My Apologies
First I want to sincerely than kroswynd and others for answering my questions and providing guidance. The Majestic Q400 is my absolute favorite aircraft, but here's where the but comes in.
I spend so much time trying to finesse the throttle in FSX that it's hard to enjoy the flying. Most of my approach and landing is spent with my head in the cockpit. I use a Saitek throttle quadrant, recently purchased new. I have calibrated it using the control panel, but no two calibrations give the same results.
A forward or backward movement of my throttle can have the same or opposite effect on TRQ and the visual cockpit throttle. It's impossible to get a one or two percent change. 4% seem to be the norm and even after setting it, it sometimes changes on it's own. Heaven forbid that the arrow on the speed tape will stop or stay where it's pointing.. I could go on and on, but if others are flying it without issues then I have failed to figure out what I'm doing differently.
Some of the above is a vent, but it's also a plea for a solutions to the problem. If the only solution is to purchase a more expensive throttle then I'll accept it and retire the Q400 to the boneyard. It's the only reason that I still fly FSX and post the occasional video to Twitch, so I would miss it, but I wouldn't miss the frustration.
Thank you.. everyone.
Ernie
Comments
Hi Ernie,
I hear you when it comes to the Saitek throttles. They are glitchy out of the box a can of quality electronics cleaner will help for a little while. The Honeycomb has similar issues, as all controllers do as they wear with time. Calibrating them correctly can help somewhat. Here is a link to something I wrote to remind myself how to calibrate the Saitek throttles. http://majesticsoftware.com/forums/discussion/1276/0/#Form_Comment
It may help you with accuracy in controlling the power levers.
Cheers Jax
Thanks.. Would love the have the multiple throttle levers that Bravo has. My propeller and mixture axis are assigned to the fuel condition levers, which work perfectly. Having just one remaining throttle lever means what one does, both do. I don't know if it's characteristic of the real Q400, but my throttle 'jumps' between disc and flight idle. There is virtually no 'finesse' between the two settings and no way to set a center in FSUIPC with a single throttle.
I do have my older (2yr) Saitek that I replaced. I suppose that once breaking it down and cleaning the pots I could pair them and try a dual throttle set up. Would have to modify my keyboard tray to mount them, but it might be worth a try.
Again, thanks for the photos.. Ernie
Using a single level controller can make it a challenge to get the true functionality of what a dual throttle quad would provide. As @Jax_in_BC mentioned Saitek/Logitech throttles can be rather twitchy with use and wear and tear. I have never used the said model quad, but in some of my other throttle quads (PFC and Elite) I have used a solution called Deoxit (https://www.amazon.com/Hosa-D5S-6-DeoxIT-Contact-Cleaner/dp/B00006LVEU) to clean my pots which worked quite well, until it was time to change the pots themselves - not sure if it may help in your case as I am not too familiar with the Saitek line of products. I have since switched to HE sensors for the virtual Fly's products but they are on the pricy side.
Calibration once done properly should allow for minuet changes, but again if there is noise in the controller it can be a struggle.
@airernie , I completely sympathise with you. I use CH Products Flightstick PRO joysticks, Pro Throttles and Pro Pedals ... I have for years ... and I too suffer from the same "glitchy" throttle and general flight control that you have described. But, not just in the Dash 8, but also in my other aircraft as well.
Over my many, many years of Flight Sim use, previous versions all the way up to my current version, P3D, I have gone through three Flightstick PRO joysticks, two Pro Throttles, and two sets of Pro Pedals. Each time I purchase, I buy the same CH Products joystick or throttle or pedals again. And, I do this despite the glitchiness. I do it purely because they last a long time, are easy to use, can be programmed, and are easy to open up and clean etc. I simply find them good "bang for buck", so to speak.
But, yes, they can be "glitchy" ... with the Pro Throttle being the most obvious one where it can be very hard to set and get an exact TRQ, RPM, or N1 value in your aircraft. It's not an issue in cruise flight if your aircraft has an auto-throttle autopilot available, but it becomes very noticable when that is disengaged for manual landings or hand-flying. It's also annoying on takeoffs if the throttle doesn't maintain the constant thrust setting required for a smooth takeoff roll and fly-out. (Airbus flying can be particularly fun on takeoffs if your throttle randomly decides, half way down the runway, that it's going to glitch and not stay in the correct throttle indent on the console.)
I thought that once I purchased a new PC, with the latest USB version and a good power supply to give good, constant power to the PC's USB bus that the glitchiness would subside ... but, alas, no ... the joysticks, and particularly the throttle, do still glitch despite this.
The fix? I don't know. I've never experienced non-glitchy sticks, pedals or throttles. Maybe spend lots more money on more expensive equipment? Probably. But, that said, I like my CH Products products and I have become very used to the glitches. If anything, I see them as a challenge and just another thing that a vigilant pilot must monitor carefully as they fly the (virtual) skies. And, hey, are the throttle glitches really that much different from speed fluctuations in the cockpit due to unexpected wind changes? At least that is one way one could look at it.
Thanks freddy.. I figured that I wasn't the only one. I'm not sure if those that have the Honeycomb Bravo are in the same boat, but $300 isn't in my budget to experiment.