life after HOTAS

[BigBANGtheory]

Once one is up and running with a HOTAS in your opinion what is next most important I guess in terms of value/immersion:

 

1. Head tracking e.g. TrackIR

2. Rudder pedals

3. TM Cougar MFD (with some display device e.g. 2nd monitor)

4. External panel display

5. Multi screen graphics display

6. Other

 

Thanks in advance for your contibutions (and yes I tried the search button option, but Im not going to keep trying so there :P)

[Cali]

TrackIR for sure, I wouldn't fly without mine.

[MTFDarkEagle]

TrackIR!!!

[xXstubbifiedXx]

Definitely TrackIR. I've tried flying without it for yucks, but find myself turning still my head instead of my HAT switch, hehe.

 

I've had the Cougar MFD's for about a week now and I can't imagine going without them either. I have them split out onto my 2nd monitor, which is mounted below my main (where Hawgtouch will fill out, when it's Steam compatible!).

[MustangSally]

As above..TrackIR has made flying so much better!

[tjhowse]

Remember if you're not afraid of perfboard and a soldering iron you can whip up a perfectly functional head-tracking system out of a wiimote (or any other webcam) and Freetrack: http://www.free-track.net/ .

 

Here's a video showing off my setup:

. I use this and a TM Warthog, it's awesome.

[Succellus]

Head tracking device. I use Track IR.

[Scarecrow]

To my mind I'd say get peddles and cheap headtracking but once you have the money get TIR it's a neccesity. Everything else kinda falls to your own personal taste, I have the TM MFD's on a second moniter but could easily fly without them but no peddles or TIR = no fly.

[fael097]

guess i'll never know until i test track ir.

 

i assembled a perfect clip for free track - it sucks in game.

then i bought a ps3 eyecam for the fps, used facetracknoir - also sucks.

 

seriously, its impossible to use, head will never stop, you will never be able to click switches efficiently, its the most lame thing ive ever seen. the slght, but constant head movement, even when your heading is standing still, is more annoying than anything. free face trackings bothers me instead of helping. how can track ir be so different?

[LawnDart]

Once one is up and running with a HOTAS in your opinion what is next most important I guess in terms of value/immersion:

 

1. Head tracking e.g. TrackIR

2. Rudder pedals

3. TM Cougar MFD (with some display device e.g. 2nd monitor)

4. External panel display

5. Multi screen graphics display

6. Other

 

Thanks in advance for your contibutions (and yes I tried the search button option, but Im not going to keep trying so there :P)

 

I was ready to chime in an say TIR, but noticed you put rudder pedals on the list...

 

Let me put it this way: If you have a HOTAS, but no rudders... I'd definitely go for rudders first before anything else! It's very immersive as it's part of how you control your airplane! :D

[BigBANGtheory]

Thanks for the advice gents, I guess having the HOTAS means I am comitted to pedals and Headtracking now, though I'll probably take one step at a time.

[MackTheKnight]

I would go pedals first, track-ir second...

 

Love the name, btw... and the show. =D

[derelor]

Track-IR first, pedals second...

[hassata]

TIR

[shu77]

TIR definitely. Personally after that I prefer the MFDs and then pedals, though a 24" screen needs to go in there somewhere too I think.

[tjhowse]

guess i'll never know until i test track ir.

 

i assembled a perfect clip for free track - it sucks in game.

then i bought a ps3 eyecam for the fps, used facetracknoir - also sucks.

 

seriously, its impossible to use, head will never stop, you will never be able to click switches efficiently, its the most lame thing ive ever seen.

 

It's probably a matter of tuning your settings. If it's too jumpy try bumping up the average a bit. Also note that if you have your camera (wiimote, ps3eye, whatever) mounted on top of your monitor and your desk or monitor wobbles a bit, you're going to see jitter ingame. This is true of any head tracker.

 

Here are my settings for my wiimote setup:

 

Profile tab:

Yaw Sens: 1.3

Pitch Sens: 1.4

Roll Sens: 1.5

X Sens: 1.0

Y Sens: 0.5

Z Sens: 0.1

 

Smoothing at 50 on all.

 

Advanced tab:

Zoom Smoothing Multiplier: 1

Dynamic Smoothing Reduction: 3

Average: 1%

 

Curves:

 

Make sure you adjust the point model parameters on the model tab to the dimensions of your clip. I made a 3-point-clip with dimensions 60/60/80/80. I have the model position settings set to pretty much zero.

