Saitek X52 Pro throttle?

[Søn of Jøn]

I just got a new Saitek X52 Pro flight control system yesterday, and spent a good deal of time setting it up to use in ED.

That in itself offered a few interesting challenges, from its apparent disinterest in playing nicely with USB 3.0 to battling the driver and profile software installations... but I got that all worked out and got it set up the way I want it more or less, and it seems to all be working just fine.

The one thing I'm not getting though, is the way the throttle works. Specifically, pushing it all the way forward results in forward thrust or reverse thrust, depending on whether one of the buttons has been pressed to enable either forward or reverse. In other words, it's very different from the Thrustmaster T Flight HOTAS that I've been using, in that it has no zero point in the middle.

I suspect this is due to some basic thing flight sim people expect, but it's messing with my head and I'm wondering if there's a way to make the throttle work the way the T Flight works?

OR, if someone can explain to me why the X52 Pro throttle is set up that way, and what kind of advantages it may have, and tell me why I should embrace its ways rather than battle it...

Thanks.

[INSTG8R™]

You can still set it up the way you had it on your other HOTAS. I personally like the way it's set up by default. I don't spend alot of time going backwards.

[Søn of Jøn]

Originally posted by INSTG8R™:

You can still set it up the way you had it on your other HOTAS. I personally like the way it's set up by default. I don't spend alot of time going backwards.

Well, being that my Cobra doesn't have rear-view mirrors I tend to go forwards most of the time too, although I find reverse useful at times in dogfights and when maneuvering to dock, and it would be cool to be able to do that the way I was used to...

But again, I figure there's a reason it is the way it is, and if I'm overlooking some important benefit to having it this way, I'd prefer to know what that might be before trying to change it.

[JC-LowKey]

The reason you would have it this way, is that it gives you a longer throw. This means you can get alot finer adjustments. Also, having it the other way around then requires a dead zone in the middle of the slider if you want to be able to come to a full stop. This again, means an even shorter travel/throw of the stick. It does not make a large difference in open space or combat, were quick changes are more important then percission. However, when you get into bigger ships, the finer control helps alot with docking.

[Iain M Norman]

You can set it like the T-flight in options > controls.

I forget the exact name, it's in the "flight throttle" section and it's something like "full-range".

You'll have trouble finding the centre point without the detent that the T-flight has though.

[Asphe]

I used a 'whiteout' pen, putting marks above/below the 'zero throttle' point.

When that failed, I found a tiny spring and sort of glued it to the side of the throttle... my finger just touches it when I'm at 0% throttle.

When that failed, I learned to 'see' the throttle position on the on-screen throttle slider/bar.

Now I curse and throw the cat at the dog when I go from playing Elite 4 to War Thunder.

[Søn of Jøn]

Thanks for the replies, guys, and I really do appreciate all the information and suggestions.

[Ottomic]

The way I have it configured 0 throttle is 0 speed, and moving the slider in the throttle back will activate reverse thrust. I did that through the game's options (set the throttle to non-full range and "hold reverse key for reverse thrust") and the joystick's configuration utility (if slider is 33-0% keep pressing the "reverse" key)

[CharlieDelta]

Originally posted by Oblivious:

I suspect this is due to some basic thing flight sim people expect, but it's messing with my head and I'm wondering if there's a way to make the throttle work the way the T Flight works?

OR, if someone can explain to me why the X52 Pro throttle is set up that way, and what kind of advantages it may have, and tell me why I should embrace its ways rather than battle it...

Thanks.

I can't help with setting it up the way you want, (although, plenty of helpful folks have chipped in already) I can say it's likely set up that way for sim enthusiasts because F-18's (and most of our earthbound fixed wing aircraft) exhibit poor flight characteristics in reverse. Mainly, they crash. :P So it's go forward, or go to your grave. If half my throttle range is taken up by a capability my plane doesn't have, that'd just tick me off.

I never even knew the forward/reverse thing existed like that. With no detent, how would you know if you're at 0? Ah well, to each their own. I'm glad you can at least get it working the way you expect.

[Søn of Jøn]

I can't believe it hadn't occurred to me that the reasoning would be something as simple as typical aircraft performing poorly in reverse. Yeah, it kinda makes sense now that I think of it, and I suppose it also explains why modern aircraft aren't equipped with backup cameras, lol.

But anyway, thanks again guys, and I think I'm going to try to get used to it the way it is, so I can have the full range.

[B33 ENN]

Like Iain M Norman said earlier, you can alter the full-range option or use a button toggle/hold to flip forward or reverse modes.

When I was using the Logitech Xtreme3DPro with the twiddly throttle thing, I tried both, and to be honest, unless the lever has a centre position you can feel, it's really hard to use the half range option.

So I'd go with a toggle mode and full range.

[Søn of Jøn]

Originally posted by B33 ENN:

Like Iain M Norman said earlier, you can alter the full-range option or use a button toggle/hold to flip forward or reverse modes.

When I was using the Logitech Xtreme3DPro with the twiddly throttle thing, I tried both, and to be honest, unless the lever has a centre position you can feel, it's really hard to use the half range option.

So I'd go with a toggle mode and full range.

Yeah, toggle mode and full range is what I'm doing now, and I can get used to that.
So, Mr. B33zhnev, when our paths next cross, be afraid. Be very afraid.
For I am l33t and dangerous.

[B33 ENN]

Originally posted by Oblivious:

So, Mr. B33zhnev, when our paths next cross, be afraid. Be very afraid.
For I am l33t and dangerous.

I only just got to "Competent" so I'd love to know how you managed to get to both Elite and Dangerous so quickly... Especially, at the same time...

[Søn of Jøn]

Originally posted by B33 ENN:

I only just got to "Competent" so I'd love to know how you managed to get to both Elite and Dangerous so quickly... :spazdreaming: Especially, at the same time...

Oh please, I don't need some game's approval to know how badass I am!
At least that's what my mom tells me.

[The Rifleman™]

Originally posted by Oblivious:

I just got a new Saitek X52 Pro flight control system yesterday, and spent a good deal of time setting it up to use in ED.

That in itself offered a few interesting challenges, from its apparent disinterest in playing nicely with USB 3.0 to battling the driver and profile software installations... but I got that all worked out and got it set up the way I want it more or less, and it seems to all be working just fine.

The one thing I'm not getting though, is the way the throttle works. Specifically, pushing it all the way forward results in forward thrust or reverse thrust, depending on whether one of the buttons has been pressed to enable either forward or reverse. In other words, it's very different from the Thrustmaster T Flight HOTAS that I've been using, in that it has no zero point in the middle.

I suspect this is due to some basic thing flight sim people expect, but it's messing with my head and I'm wondering if there's a way to make the throttle work the way the T Flight works?

OR, if someone can explain to me why the X52 Pro throttle is set up that way, and what kind of advantages it may have, and tell me why I should embrace its ways rather than battle it...

Thanks. :D:

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=439597815

you are looking for the three options where its highlighted. Most specifically the Throttle Axis there you will see a blank area next to the slot near deadzone if you click that you can set a key, just simply move your throttle. Then set it to Full Range

[Søn of Jøn]

Originally posted by Pro-MVP Bluntman Ben Affleck:

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=439597815

you are looking for the three options where its highlighted. Most specifically the Throttle Axis there you will see a blank area next to the slot near deadzone if you click that you can set a key, just simply move your throttle. Then set it to Full Range

Thank you very much. :-)