One week with DCS Warthog, TM HOTAS and TrackIR5

[dr_After]

So it's been a week with DCS Warthog, TM HOTAS and TrackIR5.

 

And my first conclusion after this time is: those products should really be sold as a bundle :D I cannot imagine how hard it can be to change SOI, use DMS and TMS without this Thrustmaster beautiful gear.

 

And it is the most smooth joystick I ever had. Landing and level turning was never easier :)

 

And TrackIR - although it was quite strange feeling at first, after a bit of tweaking really helps in making deep turns on targets and gaining SA.

 

DCS + TM + TrackIR = perfect solution and flying comfort :)

 

After a week I managed to accomplish:

- ramp start

- take off and landing (although without TACAN and ILS)

- succesfully applying Mavericks, MK-82, Mk82Air with low drag, GBU 12 and GBU 38, using CCIP and CCRP modes, with Auto and manual laser modes.

- basics of CMS

 

Still a lot of learning - especially I must learn more about navigation, ILS and TACAN approach, communications and after that - combat tactics and maneuveres :)

 

Wholla lotta fun! :D

[skouras]

nice thread:)

yeap TMwarthog is a must

as for the TRACKIR never had it

i have to buy it sometime in the future;)

[Konrad Friedrich]

Welcome to the addiction :D

 

Say goodbye to friends and family, they'll hardly see you for a while...

 

 

Little tip to enhance your TiR experience:

Check out PeterP's view settings.

They work great, because they simulate an 'artificial neck':

http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=96116

First post, see attachment at the bottom.

You'll love it. It feels much more realistic.

 

You can try to tweak the standard 'smooth' TiR profile to your needs.

Works quite good with Peter's *.lua file.

 

Have fun!

 

Regards

Konrad

Edited March 17, 2013 by Konrad Friedrich

[WildBillKelsoe]

Want to dive more? Read this book: A-10s over Kosovo. Much tactics to be learned from that book.

[159th_Falcon]

At least you know the important part already.

"Putting Warheads to Foreheads!"

 

Great going and on to countless hours more fun.:joystick:

[oceanoftimeGER]

Can't agree with you more, After! The perfect combination indeed! :)

[Phantom88]

Congrats,Those are fantastic accomplishments in one week:thumbup:

 

**I would add Good Quality Rudder Pedals also**

[Hamblue]

nice thread:)

yeap TMwarthog is a must

as for the TRACKIR never had it

i have to buy it sometime in the future;)

Skouras

Trakir is even a bigger must than the Warthog.

There's no time like today!!!

Imagine driving a car and not being able to look around freely. That's the difference when using trackir.

 

dr_after. Welcome to the communnity. Looks like you're making quick progress. The addiction has begun. Hang a picture of your wife or significant other next to the monitor so you remember what she looks like. :pilotfly::joystick:

[dr_After]

Thanks for a warm welcome :) I do a lot of reading / flying last days, it's fun.

 

Rudder pedals? Yes, definetely, soon.

[buedi]

I won´t consider Pedals a must when you fly the A-10 and rarely do crosswind landings. For taxiing on the ground, the yx (zx, depending on your Keyboard Layout) is enough.

The best addition after the TM Warthog for me were the Cougar MFDs strapped on to a 2nd monitor.

 

I am tempted to buy a TrackIR too, but it´s far too expensive for my taste. I am patient and will wait until the Oculus Rift apperas. I assume that it can shake up the very small market for Headtracking devices a little bit and I hope for a price drop for the TrackIR. Let´s wait and see.

[Konrad Friedrich]

I won´t consider Pedals a must when you fly the A-10 and rarely do crosswind landings. For taxiing on the ground, the yx (zx, depending on your Keyboard Layout) is enough.

The best addition after the TM Warthog for me were the Cougar MFDs strapped on to a 2nd monitor.

 

I am tempted to buy a TrackIR too, but it´s far too expensive for my taste. I am patient and will wait until the Oculus Rift apperas. I assume that it can shake up the very small market for Headtracking devices a little bit and I hope for a price drop for the TrackIR. Let´s wait and see.

 

You may be right that rudder pedals can't be considered as a must..

But I personally can't think of flying without my trusted simpeds..

The Cougar MFD's are a great addition, yep.

 

I don't know if I would like the Oculus Rift, because you actually can't see your MFD's when flying...

 

You may bridge the waiting for the OR by checking out 'FaceTrackNoIR'.

Good thing is that you just need a webcam.

I'd check it out. Head tracking adds intensity and immersion.:joystick:

[buedi]

You may be right that rudder pedals can't be considered as a must..

But I personally can't think of flying without my trusted simpeds..

The Cougar MFD's are a great addition, yep.

