which controls to put on a hotas??

[twoarms]

hi,am new to black shark and am currently wading thru the mountain of keys:(

 

i have a saitek x52 pro hota system that i want to profile but was wondering what the best commands to put on the sticks are.

 

any help would be great :)

 

many thanks

 

richard

[Shez]

Usually I put any controls I would need during battle or any other time you won't have time to be looking around the cabin finding buttons and switches. These should get ya started. From there it's just personal preference.

 

Weapon selection

Fire buttons

Shvaal manipulation

Lock Target

Countermeasures

[sonic]

In the Blackshark manual page 6-6 to 6-10 you can find what are the real cyclic and collective configuration.

This can be a good source of inspiration ;)

[sobek]

In the Blackshark manual page 6-6 to 6-10 you can find what are the real cyclic and collective configuration.

This can be a good source of inspiration ;)

 

Yep, i'd start from there and customize/add commands to your liking.

[Feuerfalke]

Yep, i'd start from there and customize/add commands to your liking.

 

+1

 

Start with the functions already named, then get practice in using them. Sooner or later you will find other useful functions that you want to have on quick access. While some are quite common, others might be down to your personal preferences.

[Doc. Caliban]

I use Viper's profile and like it a lot. I can't get the link to load, however:

 

http://cougar.frugalsworld.com/files/DCSBlackShark_Viper.zip

 

I've rar'd it from my machine and attached it.

 

-Doc

 

EDIT: Here's a thread for it: http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=33583

Viper Profile.rar

Edited September 28, 2009 by Doc. Caliban

[Haukka81]

Hi, here is my x52Pro profile.

 

It's very simple :joystick:

 

 

 

-Haukka81

[Boulund]

I always feel it is very hard to adapt to someone else's profile and always ends up doing my own thing in the end anyway.

 

In case you're not like me I've got my profile attached. I wanted to start out with "as real as possible" layout on the stick. Then added and changed stuff around to find a computer sim more than a real chopper. In the end it's probably gotten very wierd and all, but I grew fond of it and am sticking to it =)

DCS BlackShark.rar

[wickedpenguin]

I've got a Saitek X45, but don't use the Saitek profiler (always acts kind of wonky with my setup). I've also got a Logitech G15 keyboard that allows you to map Macros to a set of 18 "G" keys on the left side of main keyboard.

 

My button and key setup is as follows:

 

X-45 Stick

Hat switch 1: POV Camera view (no TrackIR for me... :( )

Hat switch 2: HMS toggle (down) / Select cannon (up) / Select inboard pylons (left) / Select outboard pylons (right)

Btn 1: Fire cannon

Btn 2: Lock target

Btn 3: Flares

Btn 4: Release weapons (missiles/rockets/bombs)

Btn 7 (pinky button): Auto Hover

Btn 8: Uncage Shkval

 

X-45 Throttle

Btn POV1 (mini hat switch): Slew Shkval

Btn 5: Trim

Btn 6: Trim reset

Joy Slider2 (rotary): View zoom (very handy for looking at your Shkval)

Btn 19/20/21/22 (4-way switch): Head-on airborne target / Ground moving target / Auto turn-on target / Airborne target

Rudder rocker: rudder

 

G15 Keyboard

G7/G8/G10/G11: Autopilot buttons (BANK / HDG / PITCH / ALT)

G9: Master Arm

G12: Laser Standby

G13: Datalink - Vehicle target

G14: Datalink - AAA target

G15: Datalink - Other target

G16: Datalink - Select Wingman #2

G17: Datalink - Select All Wingmen

G18: Datalink - Memory / Transmit

[Waldo_II]

I strongly suggest you do it yourself, really. The longer it takes you to set it up, the better. It is a million times easier for you to memorize the functions that you programmed in yourself than it is to adjust to someone else's. I spent at least an hour programming my X52, and I am glad I did.

 

I also suggest taking advantage of the multiple modes of the X52. For me, mode 1 is for combat employment, while mode 2 is for general navigation (Example, the second HAT switch on the joystick in mode one has guns, HMS, outer weapons, inner weapons, while on mode two, it toggles the four different autopilot functions).

 

I also suggest that the first trigger stage is used for cannons, while the second trigger stage released rockets/bombs. Use the "Fire" button (hidden behind the safety plastic) for ejection.

[twoarms]

thanks everyone:)

 

you have given me a definate place to start from......you are all a very friendly bunch:thumbup:

[Lava]

If I really want to learn which controls are important, it takes experience. When developing a profile, I run a mission and write down every key I press or cockpit switch I use that is NOT on my HOTAS. Some of them are one-time switches that may or may not warrant a button (master arm's a bit of an iffy one).

 

The real-life cyclic and collective have surprisingly useful controls. Even odd ones like "radio" and "emergency autopilot off" have proven their use. I use teamspeak/ventrilo push-to-talk for radio, and the emergency autopilot off suddenly got used the other day when I had battle damage.

 

Beyond those, I find I need the left targeting panel controls often, along with autopilot buttons/switches. Oh, countermeasure start/stop is useful too!

 

(edit) Use a shift key, doubles your functions. Multiple modes are useful, use them for controls you won't be using as much.