X52 Pro Question about mods/pinki switch

[CatFish 911]

I am still fairly new with my HOTAS. I have looked at hundreds of videos, read numerous instructions etc. but am still lost. I have downloaded some X42 profiles but am lost as to HOW and WHEN I need to use the different mods/ pinky switch etc. Example is the Huey or whatever.. I do see where it says example on the top row in the SST setup across the top it lists Combat, Combat Pinkie, and Combat+firw.

Under those example under combat it says Mode ! under that POV1= Buttons, under that POV 1 then has a small circle in a circle, under that POV 1 (arow up0 = AI-OPER.

I am at a total loss as to what these mean.. The downloaded file is from the downloads that MadDog had linked on his forum page. I have loaded it and played or tried to play with it but am actually at a total loss as to how I actually need to be using buttons etc. on my HOTAS to do things.

Does anyone know a youtube or tutorial somaone may have which they actually show their stick controls while they are flying or that they are actually saying what they are pressing on their HOITAS etc. to help some of us figure it out?

I have found sone excellent videos in Elite Dangerous tp help new people but have searched for months and found absolutly nothing about any DCS modules.. ARMA 3 even has some people who have actually made great helpful step by step videos..

It looks like most people in DCS just are stuck with saying.. go figure out out for yourself instead of actually trying to help new people learn.

To bad DCS developers doesnt care about actually helping people learn their stuff. It would be really great if they would make some/more interactive tutorials on their modules. It looks like they only care about professional and real pilots as long as they can keep selling more and more planes/modules.

We newbies dont need the same old fall back answer... its a sim... that answer has gotten to be such a lame cope out as a excuse to not try to actually help people learn.

[OlDirty Swami]

There are quite a few guides actually. I'd start with the DCS forums, not steam.

You can blame the devs for alot of stuff but not making tutorials for HOTAS user isn't one of them.

I'm no pro/real pilot like you say but I figured it out for my x55 so I guess you can do the same

[Ramsay]

Originally posted by retired_old_sarge:

I am still fairly new with my HOTAS. I have looked at hundreds of videos, read numerous instructions etc. but am still lost.

As you've written a wall of text, I'll assume you're struggling with the SST software and asking for help out of frustration. I'll try to help.

Programmimg the SST software can be quite complicated, as it can be programmed to send keyboard macros (several keys at a time) for a single button press. Note: for some OS and driver versions, SST macros require 20-25ms delays between keystrokes if the macro is to work reliably. Luckly, the SST software can be ignored for most DCS modules as the X52 Pro has enough buttons by it's self.

I advise ignoring the SST software and setting up your controls in game.

Does anyone know a youtube or tutorial somaone may have which they actually show their stick controls while they are flying or that they are actually saying what they are pressing on their HOITAS etc. to help some of us figure it out?

There are lots of videos on DCS control setup, using the in game control profiles. It has the advantage over the Saitek SST software of being per aircraft (for SST you'd need to swap between profiles).

BunyapSims Controller Setup
https://youtu.be/0kfmXwKv_Bo

BunyapSims UH-1H Control Setup and introduction
https://youtu.be/S2KQQSxVK9w

Before addressing your Saitek/SST questions, I'll cover the basics of how I setup my controllers.

Basic Controller Setup
=================
I use the in game control setup.

1. The first thing I do is look at the RL cockpit joystick, throttle, etc. and try to map them to my controllers 1:1. For example - for the Huey: I mapped the collective to my x52 Pro throttle and the RL twist throttle to the slider as it's the closest I've got.

2. PoV hat, as I use TrackIR, I mostly use it for trimming. Without TrackIR, I used it to look around and used a press and hold modifier (Shift, Ctrl or Alt) to switch it to trim.

3. Add additional functions to my HOTAS - DCS specific (like zoom in/out) and duplicate cockpit switchs the RL doesn't have e.g. Huey counter measure button. In RL pilots develope muscle memory reaching for physical switches, rather than fumbling with a mouse cursor and keystroke combo.

4. I start off with a few basic controls and add button assignments as I fly a module and discover which function/buttons I use.

5. As I own most modules, I try to keep button assigements between types ( i.e. props, jets, FC3, helicopters) the same as helps with memory when switching between modules (it's not always possible/practical).

6. If totally lost, look at DCS control setups using a joystick with a similar (or fewer) number of buttons and axis and see how they work in game.

Saitek X52 Pro and SST Questions
===========================

I have downloaded some X42 profiles but am lost as to HOW and WHEN I need to use the different mods/ pinky switch etc.

This is the disadvantage of using someone elses profile, you need to understand how they've programmed their buttons (it's easier to understand once you've made your own).

Example is the Huey or whatever.. I do see where it says example on the top row in the SST setup across the top it lists Combat, Combat Pinkie, and Combat+firw.

