Throttle Mode Switching: Possible?

[Brian of Ardagh]

I know I can go into the control settings and switch between forward only or full but I'm wondering if it's possible to bind a button or somehow create a script to switch throttle modes on the fly. The programming software for my throttle doesn't seem to be able to mimic this functionality.

I have an X56 HOTAS and what I'd like to do is go forward only when all I need is forward and switch to full range when I'd like zero thrust to be in the middle of my throttle range.

I think I can change this in the flight landing overrides section of the settings but I don't want this full range just when my landing gear is down. Plus that landing gear would limit my velocity.

What I would like is a thrust setting in the alternate flight controls section but that would be an addition that FD would have to make.

Any ideas from the wonderfully helpful and friendly community?

 

[Aussiedroid]

Not sure with the X56 if you can do what you want - sorry. I gather at a high level you want to reverse the button for Forward Only to be Full Range button instead?

I know you can do that with scripting on the Warthog as I have done this with 3 preconfigured Throttle settings swappable via a toggle. That required custom mapping of the axis though and if X56 is anything like the X55 software I used it would not be possible to do it on the fly.

Good luck!

 

[AreZee]

I'm genuinely interested in use cases where it might be necessary to have this funcionality. I can't think of one. The only situation where you don't need reverse is supercruise and there you don't need any other throttle position than 0%, 75% and 100% most of the time. Do I miss something?

 

[Brian of Ardagh]

Not sure with the X56 if you can do what you want - sorry. I gather at a high level you want to reverse the button for Forward Only to be Full Range button instead?

I know you can do that with scripting on the Warthog as I have done this with 3 preconfigured Throttle settings swappable via a toggle. That required custom mapping of the axis though and if X56 is anything like the X55 software I used it would not be possible to do it on the fly.

Good luck!

Yeah, thought I would ask. I'd guess that it would require that FD add throttle mode under the alternate flight controls like you find under landing overrides.

 

[Brian of Ardagh]

I'm genuinely interested in use cases where it might be necessary to have this funcionality. I can't think of one. The only situation where you don't need reverse is supercruise and there you don't need any other throttle position than 0%, 75% and 100% most of the time. Do I miss something?

Miss something? No, it's just a preference. I prefer to have full range in combat and in landing situations, not a big fan of having to press a button to go into reverse in those situations. In SC there's no need for reverse as you mentioned but I like using the entire range in an analog way. On long runs in SC of course I'll be at 100% but I might slow down for a signal source or have some fun using a planet to get a speed boost so I like to trim my speed at various times.

 

[Aussiedroid]

Miss something? No, it's just a preference. I prefer to have full range in combat and in landing situations, not a big fan of having to press a button to go into reverse in those situations. In SC there's no need for reverse as you mentioned but I like using the entire range in an analog way. On long runs in SC of course I'll be at 100% but I might slow down for a signal source or have some fun using a planet to get a speed boost so I like to trim my speed at various times.

I'll have to double check next time I log in but I was pretty sure the SC throttle range changes to forward only automatically if you use full range. Maybe its something to do with the script I run or maybe its different implementation on a Warthog.

Is 50% of the range just dead on the X56 in SC (ie -100 to 0 range)?

Was thinking about it some more, not sure if this may work, but one option that may be worth looking into is setting up a toggle as Forward Only (one that could hold on). Maybe the slider or one direction of the rotary toggles if it is similar to my old X55. Should be able to 'hold' a button in the Saitek software. Then could set full range and when you want Forward Only, just toggle the switch. Would save holding down but still give the option. I did something similar for FA Off in my X55 profile so I could have a hold and a toggle built into the throttle.

To setup rotary as a hold, I setup the range to be mainly dead, with just the end 1% would trigger a button. Move the rotary off the edge and it would stop pushing the keypress.

I am assuming X56 is pretty similar to the X55 .. might be a workaround for you.

 

[Brian of Ardagh]

I'll have to double check next time I log in but I was pretty sure the SC throttle range changes to forward only automatically if you use full range. Maybe its something to do with the script I run or maybe its different implementation on a Warthog.

Is 50% of the range just dead on the X56 in SC (ie -100 to 0 range)?

