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williamf (5 posts)
Jun-22-01, 07:42 AM (EST) "Use of Joy Stick for MSTS?" Is there any way to use a joy stick to operate a locomotive
in MSTS, similar to the way one uses a joy stick in Flight Simulator? A joy stick would make MSTS much easier to operate in my opinion,
instead of the use of keyboard and mouse commands such as a joy stick makes Flight Simulator much easier and enjoyable to operate.The use of the mouse and(or) keyboard commands makes MSTS quite
difficult and very tiring to use.
Bill Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top
Table of Contents

Subject Author Message Date ID RE: Use of Joy Stick for MSTS? Nels_Anderson Jun-22-01 1 RE: Use of Joy Stick for MSTS? Ferrari355 Jun-22-01 2 RE: Use of Joy Stick for MSTS? ergobob Jun-22-01 4 RE: Use of Joy Stick for MSTS? williamf Jun-23-01 6 RE: Use of Joy Stick for MSTS? 3801 Jun-22-01 3 RE: Use of Joy Stick for MSTS? Alex Jun-23-01 5 RE: Use of Joy Stick for MSTS? southside Jun-23-01 7 RE: Use of Joy Stick for MSTS? Ferrari355 Jun-23-01 8 RE: Use of Joy Stick for MSTS? UtilityInfielder Jun-25-01 9 RE: Use of Joy Stick for MSTS? golub Jul-19-01 28 RE: Use of Joy Stick for MSTS? jeffmorris Jun-25-01 10 RE: Use of Joy Stick for MSTS? greyspider Jun-25-01 11 RE: Use of Joy Stick for MSTS? woeper Jul-02-01 12 RE: Use of Joy Stick for MSTS? BoxCarWilly Jul-02-01 13 RE: Use of Joy Stick for MSTS? woeper Jul-03-01 14 RE: Use of Joy Stick for MSTS? sniper297 Jul-03-01 15 RE: Use of Joy Stick for MSTS? Forney Jul-03-01 16 RE: Use of Joy Stick for MSTS? sniper297 Jul-04-01 17 RE: Use of Joy Stick for MSTS? RickCan Jul-05-01 18 RE: Use of Joy Stick for MSTS? ccyko Jul-06-01 19 RE: Use of Joy Stick for MSTS? Ferrari355 Jul-06-01 20 RE: Use of Joy Stick for MSTS? Nels_Anderson Jul-07-01 21 RE: Use of Joy Stick for MSTS? jeffmorris Jul-07-01 22 RE: Use of Joy Stick for MSTS? bandwidth Jul-09-01 27 RE: Use of Joy Stick for MSTS? Mike Jul-07-01 23 RE: Use of Joy Stick for MSTS? wecline Jul-07-01 24 RE: Use of Joy Stick for MSTS? Mike Jul-08-01 25 RE: Use of Joy Stick for MSTS? RickCan Jul-09-01 26 RE: Use of Joy Stick for MSTS? Howie Jul-20-01 29

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Nels_Anderson (394 posts)
Jun-22-01, 05:52 PM (EST) 1. "RE: Use of Joy Stick for MSTS?" Sorry, but MSTS does not support joysticks.
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Ferrari355 (178 posts)
Jun-22-01, 05:58 PM (EST) 2. "RE: Use of Joy Stick for MSTS?" I was suprized that this sim did not support really Microsoft's Force Feed back joystick or any joystick at all. allways in flight sim 2000 I use the joystick. But I'm waiting for their 2002 version. Anyway I hope it's not to hard with the keyboard. Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top
ergobob (202 posts)
Jun-22-01, 08:30 PM (EST) 4. "RE: Use of Joy Stick for MSTS?" I did see an engineer type box for sale on one of the sites. It looked like it had two leavers on top with several buttons. I assumed that it would work but I am not sure.bob Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top
williamf (5 posts)
Jun-23-01, 10:13 AM (EST) 6. "RE: Use of Joy Stick for MSTS?" >Sorry, but MSTS does not support
>joysticks.
