Gman109

Posted a similar thread over in the Virpil forum (I think I have more VKB bases and sticks in total than Virpil -6 bases and 6 or 7 VKB sticks, and 3 sets of VKB peds - so absolutely NO offense I hope is taken here, and I"ll post picture proof of that once covid is over). Great job Streakeagle, I lika da juice. https://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?p=4302741#post4302741

Just made this post/pic as a response to StreakEagle's (great member here and at other sim forums) post/pic in the VKB forum regarding the same subject. Salud!! StreakEagle, I like your style. All of my VKB stuff save one Mk2/Rev B Gunfighter is at our other place, and once the Covid thing is over I'm going to assemble my entire hotas collection together for some pics. I'll take some of what I have here maybe later tonight, a bunch of our TM/CH/Virpil/VKB stuff, about 25 different pieces or so I think, not counting all the pedals - I only have one set of my VKB peds with me at our home in Sask in Central Canada. Anyhow, I have all of the Virpil sticks with me save the Alphas, which are incoming to me shortly (I hope, some pre order guys have gotten theirs very recently). I too fly a lot of micro to mid size helos, I'm going to buy some of the new gen Blade stuff that's out now, they have 3 or 4 I went to pick up, the new 150, mCPX, the 270, and maybe the 330. The quadcopter in this pic was one of if not THE first quad that was avaialbe as a retail unit for sale. It's completely hands on flying, no assists/gyros, nothing. Still a good little unit, and now 8+ years after it came out, it's still running 100% on all original parts. The Virpil sticks I've had great luck with too, no issues at all, and they all have their positive and negative points. So far I've been really happy with their performance. Also, all the Virpil bases have worked very well with both my Cougar and my Warthog sticks. As stated, I still feel that a Virpil Warbrd base with either a Cougar or Warthog metal stick, is the best bang for the buck, for someone wanting a very solid custom stick solution. I'll take some pics later of its base unit set up with both of these stick options, and compare its height to the VKB Gunfighter, CH Fighter/Combat sticks, TM Warthog and Cougar, and maybe some Saitek stuff. Virpil F14/VFX, TM Hornet, TM Cougar, Virpil Delta, Virpil WarBRD/PewPewPew, TM Warthog, Virpil T50CM (first gen, I have a T50CM2 stick as well).

Agreed, Havoc Clan has been instrumental in getting so many new (and old) Virpil product users up and running, as well as helping longer term users with new software and hardware info.

Also as a quick addendum, Virpil sent me shipping confirmation and tracking info today, 4 biz days from the date of order to shipping time, which is VERY fast compared to previous orders. Tomorrow at 2pm GMT there is another restock inbound as well.

I've never received confirmation emails for orders made, just once they ship it out. You can log into your account on the website at the top of the page on the order page, then highlight your name, go down to "My account", and then on the left click the "my orders", and it'll show the status of your order (probably will say processing at this point still).

Last night's restock actually started early, I got an email from Virpil earlier than their stated 6am GMT time, and bought some extra stuff - and it was all sold out shortly after 6am GMT, maybe 5 or 10 mins max, it's hard to be exact as their site gets hammered in those 15 minute windows. If you're serious, next time have the item(s) you want in your WishList, be logged in 15 or 30 mins early (keep ensuring you're still logged in), do refreshes every 30 seconds, and the instant your wishlist items become available, grab them, have your shipping/etc info already saved and entered, and punch in your method of payment as quickly as possible(or have it saved too). This has worked for me, I've only been skunked once, and that was because the Firefox browser from Canada to Virpil with my ISP doesn't work 1/2 the time and just times out, even during normal times, and it chose to timeout in the middle of my order the first time I noticed this issue. The other 1/2 dozen times I've ordered I've been successful. Keep on eye on various flight sim forums, Ebay, Virpil's own site, and especially the Hotas Discord and Reddit subs. I've picked off a number of Virpil and other makers products in the used sections (1 throttle, 1 Warbrd, a couple grips, and some other stuff).

