Track IR or HOTAS?

[Zalym]

Morning all,

 

Just looking for suggestions on some peripherals. I'm interested in buying A-10C in the near future. I currently have a simple Logitech Extreme 3D Pro for a joystick and am thinking about getting a HOTAS setup in the future.

 

Does TrackIR 4 work well enough or do I need to shell out the extra money for 5?

 

Which HOTAS would you suggest for the money? (The new Warthog stick is a no-go, something about $500 that the wife can't get over for a controller ;))

 

Which of these would you consider more important to get first given that I can not get the second item for awhile afterward?

 

Thank you very much for your input.

[Bwaze]

I believe the correct grammar is TrackIR AND HOTAS.

 

:)

 

I would say get TrackIR first, can be 4, I have no experience with 5. Then a HOTAS so you will stop looking at the keyboard all the time. :)

[roob]

HOTAS and go with Freetrack until you can get TrackIR

http://www.free-track.net/english/

[rexehuk]

X52 + TracKIR 5 = Less than TM HOTAS... Just say to the wife its value for money as you're getting 2 products for less than one... and get her some chocolates.

[Ragtag]

If i had to chose i would definatly buy HOTAS first. It's just alpha omega. You can always program views to one of the HATS until you can afford TrackIR :)

[Succellus]

I went HOTAS before trackir. Its the way to go.

But don t go cheap on the hotas. A good hotas will endure 10 years, more than a car, and more than any computer part or whole.

You can go freetrack on the head tracking then Track ir.

We re living good times for hotas.

If i would suggest something i would suggest 2 mandatory features:

1) double, independent thrust control. They will serve you for multi engined aircraft as for single. Single thrusted throttle won t make it for double or more engined aircraft.

2) Double stage trigger. For a10 1rst stage is stabilization of the aircraft and second firing. For other craft first stage can call (press)uncall (release) guns and second stage actually fire it, very usefull.

For WW2 aircrafts that usually main multi guns, 1 stage can be set for 1 gun kind and second stage all guns

 

Non professional top dogs are THrastmaster, CH, Saitek. Any of them featuring the 2 requirement above are a good investment.

The rest is personal choice. Like grip feeling, practicity over realism, space and weight tolerated, stability (base remaining stable while joy is being thrown around during dogfight) etc...If you can consider having a grip on the models before buying consider it seriously. If you can wait a bit wait for TM warthog to reach the stores.

[jerda]

IMO, if you are a DIY kinda person, freetrack is the way to go first. Then get a HOTAS, then some rudder pedals,and then the full cockpit. :)

[Rusty_M]

I reckon HOTAS before TrackIR. From my IL2 experience, I could fly with HOTAS, and could never have done this with the keyboard. TrackIR finally helped me be able to hit something.

[Zalym]

Thank you very much for your replies and information. I'll look into the +'s and -'s of the HOTAS setups and see which I prefer. (Hopefully I can find some in a store somewhere to test). I didn't even know about the Free Track, I'll look into that as a work around for the near future. Thanks again. :)

 

Oh, and good call on the chocolates :thumbup:

[Echonomix]

Both eventually!

 

I don't really use track ir that much with the a10 yet. I mean, it isn't a fighter so you don't have to do as much looking around (I know, I know...still very important to look around). Not nearly as much looking around as I do in rise of flight. But being able to move your head and the game view follow is nearly always helpful...except trying to hit the MFD buttons :( . I usually disable/pause trackir for startup and when I need to interact with the cockpit via clicking.

 

As for the HOTAS. I've never used one before but I'd imagine they are really nice! I have the same stick you use and it is ok, but lacking buttons and the throttle just doesn't feel right. I use my thumb and finger to move the throttle, kinda feels wimpy yah know? You do a lot of throttle work in the a10, especially if you are down in the mud doing pop ups and strafing/bombing runs. Don't forget the more natural buttons and switches that will be on the HOTAS. Forget learning keybinds because you'll actually have the real button/switch on the unit.

 

So, for the a10, I would probably go with the HOTAS first. See if you think you'll want to use a head tracker with it. You can test with freetrack of course. You can't really test a HOTAS with your current joystick though. Remember, if you do get the TM HOTAS, you'll need some rudder pedals, or map a key (two keys) on the keyboard for rudder control.

[BoneDust]

Well, if I had to choose I'd say TIR.

[ZQuickSilverZ]

Hello friend I think I have the perfect solution for you.

 

First the HOTAS

http://www.amazon.com/Thrustmaster-T-Flight-Hotas-X/dp/B001CXYMFS

The stick and throttle can be split into two units. Every review I have read of this product has been excellent

 

Second get the FreeTrack Software

http://free-track.net/

 

Third the TrackIR Proclip

http://www.naturalpoint.com/trackir/02-products/product-TrackClip-PRO.html

This gives you the same LED set up as someone using TrackIR

 

Total Cost

$82.73

 

Provided you already have a webcam you can have it all for under 100 dollars.

 

Also consider voice control software. I suggest Game Commander 2.

 

Your welcome.

Edited October 20, 2010 by ZQuickSilverZ

[Succellus]

Hello friend I think I have the perfect solution for you.

 

First the HOTAS

http://www.amazon.com/Thrustmaster-T-Flight-Hotas-X/dp/B001CXYMFS

The stick and throttle can be split into two units. Every review I have read of this product has been excellent

 

Second get the FreeTrack Software

http://free-track.net/

 

Third the TrackIR Proclip

http://www.naturalpoint.com/trackir/02-products/product-TrackClip-PRO.html

This gives you the same LED set up as someone using TrackIR

 

Total Cost

$82.73

 

Provided you already have a webcam you can have it all for under 100 dollars.

 

Also consider voice control software. I suggest Game Commander 2.

 

Your welcome.

 

 

GC2 is a pain to find, its discontinued the company floundered. You can only find it at wares with high virus infection probability. but if you wan t it PM me.

Among the payd ones i don t know who worth what ....

[ZQuickSilverZ]

Say2Play would be my second choice. And I have tried over 5 differrent programs. I have a "cracked" version of GC2. I tried to buy a retail copy of it but, as you already know, they went out of business.

Edited October 23, 2010 by ZQuickSilverZ