I am so excited!

[Conure]

Okay, I haven't come close to mastering the Black Shark yet (Infact I haven't come close to even getting to grips with the basics), but I am extremely excited about the A10. I have also just graduated and am starting work so will shortly have a little money to put towards a new setup. If my PC runs DCS black shark just fine, do you think it's safe to presume I can probably run A10 okay too? if so, I can spend any available finance on a new cockpit.

 

Basically, this is my current setup...

 

Keyboard, mouse, Saitek evo force....It's not great, but it does the job

(ish)..

 

What I want is a real setup, but I'm not looking to spend a massive massive amount. I am thinking rudder pedals, a joystick (or yoke...not sure, I also like civilian flight sims but I think a joystick has more utility?), a separate throttle, and trackIR. This, I believe, will greatly enhance how realistic it feels?

 

Can you guys recommend any decent stuff that wont cost a huge amount?

 

Thanks

[MTFDarkEagle]

Saitek X52. They are pretty cheap to come by, and they are very very good. But a bit fragile, so be carefull with it ;-)

[Nate--IRL--]

Have a look in the Home Cockpit Forum, you'd proabaly get a better answer in there.

 

http://forums.eagle.ru/forumdisplay.php?f=101

 

If you want real then the HOTAS Warthog is what you want

 

http://www.simhq.com/_commentary/all_101b.html

 

Nate

[sobek]

TrackIR is really important, if you're a little tech savvy and short on money, you can also go for FreeTrack. Head tracking is THE most important peripheral for flight sims after a decent stick, IMHO.

[Arclight]

I am so excited!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qn-b9JzseUs

 

:P

 

Sorry, I'll go back to lurking now. :Flush:

[Kaiza]

I agree with Sobek- but would go one step further. I believe head tracking is the most important peice of hardware for flight sims (as long as you have some kind of joystick obviously). I would ditch my X52 pro for a crappy old joystick before I let go of my trackIR. If I forget to start my trackIR before a game, my whole world collapses.

 

I think it will be particularly important for the A-10 as well, especially when keeping your eyes on the target when racetracking for CAS.

Edited June 26, 2010 by Kaiza

[sweinhart3]

I have a nearly unused CH Flight Yoke, CH usb pedals, and TIR4 Im looking to get rid of if anyone interested.

[MTFDarkEagle]

I have a nearly unused CH Flight Yoke, CH usb pedals, and TIR4 Im looking to get rid of if anyone interested.

Maybe Conure is interested? I'm not, sorry, going to get the TM Warthog when it's released ;-)

[sweinhart3]

same here. after that I might have to retire my cougar, but it might be wise to hold on to it a bit until ED decides on the next aircraft.

[636_Castle]

Okay...don't flame me for this...but I wouldn't go for Saitek. I've currently ran through their X52/Pro series, and they haven't been that great so far - (or maybe I've just been really unlucky?) I went through 4 X-52s on warranty. I upgraded to the X-52Pro thinking it'd be better, but it's the same darn thing with a fancy black matte finish and new LEDs. They've been RIGGED with potentiometer problems and electronic issues that you end up by needing to fix yourself due to lack of any existing customer service besides a community forum.

 

See my post here http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=55296

 

Thrustmaster is also releasing an A-10 stick soon, but Thrustmaster is crazy expensive. Their Cougar HOTAS is still over $200 usually, and doesn't even include rudder pedals/twist stick/decent programming.

 

At the moment, you can get a Logitech G940 for a VERY reasonable price, and is currently one of the best/latest sticks on the market.

 

http://www.newegg.com/product/product.aspx?Item=N82E16826104327

 

$261 for a stick, split throttle, and rudder pedals. That's almost a steal when you compare a nearly 3.5 year old X-52 Pro + Saitek Pro Flight Rudder Pedals for $235 USD.

[MTFDarkEagle]

Castle: I dont know how you handled you x52's, but I've had mine over 4 years and still performs 98%. (the 1 that doesn't is an axis problem: i-rotary, when spinned to the max, it slowly drops in the software.. but this is a minor flaw, the other is the twist rudder, that doesn't function properly at all, but that's not a problem because I use my g25's pedals).

 

Yes, thrustmaster is expensive, but you get what you pay for. As you have seen (simhq hands on I believe), the software has been improved and will be plug-and-play with DCS: A10C. On the lack of rudder pedals/twist stick: rudder pedals are personal. You could use the pedals from a steeringwheel (like I do, works good). The twist stick only makes this complicated and break-able.

