CH Fighterstick problem on new rig

[Dumbo]

Salute, All!

 

Started this thread over at the RoF forum but have yet to get a response, so I've jumped over here with it.  Once I get RoF up and running, I can't wait to re-activate my download key for BoS and see this sim in all its glory.

 

System specs are below in my signature.   Setting up the new rig went smoothly.  Spent most of the day on Saturday re-installing back-up files (e.g., photos, music, etc.) following the death of our 9-year old Windows XP computer.  Gotta make sure the wife is happy before screwing around with my flight sims, right? 

 

Downloaded the TrackIR software and then the CH Control Manager for my 9-year old CH Fighterstick and ProPedals.  No issues whatsoever with the ProPedals.  My troubles revolve around the Fighterstick.

 

The first thing I noticed is that, even though I designated the Fighterstick in the CH Control Manager, the mapping feature only showed me ONE map-able mode vs. the three that the stick comes with.  Oh well, I thought.  Let's just see if RoF recognizes the CH devices and we'll worry about that later.

 

I launched RoF and immediately went into the "Controls" section before flying anything.  Selected "Joystick" vs. "Mouse."  Then, in the customizable "Controls" section, I made sure that pitch, roll, and throttle were assigned to the joystick by clicking on those commands and moving the stick around to designate it.  Of course I did the same with yaw and the ProPedals.  The designations took, so it was time to take off.

 

Hopped into a "Fly Now" mission so that I could check things out on the ground.  The rudder works fine.  But I have no elevator or ailerons and none of the few buttons I had mapped worked, either.  

 

I tried uninstalling Control Manager and re-installing it, both with the controllers plugged into their USB ports and without.  Checking out the CH website, it did say that the gear is compatible with Windows 10 and that if the devices show up in the Control Manager's calibration function, then all is well.  In my case, both Fighterstick and ProPedals show up in the calibration function (which is supposed to mean that Windows 10 has relinquished control of the devices to the CH Control Manager).

 

Yes, I've checked that I'm downloading my RoF map in "mapped mode" vs. "direct mode."

 

Still no joy.

 

I'm thinking that it must be some sort of Windows conflict but I am completely stumped.  I'll be calling CH Products in California on Monday for assistance, unless somebody here has some ideas.

 

Thanks in advance!

Edited May 16, 2016 by Dumbo

[Dumbo]

Well, my guess now is that the Fighterstick is dead...

 

A reply on the RoF Forum suggested I try switching the Fighterstick to the one-and-only non-USB 3.0 port on the back of my rig.  To make a long story real short, I can fly now...but without aileron controls and with only SOME of the mapped buttons being able to activate when pressed.  Even though the roll function appears to be working during CH Control Manager calibration, it's deader than a door nail in-game.  Elevators work, rudder works.  Some (but not all) of my mapped buttons work.  

 

So I'm guessing that the Fighterstick is starting to die on me.  It is, after all, nine years old.

[JimTM]

Try the stick without starting CH Control Manager (I believe you may need to remap some or all controls). I don't use the manager anymore because it was unstable and crashed on a regular basis.

Edited May 16, 2016 by JimTM

[NN_Razor]

Like Jim TM, i've got a CH product joystick since a long and i never use Control Manager, and it s seams better like that. 

[Dumbo]

Salute, all!

 

Problem solved after contacting CH Products support in California.  Those guys are the best.

 

Yes, they did confirm that their products do not like USB 3.0 ports, so that was a good move for the Fighterstick.  Still, the ProPedals are working just fine in a USB 3.0 port.  Go figure.

 

The rest of the fix was very simple and had everything to do with what I was NOT doing in their Control Manager...

 

First, to activate all THREE modes in my Fighterstick, I forgot that I had to designate "Fighterstick" in the "Mode Control" drop-down menu available on the "Program Settings" tab of the Control Manager.  Voila...I now had my three modes back in play.

 

Next, the CH tech reminded me that I actually CAN map the joystick by clicking on it and switching between the "X" and "Y" axes.  That's where my problem was.  Whereas the "Y" axis was correctly set to "DX Mode," the "X" access was not.  Hence, no aileron conrol while in-game.

 

All is well.  Now I just need to rebuild my map and my individual aircraft response settings and I'll be back in business.

 

P.S.  Yes, all of the CH products are plug-an-play.