New Hall Sensor kits

Hi Sierra

I am shipping more throttle sets today. I hope to be shipping throttle and stick sets in a few days.

(My sister works at Disney also, and she loves it, its her life)

Miles

Hey Guys

For everyone that PMed me for orders, I have been sending out paypal invoices and shipping throttle kits in the order received. The Joystick kits will start shipping Monday so you should get your paypal invoices this weekend. If you have not sent me a email address please PM with it. I should have the Joystick installation video up in few days.

Thanks again for everyone's support

Miles

Hey Miles

Just out of curiosity, Are you running into any problems using the Cougar with Windows 10? What drivers and configuration software are you using?

Sierra

Hey Miles

 

Just out of curiosity, Are you running into any problems using the Cougar with Windows 10? What drivers and configuration software are you using?

 

 

Sierra

Hi Sierra

I am still on windows 7 & XP on most of my machines. I think I was the last DOS holdout thinking Windows was just a fad, with all this WYSIWYG stuff. I know I was the last guy using Lotus 123 with always. ah the days of cd\tetris. I just use the cougar as a standard joystick, with DCS mapping software being so good I see no reason for additional software. I made a replacement PnP board for the F22 pro that turned it into 2 USB 32 button joysticks so you had all of the buttons with 2 functions, all with the stock joystick drivers. I made one for the TQS that turned it into USB also. Sorry got off topic.

Miles

Hi Miles,

I've got a couple questions about configuring the sensor. I can't find the windows setting you are using to get a reading so I was using the HOTAS Cougar Calibration routine. When I set it so that the sensor returns a 0 when the throttle is all the way forward, the ring prevents me from putting the base back on (it is positioned such that it is in the way). Are you calibrating this so that all the way back is 0? I suspect that the cougar software won't allow that...

My second problem is the sensor range. When I set the sensor to read a 0 when the throttle is at one extreme, the sensor seems to be hitting the max reading (as reported by HOTAS Cougar Control Pane) with a fair amount of play left on the throttle. Am I installing this incorrectly?

My third question is that your video doesn't show what to do with the yellow wire that is attached via a screw. I assume that is a ground wire and should be placed under the corresponding screw but it doesn't appear to be in your video.

Thanks

Andre

Hi Miles,

 

I've got a couple questions about configuring the sensor. I can't find the windows setting you are using to get a reading so I was using the HOTAS Cougar Calibration routine. When I set it so that the sensor returns a 0 when the throttle is all the way forward, the ring prevents me from putting the base back on (it is positioned such that it is in the way). Are you calibrating this so that all the way back is 0? I suspect that the cougar software won't allow that...

 

My second problem is the sensor range. When I set the sensor to read a 0 when the throttle is at one extreme, the sensor seems to be hitting the max reading (as reported by HOTAS Cougar Control Pane) with a fair amount of play left on the throttle. Am I installing this incorrectly?

 

My third question is that your video doesn't show what to do with the yellow wire that is attached via a screw. I assume that is a ground wire and should be placed under the corresponding screw but it doesn't appear to be in your video.

 

Thanks

Andre

Hi Andre,

I really have to make a better video, Sorry for that. I am using the windows device manager, On windows 7 just click on "start" then "device and printers" You will see your Cougar hotas there. But the thrustmaster TARGET script editor device analyzer works works also. I just like to see the raw data.

The ring should be in the forward position when the throttle is pulled back to idle, or not only will the top not close but the magnet completely rotate away from the sensor when you move the throttle forward. Also check which way the magnets are facing. As in the video the visible magnets should be facing away from the sensor. It sounds like you may have the magnets facing the sensor. If it is in that position, the controls will be reversed and the magnets will be to close to the sensor and you will have the condition you described with to much sensed movement per the actual throttle movement. After you turn the ring around you can fin tune it by sliding closer or farther away from the sensor.

I hope that does it for you, Feel free to call me on my cell phone of you have any other issues. 203 278 3601

Hi Andre,

I am using the windows device manager, On windows 7 just click on "start" then "device and printers" I hope that does it for you, Feel free to call me on my cell phone of you have any other issues. 203

Or in start box type: joy.cpl :thumbup:

Or right click on desktop, select new shortcut, type joy.cpl, name as desire, e.g. "Joysticks" and voilá. :D

I guess I should have been more explicit. I'm running windows 10 with the Thrustmaster Cougar drivers installed. When I go to the game controllers screen I see my Thrustmaster HOTAS Cougar listed and two buttons "Advanced..." and "Properties" The Advanced button only gives me one option, to select my default device. The Properties button does nothing... When I was running Windows 8.1 this button would open the HOTASView control panel but in Windows 10 it doesn't automatically open (I can manually open it though). I think I can use that to tune the settings, it just looks very different than what you showed in the video. I also think the HOTAS Cougar Viewer shows the calibrated value rather than the raw value so I don't know if it can be trusted for calibration purposes.

I verified that I have the ring installed in the correct direction. The side where the magnets are visible is pointing away from the sensor (so the closed side is facing the sensor).

When you say that the ring should be in the "forward position when the throttle is pulled back to idle", does that mean it should be reading 0 while in idle? Because with the stock pot, I'm getting the highest value when the throttle is back and the lowest when it is forward. Ok... just did a quick test with the stock pot and move the throttle in the opposite direction than it told me to while calibrating it. I thought it would not let me do this since for most values it knows max should be higher than min but it let me do that. And after calibrating it that way, the back (idle) position still reads the highest value.

