Calibration Go Flight TQ 6 Throttle Quadrant

[fspaan]

Hi All,Yesterday I posted the same topic, but it did not show up in the forum, so I try again.Just before Christmas I bought the TQ6 Throttle Quadrant and I noticed that is has some issues with the calibration of the levers. I have installed version 3.1 After calibrating and adjusting the potentiometers I have managed to get the levers fully up with a value of appr. 78-79. (See screenshot)http://www.spaanlo.nl/Images/forumimages/G...AllesHoog_1.jpg[br][br]When pulling the levers down, I have differences in the values, even after calibrating. (see screenshot) http://www.spaanlo.nl/Images/forumimages/G...AllesNeer_1.jpg[br]As a result, at least what I think, the first two engines (using lever B & C) are just above idle and engines 3 & 4 (levers D en E) are idle when the levers are down.I have also tried to use FSUIPC for it, without results. It seems I cannot get the levers in line.Has anybody experiences with this and managed to succeed?

[Guest f1yerian]

Yes, have the same problem! GoFlight originally suggested that you only calibrate in (Start) menue or FS controls - not both. I found FSUIPC no help with the throttles still jumping! With careful manipulation (and patience) I have got them nearly ok. The only point I would add is every pot is slightly different so the throttles will never sinc all the way through the travel. Make sure that they all are at 23% when at idle or you won't get fully working reverse thrust. A problem I have encountered is the reverser arms have become floppy with use. Do you know how to fix them.Flyerian

[fspaan]

Thanks Flyerian,So you also changed the potentiometers? Could you post your screenshots (or mail me)?Thanks in advance.The reverser arms are not sloppy yet (brand new).

[Guest caldrifter]

Hello,I also have the TQ6 throttle and did have calibration problems. However, if you go to the GoFlight website, there is a new version of the software available which will address this issue. My throttle levers would not calibrate properly and my thrust in the 747 would not go all the way to the top. I was in constant communication with their Tech guy (Doyle Nickless) and he helped me a lot with this issue. He sent me a specific file to fix that problem (this was before the newest version of the software came out on their website). It fixed the problem.Now, I have another issue with the GF45 module as the display will not light up intermittantly. They are sending me another unit to see if it's a hardware issue. I don't think so as I think it's something in their software that's causing it.Anyway, check out their Tech Support section on their Website. Download and install the new version of the the software. After you have installed it, you will need to re-calibrate your throttle in the Windows calibration utility. This should cure your propblem.Bobby

[RobertVdb]

Hi,The new version of the driver 1.31 seems not to cure the problems with me.My spoiler is only varying between armed and not fully up, whereas my flaps only vary between 2 and 30 degrees. Using their proposed default setting in the drivers.cfg file I have throttle 1 and 4 (I only use two) working relatively well, although I have to calibrate them each time I start up FS.Not happy with this situation and with their silence on my mails.CheersRobert

[Guest f1yerian]

RobertI agree with you!By fine tweeking I have managed to get my throttles within fine tollerances of each other about 1/4 of an inch. However every time I start fs2004 the flaps change, pos 1 becomes 5 degrees, next time is 2 degrees. I don't like to knock a manufacturor who provides an excellent add-on to our experience but and this is a big but, I believe that this particular piece of kit was launched with flaws. Why should we have to go back to a manufacturor time and time again to resolve problems? We paid good money!I know user systems are diverse and can cause errors but please produce a system that will be plug and play. A final comment. I have 25 Go flight units altogether and am extremely happy with all of them exccept the throttle quad which by comparison is I think tinny.Why did they produce an angular face instead of a curved face? I don't know. I will continue to support GoFlight in their efforts in the future - bringing add-ons at very reasonable prices, but this one item of theirs gives me cause for concern.Flyerian

[Guest PegAir]

I've always wondered why people didn't use something more precise for throttles (like some sort of rotary encoder).What do home cockpit builders use to make their Throttles all align properly?Kinda frustrating (if I remember correctly) that MS patented the use of optical poteniometers so that you need to by a SideWinder if you want repeatability, and precision.

