Left Handed Gladiator NXT EVO to THQ connection

[Roy-Westland]

I have a Left Handed Gladiator NXT EVO and I'm trying to connect my new THQ module. Other forum posts says use the supplied 3 pin to 4 pin connecting cable, not the other supplied 4 pin to 4 pin cable. However, with the THQ mounted on the right side of my left handed stick (as required for lefties like me), the 3 pin to 4 pin cable isn't long enough. What am I missing?

[fallout9]

There are sockets on both sides of the Gladiator, as well as module's.

[Roy-Westland]

Well Duh! I have eyes. sorry for the sarcasm but the problem in more detail: -

The VKD video on connecting a THQ to a NXT EVO (which is for a right handed NXT EVO with the THQ mounted on the left of the stick), shows a long circuit board different to my left handed stick and the supplied 3 to 4 pin cable does nor fit anywhere in my stick. There is a 3 pin slot in my stick for connecting a second right handed NXT EVO for a lefty throttle, but that socket is different to / incompatible with the supplied 3 pin cable. I suspect I should connect the 4 pin socket on the long circuit board on my stick marked as Ext.2 to the 4 pin connection in the THQ marked X10, but that would require a JST 2.0 4 pin to 4 pin cable longer than the one supplied. I have ordered a longer cable to test this theory. Am I on the right track? To be clear, I am left handed, so needed the left handed stick as a primary joystick with the THQ throttle mounted on the right side of my stick. It shouldn't be rocket science as the THQ is advertised as mountable on the left or right side of the stick.

The top picture is a photo of my NXT EVO long circuit board and the second picture is a screenshot from the NXT-THQ video

It is shocking that there is no user manual supplied with my stick showing the connections and their uses. The VKD videos are no help as my stick's long motherboard is different to the one in the videos.

HELP!!

[Ron61]

You can try connecting here, then reset to default and reconfigure and calibrate.

[Roy-Westland]

Problem resolved. What I didn't notice initially and none of the videos tells you, is that the supplied 4 pin to 4 pin cable (supposedly for adding other modules to the THQ), actually has a small converter attached to it that converts one end of the cable to 4 pins rather than a female plug like the other end. If you remove the small converter, you are left with a female plug at both ends. This cable can then be connected to the supplied 4 pin to 3 pin cable. The 3 pin end can then be fitted to 3 of the 4 pins in the 4 pin connector on the long NXT EVO circuit board by aligning the cable colours. The other end then just reaches the X10 connector in the THQ.
After doing this, I then run the config file and everything works fine, although strangely, with the THQ connected, the NXT x axis (joystick left / right), no longer shows up in the axis tab in the config utility. I'm assuming this axis was configured in the background but haven't had the time to test it in-game. Watch this space. This is obviously a software issue, (along with the aforementioned lack of a user manual with connection instructions), that needs to be fixed.

[Roy-Westland]

I forgot to add that the right hand lever of the 3 on the THQ also doesn't show in the axis list in the config utility. I'm hoping this will still be available in-game.

[Ron61]

Check out this topic to understand the axle placement on combines.

[Delta]

the supplied 4 pin to 4 pin cable (supposedly for adding other modules to the THQ), actually has a small converter attached to it that converts one end of the cable to 4 pins rather than a female plug like the other end. If you remove the small converter, you are left with a female plug at both ends. This cable can then be connected to the supplied 4 pin to 3 pin cable. The 3 pin end can then be fitted to 3 of the 4 pins in the 4 pin connector on the long NXT EVO circuit board by aligning the cable colours. The other end then just reaches the X10 connector in the THQ.

That sounds weird. You should not need to plug cables together, plus I have never seen such converters. Can you take a picture?

After doing this, I then run the config file and everything works fine, although strangely, with the THQ connected, the NXT x axis (joystick left / right), no longer shows up in the axis tab in the config utility. I'm assuming this axis was configured in the background but haven't had the time to test it in-game. Watch this space. This is obviously a software issue, (along with the aforementioned lack of a user manual with connection instructions), that needs to be fixed.

That is a bug in firmware version 2.18.9.

[Roy-Westland]

Update: I tried setting up my NXT EVO & THQ in MSFS 24 and although MSFS recognises my stick and THQ and all the buttons work OK, as with the config utility where the stick x axis and the THQ right lever are not recognised, it's the same in-game. Consequently I have no aileron control from my stick and no THQ right lever functionality. This, on the face of it makes the THQ useless. I did test my NXT EVO in MSFS 24 without the THQ attached and everything worked OK. If as you say, this is a known bug with the config utility, then unless someone knows a work-around, I need an updated config utility to get everything working. Very disappointing!!!

[Delta]

It is not the config tool, it is the firmware. You can grab alternate firmware versions at https://www.njoy32.vkb-sim.pro/

[Roy-Westland]

Delta, your a hero. I couldn't find alternative firmware anywhere but your link did the trick. I reverted to the .4 version instead of the .9 version and the x axis now shows up and works correctly. However, the right hand THQ lever still doesn't show and the THQ doesn't show as an item in the top device list. Is there a firmware version you can recommend, or will I just work my way through the different versions?

[Delta]

The THQ becomes part of your stick, the name of the stick should reflect that.

Problem with THQ on a stick is that the axis count (2 main axes, twist, mini-throttle, 2 mini-stick axes, 3 levers) exceeds the maximum number of axes for one controller in several windows interfaces, which means many sims have touble understanding that ninth axis. To work around that, it should show up as two controllers in windows, with the extra lever axis on a separate controller. On the vkbdevcfg test page,you should be able to select the sub-controller in a drop-down menu

[Corrigoli]

I'm having the same issue but I cannot locate this converter mentioned in the resolution. My throttle quadrant came with a four pin to four pin cable and a three pin to four pin cable obviously the fourth pin is non-functioning on that end. I am not seeing a way to connect these two cables or a converter that can be removed. Can you please send photographs or clarify?

[fallout9]

There's no need for a converter, just plug the 4 pins end of the 3 wires cable into the THQ and the 3 pins end into the Gladiator like this.

[Corrigoli]

There's no need for a converter, just plug the 4 pins end of the 3 wires cable into the THQ and the 3 pins end into the Gladiator like this.

Thanks for your help, but I am still a little confused, your image looks to show 2 connection points within the gladiator. The original problem is that the right side mounting of the THQ makes the distance too far for the supplied cable(s) to connect. I have attached a photo to explain. In short, I cant get either of those cables to get from the THQ to the port on the Gladiator you have circled in your photo. Thanks again for your assistance!