I installed Spad.Next and now my 6 Logitech PID’s won’t display the gauges anymore. They work physically, but won’t display the gauges. I deleted Spad and re-installed the Logitech drivers, re-booted. Still no luck. Spad is now permanently deleted. Spad has obviously messed with some settings somewhere.
I really tried with this app, but it just seems to make things worse.
Any thoughts ?
Been using SPAD for years with my Logitech FIPs and panels and it works well. It does not really install anything that should trash something — it uses the Logitech FIP panel drivers itself.
Given that you removed SPAD and are still having the problem, it is likely something else. What software are you using to select the panels you want to display now that you removed SPAD? What plane are you trying to use them with? Some of them really only work with SPAD or something like it.
That all said, SPAD is complicated and you need to spend some time learning it. Highly recommend some of their videos on YouTube.
As mjchernis says, there are very well done tutorial videos “https://www.youtube.com/@LesOReilly”.
I use SpadNext and have no problems.
You can also go to the Discord where you can find answers to your questions or ask them.
Question…my cpu says i have drivers ready for install for my logitech panels, I use spad and it works great with default aircraft…with that being said i cant get it to work with the pndg nor fbw,if I was afraid to install it in case ut would mess my already working panels up, could that be my issue? I don’t want to install un needed drivers that may cause issues I can’t get rid of???
I’ve been using Spad for about 3 years for both XP and MSFS, it won’t trash anything, if you want to use Spad make sure the logitech direct output service is off (it appears as Saidoutput in task manager) and is a good idea to run Spad in administrator mode to let it handle the USB power settings.
With Spad you can configure not only your FIPS but any button or axis of your hardware to any LVAR or Dataref in MSFS which is a lot beyond what you can do with the MSFS controls setup.
Keep in mind, the gauges will only display what is outputted from the plane. Some of the planes use their own output variables - like the PMDG - so not all the gauges are cross compatible with each plane.
Which gauges are you using? I gave up entirely on the included Logitech gauges and have gauges from FIPgauges.com. Some of them are cross compatible and some are specific to PMDG. Overall, they are very nice and relatively cheap given the investment in the FIPs. The guys who makes the gauges is also super knowledgeable about SPAD and how all this stuff works.
Did you configure the FIP gauges in Spad.next? As I recall, you need to tell Spad.next which instruments you want in each FIP. I don’t know what the default behavior is if you don’t do that; it is too long ago.
I have two FIPs running with my Spad.next, and I have never had a problem with either of them.
Thanks for al the replies and suggestions. I have been getting lots of conflicts with all my Logitech panels. I was finally making progress with Spad for the main flight controls, throttle, flaps etc, even started to get the Logitech Multi, Switch & my dual Logitech radio panels dialed in.
But Spad simply won’t run the 6 Logitech FIP’s. I’ve tried altering settings, loaded in the gauges, turned the ‘simulated’ power ? On. I re-installed the Logitech FIP drivers, deleted them again. I thought Spad didn’t like the Logitech drivers being loaded ?
If I could get Spad to run these 6 panels, I think I’d be good to go. They always have worked with just the Logitech drivers before I even bought or installed Spad.
I managed to get them to display instruments again by disconnecting and reconnecting their USB’s.
I’m using the stock panel displays.
Do yourself a favour and ditch the FIP’s. Sell them all and get yourself a touch screen, a knobster and Air Manager. It’s way more versatile, you’ll have more real estate for gauges, you’ll be able to use different shapes and sizes of instrument, you’ll save on USB connections and it’s way more cost effective than 6 FIPs. I get you already have them but in the long run you’ll be better off without them.
For anyone considering buying some FIPs I’d very strongly urge you not to and do what I outlined above instead. You’ll save a fortune and will have a much nicer setup. Those things are old hat now.
I agree, they have been a total PITA since day one. As it is, I have to unplug/re-plug them every time I boot the PC as only one or two will fire up.
They simply do not work with Spad. Not on my system anyway. I’m thinking of selling all my logitech stuff and going with something else.
PS:
Thanks for the heads up on Air Manager and Knobster. I had no idea this gear existed. I’m off to sell all the Logitech gear. !
Cheers
I just purchased Air Manager. I had a spare touch screen laying around.
Wow! I just ordered the Knobster to boot.
Night & day. Now I’m cooking.
Thanks for showing me the light !
Always good to have another AM advocate on the team. I hope you enjoy. There are some good resources for AM already on the forum just search Air Manager and you’ll have plenty of light reading.
I have tried so hard to like Air Manager. I purchased it but have installed / uninstalled 3 times and just don’t love it. Lacks polish and does not play well with PMDG which is a problem for me.
Their overall tone bugs me too. They basically claim their PMDG problem is PMDGs fault. Yet, FIPgauges and SPAD work fine.
Mark
That’s a shame but a little research always helps prevent buyer remorse. The PMDG issues and now also Fenix are well known it’s no myth I can assure you. Those 2 devs just don’t play nice if you want an external cockpit regardless of what method you choose. To substantiate your claim, What exactly can you get on a FIP that you cannot get in AM? I’m genuinely interested it what that may be.
I honestly didn’t come here to knock Spad & the Logitech FIP’s, but I really tried.
They just won’t work on my setup. It will be nice to do away with the ‘spaghetti’ mess from all those USB cables too.
Air Manager just suits me better.
I’m wondering now if I even need the other Logitech panels ? I have the Multi, Switch & two Radio panels that take up lots of real estate on my desk and are also very flaky.
Just my Yoke, Throttles, Pedals and a medium sized touch screen ?
I prefer to have physical switches over glass, though I am looking to upgrade from the Logitech panels to the new Virtual Fly Switcho gear.
The Switcho stuff is obviously much nicer than the Logitech stuff but boy is it over priced or what. A few switches and such for 600 odd euro and that’s just the basic power and ignition panel. There are 3 or 4 different ones. The AP one is even more and looks like it has a mini glass controller in it. If you got the lot that would be some serious cash. I’m all for quality kit over cheaper plastic but at those prices I just can’t see the value. The Virpil kit is a better bet in my mind.
I know what you mean. I was looking at getting all except the EFOS, and it was just over £2000 IIRC. It’s currently a toss up between getting that kit or an ONYX CTY2 bike. 
One big advantage I see from switching to AM from pretty much anything else except replicas, is the disconnect you would experience when finding the real world plane you get in doesn’t have any Logitech panels in! 
You can set up AM to replicate the instruments as they really are. Using “agnostic” hardware is not going to give you much if any muscle memory for process flows. You may know what to do, but may not have instant recall of where that button or switch is in the cockpit.
I am running a Honeycomb Alpha, Honeycomb Bravo, 2 Logitech FIPs, a Logitech radio panel, Thrustmaster TPR pedals, and a RealSimGear GNS530 along with Spad.next and I have never had a problem with any of it. My controller profiles in MSFS are basically empty with the exception of the primary flight controls. I do it all through Spad.next. (I don’t even use the RSG interface application; I control the GNS530 through Spad.next as well.)
I am obviously not running 6 Logitech FIPs, so I can’t speak to how that would work, but it works great with the hardware that I do have.