I have my eye on Saitek's Pro Flight Switch Panel for use with FS9, although it was made for FSX there is a tool (software) that will enable it for FS9. I just want to know if it works in FS9 properly. The reason is that I recently purchased Saitek's Throttle Quadrant and have spent way too much time trying to set it up using FSUIPC registered copy and have had no success at all. The fact that FS9 Seems to make changes to what I do when I am not looking. so I am not about to waste more money. So feel free to jump in on both counts by all means. BTW I have read Dowson's manual and understand his instructions reasonably well and spent time looking for help I am still no further ahead. Thanks in advance to anyone who will give it a go..................................JohnPS: I like realism but I would not qualify as a fanatic (smile). "Have one on me"

You didn't use the Saitek driver or software in any way, did you? Can't help you with the switch panel, I'm afraid.

Not sure about the switch panel but I do know the multi panel will only work with the default planes. For example the multi panel will not work with PMDG planes, LVD, PSS or WILCO.So check that before you buy it.As for the throttle I'm not sure what you mean by FS9 changing thing on you? Can you be more specific?

It never worked correctly for me in FS9, even with that hack. Thank heaven PC Aviator takes returns!

Not sure about the switch panel but I do know the multi panel will only work with the default planes. For example the multi panel will not work with PMDG planes, LVD, PSS or WILCO.So check that before you buy it.As for the throttle I'm not sure what you mean by FS9 changing thing on you? Can you be more specific?

That would be a long post (smile) but in short I mean after doing the setup with fsuipc and finding out from testing that FS9 seemed to change the assignments to some extent and talk about frustration that would be an understatement. Also I I laughed when I wanted to setup the hat switch eight or so times just to look around my cockpit. I have visited Peter Dowson's forum and read extensivley I did not like the way he rants and raves in some cases. The first thing I learned as a teacher was not to to assume that the student knew anything about the subject. An that was the best piece of advice my boss ever gave me. It all comes down to what I really want right now is just be able to control multi engined aircraft one engine at a time and that's it for time being time being......JohnPS: All due respect to Peter Dowson.

You didn't use the Saitek driver or software in any way, did you? Can't help you with the switch panel, I'm afraid.

Hi ya No I haven't tried using that software with anything mate.....John

That would be a long post (smile) but in short I mean after doing the setup with fsuipc and finding out from testing that FS9 seemed to change the assignments to some extent and talk about frustration that would be an understatement. Also I I laughed when I wanted to setup the hat switch eight or so times just to look around my cockpit. I have visited Peter Dowson's forum and read extensivley I did not like the way he rants and raves in some cases. The first thing I learned as a teacher was not to to assume that the student knew anything about the subject. An that was the best piece of advice my boss ever gave me. It all comes down to what I really want right now is just be able to control multi engined aircraft one engine at a time and that's it for time being time being......JohnPS: All due respect to Peter Dowson.

John,I've been using FSUIPC along with thousands of others to configure all my aircraft and have not had problems. This includes multi-engine. jet, PMDG 737, Wings of Power bombers, Real-Air Spitfire, Wings of Power P-51, MAAM DC3 & B25 plus others. At times there has been a clitch, but checking through all the assignments, I've seen duplicate assignments made to different axes. I simple correct them and all goes well. Or, there may be a conflict with FS9 assignments. So erase FS9 assignments that affect the operation of the aircraft and disable the joystick in FS9. Let FSUIPC do all the work. Another benefit is that when using FSUIPC you can assign specific aircraft different functions in your controllers without having to reassign everything when you change aircraft. Also when adding other paints of a specific aircraft, FSUIPC.INI can be set so that the same assignments from the original setup would also apply to any added paints or liveries of that same craft.That's just a couple of reasons why I wouldn't be without FSUIPC. So I hope you can get it working. Simming will be sooooo much better. If you need help, we are here to assist.Jim D.