[Cali]

Track-IR first, pedals second...

 

That's the way I would go also, TrackIR is a must before pedals.

[S77th-konkussion]

Track, then pedals..

[LawnDart]

Maybe it's just the real pilot in me screaming peds first, but I'm not gonna argue that TIR is essential! ;)

[WynnTTr]

What HOTAS you got? If it comes with a twist stick then use that for rudder - still perfectly flyable even for aircraft where rudders are more essential, eg, BS and other helis. Get TrackIR.

 

If it's a fixed stick with no twist then still get TrackIR and map rudder to a slider/button on your HOTAS.

Why? Nothing will beat the immersion factor of TrackIR.

[BigBANGtheory]

What HOTAS you got? If it comes with a twist stick then use that for rudder - still perfectly flyable even for aircraft where rudders are more essential, eg, BS and other helis. Get TrackIR.

 

If it's a fixed stick with no twist then still get TrackIR and map rudder to a slider/button on your HOTAS.

Why? Nothing will beat the immersion factor of TrackIR.

 

Yeah its a Warthog with no twist and I tried the slider mapping on the throttle (which is good advice btw) but couldn't get on with it. I think the thing is the HOTAS Warthog is so good that dropping back to the keyboard/mouse or slider control feels so wrong for me atleast :joystick:

 

I dunno maybe I'm turning into a potential pit builder but having weighed up the pros and cons (and what I think is missing for me at this stage) I have purchased the Saitek Pro Combat Pedals over TrackIR.

 

Hopefully I made a wise choice on the pedals/product, and my mind is open to TrackIR.

 

One thing that I would really like to figure out is how to stop using the keyboard and mouse all together without resorting to touchscreen monitors, I think TrackIR is part of the solution especially as I want to map the collie hat back to TRIM. Maybe thats too much or I havent thought it through I guess at the end of the day the real pilot takes their hands off the stick and throttle to do things :pilotfly:

[Shez]

Without building a full pit or multiple touch screens I don't think you are going to get out of using your mouse. Track IR/head tracking and clicking switches in the pit is no big deal. I'd much rather have a fully functioning cockpit but money, space, and time just aren't there for it.

[Succellus]

IF you ve bought a warthog, then i m sorry for you, let me annouce the bad new:

Your in for a pit build.

It may not be a full pit 110% realism like some awesomely addicted are doing, screaming heretic when a panel is 1/4 of an inch too larger or too small.

But it will be a "specialized local for diverse kind of flight simulation".

I have the track ir, the warthog and the pedals and next month i ll start my GPC (General Purpose cockpit). The intent is to have a confy place where the controls are at the right place. A place that will serve primarily for flying anything i wish, but also be confy for any game, and any kind of work i must do on the PC.

 

So, i m sorry to say but under CPTS (Constant pressure and temperature settings) you ll build a pit, you re already hooked.

 

Now back to topic...Its hard to say.

If you never used rudders before they won t miss them that much, just because, well, you never used them.

And TBH they are really more usefull for WW1 & 2 than modern planes. That said, once you have them and forced yourself to use them to integrate controls, its hard to fly without, but its not a deal breaker.

 

Now TIR is the same, but sincerely flying without TIR is a game breaker, i just can t pan around anymore. Before TIR it was just an annoyance, after its become "no go" rule, it just plainly piss me.

But again i lived much more longer without TIR than Without Rudders.

 

So i can treally answer you. But maybe the rudders are first, because as someone sayd its a part of the plane controls.

 

PS: Check the Flight sim you play, compatibility with TIR & rudders may be a determining factor for your enjoyment.

Edited May 17, 2011 by Succellus

[Succellus]

Without building a full pit or multiple touch screens I don't think you are going to get out of using your mouse. Track IR/head tracking and clicking switches in the pit is no big deal. I'd much rather have a fully functioning cockpit but money, space, and time just aren't there for it.

 

Fully workable pit is pain a PITA and PITW(wallet) to have, but a generic pit ain t that PITA or PITW, just think what you need the computer for, and plan it well for your needs.

[Lucky]

I'm no expert and my RL flying was limited to my younger days when I had a student pilots license. I find that in modern jet sims I only use rudders for take off and landing. Other then that my feet are on the floor. TrackIR is probably the best accessory, 2nd only to the joystick.