Atomic Systems

Hi all

Just wondering, because I haven't yet tried it...

I've got a USB controller that I use for flight sim timming, it's a Leo Bodnar USB joystick board with three 10 turn pots attached (with a knob/dial on each one). So, I'm wondering if I can use that in Train Simulator as most, if not all, of the trains controls are on no more than 3 axis?

Or if I bought one could I use something like a Saitek throttle quadrant, which has, as it's name suggest, 4 axis, each one with a lever attached so that you can control engine throttles accurately in flight sims?

Currently I use an Xbox 360 gamepad or the keyboard and I'm getting the feeling they're not quite good enough.

It might be worth asking the question in the Hardware Forum - I have seen this mentioned in the past but it was a bit ago
http://forums.uktrainsim.com/viewforum.php?f=383

I don't know if a Search in this forum might bring a result.

Peter

Hi RobLee

You can use a small utility program called Joystick Helper created by havner. See the thread here:

http://forums.uktrainsim.com/viewtopic.php?t=139304

It works very well on the HST and some other UK locomotives I have tried. It is a bit of a fiddle to get it up and running, but the instructions are clear and using physical power and brake controllers rather than using the keyboard makes a huge difference to the experience.

Peter
Just a note there are NO axes as such in TS2017 (like as in FSX).
XPADDER software or Pinnacle game controller will usually allow most joysticks to work in TS2017 as well as the utility mentioned above.
pH

Absolutely you can - with Havner's brilliant tool. I have a Leo Bodnar-based controller I built with separate rotary controls for water and steam feeds, ejectors, blower, handbrake etc. Regulator, reverser, brakes and firing controls are on Saitek quadrants - again using Joystick helper. I like using the mouse for cab controls but sometimes I find them tricky to operate quickly, and often there's just too much going on, or I want to look at the scenery.