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Post by BH_Fw_Wingover on Mar 15, 2013 5:38:54 GMT -6
My son just gave me a CH Multi Function Panel. In RoF, I can get either the panel to work or the joystick to work but not both.
Does anyone have some experience in using this thing? It works through the CH Control Manager v 4.55, which is itself a real pain trying to figure out because there is no manual and it's not particularly intuitive.
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Post by BH_Target on Mar 15, 2013 8:00:07 GMT -6
Hawkeye posted a response to one one my questions about the control manager that I found helpful in its use. It isn't that difficult once the instructions are translated into english. I'll see if I can find it.
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Post by BH_Fw_Wingover on Mar 15, 2013 9:31:21 GMT -6
Thanks Target. I managed to program one button but when I start RoF, my joystick buttons no longer work and the one button programmed in the FM panel does functions. It seems that it's either one or the other.
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Post by Hawkeye on Mar 15, 2013 11:44:54 GMT -6
Have you created a CH Control Manager map the same as your other one, but also includes the MFP? Don't forget you have to save it as your new map and D/L it to your devices. Also are you using it in Direct mode or Mapped mode?
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Post by BH_Fw_Wingover on Mar 15, 2013 13:24:21 GMT -6
I created a map that to the best of my knowledge included both the panel and the joystick and was operating it under mapped mode. However i did all this without any manual -- sort of guesswork. I managed to get the panel with a test button to work in RoF but then RoF won't recognize or failed to find the joystick. I do not exclude operator error as a possible source of problem.
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Post by BH_Target on Mar 15, 2013 13:56:12 GMT -6
Your joystick map would appear in libtaries- documents under the heading (2 files actually) stick.map and stick.cms. You have to load the stick.map everytime you make a change to the key selection. I'm sorry if you already know this as I don't like to make anyone feel unsavvy. BTW the help button is suppose to be the manual. AND I remember I had a problem because one of the important buttons in the tool bar was greyed out when it was suppose to be active. I had to reload the program to get the button to work. I believe it was the 3 mod choice buttons. Which software are you using? The joystick's or the panel's? Not sure it means anything, but I just bought the throttle quadrant and if I do anything with the software I'm just going to program the throttle through the joystick's software I have already installed, like a piggy back. Are you trying to use the panel's software or the joysticks? Again, not that I'm sure it matters, just a thought. But my real reason for posting is to say that this forum has a limited search engine (or seems to me anyway) because I can't find the old post.
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Post by Hawkeye on Mar 15, 2013 15:49:30 GMT -6
Wing, you may want to start over from the beginning. Please read the second post in this thread carefully: www.ch-hangar.com/forum/showthread.php?8649-installing-new-ch-mfp-panelYou must start the CH Control Manager software first (probably open your map, not sure about that) THEN plug in the MFP. Different than your other devices in that respect. Note the advice about not using a USB 3.0 port, and installing the MFP while in Direct mode. Remember you always have to open a map first thing when after you start CH Control Manager. If you don't do that, that's the reason some buttons might be grayed out and inactive. If you have any doubts as to how to add a new device to your existing map we should talk through it. Then of course save your map and D/L it to your devices. If you don't have "CMStart.exe" in your Windows "Startup" folder, you should either put it there or else you'll need to run CH Control Manager each time after you reboot, load your map, and D/L it to your devices before you start any of your game stuff.
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Post by BH_Fw_Wingover on Mar 15, 2013 20:07:47 GMT -6
Got it running with your help this afternoon. I've got about 8 buttons programmed. Thanks for the help. Someone should make a manual on this thing.
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Post by Hawkeye on Mar 16, 2013 6:32:00 GMT -6
The thing that really needs the manual is the software, and as Target said, the Help within the program is supposed to be the manual. BH_Target: The CH Control Manager software is the all inclusive software for ALL CH devices: All models of their Joysticks, Throttle Quadrant, Pro Throttle, Pro Pedals, Flight Yoke, Multi-Function Panel, etc. The MFP or any other device doesn't have it's "own" software. The drivers needed to run the devices are all part of Windows. If you have one device and have already created a map for it, you just plug in your new device before opening the CMS, let Windows install the drivers, and when that's completed, you open CMS, open your existing map, and then add your new device using the add new device icon at the top bar (5th icon from the left, looks like a green plus sign next to a joystick, right next to the delete device icon). Then it should show up in the list of devices when you're in the "Direct" mode when you Test/Calibrate it (if not, you can hit "rescan" button there). Then you'll have a new tab page for that device, where you can configure it any way you want to. Of course you save your map after making the changes, and D/L it to your devices (it updates ALL your installed devices). The one exception that, as we just discovered, is the MFP. For some reason you have to plug that one in AFTER the CMS is started. Then everything else works the same. This MFP is a really cool device and Wingover is the first person who could really make it clear to me exactly how it works, mechanically and virtually. But I've never really thought of a good reason to use it instead of the plain old keyboard, which I have to have anyway for normal computing reasons; so I just use that. It does look cool and you can make it look like anything in a cockpit so I think it's main purpose would be to take the place of keyboards in a custom HOTAS setup made to look/feel like a cockpit. Picture buttons that work as a particular button no matter where you stick it on the face of the panel, that can be repositioned any time any where, with a clear window under which you can print out any picture layout made to look like anything on a dashboard, to be placed underneath the clear panel, and the buttons stuck on top of it. Here is one layout somebody made for IL2:
