xbted
Mar 27, 2009, 10:46 PM
This week I set bought Clearview flight sim, and after using my Logitech rumble pad, I realized that I simply didn't have good enough control. I searched through some forums and found out that I could hook up my CP pro2 controller up to the computer using the audio card and a audio cable, and decided to try it out. It was pretty frustrating tying to find specific information about how to set this all up- I got the programs needed to run, and my computer recognized my controller, but it took quite a bit of time to figure out how to get it to work right. Well, I figured it out! And I'm going to share my set up with all of you.
Just some background: I'm running Windows XP with SP3, and using the controller from my Blade CP Pro2, a HP6DSM. I have a SoundBlaster X-Fi audio card, though from what I've read, any decent audio card will do. I am using an 1/8 inch male to male audio cord, just a regular stereo one that you can get at Wal-Mart or Radio shack, to connect my controller to the computer. I am using Clearview for the flight sim, PPJoy for the virtual joystick program and SmartPropoPlus to convert the signal from the transmitter to a digital signal the computer can recognize.
For the sake of brevity, I will assume that you are at the point at where you have your controller plugged in, PPjoy and SmartPropoPlus installed and that you have a signal from your controller to the computer.
So first, you want to open PPJoy Joystick Config. You will get a box that says 'PPJoy Joystick and Gamepad configuration utility' On the bottom, there will be a button that says 'Add' Hit the 'Add' button to add a new controller. You may get a warning about how this program hasn't passed testing or something, ignore it and continue anyway.
After you have the controller added, you will see it in the configuration utility box, click on the controller and down below you will see a button named 'Mapping' darken, click that button.
Next, a screen pops up that says 'Welcome to the Joystick...' and down below, on the second set of options. The circle for 'Set a custom mapping for this controller' should be blackened. If it is, hit the 'next' button. If it's not, click that circle to darken it and then hit the 'next' button.
On the next window, there should be some windows to let you change the number and types of axes. You want 4 axes, 0 buttons and 0 Pov hats. Assign Y Axis to Axis 1, Z rotation to Axis 2, Z Axis to Axis 3 and X Axis to Axis 4. After you've done this, hit next.
On the next screen, it says 'Configure Mapping for Axes', just hit the 'Next' button on the bottom
On the next screen, it should say 'Configure Mapping for buttons', just hit the 'Next' button on the bottom
After that you will get a message that says 'The mapping configuration is complete.' Hit the finish button and you're done.
Next, open SmartPropoPro. You will get a little window that opens up- you want to pick PPM (Generic), the Auto Detect should be checked, Audio source should be enabled, and you should pick the audio source, either line 1 or microphone, depending on what jack on the audio card you plugged your cable into. Then hit hide.
Very Important Step On the transmitter, you want to have dip switches 7 and 8 in the down position, this will put the controller in airplane mode and turn of CCPM. The simulator will not recognize CCPM or the pitch channel, so you need to turn them off. Make sure you put your dip switches back into the original positions before you use your controller to fly a real aircraft. If you do not turn of CCPM, then your transmitter will send signals on other channels, and the aircraft will be uncontrollable in the simulator. Also, if you can turn of CCPM, then you don't need a fancy cable to filter the signal, and you may save a few bucks because you can use the simple 1/8 inch male to male audio cable that is readily available at many stores.
ALSO- you must have SmartPropoPlus running while using a simulator. Before you start the simulator, start SmartPropoPlus then hit the 'hide' button. It will run in the background and let you use your controller.
In clearview, in the controller setup, you want to pick the PPJoy virtual joystick as your controller. I have throttle set as y axis and reversed, rudder set to x axis and reversed, aileron set to z rotation and elevator set to z axis reversed.
This is how I have my Blade CP pro2 controller, PPJoy and SmartPropoPlus configured so I can use my transmitter to control aircraft in Clearview. I hope it will work for you. I'm not sure how everything would work for other controllers, but if you have one of these E-Flite controllers, then all you need in a $6 cable and those programs, and you can use it to control Clearview. Happy Flying!!!!
Just some background: I'm running Windows XP with SP3, and using the controller from my Blade CP Pro2, a HP6DSM. I have a SoundBlaster X-Fi audio card, though from what I've read, any decent audio card will do. I am using an 1/8 inch male to male audio cord, just a regular stereo one that you can get at Wal-Mart or Radio shack, to connect my controller to the computer. I am using Clearview for the flight sim, PPJoy for the virtual joystick program and SmartPropoPlus to convert the signal from the transmitter to a digital signal the computer can recognize.
For the sake of brevity, I will assume that you are at the point at where you have your controller plugged in, PPjoy and SmartPropoPlus installed and that you have a signal from your controller to the computer.
So first, you want to open PPJoy Joystick Config. You will get a box that says 'PPJoy Joystick and Gamepad configuration utility' On the bottom, there will be a button that says 'Add' Hit the 'Add' button to add a new controller. You may get a warning about how this program hasn't passed testing or something, ignore it and continue anyway.
After you have the controller added, you will see it in the configuration utility box, click on the controller and down below you will see a button named 'Mapping' darken, click that button.
Next, a screen pops up that says 'Welcome to the Joystick...' and down below, on the second set of options. The circle for 'Set a custom mapping for this controller' should be blackened. If it is, hit the 'next' button. If it's not, click that circle to darken it and then hit the 'next' button.
On the next window, there should be some windows to let you change the number and types of axes. You want 4 axes, 0 buttons and 0 Pov hats. Assign Y Axis to Axis 1, Z rotation to Axis 2, Z Axis to Axis 3 and X Axis to Axis 4. After you've done this, hit next.
On the next screen, it says 'Configure Mapping for Axes', just hit the 'Next' button on the bottom
On the next screen, it should say 'Configure Mapping for buttons', just hit the 'Next' button on the bottom
After that you will get a message that says 'The mapping configuration is complete.' Hit the finish button and you're done.
Next, open SmartPropoPro. You will get a little window that opens up- you want to pick PPM (Generic), the Auto Detect should be checked, Audio source should be enabled, and you should pick the audio source, either line 1 or microphone, depending on what jack on the audio card you plugged your cable into. Then hit hide.
Very Important Step On the transmitter, you want to have dip switches 7 and 8 in the down position, this will put the controller in airplane mode and turn of CCPM. The simulator will not recognize CCPM or the pitch channel, so you need to turn them off. Make sure you put your dip switches back into the original positions before you use your controller to fly a real aircraft. If you do not turn of CCPM, then your transmitter will send signals on other channels, and the aircraft will be uncontrollable in the simulator. Also, if you can turn of CCPM, then you don't need a fancy cable to filter the signal, and you may save a few bucks because you can use the simple 1/8 inch male to male audio cable that is readily available at many stores.
ALSO- you must have SmartPropoPlus running while using a simulator. Before you start the simulator, start SmartPropoPlus then hit the 'hide' button. It will run in the background and let you use your controller.
In clearview, in the controller setup, you want to pick the PPJoy virtual joystick as your controller. I have throttle set as y axis and reversed, rudder set to x axis and reversed, aileron set to z rotation and elevator set to z axis reversed.
This is how I have my Blade CP pro2 controller, PPJoy and SmartPropoPlus configured so I can use my transmitter to control aircraft in Clearview. I hope it will work for you. I'm not sure how everything would work for other controllers, but if you have one of these E-Flite controllers, then all you need in a $6 cable and those programs, and you can use it to control Clearview. Happy Flying!!!!