CH Products CH PRO THROTTLE User manual

Technical Support
**Before contacting Technical Support, please read the electronic manual carefully. It has
a more comprehensive troubleshooting section that may solve your problem**
To get the most efficient support, we recommend that you do a little research on your
computer system so you can have answers ready for the questions the technicians may ask
you. Please write down answers to the following before you contact us:
• What kind of computer do you have?
• How many/what kind of gameport(s) does your system have?
• With which software are you having problems?
• Do you have any other controllers (i.e. joysticks, rudders) plugged in?
Now call CH Products technical support at 760.598.7833. Or write, mail, or e-mail, us at the
following addresses:
Mailing address: CH Products
970 Park Center Dr.
Vista, CA 92083
Technical Support number: 760.598.7833
Web site: www.chproducts.com
Internet email form: www.chproducts.com/support/form
Online Knowledge Base http://www.chproducts.com/fom/cache/1.html
Warranty
The CH Pro Throttle™ is warranted to the original purchaser to be free from defects in
materials and workmanship for a period of three (3) years from the date of purchase.
During this warranty period, CH PRODUCTS will, at its option, repair or replace, at no
charge, any component determined to be defective.
The liability under this warranty is limited to the repair of and/or replacement of the
defect or defective part at our factory, and does not include shipping expenses. This
warranty does not apply if, in the opinion of CH PRODUCTS, the CH Pro Throttle™ has
been damaged by accident, abuse, improper usage, or as a result of service or modification
by other than CH PRODUCTS.
"NO OTHER WARRANTIES ARE EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT
NOT LIMITED TO IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF SALABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A
PARTICULAR PURPOSE. CH PRODUCTS IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR
CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES." SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW EXCLUSION OR
LIMITATION OF INCIDENTICAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, SO THE ABOVE
LIMITATION OR EXCLUSION MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU.
This warranty gives you specific legal rights, and you may also have other rights
which vary from state to state.
To obtain warranty services, send the CH Pro Throttle, postage prepaid, with a check
for $6.00 to cover shipping and handling, together with a dated proof of purchase and RMA#
(Return Merchandise Authorization) obtained from CH PRODUCTS at 760.598.7833 to: CH
PRODUCTS, 970 Park Center Dr., Vista, CA 92083.
The enclosed software is made available as is, and without warranties of any kind. All
warranty claims made on CH PRODUCTS relating to defects which may be present are
expressly excluded where this is legally permissible.
CH PRODUCTS assumes no liability for the correctness, precision, or currency of the
software or of its accompanying documentation, nor for the suitability of the software for a
specific purpose or for normal market quality.
The risk relating to usability of the running characteristics of the software and the
accompanying hardware lies with the user of the software. CH PRODUCTS shall not be
liable for the performance of the software or for its functional capability in a multiple users
association. The user shall bear the costs for correction of defects, costs for maintenance,
repair or improvement work and not CH PRODUCTS, its dealers, distributors,
representatives or employees.
Windows® 95,98, and 2000 and MS-DOS are registered trademarks of the Microsoft Corporation
800-305 v2.0 © 2000 by CH Products
CH PRO THROTTLE
™
QUICK START: HOW TO INSTALL AND PROGRAM THE CH PRO THROTTLE
Congratulations on your purchase of the CH Pro Throttle! Its authentic look, quality
craftsmanship, and programmability will provide you with hours of “keyboard-free” game
play. It was designed and manufactured in the U.S. with the same strict quality standards
you’ve come to expect from CH Products.
Requirements
• IBM-compatible computer with a 286 processor or higher
• Standard gameport that supports at least two joysticks (via one port--OK)
• Standard or PS/2 type keyboard and connector
• MS-DOS 5.0 or higher with at least 500K conventional memory available
IMPORTANT: This is only a brief guide; for more information, please read the CH Pro
Throttle electronic manual included with the software.
Installation
1. Turn the computer OFF.
2. Plug the CH Pro Throttle’s gameport connector into the gameport behind the
computer. Attach your analog joystick to the 15 pin port located on the base of the CH
Pro Throttle. If you have a pair of rudder pedals, attach the CH Pro Throttle’s
gameport connector to the rudder pedals.
3. Unplug your keyboard and plug it into the back of the CH Pro Throttle’s special
keyboard pass-through connector (for PS/2 machines, use the smaller connector).
4. Plug the Pro Throttle’s keyboard connector into your computer’s keyboard slot.
5. Turn ON your computer and boot up into Windows.
6. Insert the CD-ROM in the CD-ROM drive and allow the CD to autorun. (If the CD does
not autorun, double click on My Computer then open your CD-ROM drive. Double
click on the setup file.
7. Follow the onscreen directions. Install the program for your CH Pro Throttle called
Speedkeys. This file may be listed as the driver for the CH Pro Throttle.
Programming the CH Pro Throttle
All the information you need is located in the online help section of Speedkeys. To access
this information, open Speedkeys and follow the onscreen instructions until you reach an
area that has a picture of your throttle. On the lower-right hand corner of that particular
screen you should see the button labeled Help. Click on this button to access the help file.
Note: The Pro Throttle will not work correctly until you read the help file for Speedkeys.
This step is mandatory as it will educate you on the inner workings of Speedkeys and how
to program templates to your CH Pro Throttle. At this point, it is recommended that you
place this manual on your desk and refer to the Speedkeys help file before continuing with
the instructions below.