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Post by BH_Fw_Wingover on Mar 16, 2013 7:42:12 GMT -6
You summed it up Hawkeye. In essence it's an adjustable keyboard with movable keys. The keys can be grouped logically, for example I can have a key for firing guns and right next to it another key to recharge when the gun jams. The key are programmable as well, so I'm placing a key that opens the chat window next to a key that types in "S!". As far as programing the #$%&^!@ thing, once I got the principle (Thanks to Hawkeye) it became simple. The only thing is that the setup is seen by RoF as a different joystick being added, so it assigns it a new name at the first key assignement. Joystick 0 (the fighterstick by itself) became Joystick 1 (which includes the Multi function panel).So I had to reprogram and reassign all my snap views and key assignments from joystick 0 to joystick 1 even though it's the same joystick but with the addition of the multifunction panel. However, my Throttles had the original Joystick 1 name assignment and now the throttles conflicted with the joystick, so I had to reassign my throttle buttons which RoF renamed joystick 2, and of course joystick 2 was the name of the rudder pedals, so I had to reassign my rudder pedals which RoF renamed joystick 3 and all was well. Bit of a domino effect here. Apparently RoF is not smart enough to know that a name has already been assigned. As far as templates go, I slipped a sheet of paper with a few scribbled notes under the plastic cover. So much for sophistication. See picture. img46.imageshack.us/img46/5066/mfpa.jpgUploaded with ImageShack.us
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Post by Hawkeye on Mar 16, 2013 9:43:26 GMT -6
I think the whole reason you had the problem with the joystick designations changing, is because before you got the MFP, you were basically using your stick in stand-alone, "DX" mode, programmed directly with the game, without any map or using the CMS at all. Once you got the MFP, you began using CMS, and once you had created a map including both your CH devices, you began operating in "Mapped" mode, which causes your computer to see your devices as generic "Control Manager Device 1, Control Manager Device 2", etc. That is why the game saw your devices as different devices than it did before. I've been operating from the beginning using the CMS software, and if you add another device or devices to your existing map, you won't have any problem with things changing designation in the game; for example when I added my Throttle Quadrant. So this was an unusual situation most folks won't have trouble with. The CMS isn't that user friendly at first but once you're used to it you can see it's easy to do tons of complex things with, you can even change stick axis profiles outside the game, for games that don't incorporate that. And you haven't even touched on the scripting capabilities of it yet!
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Post by BH_Fw_Wingover on Aug 25, 2013 9:22:08 GMT -6
Hawkeye when you say you are operating from the beginning using the CMS software, are you saying that you are mapping and assigning letters to your joystick from inside the control manager software instead of doing it from inside the rise of flight game in the / options / controls/ tab?
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Post by Hawkeye on Aug 25, 2013 15:06:52 GMT -6
No; I use the game utility like everybody else, for simple functions. If you want to assign more complex functions to a single stick button, though, you can pick one not used in your game map, and do things that no single button push will do, in the game.
My meaning was to show you why your stick designation changed within the game, because you had not started out using the CMS software, which, once used in mapped mode, will cause your device to be recognized as a different device, since it combines the CH devices into a generic game device, as opposed to the straight up DX mode that the game will sense you stick as, if no software intervenes.
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Post by BH_Fw_Wingover on Aug 25, 2013 17:54:52 GMT -6
I'm getting a new fighterstick. Mine went belly up. I would like to start fresh on the installation using both the stick and the Multi mode control panel. It's stopped working for some time now and I can get only one of the two to work at a time. Either the stick works and the MCP won't or the MCP works but the stick is not recognized.
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Post by Hawkeye on Aug 27, 2013 12:27:19 GMT -6
But at one time, they both worked together?
That is an odd one, it almost sounds like you have two different maps, one that works for one, but doesn't include the other, and vice-versa. Yet I don't see how your stick can be good some of the time, hardware-wise, and then not work in another situation.
You might want to post at the "CH Hanger" forum to see if they have anything to say there.
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Post by BH_Fw_Wingover on Aug 29, 2013 12:50:10 GMT -6
Thanks Hawkeye, I think I will. See if I can find some pearls of wisdom or just practical info.
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Post by BH Uffz. Belfast on Oct 26, 2013 5:37:47 GMT -6
Hey Wingover went through same thing Hawk has some good advice but he always has. He helped me out through a few jams, these guys in this squad can figure out Damn near anything.I was Mechanical Engineer for 35 years for electric generating plant and these guys are great can't wait to get back,see you guys soon.I going to get my computer back up this afternoon I hope.I ought to be able to overclock it and get the power down range.The Ch control manager has worked well for me.
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Post by BH_Fw_Wingover on Oct 28, 2013 12:07:07 GMT -6
Well, Belfast, you give me hope. Right now the MCP is exiled in the darkest corner of my closet, and I scowl at it whenever I catch a glimpse of it. That's where it's going to stay for now. Good luck on your computer. S!
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