Asymmetrical Dead Zone

[[TWB]Sauerkraut-]

My new T.16000M FCS HOTAS has been fantastic (after I re greased the unforgivably sticky throttle).

 

However, the other day I noticed something very strange while doing some tight formation flying:

 

My stick has a dead zone in the center on the pitch axis, but it is asymmetrical. Having a dead zone in the center would be unfortunate enough for me, as I don't like center dead zones. This is quite another matter entirely. Let me elaborate:

 

When pulling towards me, the stick behaves as it should (like it does in the roll axis). It registers even the slightest movement from center, which is great. However, the same cannot be said about pushing away from me. There is a good few millimeters dead zone when pushing away from me.

 

There are two possible reasons for this: the sensor is just slightly screwy, or there is a dead zone in every model, but mine just isn't quite centering correctly.

 

I wan't to "fix" it by artificially adding a dead zone in the opposite direction (through software), but I have no idea how to do this. Can anyone help me out?

[-TBC-AeroAce]

The only thing I can think of is to try to recalibrate it but at the end of the day you tend not to apply forward stick movements in combat as frequently as backwards ones so you should not be at a disadvantage.

[[TWB]Sauerkraut-]

 

17 minutes ago, AeroAce said:

The only thing I can think of is to try to recalibrate it but at the end of the day you tend not to apply forward stick movements in combat as frequently as backwards ones so you should not be at a disadvantage.

 

You're absolutely correct, but it still bothers me a bit :P. Also, as I mentioned, the big issue is tight formation flying. I'd like not to mention how many times I almost crashed into someone b/c until recently I didn't realize it was doing this, and I would apply a pinch of forward pressure, and nothing would happen. It's a bit better now that I know what is happening, but its still frustrating to try and find that exact point where the stick registers my input.

[[APAF]VR_Spartan85]

I have the T.16000m earlier model with the green lighting, had it for a few years now and it’s done the same.. from center position if I let go I’d will drop slightly to the right.  When setting my controls I have a dead zone of about 10% I think (at work will have to confirm in the morning).. you can calibrate it so that it sits centered but as long as it has that stick ‘wobble’  you’ll need to create a dead zone

 

 it uses the “HALL” tech same as the worthog so there shouldn’t be any problem with your sensor...

i find that the actual ‘case’ when’re the ball of the stick moves on gets worn in, or the plate the spring presses on is worn..

 

but you’d need to set a dead zone in control axis setup so that it’s just before it moves the in-game ‘stick’..

and a nice ‘S’ curve on top of that to smooth it out...

 

its done me well but I need an upgrade to either the worthog hotas

virpil t50

or the vkb sticks... 

 

just having a hard time deciding

Edited June 15, 2018 by spartan85

[Sokol1]

T.16000M stick use a simplified version of Warthog compression gimbal, like in this made in plastic, not way to have '0' mechanical deadzone.

[[TWB]Sauerkraut-]

4 hours ago, Sokol1 said:

T.16000M stick use a simplified version of Warthog compression gimbal, like in this made in plastic, not way to have '0' mechanical deadzone.

 

Again it's not the dead zone itself that bothers me. The fact that there is only a dead zone in one direction bothers me.

[Sokol1]

My old "green" T.16000M (and others in ED forum) have mechanical deadzone at end of X, Y axes - the sensor stop reading before grip movement reach the end of physical course. The way for minimize this issue is adjust + , -  by trial and error, the 4 screws that hold gimbal spring in place.

 

You problem - supposing that did calibration with Thrustmaster software (don't use archaic Windows calibration), suggest a play in forward movement of gimbal, if request replacement under warranty is out of question, rest open the base and inspect.

 

 

 

 

 

[JonRedcorn]

I just bought the same setup I can't say I've noticed any type of deadzones at all? I'll check it out in a bit.

[JonRedcorn]

Just got done flying in wings of liberty and noticed no deadzones of any kind in any directions.

[-TBC-AeroAce]

On 6/15/2018 at 6:18 PM, itsthatguy said:

 

Again it's not the dead zone itself that bothers me. The fact that there is only a dead zone in one direction bothers me.

 

There are third party freeware programs that allow you to really customise the dead zone, filtering, smoothing and all that jazz. I used to have a program that I used to filter out a really noisy cheap stick I had. The program would allow you to create custom dead zone for just one half of the sticks moment in one axis.  You could use it to create a dead zone for the backward travel of the stick that matches to mechanical forward dead zone to make it feel more consistent. Or maybe increase the curve on the mechanical dead zone side so that it feels more sensitive to try balance it out.

 

Not the most elegant solution I know and it means opening one more program before playing but it would work. 

 

I am really sorry though, i have forgotten the name of the program but I found it by searching for joystick filter, smoothing, dead zones, axis. ......... you should be able to find somthing similar. 

 

TBH the one I used was really powerful to the point that you could probably do some really cheaty stuff with it.

 

Anyhoo just a bit of brainstorming.

Edited June 16, 2018 by AeroAce

[Wolfram-Harms]

On 6/15/2018 at 9:01 AM, itsthatguy said:

My stick has a dead zone in the center on the pitch axis, but it is asymmetrical.

 

Did you check the curves behind each joystick input command in IL-2 settings?
There you can have either a linear (straight), or an "s"-shaped curve. You can also adjust dead zones for the stick;

I think that was under "input devices".