 

I don't know if I would like the Oculus Rift, because you actually can't see your MFD's when flying...

 

You may bridge the waiting for the OR by checking out 'FaceTrackNoIR'.

Good thing is that you just need a webcam.

I'd check it out. Head tracking adds intensity and immersion.:joystick:

 

Sure, I won´t throw my pedals away. If you have already one it´s great. I just meant that if you fly the A-10 alone and nothing else pedals are not 1st priority because of all the SAS stuff (or whatever it is called) you rarely miss them when flying.

 

I did not meant the Oculus Rift to use it with a Flight Simulator. What I meant is, that TrackIR is currently the only one selling a Headtracker. With the Oculus Rift arriving (and if it´s really "only" 300USD as the DevKit is), then it might have a big impact on the amount of TrackIRs they will sell in the future and may adjust their prices a little bit downwards. That´s like playing with money on the Wallstreet of course, but I´m a patient man and I can wait. I don´t really miss a Headtracking device that much right now and I played around with it some time ago with LEDs, a WiiMote and FreeTrack with Live for Speed and I think Grand Prix Legends back then. I was not able to control the car at all with the Head Movement, but this might be different in a plane of course.

 

Currently I have too much to do to learn all the systems in the A-10C and after that the same for the KA-50, so I have plenty of time left until I think I´m that good that I will benefit from a Headtracker (although it´s really tempting to get one of course).

 

Edit: About Facetrack Noir. I don´t have a Webcam at all and after playing with Freetrack for a while with Hardware I had anyway, I think I´ll wait for a good opportunity to buy a TrackIR instead of shelling out money for additional Hardware I don´t really need. But thanks for the advise :-)

[NhiTrac]

Can I just chime in and say that TrackIR is an absolute MUST with any flight sim. Hell I even find it useful in FPS such as the wonderful ARMA series.

 

And its a true saying, once you go TrackIR, you can't go back. Give it a go, you'll wonder how you've been flying without it for all these time.

[pii]

So it's been a week with DCS Warthog, TM HOTAS and TrackIR5.

 

And my first conclusion after this time is: those products should really be sold as a bundle :D I cannot imagine how hard it can be to change SOI, use DMS and TMS without this Thrustmaster beautiful gear.

 

And it is the most smooth joystick I ever had. Landing and level turning was never easier :)

 

And TrackIR - although it was quite strange feeling at first, after a bit of tweaking really helps in making deep turns on targets and gaining SA.

 

DCS + TM + TrackIR = perfect solution and flying comfort :)

 

After a week I managed to accomplish:

- ramp start

- take off and landing (although without TACAN and ILS)

- succesfully applying Mavericks, MK-82, Mk82Air with low drag, GBU 12 and GBU 38, using CCIP and CCRP modes, with Auto and manual laser modes.

- basics of CMS

 

Still a lot of learning - especially I must learn more about navigation, ILS and TACAN approach, communications and after that - combat tactics and maneuveres :)

 

Wholla lotta fun! :D

 

I'd like to add

DCS + TM + TrackIR + 3 monitors = perfect solution and flying comfort

 

I just came back to flight sims after seeing all the cool stuff people were doing these days with DCS products on YouTube. Bought me a WH HOTAS and 2 more monitors, already had TIR, every DCS module and I've been learning a-10c.

 

All Ive done is try to complete the first instant action mission and I've gone from WTF how do I (insert any thing here) to learning all the weapons and most systems. I have yet to complete the mission because I still haven't learned how to avoid missiles and those pesky bullets but I'm getting there. My landings are perfect though....Fly over runway hit eject! I didn't say my plane lands perfectly:music_whistling:

 

Anyways throw a couple more monitors on your setup you won't regret it.

Oh and get Helios.

 

Here's a tip: Learn how to use "active Pause" it's a great way to hang in the air and have all the time in the world to push buttons, work systems and just plain see how things work as you read the manual.

[pii]

The best addition after the TM Warthog for me were the Cougar MFDs strapped on to a 2nd monitor.

 

 

And if you don't want to strap hardware to your monitor (nothing wrong with it) or don't sit close enough to push the buttons get Helios and place mouse click-able MCFD were you would "strap on" real MCFD's or any place on your monitor/s you like.

 

When I'm learning something I have a config that has the MCFD's on my outer monitors and they're like 10inch x 10 inch VERY EASY TO READ. For missions I move them to inside bottom corner of the outer monitors and make them a little larger then the normal MCFD. With them like that I rarely have to look down during an attack. DCS and Helios is very flexible.

