I run the MSFS 2020 Steam version.
I have…
Honeycomb Alpha Yoke
Logitech Throttle Quadrant
Logitech Flight Panels (x3)
3D Force Trim Wheel
My question is a pretty basic one !
When should I plug these in? Prior to loading MSFS 2020 of after it has loaded?
Thanks in anticipation
Before starting.
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Absolutely before starting. The sim has a habit of falling over when it detects USB devices being turned on. I have got away with it, like the other evening I realised I hadn’t turned on my Logitech panels, and when I turned them on the sim froze for a few seconds then came back.
Other times I have had it crash when turning on my speakers. Actually 2024 did the same thing, so I know it wasn’t fixed there, and probably won’t be in the full release. I had the sim die during loading when I turned my speakers on.
I realy don’t know why Asobo are struggling with that so much…
Hi, first: I’m simming on XBoxX so that might well make a difference but my experience with stability of the sim is quite the opposite.
I have been struggling with hardware not recognised on startup for some time. In most cases it was the HC Bravo that didn’t work and I was quite used to unplugging/replugging and restarting.
Inspired by a fellow simmer here on the forum I now have a routine in place that got me rid of all these troubles.
First I connected to my XBox a powered USB hub with switchable ports.
All the other hardware is plugged into this hub:
-keyboard (US layout)
-trackball
-MIAP Pro 24
-TB velocity1 Flight Stick with TB rudders connected to it
-Honeycomb Alpha XPC with Honeycomb Bravo connected to it
Startup sequence:
- XBox on - wait for the welcome screen
- keyboard on (switchable port on the USB hub)
- highlight FS and hit Enter, wait for FS to load to the main menu (world map)
- trackball on (FS displays a message for new hardware, click on customise)
- MIAP on, click on search for input and hit a key on the MIAP, if it displays OK clear search field and continue, if not repeat 5.
- Flightstick on, wait for initialisation to complete, click customise, click a button on the stick, if it displays OK continue, if not repeat 6.
- HC devices on, wait a moment, click customise, click search by input and press a button on the Bravo, if it displays OK continue, if not repeat 7.
This sounds complicated but it isn’t. Once used to it it takes about 15 to 20 seconds.
Since I use this routine I never had any hardware hiccups on start and I never again was stuck on the “press any key to continue” screen.
As I said - it may be different on PC but it can’t hurt to try it.
Regards, Frank
I hate how MSFS handles this. I use a wireless Xbox controller for the drone camera. Being wireless, I keep it turned off most of the time. Every (first) time I turn it on, it pauses the sim and I have to click “keep default” and unpause it. This is a sim. I don’t ever want a UI element to pop-up uncommanded.
Half the time turning on the controller after the sim is already booted will cause it to not detect it properly anyway… it’ll detect the controller, but it won’t work.
In addition - make sure your FIPs are “active” (i.e. showing the rolling Saitek adverts) before starting MSFS.
When I just had 3 FIPs connected there was no problem but when I added my other 3 then MSFS would not activate them all, just a random selection of the six. Apparently this is a well known “feature-ette” of MSFS but it left me very perplexed until a kind user on here set me straight.