My Saitek X55 Rhino hotas mappings

[39bn_pavig]

Hi all. These are pretty standard with a few quirks. I set up my hotas using only the in-game interface. No Saitek software tweaks.

 

• a few controls left open for trackir and teamspeak
• Pinkie switch for head snap center and reset zoom to get my eye on the sights right quick
• One throttle axist set to cowling flaps AND vertical stabilizer, so I can fly a LA-5 or a german plane and use the same axis. It's the one next to my trims so easy to remember.
• Main throttle axes are prop pitch and throttle as you'd expect.

I imagine more experienced pilots may have better ideas, but this setup works pretty well for me, and hopefully may give some ideas to folk who just got an x55.

 

(Edit: I got some pedals so I don't really use the rudder axis, which on my stick has a glitch in the pot. I think quality control on this component isn't so hot. The rudder axis is mechanically firm though so I think usable and would appeal to simmers who find most stick rudders too floppy. Just thought i'd mention in case anyone was considering this hotas, which is otherwise great.)

pavig x55 hotas mappings il2 bos.pdf

Edited October 10, 2014 by 39bn_pavig

[FlyingH]

On my X52pro + TIR5  I´ve set the POV hat 2 to change views, the POV up is the "go to pit" F1 wich I have added the command to ceter theTIR view, in my case ALTGR +  F12. I´d  imagine that would work on the X55 too, I hope so as I will get that as soon as I find the funds for it! (just wanted to give you a useful tip!)

[recall07recall]

Excellent.  Thank you for your time and input.

[reyco1987]

Ok, so you have your left throttle axis set to propeller pitch and the right axis set to throttle...Does this mean you manipulate the two independently? Or does it work well to lock them together and move both equally all the time???

[39bn_pavig]

I've been informed that "prop pitch" should be called RPM on russian planes due to fixed pitch props. But anyway. Yes I use them independently, especially for adjusting for cruise, where you are trying to get manifold pressure and rpm in a nice easy window for the engine as well as maintaining altitude (trimming flight via engine).

 

When I go combat I usually adjust throttle up first then rpm up. When I dive I pull them both down in the same motion. For fluid adjustments such as when under fire I'll move both up and down with one hand, then adjust whichever seems not quite right when on a more stable flightpath. I tend to live with both around the 70% mark and then adjust throttle up and down during dogfights. It's a feel thing. I'm probably doing it all wrong, but that's how I do it.

 

I have them mapped so moving away from me increases and towards me decreases. BoS sees this as reversed, but seems more natural to me and I think the same way the visible controls work in the russian planes. 

 

Also having mixture on the thumb is really handy. The IL2 seems to change the mixture it wants depending on throttle and manifold pressure and whatnot. I may be wrong but I don't think it's only altitude. If you dive you're going to be changing mixture with the change in altitude anyway. So having that control so you don't have to take your hand off the throttle/rpm to tweak it is really handy. Again it's something I do by feel so I couldn't tell you precisely what I'm doing with it. 

[Mungee]

Dear 39bn_pavig

 

I have recently purchased the X55 Rhino HOTAS and I'm still in the process of mapping actions to it.

 

Please tell me where I can get that template that you used to type in the various actions/functions (your pdf document)

[reyco1987]

Roger that, 39bn_pavig.

 

Thanks for taking the time to learn me up!

 

I guess I just need to buckle down and get used to the "feeling" you speak of.

Edited October 14, 2014 by reyco1987

[39bn_pavig]

Please tell me where I can get that template that you used to type in the various actions/functions (your pdf document)

 

I have forgotten the exact location, but you might find something in this thread: http://www.reddit.com/r/starcitizen/comments/272pi5/saitek_x55_rhino_hotas_joystick_throttle_layouts/

[Mungee]

 

 

I have forgotten the exact location, but you might find something in this thread: http://www.reddit.co...rottle_layouts/

 

That's it - thanks 38bn_pavig!