The X52 Pro has a rotatable, 3 position "mode" switch at the top of the joystick (a led changes colour when it's turned). The mode switch acts as a modifier like Shift and Ctrl do for keystrokes (think of mode 1 as unmodified).

Under those example under combat it says Mode !

The "mode" switch is often used to switch the HOTAS to task focused functions i.e. navigation, emergency or combat.

In this case it sounds like "mode 1" is for combat, and buttons are programmed for combat, as to what each button does in that mode - you would need to look at the profile documentation.

Combat Pinkie = "pinkie" is the "little finger" joystick button used in combat "mode" it can be an extra shift state so a button has another function in combat "mode".

under that POV1= Buttons, under that POV 1 then has a small circle in a circle, under that POV 1 (arow up0 = AI-OPER.

Using the SST software, the POV1 hat can act in different ways -
- as a 8 position digital joypad
- mimic 4 directional buttons (up, dn, left, right)

Here "arow up0" (up pov hat 0), has been mapped to AI-OPER - I don't what it does but could guess it might change the AI Operated Co-pilot or Door Gunner's rules of engagement.

The downloaded file is from the downloads that MadDog had linked on his forum page. I have loaded it and played or tried to play with it but am actually at a total loss as to how I actually need to be using buttons etc. on my HOTAS to do things.

There's nothing wrong with using a full blown SST profile, it's just that most times I find the time spent learning someone elses, takes away from actually learning to fly a module.

YMMV

[CatFish 911]

Thanks. Big help. I have looked and watched a ;lot of videos and these are a great help. Your step by step explinations are a great help to answer some of my questions. Another question I had and forgot to mention id I Do have track ir and have figured a lot out on how to set it up etc. but my question is..

How do I set it up so I can zoom in where I am looking. I have tried and just cant seem to do it anywhere.
I can only move my head closer to the control panel while moving my head closer but have not figured out how to set it on a button or figured out like in the Huey for example which ZOOM in the keyboard/ or other list which one I need to use for it. I hope you understand what I mean.. Is it under ♥♥♥♥ pit controls, axis control etc. I know its not under Axis that was just a example.
great video for the Huey... I can fly around so on but am still having most of the problems landing... Crash is my middle name... I think I may just need to fine tune the curve on my Throttle/collective more. I love trying to fly the Huey and was reading different places and have now also got the Mi-8 as I saw many people saying it is the easiest/best to start with when it come to helos and go to other from there. I just havent used it much yet.

Again. Thank You Again..

[Ramsay]

Originally posted by retired_old_sarge:

How do I set it up so I can zoom in where I am looking. I have tried and just cant seem to do it anywhere.

The default slow zoom keys for DCS are Num* (Zoom in slow) and Num/ (Zoom out slow).

For the Huey (and most modules) the key/button assignments are found under the Controls "View" category or you can type "zoom" in the controls search bar.

Alternatively under "Axis Commands", you can assign an axis to "Zoom View".

I've seen a x52 profile that used the throttle slider to control zoom but on my X52 Pro, pot "Jitter" caused the view to vibrate. I therefore use the throttle PoV hat JOY_BTN24 (zoom out slow) and JOY_BTN26 (zoom in slow) to control zoom.

I can fly around so on but am still having most of the problems landing... Crash is my middle name... I think I may just need to fine tune the curve on my Throttle/collective more.

Unfortunately I'm not using my x52 Pro stick ATM, so don't have any curves set in DCS - I've seen a curve of 20 but can't remember if it's a good value for the x52 Pro and avoiding pilot induced oscillations.

The main thing I remember with the x52 pro stick was fighting with "play" and some spring/ball joint stiffness about the null centre position.

I started off praticing 3 ft hover taxis around an airbase.

Control *should* use your thumb and two fingers (rather than full grip) but can't be done if using the x52 pro twist axis for yaw. Precise control is a little more difficult but is good enough to do what's needed and improves with practice.

To hold a steady hover - use small, relaxed movements. You'll need to anticipate the helicopters movement and allow for lag/inertia. You should expect the helicopter to always move/sway a little (like a row boat rocking due to gentle waves), it'll need small adjustments but not so much as to over compensate or cause PIO's (pilot induced oscillations).

Once able to hold a short hover, practice hover taxis and stops around the airbase/taxiways.

Try to use peripheral vision, the horizon and mid distance when holding a hover/making adjustments, as using close foreground references can make things difficult or induce PIO.

For landing, treat it as a light aircraft with low stall speed and 6-12° glide slope (600ft/nm).

Approach at 40 -50 knots until near the ground (IIRC 30-40ft). Then reduce collective and pitch up to slow down and then increase collective again as you leave translational lift. As the helicopter enters ground effect, you'll again need to anticipate and reduce/balance the collective to enter a hover in ground effect.

UH-1H numbers are from memory, so YMMV

[CatFish 911]

thanks again... This is very helpful for me.