Cougar MFD's Display Choice (Lenovo ThinkVision LT1421?)

[Maverick-X]

Hey Guys,

 

I recently thought about getting the cougar MFD's. Before I do so, I wanted to ask you some questions:

 

1.: Do you recommend them? I really like flying the A-10C and I'd guess it's a nice addition.

If you include Displays its quite an amount of money to spend, and I just want to make sure this is buy makes sense.

 

2.: What Displays would you recommend? I've read Samsung U70 and Lillyput UM80 often in some posts I've seen,

but getting two of them blows the budget I'm willing to put up for this.

 

3.:I have a Galaxy Tab 10.1 (10" Display, 217mm Wide), and seen that there is an app to display certain gauges and so on.

I guess the Tablet would be big enouth to "power" one, but not both mfd-frames?

 

4.: I've seen the Lenovo ThinkVision LT1421, which basically is a 14" LCD display with USB-connection.

Looks quite appealing as it only costs about 120€ on Amazon. Does anyone use this and can share some experiences?

 

5.: I also thought of usb-connectable picture frames. I'm not sure which of those are suitable for use as a monitor, I'd be glad to read your experiences.

 

Thanks,

Mav

Edited March 20, 2014 by Maverick-X

[AegisFX]

Hey Guys,

 

I recently thought about getting the cougar MFD's. Before I do so, I wanted to ask you some questions:

 

1.: Do you recommend them? I really like flying the A-10C and I'd guess it's a nice addition.

If you include Displays its quite an amount of money to spend, and I just want to make sure this is buy makes sense.

 

2.: What Displays would you recommend? I've read Samsung U70 and Lillyput UM80 often in some posts I've seen,

but getting two of them blows the budget I'm willing to put up for this.

 

3.:I have a Galaxy Tab 10.1 (10" Display, 217mm Wide), and seen that there is an app to display certain gauges and so on.

I guess the Tablet would be big enouth to "power" one, but not both mfd-frames?

 

4.: I've seen the Lenovo ThinkVision LT1421, which basically is a 14" LCD display with USB-connection.

Looks quite appealing as it only costs about 120€ on Amazon. Does anyone use this and can share some experiences?

 

5.: I also thought of usb-connectable picture frames. I'm not sure which of those are suitable for use as a monitor, I'd be glad to read your experiences.

 

Thanks,

Mav

 

I can't speak to using them in conjunction with additional monitors. I CAN speak to using them alone as buttons. I purchased from Amazon for maybe $70. They work really well to just set them up, use trackir to look at their window, and press corresponding buttons. I must assume that same convenience will be there if monitors are directly used with them.

 

Overall, Cougar MFD's get 10/10 from me. I hope someone else can chime in with more specific experiences with separate display devices too.

[Tone71]

I've attached them to my old 22 inch monitor, and exported the mfcd displays to the top left and right corners. Works really well. I say get them; I certainly don't regret buying them.

[hansangb]

As Tone71 mentioned, you can stick them on an old display. So basically, you stick them on the lower left and right corner of the (regular) monitor and use that.

 

But from an immersion standpoint, having the Lilliput monitors under the MFD is pretty nice because you can place them where it's convenient.

 

Either way, I think you won't regret it.

[Maverick-X]

Sounds like a good buy so far, thanks for sharing your opinions and experiences. I can't really imagine comfortable use of them without an attached display. Isnt it possible to configure the exported MFCDs so they show up in the bottom corners of the display? I guess it's worth a try before buying any additional monitor.

 

Is it possible to export the Shkval from the Shark or Su25T aswell?

[Tone71]

You can get the mfcd's or Abris and Shkval to show up on your primary monitor, yes. I was already exporting these to my secondary monitor, so adding the Cougar mfd's was little extra effort. I use velcro stuck to my monitor bezel to attach them and make them removable.

[Home Fries]

They're a great value on their own, but if you have a Cougar or Warthog they're even better. You can program an integrated profile with TARGET and do amazing things with them.

[Tone71]

They're a great value on their own, but if you have a Cougar or Warthog they're even better. You can program an integrated profile with TARGET and do amazing things with them.

 

Can I ask what you do with your MFD's, beyond their plug and play functionality? Sounds like I'm missing out with mine.

[Home Fries]

Can I ask what you do with your MFD's, beyond their plug and play functionality? Sounds like I'm missing out with mine.

Take a look at the profile in my signature.

 

EDIT: The profile itself may not be as much use to you with a Saitek HOTAS, but I do have MFD buttons assigned to arrays in some cases, and I also use the HOTAS+MFD as a means to change a DCS profile on the fly. Without a HOTAS, though, you're probably just as well off using the DirectX buttons.

Edited March 20, 2014 by Home Fries

[Jester Darrak]

I have the MFDs (and fly with TO regularly) without any fancy screens behind them. Just have them laying on my desk right between the primary screen and the keyboard and it's working fine. It doesn't make sense to put them on a secondary screen that's left or right of your primary because the natural movement to look at the MFDs should be downwards. Sure, it just needs practice but unless you're willing to build a simple sim pit with the MFDs right above your knees it's not worth to spend money on 7" USB TFTs (they are all non 1:1 ratio what makes it more odd).

