Sidewinder Precision 2 Hatswitch Issue

[Dataman]

To All,

Although a few months back I had installed CFS1 and was not able to get the game to recognize my joystick, through the help of posts that I found both here and other forums I recently managed to overcome this issue.

I have been trying to enjoy the game for the past few days, but have come across yet another problem and I am unable to resolve it.

It seems that there are a few instances when the hatswitch is working properly, but for the majority of the times it fails to come back to center and simply stays in the direction where I last directed it to go.

I have checked the settings of the joystick in Windows 7 and all seems well.

I can be flying a sortie in a campaign and it works fine, then on the next sortie, it goes back to this erratic behavior.

Has anyone else experienced this and what is the fix?

Thank you for your time.

Sincerely,

Kris / Data

[Ivan]

I ran into the same issue but with a Logitech Wingman joystick.
I do have a couple Microsoft Precision 2s so perhaps I can see if I have the same issue.

- Ivan.

[smilo]

hello Data,
i have no idea as to why.
i sometimes get the same thing
and i'm running xp.
i gave up trying to fix it.

SHIFT+8 on your number pad
will snap back to Look ahead.

[Dataman]

Thank you Ivan and Smilo!

It has been rather awkward flying this way and I hve mapped the snap back to my joystick (button 7) as it is easy to access.

I was hoping someone might have encountered a fix, but I am just happy to be flying this game once again.

Per chance someone else who reads this post will have an idea.

[Dataman]

If anyone per chance should have an MS Sidewinder Precision 2 joystick that works fine, would you be able to post the COMBATFS.CFG file here (or is there another profile file I need to look at)?

[smilo]

i have a pp2, but it has been
on the shelf for a few years.
i went with the logitech,
mainly, because of all the buttons
and as i recall, the pp2 was a bit sloppy.

that said, i don't think the problem
is with the combatfs.cfg,
but i could be mistaken.

i run xp pro, and a few years ago,
i started having controller issues,
much the same as what vista
and w7 users are experiencing. for example,
the constant "Your joystick device has changed..."
message, among other things.
i find this "interesting" and aggravating,
especially, since my joystick device
has not changed for quite some time.

my guess is that it is caused by
some past windows update,
but i don't know that for a fact.
maybe someday, when i have more time,
i will go back and attempt to track it down.
but for now, i just ignore the "Recommended" option
and use work arounds for other problems
like the snap to front view.

i have also, changed the LOCKED=0 to 1
in the [JOYSTICK_00] section
this makes any changes made to the controller
within the sim settings menu not saved upon exit,
if i, inadvertently, click on that dreaded YES button.

consequently, if i want to make changes to my controller assignments,
i make them by hand within the combatfs.cfg.
of course, this takes a little extra effort
and the knowledge of assignment codes
which i would be more than happy to share.

sorry, i'm not more help on this one.
not to mention, as per usual, i got long winded.
if i can find some time this weekend,
i'll install my pp2 on another pre update machine
and post the combatfs.cfg

please be patient

[hubbabubba]

i have also, changed the LOCKED=0 to 1
in the [JOYSTICK_00] section
this makes any changes made to the controller
within the sim settings menu not saved upon exit,
if i, inadvertently, click on that dreaded YES button.

Already in place! Nice trick smilo

I just hope it does work. One of these days, we'll see...

[Dataman]

Thank you Smilo ..... I'll await further news to see how things go with your PP2 joystick.

I would not call your posts long winded, but rather very detailed and there is nothing wrong with that.

I decided to map the reset to front to my pan up (button 33) as I can always look up to the left or to the right.

To both you and hubbabubba, I have locked the joystick settings now.

I did try locking it with the standard default settings, but the snap back feature regrettably still does not work.

I unlocked it, reset my controls and then locked it again.

Thank you for your help.

[smilo]

i have also, changed the LOCKED=0 to 1
in the [JOYSTICK_00] section
this makes any changes made to the controller
within the sim settings menu not saved upon exit,
if i, inadvertently, click on that dreaded YES button.

sorry. after a quick test,
i found this to be in error.
actually, changes made through
the settings/customize controls menu
are not saved at all.

as Data said, if you want to make changes there,
you have to unflag the
[JOYSTICK_00]
LOCKED=1 back to 0
in the combatfs.cfg
then restart the sim.

[JOYSTICK_00] being the first controller
you have installed on your machine.

i have read that it's possible
to have up to 16 controllers recognized,
but i have only used 3 or 4 at once.

one for main control surface axis,
elevator trim axis and buttons,
another for throttle and rudder axis and buttons.
one more that is a mass of buttons for autopilot/radio.
also, an extra usb keyboard that i disassembled
and rewired the circuit board to a bunch of micro switches.
then made levers that activate the switches.
i now have a gear, flap and spoiler levers
and a couple panel switches.

oops, sorry, i got carried away again.
the controller project is currently on hold
(until i finish the 196)
it should be a whole new thread.