Hi all! I'm wandering. Would someone know the maximum USB joysticks FS would accept simultaneously. I know for shure it will accept at least 2. I know that because I have plugged the 2 I have, 1 Sidewinder Precison2 and 1 Saitek Cyborg 3d and I can assign any button and/or axis of both of them to perform whatever function I choose to and it works.For example I can assign the Saitek's throttle to operate Engine #1 and Sidewinder's throttle to control #2. But I could have chosen Sidewinder's rudder, aileron or elevator axis as well to perform the latter or control the mixture or the prop. I know, I tried it :-) Over that I have access to the 20 buttons they bundel together not counting the 2nd hat switch for an other possible 8 switches... if needed!!I'm asking because my Sidewinder fell off the desk and broke the stick by the same token last year. Yet its electronic module still works ok and I'm thinking putting it back to work in a power/mixture/propeller console I could build myself. But as it stands there would be one axis missing to make it usable for twin engine pw/mix/prop control.Hence my question. Could FS accept more than 2 USB joysticks? If it does, it will more likely be an even number, 4, 8, 16.... 256....1024..... 16,777,216 ;-)Hugo

Hugo,I don't think the number of controllers will be a problem (as long as Windows supports it), but the number of used axis and buttons ARE limited in FS.But those are high limits (at least 20 axis, probably more).And about the number of (USB) controllers: I am using 3 or 4 simultaneously (depending on the type of aircraft I'm flying).Rob

Hi HugoYeah, I`m running two usb devices and one gameport device. All mapped in FS. Incidentally I did exactly what you are thinking about doing and built a 4 axis 2 button throttle console out of an old joystick wiring harness. Works a treat when added as a 'custom' controller.Good luck and double check your wiring if do make your own console - its a pain in the backside to kill your mobo`s gameport/USB controller.CheersLungs

I have 8 (virtual) controllers with a total of 20 axes and 256 buttons and it all works fine. I think the number of controllers are not limited, or at least above eight. There is a limited amount of variables in the sim that can be controlled. I think that there are about 24 axes that can be defined, and a huge number of buttons or keypresses.Allard

Hi guys. Thanks for the replies. Rob after reading your post I made a search on google and found that Windows could support up to 127 USB devices. 127? Odd! Well, so much for the even theory. Darn :-(Allard was right on the noze saying there were about 24 controlable axes. Actualy no more than 21, I counted, can be implemented simutaneously. If one operates engine 1,2,3 and 4 separately then the throttle, ruder and propeller axis which control all 4 in one shot are not an option. I was surprised thought to find there were possibilities to implement brake or spoiler axes. Not that spoilers are very much of importance for me as I mostly fly single and twin g/a but few of my friends that are trying to learn formation flying are having a lot of troubles to keep with one another mainly due to problems ajusting accurately their relative speed. Maybe implementing this option would permit then to fine tune their behavior. But, for this, they'l have to add an other controler board :-) I'll pass them the info along.Thanks Lungs for reminding me to double check the wiring, It's been sometime I haven't cope with miniature electronic parts. I mostly have done some work at the transistor level. So just to reheat myself a bit, I opened and dismantled the Sidewinder just to see what it looked like. The 8 mini-switches, ~ 1/4" aside, are all surface mounted on 2 separated boards. What happened the 'ole point to point mounting technic ;-). The 4 axes pots shouldn't be a big problem.7 of the switches they are dual parallel N/O type with common input while the 8th one is a single N/O one. I have unsolder 2 of them just to make shure what it implies and confirm their operating type. Now they are a bit small to be reused, the button being a shy more than 1/8". Anyhow I'll have to relocalise them, hence 30 wires to properly resolder and run to new switch lug. Hi Lung ;-)I recently moved, as I just retired, to a small village midway between Montreal and Quebec. So electronic outlets are not by the bundle in the area. Fortunataly I had already planed a trip to Montreal next week. I know a place, on my way, I can grab the pots, the switches ans some wiring for a fraction of the price I would pay at Rat $hack. So, this way it will be an almost free ride :-)BTW Allard, have you actualy implemented all those 256 switches and 24 axes in a single project. Man! You're flying high. By now you shurely know by which end to hold the soldering iron :-) My more modest project appears much more reachable knowing that!Tonight I have jotted this little sketch which is already perimated. I'll probaly use 6 L shape bars instead of the 3 C channel I first thought. This way all the pots will rotate in the same direction. Altough they could be 'numericaly reversed' in the joystick control assignments, on a second tought I don't think this way the way to go in this case.Anyhow this is a first throw that will shurely evolve by the time I get the parts. And reserve a little something for improvisation 'on the fly' (if you permit). The salt of life!Many thanks to you guys for the informations and support. They were greatly appreciated.Hugo