Descent 1 Joystick Issue

[Zantor]

I have a Sound Blaster 16 Value, ISA (model CT2770), sitting in my collection of old hardware. I would gladly part with it for free if it would solve the issue.

[raekwonchef]

Sorry, back in the time I used a dedicated gameport card (to prevent issues like this ), never used the GP of an ISA Creative card (I do know that the PCI SB16 port works tho..) Best advice I can come up w/ is to get and try an older (non SCSI !) SB16 card (the one you got was introduced in '97).

That's a kick ass way of ensuring compatibility and I wish I had a second ISA slot on this mobo. If I did, I'd take you up on that offer. Thanks a lot, buddy.

I am going to try to find an older ISA card for sure. Maybe Zantor can help!

I have a Sound Blaster 16 Value, ISA (model CT2770), sitting in my collection of old hardware. I would gladly part with it for free if it would solve the issue.

I'd love to take you up on that offer for the older CT2770. That's very kind of you! Really! Let me know.

[raekwonchef]

4. How to configure Descent for use w/ the 3DP in TM mode:
----------------------------------------------------------

- on the 3DPro set the mode switch to pos I and center the throttle slider
- start Descent
- in the Options.../Controls... menu select "CH Flightstick Pro"
- in the Options.../Controls.../Configure Above menu move to the throttle field in the Axis section, press enter and move the slider -- the field should now read Y2
- assign the rest of the controls, use the twist option of the 3DPro to Bank l/r
- when leaving Configure..., you'll be asked to calibrate stick #1, do so (handle X/Y). For stick #2, upper left = slider up/twist left, lower left = slider down/twist right, center = slider center/no twist
- leave Descent and TYPE DESCENT.CFG -- search the lines starting with 'Joystick....', eg. mine are reading
...
JoystickMin=11,11,12,12
JoystickCen=286,290,286,286
JoystickMax=550,565,557,557
...
- write down the 3rd value of each line (here 12, 286, 557)
- set the 3DPro mode switch to pos II
- start Descent
- in the Options.../Controls... menu select "Thrustmaster FCS & Wingman Extreme"
- in the Options.../Controls.../Configure Above menue move to the Bank l/r field in the Axis section, press enter and twist the stick -- the field should now read X2
- assign the rest of the controls
- when leaving Configure..., you'll be asked to calibrate stick #1, do so (handle X/Y).
- leave Descent and EDIT DESCENT.CFG -- search the lines starting with 'Joystick....', eg. mine are reading
...
JoystickMin=11,11,0,0
JoystickCen=261,292,0,170
JoystickMax=550,566,0,340
...
- see that the 3rd value of each line reads 0 ? Ok, now replace these 0's by the values you wrote down:
...
JoystickMin=11,11,12,0
JoystickCen=261,292,286,170
JoystickMax=550,566,557,340
...
- save the modifications
- play Descent

Everyone,

Thanks for all of your help. I finally got everything working, so let me explain just what was going on. First of all, until today, I could get nothing to work with my CT4170 PNP ISA card and the Sidewinder 3D Pro. Reviewing the thread will show you the various troubleshooting steps and suggestions attempted to no avail. Today, however, I decided to search for another soundcard. An older one that might solve my issue (the CT4170 was from 1997 - too new). I dug through my closet and found a CT2260!

This card is not PNP, so I looked up the jumpers and set the card accordingly. I then changed the setup in Descent once the card was installed. Everything was working fine, as it had before. I launched the config, but still nothing showed up for the banking (X2) or the throttle (Y2) in either position (I or II). I couldn't believe it! I was still at 66MHz FSB! Then I had another thought based on Grendel's comments earlier about a bad second channel on the gameport. Only the gameport wasn't the problem, but rather the joystick!

I own a second Sidewinder 3D Pro, so I hooked that up and everything worked great! I followed Grendel's instructions, quoted above, and my joystick works with full functionality! I am so pleased, but as you can see, never speechless!

The semi-broken Sidewinder still works fully in Windows, which means you were more than right about digital only needing one channel. I can still use the stick in Windows when I challenge my wife in Descent 3 at least! The funny thing is that the semi-broken Sideiwnder won't work on my other XP system. The good one works fine on it (shows up as connected in XP). There's definitely another indicator of a joystick problem!

I would, however, like another backup CT soundcard, Zantor and am now looking to replace the semi-broken Sidewinder. I wouldn't mind a NON-PNP soundcard. They seem to work easier sometimes. Can anyone help with replacing the joystick too?

In TM mode, am I supposed to be able to use the throttle after following your instructions? The throttle doesn't work, but I thought that was the "give" to be able to press more than one button at a time? Clarification, please! Thanks, so much guys! I couldn't have figured it out without all of your help!

[Grendel]

Thanks for all of your help. I finally got everything working, [..]

Glad you got it working

Can anyone help with replacing the joystick too?

Usually you can find them cheap on eBay. Another place to look would be your local Goodwill or similar, I fairly regulary find them there for around $5.

In TM mode, am I supposed to be able to use the throttle after following your instructions? The throttle doesn't work, but I thought that was the "give" to be able to press more than one button at a time? Clarification, please! Thanks, so much guys! I couldn't have figured it out without all of your help!

In TM mode the throttle is supposed to be "dead", TM maps the hat switch positions to Y2 values (the hat switch is 4-way only as well). But at least you can now use the available buttons & hat simultaneously

[raekwonchef]

Glad you got it working [...]

Thanks for all of your help, Grendel and everyone else who helped to get this working. Thanks for the suggestions to replace my semi-broken Sidewinder 3D Pro as well. I am glad to hear that the dead throttle is normal (as I expected). You guys rock and I really do appreciate it (more than you can imagine).

Now if I can only figure out why Mechwarrior 2 won't work. It's as if the controls don't save (the default keyboard controls work in battle even though I erased them and replaced them with joystick buttons). I did make sure to clear the controls on the other 3 pages in the setup. I might need another thread, but this forum probably isn't appropriate, right?!

[raekwonchef]

I have a Sound Blaster 16 Value, ISA (model CT2770), sitting in my collection of old hardware. I would gladly part with it for free if it would solve the issue.

Again, I'd love to take you up on that offer for the old CT2770. Let me know!

[Krom]

Now if I can only figure out why Mechwarrior 2 won't work. It's as if the controls don't save (the default keyboard controls work in battle even though I erased them and replaced them with joystick buttons). I did make sure to clear the controls on the other 3 pages in the setup. I might need another thread, but this forum probably isn't appropriate, right?!

Mechwarrior 2, now that brings back some memories. Unfortunately I don't remember how to configure the controls since I haven't touched it in probably 10 years.

[raekwonchef]

Mechwarrior 2, now that brings back some memories. Unfortunately I don't remember how to configure the controls since I haven't touched it in probably 10 years.

Well, I guess I'll start a new thread to see if anyone can help!