rudder pedals.... worth the trouble?

[Kronos]

Creamo - I use the same setup.  I've not had the rudder pedals stop working, however, I have noticed that the X45 will dump randomly.  Doesn't happen very often, but I completely loose my profile, and the joystick hat goes haywire.  Have to restart the comp to fix it.  Is this similar to what your getting?

[Creamo]

Not exactly.

Ive been flying and my rudder pedals just go away. In troubleshooting, I try to stay out of autopilot at most times, putting input into the pedals. Its worked so far. They simply "go to sleep" it seems if not used, Im guessing anyway. Certainly if I leave my computer for awhile, the CH Pedals never are working after a time. I just have to unplug and replug them in. This is a constant.

The Saitek has just started doing this, but it's about my 3 month reformat time and all things are getting screwed up, so in this case who knows. Its been more frequent, and frustrating.

[Eagler]

Originally posted by Kronos
Eagler - Isn't that the default setting?  I thought u were supposed to stagger  them up..  How much of a difference does it make do you think?

my understanding was that USB jstick/peds didn't need any help and with these settings what you see is what you get - a one to one ratio to your input and its response

works ok for me, used for years, anything else seems sloppy and with delay

[Eagler]

Originally posted by Creamo
Not exactly.

Ive been flying and my rudder pedals just go away. In troubleshooting, I try to stay out of autopilot at most times, putting input into the pedals. Its worked so far. They simply "go to sleep" it seems if not used, Im guessing anyway. Certainly if I leave my computer for awhile, the CH Pedals never are working after a time. I just have to unplug and replug them in. This is a constant.

The Saitek has just started doing this, but it's about my 3 month reformat time and all things are getting screwed up, so in this case who knows. Its been more frequent, and frustrating.

try a powered USB hub - had weirdness with peds before hooking up my Belkin USB hub ( @$15 at best buy)

[Fariz]

Pedals are great. They are amazing. They add a tons into your flying and into immertion. It takes quite long time to get used to them specially after twisty stick, but when you do, using them is very natural and easy.

[Ack-Ack]

Originally posted by ebgb
I say nix the pedals, maybe.  You really need to see what's best for you.  Bottom line is hit percentage and control of the nose in close.  How well are you able to throw the shot and control it?

I work on two fundamental principles.  First, rudders are only for the runway.  If you have to use them in a shot - you pooched the
setup and are trying to save it.  Second - see the first.

Rudders aren't used for aiming.  I myself use the rudders to aid in turning by using them to roll into my turns and in some cases to control my speed in dives by using opposite rudder to increase drag.  

Having started off in flight sims using a twisty stick, all I can say is that rudder pedals are leaps and bounds better than any twisty stick rudder system.


ack-ack

[Eagler]

rudders are sometimes used for aiming .. just have to compensate for yaw

sometimes its the only way to get nose around fast enough to attempt a snap shot

[Fariz]

Originally posted by Ack-Ack
Rudders aren't used for aiming.
ack-ack

[ebgb]

"rudders aren't used for aiming"

Well that is sort of what I was saying -

If you have to use the rudder to shoot, you've pooched your
approach.  My point - don't use the rudder, use ACM's instead.
Still you need a bit of rudder to strafe ground targets, when
playing chicken in a HO attack, and for snapshots.

I would not select a rudder system purely for the aesthetics of flight - coordinated flight and all, I'd rather have a rig that shoots good (no nose bounce).

[DrDea]

Used a sidewinder from the time I tried AW till when I started AH.After about 6 months of AH my Sidewinder died and with recomendations from the guys in the squad I broke down and bought the CH Fighterstick and Pro pedals.Both USB.  I'll NEVER fly withput rudders again.It was a huge diffrence.  Ran me about 200$ delivered for the pair

[SKurj]

I use pedals, wouldn't go back!

When I first started AH I was using some TM racing pedals, and unfortunately the option to invert the axis didn't exist back then so...

Push right pedal nose goes left, push left pedal nose goes right.

Now I use CH pro pedals, and I invert the axis.  It feels natural to me, of course I've been doin it this way for a long time.


SKurj

[Rutilant]

ACMs arent the end all, be all solution for everything.. Rudders are for aiming, unless you always..

A: have absolute precision in pointing your nose blind..

or B: do a 90* roll, turn a couple of degrees, then roll back 90* to correct the yaw..

See sig line 1

[g00b]

1st off, they approximate the feel of flying in real life much better than a twisty stick. 'specially the ones with toe brakes. Great for aerobatics like snap rolls, wingovers, etc...

2nd, you really want to de-couple the rudder from the joystick, as it is almost impossible to get just rudder action without influencing your other control axis. Go into the joystick setup in AH and try to turn a twisty stick without moving the other axis, you'll see what I mean.

3rd, immersiveness. Similar to #1, some great "rudder pedal moments" include being able to give your plane a quick blast of throttle and pivot right around to get on and off the re-arm pad , and going HO against a buff formation and slewing sideways at the last second to rake em from stem to stern

[Skorpyon]

Goob, glad you said, it, I was reading on and on, and no one else seemed to realize that.  Twisty stick= unintentional rudder use occasionally, and I would imagine even the best pilot would experience this slightly, probably without noticing.  Ya gotta figure, even the smallest amount of unintentional sideslip bleeds E and speed, which after a few turns in a fight adds up pretty quickly.  Totally independent controls are definitely better.

and Rutilant... you forgot one...

Rudders are for aiming, unless you always..

C)  believe that your opponent will only do what you expect him to.  Slightly feathering the rudders as needed can help with the slightest gunsight correction when the other guy zigs instead of zags, etc.  But I guess I'm just one of those unskilled dweebs that enemys refuse to fly straight for, and who can't make the perfect setup.  

All flight controls are integral to any fight.  Rudders can be invaluable as part of ACM.   I don't see how the two can be separated.  I would defy the best "stick" around to either lock his twisty stick axis, or keep his feet off the pedals, and see what happens to his overall success.  A good pilot could compensate pretty well I'm sure, but the rudders are too useful to discount them so easily.  As far as using rudders to aim meaning you have blown your setup, I suppose the alternative is to disengage and try again for the "perfect" setup?  uh huh... IMO, pedals are the only way to go.  

Creamo, I would second the powered USB hub suggestion.  X45 and CH pedals here, never any "drop out" problems... though the pedals are older gameport ones, but the X45 is plugged in to the hub.  Hope it helps.

[Wanker]

I highly recommend rudder pedals. Especially the CH Pro Pedals USB. The toe brakes on them come in very handy for turning and/or stopping on the runway. It's very immersive, too. Also a great place to rest your feet when you're not using them.

However, it is true that you won't be able to practicce your yoga while using them, LOL!