x55 Rhino with IL2? Not working?
 

Hey guys, I got my Saitek x55 Rhino about 3 weeks ago and was really impressed with the quality of the hardware. But I ran into a problem right away, which I posted at Saitek Support (:o Yikes!). So far I have gotten nowhere with them, and I am not sure what they are doing about this. The first game I tested it with was IL2 1946 HSFX7 and Stock. These past 3 weeks I have tested the hardware and software/drivers on my game rig, my game laptop, and my older laptop. I get the same results on all three pcs.

So I am wondering if anyone else has an x55 and has this problem. Saitek isn't really telling me anything. I am pretty sure that I know more about the x55 than the 'support' guy that I am talking to since I have one and have tested it on 3 pcs, and he supports lots of different devices and this is a new 'beta' device. I think he is just passing my problems onto engineers at this point.

Here is what I originally posted to Saitek Support:

And my latest post:

Again, since this is such a new device and I am not talking to one of their engineers or developers, I am not sure what is expected and what is a problem. And the support guy has been nice in his responses, but I really don't get much out of him...

Today, I setup a profile to test the Mode switch, since in the Game Controllers settings window it was not lighting any of those round red lights except for Mode 1 which lit light 32. I setup the trigger key to send the G (gear toggle), V (flaps down), and I (engine toggle) on Modes 1, 2, and 3 respectively. They all worked fine, which surprised me. So, I set it up to send the Enter, Space, and Backspace keys to fire the Weapons. None worked at all!! This is just so very strange... And I just tested CLOD again with the same results. But my Saitek x52 Pro still sends all of these keys and works just fine in every game!!!

I really like building all of my game profiles in the Saitek software for several reasons. There, I get 3 modes for my commands. In a game I only can assign 1 mode. I can build profiles for all of my games and keep them backed up. Not all games let you even save your settings. Even if they do you need to remember all the different places they keep them to back them up. And of course sometimes a game update wipes out your key assignments in a game(RoF). That's very irritating.

As long as they do fix these problems, I will really like this Hotas. I am hoping for some positive replies back from support.

Snack

EDIT:
SOLUTION(S) FOUND - Teamspeak causes multiple keystrokes to be sent. But TS has an option to turn set it's Hotkey monitoring to only the keyboard and mouse. This fixes the TS bug. (Open TS window and click on Settings/Options/Hotkeys and in the drop down menu (lower right corner) select Keyboard and Mouse Only)
Powered USB HUB also caused me problems, so try bypassing those. And also try plugging both devices into the same type of USB ports (ie USB 2.0 or 3.0) (both in on the motherboard).

X55 Rhino
 

Out of left field.
If you have a USB 3.0 port try plugging into that.
I don't have an X55 Rhino yet but do plan on getting one next month.

I recently purchased a ROCAT Kave 5.1 Digital Surround Premium with desktop controller with built in sound card. The sound was very scratchy so I emailed ROCCAT support and they suggested plugging into a USB 3.0 port. Something about the backward compatibility spec enhancing the performance. Followed ROCCAT's suggestion and walla problem solved.

Thanks for replying.

After 4 months of several different problems, I have it fixed and working with the HUD Software. The first problem was using a USB Hub. That was working on/off and very sketchy. It was a powered hub too. About 2 months after I figured that out, they fixed a 'repeating keystroke bug'. I'm think that was affecting me as well. But then about a week ago I figured out a connection between the HUD software/drivers and Teamspeak that caused massive repeating keys in the HUD Tester window. A friend pointed me to a DCS thread about it and it was Teamspeak causing repeating keystrokes. TS has an option to tell it to 'only' watch the keyboard and mouse devices for it's Hotkeys like Mute, Whisper, etc.. That fixed it.

Saitek was no help in over 4 months. They never asked me any questions about hardware or software even though that DCS thread said they had reported the TS bug months ago to their USA Support. After I got it fixed myself I was waiting to see what Saitek Support would recommend I do. They didn't tell me what to do,.. but after about a week, they just pointed me to that DCS thread that I had found from a friend. I would think they would have a current possible bug/issues database for all their devices at their Support Desk to help customers. But apparently they just use google.

Hey Snacko, I see you have had the same questions regarding the throttle buttons/sliders as I do. "The SLD two position slider does NOT LIGHT ANY BUTTONS at all in the game controller settings."

I just opened up my box today and was testing out all of the buttons w/in the game controller window and couldn't get the 2 position slider and mouse nipple to light up any of the buttons???? Do you know why?