 

The G940 is a piece of crap, as I've read. FFB sucks, bad build quality. True, you get split throttle, rudder pedals etc, but overall, I think you are better of with a properly built (maybe more expensive yes, but you pay for quality) hotas.

[636_Castle]

an axis problem: i-rotary, when spinned to the max, it slowly drops in the software.. but this is a minor flaw, the other is the twist rudder, that doesn't function properly at all, but that's not a problem because I use my g25's pedals).

Right, so you have a common electronics issue in your throttle rotary, and a common potentiometer issue in the stick itself. This is exactly what I described in my post: Electronic issues, and pot. problems. Not everyone is okay with having these issues though, and not everyone has some G25 pedals standing by.

 

Yes, thrustmaster is expensive, but you get what you pay for.

 

Why would you advise using a TM stick which highly overpriced, when the OP asked for something that wouldn't cost much?

 

The G940 is a piece of crap, as I've read. FFB sucks

Where's the FFB on the TM? ;) Also, I haven't seen anything regarding the G940 being built improperly.

 

I still believe the G940 would be a better, All In One solution for the flight simmer. Stick, throttle, buttons that work great for programing every FC/DCS aircraft, and rudder pedals, all for under $270. Sure you could pay probably over $450 for a stick and throttle from TM, and then probably nearly another $100 for pedals (or use some ones in storage if you're like MTFDarkEagle), but that wouldn't exactly be a 'fair priced' starter desktop sim.

[sobek]

Where's the FFB on the TM? ;) Also, I haven't seen anything regarding the G940 being built improperly.

 

I still believe the G940 would be a better, All In One solution for the flight simmer. Stick, throttle, buttons that work great for programing every FC/DCS aircraft, and rudder pedals, all for under $270. Sure you could pay probably over $450 for a stick and throttle from TM, and then probably nearly another $100 for pedals (or use some ones in storage if you're like MTFDarkEagle), but that wouldn't exactly be a 'fair priced' starter desktop sim.

 

The QA of the pots sucks big time. I can see where you are coming from, the g940 is a bargain, but the problem is, that the low price does indeed hamper quality in some areas, like said pots. There's a reason why the quality equipment is so expensive.

[Feuerfalke]

Where's the FFB on the TM? ;) Also, I haven't seen anything regarding the G940 being built improperly.

 

Don't Walk...Run Away from the G940

 

Logitech G940 and Win 7 64 bit Blue Screen

 

Logitech 5.09 G940 Thread

 

Logitech G-940

 

 

:music_whistling:

[combatace]

Go for free track it'll cost you just under 10$.

[MTFDarkEagle]

Why would you advise using a TM stick which highly overpriced, when the OP asked for something that wouldn't cost much?

 

I advised the x52 ;-)

Where's the FFB on the TM? ;) Also, I haven't seen anything regarding the G940 being built improperly.

I dont need FFB. Perhaps others do, but it's not an issue for me.

 

G940: see Feuerfalke's post, and I can give you some links outside the ed forums ;)

[sobek]

I dont need FFB.

 

It could be the most realistic representation of handling an aircraft, if it was done properly (which in the g940 it clearly was not).

 

As for the G940, the software for is just abysmal at this point. They clearly released their product with too little research and one year short of development work. The hardware has some potential although it is apparent that they made some major sacrifices to be able to sell it below 300€ *shakeshead*

 

I'm getting way off track here. Anybody else? Mind the thread topic; or better, mind it a little less ;)

[Oceandar]

What is the main difference between X52 and X52 pro ?

[Feuerfalke]

What is the main difference between X52 and X52 pro ?

 

There are several differences.

1. The X52 has a display that shows the name of the current config, buttons pushed (if descriptions are available) and time/stopping-watch, controlled by 3 buttons that cannot be mapped otherwise.

The X52pro has a display, too, but it is much more flexible and can show a lot of different data. Several programs are available to show the data on the screen. 2 buttons and a scroll-wheel control the display. I'm not sure if you can also map them for custom functions.

 

2. The X52 has a single centering spring, which allows some play around the center if the spring wears out.

The X52pro has a second coaxial spring that makes centering forces more linear.

 

3. The X52 has a blue backlight for all buttons and coolie-hats.

The X52pro's buttons and coolie-hats can be backlit with different colors (Red, Green, Blue, IIRC). You can set the color with the programming software.

 

Point 3 is already mostly a cosmetic feature. Same is for the looks of the X52pro that has changed from the toystick-design to a serious simulation-worthy joystick-design.