[donkeycods]

 

When I go combat I usually adjust throttle up first then rpm up. When I dive I pull them both down in the same motion. For fluid adjustments such as when under fire I'll move both up and down with one hand, then adjust whichever seems not quite right when on a more stable flightpath. I tend to live with both around the 70% mark and then adjust throttle up and down during dogfights. It's a feel thing. I'm probably doing it all wrong, but that's how I do it.

 

When you want to increase throttle and RPM, you should increase RPM first, then throttle. To decrease, you decrease throttle first, then RPM. Otherwise you risk blowing your engine.

[SvAF/F19_Klunk]

A small tip.. When I installed and used my X55 in BoS, I had HUGE problems with "ghost" keys... i.e actions I had assigned to JS buttons suddenly engaged without me pressing the buttons.... I thought it was a faulty Hotas, but it was the USB port I was using. Apparently USB ports on the front panel of some computers are ..well not always tip top. Once I change USB port to one on the back panel, the X55 worked flawlessly.... A very happy X55 owner

Edited October 20, 2014 by SvAF_Klunk

[Sabot_]

A small tip.. When I installed and used my X55 in BoS, I had HUGE problems with "ghost" keys... i.e actions I had assigned to JS buttons suddenly engaged without me pressing the buttons.... I thought it was a faulty Hotas, but it was the USB port I was using. Apparently USB ports on the front panel of some computers are ..well not always tip top. Once I change USB port to one on the back panel, the X55 worked flawlessly.... A very happy X55 owner

 

make sure you're plugged into 3.0 USB hubs and not the 2.0.  That seems to be the majority of the issues according to the forums and personal experience

[39bn_pavig]

make sure you're plugged into 3.0 USB hubs and not the 2.0.  That seems to be the majority of the issues according to the forums and personal experience

+1 on that. I found that running through an unpowered hub produced occasional strange behaviors. Went out and bought a powered USB 3 hub and have had no problems, even when connected via a USB 2 port on the pc.

[SvAF/F19_Klunk]

thanx for the pdf mate.... I am slowly building my own setup, based on what controls are used most frequently, which I am learning by experience.   Therefore there are a number of switches and toggles that are still unassigned. I think this is a better approach than to immediately assign all the buttons.

 

Edited November 17, 2014 by SvAF/F19_Klunk

[Tektolnes]

You could probably make some improvements to that setup Klunk by changing around a few things. Your oil / water rads + cowl intake / outtake buttons are good fits for H3 & H4. You can double up the buttons for water rads & cowl as I don't think there's any plane that has both.

 

That would then free up your castle hat for pitch and rudder trim as you'll probably use those more often and it's easy if they grouped together to work them both quickly.

 

The pinky rocker KI is a good one for zoom in / out as your finger sits over it so you can zoom in and out without having to move your hand much which is useful in the middle of combat.

 

Moving your prop pitch to bottom spin g (3) means you can control your prop pitch without having to move your hand from the throttle - you can just use your thumb to slide it to where you want it.

 

I think button E is a good one for engine boost and then bottom spin G button for supercharger - again you can control all these then without having to move your hand much at all.

 

With a few changes you can group similar functions together a bit more which can make it easier overall both in terms of remembering where everything is and working the buttons more easily.

[SvAF/F19_Klunk]

Will look into that mate! Much appreciated!!! Thanx

[AvengerSeawolf]

 

thanx for the pdf mate.... I am slowly building my own setup, based on what controls are used most frequently, which I am learning by experience.   Therefore there are a number of switches and toggles that are still unassigned. I think this is a better approach than to immediately assign all the buttons.

 

 

 

 

 

 You know you can program the  throttle and stick to have multiple tasks for each button in each mode.  This can be done  form the programming software from Mad Catz , there you select any button and a mode and then you insert the keystrokes of the command of the  Il-2 tot he  specific button you want to program.

