TopoSolitario

Hi there, I've created this mod for the Ursa Minor to be used as Collective. The space version seems to be great but it is turned 90º and not really usabe for a HOCAS setup instead of a HOSAS or HOTAS setup. So this mod places it properly for this use. You can get it here in thingiverse: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:6849517 Things to note: Mod is not destructive: which means that no damage will be caused to the stick. In fact, official Space Combat version uses a pretty similar extension but perpendicular and not longitudinal, which is great for HOSAS setups but not too great for a HOCAS Use JST Mirco 1,25mm 3PIN 200mm extension: I used a cable extension (easy to find and cheap) male-female that goes inside the part, this way you can dismantle and go back to the original stick. It is much better than cutting the original cable. Will need some additional screws: 2mm x 10mm computer screws could be used to attach the extension to the base, re-use the original screws to attach the stick to the extension. Use little to no supports: Extension is in two parts, you don't need supports (as long as your printer can cope with 25mm bridges), so it's fast and easy to print and install. You can see a prototype quick video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=US7yK1rpK0M I hope you find it usefull. I'm using it on DCS and the only drawback is that even with fully pressed dampeners in the base, the stick still goes a little forward if you are 20% or below, but if you are flying over 1/3 power it will remain in place as it is fairly balanced. I'm testing it as much as I can with the UH1 (using the AWESOME mission "I love this job" now in version 4.0 updated to latest map changes) and the Apache, where having so much buttons and sticks makes it perfect for VR as you have almost everything without modifiers and having all tue UI, kneeboard and NVG stuff in the base buttons. And it is working amazingly well... the only drawback is the 30º movement range, but once you get used to it it works perfect.

I'm using Antimicrox too... after some testing this is THE ONE. It is easy to configure and works for what I need, that is, being able to use the triggers as buttons. My motherboard has integrated bluetooth and wifi, so I'm using it (both for the macro keyboards and controller and wifi for airlink on Oculus Quest). I find no latency using it as it's intended for gaming. Depending on the dongle you're using for BT you can find some latency (that's pretty bad for the ManTrack), if you find latency it's the dongle not the gaming controller. I have to give a second thought for the mappings as I've some functions I need and don't have. But it already is closte to IRL buttons and hats locations and if I need additional stuff I can map other buttons in the center macro keyboard. I use the macro for TV/FLIR, IAT and George without modifers. As I'm on VR I find pretty useful to add some haptic feedback on the buttons, just attaching some adhesive foam to properly find important buttons like the ones I use for Slave, Polarity and FCR Short Scan Apart from that, I find this solution not only "cheap" but great for this purpose, it may not be a complete TEDAC true to live, but... 50€! Transition between pilot and gunner is much easier as you have different controls with different functions and different muscle memories. When I only pilot (FCR and L hellfires, rockets and gun, without using TADS) I don't use it... if not, switching to the CPG position feels pretty natural, and if I have to take control when George insist on crashing (happens a lot if overloaded) I even don't have to abandon the CPG spot, just change controls, grab the stick and keep flying. How is your experience going with it?

As I'm using VR, I created some custom caps to have a better haptic feedback when "searching" for the right button. Grey ones mimic some buttons of the TEDAC unit on top the TAD/FCR/PNV on the right, top ones are for TV/FLIR Bottom one is the IAT (can't push it into the left controller, too much needed buttons there) Black ones are dedicated to George Four arrows with small protuberances to locate quickly each one top left for show/hide George interface top right for take and release flying controls That way my fingers in VR has something to "remember", and it works like a charm!

Oh! you got big bucks invested there! I think you can add an attachment between the MFDs, the best position for me for the TEDAC QUEEN is over the stick at the same depth (that should be about 15cm away from your table). Not 100% accurate but the feeling in VR is much more inmersive than just grabbing it on your legs or something. If you went for the exact same controller and keyboard as mine, I can upload the STL for the attachment I'm using.

Having many more buttons and knobs between the left and right handgrips is really usefull. I see you're using an X56, I ditched the stick in favor of a much more expensive VKG Gunfighter, but I used the X56 successfully with the UH1 using this mod: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:6660045 You get a dead stick (not exactly how a helicopter cyclic works, but much better than using the X56 as is, even with the softest spring)... forgetting about trimming is a paradise (lost)

I'm using it for VR, but you can surely add an screen for TEDAC using Helios, there are how-to's in youtube. I think it depends on the Tablet you're using, if it is capable of be used as additional PC monitor... if so, I'm pretty sure it's doable (never tried tho!) Using a bluetooth keyboard is mainly to have the LEV GAIN knobs, I move them a lot!

So, this is my desktop setup with the TEDAC QUEEN (not the king, but a nice poorman solution). I Can't afford the space needed for a simpit, I need everything to be removable and ready for storage in one minute... In VR yo uactually don't see how simple is everything, but in fact, with the new TEDAC, the Gunfighter IV, pedals, additional macro keyboard (for radio and kneepad) and still using the old X56 Thrust... well I can play VR with full inmersion!

