Flight Control System/Pro Flight Control System Problem: My joystick won't act normally no matter which game I'm in or how many times I calibrate it. Solution: This is common when using a sound card game port or system game port on machines such as a 486, and even some of the faster 386's. This also can happen if there are two active game cards. The solution is to make sure there is only one active game card. If there is only one card active, you will need a dedicated, dual port, speed adjustable game card, such as the ThrustMaster ACM. Problem: My joystick worked fine for a couple of months, but now I can't calibrate it no matter what I do. Solution: You are experiencing 'heat drift' problems with the potentiometers. They will need to be replaced. You can take the unit back to where you bought it or call (503) 968-3411 and ask for service. Problem: The HAT switch/buttons on my FCS/PFCS work intermittently, or don't work at all. Solution: This normally happens on faster machines, such as a 486, when the Flight Control System is plugged into a sound card's game port or the game port that came with the computer system. The solution is to use a dedicated dual port, speed adjustable game card, such as the ThrustMaster ACM card. Problem: Something popped inside my FCS/PFCS, and now it is loose on one side. Solution: This is caused by a spring that has either broken or popped off inside the unit. You can take the unit back to where you bought it or call (503) 968-3411 and ask for service. Problem: The hat switch won't function in Falcon 3.0. Solution: For versions of Falcon earlier than 3.02, you will need a TSR program to run the cooley hat, such as The Pilot's Edge by Dwight Ennis or a shareware program called F3cooley.zip. This is because the earlier versions of Falcon do not use the hat switch. If you have Falcon 3.02 or later versions, the hat is supported in the game. This shareware program is available on many bulletin board systems nationwide, or directly from ThrustMaster. Problem: When I installed the joystick, it made the game lock up and act "weird". Solution: A joystick is not capable of doing this. The only thing a joystick does is change an analog signal that the game card reads. The problem may lie in the hardware setup of the computer. Mark II Problem: When I download/calibrate my Mark II nothing happens. The line that says "put the switch into calibrate" doesn't change, even when I put the switch in calibrate. Solution: Try rocking the red switch back to analog, then forward to calibrate. This will reset the Mark II for downloading. Problem: I have rocked the base switch back to analog and then forward to calibrate a number of times, and it still does not do anything. Solution: This is a keyboard BIOS problem. Refer to the section on Keyboard Bios for a detailed solution. Problem: I used to be able to move the base switch into calibrate, and it would download. Now nothing happens when the screen says "put the red switch into calibrate". Solution: This may be a bad three way switch. Call (503) 968-3411 and ask for service/repairs. Problem: In order to download, I need to rock the red switch back and forth a number of times (or hit the enter key on the keyboard a number of times) to get it to 100%. Solution: This is symptomatic of a keyboard bios/controller problem. The Mark II has a difficult time communicating with a few keyboard bios controllers. You will need to have a wire modification, and upgrade chip installed. Call (503) 968-3411 and ask for service/repairs. Note: refer to keyboard bios section for more information. Problem: When I calibrate the unit, I get to the point where the program says to pull it back to cutoff (all the way back) and when I do press button one on the WCS, nothing happens. To continue I press the enter key on the keyboard to exit. Solution: If you can get through the calibration routine and get stuck at that point, you may hit the enter key on the keyboard to finish the calibration program. TMSA Diagnostic Utility Problem: I am using the MARK II WCS, and when I try to calibrate my FCS/PFCS all I get is 830 under the HAT column. Solution: This is normal when entering TMSA if both the red switch and the black switch are in the digital position. Change the black switch to analog, then you will be able to adjust the hat value.If you have set the switches correctly on the WCS, this may be a sign of a bad hat switch on the FCS/PFCS. You can take the unit back to where you bought it, or call (503) 968-3411 and ask for service. Question: How do I adjust the HAT value to 82? Answer: You need a manually, speed adjustable game card. Problem: I get no number underneath the HAT column. Solution: This is typical when there is more than one active game port on a system. The other game port needs to be disabled. . This also can happen on some game cards that come with a computer system. This is because many of these game cards are designed to only read a single joystick. The hat uses the y-axis on the second joystick. This will cause the value to be missing under the hat column Problem: I have put my black switch on the Mark II WCS in analog and I still get a value of 830. Solution: Try rocking the switch again. Make sure the red switch is in digital. If it still does not change, it may be a bad switch. Call (503) 968-3411 and ask for service/repairs. Question: How do I make sure the analog throttle is working