ElohEl - you know how many times I've felt the same thing? Then multiply your feeling by 2 or 3, as I have 3 gamers/gaming desk/stations to equip. I've sold so many Rifts, Vives, Vive Pros, Pimaxs, Odysseys, Odyssey +s, etc etc, whenever a newer/better VR HMD comes out, that I think my local post office has made enough to pay an employee for an entire year at this point. I wouldn't worry about it though man, as others have said, it'll be a while under normal circumstances, and with the CoVid deal, even longer, much longer most like. Enjoy your 'Verb, and let the good times roll.

Congrats! I have all of the new bases/sticks available out there, and I still feel one of the best bang/$ out there, and even outside of that ratio, just plain "what's best", that the Virpil Warbrd base with a good metal TM stick, be it the WH, Cougar, or Hornet stick, is extremely hard to beat. I use Monster mounts with my Virpil and VKB setups now, but I'm still a die hard desktop hotas proponent, and feel much more competitive in online PvP competitive combat flight sim games, with my forearm planted on the desktop gaming surface. CH Fighterstick had always been my "go to" for this use, but the Virpil Warbrd+WH stick supplanted it (VKB Gfighter is up there too, but getting TM stick adapters is like nearly impossible for the Gfighters). Good choice sir, maybe report back in this thread once you get all settled in with your new Virpil!

Maybe I've just been fortunate, but my tickets (I think I've put in 3 total, one software issue and 2 small hardware things that were worked out over the net with Cypher). Always have heard back within a few hours. Gholi - I too have multiple PCs and sim gamers in our homes (3 teens which we have guardianship over who stay with us on weekends and a few weekdays each month, my neice actually plays DCS more than her two brothers). I tried getting by with 1, then 2, and now we're up to 3 9900k/2080ti systems along with a very high end gaming laptop. I haven't calculated what I've spend at Virpil as well as on used stuff of theirs, but it's gotta be the same as yours or perhaps even North of that, so I can easily believe your figures. I've sold/traded some Virpil stuff, but I know I've bought 3 T50, 3 T50CM2, 2 Warbrds, multiples of every grip they sell, several sets of the deskclamps, etc. I've been collecting Hotas since the 90s, it's a bad habit, and I pick up a lot of stuff used, but it's still expensive $$$. They'll seen relieve me of another $1000 CAD or so once their pedals come back in stock too.

I posted this as well, when in a one or two circle fight, you end up looking up more than back, especially if your opponent is across the circle from you (common in any BFM fight). You're usually rolled close to 80 or 90 degrees when turning against a threat across the circle, which means more looking up than back, but you can still have situations where you need to look back into your 6, it's just less likely versus a single threat you're engaging). I'll post my vid tomorrow, it CLEARLY shows that the Rift S/Reverb, when pointed in the exact same head position as pilots heads in the pictures and videos that have been posted in this thread, show on the monitor screen and in the headset screen, that they are NOT pointed in a spot where you can see a threat, where as in real life the pilots clearly DO see their threat with the same head position/direction. It's a full clock position or even 2 OFF from where a real life pilot can see in reality using peripheral vision. I put a hanging model at 6 oclock, and demonstrate where I can see it from without VR in my chair, and then do the same in DCS, have a threat at 6 oclock, and show on the screen where it can be seen with VR HMDs, and the difference in head position from reality to DCS. It's a big difference...and VR HMD companies wouldn't be researching and spending $$$ on trying to replicate human peripheral vision in next gen VR headsets, if current VR headsets didn't have an issue with peripheral vision.

These products are out of stock on their website (how did I ever miss these things!?), but I'll be taking 2 plus their Hornet and other gizmos they sell. Looks fantastic. These units should mount up fine on my Monstertech mounts too (I run sidestick with a center post with my keyboard on a Monstermount, and there are attachments/etc that will make mounting an ICP a breeze dead center).

