Waxer

As Winwing said you need 7x available USB ports, ideally USB-A. While the Winwing devices use a mixture of USB-C ports and some USB-A ports, all of the cables provided by Winwing give USB-A connections to your PC. Specifically: The UFC has 1x USB-C (device) to USB-A (PC) Each MPD has 1x USB-A 3.0 (device) to USB-A 3.0 (PC) for the display + 1x USB-C (device) to USB-A (PC) for the surrounding button box. (Note that on the MPDs I don't believe that you have to connect the USB-C outputs on the MPD screens, just the USB-A outputs.) In answer to @dsc106, I am pretty sure that the MPD button boxes will work from the basic low amp USB 3.0 A ports in your Anker hub. The button boxes are low amperage with only dim LEDs and the current needed to work the buttons. It is the MPD screens that will specifically require a powered USB port to function correctly. The MPD button box works fine on my Startech USB hub while I have the screens attached directly to my PC motherboard backplate.

GMT and SEA modes are showing MAP ground contour returns in addition to moving target bricks. But usually bricks are undistinguishable because of all the ground clutter. Bug limited to multithread as far as Openbeta 2.8.6.41363. On single thread GMT and SEA work as expected with static ground clutter being filtered out from radar returns. (I am sure that I am not using GMT in interleaved mode, so it is a bug not user error.)

Yes, thank you. This question is somewhat overtaken by events as with DCS Summer Sale is offering the AH-64D with a 50% discount... so I snagged it at that price and I have been very much enjoying it since. Great module, excellent tutorials and great set of instant missions and single missions to go with it.

I am a huge F-14 fan. My favourite module in DCS and favourite aircraft period. I have the VKB F-14 grip and I have been disappointed by it. Also own VKB Ultimate which I think is excellent and Thrustmaster A-10C and F/A-18C grip which are also excellent. As @Obic points out, the VKB F-14 grip is really flimsy. It creaks and groins as you push buttons and move it around on a base. This takes away from immersion when using it. Also the main A2A trigger as a really horrible spongey feel. It has one of those cheap membrane buttons with a donut shaped rubber spacer that makes it feel like a cheap keyboard (anyone remember ZX-81 computers... like that). In contrast the way that Thrustmaster engineered the trigger on the F/A-18C grip shows how it should be done with increasing resistance as you start to pull the trigger to a crisp breakpoint where you activate "trigger stage 2". Having said all that in criticism, something they did a good effort on is the all important weapon selector button so unique to the F-14. That works quite well and is more accurate than Virpil's design from what I remember of reviews when these grips came out. The particular difference is how the push / slide from "weapons safe" to "gun select" works. Works on the VKB as on the real aircraft. I like the DLC axis control on the VKB too. The anti slip texture is nice also. There is zero interoperability between the F-14 grip and other aircraft really. This makes it a niche purchase for F-14 fans like me. I just wish VKB had done a better job on it. As they proved with the soviet Ultimate grip, they are capable of it. I suppose they did not put the resources into doing it properly for such a niche aircraft as the F-14.

Yeah, I pulled the same stunt. And won the same stoopid prize with great balls of fire coming out of my port wing. With the Mud Hen you get some of the same early generation 4 / pre fly by wire feelings that you get from the Tomcat. It does not talk to you as much as the KittyKat. But you can get yourself into much more trouble, much more quickly than you can compared to the Viper and Hornet.

Crikey. I'd just say that the brevity in the tutorials is very welcome and I am enjoying them. The restart issue is obviously separate from the concept of brevity. And on that I have no strong opinion. But then my reload times are measured in seconds, not 5 minutes. I do think that the tutorials are well scripted, particularly if we compare them to very early modules. I hope that we are getting lots more of them to cover much more operational use of the aircraft.

Is GS's AH-64D 10% discount code supposed to compound with Eagle Dynamic's 20% pre-order discount to give 30% total discount? When I try using the GS code in check out I am getting code applied, but only seeing 20% total discount.

I can't comment on changes to what the IHADSS was like more than a week ago as I have only recently started a trial on the AH-64D. However I have been using IHADSS this past week in VR and the monocle was making my right eye feel really, really uncomfortable due to short distance focus while the left eye was focusing on a distant image. It would have been a deal breaker for me on the module. However, I found the disable monocle option in setup so now I can fly in VR and see IHADSS symbology without eye strain.