correctly? Answer: When in TMSA, put the red switch in analog, the black switch in digital. Underneath the HAT column you will see the value change, depending on where the throttle is. When the throttle is forward, you should see a value around 5 to 15. All the way back the value should be approximately 70 to 100. Question: How can I check to see if my buttons on my FCS/PFCS are working in TMSA? Answer: Look above the right box. You will see a row of zeros. When you press a button, the zero will be replaced by a one. If your joystick is plugged into the Mark II, you will need to place the red switch into calibrate to see the button presses register. Game Cards Question: Why shouldn't I plug my ThrustMaster hardware into my sound card's game port or the game port that came with my computer system? Answer: On faster speed machines, the joystick routine in the software does not read the joystick signal properly. This is referred to as timing problems. Question: How can I tell if I have another game port on my system? Answer: Any 15-pin connector on the back of your computer is another game port. Question: How do I disable the other game ports on my system? Answer: Refer to the documentation that came with your computer system or your sound card to see how this is done. Question: What makes a speed adjustable game card better than a sound card game port, or one that came with the computer system? Answer: They are designed to vary the joystick signal so that the software can read the full joystick signal, and properly process the data. Question: Do I need a speed adjustable game card? Answer: Yes, if you are using a high speed computer such as a 486. Question: Why do I need a "dual-port" game card? Answer: Because software reads the ThrustMaster products as a TWO joystick input. Question: What is a 'timing problem'? Answer: This is caused when the joystick value that is sent to the CPU from a sound card game port and/or a game port that came with a computer system is too high for the software to read. Question: What causes the timing problem? Answer: This is caused by the fact that these cards cannot adjust the length of the joystick signal to the CPU speed. Keyboard Bios Question: What is a keyboard bios problem? Answer: Microcode problems within the keyboard bios chip which causes communication problems with the Mark II. There are known microcode problems with a few of keyboard bios/controller chips on the market. These include AMI versions D, B, 8, 0. Acer and Phoenix are some other known problematic bios chips. There are also 'clone' versions of the AMI bios that say F version or later, but do not work. The reason is that they are 'clones' and are stamped with the AMI seal, but are not true AMI chips. Question: Are there some systems that the Mark II WCS will not work with? Answer: The Mark II is designed to work with the 100% IBM PC AT standard. There are a number of computer manufacturers who design their computers with proprietary technology which does not conform to the true IBM standards. This causes the Mark II to have trouble communicating with the computer system. The Gateway 2000, and its' programmable keyboard are a good example of this. Question: If I have a keyboard bios problem, how do I fix it? Answer: Try using a different brand keyboard (try a friend's). Question: What if I don't have access to another keyboard, or a different keyboard does not work? Answer: There is a wire modification that can be done on the circuit board of the Mark II (NOTE: This is only for models that use the DOS prompt command download.exe to download). Once the unit is open (screws taken out and circuit board visible), look for two connection points J43 and J42 on the side towards the cable connectors. The keyboard cable has two wires that connect here, a red one and a black one. You will need to reverse and resolder these so that the RED is connected to J43, and the BLACK to J42. Note: Do NOT attempt if you are not comfortable with this kind of work. Question: What if I can't do this modification, or it does not work? Answer: You can replace the chip inside the Mark II. This chip is NOT a fix, but rather an upgrade. It incorporates new features such as a menu driven download interface, allows a continuous keypress, and extra programming features. Because of the known microcode bugs in some of the keyboard bios controllers, we have attempted to address a problem that does not exist within our product, and to help those who have this trouble. We do not provide this upgrade chip free of charge. Miscellaneous Question: What are the analog and digital modes? Answer: Analog is the signal that is sent through the game card. Digital is when the signal is sent through the keyboard port. (I.E., when using digital, the device will act just like a keyboard.) Question: Can I use TMSA without using ThrustMaster equipment? Answer: Yes. It can be used to check equipment not manufactured by ThrustMaster. In general, the ACM adjustment procedure can be done with most adjustable game cards. If you're using a non-adjustable card or built-in game port, then you will not be able to set the range of values that TMSA will display, but the tests for general operation, symmetry, and minimum value can still be performed in essentially the manner described. Question: Why should I not select the ThrustMaster option within a game when using the Mark II WCS? Answer: Because the support for the WCS was written for the original Mark 1 WCS, and will not work with the Mark II WCS. When using the Mark II, you can run a digital hat, thus eliminating the need for FCS game software support. Common Game Calibration Routines Question: How do I configure the ThrustMaster FCS/PFCS in Spectrum Holobyte's Falcon 3.0, OFT, MiG-29 & Hornet? Answer: If using just the FCS/PFCS and you have the MiG-29 or Hornet add-on's, select "ThrustMaster" in the war-room. If you do not have MIG-29 or Hornet, you need a third party TSR such as the Pilot's Edge to allow the hat to function as views. Question: How do I configure the ThrustMaster WCS Mark II and FCS/PFCS in Spectrum Holobyte's Falcon 3.0, OFT, MiG-29 & Hornet? Answer: Prior to entering the game make sure your red switch is set to Analog and the black switch to Digital. This provides for much smoother throttle control. Select "Joystick" in the system setup. Once in a mission press ESC. Then go to control. Select joystick, then recalibrate. Follow the directions for calibrating the joystick and throttle. Question: How do I configure the ThrustMaster WCS Mark II and Rudder Control System in MicroProse's F15 Strike Eagle III? Answer: Select "Joystick" in the Hardware options menu or Options menu within the game. Have both your red and black switch set to Digital. To use the RCS or to run the game with Analog throttle you'll need a software patch from MicroProse to update the calibration routine. Question: How do I configure the ThrustMaster FCS/PFCS in MicroProse's F15 Strike Eagle III? Answer: Just select "ThrustMaster" from the Hardware options in the install menu or the Control menu in the game. Question: How do I configure the ThrustMaster WCS Mark II in Microsoft's Flight Simulator 5? Answer: Put the red switch to analog and your black switch to digital prior to entering the game. For "Joystick One" select Aileron and Elevator. For "Joystick Two", select "Throttle" only or "Throttle and Rudders" if you are using Rudder pedals. Question: How do I configure the ThrustMaster FCS/PFCS in Microsoft's Flight Simulator 5? Answer: Get into the game's preference's menu and select Aileron and Elevator for "Joystick One". Question: I'm trying to fly Aces of the Pacific/Aces over Europe with my FCS/PFCS and my hat won't work, what should I do? Answer: Select "ThrustMaster" for flight under the Preferences menu and calibrate the FCS/PFCS. Note: Aces of the Pacific Mission Builder 1946 has better FCS/PFCS support than the original release. Question: How do I configure the ThrustMaster WCS Mark II in Dynamix's Aces series? Answer: AOE came with an .adv file that you can use. Copy that .adv file into the Mark II directory and download it. You can play either game in either Analog or Digital throttle. If you decide to play in analog throttle select "Joystick" for flight and "Slider on Joystick 1" for the throttle in the Preferences menu. If you decide to run in Digital throttle select "Keyboard" for throttle and "Joystick" for flight Question: How do I configure the ThrustMaster WCS Mark II in Nova Logic's Comanche? Answer: Select "Normal Joystick" in the Control menu. Have the red switch set to Digital and the hat mode set to Analog just for calibrating the FCS/PFCS. Center the FCS/PFCS and squeeze the trigger. Swirl the FCS/PFCS AND swirl the hat. Squeeze the trigger a second time. After calibrating, place the hat mode switch to Digital. Question: How do I configure the ThrustMaster FCS/PFCS in Nova Logic's Comanche? Answer: Select "ThrustMaster" in the preferences menu. Question: I have Strike Commander and I'm using the FCS/PFCS and your RCS. Why can't I get the hat or rudders to work? Answer: We couldn't either until the Tactical Operations add on disk came out and we installed it. Problem: I'm using the Mark II WCS with the FCS/PFCS and I can't get the calibration sequence to recognize button 2 in Microprose's F117 Stealth Fighter. Answer: When in the calibration sequence, put the red switch on the Mark II into calibrate. This will allow the game to recognize button 2. After calibration, flip the red switch back to the original position it was in. Additional Notes ( If your ThrustMaster hardware is working in one simulator and not in another, then the problem you are having is in the software, not the hardware. When the hardware is broken, it doesn't work in ANY simulator. ) ( As a general rule of thumb, do not select any option for ThrustMaster when using the Mark II WCS and the FCS/PFCS. ) ( You cannot use both red and black Mark II WCS switches in analog. ) ( If you have doubts about the FCS/PFCS performance, run the TMSA.EXE file. This comes with the Mark II and ACM card. If you don't have either of these, you can download this file from our various BBSs'. ) ( After downloading an .adv file to your Mark II WCS, run KEYTEST prior to entering your simulation. This will show you what each button outputs when pressed. ) ( Use the trigger any time a game calibration routine asks for a button press. ) Customer Support If this manual does not answer your questions, you may call ThrustMaster technical support at (503) 968-3400 from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm Pacific Time, Monday through Friday. ThrustMaster also monitors these On-line services: ( Compuserve - Go FS Forum, 72662,2334 ( America Online - ThrustMast ( GEnie - Thrust.dude ( Prodigy - GVRR37A