 My push button funciton on the  throttle top spin and bottom spin axis do not work . DO they supposed to  work >? I mean is it a  button on it's own >? cause to the programmer software does not show up anyway.

[AvengerSeawolf]

I am slowly building my own setup, based on what controls are used most frequently, which I am learning by experience.

 

 HOW DID YOU MANAGE TO GET THE  FUEL MIX AND THE PROP MIX to the  RTY3 and 4 pots ?  I have the same assignments but does not work. I have   adjusted tot he software these 2 as  axis  with the + and -  as the keystrokes that the game has. but nothing happens.

Any help will be appreciated.

Edited April 10, 2015 by AvengerSeawolf

[wellenbrecher]

Quick, sorta hijack of the thread and warning to those who may not be aware:

Cleaned the case the other day and after putting everything back together and starting the game I found that I - apparently - have plugged in throttle and stick differently from before. How did I notice?

The game apparently does not assign a specific device ID to the commands. Which is to say, since they're in a different order now, all controls originally bound to my X55's throttle are now on my stick and vice versa. For example the throttle was now controlled by moving the stick left and right.

 

Good times. 

 

 

Or maybe this is a Saitek driver issue and the game is completely innocent, but it's good to know that this will happen. It's easy enough to fix in any case.

Edited April 10, 2015 by wellenbrecher

[[BTEAM]_Shifty_]

I think its a Windows issue, happens a lot. Somewhy it puts the controller you plug in last as your main one.

[TexRoadkill]

For most of my flight sims I use the thumb slider on the throttle for Gear. Since it requires sliding both ways to activate it works well as a safety. I also use the pinky rocker on throttle for flaps. The turn pots on throttle base for rads. The button on right side of stick that's hard to access is good for Flight Recorder or resetting trim.

[O_KiwiMatt]

A small tip.. When I installed and used my X55 in BoS, I had HUGE problems with "ghost" keys... i.e actions I had assigned to JS buttons suddenly engaged without me pressing the buttons.... I thought it was a faulty Hotas, but it was the USB port I was using. Apparently USB ports on the front panel of some computers are ..well not always tip top. Once I change USB port to one on the back panel, the X55 worked flawlessly.... A very happy X55 owner

 

I have had the same issues. It is a known problem with the X55 where there is not enough power from the onboard USB ports. The fix was to buy an external powered USB hub.

Oh and thanks so much for the loadouts, much a appreciated. I also used this excel spreadsheet to customize to what I prefer - It was given in an earlier post: http://www.reddit.com/r/starcitizen/comments/272pi5/saitek_x55_rhino_hotas_joystick_throttle_layouts/

[adios_mo]

Hello Folks,

 

Im realy New to this Forum and also new to the X-55, i have to say the Joystick is very good.

But i ran into some problems trying to play some Bos Missions.

 

don´t know if its "Ghosting Buttons" but it seams that im not able to close the canopy (RightAlt+C) instead the Throttle switches the Cockpitlight on. (L)

also the Trigger on the Joystick doesnt Work in game.

 

But on the Saitek Software i see the inputs quiet well and all is normal.

I also have deletet all Joystick Commands except the Axis Movements in BoS.

 

What else can i do?

[F/JG300_Gruber]

Hello,

 

Are you using programming to do the commands ? 

I suggest for closing the canopy and simple stuffs, just map the joystick button in game instead of programming a button to exectute a Alt+C macro stuff. Less things to go wrong.

 

Look also in the key mapping menu what stuffs are already mapped on your joystick by default. Maybe you have some conflicts between direct inputs and programmed inputs

 

On ghosting buttons, this is a different thing, it's buttons self pressing themselves without touching the joystick.

The X55 is very power hungry : make sure that it is plugged on two separates USB 3 port on your computer. If you can't do that, buy a powered USB hub to deal with the problem. Each device (throttle and joystick) draw more power than what can be provided by the USB 2 ports. This usually solve the ghosting problems.

Edited January 7, 2016 by F/JG300_Gruber