Strange thing happening with Spoilers and Rev.

[Randy Eskow]

Hi,

Does anyone know why I have to push a tad on the thrust, to make the spoilers
go to zero or to make the Rev. thrust shut off. I am using GFFlight quad
boards only for my axis controls, but set everything in FS2004. I have the
Rev. on mircoswitch set to buttons F2. Spoilers are on a 10K pot. Both
work OK, however, to make them at "zero" or off, I have to put just a tad of
thrust on, and they will shut off.

Thanks
Randy

[Peter Dowson]

On 3/25/2006 8:11:58 PM, Randy Eskow wrote:
>Does anyone know why I have to
>push a tad on the thrust, to
>make the spoilers go to zero
>or to make the Rev. thrust
>shut off.

Two things there.

First, if the reverse thrust on shuts off when you push the throttle forward
a tad then either it is pressing on your reverse button else, or your
"idle" zone is not calibrated very well. You need are larger idle zone more
properly positioned.

Second, if your spoilers are engaging whilst on the ground in the first
place, then your spoiler axis is feeding a value to FS which is Arming them.
With throttles idling or in reverse, an armed spoiler will deploy. The
spoilers retract even when still "armed" if some forward thrust is applied, so
this in turn implies that your "tad" is sufficient to engage forward thrust.

Both seem like simple symptoms of poor calibration. I assume you are NOT
using FSUIPC for this as you would clearly see the actual results of the lever
positions if you were. You can watch them there even if you aren't using it
in any case.

You can also enable Axis logging in FSUIPC's Logging options and see what is
actually being sent to FS, then you'll know everything! ;-)

Pete

[Randy Eskow]

Hi Pete,
I will check it out thru your mod. I was using USUIPC on some items, but was
not sure if I was to use it along with the control/calibation settings in
FS already? I assume then that one should use both? One to set everything
up and then yours to "fine tune." Randy

[Peter Dowson]

On 3/26/2006 9:54:38 AM, Randy Eskow wrote:
>I assume then that one should
>use both? One to set
>everything up and then yours
>to "fine tune."

You don't have to use both. You don't actually calibrate in FS -- you are
thinking of Windows "game controllers", though some manufacturers have their
own too (like CH's control manager). Whether you use FSUIPC is your option.
It is more accurate but possibly not so intuitive (depending on what sort
of mind-set you have, I assume ;-) ).

In FS the only adjustments you really have are sensitivity (which in my
opinion should always be on max -- anything else simply reduces the range and
accuracy of your joystick) and null zone. The latter may help, but it is
something which can be set much more accurately in FSUIPC.

Regards,

Pete