+1 I've had all the VR headsets except the XTAL, and currently have the Reverb, Index, and RiftS. I too sold my Pimax's (5K) off when I bought my Index and Reverbs. I would look at the Reverb as well OP, but the Index is a good unit too. The Index IMO has the best quality construction, better sound, and is just a good all round headset for a vast number of VR games. That said, if DCS and other sim/cockpit/driving games are your thing, IMO the Reverb will be a somewhat better option. Either way, IMO the Pimax should be OUT until the new 8k comes out, and passes muster.

Still downloading the update, once that's done I'll post a vid showing exactly what I mean regarding the Rift S/Index/Reverbs I have, and how when pointed in the exact same position as the pilot in the F16 examples I've shown, don't let you see nearly as far into the rear quarter as that pilot does in real life. I wish I'd kept one of my Pimax now to use in this example, but I got rid of them all along with the Rift, Vive, Vive Pro, Odyssey, Odyssey+, VR HMDs I just wasn't as better options kept coming along. Of note - Microsoft's own engineers say that VR units (referring to the Oculus Rift/etc of a few years ago, but it isn't much different in terms of FOV than current VR headsets) only have 100 degrees of vision, while peripheral vision is 180 degrees (40 degrees per side, or as I've been saying, 2 clock positions). Quote: https://www.thurrott.com/hardware/66964/microsoft-adds-peripheral-vision-vr

I don't disagree, you're right - but look at the video, and tell me if you think that F16 pilot is just doing "low to medium" pulls based on every other factor you can see, besides the vapor. Look at the shudder of the airframe, etc, and the rate at which the plane is turning relative to what you can see outside of the canopy for reference. He's BFM fighting an F15, those aren't "low to medium" pulls/turns. It's irrelevant to the argument anyway, I only brought it up because others claimed it was "too difficult" for pilots in real life to check their rear quarter/6 while pulling G, which is complete nonsense. -Gunnars, when were you in Afghanistan? I was there a few times in the mid to late 2000s as well (worked for a couple PMCs then).

Fri13 - even IF all of that is correct, it's jumping all over from my original point which is this: Using VR in DCS means you have to turn your head position far more than you do in R/L due to peripheral vision, in order to see the same spot in your rear area/quarter/6oclock. This is easily provable, I'll put up a video showing this, or you can do it yourself. I'll use all 3 different VR units I have while doing so. Take off the headset, put your hand inside where your face is so it doesn't deactivate, and point it at the same place the pilot's head is in my 2nd example. Look at your monitor screen, and see how far into your 6 area you can see on the monitor screen in DCS. Case closed. In r/l the pilot is seeing the F15 in the picture from the Youtube video I posted, easily. In DCS with the VR headset pointed in the same spot, this is impossible (again, due to you not being able to look beyond the limit of the VR headset using peripheral vision). I look into my 6 all the time using the Reverb, I've never once said I can't or don't, my point is that you have to turn the VR headset/head/body far more than you do in reality (again, peripheral vision) in order to do so, which then gives TrackIR users a big advantage in speed/easiness of doing the same in PvP combat online. Also, since when is 7 G "low to medium" G. That F16 is doing VERY hard pulls, all while looking into his rear quarter as I said. Hell the Hornet is limited to 7(.5).

Well said, agreed 100%. Agreed as well - another flight sim (can't mention it due to understandable rules) I've played since it came out in 1999, a MMO WW2 game with 3 chess piece sides, has implemented just such a thing right from the start of their VR implementation, and it works well. You can use the hat/key pad view system of the game while using VR, allowing you to look behind yourself just as fast as TrackIR players can. Not realistic, and can be a bit of a deal breaker for those who dislike having their VR experience ruined by things like that, but it DOES work.