They call the SLD a two position slider, but it's not a typical slider like an axis, and it only has 1 position. I don't see a light in the control panel light up either, but it works in the HUD software. Some of those lights were confusing to me to figure out, but I finally did figure them all out. But at the moment I cannot remember.. It was confusing when I did figure it out... I think it was when I actually called their support techs on the phone that we figured out the remaining buttons lights.

Yeah, the manual only lists the slider but doesn't say anything about what it's function is?

BTW, I was just playing with that 'slider' and using an Advanced command you can program a keystroke when it is pressed and also when it is released. I just put the flaps up/dn commands in there and that makes it a 2 position slider. Kind of a weird way to do it, but when I slide it forward it sends the F key, and when I slide it back it sends the V key.

X-55 Rhino Throttle H.O.T.A.S. 2- Position Slider
 

That's 1 possible use for the switch. Not a problem when usin for WWII planes ie "quick & dirty", but for bigger planes I like to use a "variable/multiposition" switch/rotator knob for the flaps to drop them gradually.

I sent "tech support" a question on what this switch would be use for & why it isn't being recognized in the windows 7 "properties test screen" . I'll let you know what I find out.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!omg-omg-omg-omg!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 

OMG DUDE OMG..
I have this since at least 5-6 month! I will go home licke a rocket after work to see if your solution works for me too ( I'm talking of the Keystrokes bug
thah send me "Gear up Gear Down" hundreds of times ). If it will works i'll send you a couple of red roses :P:P:P:P

Hola dude...
I logged in just for share with you my foolish HAPPINES, cause I solved my monthly-age issue.. It's from at least 5-6 month that I was concerning on HOW solve this problem that was dragging me to hell... Now it's SOLVED..
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

P.S. I'm talking about the Repeat Keystrokes bug...

Glad you got it fixed. Now where are my roses!! :mrgreen:

That really sucks doesn't it!! Saitek KNOWS about this bug, but they won't suggest this fix if you post or email them. They don't have a clue... :mad:

Hi Snacko- I have the X55 throttle and the throttle levers let alone many of the other sliders and knobs aren't responding in Cliffs of Dover when trying to bind them- where is that option regrading the keystrokes in teamspeak specificaly and can you share a link to the dcs thread please and any other info you may suggest to get the X55 responding in general.. FYI- I have the X55 throttle only (no joystick) as I have the microsft sidewinder force feedback 2 joystick already which is great and also the CH products rudder pedals- the other error I've found is that if I set the rudder pedals in the controls options and the microsoft joystick to it's bindings - once in game the binding for the rudder pedals is lost- can ClOD have several different USB peripherals bound at the dsame time or do they have to be all the same brand?

Thnaks for anyone's feedback

http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=122307

The only thing that I can think of in CloD is that you may have to set the throttles at center (50%) or they will be selected when assigning keys? I have not setup my CloD controls in a long time and don't remember any more problems..

thanks for your quick reply- in the interim I figured it out- I had to completely unplug one of my other joystick peripherals (which are actually helicopter flight controls) that were conflicting and overriding the binding and then assign binding to 1 peripheral at a time.. then I could assign the X55 throttle unit to most of the axes..yet to test if ClOD keeps the painstakenly set up settings I've bound to my three devices on restarting/shutting down the computer when the devices are reloaded into windows..it seems ClOD does not recognize the peripherals specifcally as the 'Saitek X55' or the 'Microsoft Sidewinder Force Feedback 2' or the 'CH products rudder pedals' etc but instead depending on the order they are loaded into windows or the game- they are just assigned the names 'joystick', 'joystick1' and 'joystoick2' which leads to the risk that if they load in a differnt order next time I retsart windows they may end up giving the bindings currently on what is known as 'joystick' to 'joystick2' etc..(I hope not)..yet to try with teamspeak (online multiplayer)- just in case the teamspeak option causes conflict do you remember where that option to tell it to 'only' watch the keyboard and mouse devices for it's Hotkeys is? thanks

Good afternoon! I am entering in this thread frm Italy. I understand that I might be late for what is concerning the problems you faced ....a few years ago.
As you may know there were a lot of complaints with Saitek because of "crazy" drivers, no real support and malfuntioning of their products (HOTAS).
In particular I wonder if all the problems affecting the new(....already old) X-55
both hardware and software, have been positively solved. Over here there is still a lot of screaming against Saitek X 55. I wonder if you know about any progress in this regard and if it is advisable to purchase the HOTAS in question
Thanks in advance.