Discussion
Terry Tibbs said:
Have a look at Virpil stuff for your hotas - winning isn’t always the best quality and if you need customer support it can be frustrating. I’ve a couple of friends that have issues.
Virpil on the other hand is very well made, plus they now have a uk store.
Great shout, thank you. I had been a bit annoyed with Winwing not having a UK store, because the VAT and import costs effectively mean everything is about 30% more expensive than the price they show you.Virpil on the other hand is very well made, plus they now have a uk store.
Since we are comparing notes, I am currently running a centre mounted Virpil CM2 base with a 20cm extension and a TM Warthog or Hornet grip, a VKB STECS Throttle Max, Virpil collective with Virpil Constellation grip, and TM Pendular rudder pedals.
I also have a Realsimulator FSSB side stick and Cougar throttle for when I'm 100% Viper committed, but they get little use as I'm often in and out of other modules now, and find a more generic setup more practical.
I had the TM Warthog throttle and several sticks for a while, but the Virpil kit is much better made. I haven't had the VKB throttle long, but first impressions are that it is well thought out, and the throttles themselves are solid, but some of the additional buttons/switches feel a little cheap compared to the rest of the product. The reason I went for the VKB throttle rather than the Virpil is that I prefer the thumb mini-stick (like the Viper throttle), rather than the front of throttle style of the Virpil (and horrible mini stick on the Warthog).
All that is bolted to a Monstertech MTS cockpit which really makes everything feel solid and allows a consistency of control placement which is really beneficial in VR given you can't see where your hands are.
I also have a Realsimulator FSSB side stick and Cougar throttle for when I'm 100% Viper committed, but they get little use as I'm often in and out of other modules now, and find a more generic setup more practical.
I had the TM Warthog throttle and several sticks for a while, but the Virpil kit is much better made. I haven't had the VKB throttle long, but first impressions are that it is well thought out, and the throttles themselves are solid, but some of the additional buttons/switches feel a little cheap compared to the rest of the product. The reason I went for the VKB throttle rather than the Virpil is that I prefer the thumb mini-stick (like the Viper throttle), rather than the front of throttle style of the Virpil (and horrible mini stick on the Warthog).
All that is bolted to a Monstertech MTS cockpit which really makes everything feel solid and allows a consistency of control placement which is really beneficial in VR given you can't see where your hands are.
Another vote for Virpil gear here. I'm using their WarBRD and mongoosT-50CM3 bases with their WarBRD and VFX grips, and the Thrustmaster grips. They're pretty awesome and feel far better than the Warthog base, with loads more adjustability.
I'm still using a trusty, decade+ old Warthog throttle too, which I want to replace but can't decide which way to go. I've upgraded the slew controller and it's due a replacement ppinky switch, but other than that it's been rock solid. T.Flight rudder pedals not so much though--my advice to anyone would be to avoid them, they never hold their calibration, the brake axes are terrible and the rudder action is sticky at best.
I'm still using a trusty, decade+ old Warthog throttle too, which I want to replace but can't decide which way to go. I've upgraded the slew controller and it's due a replacement ppinky switch, but other than that it's been rock solid. T.Flight rudder pedals not so much though--my advice to anyone would be to avoid them, they never hold their calibration, the brake axes are terrible and the rudder action is sticky at best.
I use the Thrustmaster tpr rudders. They are expensive (and even more so now than when I bought mine) but they are excellent.
Makes flying helicopters so much easier, also planes like the f14 and phantom require a fair bit of rudder input so they help there too.
All my kit is mounted to a sim labs evo rig and I’ve 2 Dayton bass shakers mounted under the seat to provide tactile feedback. These add a lot of immersion and now I can’t fly without them. Vr is provided by a quest 3.
I started with a saitek x52 and a laptop, things have escalated since then. I’ve become a proper geek..
Makes flying helicopters so much easier, also planes like the f14 and phantom require a fair bit of rudder input so they help there too.
All my kit is mounted to a sim labs evo rig and I’ve 2 Dayton bass shakers mounted under the seat to provide tactile feedback. These add a lot of immersion and now I can’t fly without them. Vr is provided by a quest 3.
I started with a saitek x52 and a laptop, things have escalated since then. I’ve become a proper geek..
Terry Tibbs said:
I’ve 2 Dayton bass shakers mounted under the seat to provide tactile feedback. These add a lot of immersion and now I can’t fly without them.
I went down that route but couldn't really get it work the way I wanted, and gave up in the end. Is it really worth persevering? Do you use Andre's software and profiles?Yes I use the simshaker software - you need the simshaker sound module and simshaker aviators.
What were you struggling with? It can be a bit confusing.
