Special Aircraft Service
Individual Mods and Packs for IL-2 1946 => Other Mods => ModWorx => Topic started by: FS~Daedalus on July 02, 2012, 10:08:11 AM
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AIRSTRIKEpro v2.3
Accurate levelbombing is indeed not too easy and there are some very good tutorials on how to make bombing runs and how to use bombsights, but since wind found its way into our favourite sim (v4.10.1m and following) accurate levelbombing became even more challenging.
I tried to solve most of the upcoming difficulties by writing a small application for the display of the Saitek X52pro joystick that is capable of computing correct dropping-angles and sideslip-corrections even when there is wind.
Update to version 2.3
- AIRSTRIKEpro communicates with IL2 1946 via DeviceLink. It receives IAS and altitude directly from the game, no need to enter these values manually anymore with this feature enabled (optional).
- Integrated simple autopilot, no restrictions, it can control every aircraft in the game (two modes: fighter or bomber)
- Speedbar, fuel status and engine temperature/setup information added
- option to choose units, select between (km/h, m), (mph, ft) and (kn, ft)
- option to temporarily disable the DeviceLink connection
- Clutch button LED indicates connection status
- reworked page-design
- no console window anymore but a Tray-Icon instead (the bomb :) )
(http://i342.photobucket.com/albums/o422/Daedalus80/tray-1.jpg)
This is the current page layout:
(http://i342.photobucket.com/albums/o422/Daedalus80/page_layout_1.jpg)
Download: AIRSTRIKEpro v2_3.zip (http://www.fileden.com/files/2012/8/1/3332473/AIRSTRIKEpro_v2_3.zip)
The scroll-wheel on the left lets you scroll through the pages, the scrollwheel on the right lets you increase or decrease the values shown in the active line. The active line can easily be spotted by the arrow "->" in front of it. Pressing the right scroll-wheel (select) lets you jump through the lines of a page and navigate to subpages.
Have a look into the ReadMe to learn more about the application and how to use it on bombing missions.
Add these two lines at the end of your IL-2 1946 conf.ini:
[DeviceLink]
port=3333
If you wish to use DeviceLink online (some important information is not sent by DeviceLink when playing online) please activate the 'DeviceLinkOnline Mod by Fireball' which is already included in the download.
The application supports all bombers in stock game (v4.11.1m), HSFX 6 and UP 3.
The pages #4, #5 and #6 are optional, have a look into the file startup.ini to customise the program to your likings.
The tool does not interfere with the Saitek Programming Software, so you can use it along with any joystick-profile you created for IL2 1946. The tool will just create a few new pages on the display.
Depending on what driver-version for the X52pro you currently use it might be necessary to update your drivers to the latest version.
You can find the latest Saitek X52pro drivers and SD6 programming software here: http://www.saitek.com/uk/down/drivers.php (http://www.saitek.com/uk/down/drivers.php)
Known Issues and Workaround
There are reports of the display showing strange behaviour when having the X52pro plugged to an USB-hub. This is a known issue, but saitek does not fix it (they can't or they don't want to...).
(For me) the issue was solved by plugging the stick directly to the computer.
There are also reports of the display not showing anything after starting AIRSTRIKEpro. This has probably to do with 64Bit operating systems (like Win7 64Bit) and the “Saitek DirectOutput Service” not being started correctly after your computer started.
Should you not see anything on the display of your X52pro after starting AIRSTRIKEpro please do the following (once):
1. Restart your computer and do not start AIRSTRIKEpro
2. Reinstall the latest drivers for your X52pro
3. Right click on the task bar at the bottom of your screen and select "Task-Manager"
4. Select the tab "Services"
5. At the bottom right, you will see a button "Services...", click on that button
6. A window will open, scroll down and find "Saitek DirectOutput". Right click on it and choose "properties"
7. Again a window will open, in the middle of it you will see "Startup type:" and to the right you will see a pull down menu.
Click on the arrow on the right edge and choose "Automatic (Delayed start)". Click the button:"OK"
8. Close the Task-Manager and restart your computer
After your system rebooted there will now be a 10 - 15 seconds delay before your X52pro display will work properly, so just wait a few seconds after your computer started before starting AIRSTRIKEpro.
Improvement suggestions, bug report and critique welcome!