John,I've been using FSUIPC along with thousands of others to configure all my aircraft and have not had problems. This includes multi-engine. jet, PMDG 737, Wings of Power bombers, Real-Air Spitfire, Wings of Power P-51, MAAM DC3 & B25 plus others. At times there has been a clitch, but checking through all the assignments, I've seen duplicate assignments made to different axes. I simple correct them and all goes well. Or, there may be a conflict with FS9 assignments. So erase FS9 assignments that affect the operation of the aircraft and disable the joystick in FS9. Let FSUIPC do all the work. Another benefit is that when using FSUIPC you can assign specific aircraft different functions in your controllers without having to reassign everything when you change aircraft. Also when adding other paints of a specific aircraft, FSUIPC.INI can be set so that the same assignments from the original setup would also apply to any added paints or liveries of that same craft.That's just a couple of reasons why I wouldn't be without FSUIPC. So I hope you can get it working. Simming will be sooooo much better. If you need help, we are here to assist.Jim D.

Thanks for your reply Jim. I am very aware of and fully understand those things your saying but it's not happening for me yet and I still don't know why. I will keep trying I guess. If I need help and I am sure I will, can I direct my questions to you alone as I find recommendations from many no matter how well intended they are Can confuse me. If you cannot do that I will understand and not be offended at all. Thanks again.....John PS (No slight against anyone intended)

I have the Switch Panel and it works fairly well for me using the included plugin for FS9. I do use it for the PMDG 737NG, but as I do not start cold and dark (haven't gotten around to trying it yet), I can't comment on how well it works for it. It also works fine for the Carenado Piper Arrow and the Mooney M20 along some other aircraft I have. Now, the throttle quadrant does work in FS9 somewhat, you would have to map the mixture and prop RPM out with FSUIPC to get it to work right (I don't have a registered version yet) for them to work right from what I have been reading.

Thanks for your reply Jim.I am very aware of and fully understand those things your saying but it's not happening for me yet and I still don't know why. I will keep trying I guess. If I need help and I am sure I will, can I direct my questions to you alone as I find recommendations from many no matter how well intended they are Can confuse me. If you cannot do that I will understand and not be offended at all. Thanks again.....John PS (No slight against anyone intended)

Perhaps it's not happening for you yet because you're using hardware specifically designed for FSX only. And so as not to single Saitek out, I also think all of modules offered by GoFlight are the most over priced, over rated hardware units out there. At one time or another I have owned all of them and I have returned or ebayed all but 2, and those I could probably leasily ive without. But it's a matter of personal preference -- what you're willing to put up with from a usage standpoint and a programmatical/initial set up view point. I fly a lot of different complex addon aircraft and it seems that each has it's own quirks, hidden secrets, and specialized key commands. making very little in the hardware arena offered to us simmers today truly "plug and play".Down off my soapbox now . . . back to life. :(

Perhaps it's not happening for you yet because you're using hardware specifically designed for FSX only. And so as not to single Saitek out, I also think all of modules offered by GoFlight are the most over priced, over rated hardware units out there. At one time or another I have owned all of them and I have returned or ebayed all but 2, and those I could probably leasily ive without. But it's a matter of personal preference -- what you're willing to put up with from a usage standpoint and a programmatical/initial set up view point. I fly a lot of different complex addon aircraft and it seems that each has it's own quirks, hidden secrets, and specialized key commands. making very little in the hardware arena offered to us simmers today truly "plug and play".Down off my soapbox now . . . back to life. :(

Chuck are you talking about the throttle quadrant? I see nothing anywhere that says it's not for FS9 now.....John

"I recently purchased Saitek's Throttle Quadrant and have spent way too much time trying to set it up using FSUIPC registered copy and have had no success at all"As already mentioned......delete all FS9 assignments....load from Saitek site their drivers, do not use CD that comes w/ equipment. I use FSUIPC for everything and NO problems. I would also suggest that you delete your FS9 CFG file after you delete all FS9 assigments and then reboot and restart FS9 and begin building your new CFG using FSUIPC along w/ new FS9 particulars. If you are still experiencing problems you may not be assigning things right thru FSUIPC. Check back w/ specifics and we will tell you how to.P.S. If you are using the PIC Airbus Vol.2 some changes to FSUIPC settings will be required over other acrft you have installed for the throttles to work.

