JEFX Posted April 6, 2007 Posted April 6, 2007 A few months ago, I thing it was Rugg who posted a clear demonstration (with short movie) of his new trackball, claiming it helped tremendously to point the seekers, MFD box or reticles. He was the speaking about a (very) expensive trackball, (I think if I remember right, it was CH R200, or something similar, in the 200$+ range). At the time I enjoyed the idea (and indeed it is a very important problem in LO FC, to be able to point rapidly and precisely the reticle for quick correction of aiming of Mavs or Vikhr) but I thought it was too expensive a toy... A couple of days ago, I decided to go for it and I shopped for a VERY good trackball, but not SO expensive... I decided to go for the Kensington so called 'Expert Mouse, 4 boutons' trackball' priced a little bit below 100$. Got it a day later and LO! WOWOWOWOW, it does make an incredible difference. Now I can aim, point, move, correct and keep on target the reticle of the VIkhr for example, very easily and with great fluidity and precision. (No more pressing a button on my HOTAS and waiting half a second that the reticle starts finally moving to end up moving way too fast while I finally overshoot the target area...) On top of the incredible increase in precision, since there are 4 buttons, I assigned the most naturally placed 2 buttons to MFD zoom in and out and the other two to the target box size (+ or -),(which were on my Throttle before, in my left hand, and I have to leave the throttle to get to the trackball) since my Lock button and Pickle or Fire Buttons are in my right hand, on my stick, which I keep in hand for flight control of course. It works great. I can only recommend it to anyone finding the precision of aiming of the targeting reticle a bit sluggish in LO FC, you will not recognize it anymore, thanks to Rugg! (for this inspiration and a lot of other things). My now complete interface with the machine is (on top of keyboard and mouse): TIR4 for vision, CH combo : Fighterstick-ProThrottle-ProPedals for flying, Trackball for aiming, and Touchbuddy installed on a nice 8' diagonal touchscreen. Lockon happiness Happy Easter all JEFX [sIGPIC][/sIGPIC] In DCS I fly jets with thousands of pounds of thrust... In real life I fly a humble Cessna Hawx XP II with 210 HP :D
Pilotasso Posted April 6, 2007 Posted April 6, 2007 The only problem is that it requires you to take one of your hands from HOTAS. FOr a dogfighter it could be a problem, but its interesting for high altitude long range AG smart weapon work, though I dont do that much. .
hitman Posted April 6, 2007 Posted April 6, 2007 I did this with my mouse. It works incredibly well, but I dont see how a trackball would make things more accurate...some day Ill have to give this a shot.
Aeroscout Posted April 6, 2007 Posted April 6, 2007 Ya, my mouse works quite well, especially because I have the mini stick on my X52. DCS Wishlist: 1) FIX THE DAMN RIVERS!!! 2) Spherical or cylindrical panorama view projection. 3) Enhanced input options (action upon button release, etc). 4) Aircraft flight parameter dump upon exit (stick posn, attitude, rates, accel, control volume, control-surface positions, SAS bias, etc). 5) ADS-33 maneuver courses as static objects. 6) Exposed API or exports of trim position and stick force for custom controllers. 7) Select auto multiple audio devices
Aeroscout Posted April 6, 2007 Posted April 6, 2007 JEFX, I bought that exact same model originally. I use Logitech mice so the Kensington software hijacked the Logitech software and made some of the mice functions inoperable. That's why I didn't go with it. After using both I find that I'm happy with the purchase of the DT225, because I can adjust sensitivity depending on which CH profile I'm using. The Su25T requires that the trackball be set less sensitive than with the other aircraft. The other thing is that the mouse ball on the DT225 doesn't fall out if you tip it upside down. A ding on a trackball ruins the whole unit. I thought that would be the case too. It isn't. If you're in a turn and burn you're most likely at full throttle, or in the case of WVR you're more likely to use vert scan or boresight mode. Mine sits next to my throttle and I've never had any problems concerning my hand off the throttle. but that defetes the "Hands on Throtle and Stick: concept, doesn't it? :D :joystick: DCS Wishlist: 1) FIX THE DAMN RIVERS!!! 2) Spherical or cylindrical panorama view projection. 3) Enhanced input options (action upon button release, etc). 4) Aircraft flight parameter dump upon exit (stick posn, attitude, rates, accel, control volume, control-surface positions, SAS bias, etc). 5) ADS-33 maneuver courses as static objects. 6) Exposed API or exports of trim position and stick force for custom controllers. 7) Select auto multiple audio devices