Again, disagree - I use Monster mounts on the left/right just as you describe, with a swivel chair. When I put my head in the exact same position as the pilot in the second picture I posted, I can only see in between 3 and 4 oclock in the Reverb/RiftS/Index, NOT to 5 to 6 oclock as the F16 pilot is in my real life example. AGAIN, the reason is you can't use your peripheral vision in VR (yet), while in real life this is automatic. In order to see the F15 in the example pic I took from the video, while in VR doing the same thing, I need to be turned around in my swivel chair and nearly pointing my face RIGHT AT 5 oclock, which means pushing back from my desk and swiveling the chair, which in real life, isn't required, only a slight adjustment to my hips/shoulders gets my head to 4 oclock, and my peripheral vision takes care of the rest to 5-6 oclock.

I know that, you missed the other thread I think where this same discussion happened. I was being sarcastic, as everyone arguing my point was calling TrackIr users "cheaters". I just forgot to put it in quotes this time.

The experience in a centrifuge is much worse than in an aircraft, ask anyone who has been in both. Look at the video I posted - the F16 is clearly pulling high G in turns (look at the vapor coming off the wings and fuselage) vs the F15 he is fighting, yet he is constantly putting his neck/body/head into a position where he can look above/rearward behind his 3 to 9 line. The pilot is constantly looking towards the threat that's behind him (or across the circle, either way his head/eye position is looking into the rear quarter) in this video, and there are hundreds of examples of similar videos of pilots doing the same. At 4:30 to 5:30 the F16 pilot the video I posted is doing exactly what you're claiming is oh so difficult - while not easy, it isn't all that hard either. Especially look at 4:48 to 4:55, the vapor coming off the plane is huge (high G obviously), and the pilot is turning not just his head, but using his non stick arm (left) to help pull himself around to look right back at the F15 across the circle (way across, he's in the rear quarter). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqgfFb8Vcsc Below pic taken from the same video, you can see the dot that is the F15 at 5 oclock (it's right above the cockpit camera on the left canopy rail), and this is the furthest point that the pilot's head turns to look/check the F15's position. It's plainly obvious how far his peripheral vision is looking to see the F15 here - again, IF the pilot was wearing a VR headset and looking at that F15 in DCS in the same position, he'd have to crank his head/body around another 2 clock positions in order to see the F15. It's at timestamp 6:15 in the video, you can see the F15 clearly in the vid. For VR to be truly realistic, it needs to take into account peripheral vision, which it does NOT right now. The eye chart linked shows the degrees in red that peripheral vision can be used, and it certainly can't be in any of the VR headsets I've tried/own (all of them). That won't make using VR "easy", certainly not as easy as the TrackIr cheaters, but it'll make it more competitive with them, as you won't have to spin in your chair and point your VR unit/head almost directly at your rear to see your rear quarter, you'll be able to see into your rear quarter past your 3 to 9 line just as the F16 pilot does throughout his BFM fight with the F15 in the above video.

That's a good point, as you frequently see pilots grabbing various places to help reposition the body to help get the view towards the threat in the rear quadrant. I pointed out in my last post regarding twisting the hips and shoulders in order to help get the eyes towards the rear too - also, regarding peripheral vision, look at timestamp 2:11/2:14 or so here, with an F15 at around 4:30 to 5 oclock position - the pilot twists his shoulders/hips just a bit, just enough to get his head to around 3:30 - his peripheral vision does the rest, as IF he was wearing a VR headset with its limitation in this regard, he'd never have put eyes on the F15, where he clearly does here. The F16 pilot here's head is pointing almost closet to 3 than 4 oclock, yet he clearly sees the F15 at 5 oclock when he looks for it over his left shoulder here. THIS is what I've been railing about exactly - IF someday we get a VR headset that either has a much wider POV like the new Pimax8k (I had a Pimax last year and this still didn't help much regarding seeing 6 oclock), or better yet one that somehow uses eye tracking to simulate using peripheral vision, that'll make VR even more realistic than it is now, as IMO it's much, much more difficult to see to 5 oclock in VR than it was for this F16 pilot to do in real life. 6:39 is a good example in the video below as well - you can see him looking towards his 6 oclock, but look where his helmet/visor is pointing - if that was my Reverb/Index/RiftS, I wouldn't be seeing what he's seeing (the F15 is almost bang on his 6) using his peripheral vision, I'd be a couple clock positions away still at 4 oclock. I've never worn a Jhmcs helmet, but I've worn 2 different Soviet/Russian helmets with a sighting system for the AA11 on 2 occasions, when I flew in the Mig29 and SU27, and I found I could twist around and see back to 5/7 oclock as I've posted before, even under some G. I don't know how possible it is at 7 to 8 G to look over your shoulder like this, as we were only pulling 4 or 5 max except when we did max performance turns, and my head was pointed straight ahead then, trying not to grey/black out. Also, when puling 7+ g, you're almost always going to be looking across the circle at your threat, which means looking "up" more than twisting your neck sideways (4:30 in same video as an example). The F16 pilot here makes it look pretty easy, at least certainly not "hard". https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqgfFb8Vcsc