"I recently purchased Saitek's Throttle Quadrant and have spent way too much time trying to set it up using FSUIPC registered copy and have had no success at all"As already mentioned......delete all FS9 assignments....load from Saitek site their drivers, do not use CD that comes w/ equipment. I use FSUIPC for everything and NO problems. I would also suggest that you delete your FS9 CFG file after you delete all FS9 assigments and then reboot and restart FS9 and begin building your new CFG using FSUIPC along w/ new FS9 particulars. If you are still experiencing problems you may not be assigning things right thru FSUIPC. Check back w/ specifics and we will tell you how to.P.S. If you are using the PIC Airbus Vol.2 some changes to FSUIPC settings will be required over other acrft you have installed for the throttles to work.

Hi I want to setup the middle 4 levers to throttles 1234 left to right. The throttle quadrant would be used for throttles 3 & 4. Should axis Z be assigned to Throttle 1 & 2 and axis V be assigned to Throttles 3 & 4???

Hi I want to setup the middle 4 levers to throttles 1234 left to right. The throttle quadrant would be used for throttles 3 & 4. Should axis Z be assigned to Throttle 1 & 2 and axis V be assigned to Throttles 3 & 4???

John,I'm a little unsure about your request. Do you have two Saitek TQ's or one? If you have two giving you 6 levers, you can assign each lever to a specific engine, or you can set one lever to control two engines. On my setup, for a 4 enging aircraft such as the B17, I have the first four levers assigned to a specific engine, 1-4 respectivley, lever 5 to Mixture control for engines 1 & 2, and lever 6 to Mixture 3, & 4. Prop controls are assigned to four of the levers on my CH TQ. Buttons on both units are assigned as per my preferences and panel controls are set using keyboard commands, all per FSUIPC. But don't assign each engine to a lever and then try to assign two engines to one lever. It's one or the other, not both.Upon reviewing these assignments I noticed that two lever assignments were not functioning as I had assigned. A quick check in FSUIPC showed a wrong assignment in one and no assignment in the other. So a quick reassignment and all works well. So I check before flying any plane to be sure there are no problems or correct as needed. So something at times does happen changing something, but it is not usually serious. Post any questions to get the help you need.Jim D.

throttle # 2 and no matter how many times I push the reset in fsuipc Axis 2Z will not show up.

John,I'm a little unsure about your request. Do you have two Saitek TQ's or one? If you have two giving you 6 levers, you can assign each lever to a specific engine, or you can set one lever to control two engines. On my setup, for a 4 enging aircraft such as the B17, I have the first four levers assigned to a specific engine, 1-4 respectivley, lever 5 to Mixture control for engines 1 & 2, and lever 6 to Mixture 3, & 4. Prop controls are assigned to four of the levers on my CH TQ. Buttons on both units are assigned as per my preferences and panel controls are set using keyboard commands, all per FSUIPC. But don't assign each engine to a lever and then try to assign two engines to one lever. It's one or the other, not both.Upon reviewing these assignments I noticed that two lever assignments were not functioning as I had assigned. A quick check in FSUIPC showed a wrong assignment in one and no assignment in the other. So a quick reassignment and all works well. So I check before flying any plane to be sure there are no problems or correct as needed. So something at times does happen changing something, but it is not usually serious. Post any questions to get the help you need.Jim D.

Hi JimI have these components Saitek Pro Flight Yoke System plus Saitek Pro Flight Throttle Quadrant I am trying to do what you have done re throttles. I had no problem Setting up Axis X & Y to the Yoke and also Axis R to the rudder. I also had no problem setting Axis 1Z to throttle lever # 1. It's when I try to setup Axis 2Z to throttle lever # 2 and no matter how many times I push the reset in fsuipc Axis 2Z will not show up.