welcome to 737 ng tq pro motor - fsc

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WELCOME TO

737 NG TQ Pro Motor

Version 1.2.4 – May 2015

INDEX

1 INTRODUCTION 2

2 INSTALLATION 3

3 USING THE TQ IN X-PLANE 5

4 USING THE TQ IN FS9, FSX, ESP AND Prepar3D 6

5 CONFIGURING TQ THROTTLE FOR FIRST TIME USE 7

6 USING TQ THROTTLE DEVICE 9

7 INSTALLING AND CONFIGURING THE TQ IN PROJECT MAGENTA 18

8 COMPATIBILITY NOTES 20

9 HOW TO CONTACT SUPPORT 21

! IMPORTANT !

Most of the functionalities of this product require registered FSUIPC if using MSFS related

software and XPUIPC if using X-Plane. These products are not supplied with this driver and

can be obtained from simmarket.com (FSUIPC) or from tosi-online.de (XPUIPC).

If you are using the TQ in Project Magenta software, do not run the 737 NG TQ Pro Motor

driver (throttle_cm.exe) since the TQ hardware can’t be used by two software running at the

same time.

Official website for information and support:

http://www.flightsimulatorcenter.com

By Luciano Napolitano

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1 - INTRODUCTION

Welcome to 737 NG TQ Pro Metal.

The throttle device has the followings features:

• Plug&Play USB connection and driver for Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7

(both 32 and 64 bits editions are supported);

• Supports Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004, Microsoft Flight Simulator X, Microsoft ESP,

Prepar3D and X-Plane. Support is guaranteed via FSUIPC (or XPUIPC in X-Plane) and

configurable offset

• Compatible with most add-on aircraft like PMDG 737NGX and IFly 737NG (requires FSX

or later)

• Very robust and heavy metal construction;

• Servo assisted throttle levers, speed brake lever and trim wheels, for real time feedback from

autothrottle and autopilot;

• Speed brake lever with electro-mechanical flight detent lock

• Thrust reverser levers that can be moved while the autothrottle is connected;

• Fuel valve shutoff levers;

• Autothrottle disconnect and TOGA buttons;

• Flaps lever with B737 standard detents;

• Operable motorized trim wheels;

• Motorized STAB TRIM indicator;

• Park brake lever with status indicator;

• Gear horn cutoff button;

• Backlighted panel;

• Compatible with glass cockpit software via offset configuration;

• Throttle lever’s behaviour can be customized to control three and four engine aircrafts;

• Keyboard emulation for AT disconnect buttons, TOGA button and Fuel valves shutoff

levers, to extend the compatibility to most add-on aircrafts when offset can’t be used

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2 - INSTALLATION

� It is recommended to install the drivers before the TQ Throttle is physically connected to

the computer. This will ensure that the Plug & Play procedure will work as required.

� You must have Administrator rights into operative system to ensure correct installation

� Make sure that antivirus and other malware software doesn’t prevent the setup program to

copy the files as expected (just in case, you may wish to disable them during the setup

process). Should you get errors reporting files not found or copy file errors, this is due to the

antivirus.

To install the USB driver for TQ Throttle, disconnect TQ USB cable, locate the correct driver (32 or 64 bit) in "TQ FTDI SETUP" archive and run SETUP.

During the installation process, the USB driver

is installed. They let your operative system to

recognize the TQ properly. During this

process, a window like the one displayed on

the left is shown.

Once the drivers are fully installed, you can connect the power supply cable to the TQ Throttle unit

and then connect the USB cable from TQ Throttle to the computer.

The TQ Throttle works in COM (serial) emulation via USB, so a fictitious new serial port is added

to your PC configuration. In order to use the TQ Throttle, you need to know the unique COM port

number assigned to the TQ Throttle by your operative system. To do so, please follow these steps:

From Windows START button, run “devmgmt.msc” as a command line program (use START |

Run | type devmgmt.msc | click OK in Windows XP or just type devmgmt.msc in Windows Vista

as illustrated below):

• The following window will appear, just click “Ports” to expand the tree and get a list of the

ports installed in your PC.