Great review Dburne. I've got 2 GFmk2/revB and a single Mk1/first gen Gunfighter as well. I'm just waiting for the quarantine on ordering to finish so I can get my GFmk3. Very helpful review and pictures, thanks again.

While obviously not the fastest/optimal, IMO your system Malarcky with the 2060 will be adaqute with the Rift S, to give your a decent experience with as you said, some details turned down. The Rift S is actually impressive in this area IMO, with mid range systems, it performed better than I thought it would when I tried mine on a laptop with a 1080, which should be reasonably close to your desktop 2060 (you might be even better/faster with a desktop 2060 in fact). Purchase your Rift S from Amazon or the Microsoft store depending on your country, and you can always return it if you don't like it, easily too. I'll bet you keep it. edit - so far as reading gauges/details, you can strike a balance between performance and readability, or, as many do, use the 2 zoom functions to zoom in on gauges/screens to read them quickly. This is the one area the Reverb/Index have an advantage over the Rift S (I have all 3) - clarity of gauges/etc, and overall detail obviously too. That said the Rift S is still very usable, you just need to adapt a little bit with it.

Not yet, but I look forward to trying it at as soon as I get home to my DCS system. Looks promising.

Gunnars Driver - do you fly helos, transports, or fighters? You don't need to do much looking back in transports, or even helos so much (I have about 550 hours in Md500 and R44 helos). I noticed when I flew in the Mig29 and Su27 about 13 years ago that I could see fairly well behind me, even in the 2 seaters, and when I sat in (didn't fly obviously) the single seat Mig and Su27, looking to my rear wasn't that hard. Most of us can put our chin more or less on our shoulder, but that's about as far as the neck rotates. If you turn at your waist and your shoulders and point your shoulders at about 45 degrees, looking to your direct 6 using peripheral vision is easy. I find in VR (Rift S/Reverb/Index/all the others) that it isn't - due to not being able to take advantage of peripheral vision, and only being able to put my chin on my shoulder thereabouts, seeing much past 4 and 8 oclock in VR is very hard - even in a swivel chair, if you're using HOTAS in desk mounts (monster) like I do, you can't easily swivel, and even if you don't have anything blocking the chair, it's pretty slow and cumbersome to swivel the chair compared to real life IMO. I agree with others here that VR is much more realistic than other options, but IMO that realism starts to drop as you start looking beyond your 3-9 line, due to peripheral vision not being available in VR. I wish there was a solution in VR right now to make it as easy to look behind your plane to your 6 as it is in RL. Just my opinion.

I'm about the same in terms of hours per week right now, for single player 10 to 15 hours, and about 10 more for multi, and I agree. I've had squadmates who were into VR back in the 90s, Razer Hydra, Vuzix VR1200, Emagin VR1200, sets like that, some of which could cost up to $2k. I got into when the DK1 came out, and didn't look back. Once the Rift/Vive first gen units went retail, I was hooked too. With the Index and Reverb now, and even to some extent the Rift S, a serious level of immersion can be attained for 1/3 the cost of $2k way back when for HMD(s) that didn't give 1/50th the performance we get now.