How to - Calibrate my throttles?

[richboy2307]

Throttle Calibration Page (EFB)

Before you fly, you must calibrate your throttles via the Electronic Flight Bag (EFB) - Throttle Calibration page.

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Note: You must assign Throttle Axis 1 to 4 in the MSFS Controls settings to your available hardware axis accordingly. The Throttle Calibration process is not a substitute for control assignment in MSFS Settings. The purpose of calibration is to assign detents and dead zones only.

 Throttle Calibration Process

Typically the throttle calibration is done in the following order

1. Ensure that Throttle Axis or Throttle Axis 1 to 4 are assigned in the MSFS Control settings.
2. Set desired REVERSERS ON AXIS option
3. Set desired INPUT AXIS COUNT option
4. Set desired INPUT DEADZONE %
5. Move your hardware throttle axis to the position you want to define as a detent (e.g. IDLE/CLB/FLX/TOGA)
6. Click the SET (DETENT) POSITION button on the EFB to define the current position to the detent chosen
7. Observe new detent position shown on the diagram on the right.
8. Repeat Steps 4 to 7 for each desired detent.
    

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Note: You will have to repeat this process if you want to change INPUT DEADZONE % or REVERSERS ON AXIS option after completing the calibration.

 

Reversers on Axis Option

Verify whether your hardware has a reverse thrust on an axis or not then choose the appropriate option.

'REVERSERS ON AXIS' is set to NO:  

• The bottom most position of your hardware axis (0%) will be assignable to the IDLE detent position.
• You may have to bind 'HOLD' / 'TOGGLE  REVERSE THRUST' sim control binding to an additional button / input on your hardware to use reverse thrust.
• This option is recommended for majority of consumer flight simulation hardware (including Xbox Controllers).

'REVERSERS ON AXIS' is set to YES:  

• The bottom most position of your hardware axis (0%) will be assignable to the MAX REV detent position for thrust reverser operation.
• You can additionally define separate IDLE and IDLE REV detent positions.
• This option is recommended for hardware such as the TCA Airbus Throttle Quadrant.

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Input Axis Count Option

Verify whether your hardware has One, Two or Four independent axis available for throttle control, then choose the appropriate option. This changes how the calibration values are copied across ENG1 to ENG4.

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Note: This option is not a substitute for control assignment in MSFS Settings. You must still assign Throttle Axis 1 to 4 in the MSFS Controls settings to your available hardware axis accordingly.

Input Deadzone Option

You may define a Global 'Input Deadzone %' for all detents during the Throttle Calibration Process which we will cover below.

The present deadzone % boundary is also shown visually on the axis diagram to the right via dark blue lines above/below your present AXIS % value. These lines indicate that the assigned detent will activate whenever ENG1 to ENG4 % values are within the two blue lines. The larger the number, the further apart the blue lines will be meaning the the detent is engaged for a larger range of hardware axis movement.

Applying a Deadzone %

• Use the slider to choose the desired 'INPUT DEADZONE %' value (Default is 2.5%).
• Click the SET (DETENT) POSITION button to apply the set value to your detent.

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Note:  If you want to change the 'INPUT DEADZONE %' value, you must repeat the Throttle Calibration Process again after setting new value. 

Example - Applying a 4% Deadzone to IDLE detent
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Example Throttle Calibration Process

Example #1  - Defining a CLB detent with Reverser On Axis = NO

1. Move your hardware axis physically to where you want to define the CLB detent.
2. Set your desired 'INPUT  DEADZONE %' for the current detent.
3. Press the 'SET CLB POSITION' button on the EFB.
4. Verify on the diagram on the right a C > appears showing the newly defined CLB detent position, with the relevant % above.

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Note: A 4% Input Deadzone set for a CLB position defined at 69% axis value means that CLB Detent will engage anywhere between 67% to 71% axis value after calibration.

(Click to enlarge image)

 

Example #2  - Defining a Max Reverser detent with Reverser On Axis = YES

1. Move your hardware axis physically to where you want to define the MAX REV detent.
2. Set your desired 'INPUT  DEADZONE %' for the current detent.
3. Press the 'SET MAX REV POSITION' button on the EFB.
4. Verify on the diagram on the right a MR > appears showing the newly defined MAX REV detent position, with the relevant % above.

(Click to enlarge image)

 

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Note: TCA Airbus Throttle Quadrant users - for best results, ensure the following
- Assign your left throttle to THROTTLE 1 AXIS and THROTTLE 2 AXIS , and
- Assign your right throttle to THROTTLE 3 AXIS and THROTTLE 4 AXIS
- On the EFB Throttle Calibration app, use 4-Axis Option

 

 

[richboy2307]

Issues with Calibration

If you experience any issues with the Throttle Calibration process, you may force-reset the calibration on the EFB via either of the following methods:

• PC & Xbox: Press the 'RESET CALIBRATION' button or toggle the 'REVERSERS ON AXIS' option between YES and NO to reset the calibration.
• PC Only: Delete the 'ThrottleData.ini' file to start fresh on next launch of the simulator. This file will be found in the work folder of the aircraft, and the path will vary based on where you purchased the simulator:
  
  Steam: %APPDATA%\Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024\WASM\MSFS2024\inibuilds-aircraft-a340\work
  MS Store: %LOCALAPPDATA%\Packages\Microsoft.Limitless_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalState\WASM\MSFS2024\inibuilds-aircraft-a340\work 

 

Issues with Reversers

If you experience any issues with the operation of reversers on hardware with reverse on axis (E.g. TCA Quadrant Airbus Edition), please ensure the following:

• Reverse on Axis: Ensure you have selected YES on the EFB Throttle Calibration page.
• Calibration: Ensure you have completed the calibration at least once. This will ensure the creation of a 'ThrottleData.ini' file.
• ThrottleData.ini : The file can be found at the path stated above. Open with a text editor (e.g. Notepad) and check that it says the following -
  
  [throttle]
  reverse_on_axis = true
  
  If it says false, change it to true as above. Reversers should then work after a sim restart.