My 2c on this. I have bought and owned three joystick bases. And I have experience of five HOTAS companies products: Thrustmaster Started with a Thrustmaster Warthog throttle and A-10C grip / base. Thought that it was mostly great but didn't really know any better. One terrible thing was the TDC slew on the throttle. I used a cottage industries (smart guy in a shed with a soldering iron) TDC conversion that replaced the Thrustmaster force sensor with an XBox type mini joystick sensor. Greatly improved control but felt flimsy. Joystick base never broke, but read and seen photos of horror stories where the zinc alloy used in the base suffered a metal fatigue stress fracture from use over a number of years. Virpil Switched to Virpil's Warbird base. And continued to use the Warthog grip with it. Enjoyed the Warbird base but upon opening it up not impressed by the quality of manufacturing and engineering inside. (It looked fine from the outside). VKB When the DCS F-14A came out saw that both Virpil and VKB produced replica grips. Tomcat being my favourite plane and favourite module did research on best grip. Read reports of problems with the quality of the Virpil F-14 grip's weapon selector slider. Decided to switch to VKB who I'd avoided before due to terrible communications and uncertain delivery times at the point I was shopping. However I was in no hurry, so I waited for the Gunfighter 3 base and F-14 grip. I love the Gunfighter 3 base in terms of feel. Upon opening it up it is clear that it is also much better engineered... basically better quality. F-14 grip I was less impressed with. Plastic fantastic, and some very spongy buttons. Worst of all is the trigger which works, but feels like air: little resistance and no tactility. I've since converted the Thrustmaster A-10C (/F-16) grip and the Thrustmaster F/A-18C (/AV-8B) grips to work on the VKB base. VKB sell nice quality conversion kits that are very easy to fit. Winwing Also bought Winwing's Super Taurus Hornet throttle and grip, the F-16 Orion base and throttle grip and their UFD / MFDs. This one is difficult to rate. I don't like their software which unnecessarily connected to their servers in China. I think for the throttle setups you don't need to use their software so you can sidestep that. But for the MFDs you do. Also the quality of their products is quite superficial and pretty similar to VKB (maybe a bit worse) when you open the lid up and see how things are engineered. I worry about the durability. This is Chinese toy quality stuff, not prosumer type equipment. Strangely the Orion 2 and F-16 grip seem much better built and the earlier generation stuff. So maybe they are aware of quality problems and upping their game? But - and it is a big but - the functionality of the set up you can achieve is unrivalled until recently by other HOTAS. And also the immersion of having buttons laid out and a throttle with long throw movement (but you can't buy it anymore) like the real Hornet adds greatly to immersion. So, despite the quality and "phone home" reservations, I am a fan. Slaw Should also mention I bought his rudder pedals. Guy with a big shed in Poland and lots of metal bashing equipment. OMG this guy is fantastic. Intelligent design, beautifully build and engineered. If Mercedes from the 1980s were to build HOTAS rudder pedals (you know... when Mercedes were literally bullet proof) then this would be it. Overengineered awesomeness. Conclusion: go VKB base, Thrustmaster joystick grips, Slaw rudder, and throttle Winwing. I've not tried Realsim (yet LOLs) and it terms of collectives I'm not sure my bank account will survive me buying the Apache module. So I can't advise you beyond what I've already written. Oh - besides "beware of Youtube reviews written by simmers that get to keep their test samples in exchange for an especially polite review". I paid full price for my stuff, so I'll say what I think.

1) 1Which mobo: On AM5 the choice between mobos is pretty much unimportant. On earlier generations AMDs mobo VRM layout and VRM cooling was insufficient. OEMs learned from past mistakes and for AM5 pretty much all of the mobo OEMs have well specified VRMs and have ample VRM cooling to the point that it makes no difference to normal users sort of competitive overclockers. You should choose mobos based on a) form factor for your case, b) feature set and c) price. For the vast majority of users B650 makes more sense than X670E unless you are trying to future proof your hardware. AM5 is guaranteed to be supported for one more CPU generation in 2024, but it is likely that it will also support a 3rd CPU refresh into 2026 also. 2) Which RAM: This is something worth consideration IMO. Most users recommend 64GB system memory for DCS in order to enjoy stutter free campaigns and multiplayer. This is do-able with 2x32GB DDR5 sticks. I've read a report suggesting a decrease in performance going to higher memory on AM5 and for this reason I would avoid unless you have a specific work reason to need that much memory, independent of DCS. Given the choice of 64GB your best bet is 6000Mhz 30-40-40-96 or 32-38-38-96 2x32GB. Which sticks? Ideally chose base on "tested / qualified" SKUs by checking the support tab of the OEMs website for your mobo of choice. If your choice of memory is not specifically on the qualified list, you will still 99% of the time be okay, but I prefer going for one of the pre-tested options. 3) Win 10 vs 11: I don't think it matters for performance, but personally speaking I always chose the older OS.

