Preemptive TM Warthog question.

[II/JG17_HerrMurf]

So, SantaWifey got me a Warthog for Christmas. I understand there are a number of hacks/mods. Are any of them really necessary and which ones do you recommend the highest. Are there still problems with spring tension and the grease used?

 

Secondly, are all of the buttons and switches supported by the Windows driver or do I have to use the native software. I've been on CH products for a decade and never had a problem just using the windows interface for gaming. Gonna miss trim on a slider BTW. Trimming in BOS has been a snap.

[dburne]

So, SantaWifey got me a Warthog for Christmas. I understand there are a number of hacks/mods. Are any of them really necessary and which ones do you recommend the highest. Are there still problems with spring tension and the grease used?

 

Secondly, are all of the buttons and switches supported by the Windows driver or do I have to use the native software. I've been on CH products for a decade and never had a problem just using the windows interface for gaming. Gonna miss trim on a slider BTW. Trimming in BOS has been a snap.

 

Lucky man with a Santa Wifey! I have to say I am extremely lucky myself, just did a nice new build for myself and really it was my wife insisted I go ahead and do it and get the best that I felt I should - she fusses at me for never spending any money on myself. With the exception of every few years doing new builds, she is correct on that one I guess. I strongly suggest you run it stock as is for a while first, before contemplating if you want to " tweak " it. And really, there is not much tweaking one can really do to it. You are going to find in your hands probably the finest HOTAS you have ever felt, the heaviness of it, the cold metal, the solid feel. Imho, that feel just cannot be beat.

 

Ok so I can help on this one:

 

Now the springs: TM has been known, heck from original F16 FLCS days, of using stiffer springs than most. The Cougar was a prime example of that, that thing was a horse - hence why a fellow by the name of IJ made a lot of gimbal mods for it, to get rid of the sloppiness and make it smoother. And to add hall sensors to it. The Warthog already comes with Hall Sensors in both stick and throttle.

 

Mods - NO, you do NOT need any mods for the Warthog. This ain't the Cougar, it comes very nicely stock as is.

Springs: The Warthog comes with a large center spring, that sits on a plate with 4 smaller springs under it. The spring mod is basically reversing it, putting the small springs on top. But, it removes most of the spring tension and is very loose from what I can see.  Personally, I do not feel it is too stiff for me at all and like the way it is stock - but again, I have been used to TM hardware for a number of years.

Try it for a while, then if you want to loosed it up give it a go - it is relatively simple to do.

 

Grease - some have cleaned out and replace the grease with some form of molycote grease. They claim it makes the action somewhat smoother. However, it is tricky to do as there are some very small wires that pinch easily. If you are comfortable with that sort of thing, and think it is maybe just a little stiff for you, you can give that a try. Best if you have some small wire soldering experience , just in case you need it.

 

Now to the software:

Drivers: Yes the windows driver will recognize all of, or at least most of , the buttons as DX buttons. BUT, yes you do need to install at least the driver package. Do NOT forgo this, the driver package is not programming software, it is a must have. You will also want to check the firmware when you instal the drivers to make sure it is the latest. They have not released new firmware in a while, so yours should have the latest unless it has been sitting on a shelf somewhere for some time.

 

TARGET Software: OK , this is the software you may use to program profiles for your flight sims. I highly recommend you at the least install TARGET.  Even if you do not plan on doing your own profiles and setting all your assignments within the game. TARGET does not run in the background and does not take up much space. Plus, you can control the LED functions on the Throttle with the Target software, set whether you want them on or off, the brightness, etc. Then close Target and it keeps your settings.

 

Now having said that, understand with TARGET you have at your fingertips a very powerful tool for creating individual profiles for your flight sims. Very powerful, from just using the basic GUI, to the advanced GUI ( which is what I use), all the way up to learning the Scripting function. I just use the advance GUI, and it gives a lot of flexibility, with layers and modifiers. Heck with that, you can program up to 12 commands per single hat switch. More than you will ever remember. I just use the paddle as a modifier, which gives me a lot of flexibility. You mentioned trim on a slider, I set trim on a hat switch, with a modifier, so I can still use the hat switch for other functions as well.

Plus, you can set individual axis dead zones, curvers, invert them, etc for each sim - heck, even create separate profiles for each plane if you wish.

 

Can you tell I am a fan of TARGET ?   If nothing else, download the manual and give it a good read at least a couple of times - you will be amazed what you can do with it.

 

Sliders - Yes, that is really the only downside - The Cougar throttle had these two cool rotaries, the Warthog throttle only has 1 slider. You can get by with that by programming , but for me I solved it by adding the CH Throttle Quadrant to the mix, to give me 6 more sliders plus more buttons if needed.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16826169109&Tpk=ch%20throttle%20quadrant

I just got it in this week and hooked up today.

