Using On Top 9.5 with our Gameport & USB PCATDs

On Top 9.5 will not recognize either our Gameport/USB PCATD with an analog throttle quadrant or our USB PCATD using the digital throttle quadrant. This is due to the fact that On Top 9.5 is a 'personal use' version of the software, and by default, will not recognize PCATD hardware.

To activate this hardware, please do the following (see the 'Troubleshooting On Top 9' section of the manual for more information):

Gameport or USB PCATD - Analog Throttle Quadrant

• Download oldprot.exe to a known location on your computer. This file is a Winzip self-extractor archive and will extract the necessary file (oldprot.dll) to On Top's 'program' sub-directory
• Double-click on the file to open the extraction window. The default location of 'C:\Program Files\ASA\On Top 9.5\program' will be displayed in the 'Unzip to folder' location
• If you did a default installation, then simply click on 'Unzip' to extract 'oldprot.dll' to the 'program' sub-directory. If you installed On Top to a different location, you must change the 'Unzip to folder' location using the 'Browse' button
• After 'oldprot.dll' has been extracted, you will get a '1 file(s) unzipped successfully' message. Click 'OK'. Click on the 'Close' button to exit the self-extractor.
• Start On Top. Under 'Flight Controls', you will now see a listing for 'AV1/ECI'. Select this. The software will now see your analog throttle quadrant and the AV-1, and the controls will be available for calibration

  oldprot.exe - 85KB

USB PCATD - Digital Throttle Quadrant

• Download DigPCATD.exe to a known location on your computer. This file is a Winzip self-extractor archive and will extract the necessary file (DigPCATD.dll) to On Top's 'program' sub-directory
• Double-click on the file to open the extraction window. The default location of 'C:\Program Files\ASA\On Top 9.5\program' will be displayed in the 'Unzip to folder' location
• If you did a default installation, then simply click on 'Unzip' to extract 'DigPCATD.dll' to the 'program' sub-directory. If you installed On Top to a different location, you must change the 'Unzip to folder' location using the 'Browse' button
• After 'DigPCATD' has been extracted, you will get a '1 file(s) unzipped successfully' message. Click 'OK'. Click on the 'Close' button to exit the self-extractor'
• Start On Top. Under 'Flight Controls', you will now see a listing for 'ASA Digital PCATD'. Select this. The software will now see your digital throttle quadrant and the AV-1, and the controls will be available for calibration

  DigPCATD.exe - 91KB

CH Products USB Throttle Quadrant Update

The calibration file, "Plugins.txt" shown below is intended for users of CH Products USB Throttle Quadrant when used in conjunction with CH's Flight Sim yoke, with or without CH's USB Pro Pedals.
NOTE: This calibration file is NOT intended for users of other yokes or joysticks when used with CH's Throttle Quadrant. Contact us if you wish to use the TQ with flight controllers other than CH Products Flight Sim yoke.

To use the file:

• Save the file to a known location on your computer (for Internet Explorer, right-click on the link, and select Save Target As...; do NOT rename the file, or it won't work)

• Copy/paste the file to On Top's program directory. By default, this location is "C:\Program Files\ASA\On Top 9.5\program" You will be prompted to replace the existing "plugins.txt" file. Do this.

• Delete the existing "Plugins.dat" file. This will remove previous calibration settings.

• Close all windows and re-start On Top. You will be taken to the calibration page to re-calibrate your yoke and calibrate the TQ

Plugins.txt (2KB)

CH Products Eclipse Yoke Update

The calibration files, "Plugins.txt" shown below are intended for users of CH Products Eclipse Yoke. This yoke can be used either as a stand alone device or with CH's Pro Pedals and CH's multi-engine throttle quadrant. Please note that when the CH Pro Pedals are used, the yaw paddles on the yoke will be disabled. Also, when the CH Multi-Engine throttle quadrant is used, the throttle, prop and mixture levers on the yoke are disabled.

To use the files:

• Save the file(s) to a known location on your computer (for Internet Explorer, right-click on the link, and select Save Target As...; DO NOT rename the file, or it won't work)

• Copy/paste the file to On Top's program directory. By default, this location is "C:\Program Files\ASA\On Top 9.5\program" for the full version of On Top or "C:\Program Files\ASA\On top 9.5 Demo" for the demo version of On Top. Replace the "plugins.txt" file when prompted to do so.
• Delete the existing "Plugins.dat" file. This will remove previous calibration settings.

• Close all windows and start On Top. You will be taken to the calibration page to re-calibrate your flight controls.

Plugins.txt (1KB) Use this file if your only flight control will be the CH Eclipse yoke (no Pro Pedals and multi-engine throttle quadrant)

Plugins.txt (1KB) Use this file if you will be using both the CH Eclipse yoke and the CH Pro Pedals (no multi-engine throttle quadrant)

Plugins.txt (2KB) Use this file if you will be using the CH Eclipse yoke, CH Pro Pedals and the CH Multi-engine throttle quadrant. (note: the yaw paddles and the throttle, prop and mixture levers on the yoke will be disabled)

Saitek Pro Flight Yoke System Update - Adding a 2nd Throttle Quadrant

Adding a second throttle quadrant to the Saitek Pro Flight Yoke system creates a special challenge for calibration of the controls in On Top.

• Begin by replacing the existing plugins.txt file in the program with the new one that is shown below. See the notes below for the steps to replace the file.
• Next, position the quadrants next to each other with TQ #1 (the one that came with the yoke) to the left and the TQ #2 (the one connected to the USB port) to the right.
• Finally, re-arrange of the colored knobs on the TQ lever handles. The new arrangement of lever functions beginning from the left will be: Left-throttle, right-throttle, left-prop, right-prop, left-mixture, and right-mixture.

• Save the plugins.txt to the following default installation location: C:\Program Files\ASA\On Top 9.5\program.
• If you installed On Top to a different location from the default, the idea is to save the file to that location.
• When you save this file Windows will give a message that the file already exists and ask you if you want to replace it. Replace the existing plugins.txt file.
• Go to the actual folder you just saved this file to. If you have a preferred method of browsing your hard drive, use it. Otherwise, right click on the main Windows Start button and select Explore. In the split window that opens, on the left-side (folder tree side) find the Program Files folder. Click the (+) to the left of Program Files to expand it, and then expand subsequent folders as follows: ASA folder, OnTop 9.5 folder, ASDB folder, FlightPrep folder, and Garmin folder. Within the Garmin folder, find and click on the "PROGRAM" folder to display its contents on the right-side window.
• On the right side find the file called plugins.dat. Right-click on plugins.dat and select Delete.
• Be sure NOT to delete the plugins.txt file that you just saved to this folder.

Important Note for Vista Users: