Anyone with an X-52 pro willing to help me tweak a profile?

[Igor Kalishnakov]

I recently picked up a Saitek X-52 Pro for A-10C.

Ok, first of all I have to say this. This is probably the most counter-intuitive software I have ever seen for a joystick. I've seen $20 joysticks with better software. The X-52 pro itself is nice, but it boggles my mind that they would use this garbage software to configure it. It feels like it was programmed by a drunk hobo in 1997.

Anyway here is where i need some help. I downloaded a profile here [lockon.co.uk]

The profile seems ok, but for some reason the person who made it decided to put the trim controls on the rotary dials on the throttle. (Doesnt make sense at all when you think about how the trim hat works on a real aircraft. A dial that stops rotating in both directions is generally bad news when trying to adjust your trim). So to try to fix that, I want to bind the trim up,down,left,right to the pov 1 hat switch on the stick, using the pinky (shift) switch. For example the pov 1 is already set to slew left, right, etc. But I want to use the pinky switch to shift the function of pov1 to trim. I still want to keep the slew function as primary, but I want the secondary as trim, by simply pressing the pinky switch, and then using pov 1. I hope that makes sense.

But I can't for the life of me figure out how to set this up in this software. So basically, how do I assign the secondary pinky switch functions? (shift state I think the software calls it)
Not sure if it matters, but this profile has the pinky switch set to the clutch button (i). I don't mind this, but would it be better to have it mapped to the actual pinky switch on the stick?

Also, in general, do you think this is a good profile for DCS A-10C? I'm still new to DCS, so I'm not very familiar with the warthog.

[Kraut!]

Don't use the Saitek software, it really messes things up more than it helps, at least in my case.

To get the pinky switch as a shift button, there are settings in the control setup to do this. You have to add joybutton 6 as a modifier there, and then when you set any other control, you will have joy6(the pinky switch) as an option in the dropdown for modifiers or shift states.

I'm sorry if this is not the biggest help, I'm at work and can't open the game to see the exact menus.

[sG-PreaCher]

search files on the page users dcs

[Igor Kalishnakov]

Kraut, you mean the control panel in the game? I've heard people say not to set up the x-52 in the game. Im not sure why, it was something about messing up default keyboard bindings, and some things didnt work properly.

I would have liked to simply just get a premade profile and tweak it a bit, but I've wasted so much time in this crap software. I'll try messing around in the game settings and see what I can work out.

[Big Ram]

Originally posted by Igor Kalishnakov:

The profile seems ok, but for some reason the person who made it decided to put the trim controls on the rotary dials on the throttle. (Doesnt make sense at all when you think about how the trim hat works on a real aircraft.

It actually depends on what aircraft it is. Wheels and dials are very traditional trim controls. But that's beside the point, so I digress ;) ...

Originally posted by Igor Kalishnakov:

I've heard people say not to set up the x-52 in the game. Im not sure why, it was something about messing up default keyboard bindings, and some things didnt work properly.

The biggest reason you may want to use Saitek's software with the X52, is to take advantage of the mode dial and the pinkie switch. Both of these act as modifiers, multiplying the number of controls you have available. Between the two, you can stack up to six different commands on one control. DCS is a bit of an exception since it allows you to create modifiers in-game, but most other games do not, and you'll be missing out on much of the X52's potential.

As for using the software, you might want to check out this video:
Saitek X52 Pro Software Review and Tutorial HD | YouTube

I know it's a bit obnoxious to have to watch a tutorial on software like this, but it's definitely worth leanring if you want to get the most out of a great joystick.

[Igor Kalishnakov]

Bastins thanks for the video. It is indeed annoying that the software is so needlessley sloppy. All I really need to know is how to properly map the modifier. I've never had this much trouble configuring a joystick before. I know the x-52 offers alot more than most joysticks, but I see no reason why a joystick in this price range can't have a decent software program to configure it.

