Author Topic: Joysticks (Read 896 times)

Mighty1 · « **Reply #45 on:** March 12, 2002, 03:19:51 PM »

J_A_B I have to disagree with you on the hat switch comment. I don't fly right now mainly because I have a new PC with XP on it so my CH throttle's hats don't work. I just can't fly without all the views I had before.

I have always found the less I touch or look at the keyboard the better off I am.

Wilbus · « **Reply #46 on:** March 12, 2002, 03:32:52 PM »

Jab, you're very right with the first thing, the stiffer the better, the "longer" movement the better. BUT HAT gives you SOO much more control, I couldn't live without my hat (and yes I flew without hat for 3 years before I went to HAT) so I know what I am talking about.

HAT is GRRREAT

SKurj · « **Reply #47 on:** March 12, 2002, 03:36:05 PM »

Hmmm Yessum... keyboard for views is CRRRRRAP IMO +)

I won't buy a stick without an 8 way hat.
I use keyboard for trims (CT 98% to the time anyways) and thats about it.

A decent 8way hat switch is a must for me. I use the saitek cyborg and I can manipulate the hat and with the same thumb at the same time use 2 of the 3 thumb buttons (1 at a time)

All the while with my other hand free to controll throttle, flaps, shift button(up view modifier) and whatever else i feel like mapping to buttons.
Still have 3 buttons i don't use in fighters.

SKurj

FDisk · « **Reply #48 on:** March 12, 2002, 03:36:07 PM »

Hey J_A_B,

Wrong, wrong and wrong. Sorry.

I bought my logitech Digital 3d extreme about a week ago. I've not trippled my kills in H2H and doubled in MA. The hat switch is gods gift to man by freeing up you hand on the keyboard you are thinking more about the fight (or run in my case) than where your hands are on the keyboard. I get ALOT more control with both hands on the stick.

As soon as you get over just reacting to situations and begin thinking and planning what you are doing you can begin to stop jerking the joystick around to avoid other planes and get a situational awareness. You don't need a long pull or a hardened stick unless you have REALLY BIG FOREARMS!

The twisty stick is a neat feature as long as you dead band it enough so your not constantly swinging around and crashing.

J_A_B · « **Reply #49 on:** March 12, 2002, 04:00:02 PM »

Just curious; what keyboard settings are you guys using for views that make the HAT so much better?

The number pad I presume? If that's the case I agree 100% that the HAT is vastly better than the number pad. The number pad is easy to learn, but it's totally miserable for views. Whoever thought of using it in flightsims ranks right up there with the guys who invented call waiting and cell phones.

My views are set up using G (foreward), H (left), J (Down), K (Up), L (Right), M (Back). This setup is odd and difficult to learn compared to the number pad, but it is also highly effective--so much so that I actually went to using this rather than my HAT. The only other thing I really use during a fight is flaps and occasionally throttle; it takes just a fraction of a second to move the throttle (and I can reach it with my thumb anyway) and I don't need to take my hand off the view keys to work the flaps. I have all head positions pre-mapped so I don't need to "move my head" during a fight. "G" is used both for getting foreward angle views and as an alternate foreward view. A set of rudder pedals would be nice, but I don't like twisty sticks.

As for my stick, I have 9 buttons on it but only use 4--FIREBOTH, FIREPRIMARY, ZOOM, TOGGLEGEAR

All opinion, just offering my own viewpoint

"As soon as you get over just reacting to situations and begin thinking and planning what you are doing you can begin to stop jerking the joystick around to avoid other planes and get a situational awareness. "

FDisk, I'm not following that line of thinking; are you suggesting that having a preference for more stick pull means I have to suck and/or be a newbie? How long have YOU been playing online flightsims?

J_A_B

SKurj · « **Reply #50 on:** March 12, 2002, 04:19:13 PM »

Well JAB, the HAT requires 1 thumb never lifted. On the same hand, 3 buttons under the thumb, of which only one is awkward when using views at the same time, but its a fire button anyways, changing views while gunning is silly g +)

On other hand

thumb controls flaps (1 up , 1 down)
my finger is my UP view modifier, while pinky and friend work the throttle.
My fingers are basically resting on the buttons i need at anytime while flyin.

This fall perhaps I will upgrade to a HOTAS with luck.

The beauty of the HAT is that left = left i mean a physical movement of the switch to the left results in looking left. It took several minutes to adjust to my first hat switch just based on its instinctiveness(?)

So.. I am able to do more with my other hand +Q (non-ah related)

SKurj

krazyhorse · « **Reply #51 on:** March 12, 2002, 04:50:27 PM »

personally jab i like less resistance on my stick,that just me, also my stick is not on the desk as most are. mine is, excuse me , between my legs, i prefer it this way, the only thing i use the keyboard for is text, every thing else i need is on my stick throttle combo, i only posted the setting because another saitek x45 owner was interested in what i was running for my setup. my old stick was a logitech wingman ex 3d i still miss my twisty rudder on it, however i have started getting use to the rudder on my throttle, also i have way more views on my top hat, and seeing as i spend most of my time flying looking out my 6 that helps