So long story short, I think (hope) I just need a way to see the raw values while I calibrate the hardware, then I can run the cougars calibration routine to calibrate the software. I think...

Try with DView, this show the raw values. Right mouse click over screen to select "View raw data".

Is better use this than Windows applet, allow calibration too - manually. Tested OK in Win10/64.

http://www.derekspearedesigns.com/download/DIView.exe

BTW - Here in Win10/64 the "Game Controllers" (joy.cpl) work in the same way that in Win7/64, but no Cougar to test. :)

Hi Andre

Why don't you give me a call so we can talk through this. If you can use joy.cpl like Sokol said that would be helpful. If you are still getting to much throw you only have move the ring laterally away from the sensor. Thanks for the help on this Sokol. There is the posibilty I may have installed the magnet backwards. We will know when we use joy.cpl.

I am home all night tonight so give me a call. 203 278 3601.

Miles

Try with DView, this show the raw values. Right mouse click over screen to select "View raw data".

 

Is better use this than Windows applet, allow calibration too - manually. Tested OK in Win10/64.

 

http://www.derekspearedesigns.com/download/DIView.exe

 

BTW - Here in Win10/64 the "Game Controllers" (joy.cpl) work in the same way that in Win7/64, but no Cougar to test. :)

Wow, I really like that DiView.

You are a wealth of information!!

Thanks

Miles

Hi Andre

Why don't you give me a call so we can talk through this. If you can use joy.cpl like Sokol said that would be helpful. If you are still getting to much throw you only have move the ring laterally away from the sensor. Thanks for the help on this Sokol. There is the posibilty I may have installed the magnet backwards. We will know when we use joy.cpl.

I am home all night tonight so give me a call. 203 278 3601.

 

Miles

Can you PM me and we can setup some evening next week? My in-laws are in town so finding time I can dedicate to troubleshooting is iffy right now but next week should be better.

Thanks

Can you PM me and we can setup some evening next week? My in-laws are in town so finding time I can dedicate to troubleshooting is iffy right now but next week should be better.

 

Thanks

I am going to send you out a few parts that I redesigned to give you more flexibility in adjustments. Hopefully you can lock it in without to much more time being spent on it.

Miles

Hey Guys

Here is a new video showing a small deadspace issue on the throttle. It did not show up on the windows joystick app. Please evaluate before purchase. I dont use the detents but when I had them installed for testing the deadspace was not even noticeable to me.

Hi Icarus

Because space is so limited there was not enough room to add another magnet. Nor could I just use 2 with space between them. I don't know if you installed your kit yet, but the replacement spacers and screws I sent you make it much easier to adjust. I am going to get another video out ASAP with more detail showing the adjustment. Basically if you slide the magnet as far away from the sensor as possibly before loosing the max throw it will limit the deadspace.

Miles

Hi Icarus

If you cant get to zero (low) with the magnet ring close to the PCB, pushing the sensor closer to the magnet ring will help. You may not even need to change the spacers. They replace the one piece unit between the PCB and the larger bracket. If you don't get a zero reading with the magnetic bracket rotated until it makes contact with the case you can swap the 2 thinner spacers for the original thicker one. This will allow you to get to a zero (low) reading when the magnetic ring just touches the case as in the install video. It takes a bit to get the hang of it, but one you start moving things around while watching the DIView screen it becomes more clear what each adjustment does.

Here you can see the stock bracket on the left and the retrofitted bracket in the center. The sensor is lowered in the mount. On the far right is what you have coming if its needed.

Miles

I'm in for a set.

Hi Icarus

Because space is so limited there was not enough room to add another magnet. Nor could I just use 2 with space between them. I don't know if you installed your kit yet, but the replacement spacers and screws I sent you make it much easier to adjust. I am going to get another video out ASAP with more detail showing the adjustment. Basically if you slide the magnet as far away from the sensor as possibly before loosing the max throw it will limit the deadspace.

 

Miles

Hi Miles,

I got the parts you sent today and assembled them as shown in the picture. I've still got a fair amount of deadspace. Looking forward to the configuration video so I can see how much I can minimize that. Thanks

Andre

Hi Andre

I am going to try and do that tonight. Did you find it overall easier to get things working with the new parts ?

Miles

JoyStick hall sensor instalation video

Here is the Cougar Joystick installation video. It is much simpler than the throttle.

[ame]

Miles

Cougar throttle calibration(no dead zone)

Here is is a updated video calibration procedure to take out the deadzone on the idle and full throttle.

[ame]

Hello

I am interested in the full kit, I have sent a PM.

Mack

I just calibrated with the TUSBA and it worked great, obviously the values will be different. The standard 8 bit works fine also. Even with the calibration at 1/200 I can barely move it just 1 step, even when I really try. To me 8 bit on the throttle is fine.

That should work for me, mine will be running with TUSBA which is 12 bit. I should not notice much resolution loss then, right?

If calibration processes reduce the possible (TUSBA) 12 bits resolution (4096 points) ~10% - due the less than 5v voltage variation - you are loosing ~0,01mm of throttle adjust per degree (considering a 50º throttle course). :)

[ame]http://www.hempstick.org/download/articles/OnResolution.pdf[/ame]