NelsThank You for your response about using a joy stick.I just think that a joystick would make MSTS a lot more fun
and enjoyable to use than just the use of the mouse and keyboard
for control.MSTS overall is a great game taking considerable skill to operate
a train especially with steam. With only a model train background, I now have much more respect for train drivers,
and now know why they are called engineers.Bill
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3801 (2 posts)
Jun-22-01, 07:35 PM (EST) 3. "RE: Use of Joy Stick for MSTS?" Also very supprised that the Force feeback stick is not supported it would have been very enjoyable and easy, have just installed TS and it was the first thing I went looking for, bit dissapointing really, however back to the keyboard !.Greg Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top
Alex (88 posts)
Jun-23-01, 01:22 AM (EST) 5. "RE: Use of Joy Stick for MSTS?" the "engineer box" is for BVE, a subway sim specifically for which Japanese designed this thing, as of M$, it's just another attempt of theirs to grab your money withouth bothering doing much work for it, I got used to it. Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top
southside (11 posts)
Jun-23-01, 05:53 PM (EST) 7. "RE: Use of Joy Stick for MSTS?" Yes. I'm using my Wingman 3D extreme. In the Profiler software I
created a command and then recorded a key stroke to a button or
axis. For throttle I'm using the Y axis - forward increases throttle Back decreases throttle. The X axis is my brake, left is
relaese brake and right is apply brake. I'm thinking of using the
twist for the brake. Trigger - horn, reverser forward is button 7
and reverser reverse is button 8. The hat switch up - cab view
down - full view (key 2), left - rear view (key 3) and right is
trackside view (key 4).It's more enjoyable with the joystick. I just figured it out so I
have to assign the other buttons yet. You can assign any key to any button or axis.I think most joysticks have a program that comes with it to do this.Southside Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top
Ferrari355 (178 posts)
Jun-23-01, 07:07 PM (EST) 8. "RE: Use of Joy Stick for MSTS?" Yeah I know my sidewinder come's with software like that I never used that program yet.. Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top
UtilityInfielder (32 posts)
Jun-25-01, 01:55 AM (EST) 9. "RE: Use of Joy Stick for MSTS?" Programmible PC joysticks for MSTS: In addition to Microsoft's there's Suuncom, Saitek, CH, Thrustmaster. The higher end Thrustmasters are the only sticks with enough 4/8 way hats for this complicated game. The new metal version of the old F22/TQS premiered at the same show where MSTS did (was it E3 or something like that?), but anyway its not quite in production yet... I can't wait ...What might be great is when a commercial keyboard skin is made for this sim: MS did arrange the controls in orderly fashion as the colorcodes on the cheatsheet shows. Plastic keyboard overlays for flightsims are second choice hardware but might be best of all for trains!
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golub (9 posts)
Jul-19-01, 11:37 AM (EST) 28. "RE: Use of Joy Stick for MSTS?" I tried doing the same thing with my Logitech Extreme 3D. After I made the changes, the joy stick wasn't recognized until after I restarted the computer. Then it worked whether I started MSTS from the desktop or from within the profiler.However, I subsequently changed a couple of the profile settings, and now the joy stick doesn't seem to be recognized whichever way I open MSTS. I have restarted a few times, and also done a complete reboot. (It does work with Flight Simulator, so it's still plugged into the game port).Is there some setting that I'm missing? Is there something I need to kick?Rob Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top
jeffmorris (129 posts)
Jun-25-01, 07:41 AM (EST) 10. "RE: Use of Joy Stick for MSTS?" I was going to create a profile for MS Sidewinder Force Feedback 2 joystick for MSTS but I found out that I can only program the joystick's buttons and HAT switch. I can't program the joystick's handle. Jeffrey. Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top
greyspider (17 posts)
Jun-25-01, 10:54 PM (EST) 11. "RE: Use of Joy Stick for MSTS?" Hey Gang! Greyspider here- I am using a Wingman Extreme3d joystick after reading Southside's message. It works great. However I have to launch the game from my Joystick profiler menu- not by starting Train Sim from the desktop. I have 7 swithes and POV hat, and set them up:
Cab view (1 key)
Accelerate (D key)
Decelerate (A key)
Brake on (' key)
Brake off (; key)
Reverser forward (W key)
Reverser back (S key)POV is set for views
Up= 2 key
Down= 3 keyThis makes it much more enjoyable. Don't forget to set the reapeat rate to on (fast) on the Accelerate, Decellerate, and brake functions.
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woeper (10 posts)
Jul-02-01, 03:41 PM (EST) 12. "RE: Use of Joy Stick for MSTS?" Thanks for the tips folks, i've installed my sidewinder pro and it works great. And it's less complicated with searching for the right buttons.Accelerate = trigger
Deaccelerate = button 2
Increase breaking = but 3
decrease brakes = but 4
forward = but 5
reverse = but 6
Switch infront of train = but 7
Switch behind the train = but 8That's working a lot easyer for me!!! Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top
BoxCarWilly (18 posts)
Jul-02-01, 10:10 PM (EST) 13. "RE: Use of Joy Stick for MSTS?" But since there is no option to use a joystick with MSTS, how do you use the buttons for MS ForceFeedBack-II stick?