Daedalus
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This is just absalutly awesome I wish I had a Saitek X52 Pro.
Amazing Contribution !!!
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Thank you! :)
Update to version 2.0!
- AIRSTRIKEpro v2.0 now communicates with IL2 1946 via DeviceLink. It receives IAS and altitude directly from the game, no need to enter these values manually anymore with this feature enabled (optional).
- Integrated simple autopilot, no restrictions, it can control every aircraft in the game
- option to choose units, select between (km/h, km, m), (mph, nm, ft) and (kn, nm, ft)
- reworked page-design
Check the first posting of this thread, download link there is up to date.
Daedalus
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Bug report and workaround
There are reports of the display not showing anything after starting AIRSTRIKEpro. This has probably to do with 64Bit operating systems (like Win7 64Bit) and the “Saitek DirectOutput Service” not being started correctly after your computer started.
Should you not see anything on the display of your X52pro after starting AIRSTRIKEpro please do the following:
1. Restart your computer and do not start AIRSTRIKEpro
2. Reinstall the latest drivers for your X52pro
3. Right click on the task bar at the bottom of your screen and select "Task-Manager"
4. Select the tab "Services"
5. At the bottom right, you will see a button "Services...", click on that button
6. A window will open, scroll down and find "Saitek DirectOutput". Right click on it and choose "properties"
7. Again a window will open, in the middle of it you will see "Startup type:" and to the right you will see a pull down menu.
Click on the arrow on the right edge and choose "Automatic (Delayed start)". Click the button:"OK"
8. Close the Task-Manager and restart your computer
After your system rebooted there will now be a 10 - 15 seconds delay before your X52pro display will work properly, so just wait a few seconds after your computer started before starting AIRSTRIKEpro.
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Only X52pro compatible? How about "just" X52? ::)
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The X52 (non-pro) does not have a programmable display, Saitek published the SDK for the X52pro only.
Unfortunately this software will only work for the pro. :(
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WOW!!!
i just saw this. being an avid X52pro user, i think this is really cool and i'd like to say a big thank you to the people who made this
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Thank you!
The program is still under developement, the whole autopilot system needs to be reworked for example. The console window will also disappear in the next version, there is really no need to have it at all (but console applications are a bit more convenient for debugging).
Keep an eye on this thread if you are interested in this application, updates coming soon. :)
Daedalus
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Very cool!
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Update AIRSTRIKEpro v2.2
Work on the update to version 2.2 is done!
The page-layout changed a bit and I added two new pages, a 'classic speedbar' (IAS or TAS) and 'Engine temperature and settings' for each engine of your aircraft (up to four engines).
(http://i342.photobucket.com/albums/o422/Daedalus80/page_layout.jpg)
Please check the first posting in this thread for the download-link and additional information.
Daedalus
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Update to Version 2.3
(http://i342.photobucket.com/albums/o422/Daedalus80/page_layout_1.jpg)
- information-page on the amount of fuel left (kg, liter, us.liq.gallons), current fuel-consumption (kg/h, liter/h, gal/h) and the maximum range added.
- some minor changes, mostly performance and user-friendliness improvements
Check the first posting in this thread, the download-link can be found there.
Daedalus
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Check the first posting in this thread, the download-link can be found there.
Can't download a valid zip-file. :(
Regards
dedr Blaubär
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for the love of all holy Science please tell me you still have this.. I have been everywhere looking for this and can't for the life of me find it. I was able to find an older version but I haven't found the corresponding drivers for it (the new ones seem to have the Direct Output not recgonized as if they changed some functions so it doesn't match anymore - this is the same problem that I had with the Spanish fellow that wrote the IL-2 to x52Pro MFD flight data to MFD program... I was able to find the right drivers for that by back tracking the FTP server @ saitek only to find that the program doesn't work for 64 bit which sucks cause I have this powerful MFD and still have yet to use it anywhere except stupid FSX!!!) but regardless I would like the newest version because I'm assuming errors have been fixed. Even if it is 32 bit only I'd still like it because I'm setting up a second 32 bit OS for scenarios just like this. If Daedalus is no longer active here can anyone help me that possible has this saved on their hard drive?
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Sorry to say but all I could find was the old version 2.2, not working anymore with current Saitek drivers.
Best regards - Mike
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Sorry to say but all I could find was the old version 2.2, not working anymore with current Saitek drivers.
