+streakeagle Posted November 19, 2011 Posted November 19, 2011 In my original conversion of an actual F-4 Phantom's control stick into a PC flight sim USB joystick, I adapted a Microsoft Sidewinder USB Stick to accept the buttons presses and mechanical motion of the real control stick. This has worked adequately, but has a key disadvantage: no configuration software that will run on Windows 7 64-bit. As previously posted, I recently got a Warthog, which allowed be to give my son my X-52 Pro and free up my old X-45 for this project. The X-45 configuration software works great with Windows 7, includes a full throttle/rudder-rocker controller, and permits use of a shift key. I have already disassembled the X-45 to expose the necessary wires for the stick buttons and x and y axis potentiometers. All I need now is to modify the existing stick to accept the larger potentiometers and come up with a professional scheme for interfacing between the original control wires and the X-45 button and axis wires. Phase 3 would be to replace the potentiometers with hall effect sensors, but I don't know if or when I would ever get around to doing it. Quote
+RAVEN Posted November 19, 2011 Posted November 19, 2011 (edited) This program works. It will program almost any joystick/gamepad, the only thing I'v found that it wont work on is my razor keypad (has it's on emulation program). I used it to program my usb HOTAS, the cheep one with no programming. Multy functions, shift, CTRL ,Hat 8 way +. http://xpadder.com/ Raven Edited November 19, 2011 by RAVEN Quote
+streakeagle Posted November 19, 2011 Author Posted November 19, 2011 (edited) I am aware that such software exists... but I want a single USB port stick/throttle combo. Up to now, I have had a Saitek HOTAS plugged in at the same time as the MS Sidewinder/B-8. By eliminating the Sidewinder, I can use the software already installed on my computer AND have games automatically recognize the default stick mapping. Whereas right now, I have to go in each sim and select separate controllers for stick, throttle, and rudder. I do have left over axis and buttons on the MS stick to make throttle, rudder, and a few aux controls, but nowhere near the amount of options I have by going with the Saitek. Combine that with the fact that I already have good profiles for the applicable games and adapting the Saitek remains the clear choice for me. Edited November 19, 2011 by streakeagle Quote
+streakeagle Posted November 20, 2011 Author Posted November 20, 2011 Having reviewed the wiring, the Saitek is a superior solution to the MS Sidewinder. I needed isolated contacts for each thumb hat button on the MS stick, but the Saitek uses a single common just like the B-8. So, if I am willing to give up the paddle switch, I can eliminate the extra power supply, relays and wiring I had at the rear of the stick base. The paddle switch is normally on, so I would have to keep its relay and the 24VDC power supply to make it normally open for the Saitek interface. Then the only extra wiring is for the x and y axis pots. I think I am ditching the paddle switch for the cleaner install and elimination of a 120VAC extension cord that powered the 24VDC power supply. B-8 Stick Grip pin-out: A to E = Thumb Hat Left B to E = Thumb Hat Down C to E = Thumb Hat Right D is unused E = common for all Thumb Hat switches F to K = Bottom Button (pinky switch) G to R = Middle Button (side switch) H to N = Trigger (pulled all the way in to the 2nd stage switch) J is unused L is unused M is unused P to E = Thumb Hat Up S to T = Top Button (top switch next to thumb hat) Saitek X-45 Wiring: ---------------------- Fire Buttons ---------------------- B1 TRG Green Trigger B1 TRG Black B2 B Violet Top Button B3 A Gray Middle Button B4 Fire Red Bottom Button Common Brown B7 PKY Gray Spare B7 PKY Gray B8 C + Yellow Paddle B8 C - Blue ---------------------- Hat 1 ---------------------- H1U Violet Trim Up H1R Orange Trim Right H1D Brown Trim Down H1L Green Trim Left Common Black ---------------------- Hat 2 ---------------------- H2U Short White Spare H2R Red Spare H2D Long White Spare H2L Gray Spare Common Orange ---------------------- LEDs ---------------------- GND Blue S LED Yellow T FLock Black ---------------------- X-Axis ---------------------- VDC + white VDC X Brown VDC - Black ---------------------- Y-Axis ---------------------- VDC + white VDC Y Purple VDC - Black Quote
+streakeagle Posted November 23, 2011 Author Posted November 23, 2011 (edited) Mission accomplished! The X-45 permitted a much cleaner installation than the MS Sidewinder. I ran into a Windows 7 64-bit driver issue with the X-45, but after deleting a registry key everything is working pretty darn well. What I would really like to do is disassemble my Thrustmaster Warthog stick and splice it into the F-4 B-8 stick as I am already using the Warthog throttle. The Warthog stick has a much higher precision than the X-45 and the F-4 stick eliminates the Warthog's biggest disadvantage: sticky detents when crossing dead center. But I am not cutting up my brand new $350 stick in the hopes that it could be merged with the F-4 stick as well or better than the X-45. My next step is to use the left over buttons of the X-45 to create control panel buttons/switches. I have a few leftover from the joystick and can hack up the throttle to get at its buttons. Since my primary sim is SF2 and my favorite aircraft is the F-4, it makes sense to mimic an F-4 cockpit and model switches/buttons that are common to both SF2 and the F-4: weapon selection, jettison, radar modes/range scales, etc. Edited November 23, 2011 by streakeagle Quote
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