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• The port belonging to TQ Throttle is listed as either “USB Serial Port” or “FSC Throttle

Motorized PRO”. Should you have multiple serial ports with the same name, just double

click each of them and check the manufacturer. If the manufacturer is FTDI, then this is the

serial port belonging to TQ. Take a note of the COM port number (4 in the example above),

as it will be required by TQ driver.

• You are now ready to configure and use the TQ Throttle for use in your preferred flight

simulation software, please see the next chapter.

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3 – USING THE TQ IN X-PLANE

In order to work as expected, the TQ driver requires X-Plane and XPUIPC started in the following

sequence:

1) Start X-Plane, making sure that it loads also the XPUIPC plug-in as indicated below:

From the Plug-in Admin menu, XPUIPC/XPWideFS must be set as Enabled.

2) If the TQ Throttle is physically connected to a slave computer (say computer “B”) not

running X-Plane, you will have to run XPWideClient on computer B, configuring the IP

address of the computer where X-Plane runs. The TQ driver will be executed on computer B

too.

For first time use, XPWideClient needs to be configured in order to communicate with X-

Plane. In the sample shown above, XPWideClient is configured to communicate with X-

Plane running on the same computer where XPWideClient and the TQ driver are used (IP

address of 127.0.0.1, meaning “itself”).

XPWideClient is configured by directly editing its INI file by a text editor (for example,

Windows Notepad). Please consult the documentation shipped with XPWideClient to know

how to edit its INI file and configure it as required.

If the TQ Throttle is connected to the same computer where X-Plane runs, step 2 can

be skipped.

3) Start the TQ driver by running the executable “throttle_cm”

! IMPORTANT ! The installer will NOT copy throttle_cm from the installation media

to your computer. So, just copy it manually from the installation media to your

desktop, as it is a single file not requiring any complex installation procedure.

NOTE: to get XPUIPC, not supplied with this software, please visit http://www.tosi-online.de/

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4 – USING THE TQ IN FS9, FSX, ESP AND Prepar3D

In order to work properly, the TQ requires FSUIPC installed and registered into the client simulator

software that you would like to use. Most cockpit builders and general users already have FSUIPC

installed and registered because it is required by most add-ons. In case you don’t have it, you may

buy a license from simmarket.com

To run the TQ under one of these simulator clients, just run “throttle_cm”.

! IMPORTANT ! The installer will NOT copy throttle_cm from the installation media to

your computer. So, just copy it manually from the installation media to your desktop, as it is a

single file not requiring any complex installation procedure.

NOTE FOR USERS OF PMDG 737NGX

The TQ is compatible with PMDG 737NGX, just make sure to follow the followings steps:

1) Make sure that PMDG Service Pack 1c (March 2012) is installed

2) Open 737NGX_Options.ini file located in the following folder:<FSX

ROOT>\PMDG\PMDG 737 NGX

3) Make sure the following section exists in the file:

[SDK]

EnableDataBroadcast=1

4) Restart the client simulator if you have made any of the above changes

5) Enable the option “Activate PMDG NGX Mode” into menu “TQ | Throttle Configuration...”

in the TQ Driver

NOTE FOR USERS OF IFLY 737NG

The TQ is compatible with IFly 737NG, just make sure to enable the option “TOGA button

activates servo motors - A/T Disegngage button disconnects them” in the menu “TQ | Throttle

Configuration...”. As self-explained, this option will engage the servo motors when TOGA buttons

are pressed and will disengage them when A/T Disengage buttons are pressed.

ALWAYS MAKE SURE THAT THERE ARE NO OTHER CONTROLS OPERATING

THROTTLE, SPEED BRAKE, FLAPS ETC. TO PREVENT CONFLICTS. Always check the

analog assignments in the input peripheral configuration of your client simulator, to make

sure there are no assignments!

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5 – CONFIGURING TQ THROTTLE FOR FIRST TIME USE

To run the TQ Driver, just double click “throttle_cm” supplied on the installation media. It works

via a single file and doesn’t require installation, so you may manually copy it onto Windows

desktop.