Best regards - Mike
Well Mike it sure would make my day if you could send me the link you have or if it's on your computer maybe we could work out some time to DC it to me or even spoof the extension and e-mail it to me.
With regards to not working with Saitek Direct Output I would imagine that the SaiDirectOutput SDK used with AIRSTRIKEpro v2.2 <= SaiDirectOutout v6.2 - sadly it seems that the at the jump or somewhere in between the transition between SaiDO v6.2 & v6.6 all compatibility has been lost.
Luckily, for all of us who care to experiment or use the few programs that are out there and not supported by the newest driver/software package from Saitek need not worry one bit for transitions one's pc to the lower version is a simple as running through the msi which takes a manner of seconds. No usb removal, no restart, etc. Simply run msi and it overwrites the files in the windows temp folder (used only for install not for day to day use) and starts the older installer and finishes in seconds. I have tested this with such programs as the Spanish fellows IL-2 MFD connection that needed drivers from way back in 2009.
The good ol people at Saitek keep a nice archive on their ftp server with (as far as I can tell) previous versions of SST software and drivers (not to mention profiles and all other goodies). Maybe they are trying to redeem themselves after having 86'ed the forums.
Anyway, this is important to me for one, I'd like to try it because sadly my MFD usage is little to none with the SDK features not having kicked off as much as I think they would have like them too, so any chance to have a solid connection with sim and MFD is a satisfting experience and then there is the second part, I am building a Saitek X52 Pro (as well as x45, x52, x65) fan/support/backup repository to keep it alive througout the decade and next.
As you can see I'm trying to have every single user made MDF program & anything else related. I have quite a large collection of MFD programs as well as profiles and utility helper programs for curve editing on individual games & sims. I have quite a bit of Saitek's FTP backed up as well for the related HOTAS products and have quite a bit of the great SDK & developer notes from the forums backed up too thanks to a nifty script that rebuilds WayBack archives and removes the clutter.
I'd sure appreciate this as I can only find up to v1.6 on my local computer and I could swear I have 2.2 but it's not coming up in searches. Any help would be awesome.
Thanks,
Paul
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Hi Paul,
Sorry for the late reply.
Here is Airstrike Pro 2.2: https://www.mediafire.com/download/9abo9q7hwm5f8t9
And this is a readme for 2.3: https://www.mediafire.com/download/wfvnwgnslwlfc62
Best regards - Mike
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EDIT: SLIGHT CHANCE THAT ANYONE CARES:
I have found the exact version information to use this utility and will present it in a manner to easily know which version to be at, where to get drivers and how to properly downgrade temporary. This information will cover v2.2 (or maybe v1.5/6/x -> v2.2) as well as v2.3 for that magic day the long lost file of the internet shows its face again. Or till I just attempt to write the app myself. Seems perfect timing to start working on the foundation as the day BoK hits it would be nice to at least have some info on the MFD.
Thanks Mike, I really appreciate it. Do you know any other members (people you have known for a while or flown with; IDK maybe friends on a personal level or acquaintances made throughout the years) that use (or at one time had used) the x52 pro? I thought about asking the few members of this thread if they have the 2.3 version by direct PM'ing them (so long as last login isn't > 1 year) and there is one or two more forums sites that this was advertised on I believe.. Lol I really want to get my hands on this.. Like I said, barley any use with the MFD so any program is special.
BUT I don't mean to minimize the contrubution you provided as you took me from v1.6 to v2.2 which I am more than grateful for!
Just seems that v2.3 is a major improvement as there is no manual input (though this is cool and more authentic/realistic) anymore it's all automatically inputted from devicelink connection. Sounds like this is saying that pre v2.3 it was a stand alone app that had nothing to do with IL-2 device link wise (comparing this to a simple cmd prompt program that does the same thing, not connecting to device link etc.)
Anyway blah blah ..
Thanks again! Now I just need to figure out why BAT isn't working!! I swear I always do something horrible wrong as I am always never seeing increase of missions, slight increase of campaigns, qmbpro doesn't detect massive amounts of missions and only sees stock (quick) missions and now the harrier and hornet spawn to empty arena with pre dead plane (as opposed to spawn then crash) kinda like what happened when you didn't have forgotten countries installed (i think) lol.. oh my