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.
Solution: You are experiencing 'heat drifting'. This is caused by using a multi I/O game port or a gameport on a sound card. The port heats up and the values being sent to the software are being misread. Go to a dedicated speed adjustable game card, such as the ThrustMaster ACM.
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.
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 service at(503) 639-3200 ext. 3133.
Solution: For versions of Falcon earlier than 3.02, you will need a TSR program to run the coolie 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.
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.
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.
Solution: This may be a bad three way switch. Call service at (503) 639-3200 ext. 3133
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.
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.
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.
Answer: Any 15-pin connector (8 across the top 7 across the bottom) on the back of your computer is another game port.
Answer: Refer to the documentation that came with your computer system or your sound card to see how this is done.
Answer: They are designed to vary the joystick signal so that the software can read the full joystick signal, and properly process the data.
Answer: Yes, if you are using a high speed computer such as a 486.
Answer: Because software reads the ThrustMaster products as a TWO joystick input.
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.
Answer: This is caused by the fact that these cards cannot adjust the length of the joystick signal to the CPU speed.
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.
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.
Answer: Try using a different brand keyboard (try a friend's).
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.)
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.
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.
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.
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 re-calibrate. Follow the directions for calibrating the joystick and throttle.
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.
Answer: Just select "ThrustMaster" from the Hardware options in the install menu or the Control menu in the game.
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.
Answer: Get into the game's preference's menu and select Aileron and Elevator for "Joystick One".
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.
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
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.
Answer: Select "ThrustMaster" in the preferences menu.
Answer: We couldn't either until the Tactical Operations add on disk came out and we installed it.
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.
( 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 WCS Mark II and ACM Game Card. If you don't have either of these, you can download this file from various BBS's. )
( 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. )