(I know the feed back won't work).
I can program the stick, but how do you get the game to use the stick? Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top
woeper (10 posts)
Jul-03-01, 09:18 AM (EST) 14. "RE: Use of Joy Stick for MSTS?" I don't know about force feedback, but i only use the buttons of the joystick.You can't steer the train to the left or right(LOL), if there is somebody who can tell me to use the stick to trottle up by pushing it forward or trottle down by pulling backwords.
Then i have two buttons more to programm, horn or emergency stop.Greetings Joop. Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top
sniper297 (38 posts)
Jul-03-01, 05:20 PM (EST) 15. "RE: Use of Joy Stick for MSTS?" I have a Saitek X36, and the programming software lets you turn the various axises to "banded" where moving the stick or throttle generates keystrokes. Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top
Forney (10 posts)
Jul-03-01, 06:23 PM (EST) 16. "RE: Use of Joy Stick for MSTS?" >I have a Saitek X36, and
>the programming software lets you
>turn the various axises to
>"banded" where moving the stick
>or throttle generates keystrokes.
I didn't know that about "banded" settings! I've got Saitek x36 (actually got two sets, the original and the USB). I have whined over not using the throttle and stick as a throtle and brake. Woo hoo! Best news I've gotten from this excellent forum so far. Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top
sniper297 (38 posts)
Jul-04-01, 09:53 PM (EST) 17. "RE: Use of Joy Stick for MSTS?" LAST EDITED ON Jul-04-01 AT 09:54 PM (EST)got an email from "joseph p"- dat you? anyway, I couldn't find your email adress on the note, but I'm gonna try uploading my PDF to see if I can. If you can't find it on the website, email me back with your email address and I can send it as an attachment. You really need to learn to use that gaming extension thing tho, cuz you might not like my setup, and it comes in handy for other games as well. My setup originally had the throttle as the throttle, but that didn't work too well, so I changed the fore & aft axis on the joystick to throttle, with the throttle controlling the train brakes. I'm probably gonna change some of it and add to it, but as it's set up now:
joysick Y = throttle
throttle = train brakes
trigger = sand
button 2 = horn
button 4 = engine brake increase
pinkie = engine brake decrease
hat 1 = 1, 2, and left/right arrows
hat 2 = head out cab, up/down
on the throttle, the thumb 4- way is the reversing switch/lever
the other 4-way has the function keys for switch display, coupler window, etc.
It ain't perfect, but I usually just program something to get started, then after I play with it a while I change it a dozen times or so. Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top
RickCan (16 posts)
Jul-05-01, 01:45 AM (EST) 18. "RE: Use of Joy Stick for MSTS?" I'm using a CH Products Pro Throttle that I bought about ten years ago. I programed the throttle up-stroke with d's and the down-stroke with a's in 9 steps for the GP38's & SD 40's and 14 for the Dash 9's and AC4400's. The "repeat" & "maximum key" rates are increased from the default 10 to 15. There are four 4-way hat switches and four buttons on the unit that can be programed with all the keystrokes you need for MSTS but if you want more, you can also connect and program a CH Products joystick (Eg. F16 Combat Stick or Virtual Pilot Pro) for another two 4-way hats and 6 more buttons. I find it makes train operations so much more authentic and enjoyable. Richard, an old railroader since 1959. Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top
ccyko (61 posts)
Jul-06-01, 01:41 PM (EST) 19. "RE: Use of Joy Stick for MSTS?" one question, WHY!!!!? what is the advantage of using a joystick, a joystick is meant to move an object through x,y,z axies in a game. The rail is controlling that. in a cab of a locomotive there are handles, no x,y axis sticks, b/c they are not needed. Maybe a controller with 3 or 4 levers and a few buttons would be nice, but a joystick takes away from the realisim. Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top
Ferrari355 (178 posts)
Jul-06-01, 03:01 PM (EST) 20. "RE: Use of Joy Stick for MSTS?" How that I had the game for 1 week whats the point of haveing a joystick!?!?!?! are you going to drive it on the rails??? lol their just no point I like the keyboard control better.... Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top
Nels_Anderson (394 posts)
Jul-07-01, 11:19 AM (EST) 21. "RE: Use of Joy Stick for MSTS?" The point is that real trains are controlled by moving a lever back and forth, and a joystick is a whole lot more like that than a keyboard is. Ideally, you'd have a controller that just moves back and forth and not in two dimensions like a joystick does. Perhaps someday we'll see that sort of thing available."Joystick" has become sort of a generic term too. I noticed that Windows now uses "Human Interface Device" for things like aircraft yokes. I'd love to have a train specific "HID".