Ah that's good news. (You're one of the best public relations guys, Sally. I think Winwing should put you on a retainer, or sales commission or something).

If you want to be compatible with Monstertech and other common aftermarket solutions then yes... you should use the 40mm / 80mm sections with 8mm slots. If you are doing everything yourself with no intention to be compatible with other parts then use what you like. For example Bosch does 45mm / 8mm Al sections.

I got a 3090 at a good price (relative to what people have been paying for 3080 Ti cards!) specifically for DCS. Agree with comments that 3080 / 3080 Ti is good option but it all depends on actual prices you will be paying. Works brilliant for 2D, but also works well for VR (Reverb G2). Recommended.

In the UK there are a number of companies selling 40 / 8 Al extrusion. The company that I use most often is KJN. I've also bought some spare parts like slot pieces on Amazon... easy if you know what you are looking for. Link to KJN: https://www.aluminium-profile.co.uk/ir-range-compatible-with-item-profile/ir-range-aluminium-profile (You need their IR range to be compatible with Monstertech, not the BR range which is Bosch and uses different base dimensions). If you are US based there are plenty of companies doing the same stuff. Do a search for "8 slot aluminium extrusions" and dig around from there.

Thank you AeroGator. I am fine with the delay. I appreciate the the pandemic has made logistics planning even more complicated than it usually is. Realistically it sounds like it could be a considerable wait yet before these parts hit Europe. It is just nice to know what is going on; I got a buddy planning to travel to Europe from the States later this year, so it might be easier to ask him to take some things in his luggage for me.

That is what I need: thank you very much.

I just played with the curves until I got something that I like to use. You understand how to do that in DCS right? (If not I can point you in the right direction).

More of a question than a bug: I use VR, but sometimes I want to start DCS in 2D on my monitor. Is there a way of starting the application and choosing which output (VR or monitor) to run the application. I am using the Eagle Dynamics client (not Steam). And I am on DCS Open Beta, if that makes any difference or not. I think this would be a really useful feature if it does not exist already. Thank you.

I believe that customs handling is waived if under GBP135 from the EU. I know that since the UK / Japan free trade deal, duty is not being charged on baskets under that GBP135 hurdle from stuff coming from Japan, as I recently tried it. (Buying one of these beauties)

I've gotta say it... I am really disappointed by the poor customer service from VKB Europe: 7 July sent and email to VKB Europe asking when to expect availability of these grip stands which were already available for sale on the VKB North America webstore. This email was ignored / no response. So I posted on the Eagle Dynamics forum. Response from Aerogator saying that he would pass a message on to VKB Europe. Still no response from VKB Europe. So about a week ago now I raised another enquiry via the VKB Europe website. I am still being ignored. I get that there is a pandemic going on and global supply chains are all messed up. But these parts are available in the US have have been for at least a month now. Maybe the European distributer knows that the parts are on a container and expected to arrive in August 2021 or whatever. Maybe you don't know. Would it hurt to communicate with your existing customers?

I am very happy to hear about this new partnership between Truegrit and Heatblur. If you bother to do something, do it right. And it shows maturity to ask others for help when you need it. There was a negative comment earlier about "flying computer". Although negative, it was also a legitimate point. Part of the interest of DCS is to experience simulations of military aviation at different points of development / different times in history. So I hope that Heatblur will continue to allocate resources and bandwidth to the development of historically important and interesting aircraft from pre-flying computer years. Viggen and Tomcat are both stand out modules for that mix of "cutting edge old tech"... you can almost smell the valves warming up when starting up the Viggen. And the shakin' of the Tomcat pulling just over 15 AOA in a tight turn and pitching in with rudder... just outstanding. There is room and interest for the Eurofighter, for sure. You can tell by the weight of hyped comments. I am excited for it too. Just also saying that I enjoy the mid-tech too. Things like the F-4 Phantom variants, the A-6 Intruder, the IDS / GR.4, The S.2 Buccaneer. Anyways, congratulations to you both. Good luck. Take your time and do it right. Oh... and get Meteor involved again too!

That is great. He's a great guy... if he is on the case then that is good news.

I'd like to see a tutorial on datalink.

Thank you.

Available in USA now. EU availability? Did send an email to ask VKB Europe last week (7th July), but they failed to respond.