SurClaro Flight Simulator Resources

Posted: Sun Dec 19, 2004 1:55 am Post subject: thrust reversing

How can I set up my CH Flight Sim Yoke so that I can use the thrust reversers on airliners?

TIA

EW

Posted: Sun Dec 19, 2004 2:02 am Post subject: Hmmmmmmmm,

Not exactly sure, but first the aircraft must have reversers in its .cfg and .air files. Do you have FSUIPC registered?

Posted: Sun Dec 19, 2004 4:26 am Post subject:

I would have thought that pulling the throttle all the way back would engage the reversers, but the throttle only registers between either idle or full throttle. I tried setting the throttle slightly open during calibration, but that didn't work.

TIA
EW

Posted: Sun Dec 19, 2004 4:34 am Post subject:

I believe Skipperdan is our resident pro with the yoke. Axe him...he'll tell ya.

Exxman

Posted: Sun Dec 19, 2004 1:09 pm Post subject:

Unfortunately Microsoft does not call them Thrust Reversers. Instead, they make you learn via Trial and Error.

1. Set one of your Yoke buttons to "F2--Decrease throttle quickly".
2. Set the slider to the full right position.
3. After you have landed, hold down this new button and give it full throttle.
4. You will see the Thrust Reversers extract over the back of your engines redirecting the thrust in the "reverse" direction to slow you down.
5. Once you slow down to a sufficient speed, cut the throttle down to zero and then give it a shot of throttle again. This will turn off the Thrust Reversers and allow you to use your normal brakes. Cool

Posted: Sun Dec 19, 2004 1:15 pm Post subject:

I have a question for ya Skipperdan...

If you had a choice, would you rather use a very good joystick or the CH Yoke apparatus? Is the yoke waaaay more realistic? Does it add that much more to the realism. I know when I went from a Wal-Mart version of a joystick to the Extreme 3D Pro it was unbelievable. Rudder control, throttle sensitivity....etc.etc.
Do you have the throttle unit for it and the pedals or just the yoke itself?

Exxman

Posted: Sun Dec 19, 2004 1:40 pm Post subject:

When I first started, I used a basic Saitek Joy stick and loved it. However, I was luck enough to get a great price on the CH Products Yoke and Rudders (gameport) on EBAY that I have been using for about a year. Most people prefer the newer USB connectors. However, I have installed the USB version for a friend and I prefer my Gameport version of the Rudder Peddals because they work more like an automobile gas and brake peddal which is easier on my legs at the end of a busy day. The USB version of the Rudders is more realistic because they require that you use your whole leg to make movements.

About a year ago, I purchase the Saitec Evo Joystick which is very highly rated by many people. I purchase it because Wal-Mart had it on sale for a fantastic price that I could not resist. Since it has a USB connector, I can always plug it into the front of my computer whenever I choose to fly one of the older aircraft (I am not into military aircraft).

I feel that a Joystick is appropriate for older aircraft that have a stick or for military aircraft.

However, the Yoke and Rudders are definitely the only way to fly for newer aircraft. I love my Yoke and Rudders and feel that they are the reason why I enjoy Flight Simulators so much. If you want to spend full price then go ahead and buy them at the local game store, or on-line. If you want to save a few bucks and enjoy playing on EBAY then maybe you will get lucky like I did. Cool

Posted: Sun Dec 19, 2004 1:46 pm Post subject:

Wow, that realistic eh? I'm sending a priority message over to the North Pole right now...good thing I work with FedExx...

Thanks for the info Skipperdan...you shoud write up a review for it...?

Cheers,
Exx

Posted: Sun Dec 19, 2004 1:52 pm Post subject:

I have got something to add to skipperdans comment...

CH Yoke is amazing, but I am not too sure about the pedal.. I was extremely shocked first time I came accross the rudder, as at that price, I was expecting it to slide back and forward.

I ended up getting a ThurstMaster yoke, and it is way much better for several reasons (in my humble opinion, ofcourse)...
1) rudder slides back and forth Smile

2) distance between two pedals are 14 to 16inches, which I have been told is about right atleast on a piper.
3) Metal construction instead of hard plastic
4) best for the last - it has only one potentiometer (variable resistor), and thats it.... a new resistor would cost max £2 in uk.

overall, you will have a rudder for life.. I paid around £30 for mine in EBay, and am very happy with it. As they say in UK, thats the dogs b??????s

Posted: Sun Dec 19, 2004 1:56 pm Post subject:

Great! Now I have to do more research...thanks Rana! Wink

Okay, off to Google I go...

Thanks for the sidebar. You aren't taking the mickey out of me are ya?

Exx

Posted: Sun Dec 19, 2004 2:12 pm Post subject:

I am glad that we are getting some good discussion on this subject. I interrupted one of my flights because I forgot to make a comment. By the time that I returned to this posting, there were two more replies---that is great.

I forgot to mention the following two things.
1. Some people feel that the gameport connections will not be supported much longer in the future as more and more devices are using USB.
2. Some people feel that the gameport connections are slower than USB. However, I have not noticed any problems with my CH Products.

Question:
Why to you say that the CH Products (USB) Rudders do not slide back and forth? The ones that my friend has slide back and forth. Cool

Posted: Sun Dec 19, 2004 2:22 pm Post subject:

What's the deal if they slide back and forth or not? If that's a dumb question just respond with " that was a dumb question Exx..."

Exx?

Posted: Sun Dec 19, 2004 3:05 pm Post subject:

Here are the features listed from the CH Products website: Please note where they list "sliding motion".

Perhaps Rana was concerned that the Gameport version does not include "sliding motion" which is what I stated in my original statement. However, the USB version does include "sliding motion" as stated below. Cool

Features

Compatible with Windows 98/2000/XP ME, iMac, and MacOS 10.02 (with USB port*) Mac 8.6 - 9.1 also requires Input Sprockets 1.7x.
Sliding motion of forward/backward gives rudder input for the "yaw" axis.
Heel-toe motion gives differential toe braking control.
Three axis of control
Plane or car simulator control
Seven foot cable
Two-year limited warranty
USB interface

PLEASE NOTE THAT YOU CAN NOT MIX USB AND GAMEPORT DEVICES

Posted: Sun Dec 19, 2004 5:00 pm Post subject:

skipperdan, yep - I have a friend with GamePort version, and thats the one saw/used... I didn't know (till now) that the USB versions are different.

I am using CH Yoke Pro USB + Thrustmaster Rudders Gameport with no problem... haven't seen any speed issue either with gameport version. I personally prefer gameport, as it doesn't draw the extra power/polling usb.

Its also not to difficult creating an USB device with required hardware (to create an USB hardware from gameport) - one would need to know how to work with soldering iron, and a little bit of assembly programming Smile

Exx, well personally I felt uncomfortable with gameport CH pedal, as I could press both pedals down at the same time (like a car) which didn't make any sense to me... thus I also had problem keeping aircraft straight on the ground... with sliding motion, I feel that I am in more control of the rudders.

Posted: Sun Dec 19, 2004 5:20 pm Post subject:

I don't see how an input device could be either faster or slower depending on it's connector. I would think that the speed of input is based on the speed of your machine since input devices are only polled so many times per second anyhow. It's not like say a printer or a scanner which needs to send and/or receive large amounts of data.
Even if your joystick is sending data faster by way of USB, it's not going to any good if your machine can't keep up with all the input being placed in the message queue. Ultimately it's only going to act upon the messages as fast as the processor will allow, no matter how fast they are recieved.

Just my 2 cents...
EW