 

Finally - Sorry did not mean to write a book in response, but yes I am a fan of TM and the Warthog, and wanted to try and describe to you best I could what you are getting and the power behind it. I have been running mine for a year and a half now, stock as it came, and love it more and more.

 

Enjoy the new hardware, and Merry Christmas!

If I can help in any way once you have it, feel free to PM me.

Have fun!

Edited December 22, 2013 by dburnette

[II/JG17_HerrMurf]

New question, then;

 

Is there a way to program trim in the software. The untrimmed aircraft don't bother me too much for flying but it is affecting my gunnery a bit. OR can you use the CH Throttle sliders as trim sliders?

 

Also, that center detent is HUGE!!

 

Having fun with the new toy otherwise.

[dburne]

New question, then;

 

Is there a way to program trim in the software. The untrimmed aircraft don't bother me too much for flying but it is affecting my gunnery a bit. OR can you use the CH Throttle sliders as trim sliders?

 

Also, that center detent is HUGE!!

 

Having fun with the new toy otherwise.

 

Trim - yes you certainly can, however it involves getting into the scripting part of Target. You can adjust deadzones and curves in the easier to use GUI mode, not sure why they did not include trim in the GUI mode as well.

 

You can read about setting trims via the Target Scripting Editor by reading the included Target Script Editor Basics manual, but then you will probably have to learn to do your whole profile in script as well. I am in process of learning that now.

I thought about doing the same, but decided I would just wait for them to add trim for the Lagg.

 

CH Quadrant sliders - well if Trim was functional in BOS I certainly could assign it to any of my sliders on this unit I would think, with it not being available yet guess would not do me any good...

 

Center Detent - Indeed it is. I myself have gotten quite use to it, no doubt where center is whilst I am flying. Again there is the spring mod that is easily done that will take most of that away, but from what I saw it looks like it would be way to easily moved for me.

Give it a chance before considering changing anything, you will likely get used to it as well.

 

 

Glad you are having fun!

Edited December 28, 2013 by dburnette

[chiliwili69]

thank you so much dburnette for taking the time to explain the question with great detail. It is appreciated.

 

The Three Kings also brought me a warthog and after some fixings to a PlaySeat, today I have connected them to the PC. I was them searching the forum for the same question than HerrMurf: Setting the Warthog in BoS or use TARGET, and your advice was just perfect.

 

Eventhough, for now I am going not to install TARGET. I have been able to map the basic functions in the BoS Setting Control and it is satisfactory (trims included).

 

The reasons to replace my old joystick were two:

1) Warthog is beautiful

2) I needed a HOTAS with many buttons

 

When enabled, the oculus rift will prevent me to see the keyboard, so I will need to map everything to the HOTAS to fly without the need of keyboard/mouse.

Apart from axis, there are 19 variables for the joystick and 28 for the throttle. I hope to have enough taking into account that the head movement will be done directly with my head. I will not need to map the LEDs since I will not see them.

 

If the 37 variables is not enough I will then decide to enter in the TARGET world and use modifiers to expand the functions of hats.

 

At least, this is what I think now being an absolute beginner in the warthog, but I just wanted to keep things as simple as possible (if possible).

[dburne]

You are most welcome!

 

You will probably want to install Target in order to turn the LED's off, as I believe by default they will be on.

Of course you don't have to leave Target running, just open the program, disable the led's, and then close the program. You won't need to open it again, unless of course you start reading the Target manual and get curious

 

The thing I really like about Target, I can do all my customizations for a profile outside of the sim, then dont' have to worry about all my controls getting wiped out should something happen to the sim's settings.

Edited January 26, 2014 by dburnette

[II/JG17_HerrMurf]

Well, I dived into the deep end of the pool yesterday. Ordered up a set of Milan's MFG Crosswind pedals to complement my new Warthog equipment. I'm gonna upgrade my computer quite a bit after my tax returns as well.

 

Oh, the future is bright!! Bring on the expansion packs. I want to play this game for a decade like I did the last one!!

[dburne]

Well, I dived into the deep end of the pool yesterday. Ordered up a set of Milan's MFG Crosswind pedals to complement my new Warthog equipment. I'm gonna upgrade my computer quite a bit after my tax returns as well.

 

 

Ok now, you ordered my dream pedals? Seriously? Man that is just wrong!!!

 

Lol, enjoy and have fun - anxious to hear how you like the pedals. I just did the complete new system build about a month ago.