FSSB resistance: How to be hated in 1 message ;)
Posted: Sat Dec 20, 2008 7:45 pm
Hi everyone!
I've red all the threads reporting to the FSSB in your forum, I use this marvelous device since 5 months now and I really love it. It was pretty hard at the beginning but with time and by reading your topics I learning many things so first, I'd like to thank for all your efforts.
However I've got a bad news about your lbs calculation method, I think you are wrong
You've forgotten to consider an essential thing in your math: the calibration file! I looked in every part of your forum and you don't speak about it anywhere. To me it's the only accurate way to set your FSSB properly. If you open the CCP and look at the "Axis shaping" tab you can see the calibration neutral values. Mine is 32300 for the X axis. Now go to the Y axis, mine is 32300 too. Where does those numbers come from? The manual calibration file tells the Cougar to which point he will consider your efforts on the stick. The file is here: C:\Program Files\HOTAS\calib\ and mine is called "calibration.ccf" and it can be edited with the notepad.
Here is what my calibration file look like:
[Calibration]
0=18700,32300,45900
1=12300,32300,52300
2=41472,32000,23104
3=42880,34976,25024
4=14144,30720,47296
5=11008,31728,52448
6=52448,32288,11008
7=0,0,0
8=0,0,0
9=0,0,0
AxesStatus=2
The "0" line is for the X axis, the "1" line is for the Y axis, the "2" line is for the Microstick X. How do I know that? Simple, get back to the CCP "Axis shaping" tab and click on the "Axis to set" field. They are in the same order.
Now lets talk about all those numbers:
0=18700,32300,45900
X axis=max left value, neutral position value, max right value
1=12300,32300,52300
Y axis= max push value, neutral position value, max pull value
The Cougar works in 16bits, which means that each axis works with 65536 values. And 65536/2 gives 32768. It's not exacty between 32200 and 32400 but it's too close for being a coincidence. Remove the 00 at the end of those two last number and you'll have the settings Real Simulator ask to set with the screws under the sensor.
My opinion (and I've tested it too much for making mistakes about that) is that when you check your axis with the Foxy's joystick analyzer, you don't only compare it the FSSB resistance but also with the calibration file.
I only work with the max resistance (25/17) so I don't know what it would give with weaker ones. Off course, the 25lbs are between the neutral position and the max force the device can measure.
Let's consider my pulling settings: 1=12300,32300,52300
Max device value: 65536 = 100% measurable strength = 25lbs
Max pull calibration value: 52300
By doing my math I see that 52300 represents 79,80% from 65536, so 79,80% from 25lbs gives 19.95lbs for the pull.
Now I do the same thing for my X axis. I'll do it with the max right value = 45900 = 11,90lbs.
Oh crap, the 0.68 ratio isn't respected For having a proper one I should have 19.95*0.68=13.566lbs
So, lets get back to my actual right max value which is 45900. It will need to be increased, but how?
As I am writing those lines I understand an interesting thing: My resistance settings are 25/17 and if divide 25 by 17 it gives me 0.68. So if I set same value for my X and Y axis that will perfectly match the 0.68 ratio!
In the end if I want to have a proper 0.68 ratio using 19.95lbs for max pulling, 13.566lbs for max left and right roll I need to have:
0=12300,32300,52300
1=12300,32300,52300
By the way, since I have my FSSB I've always worked by editing my calibration file. Sometime it make your Cougar a little buggy after too many calibration file changes. You'll maybe have to flash it but that's not a big problem if you know how to deal with flashing.
Now that I've tried to prove that your calculation method was wrong, it's time for you to insult me
PS: I know my method isn't 100% accurate but it must be very close from the right numbers!
I've red all the threads reporting to the FSSB in your forum, I use this marvelous device since 5 months now and I really love it. It was pretty hard at the beginning but with time and by reading your topics I learning many things so first, I'd like to thank for all your efforts.
However I've got a bad news about your lbs calculation method, I think you are wrong
You've forgotten to consider an essential thing in your math: the calibration file! I looked in every part of your forum and you don't speak about it anywhere. To me it's the only accurate way to set your FSSB properly. If you open the CCP and look at the "Axis shaping" tab you can see the calibration neutral values. Mine is 32300 for the X axis. Now go to the Y axis, mine is 32300 too. Where does those numbers come from? The manual calibration file tells the Cougar to which point he will consider your efforts on the stick. The file is here: C:\Program Files\HOTAS\calib\ and mine is called "calibration.ccf" and it can be edited with the notepad.
Here is what my calibration file look like:
[Calibration]
0=18700,32300,45900
1=12300,32300,52300
2=41472,32000,23104
3=42880,34976,25024
4=14144,30720,47296
5=11008,31728,52448
6=52448,32288,11008
7=0,0,0
8=0,0,0
9=0,0,0
AxesStatus=2
The "0" line is for the X axis, the "1" line is for the Y axis, the "2" line is for the Microstick X. How do I know that? Simple, get back to the CCP "Axis shaping" tab and click on the "Axis to set" field. They are in the same order.
Now lets talk about all those numbers:
0=18700,32300,45900
X axis=max left value, neutral position value, max right value
1=12300,32300,52300
Y axis= max push value, neutral position value, max pull value
The Cougar works in 16bits, which means that each axis works with 65536 values. And 65536/2 gives 32768. It's not exacty between 32200 and 32400 but it's too close for being a coincidence. Remove the 00 at the end of those two last number and you'll have the settings Real Simulator ask to set with the screws under the sensor.
My opinion (and I've tested it too much for making mistakes about that) is that when you check your axis with the Foxy's joystick analyzer, you don't only compare it the FSSB resistance but also with the calibration file.
I only work with the max resistance (25/17) so I don't know what it would give with weaker ones. Off course, the 25lbs are between the neutral position and the max force the device can measure.
Let's consider my pulling settings: 1=12300,32300,52300
Max device value: 65536 = 100% measurable strength = 25lbs
Max pull calibration value: 52300
By doing my math I see that 52300 represents 79,80% from 65536, so 79,80% from 25lbs gives 19.95lbs for the pull.
Now I do the same thing for my X axis. I'll do it with the max right value = 45900 = 11,90lbs.
Oh crap, the 0.68 ratio isn't respected For having a proper one I should have 19.95*0.68=13.566lbs
So, lets get back to my actual right max value which is 45900. It will need to be increased, but how?
As I am writing those lines I understand an interesting thing: My resistance settings are 25/17 and if divide 25 by 17 it gives me 0.68. So if I set same value for my X and Y axis that will perfectly match the 0.68 ratio!
In the end if I want to have a proper 0.68 ratio using 19.95lbs for max pulling, 13.566lbs for max left and right roll I need to have:
0=12300,32300,52300
1=12300,32300,52300
By the way, since I have my FSSB I've always worked by editing my calibration file. Sometime it make your Cougar a little buggy after too many calibration file changes. You'll maybe have to flash it but that's not a big problem if you know how to deal with flashing.
Now that I've tried to prove that your calculation method was wrong, it's time for you to insult me
PS: I know my method isn't 100% accurate but it must be very close from the right numbers!