Excited but puzzled too

[matta757]

Hi guys,

Just completed my first flight in the *almost* complete full sim. Well, actually there is still a lot to be done, but since putting in the MCP, now I have all the major components in and was able to perform Delta 1751 from MSP to LAS this evening. Feels great to be back to flying and in such a cool setting too (altho I must admit I now desire a new computer with a CPU that can better perform with my setup).

But I was puzzled by one thing and that was my keyboard. It was acting up for some reason. Every once and a while, when pushing a key, the output from the keyboard came into FS as if I was holding either the CTRL or SHIFT button, thus messing up the command because a lot of my keyboard commands are combinations of CTRL and/or SHIFT. So when I tried to use standard keyboard buttons like the numerals to respond to Radar Contact, the sim would do something different. The only way I could seem to get this to stop was by pressing either CTRL, SHIFT or both but then it would happen again later.

Best example, my keyboard assignment for PSS to be able to use the keyboard to type within the FMC is the "Home" button. Well, when I pressed it, it was not working. So I went into the PSS key assignment menu and tried to re-assign the key. But when I would press "Home", the input PSS was getting was CTRL+SHIFT+Home.

Just wondering if anyone has any idea why my keyboard is doing this. It's a problem I haven't seen and was just hoping maybe someone has a better understanding than I do about what could cause a keyboard to do this!

Thanks guys,
Matt

[Garys]

What your describing is called a macro. You generally have to set those up in software yourself, such as with a hagstrom keyboard encoder for example. Im not familiar with the pss software but in the menu do you have an option to control when the ctrl and shift is used with an assignment, maybe a checkbox? A FSUIPC assignment maybe? I cant help more than that but hopefully it can get you in the right direction until someone more familiar with it jumps in.

[NeoMorph]

Strangely enough I seem to be getting the exact same thing happen... I thought my keyboard was dying at one point but when I come out of FS it works fine again.

[matta757]

Hi Garys,

I will look at the PSS software again, but I do not think there is any sort of checkbox for CTRL and SHIFT assignments. I use those keys in combination with other keys to make assignments, which vastly increases the number of key combinations possible.

I have created a couple of Mouse Macros using FSUIPC for some functions on the PSS panel that were missing keyboard assignments. I also have 2 mice connected to my computer; one stays on my desk when I am not simming and the other is in the simulator. Could that be creating a problem?

I am going to do some further investigation into my key assignments!

Matt

[NeoMorph]

Let me know if you figure it out... I find that only restarting FSX fixes it for me... It's like the CTRL and SHIFT buttons lock on and FSX doesn't register they have been released.

[matta757]

I found that today it happened sometimes when I would use a switch in the cockpit. I have my switches programmed as key strokes through FSUIPC using the assigned keyboard buttons for the PSS 757. I am not sure though why this is happening because I am pretty sure if I just used the keyboard instead of the switch, the problem does not occur.

Back to investigating...

[NeoMorph]

OK, got another trigger for you... When I switch to the different panel views sometimes it messes up the keyboard as well. I wonder if there is a way to make FSX write out a verbose log of what it is doing? I was in the process of capturing the localiser, hit G and nothing happened. This actually explains why I belly landed the other day as well... FSX thought I was hitting SHIFT-CTRL-G instead of just G. I wonder if FSUIPC is interfering somehow...

Actually I found another thing the other day that might have another link to this problem. For some reason if I don't specify a rudder axis the program indicates full right rudder... as if I was holding down a key linked to right rudder all the time. Explained why takeoffs were going pear shaped every time. I was actually taking off with the right engine only just to stop the darn thing spinning off after about 20ft. When the keyboard goes wonky I can take off normally (which is why I wonder if it is linked somehow or if one bug is actually fixing another... weird that!)

[matta757]

You can create a log file with FSUIPC. I am going to analyze the log closely but its difficult to read/understand.

I just completed a flight and dealt with the problem for the duration of the flight. I find that I can get the keyboard responses to return to normal by pressing CTRL and SHIFT. It generally seems to happen after using a switch. I have also had the problem persist once after exiting flight sim, meaning to me that it's not just a flight sim problem? However, I tried switching keyboards and mice, but the problem still happens. It also happens with only 1 mouse plugged it.

I also found that one several occasions, I was not able to turn on/off the NumLock. Anyone know what this might point to?

[NeoMorph]

It's sounding more and more like a keyboard controller issue somewhere along the line. It registeres a down key stroke but not the release... which then means that any keypresses afterwards get modified.

What control system are you using for yoke, throttles, rudder etc?? I'm using Saitek with the SPAD driver and I wonder if it's that that causing problems (at least for me). I will do the FSUIPC logging later on today (4:46am... another night with lack of sleep  ).