Configuring the GF TQ6 Axis for the PMDG NGX using FSUIPC

1. You must ensure the GF-TQ6 axis have not been assigned in FSX or GFConfig or there will be a conflict and it
won't work as expected. To do this in FSX:
a. Go into Options, Settings and then Controls ...
b. If all of your joysticks, yokes and throttles are configured in FSUIPC, the simplest thing to do is just untick
"Enable Controller(s)".
c. If you have to have the controllers enabled, click on the "CONTROL AXES" tab, select the "GF-TQ6
Throttle System" in the "Controller type" combo box and delete the assignments in the Assignment list.
Keep an eye on this though, as FSX tends to add them back from time to time, so it’s best to move
everything over to FSUIPC as soon as you can and then disable all the Controllers in FSX.
2. Ensure FSX is not running.
3. You must have your GF-TQ6 properly calibrated before doing anything with FSUIPC. This ensures that your
system is configured to understand the full range of values each axis on your GF-TQ6 can provide. To do this:
a. Click on your Windows Start button:

b. In the Search programs and files box type controllers:

 c. Click on “Set up USB game controllers” and the following window should appear:

d. Click on “GF-TQ6 Throttle System” and then click the Properties button and you should see the following
window:

e. Click the Calibrate radio button and move the spoiler, throttles and flaps to their maximum and
minimum positions. Do this several times for each axis to account for any errors. If done correctly, each
axis should be full red when it’s physically set to maximum and full white when physically set to its
minimum position. Ignore the axis labelled B and E.
f. Click OK and then OK again when at the “Game Controllers” window.
4. Start FSX and start a flight with the NGX, preferably with the aircraft ready to taxi. Set the parking brake.
5. In FSX, click the Add-ons menu and then FSUIPC.
6. I will assume you have no understanding of FSUIPC profiles and that you do not have one created for the NGX. If
you do have a profile then please adapt the following steps as required.
7. Click the Axis Assignment tab so you see the following:

8. Tick Profile specific?

9. When prompted with “Do you want to apply the general assignments to this aircraft?”, click No.
10. If prompted with “Do you want changes so far to be saved first?”, click No.
11. When prompted with a list of existing profiles, select >> New …
12. When prompted with “Enter the name you want to use for this new controls profile”, type PMDG NGX in the box
and click OK.
13. This has created a profile. A profile allows specific settings to be recorded in FSUIPC for a specific aircraft. For
example, you might only want to use a joystick when flying a Spitfire, but use your yoke when using the NGX. It
ensures only those controls you have configured in the profile will be “monitored” for inputs into FSX.
Profiles can also be configured to not only cover the specific plane loaded, but all its variations and livery
combinations; but more on that later in “Final Tweaks”.
14. The throttles are the easiest to configure so we will start with those. First move throttle one (one on the left).
You should see the “In” and “Out” values changing as you move the throttle up and down. If you don’t, click the
Rescan button. You may need to click Rescan multiple times until all errounous axis inputs have been ignored
and throttle one is being monitored.
15. Now that throttle one has been identified in FSUIPC you can assign a function to it. Ensure that the radio buttons
under “Type of action required” is set to Send direct to FSUIPC Calibration.
16. Tick the first box in the “Type of action required” section and select Throttle1 in the combo box:

17. Click OK and monitor the Virtual Cockpit throttle one as you move throttle one on the GF-TQ6. If it doesn’t move,
you have made a mistake and need to double check all the settings by doing step 4, then 6 and then all of them
from step 13.
18. Do not worry if the Virtual Cockpit controls seem jumpy or operate inappropriately; at this point you just want to
check they move!
19. For throttle 2 do step 4, step 6 and steps 13 onwards, but obviously move throttle 2 on the GF-TQ6 and not
throttle one and use Throttle 2 in the combo box.
20. For the spoiler, do step 4, step 6 and steps 13 onwards, but move the spoiler on the GF-TQ6 and not throttle one
and use Spoilers in the combo box.
21. Finally, for the flaps, do step 4, step 6 and steps 13 onwards, but move the flaps on the GF-TQ6 and not throttle
one and use Flaps in the combo box.
22. Next we need to calibrate the axis in FSUIPC. Click the Joystick Calibration tab and ensure the Throttle section is
shown as below. If not, click the Reset button in the Throttle section:

23. Click this button until “3 of 11: Separate throttles per engine” is displayed
24. Ensure that the screen looks as follows. No Reverse Zone must be ticked, Throttle 1 and 2 should show a Reset
button and have Filter ticked. Throttles 3 and 4 should show a Set button. Map 1->12, 2->34 must be unticked:

25. Move throttle one several times to its minimum and maximum position and then set it to its minimum position
(idle thrust). Click the Set button under “Min” in the Throttle 1 section:
26. Move throttle one to its maximum position (full thrust). Click the Set button under “Max” in the Throttle 1
section:

27. Repeat from step 23 for throttle 2 but obviously click the relevant buttons in the “Throttle 2” section.
28. Next, the spoiler needs configuring so press the following button until “6 of 11: Trim, spoilers and flaps” is
shown:

29. The spoiler has similar options to the throttles, however it also has a Set button under “Centre” which is for
configuring where the indent is for arming the spoiler.
30. First of all, ensure Rev is ticked and then configure the max and min settings for the spoilers in the same way as
you did for the throttles. However because Rev is ticked which means Reversed, you press the “Min” Set button
when the spoiler is set to its maximum position and you press the “Max” Set button when the spoiler is set to its
minimum position.