 

Oh and if you don't go get Tir I'm afraid we're going to have to ask you to surrender your Flight Simmers Card.:music_whistling:

Edited March 18, 2013 by pii

[KillerSam]

I would recommend you spend a little bit more money and pick up a copy of this:

 

http://www.lulu.com/gb/en/shop/eagle-dynamics/dcs-a-10c-warthog-manual/paperback/product-20469424.html

 

It's a really nice reference book to have next to you when flying :D

 

671 pages (same as the pdf you get with the game, but printed)

 

pic of it (printed) here:

[pii]

I would recommend you spend a little bit more money and pick up a copy of this:

 

http://www.lulu.com/gb/en/shop/eagle-dynamics/dcs-a-10c-warthog-manual/paperback/product-20469424.html

 

It's a really nice reference book to have next to you when flying :D

 

671 pages (same as the pdf you get with the game, but printed)

 

pic of it (printed) here:

 

I can't believe ED never offered a printed manual.

[schkorpio]

tbh honest I havent found that manual to be useful, despite its giant size it doesn't explain things enough for my liking - mostly it tells me to do things but without telling me why I'm doing it, I guess the the book would be super huge then. But i also find this a little of "why am i doing it this way" lacking in the training missions.

I've found the user made videos are MUCH more informative.

 

 

Yes TrackIR is a must - infact once you get used to it you'll try to turn your head when you watch videos haha

[pii]

tbh honest I havent found that manual to be useful, despite its giant size it doesn't explain things enough for my liking - mostly it tells me to do things but without telling me why I'm doing it, I guess the the book would be super huge then. But i also find this a little of "why am i doing it this way" lacking in the training missions.

I've found the user made videos are MUCH more informative.

 

 

Yes TrackIR is a must - infact once you get used to it you'll try to turn your head when you watch videos haha

 

Isn't it just a copy of the PDF that comes with the sim? Yeah a strategy type book would e nice though

[Cedaway]

nice thread:)

yeap TMwarthog is a must

as for the TRACKIR never had it

i have to buy it sometime in the future;)

 

TrackIR or FacetrackNoIR are great plus. It improve greatly immersion and ease.

I recommand it :thumbup:

[LcSummers]

Yeah,

 

i have the Warthog TM 3 weeks and its a must have.

 

I do not understand how painfully i managed everything without that masterpiece. Its much much easier and enjoyable with the Warthog. I dont want to miss it again.

 

TR 5 great thing, using it more than 3 years.

 

The only problem for me are the rudder pedals. I am searching for something may be Saitek Combat or Pro, dont know wich, i know there are some from German manufactures but they cost nearly 300 Euros.

 

I have the old pedals from the G940 but i dont like them, often very hard to contol when taxiing. If i take of my feet too fast from the pedals, they are BOUNCING to the right or even when i am landing. That annoys me.

 

So dont know wich pedals are the best choice cause i heard problems with the SAITEK pedals too.

 

Any suggestions. (Please no CH, they are too ugly and too narrow)

 

S!

Edited March 19, 2013 by LcSummers

[Manuel]

Saitek Pro pedals are just fine

[badger66]

Yep, I started A-10C with a Saitek X52Pro ..... , which was a great stick , then landed out for the Tir5 . The feeling now is that I couldn't possibly do without this clever bit of kit ..... then added the TM Warthog which is in my opinion the bees knees ..... just need combat pedals now :)

 

Yes , this combo is excellent in my opinion .

[buedi]

And if you don't want to strap hardware to your monitor (nothing wrong with it) or don't sit close enough to push the buttons get Helios and place mouse click-able MCFD were you would "strap on" real MCFD's or any place on your monitor/s you like.

 

[...]

 

Oh and if you don't go get Tir I'm afraid we're going to have to ask you to surrender your Flight Simmers Card.:music_whistling:

 

I must admit that I thought about buying a Touch Screen Monitor for Helios for a fraction of a time. But I find them too expensive and I hate using the Touch Screens of Smartphones too. Maybe I should notice that I´m a very "tactile" guy writing on Cherry G-3000s, IBM Model Ms and Model Fs distributed on all the PCs I use at work and at home. And since I got a 2nd monitor for free, the MFD Cougar Route was the way to go for me, with some additional exported Panels.

 

But it´s great that we have so many options in this niche market of Flight Sims that everyone can build what he´s comfortable with. It amazes me how much variation and option we have, although everyone is claiming that the Flight Sim Market is a small one (but maybe a market where people are willing to spend money on).

 

And I will get a Headtracker sooner or later, I´m just not willing to shell out that much money for it. I know I know... once you have it you don´t care for the money (I have a TM Warthog, so I think I know how it feels before and after buying something expensive for an armchair hobby) :music_whistling:

[MadTommy]

TM Warthog is just too expensive!

 

x52pro is sufficient.. and a 1/3 of the price.