Was thinking about it some more, not sure if this may work, but one option that may be worth looking into is setting up a toggle as Forward Only (one that could hold on). Maybe the slider or one direction of the rotary toggles if it is similar to my old X55. Should be able to 'hold' a button in the Saitek software. Then could set full range and when you want Forward Only, just toggle the switch. Would save holding down but still give the option. I did something similar for FA Off in my X55 profile so I could have a hold and a toggle built into the throttle.

To setup rotary as a hold, I setup the range to be mainly dead, with just the end 1% would trigger a button. Move the rotary off the edge and it would stop pushing the keypress.

I am assuming X56 is pretty similar to the X55 .. might be a workaround for you.

Now that I think of it I haven't tried using the X56 in full range whilst in SC, thanks for suggesting it, I'll give it a try. I'm used to using my Thrustmaster HOTAS X with the detent, I think I've always used full range there and reverse never did anything.

I'll take a look at your X55 profile, the X56 is very similar with a few exceptions.

Edit: Apparently I'm quite dense. I checked last night and and the throttle is forward only when in SC, dont know why I thought otherwise! So I might have to rethink my throttle usage under other conditions. I would like to use full range under most other normal space modes like combat, cargo scooping and landing; the lack of a mid-range detent isn't an issue here. For landing though I would really like to use the X56's analog thumbstick on the flight stick, but only while landing, so I might create a landing override. Too bad there are no curve adjustments for the thumbsticks since I'd like to limit the forward/reverse thrust, although maybe a larger deadzone would help. I could use one of the rotary controls on the throttle instead of the thumbstick as I would have finer control over the thrust. I'm using one for the radar zoom, the other is unused.

 

[racer1]

I'm genuinely interested in use cases where it might be necessary to have this funcionality. I can't think of one. The only situation where you don't need reverse is supercruise and there you don't need any other throttle position than 0%, 75% and 100% most of the time. Do I miss something?

When Buckyball racing (trying to get to drop out as quickly as possible) you will be constantly adjusting your throttle position on final approach to drop out.

I'd be interested in the functionality. Having instantly available reverse thrust is useful for combat.

Personally I just have a key bind for 0% and 75%. As soon as I move my throttle after using a keybind the throttle level is read from that.

 

[Drelthar]

Quick question related to this. Not at my PC to check.

Is it possible to have one joystick axis assigned to throttle forward, and a separate one assigned to throttle backwards?

Say, two foot pedals, pushing one down is full forward throttle, pushing the other down is full reverse?

 

[Brian of Ardagh]

Quick question related to this. Not at my PC to check.

Is it possible to have one joystick axis assigned to throttle forward, and a separate one assigned to throttle backwards?

Say, two foot pedals, pushing one down is full forward throttle, pushing the other down is full reverse?

I can't test this out at the moment but this might work. Under the flight throttle section set one pedal as the thrust axis and make sure it's set to regular. For the other pedal find the forward/reverse thrust section and assign that pedal but make it inverted. I have no idea what will happen if you press both pedals at the same time!

Edit: Depending on your pedals the regular vs. inverted part might be reversed.

 

[thorn-]

Quick question related to this. Not at my PC to check.

Is it possible to have one joystick axis assigned to throttle forward, and a separate one assigned to throttle backwards?

Say, two foot pedals, pushing one down is full forward throttle, pushing the other down is full reverse?

I believe so, yes. But not sure it's practical with a standard (or split) throttle...

I do wish there was an "insta-click" button to change from full to forward-only.

 

[Brian of Ardagh]

Hate reviving an old thread I created but I did find a way to "switch" from forward-only to full range and back on the X56. There are 2 ways to do it and it does require that you use the Saitek SST software with a profile.

There are two way to do this that I found but both require using the mode switch. Basically by using a different mode I can switch the analog axis on the throttle to digital and control the thrusters vs. the flight throttle. One way is to switch the throttle to direction axis and have each direction press the thruster forward or reverse key. The other way is to create three bands, make the middle band press the zero thrust key, make the other two bands control forward and reverse thrusters.

I can go into further detail if anyone needs to. I also haven't decided yet which mode I like better but I think the directional axis is winning. With the directional axis, when I need full range I center the throttle, press the zero thruster button, and switch to mode 2. Pushing the throttle forward increases the thruster and pulling it back reverses it. So far it's worked well enough during combat. My only concern is that it might get out of whack but then I would just need to center the throttle and zero it again.