I struggle to fly without it now, I really like the added immersion it gives you. When the phantom came out there were a couple of days where we had to wait for it to be added to the aviators software and I was struggling a bit as without the tactile feedback it felt dead. First world problems I know lol.
IMO it adds so much and is definatly worth having.
What were you struggling with? It can be a bit confusing.
I struggle to fly without it now, I really like the added immersion it gives you. When the phantom came out there were a couple of days where we had to wait for it to be added to the aviators software and I was struggling a bit as without the tactile feedback it felt dead. First world problems I know lol.
IMO it adds so much and is definatly worth having.
On the subject of head tracking, what is recommended? I don't really want to go down the VR route, nor do I want to go down the triple monitor route. My main gaming is and will always be shooters and strategy games that just wouldn't need 3 monitors. Building a full on sim rig would be fun but massive overkill based on my needs.
My PC is a monster and I've got a really nice big 4K monitor, so ideally I'd like to use TrackIR or something to be able to scan around the cockpit and look out of the windows. I'd like to hear what people think is good, or if there is a standout option in this field.
My PC is a monster and I've got a really nice big 4K monitor, so ideally I'd like to use TrackIR or something to be able to scan around the cockpit and look out of the windows. I'd like to hear what people think is good, or if there is a standout option in this field.
I briefly used TrackHat, before taking the VR plunge five or so years ago, There are pages written about the VR/flat debate, and it basically comes down to the three factors of 'quality', 'performance', 'immersion' - pick any two.
VR is perfect for flight sims. The whole nature of those games is manoeuvring through the atmosphere in three dimensions, and ACM is all about situational awareness/3D chess - both of which are made so much easier with VR. The downside of course is a lack of either visual clarity, or FPS performance. That said, I would still take a marginal VR setup over an optimal 2D setup, just my 2p.
VR is perfect for flight sims. The whole nature of those games is manoeuvring through the atmosphere in three dimensions, and ACM is all about situational awareness/3D chess - both of which are made so much easier with VR. The downside of course is a lack of either visual clarity, or FPS performance. That said, I would still take a marginal VR setup over an optimal 2D setup, just my 2p.
I found VR to be amazing IF you have the money to get a good headset AND a great PC to run it - otherwise I found TrackIR - https://www.trackir.com/ - to be an OK solution for those without a lot spend.
My only practical issue with VR is that it made me feel sick for awhile until my brain got used to it, and, as much as TrackIR is better than nothing, its still limited compared to VR, plus you need a hat or headset to hang the IR sensors off which may not be ideal for some.
My only practical issue with VR is that it made me feel sick for awhile until my brain got used to it, and, as much as TrackIR is better than nothing, its still limited compared to VR, plus you need a hat or headset to hang the IR sensors off which may not be ideal for some.
Edited by IanH755 on Tuesday 28th May 15:53
Mastodon2 said:
On the subject of head tracking, what is recommended? I don't really want to go down the VR route, nor do I want to go down the triple monitor route. My main gaming is and will always be shooters and strategy games that just wouldn't need 3 monitors. Building a full on sim rig would be fun but massive overkill based on my needs.
My PC is a monster and I've got a really nice big 4K monitor, so ideally I'd like to use TrackIR or something to be able to scan around the cockpit and look out of the windows. I'd like to hear what people think is good, or if there is a standout option in this field.
If your PC is a monster then it would be perfect for VR - Valve Index is great, or the new Pimax systems look very impressive too. Otherwise stuff like DelanClip head tracking works pretty well.My PC is a monster and I've got a really nice big 4K monitor, so ideally I'd like to use TrackIR or something to be able to scan around the cockpit and look out of the windows. I'd like to hear what people think is good, or if there is a standout option in this field.
If you guys are looking for somewhere to fly we have our own little group and 2 servers.
'Danger Close Server' Just search Danger.
We have a rotation of 10 PVP/PVE missions on 1
Full time practice mission on server 2 with hot and cold target areas, most airframes are ready to use, hot or cold start, carriers and tankers for practice. Feel free to use it
We normally fly between 1-4pm weekends UK time
Not a squadron, just a bunch of guys that have been flying for a while, any skill level welcome.
We use Discord for coms, don't be afraid to just jump in and say Hi
https://discord.gg/NNaSeKdc
'Danger Close Server' Just search Danger.
We have a rotation of 10 PVP/PVE missions on 1
Full time practice mission on server 2 with hot and cold target areas, most airframes are ready to use, hot or cold start, carriers and tankers for practice. Feel free to use it
We normally fly between 1-4pm weekends UK time
Not a squadron, just a bunch of guys that have been flying for a while, any skill level welcome.
We use Discord for coms, don't be afraid to just jump in and say Hi
https://discord.gg/NNaSeKdc
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