The main window displays some self-explaining information that can be used as “test” in case of

any trouble. You will find here aircraft status information (how the TQ driver is “seeing” the

aircraft currently active in the client simulator), while on the TQ STATUS, you can check if the

servo motors are actually engaged and the analog input values.

But, in order to work, the TQ must be first of all configured in the proper COM port, as mapped by

your system (see the Installation chapter for more information). In order to do so, select menu

TQ | Throttle Configuration... and input the correct serial port in the box illustrated below:

Restart the TQ driver when the COM port changes!

The TQ Throttle must be calibrated now. The calibration is done manually from menu TQ |

Calibration... The following window appears:

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The calibration is used to store minimum and maximum control values and is normally necessary

only once, regardless of how many aircrafts are used with TQ Throttle. To perform the calibration,

please move multiple times the followings levers all the way from their minimum to maximum

position and back:

- Throttle lever 1

- Throttle lever 2

- Reverser lever 1

- Reverser lever 2

- Speed brake lever

Then, once all the boxes are properly filled-out with numerical values like on the sample shown

above, drag the STAB TRIM sliders to match the positions of the trim indicators with those on the

picture.

For your convenience, calibration files are supplied on the installation media, so you don’t have to

do the calibration manually and you can skip this step in case of any trouble.

If you wish to use the calibration files provided by ourselves, please proceed as follows:

A) Browse the supplied installation media \calibration

B) Open an Internet Explorer window and, as internet address type %appdata% including both

percent symbols, then click xptq

C) Copy the “cmthrcal” file from the installation media to the Internet Explorer window

D) Once copied, right click the destination file, select Properties and DEselect “Read only”

option, otherwise you will be unable to calibrate the TQ manually in future. Click OK.

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6 – USING TQ THROTTLE DEVICE

Once installed and calibrated, the TQ Throttle can be used normally. The unit can be used virtually

with any aircraft, including tri and four engines, by configuring the driver properly. Please read

below for a reference about each single control present on the unit.

A) Servo assisted throttle levers. They work independently for engine 1 and engine 2. If

aircrafts with a different number of engines are used, the behavior of each lever can be

customized via the configuration menu of TQ driver. The throttle levers are moved

automatically by servo motors, to match the actual position of them in the client simulator,

when the autothrottle is engaged. There are several options about how the driver controls the

throttle, to ensure better compatibility with most add-on aircrafts on the market, please see

later in this chapter.

B) Engine thrust reversers. They work independently for engine 1 and engine 2. Pull to actuate

the engine reversers, push to disengage them.

C) Auto throttle disconnect buttons. Push to disconnect the auto throttle.

D) TOGA buttons. Push to activate the TOGA mode.

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E) Servo assisted speed brake lever. This lever is servo assisted, to match the actual position of

the speed brake lever in the client simulator (for example, it moves to full extended position

after landing). Pull gently to arm the speed brake when needed, until you feel the servo

motor taking control of the lever. Continue to pull gently, to extend the speed brakes at

various degrees. Push the lever back to armed position to retract the speed brakes. Continue

to push the lever gently, to disarm the speed brake.

The Speed brake lever has an electro-mechanical lock at the “flight detent” position,

preventing the lever to be operated beyond the limits while airborne.

F) Flaps lever. Pull up and move the lever to the proper detent, as desired. The detents are the

same of a B-737, but the lever will work also with aircrafts having a different number of

detents (in such case, the actual flap position will be rounded to nearest detent selected).

G) Servo assisted trim indicator. The wheels turn under the control of servo motors, moving the

STAB TRIM indicator at the same time. The trim wheels can be operated manually if

necessary (just make sure both the STAB TRIM switches are OFF).

H) Gear Horn cutoff button. Can be used to silence the gear horn warning.

I) The STAB TRIM switches can be placed to OFF position in case you would like to

manually operate the trim wheel. This action will also prevent that the trim wheel turns

when trim setting changes. Please read page 17 for important info on Trim speed.

J) Fuel valves shutoff levers. Pull out, move up & down, pull in to respectively unlock the

levers, open / close the fuel shutoff valves, and guard the levers. To ensure proper engine

startup sequence, these levers can be used only with twin engines aircrafts.

IMPORTANT: in some client simulator like FSX, although the fuel shutoff valve is actually

operated as expected, you will not see the movement of the levers on the screen due to a

known simulator’s bug (you will see the fuel shutoff levers locked to a fixed position, even

if the fuel shutoff valves are actually in correct position).

K) Park brake lever and indicator. Pull and push the lever to respectively engage and disengage

the park brake. When engaged, the red indicator illuminates.

° ° °

Advanced options are available for full customization of TQ behaviour, to improve the

compatibility with most aircrafts on the market and with third parties glass cockpit software, like

Project Magenta and Sim-Avionics. These options are available in the configuration menu of TQ

driver as displayed below:

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Select “Throttle Configuration” and “Buttons and switches configuration...” to open the

configuration windows.

Here you can set the COM Port where the TQ Throttle is connected (although the TQ Throttle is

actually USB, the connection is “seen” by the driver like a “virtual” COM serial port, please refer to

the installation chapter to know more). The TQ driver must be restarted when the COM port

changes.

° ° °

From this frame you decide the input / output behaviour of the TQ driver and how each throttle

lever is used.

Memory offsets are used to read and write throttle values. It’s normally not necessary to change the

default numbers proposed here, unless for very special cases and advanced use. In case they are

accidentally changed, please click “Set default offsets” button to restore the factory values.

IMPORTANT:

1) when offsets are used, you are responsible to set them properly, some expertise is unavoidably

required and you may need to experiment a lot using a “trial-error” approach. Unfortunately it’s

difficult to provide accurate technical support on this, because every software and every cockpit is

different, so it would be impossible to replicate the same conditions on our testing computers.

Please consult the documentation supplied with you glass cockpit software or add-on aircraft to

know how the software interacts with client simulator and what offsets are actually used.

2) Setting the offsets in a bad way, may give very unexpected results, including hard simulator

freezes and crashes. We take for good that if you feel the need to operate via offsets, you are an

expert simulator user, knowing what you are doing.

Options “Throttle lever 1 commands engine:”, “Throttle lever 1 feedback from engine:”,

“Throttle lever 2 commands engine:” and “Throttle lever 2 feedback from engine:” are used to

specify what aircraft’s engine (1, 2, 3, 4) the throttle lever 1 and 2 must command (for example, for

a B747 the throttle lever 1 can command engine 1 and 2, while the throttle lever 2 can command the

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engine 3 and 4). It’s also possible to specify from what engine each throttle lever takes the position

to command the servo motor and move the lever accordingly (feedback from engine). If no

feedback from engine is selected, the servo assisted motor for that lever will be disabled and it will

work like any other throttle device, not having servo motors. The sample displayed on the previous

shot is valid for any twin engine aircraft.

° ° °

We recommend using the option “the followings offsets conditions are met” and then pushing “Set

offsets as FSUIPC default” which will enter the correct offsets automatically (the same button for

Project Magenta is supplied too).

For some aircraft, like IFly 737NG, you may use the first option “TOGA button activates servo

motors – A/T disengage button disconnects them”. This is very useful when add-on aircraft doesn’t

communicate ATS status correctly to the TQ driver, thus preventing the servo motors to be engaged

and disengaged accordingly.

IMPORTANT:







2) Setting the offsets in a bad way, may give very unexpected results, including hard client

simulator freezes and crashes. We take for good that if you feel the need to operate via offsets, you

are an expert simulator user, knowing what you are doing.

° ° °

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From this frame, you decide how the Horn Cutout button behaves. You can let this button to work

as expected, by several different methods:

“Simulates a click on screen, over Gear Horn button” this option can simulate a mouse click

over the Horn Cutoff button displayed on the instrument panel of the add-on aircraft that you are

using (not every aircraft may have this button!) To define where the Horn Cutoff button is displayed

on the screen, click the “Save & define an hot spot area” and follow the upcoming instruction. Once

done, every time you push the Horn Cutoff button on the TQ Throttle, a mouse click is simulated on

the hot spot area that you have defined.

