, one row for autopilot, etc.). You can apparently program up to 8 MFD's (4 sets).

 

The MFD's have rubber feet, so they don't slide on your desk, you can use a slider for different angles (at least 2 different angles that I've found but more may be possible). I'm not going to build it into a pit, so I haven't looked into that possibility.

 

Kind regards,

 

Bart

[CyBerkut]

You are welcome, Vekkinho. If you are into any of the Falcon 4 variants, and can use an MFD graphics export utility, you could put a screen behind the button rings to get a functional MFD. Supposedly, a 7 inch USB display can do the trick for one. For instance, check out http://www.mimomonitors.com/

 

I think Flim has an offering from a different display maker on his SCSimulations web site. He can probably give you more information on that subject.

 

Hopefully, E.D. will give us a manageable way to get the MFD display graphics to separate monitors so that folks can do this for DCS:A10C. One of the pics in Wags' report on his trip to Moscow was kind of encouraging... :music_whistling:

Edited October 12, 2015 by CyBerkut
typos

[CyBerkut]

HellMutt, the manual list 72, 54 and 39 degrees as possibilities when using the included attachment rods.

[Vekkinho]

:thumbup: OK, I placed the order...

[blaster454]

Is anyone aware of any other distributor who is stocking these?

 

Simware want 26 Euros to ship to the U.S. -- ouch! :huh:

 

I guess Thrustmaster is ramping these up for worldwide distribution pretty slowly. Wonder why?

[Vekkinho]

If you're in continental States I advise local dealer...

 

But shipping to States = 26 € and to Croatia which is 800 km (500miles) southeast =34€...What should I say?! Ouch times two!

[tolgab]

I've just bought these today, in about 2hrs one of them died on me! Apparently I am not the first one. Sent an email to TM see what they say..

 

http://simhq.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/2899887/Thrustmaster_MFD_s.html

[Wags]

http://www.simhq.com/_technology2/technology_086a.html

[CyBerkut]

Ahhh, a nice little tidbit in there. :thumbup:

[Eddie]

Ahhh, a nice little tidbit in there. :thumbup:

 

 

Indeed, just spotted it when I read through the review again.

 

Thanks for the link Wags.

[blaster454]

Yes, it will be very interesting to see what TM comes up with for a programming solution. This seems a nice product that has a definite niche market for combat sims of all kinds (and with some "pretending" adds a slew of easily-used hard buttons for any sim and some games). But it cries out for programming software (and hopefully will have the logical power that Foxy provided for the Cougar).

[Schizwiz]

According to producer Matt Wagner of The Fighter Collection / Eagle Dynamics, they've worked with Thrustmaster to fully support the MFD Cougar Pack in their upcoming DCS: A-10C Warthog flight sim. An examination of the MFD Cougar Pack will reveal that the F-16s MFDs are very similar to the Multifunction Color Displays (MFCDs) in the A-10C. According to Matt, DCS: A-10C Warthog will automatically recognize the MFD Cougar Pack and will configure them automatically to replicate the A-10C MFCDs in the simulation.

 

A reason more to look forward to DCS Warthog.

Thanks Wags:)

Edited February 20, 2010 by Schizwiz

[talisman]

hmmm i wonder if something similar could happen with the new HOTAS Warthog! I seriously think you could see a double release - Warthog and its HOTAS.

Wouldnt that be something?

[Eddie]

I seriously think you could see a double release - Warthog and its HOTAS.

Wouldnt that be something?

 

It certainly would, as we now know from TM that the HOTAS Warthog is to be released in Spring. Here's hoping TM know something we don't.

[talisman]

Well - tomorrow, i may have some news on the TM Warthog! :)

[Cygnus]

So, no profiles are available for the MFD bundle yet?

 

I just got mine from Amazon, they are available in US now :-)

[slowhand]

i just got mine this week..there setup for both BS and lockon...fly'n will never be the same..may they live long...

[Icarus2]

I've just bought these today, in about 2hrs one of them died on me! Apparently I am not the first one. Sent an email to TM see what they say..

 

http://simhq.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/2899887/Thrustmaster_MFD_s.html

 

I had this too. I tried it in another computer and it worked. They do not like USB hubs and will either shutdown intermittantly or all together just stop. Try plugging it directly into your mobo.

[Maximus]

i got mine a week ago, it works fine. annd yes icarus2 is correct. MFD will not work with unpowered USB hub.

 

not sure if it will work on powered USB hub. my USB port is getting full!!.

[HitchHikingFlatlander]

For the record most devices prefer powered hubs. I have 4 & 7 Port powered hubs and never have any problems. Think of just plugging something USB into your PC, the PC is providing power to that device. All these controllers are dependent on that provided power so USB hubs need power as well. I have every device I own plugged into the two above hubs:

 

X52

Rudder Pedals

AV8R

Pro Gamer Command Unit

Wingman 3d

Trackir

Shuttle Pro V2

Headset

and still have a few extra ports left......... (future improvement!)

 

From there all that connects from the hubs to PC via two USB cables. The powered hubs are just extensions of the USB ports on the PC!

[Feuerfalke]

While your statement is true, the dying MFD has nothing to do with lack of power-supply. The first production line seems to be faulty. I had one of those sets as well. They were both connected directly to the PC, yet one MFD died after 24 hrs.

The replacements worked fine.

[HitchHikingFlatlander]

I understand that, just throwing out some info on USB devices and powered/non-powered hubs. Not trying to go OT.