To clarify things further, you have probably noticed when moving the throttles that the values change from
roughtly -16383 to roughly +16383. The maximum negative value represents the idle thrust value and the
maximum positive value represents the full thrust value.
With the spoiler set to its minimum position, you will notice the value is positive and not negative and when its
set to its maximum position, the value is negative; i.e. the behaviour of the spoiler axis is the opposite of normal
– it’s reversed.
31. Next, the spoiler armed position (indent on the GF-TQ6 spoiler) needs to be configured. Because axis do not
always return the same value when at the same position we need to build in a margin of error so that the spoiler
armed position is within a reasonably wide range of values. Thus position your spoiler as follows which will
represent where the armed position will start:

32. Click the “Centre” Set button (make sure you only press it once).
33. Now position your spoiler as follows which will represent where the armed position will end:

34. Click the “Centre” Set button (make sure you only press it once).
35. Your configuration should look something like the following:

36. The flaps are next. The first issue that exists with GF-TQ6 is that the supplied indents only offer 6 positions
(including the min and max position). So you either need to make and replace your flaps indent strip or use the
notches as flap positions as well as the indents. For this guide we’ll assume the use of the notches as well as
indents.
37. The flaps configuration is on the same tab as the spoilers, so click the Set button in the “Flaps” section.
38. Tick Rev and Filter in the “Flaps” section and configure the “Max” and “Min” values in exactly the same way as
you did for the spoiler. Remember it’s reversed!
39. FSUIPC knows how many flap positions there are for the NGX and divides the flaps axis equally. So you will end
up with something like this:

Flaps Up, 0

Flaps 1

Flaps 2

Flaps 5

Flaps 10

Flaps 15

Flaps 25

Flaps 30

Flaps Down, 40
40. If you are not happy with the default arrangement you can alter the positions, but be warned, it’s the most
complicated and frustrating area, so put the kettle on and have a brew before you start this! If you are happy
with default settings, do the “Final Tweaks” at the end of this document.
41. We’ll configure the flaps to appear as follows:

Flaps Up, 0

Flaps 1

Flaps 2

Flaps 5

Flaps 15

Flaps 10

Flaps 25

Flaps 30

Flaps Down, 40

42. The process of configuring the flaps is similar to configuring the spoiler. Each flap position needs to be defined
allowing a margin of error, however because each position is very close together, it tends to be an iterative
process as you tweak each area so the flaps work properly in both directions.
43. Click the Dt button in the “Flaps” section. You will see something similar to the following:

Detent #0 Flaps Up

Detent #1 to #7

Detent #8 Flaps Dn

Detent Cycling

Detent #0 and detent #8 was set when you configured the max and min positions in step 38. The middle section
initially shows detent #1 but the up and down arrow buttons allow you to cycle to other detents. The two
numbers in the middle section are similar to the spoiler armed indent but they represent the start and finish axis
values for the flap detent selected.
44. Look at the picture in step 41. The vertical lines represent how we want to configure the start and end positions
for each detent. Also notice that there is always a gap between each detent to allow an error margin. Some of
the detents are very close together so you will only be moving the flap lever about 5-7mm in some cases to mark
the start and end area. The blue line should be interpreted as the front of the flaps lever such that the beginning
and end of the blue line means position the lever front there for the start and end positions.
45. For Flaps Up (detent #0) and Flaps Down (detent #8), don’t worry if during testing they don’t always select.
There are some final tweaks to be done on all the axis values to provide a margin of error and thus consistency in
selection.
46. For each detent (use the small arrow buttons to select them):
a. Move the flaps lever to the start position allowing a gap from the previous detents end and click the Set
button (make sure you press it only once).
b. Move the flaps lever to the end position and click the Set button (make sure you press it only once).
47. You will need to refine certain detents (flap positions) after testing. You can do this by selecting the detent
concerned and doing Step 46a and 46b. Make sure the flaps work correctly moving the flaps lever in both
directions! Take your time as it may take you a couple of hours to get this right!
48. Final Tweaks:
a. Exit from FSX so it’s not running.
b. In your FSX main directory there is a directory called “Modules” and it will contain a file called
FSUIPC4.ini which you need to open using “Notepad”. It’s best to save a backup copy of this file in case
you make a mistake.
c. The file consists of sections, with each section starting with a name in square brackets e.g. [General].
d. The next two steps will enable all NGX variations and liveries to work with your profile.
e. In the [General] section either add or change the following entries:

ShortAircraftNameOk=Yes
UseProfiles=Yes

f. In the [Profile.PMDG NGX] section, either add or change the following entries:

1="PMDG 737"
2="Boeing 737"

g. This step reduces the min and max values for each axis to allow a margin of error. It’s critical for
consistent axis behaviour. In the [JoystickCalibration.PMDG NGX] section subtract 256 from all the min
and max values. The following example highlights the values to be changed although your actual values
will be different:
 Throttle1=-16384,-512,512,16128/32
Throttle2=-16384,1024,1024,16128/32
Spoilers=-16027,-11575,-6945,16384/16
FlapStarts=-16384,-14583,-12063,-8642,-5941,-3061,3277,10922,16200
FlapEnds=-16203,-13143,-10442,-7562,-4681,-360,6189,12925,16384
Flaps=-16203,16201/24
h. Save the file and test everything is OK.

Configuring the GF TQ6 Buttons & Reversers

1. Ensure no button and reverser assignments exist in FSX, FSUIPC or GFConfig for the GF-TQ6 otherwise you will
get conflicts and buttons performing multiple actions.
2. Download and install the Goflight PMDG Interface here:

http://goflight.vanillaforums.com/discussion/140/gf-dio-board-drivers#latest

3. Ensure the TQ6 is enabled in the TQ6 tab and everything will be automatically configured.

Please feedback on this document so I can improve the more complicated areas.

Stephen Munn 9/12/2012

smunn@btopenworld.com
Version 1.4