[Guest caldrifter]

Hello,Your descripton sounds a little too close to home for me. I just upgraded my FSUIPC module today to the latest 1.135 version and my TQ6 throttle went crazy with the spoilers lever not activating the spoilers at all and the flaps doing all sorts of weird things like going all the way down when I only put one notch on the levers. It goes back to 5 flaps when I put the lever down about the 4th or 5th notch. I think that there is a conflict between this new version of FSUIPC and the GoFlight 1.31 software. I'm going back to my older version of FSUIPC. At least my TQ6 throttle module was working fine with that verson. I guess that'll teach me to be so smart and upgrade right away when I seen a newer version of something.Robert

[Guest belairvideo]

Hi Folks.I cant afford the Go Flight throttles, so I am trying to build my own!I have tried plastic gears that dont line up or run smoothly and wondered what you guys do to make things work? Slide faders maybe? If you use gears, is there a technique for setting them? What about that tiny gear for the potentiometer! how the heck do you fit it to the shaft without destroying it?Hope you dont mind me posting this - I am tearing my hair out with this one - especially as my cockpit is almost built!!!Thanks.TONY (U.K.)

[Guest LeoL]

>I've always wondered why people didn't use something more>precise for throttles (like some sort of rotary encoder).>>What do home cockpit builders use to make their Throttles all>align properly?I've been looking at using ACE rotaries (Absolute Contacting Encoders). These output a digital value for each position, so they can never loose their alignment. The Bournes model I use is limited to only 128 steps maximum, but that does result in a throttle increment of less than 1% per step.I have prototypes working but I haven't hooked them up to a multi lever throttle yet to see how reliable they are. Looks very promising thus far.-Leo

[Guest caldrifter]

>Hi Folks.>>I cant afford the Go Flight throttles, so I am trying to build>my own!>I have tried plastic gears that dont line up or run smoothly>and wondered what you guys do to make things work? Slide>faders maybe? If you use gears, is there a technique for>setting them? What about that tiny gear for the potentiometer!>how the heck do you fit it to the shaft without destroying>it?>Hope you dont mind me posting this - I am tearing my hair out>with this one - especially as my cockpit is almost built!!!>>Thanks.>>TONY (U.K.)Hello Tony,I have build my own 4-engine throttle completely out of plastic parts. I used hi-grade pots and KNEX gears and it seems to work very well. All of the gears seem to mesh quite smoothly and the standard KNEX gear that I bought for the potentiometer has a 1/4" mounting hole that fits right onto the pot shaft. However, this throttle is gameport-connected and not USB, which, I guess doesn't make that much of a difference. However, I'm a little leary of using it in Windows XP Pro and FS2004 since I've heard some negative feadback about gameport connectors under that operating system. This would all be moot, however, as I have since upgraded to the GoFlight system and I am happy with that throttle. I have gotten it so that it works perfectly for the B744. The only gripe I have about it is the number of flaps indents. It only has five whereas the B744 has seven flap positions. Yet, I've arrived at a compromise situation on that problem and worked it out to working solution.If you would like to see a pic of the plastic throttle that I built, please e-mail me and I'll send one along to you. Also, if you would like to swap cockpit pics, I would be happy to send you a set that I took of mine. My e-mail address is: [email protected]

[RobertVdb]

Well, Flyerian, the angular faced form is the least of my problems because I have built it in under an angle of about 45

[fspaan]

Just bought the GoFlight P8 today. Have to try it yet!...

[Guest f1yerian]

RobertI have the GoFlight Central Console which I am now ditching as I am going to the Simavionics throttle quad. As far as the P8 and T8 units are concerned, I have them under the (or infront of) the throt. quad. The centre 2 T8 levers are the fuel run (5 and 6) No 1 is the parking brake (the others are not used at this time. As I don't have an o/head the middle 2 buttons of the P8 are start buttons for the L and R engines respectively for the default 737.Regards Flyerian

[RobertVdb]

Hi FlyerianI do something similar (see my "old" picture included)But I just wanted to stress that some things are not quite right at GoFlight.CheersRobert