About the trim switch, I know not all aircraft use a hat switch, but most modern military aircraft do (as is the case with the a-10c). But on the x-52 the rotary dials have stopping points in both directions. They can only go so far either way. I would assume the real aircraft that use dials like this dont have stopping points (correct me if I'm wrong, I'm not a pilot). It would seem to me that it could be possible that you reach the end of the dial in the middle of a trim. Either way I don't think the rotaries on the x-52 are efficient for a trim function, in that it takes 2 separate dials to accomplish what one hat switch can do. I think they would be better suited for something like a volume control for the radio or audio warning system.

Anyway, I will check out the video and see what I can manage. Thanks for the help.

[Chameleon_Silk]

the X-52 software is a PITA but it can allow you to do things that you normally can't such as use the thumb stick (usually controls the mouse) as a shkval slew or TGP slew, it made me dizzy at first and is still a PITA to setup things but it does allow you to have more control over your X-52, now is it really worth the effort? thats for you to decide.

[Jack9579]

I use the 'mouse wheel' on the throttle by your index finger. One direction is trim up, the other is trim down, and when you push in the wheel that resets the trim. You are right, I cannot find a good use for the other dials on the throttle that have stopping points. I never set rudder trim so I didn't map it.

I never bothered installing the manufacturers software. Most peripheral software is terrible. Windows recognized it and installed the driver automatically, and I set up the controls in game. Now that you can adjust controls in game it should only take a few minutes per aircraft to set them up. I'm still relatively new, so I don't set up any fancy stuff.

;)

[Igor Kalishnakov]

Jack, what about your aileron trim? I still think a hat switch is the best solution :)

My trim is bound to the pov 1 hat switch on the stick, secondary function. I press and hold the pinky switch and then use the hat switch to adjust my trims. Works really well. And I use dms as the primary function. On the other hat switches i have the ♥♥♥♥♥♥ switch, slew, tms, cms, etc. I think they came like that with the iron profile and the work pretty good.

[Chameleon_Silk]

the profiler software is daunting at first but it does indeed work well, I use it only to to remap the hat that is used by default to look around, adjust the mini stick sensitivity and when the roller on the throttle is used its a macro to zoom twice with one click, these things make looking around and zooming quite possible without trackIR and still HOTAS, although it definetly works better with FC3 style then A-10C

dont bother with the other rotaries they are really twitchy, you can set bands using profiler so that all the way left or right is a function but its just not worth using em, which is a waste but the truth.

if your using a modifier (pinky switch) to use the hats as double functions your already on the right track as its quite possible to map everything without even using the mode thing on the stick.

if your not using the pinky as a modifier i highly suggest you do as that would be far far better especially for trim.

[TrialBySnu]

TLDR. Download SF jack Bauer Profile for X-52 modifed for pro on forums and load only the saitek profile. this will allow you to use your mini stick as a slew. Then unbind the i button on throttle so that the hat doesnt flash when you hold it. Load DCS click set modifier and click that button. now you have that joy button as a modifer and you can bind everything into DCS to that stick.

You dont want to use pinky as modifier because you need it to turn on wheel steering as well as reset your fuel intake computer if you break contact and need to reconnect with tanker.

[Chameleon_Silk]

any button can be a modifier, I just use the pinky because I never fly the A-10C and its more usefull as a modifier then anything else for the other planes.

[TrialBySnu]

nah holding a button + presses/manipulate hat on the stick make you less agile. better to have it on throttle.

[Poppis]

Saitek X52 problem

Hi, I can't seem to find a way to bind any actions on the pinkie button on my X52. I know this is supposed to be like a shift key or something. Can you not use it as a normal button? I also tried to add it as a modifier in the game options, but that didn't work either. Any help?

PS. I'm not using profiles. Should I?

[kazereal]

I don't have that joystick but check that you have correct column selected or the binding won't be accepted.

[Chameleon_Silk]

do you have the software installed for it?

when you go into the system tray area and right click on the saitek flight control system and go into the control panel and press the pinkie does the number 6 light up? if it does everything should be good to go.

edit: and no using profiles is completley optional, the mouse emulation and the rest of the sticks buttons can be accessed by just installing the driver. make sure if you wish to use the i button on the throttle that enable clutch mode is off in the control panel i mentioned.