USB or game interface ?

[ptrdeng]

Hello
I built hundreds of dummy RC controls with game interface many years ago, before I knew FMS. The left over one works fine with FMS now.
I am thinking to re-start the building of dummy controls so people who do not have real transmitters can enjoy flight with FMS.
My questions are:
1. Does USB interface work better than game interface ?
2. Will more control channels over four do any better job in controlling Heli of FMS ?
Thanks.

[aeropal]

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[ptrdeng]

Thanks for the comment and information.
I am just trying to make something useful, not to cause keen competition.
I am not sure if the short sticks of gamepad will simulate the RC control well enough.
As the RF portion is not required, I expect that a dummy RC control can be available below $50 ?
Simstar looks interesting though, maybe people should consider it for autorotation training, after their time with FMS ?

[Eagle Al]

There is a cheap solution. Use a joystick. The only problem with a joystick is most gameports are on sound cards and thus are slow. The solution is to get a sound card with a high speed game port like the Cobra AW840. There are also high speed gamecards, but these need an ISA slot. CH and Thrustmaster used to make them, and they can be picked up used.

I recommend a 3-axis CH joystick which are cheap, and you can find them on Ebay.

Al

[ptrdeng]

I bought a game pad with USB interface out of curiosity.
This USB device is recognized as channel 5,6,7,8 in FMS.
The hovering of Heli becomes very easy, by just controlling the throttle or collective stick, and keep others not touched. But once I touch others,then it is easy to make over-control. Well, I think it is the nature of game pad, not USB.
I can not tell difference in response time between the game interface and USB interface. both run smoothly, thanks to the high speed CPU.
I can only use maximum 4 control channels at a time, although all 8 channels --- 4 from the game interface joystick and 4 from USB game pad -----are recognized in my computer.
I own conclusion is then :
If any one like me is interested, should make the dumy RC control with only 4 channels and USB interface, just becasue USB is available in almost all current computers and notebooks, while game port is not.

[mikemccoy61]

Hi, I'm new to the forum, and just got a Saitek p2500 Rumble from Wal-Mart for $28.00, and I can't put the controler down for all the fun I'm having trying to keep the plane in the air. The left and right deal is what I'm having problems with. I would have crashed many planes, but am starting to get the hang of it. This is a great little program.

[ptrdeng]

Sorry, I need to make correction about my previous comment about the response time of USB and game port.
The Heli would make more stall turns with USB interface than what can be done with game interface. Besides, the tail can be stopped more accurately with USB interface. So the response of USB interface is quicker and more accurate.
But then the bad effect is that the heli acts more like a game with USB.
The aircarft looks fine with USB or game interface.
I found it is impossible to make the tail slide. Every time the aircraft tends to make a hammer head or just drops its nose. Any one knows how to make it work for tail slide ?

[Mika]

Hello, didn't want to start a new thread since I thought my problems fit in here nicely.

We're trying to run FMS with a Logitech Dual Action gamepad connected to the USB port. We can calibrate the pad, and see how it's using 4 channels just fine (the bars are moving as they should).

But in the actual simulator the helicopter does not budge when controlling with the bad.... it's fine with the keyboard, but it does nothing with the gamepad.

What are we missing, or is there some sort of compatibility issue with such gamepads?

Thank you in advance for any comments and help.

[aeropal]

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[Mika]