 

If you're experienced with mouse movement while wiggling around with your TIR it's not really necessary but a nice addition. I also don't like to do heavy scripting or macro stuff within the device's drivers as it may interfere with some commands if you use certain commands at once e.g. popping flares and extending brakes while browsing in your MFD pages. No matter how careful you are with writing the stuff you will get to the point where a command is not recognized because of this. And this will mostly come in life or death situations. So better set it up in-game. ;)

 

I would use the Galaxy Tab as something completely different, maybe Master Arm Control Panel, UCF, CDU or Radio Control Panel. Something that has to be used more frequently than anything else and needs to be accessed quick and easy. Things will get nasty sooner or later anyways. ;)

[Maverick-X]

I wouldn't set the second monitor on the same level as my primary screen, as the sense of this whole thing is a more convenient access to the mfd-functions. Having a second screen below my primary with attached MFD-Frames sounds good, but just as you wrote "If you're experienced with mouse movement while wiggling around with your TIR it's not really necessary", this is the part that stopped me from buying them right away.

 

As for Tablet use: i tried the app and it is quite nice, apart from the price you pay to unlock all features. Surely that app was hard work and the writer deserves something for that value, but although it is even more expensive, I feel like I'd get more for my money by buying the cougars. Especially the use of a touchscreen is something quite unconvenient when it is time critical. Like your suggestion to use it for CDU-purposes: I'd rather use my keyboard for a fast input.

 

I'm still fire and flames for getting the cougars + the 14" TFT at the moment (as I am usually with new Ideas), guess the best thing to do is let that Idea settle a week or two and see if I changed my mind.

 

Thanks for the help so far!

Mav

[Home Fries]

I find the argument that "if you're experienced with the mouse, you don't need the MFDs" akin to saying "if you're experienced with the hat switch, you don't need TrackIR," albeit to a much lesser extent.

 

While certainly using the mouse is doable and can even be efficient, nothing can replace the natural eye-hand coordination and tactile feel of pressing a button in front of you. The MFDs give you exactly that with the A-10C, with the option for additional functionality. If you can put a monitor behind the MFD, that's even better because you don't need to go between the main viewscreen and your MFD to be sure of which button you want to press.

 

Here is my setup with Falcon BMS on the screen (disregard the Quickshot MFDs at the bottom; those have since been removed):

 

Instead of using a single monitor below the screen (which might get in the way of legs, and would definitely be in the way of my P8000 that I also use for the UFC in the A-10C), I use two 17" flatscreens on either side (the left one is on a hinged wall mount so it swings to allow entry and exit).

 

The big takeaway is the use of the MFD view behind the MFD itself, matching up the buttons to the display so that you can look at what you're doing with the MFD itself (great for using the TAD or Sniper pod). The other thing I find useful is mapping other switches to the MFD while using a modifier (such as S3 on my Cougar HOTAS), which allows me to use the LMFD upper right rocker as the GUNPAC/GUNARM switch (easy switching to go between armored and soft targets) and the buttons for things like the NMCP and CMSP.

 

If you already have a good HOTAS setup with TrackIR, and you only need that peripheral to put you over the top, this is it.

[Maverick-X]

That pit looks awesome xD

I am using a computer table with a higher area for the Screens. I have a 27" main screen and a 24" secondary, mainly for working purposes. (Yeah... watching movies while working... xD)

 

I use the x52 hotas, so interconnectability with the MFDs would not be achieved easily i guess ^^ But I'm not interested in that, as all things I really need are mapped on the X52. Would be nice to have though ^^

 

With this table there would be enough room to place the 14" lenovo usb screen below my main screen. But you got me to the idea to use my 2nd monitor to display other instruments. I don't know how useful it would be, because its about 30° to the right but its worth a try. Thanks for the share!

[jib]

I just stick my cougars to my main screen with Blu Tack and display the MFCD's on the screen behind them. (I have taken off the stands to make them more flush)

I did try them stuck to a separate 19 inch monitor but the performance hit of having 2 screens was just not worth it.

[Home Fries]

I use the x52 hotas, so interconnectability with the MFDs would not be achieved easily i guess ^^ But I'm not interested in that, as all things I really need are mapped on the X52. Would be nice to have though ^^

You could do it from within DCS without anything fancy. If you have a "shift" button you use on the X52 (I think it's normally the pinkie button), instead of doing a full-blown X52 profile just assign that button as a modifier in DCS World. That modifier will then work across the keyboard and all other controllers, so you could do something like hold down the "shift button" and press MFDs for an alternate function, or (like I've done) use the shift button and keyboard for UFC/CDU entries.

[Maverick-X]

Didn't think about configuring them that way. Sounds good. I already use the keyboard for cdu-input, although I found out about that feature much later than I'd like to admit xD

 

I just stick my cougars to my main screen with Blu Tack and display the MFCD's on the screen behind them. (I have taken off the stands to make them more flush)

I did try them stuck to a separate 19 inch monitor but the performance hit of having 2 screens was just not worth it.

 

Thats an issue I havent really thought about. I really should have as I only own a GTX460 (but overclocked). Guess I should do some tests before buying a Screen that kills my performance. But I'm pretty convinced of the Cougars by now ^^

[Home Fries]

A 460 running aux instruments isn't going to kill your frames. I had a 460 when I took that picture, and ran the A-10C MFDs with no problems.

[Rungaul]

How do you use your keyboard for CDU input?

[Thick8]

I bought a pair of MFD's then sold them and bought a 22" touchscreen. The MFD's were cool but I wanted more so I installed Helios on the touchsceen. If you're not planning on building a full blow pit for a while, this option is better than just the MFDs. There is a 27" monitor for sale here for around $200. I will be repurchasing some MFDs when I finish my full blown pit.

[GodsPrototype]

Get a CastAR, and cut out two reflective surfaces and use those as screens.