JEFX Posted April 7, 2007 Author Posted April 7, 2007 Airoscout 'but that defetes the "Hands on Throtle and Stick: concept, doesn't it?' You are right in a way, but it concerns mostly A to G with slow AC (mainly the Forg and the Hog and with both, when in the last phase of attack, you dont really need your hand on the throttle all the time... As a matter of fact, if the control of the TDC was really good in this game right on the throttle mini-stick or HOTAS button, we wouldnt need a trackball, but beleive me, it works so much metter than anything else... and it is better than a mouse because you barely need to touch the top of the big ball and you can keep your hand almost free to go back to the throttle. Of course, in AA dogfight, you would not use that, anyway you dont need to slew anything in AA combat (for AA, all the commands relative to radar control are mapped to my HOTAS : range, azimuth, radar cone elevation, pulse radar mode, or CAC modes, vertical, etc...) Anyway, it is FUN and COOL to use. JEFX [sIGPIC][/sIGPIC] In DCS I fly jets with thousands of pounds of thrust... In real life I fly a humble Cessna Hawx XP II with 210 HP :D
JEFX Posted April 7, 2007 Author Posted April 7, 2007 Rugg I agree with you, but I didnt want to pay so much for it as for the DT225 of the actual R200... True, the Kensigton software is not otherbrandsmousefriendly... And true, one day, I would love to have a trackball that can be incorporated in my CH global profile, but for now I am very happy, and the very idea came from you! thanks JEFX [sIGPIC][/sIGPIC] In DCS I fly jets with thousands of pounds of thrust... In real life I fly a humble Cessna Hawx XP II with 210 HP :D
JEFX Posted April 7, 2007 Author Posted April 7, 2007 man... so many typos... I better start looking when I type.... JEFX [sIGPIC][/sIGPIC] In DCS I fly jets with thousands of pounds of thrust... In real life I fly a humble Cessna Hawx XP II with 210 HP :D
Jinky Posted April 7, 2007 Posted April 7, 2007 I have a Kensington Orbit Elite, it is a plain trackball two button mouse and very cheap (about $50). I use it for 'mouse look' and it has made a massive difference during dogfights. Does anyone know if, with an additional keypress I can set this up to slew the TDC cursor also, at the moment I can only seem to do one or the other.
Aeroscout Posted April 7, 2007 Posted April 7, 2007 Rugg I agree with you, but I didnt want to pay so much for it as for the DT225 of the actual R200... True, the Kensigton software is not otherbrandsmousefriendly... And true, one day, I would love to have a trackball that can be incorporated in my CH global profile, but for now I am very happy, and the very idea came from you! thanks JEFX Ya, I drive the fast movers. (su-27, '33, F-25, etc.) but i see your point. DCS Wishlist: 1) FIX THE DAMN RIVERS!!! 2) Spherical or cylindrical panorama view projection. 3) Enhanced input options (action upon button release, etc). 4) Aircraft flight parameter dump upon exit (stick posn, attitude, rates, accel, control volume, control-surface positions, SAS bias, etc). 5) ADS-33 maneuver courses as static objects. 6) Exposed API or exports of trim position and stick force for custom controllers. 7) Select auto multiple audio devices
hitman Posted April 7, 2007 Posted April 7, 2007 man... so many typos... I better start looking when I type.... JEFX Thats what happens when you try to watch pr0n and type in the forums at the same time. The term "sticky keys" comes to mind.
hitman Posted April 7, 2007 Posted April 7, 2007 Ya, I drive the fast movers. (su-27, '33, F-25, etc.) but i see your point. F-25?
Aeroscout Posted April 7, 2007 Posted April 7, 2007 F-25? Shoot, I ment F-15. sorry. DCS Wishlist: 1) FIX THE DAMN RIVERS!!! 2) Spherical or cylindrical panorama view projection. 3) Enhanced input options (action upon button release, etc). 4) Aircraft flight parameter dump upon exit (stick posn, attitude, rates, accel, control volume, control-surface positions, SAS bias, etc). 5) ADS-33 maneuver courses as static objects. 6) Exposed API or exports of trim position and stick force for custom controllers. 7) Select auto multiple audio devices
crime Posted April 8, 2007 Posted April 8, 2007 That's why I think that the x-52 should have a mini-trackball, and not a mini-stick. Maybe it's only mine, but the ministick is so imprecise that I can't use it for nearly anything. I bought a trackball for mouse-look some years ago, before the trackIr era. I saw the comment in a forum and thought it was a great idea, and... it was! I never thought in using for aiming.
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