MFD Cougar. Early adopter opinions needed

[coolts]

Guys

 

I am finally getting around to building a nice new, “DCS-A10 / FC2.0 ready”, rig based round an over clocked i7 930 to replace my 3 yr old Q6600 system which has served me well through 3 generations of graphics cards.

 

As the icing on the cake I was thinking about the new Cougar MFD’s from Thrustmaster as they are relatively low cost, but in order to take up valuable desk real estate, (along with adding yet another thing to dust!), they need to “earn their stripes”.

 

I would like to gauge the opinions of early adopters to these MFD’s and get their opinions as to their value in terms of;

 

·

Added immersion

. Do the MFD’s make the sim more “authentic” in your opinion? Do they make you feel more like a pilot than a man / woman at a computer desk?

 

·

Pilot workload management

. Do they help or hinder?

 

·

Ease of configuration

. I have enough configuration work with Foxy, although the reviews I have seen indicate a simpler/less flexible game-centric setup.

 

·

Flexibility

, (Falcon, LOMAC, FSX, BS compatibility). I know of upcoming DCS: A-10 planned support which is a major plus in my mind.

 

·

Durability.

Will they last? What happens when, in the heat of a furball, you lunge forwards to switch your radar scan mode / range? Do the supports collapse? Does the unit skid across your desk and fall down the back into the dreaded spaghetti factory of cables behind the computer?

 

From experience, once I got used to TrackIR, it became an essential core part of simmimg for me, (In the same way as my HOTAS Cougar and CH pedals). Once familiar, I wouldn’t even think of flying without them as they add so much. Are the MFD’s in the same league?

 

I am not a pit builder per-se and probably won’t be rigging in 7” screens for a while, (but you never know).

 

Thanks in advance for any and all advice given.

 

Cheers

 

C

[Kuky]

In my opinion:

- They do add to immersion but not, not nearly as much as TrackIR does or a good HOTAS.

- They do help with workload as it's lot easier to press the button then memorising combination of key commands or trying to programm so many buttons on HOTAS

 

- They are very easy to connect and setup for a sim, granted there are 20+8 buttons on each MFD you need to press to configure for a sim so this is the only time consuming thing about them :)

 

- So far I've used them for OpenFalcon4.7 with propper MFD buttons and for LockOn for some less important thigns (like different views, escape/pause the sim, trackir pause/center etc) so I think they are quite fleximple on what you can use them for, granted if you use them for antyhing other then MFD buttons (like for OF4.7) it takes bit time to remember what you use what button for ;) For upcomming DCS A-10 it should be great

 

- How long they will last, who knows... they only came out so people don't have them for a long time to tell this, some report they fail very fast after being used, but seems they do so because they are used on USB hubs. I use mine on motherboard USB ports and have no such issues.

 

to add, I think the USB cable could have been little longer because if you have something of a cockpit and the cables need bit of routing around they could be bit short and you'd need an extention, the power converter cable is bit longer. I don't have them using their stand/holder so can't say if they slide or not... hope this helps