“Inhibit gear warning by setting the following offset:” If the glass cockpit software or the add-on

aircraft that you are using has a dedicated offset used to reset the aural gear warning, insert it in the

provided box. If you are using Project Magenta (pmSounds), click “Auto set for Project

Magenta”.

IMPORTANT:










“Inhibit gear warning by keystroke” X-Plane sample. This is the default, recommended way to

operate this button in X-Plane. This option works simulating a keystroke. To let it work, just define

the same keystroke used by X-Plane (we recommend configuring X-Plane to use F8 as displayed on

the next picture). X-Plane must have the keyboard input focus to let this option work (click X-Plane

window to set keyboard focus)

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° ° °

From this frame, you decide the behaviour of the A/T Disengage buttons (how the TQ Throttle

driver communicates to client simulator that the button has been pressed). It can operate in the

followings ways:

“via keyboard emulation”: RECOMMENDED FOR X-PLANE - assign a key combination to

the A/T Disengage button, letting it to work in keyboard emulation mode. Click Shift, Ctrl, Alt and

insert the appropriate keycode, to define exactly the same key that your aircraft or glass cockpit

software uses to disconnect the auto throttle. We suggest using F11 key, making sure that also X-

Plane is configured on such key, as displayed below (X-Plane must have the keyboard input focus

to let this option work – just click X-Plane window to set keyboard focus):

“via the following offset:” if the aircraft or glass cockpit software that you are using has an offset

dedicated for A/T connection, insert the offset address and bit. If Project Magenta is used, click

“Auto set for Project Magenta” to set the offset info automatically. If you are using Sim-Avionics,

you will have to define a custom offset into FSUIPC I/O file supplied with Sim-Avionics and then

set the same offset here (please consult the documentation shipped with Sim-Avionics to know

more). For Flight Simulator / Prepar 3D default just click “Auto set for FSUIPC”

IMPORTANT:




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° ° °

Here you define how the TQ Throttle driver communicates to the client simulator that a TOGA

button has been pressed. Can work as follows:

“via keyboard emulation” RECOMMENDED FOR X-PLANE: assign a key combination to the

TOGA button, letting it to work in keyboard emulation mode. Click Shift, Ctrl, Alt and insert the

appropriate keycode, to define exactly the same key that your aircraft or glass cockpit software uses

to command a TOGA. We suggest using F12 key, making sure that also X-Plane is configured on

such key, as displayed below (X-Plane must have the keyboard input focus to let this option work -

click X-Plane window to set keyboard focus):


dedicated to command a TOGA, insert the offset address and bit. If Project Magenta is used, click

“Auto set for Project Magenta” to set the offset info automatically. If you are using Sim-Avionics,

you will have to define a custom offset into FSUIPC I/O file supplied with Sim-Avionics and then

set the same offset here (please consult the documentation shipped with Sim-Avionics to know

more). For Flight Simulator / Prepar 3D default just click “Auto set for FSUIPC”.

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IMPORTANT:










° ° °

From here you set how the TQ Throttle driver commands the fuel shutoff valves. Several methods

are available:

“via keyboard emulation”: assign a key combination to the Fuel Cutoff levers, letting them to

work in keyboard emulation mode. Click Shift, Ctrl, Alt and insert the appropriate keycode, to

define exactly the same key that your aircraft or glass cockpit software uses to command the Fuel

Cutoff levers.

“via default offsets 3590 - 359C (fuel valve)” : RECOMMENDED FOR ALL SIMS uses

dedicated fuel valves offset. Should work well with most aircrafts and glass cockpit software.

“via default Engine Mixture offsets (lean to close; full rich to open)” : uses generic mixture

offsets. Should work well with most aircrafts and glass cockpit software.


dedicated to command the fuel shutoff valves, insert the offset address and bit. If Project Magenta

(pmSystems) is used, click “Auto set for pmSystems” to set the offset info automatically. If you

are using Sim-Avionics, you will have to define a custom offset into FSUIPC I/O file supplied with

Sim-Avionics and then set the same offset here (please consult the documentation shipped with

Sim-Avionics to know more).

