Mod: "Ground Spoilers arm" for TCA Quadrant Add-on

[hotbso]

Verified to work with FBW320NX and Fenix A320

This mod for the TCA Quadrant Add-on creates a more realistic setting of the speedbrake handle.
There is a detent for “speedbrakes retracted” slightly below the top and a lighter detent at the 1/2 position. When the handle is pushed upwards out of the retracted detent the Ground Spoilers are armed. When moved down into the detent again they are disarmed.

Note: Requires Axis and Oh’s or the full version of FSUIPC to work

You can 3d-print your copy at shapeways.

Shapeways Marketplace Update - Shapeways Blog

Speedbrake retracted position

Ground spoilers armed position

The side close to the hole is now considered most realistic. The other side ist identical to previous versions.

Configuration with Axis and Oh’s
Screenshots for Fenix, see note for FBW320NX below

Put the lever into the detent and adjust the left calibration marker to be slightly right of the position marker.

Note:
Fenix version 1.0 has the actions “Spoilers Arm On” and “Spoilers Arm Off” reversed (In my opinion its wrong). So for the FBW320NX you must configure “Spoilers Arm On” for press and “Spoilers Arm Off” for release.

Configuration in FSUIPC7
Screenshots for Fenix, see note for FBW320NX below

Note:
Fenix version 1.0 has the actions “Spoilers Arm On” and “Spoilers Arm Off” reversed (In my opinion its wrong). So for the FBW320NX you must configure “Spoilers Arm On” for enter and “Spoilers Arm Off” for exit.

Or directly in the FSUIPC7.ini file:

(Note: “A” is the name of the joystick, if will likely be different in your configuration)

[Axes.FBW320]
...
2=AR,256,D,22,0,0,0	-{ DIRECT: Spoilers }-
3=AR,B,15617,16383,66066,0,66067,0	-{ DIRECT: SpoilersEntering=SPOILERS_ARM_ON, Leaving=SPOILERS_ARM_OFF }-
...

[JoystickCalibration.FBW320]
...
Spoilers=-12720,14325/16
...

[Axes.Fenix]
...
3=AR,256,D,22,0,0,0	-{ DIRECT: Spoilers }-
4=AR,B,15617,16383,66067,0,66066,0	-{ DIRECT: SpoilersEntering=SPOILERS_ARM_OFF, Leaving=SPOILERS_ARM_ON }-
...

[JoystickCalibration.Fenix]
...
Spoilers=-12720,14325/16
...

[NeoKingRthur]

Is this allowing the lever to be pulled up and down like the real lever? Judging from the photo, at least to me looks like the mod just adds an extra detent in-between 0% and 25% detents. And the arming is just pushing it upwards to the default 0% position, and the new retracted position is on the new modified detent.

I guess it looks like a good alternative. So I appreciate the effort to make this. But I prefer my own setup. I set the entire as a spoiler axis, but making the 0%-25% range as deadzones to ignore any input overrides. Then the virtual button on the 25% detent, will be bound to the SET AUTO-SPOILERS ARMING.

That way, if I want to arm it, I just pull it to the 25% detent similar to a Boeing, but since it’s still within the deadzone, it will not override the axis position. If I want to manually deploy the spoilers, I move the spoilers lever more. And after playing around the sensitivity curve, I could have gradual manual control over the spoiler level all the way to full. When I want to retract moving up back to 25% is enough, but it would still arm it. Then just move it back to UP to disarm the spoilers. It works fine for me using just the default unmodified TCA, and default MSFS control bindings without the need for a paid version of FSUIPC.

But it’s a good effort and a good alternative from your end.

[InboardPrism4]

Thanks for the tip! I got my Add-on yesterday and saw your post about calibrating 0-25% as dead zone. Did you manage to set deadzone only at the start 0-25% and not at the end? I seem to only be able to get deadzones at both start and end and it then gets difficult to get the full range of the speed brakes.
Could you please post a screenshot (or write your settings for each slider) on how you have set your sliders in the MSFS calibration screen for the speed brake so I can compare with mine?

[NeoKingRthur]

I’m currently taking a break from MSFS, so I have it uninstalled. I won’t be reinstalling it anytime soon until at least SU10 is released. So I don’t think I can send any screenshot.

But what I do know is that the 25% extreme deadzone applies to both sides, both the 0-25%, and the 75-100% side at the end.

But the way I mitigate that is by playing around with the sensitivity and neutral point in such a way that the 0-25% side will be a flat line as a deadzone, but the one at the far end is not as flat (I’m horrible at describing it in words). But I did manage to get it working even if it looks a bit wonky on the sensitivity curve. At least the zone between 25% - 100% feels like it can move gradually. It’s not perfect, but it’s better than just using the deadzone where you only have 25%-75% zone for you.

[InboardPrism4]

Thanks, I think I got what you mean. I played around with the settings you mentioned and managed to get it so 0% is arm spoiler, 25% is no spoiler, no brake, 50% is a bit more brake than 1/4, 75% is 1/2 brake and 100% is full brake. I guess this is as good as it gets without doing the mod and the FSUIPC mappings, and if I want even more control I guess I can always unscrew and remove the dents.

[NeoKingRthur]

I’m not sure how unscrewing the detents would help though. I think if you’re flying the A320, the aircraft itself already has detents for the spoilers to deploy. So even if you unscrew and remove the detents from your spoilers addon, you can move the spoilers smoothly along the axis, but the actual spoiler deployment in the aircraft would be in set detents anyway.

[hotbso]

Axis and Oh’s does work as well. See updated first post.

[NeoKingRthur]

Can the same setting at Axis and Oh’s be done through the Thrustmaster T.A.R.G.E.T app instead?

[hotbso]

I’m afraid that won’t work.

[Zemso1366]

Is it possible to sell the 3d shape? the shipping of the piece to Brazil is absurdly expensive

[ChristiandPf]

Hello, can you maybe share the settings you have applied because I am having difficulties to set it up as you have done it. But your configuration sounds great and I would love to use the same one.

A screenshot of your settings for the “JOYSTICK R-AXIS Z” would be neat.

[Aegehn]

Hello, is it possible to obtain the same effect with Mobiflight ? If so, how ?
Thanks !

[hotbso]

I’m afraid that won’t work.