Windows®95/98 Setup
Before you can use the CH Pro throttle in Windows 95/98 dedicated games, you will first
need to setup and calibrate it in the Windows 95/98 Game Controllers Properties menu in
the following manner:

1. Make sure you have an analog controller attached to the Pro Throttle and that its
driver is properly installed (refer to your joystick’s manual for more information).
2. In Windows 95/98, click Start, Settings and then Control Panel.
3. Double-click the
Game Controllers icon (If you do not see this icon, see the
troubleshooting section below).
4. Highlight the driver for the analog joystick that is attached to the pro throttle, and
select properties
5. Move the slider on the throttle back and forth in the Calibration test area. You should
see movement in the third axis. If so, your throttle is ready for calibration.
You are now ready to calibrate your analog joystick and Pro Throttle.
1. Single click on the Settings tab, then single click on Calibrate. Follow the instructions
provided on screen. Note that the on-screen indicators may not display the correct
values during the calibration routine but should during the Test. Also, the buttons will
not register if they are keyboard-programmed during the Test.
2. Click Test… and check for proper joystick and throttle operation. If acceptable, click
OK, Apply, then OK.
If after several attempts this does not produce a good calibration, or if the Calibrate button
is grayed out, see the Windows 95/98 troubleshooting section.
Performing a Hard Reset
Once in a while your Pro Throttle may lose a stored template or may have trouble being
recognized by the Speedkeys programming software. Performing a hard reset on the Pro
Throttle at this point would be necessary to return your joystick to factory condition.
To perform a hard reset on your Pro Throttle:
1. Turn the computer off completely.
2. Locate the three front gray buttons on your throttle. These buttons are typically found
where your middle finger, ring finger, and pinky rest. Hold these two buttons down
simultaneously.
3. Turn the computer on (while still depressing these buttons).
4. Count off 5 seconds, and then release the buttons.
5. Allow the computer to complete its boot up process.
6. To verify that the CH Pro Throttle has been properly reset, open any text editor (for
example, Notepad*) and press the flat gray button on the front face. You should
receive a version number. If you did receive a version number the Pro Throttle’s
memory has been successfully cleared and you may proceed. If not, repeat steps 1-6.
*Notepad can be accessed by clicking on Start, Programs, Accessories, and selecting
Notepad.
Windows NT4.0/ 2000 Installation
There is no Windows NT4 or Windows 2000 support for the CH Pro Throttle. If you wish to
use this device with those operating systems you will need a dual boot system on your
computer. Once that is set up, you can program the CH Pro Throttle in Windows 95/98,
then reboot into Windows NT4/ 2000 and use the device in your game. Check our website
periodically for any new software updates.
Helpful Tips
Listed below are some helpful tips for getting your CH Pro Throttle to work properly. These
items are listed in sequential order. If you follow these general guidelines you should be
able to install your CH Pro Throttle and start playing your game with relative ease!
1. Make sure your keyboard is a standard keyboard, and is not programmable.
The most compatible keyboard with your CH Pro Throttle is a standard, non-
programmable keyboard. Any keyboard that has programmable functions (i.e. CD
volume adjustment, web access, etc) will not work, even though the programmable
functions may not be activated.
2. Read the Speedkeys help file thoroughly
The Speedkeys help file is your main source of information on how to program and use
your CH Pro Throttle. Therefore, it is in your best interest to read this help file.
3. Before calibration, or before playing a game, make sure you have a template in
your CH Pro Throttle.
The CH Pro Throttle is a keyboard emulator. Through the special keyboard adapter the
CH Pro Throttle is able to input keyboard commands to your computer in ways that are
ergonomically superior. But in order for your CH Pro Throttle to do anything you must
tell it what keyboard and/or joystick buttons you would like to assign. This is done
through the Speedkeys programming software.
4. In each of your templates, program the throttle axis for ”external joystick”. Also,
program at least one joystick button to your setup for Windows Calibration
purposes.
When you set your throttle axis assignment in Speedkeys for external joystick, you are
telling Speedkeys that the third axis, which normally controls the throttle, will be
controlled externally, meaning your CH Pro Throttle.
Also, make sure at least one button in your setup is programmed for a joystick button,
and not a keyboard key (see Speedkeys help file). When Windows requires you to
“press a button to continue”, you need to make sure that you are pressing the joystick
button that is programmed as a joystick button, and not one programmed as a
keyboard key.
5. You will need a different template for each game that you play.
Each game will have different keyboard assignments. For example, in one game, the
letter G may raise and lower landing gear. In another game, the letter G may fire guns.
In yet another game, the letter G may summon God to smite the villagers. You get the
point. Therefore, each game will have its own Pro Throttle template associated with it.
So, before playing your game, make sure you have the correct template loaded into
your CH Pro Throttle for that particular game.
6. Always quit out of Speedkeys
After you have created a template in Speedkeys, you must first save the template.
Afterwards, click on the button labeled Download. Then, to cement the changes, click
on the button labeled Quit. Wait 3 seconds, and then launch your game. If you do not
quit out of Speedkeys before going into your game, your changes may not have taken
place.
7. To test your template, use a standard text editor like Notepad
Since your Pro Throttle emulates a keyboard, what better place to test out your
keyboard assignments than a text editor like Notepad? When testing, you will get two
responses for each button press. As long as the keyboard command that you
programmed actually matches the output in Notepad then it will work in your game
(assuming that you programmed the right keyboard command for the desired function).