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IMPORTANT:










“Disable Fuel Cutoff levers (useful for non twin-engine aircraft)” can be used to disable the Fuel

Cutoff levers and is particularly useful for non twin engine aircrafts or if your aircraft doesn’t work

with any method previously explained.

° ° °

From this frame you may enable or disable various

elements of the TQ and adjust trim rotation time and trim

tolerance (please do not change them unless directed by

technical support).

The offset between throttle levers can be used to better

align them in case they are always misplaced even when

they are aligned on the screen.

These options are used to change servo motors speed. We

do not recommend to change these values, since they are

already optimized to obtain best performance based on our

extensive experience.

The only exception is the Trim speed. The default value of

16 gives a very realistic feeling, however, the trim wheels

turn at very high speed: do not even try to touch the trim wheels, because they may start

spinning suddenly and it may be painful for your fingers. If you want a safer setting for your

hands, just use a lower value (for example 8). In case of emergency (or if desired) trim wheels can

be completely disconnected by setting both STAB TRIM switches to OFF.

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7 – INSTALLING AND CONFIGURING THE TQ IN PROJECT MAGENTA

Step 1

Install the TQ COM to USB Driver as explained on chapter 2. This will allow the PM MCP to

connect to the throttle hardware.

Step 2

If you are using X-Plane, make sure XPUIPC is running; with FSX/FS2004, make sure FSUIPC is

running. Start Project Magenta’s MCP.EXE

If you are using the TQ in Project Magenta software, do not run the 737 NG TQ Pro Motor

driver (throttle_cm.exe) since the TQ hardware can’t be used by two software running at the

same time.

Press the Esc key for the Menu

Select the FSC TQ COM port (obtained at step 1) from the dropdown box

Click on “Calibrate”

Step 3

The MCP will perform an automatic calibration upon startup, but some items have to be set

manually:

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Identify whether your Throttle is motorized or not (if you are reading this user’s guide, your

Throttle is likely a motorized one). So, remove the checkmark next to “Not Motorized”.

Move the spoiler lever to from the up to the down position. If the spoiler values are inverted, check

the “Spoiler Inverted” checkbox. Place the Spoiler into the Arm position and click on “Set Arm”

Move the throttles all the way to idle, deploy the reversers.

Use the TRM (Trim) bar to move the trim indicator motor to the “0” position. Click on “Set Trim

0”.

Use the TRM (Trim) bar to move the trim indicator motor to the “10” position. Click on “Set Trim

10”.

Flaps should be detected automatically with the optical encoder of the throttle.

Exit the calibration screen, then exit the Menu screen.

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7 – COMPATIBILITY NOTES

COMPATIBILITY WITH ADD-ON AIRCRAFTS

The TQ Throttle driver uses FSUIPC / XPUIPC to create a link to aircraft panels. While it should

work virtually with any add-on aircraft on the market, full compatibility cannot be totally

guaranteed. Advanced options are supplied into TQ Throttle driver configuration, to exclude

switches and levers on the TQ Throttle unit in case they cannot be used for some aircrafts, while

different autothrottle linking behaviours are available to ensure throttle levers compatibility in any

really situation. In any case, a special keyboard emulation mode is provided to ensure the

compatibility with Project Magenta and with most Add-on aircrafts.

COMPATIBILITY WITH OTHER DEVICES

If you are using other devices having the same controls present on the TQ Throttle (for example

flaps or spoiler lever) you may disable the duplicate controls on the TQ Throttle or on the other

device, to make sure that no conflicting controls exist.

NOTE: should you get unexpected behaviours, like for example flaps not moving or parking brake

not responding, the aircraft that you are flying may require some logic to complete, for example,

you must have enough hydraulic power. Alternatively, check the other game controls connected to

the computer and make sure that no conflicting controls exists.

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7 – HOW TO CONTACT SUPPORT

To contact the support team, check news and download latest drivers, please consult the official TQ

Throttle website at the following address:

http://www.flightsimulatorcenter.com

welcome to 737 ng tq pro motor - fsc

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