I'll try to help a bit with that: Controller is a D9 gaming pad, it cost me about 35€ in Aliexpress but surely price and availability depends on your country. This controller has a very nice feature as it can hold a phone or a table with a spring loaded mechanism in the middle, which makes it perfect for attaching any size of keyboard, or even a screen or a device showing a screen (if you are not playing VR and want to have the TADS in there, not my case). Another good thing is that it is bluetooth or cable, if you go for cable it emulates Playstation controller and you don't have to worry about mapping the triggers. Via bluetooth it works like a XBOX controller and triggers are AXIS not BUTTONS. After a couple of hours playing, the controller is good stuff, sticks are sensitive and precise, working with the Linear tracking works amazingly well (you can add a little curve to have better fine adjustment) I'm using the left trigger for "Left Control" modifier, which doubles the buttons, and the right trigger as 2nd detent Laser (mapped to L key on keyboard") To map this two axis to buttons I'm using ANTIMICROX, which is pretty easy to configure for this purpose, and works with Bluetooth controllers. Joystick Gremlin doesn't work properly, interprets the two triggers as a single axis and you need to keep screen in focus or otherwise it stops sending data to vjoy. AntiMicroX doesn't need other software like Vjoy. Keypad is a bluetooth macro keyboard, this one cost me about 20€ in Aliexpress I searched for a Black one (others I use are transparent acrilic) and I wanted it to have only 2 knobs to mimic Gain and Lev adjustment... which are a must operating the TEDAC Number of buttons are not important, this one have 12, whic I mapped 6 to control George, 3 for the top buttons and the other 3 to add functions like TV-Flir change. But all in all I find it to have enough buttons leaving aside only some minor functions. For mounting to the table I'm using a custom 3D printed attachment, I tested a first version yesterday but it was too far away and I put my face into the TADS monitor, so I'm printing this one right now which will be on top of the Gunfighter stick, perfect to grab at any moment and usable when in pilot position to control George and other secondary buttons (like Night vision adjustment) After a about 4 of hours getting the hand of it, having a separate controller for the TEDAC is a must have for any pilot. A custom TEDAC unit is too expensive (and too specific for the apache), so a cheap solution than can still have great usage is mandatory, and I really think this combination does the trick with A+ results.

Thankyou! I searched for this particular model after seeing some adds about controllers somewhere on the web and making the connection between this one and the fact that I read in forums that people were using gamepads for the TEDAC. My brain made some connections and I could foresee some very practical use of a phone/table holding controller with a two knob and some buttons BT keyboard in the middle. Currently I use a 3 knob +15 button BT keyboard to control radio commands (instead of using mouse and click on the corner) with a second layer to be used on some Apache functions, and they work like a charm... cheaper than something like a VKB STECS and you don't need fancy colors and buttons if you are into VR, you just need something at hand to click and twist. So having a macro keyboard in the middle of two controlers actually mimics pretty well a TEDAC if you're in VR, and man... it's only 52€!! With not much time or effort to configure it as every thing is pretty customer ready. Only customization is the 3D printed mount, using something like AntiMicroX to be able to use the triggers (or even the left stick as buttons to make more use of it with modifiers) and just mapping time in DCS... but everything is pretty straightforward.

I mainly play in VR, and even if you get nice controllers for everything, and get crazy mapping controls, in the end when you switch to TEDAC but you keep your hands in the collective and cyclic using the very same buttons... experience and inmersion goes sub-prime. So, not willing to throw 1K€ in a custom TEDAC unit, I tryed to mimic it as close as possible with cheaper market solutions, having separate controllers for the TEDAC, and... this is my solution: In VR it actually adds a new layer of inmersion as you move your hands to the TEDAC unit away from your regular controls (I'm still working on a proper 3D printed mount to keep it in position above the cyclic) and this con troller has a really nice and precise analog sticks for the cursor and the manual-tracking. Good thing is that controller and bluetooth keyboard went as low as 52€ from aliexpress, and I got a perfect mapping for the actions I need in when controlling the TEDAC. To be able to use the triggers as buttons I'm using AntiMicroX (as Joystick Gremlin has problems with Bluetooth controllers). I'm mapping in the keyboard the LEV and GAIN knobs, which are really important, and George controlls, really easy and quick to use. I'm amazed how good it is in VR as you can grab and feel the unit. I'm leaving here my mapping (currently, still testing) that seems to do the job for me. UPDATE: I've updated the bindings

Minor update, as the controllers are still not working, I desabled them and it seems that in MT I've got the cursor working in green/yellow again. In my last reinstall of the game, the cursor went black when I activated hand controllers, so I'll keep them inactive for now.

I'm not sure it is only this (if it worked for you... great!) I was playing one of the UN campaign missions now, and they didn't even shot a single bullet (it is the night attack mission) So far they seem to become hippy pacifist... I don't think this is solved. I double checked the crew behavior window and they don't shoot. They track the targets with the guns but they don't pull the trigger

It seems to be at 6:35. Probably they've switched some axis on the moon sprite position, so instead of moving up in the sky, it moves towards the center of the map (X axis instead of Z axis) who knows... In a previous mission 6:15 is even more crazy

Old post but this is a much needed update. UH1 is a classic and it's really fun to play, like driving and doing maintenance of a 60 year old car. But interior is pretty outdated in details and textures and that hits the inmersion factor in VR.

This is kind of subjective, but you're probably right. The Patch hit me in the middel of Paradise Lost Campaign, due to VR controller problem I left it parked for some days, but today I finally hit the last missions. I noticed door gunners are a bit lazy, to the point I started to man the guns in order to be operative, I thought it has something to do with the missions or the particular behavior of the gunners in the campaign. But you are probably right, as before 2.9 they go crazy on any unit they spot, even the ones a mile away, and now they just spray some bullets from time to time. It probably is happening to the copilot miniguns AI too you see him tracking with the sight but actually not shooting, even if you fly steady and balanced. +1