Handling minor throttle spikes

[Pads]

~S~

I use a FS/PT/PP set up mapped for use with Pacific Fighters

I have a minor issue with my pro throttle - I've had it some time now, and have noticed a minor 'wobble' at both extremes of the Z-axis.

I get the following raw data on the Z-axis

255/254 (constant oscillation between these two values) at the bottom end

Values ranging between 30 and 20 at the top end, which settle to 20, 21 or 22

I'm assuming my pot is a little tired.

I am reluctant to open the unit up (actually, it doesn't seem obvious how you would do this - there are screws beneath the rubber pads on the bottom, perhaps?).

I wonder if it might be possible to handle this issue via cms, so that only the unaffected range of the Z-axis will be read.

It's a minor irriation, perhaps, but it means that it is difficult for me to retain full power settings in game and, well, 'speed is life', eh? ;)

All the best,

Pads

[Pads]

Okay - a quick look over some of the other messages appears to have answered my own question.

It pays to look first, post later, eh? Doh! :rolleyes:

This seems to do the trick quite nicely (thanks to astir and Bob Church for their input on the 'Tiny Dead Zone' posting below (http://www.ch-hangar.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=1966)

if( [ js2.a3 < 30 ] ) then
cms.a1 = 0;
else
cms.a1 = (255 * (js2.a3 - 30)) / 225;
endIf

Where cms.a1 is mapped to the throttle axis

Thanks,

Pads

[Bob Church]

Hi Pads,

You're certainly welcome for whatever help the post was, but it's just kind of an odd set of values. If you look at the Z axis in Direct Mode, what sort of range do you see in the Raw Data display? The ProThrottles I've seen usually go to near zero at full forward but only come back to 220-230 at full back. With the map active, you should see 0 at forward and 255 at back because of the scaling. It's just odd that you're seeing it come up short on the low end, makes me wonder if maybe something isn't loose internally.

Best regards,

- Bob

The StickWorks
http://www.stickworks.com

[Pads]

Hi Bob,

In mapped mode, the throttle z-axis now works as it should: 0 at the fully forward postion, and 255 when fully back when checked in Control Panel > Game Controllers.

Just checking in direct mode now, the range is as follows: 25-19 when forward and 214 when fully back. Go figure...

In order to check the connections or maybe even clean the pot, I'm assuming it will be necessary to lever out the rubber pads on the base (the only place I can imagine the screws holding the thing together might be located).

As it now works rather nicely (thanks again!), I may leave as is for the time being - but would appreciate any advice for fixing the original problem in case of any further deterioration in the future. I've read elsewhere about pot cleaning products and know that replacements can be ordered from CH - might this be worthwhile?

All the best

Pads

[Bob Church]

Hi Pads,

If the values are stable there's not real problem, it's just a little different than the ones I've seen but the calibration will sort it out okay. You can probably get rid of the end point jitter by just calibrating a little bit "short", e.g. don't quite go all the way forward or all the way back when you do the calibration. Maybe leave it 1/8th of an inch from the end or so. That usually put a little deadzone at the ends of travel and you wouldn't need a script, might be easier.

Anyway, see if it holds its calibration okay. If it does, I wouldn't worry about it.

Best regards,

- Bob

The StickWorks
http://www.stickworks.com

[Pads]

Hi Bob,

Mmm. I've calibrated around this issue in the past and it has worked well, but of course need to do this in direct mode.

As soon as I download my map, however, it switches to mapped mode and the new device doesn't seem to be able to access the calibrated values of the axis.

Don't know if there's a way round this...

Cheers,

pads

[Bob Church]

Hi Pads,

>> Mmm. I've calibrated around this issue in the past and it has worked well, but of course need to do this in direct mode.

As soon as I download my map, however, it switches to mapped mode and the new device doesn't seem to be able to access the calibrated values of the axis.

Don't know if there's a way round this... <<

You don't really calibrate Mapped Mode devices. They get the calibrated values from the Direct Mode controls, so whatever calibration the axis had in Direct Mode is the same in Mapped Mode. If Direct Mode is okay, Mapped Mode should be just like it.

Best regards,

- Bob

The StickWorks
http://www.stickworks.com