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jeffmorris (129 posts)
Jul-07-01, 12:28 PM (EST) 22. "RE: Use of Joy Stick for MSTS?" I had an old joystick with switches on bottom that enabled or disabled auto-centering for the handle. I could enable auto-centering for left-right axis and disable auto-centering for forward-backward axis but MSTS doesn't support non-programmable joysticks and the joystick profile editor for my MS Sidewinder Forceback 2 doesn't support programming of the handle. Are there other programmable joysticks that allow me to program the handle as brake/throttle lever? Jeffrey. Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top
bandwidth (16 posts)
Jul-09-01, 04:44 PM (EST) 27. "RE: Use of Joy Stick for MSTS?" I programmed the MS Sidewinder Forceback2. and It still doesn't work in the Simulator. Is there something else I need to do, to get it to work? Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top
Mike (3 posts)
Jul-07-01, 04:31 PM (EST) 23. "RE: Use of Joy Stick for MSTS?" Hi,As a matter of interest I have programmed my CH Throttle as follows...Key1 Reverser forward W
Key2 Yard view 7
Key3 Reverser back S
Key4 Cab view 1
Key5 Front view 2
Key6 Rear view 3
Key7 Brake . (POV)
Key8 Decrease throttle A (POV)
Key9 Release Brake , (POV)
Key10 Throttle D (POV)
Key11 Brake '
Key12 Release Brake ;So far this is working well for me, particularly when working in the yards - but is fine for Activities as well. There is no way I can get the Forward/Back movement of the Throttle itself programmed to work with the Sim.... but hey, someone will come up with an idea..))Cheers,Mike Hill Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top
wecline (15 posts)
Jul-07-01, 04:52 PM (EST) 24. "RE: Use of Joy Stick for MSTS?" Mike,What on earth did you use for the programmer? I know MS has a program for all the MS sticks but I hadn't heard of one from CH Products.Since I have this great CH Flight Sim Yoke USB with a bunch of buttons, etc., I'd sure like to program some of it to use with TS. Please clue me in!Bill Cline Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top
Mike (3 posts)
Jul-08-01, 03:20 PM (EST) 25. "RE: Use of Joy Stick for MSTS?" Bill,It is a DOS based utility distributed freely by CH on their site. However, it is CH Throttle specific.. I don't think it would be of much use to you with a yoke or flightstick as it programmes the unit itself.Just to make you even more envious, I can do most of my yard work with one hand...For those people that are interested in programming their Throttles from my previous post, I am now thinking that for this work programming the < and > keys (locomotive brake) would be more use than the , or . keys (dynamic brake).Cheers,Mike
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RickCan (16 posts)
Jul-09-01, 01:13 PM (EST) 26. "RE: Use of Joy Stick for MSTS?" >Bill,
>
>It is a DOS based utility
>distributed freely by CH on
>their site. However, it
>is CH Throttle specific.. I
>don't think it would be
>of much use to you
>with a yoke or flightstick
>as it programmes the unit
>itself.
>
>Just to make you even more
>envious, I can do most
>of my yard work with
>one hand...
>
>For those people that are interested
>in programming their Throttles from
>my previous post, I am
>now thinking that for this
>work programming the < and [BR>>] keys (locomotive brake) would
>be more use than the
>, or . keys (dynamic
>brake).
>
>Cheers,
>
>Mike
You can also download their windows based utility "SpeedKeys" from the CH Products site. That will allow you to convert PROTHROT .PTC files to SpeedKeys .PTW files. Your .ptw file can be quickly edited and/or downloaded to the throttle within Windows.
I found it very convenient to create a Win98.ptc & .ptw file with the throttle and all the buttons disabled in order to clear the throttle and included the following in my autoexec.bat file to clear it when I boot or reboot my computer. As my DOS based PROTHROT folder is in the drive F: partition of my hard drive hence F: under the :Win98 line.echo.
choice Clear the Pro Throttle /tn,10
if errorlevel 2 goto End:Win98
F:
cd\prothrot
ptload win98
cd\
C:
goto End:End Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top
Howie (1 posts)
Jul-20-01, 05:28 PM (EST) 29. "RE: Use of Joy Stick for MSTS?" Hi Bill,Looks like we get around If you a USB CH joystick and /or throttle send me an e-mail and I will let you know about a "new" program that I know you will love.Howard Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top

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