Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => Hardware and Software => Topic started by: SOB on May 09, 2002, 05:39:40 AM
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Got it today via UPS from Flight Sim Central; a hefty sucker weighing in at 18lbs between the stick and throttle. So far I'm enjoying 'em, here's the goods and bads (mostly F22 vs. Cougar, really)...
Good:
- Metal, metal & more metal. Nearly everything on it is made of metal, including the switch caps and hats. Makes it feel solid.
- Switches have a nice positive feeling...no mushiness that could sometimes be found on the F22/FLCS. Trigger has an improved feel over F22/FLCS too.
- Hat switches have a longer throw to 'em than the F22/FLCS, and feel incredible. They really did a nice job with these.
- Throttle has adjustible detents, and I adjusted mine off :) I don't like 'em for WWII sims, and AH is pretty much it.
- Mouse stick on throttle is much more ergonomic than mouse stick on TQS.
- Programming is a breeze, with Fox Two software (GUI) included with the stick, or for anyone experienced programming old TM gear (me), they've kept the syntax mostly the same, with only a few minor changes.
- Finish is a nice matte black with white lettering on it like the real deal in the F16. F22 looks just as nice to me tho'.
- Handle screws off of stick, making it possible to switch with future handles. Not that I'd buy another handle (and they're just vapor-ware at this point anyway), but it's just pretty cool to pull the thing off.
Bad:
- Movement doesn't feel as smooth as the F22. The F22 was shorter from the pivot points to the top of the handle, had a much lighter handle made of glass injected nylon and may have had stiffer springs (definitely felt stiffer, but may have been because of first two factors). It was very stiff, from beginning of movement to end. The Cougar stick is noticeably less stiff, but more importantly, seems to give a good amount of resistance at the start of movement, and then quickly seems to get looser once it's off from center. This can really easily lead to overcontrol of your aireoplane. Probably a result of the tension of the springs and the weight of the handle. I'll have to come back to this one in a couple of weeks tho', as it may just be me...some people are actually complaining that the springs in the Cougar are too stiff!
Update: I'm getting used to the lighter feel of it, although I'd still like some stiffer springs :)
- Small amount of play in the Y-axis and tiny amount in the X-axis. Others have reported more, some have reported none. As mine is (3mm in Y, 1 in X), it's not really noticeable when you're flying, just when you're sitting there staring at it and being all critical like.
- Throttle detents had a very "tingy", almost scraping sound. Could probably be fixed with a couple of neoprene washers (setup is metal spring between metal base and metal detent piece), but since I was removing mine, I didn't really care.
- Although Mouse stick is much better than TQS, the directional movement is very counter-intuitive. In the TQS, up was up, down was down, etc. On the Cougar, down is just a little bit down and mostly forward...I'll have to consult the manual, as maybe there's a software adjustment for this. **edit** Just noticed...the directional setup of the mouse stick on the Cougar throttle is true when the throttle is in it's full forward position (moves in an arch), versus the TQS, which was true when at it's full back position.
All in all, it was well worth the $279 I spent on it, and I'll be keeping it. I flew with it a few hours tonight and am getting used to the movement, tho' I'm stalling all over the place. I'm looking forward to doing a lot more flying with it. Definitely a top notch piece of equipment.
I'll attach my file if anyone wants to take a look at it.
SOB
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The axis on the stick gets smoother with use I've found. The small play on my stick is the opposite to what you have, about 3mm on the X axis and 1mm on the Y axis, either way nothing as bad as the Saitek, MS or CH sticks I've had. Downloaded your profile, will take a look when I get home from work, I have created one as well which you can find here (http://cougar.frugalsworld.com/files/RevvinAces_High_TMCougar.zip)
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SOB:
Interesting profile. One question, though. For the view keys, why did you use two logic variables to represent S3 and NOT S3, rather than just using /I and /O? Is there a "sticking" (or some other) problem using /I and /O that is alleviated by your approach? I get my Cougar tomorrow, and I'm just trying to learn as much as I can before I sit down to write my profile! Thanks!
- JNOV
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Thanks for the profiles SOB and Revvin. I just got shipping notice from the Chips & Bits website that my order left today. So in opting for the UPS Ground (3 day from Vermont to me) I should have it no later than Wednesday of next week.
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The way I have it programmed, you can hold the view switch in whatever direction you want to view, and press/release the S3 switch as needed to modify the view. With the /I,/O codes, you need to have the S3 key pressed before pressing the button/hat that it's modifying.
Hope that made sense :)
SOB
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It does make sense - thanks!
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Got mine yesterday.
It's a very real and huge step up from my Saitek X36, it's so much quicker to respond to inputs, and I'm not sure why but, it has seriously reduced my plane's nose bounce, in just the couple offline sorties I flew setting up the stick last night my flight path seemed smoother.
I don't notice any slop at center in mine, but then again I've been using a MS FF joystick the last couple a weeks, with the Saitek throttle. And we all know how much slop around center them MS sticks have.
Smooth Flight Test last night involved a steep climb out from the base, a flat turn back towards home plate, then a zoom dive past the airfield, into a stalling climb with throttle chopped, allowed one wing to drop, reversed back down into a shallow dive gaining enough airspeed to sustain level flight at approx. 10ft off the deck and procceeding to buzz the ground crew, by flying thru the fighter hangers.
Today I'm gonna attempt the same flight plan, but inverted as I rocket thru the hangers. If I survive, the new Cougar shall be certified for flight operations!
Your right about taking time to get use to, this puppy is as heavy as a Tiger II and has more buttons than a prom dates petticoat.
It does play well with the CH Pro USB rudder pedals I am using,(fully compatible) and I'm half tempted to go buy a USB to Gameport adapter so I can hook the peds right into the Cougar, that way I can use 'em with Falcon 4 and Jane's F-15.
See ya's UP!
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NOOOO Milnko, say it isnt that much of step up from the X36. I have been trying to convince myself that I "really" don't need a Cougar and your not helping ;)
Question for you if you don't mind. I have always used the lower hat on the stick for views and the upper hat for moving myself about in the cockpit. Is that functionality transferred over well to the Cougars?
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Sure it is, just a matter of mapping it thae way ya want.
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Chips and Bits shipped my Cougar yesterday and UPS is saying I should have it no later than the 14th of May. :D
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Mine was shipped yesterday and is on its way!
YES!!!!
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I have mine and have been working on a AH config file for it.
I'm using the indents on the throttle (I set them to the same place, about 95% of the way to full) as a marker for WEP. I push the throttle to the indent and I'm at MIL. If I push it past the indent I go to WEP. This works nicely for pushing the throttle through the wire like the RAF did in WWII.
The line looks like this (I changed it slightly LSB):
THR 5 1 (97 98) CycleWEP
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SOB,
I am interested in trying the view system you're using, but I can't seem to get it to work.
It looks like setting the "Front Up" view to button 9 in AH should work, as it looks like you've set BTN X3 to act as a held DX9 button. H3U should just work once I have that setup in AH, but it doesn't.
Am I missing something?
Thanks
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here i am :)
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Karnak,
After you d/l the file to the joystick, does H3U show up as DX9 if you test it in Joystick properties in Windows? If it does work as DX9 in Windows, but doesn't seem to be working in AH, then go to Stick Mapping in AH Setup. Set your FrontUp view again, only this time, instead of selecting Button 9 with your mouse, just hit up on Hat 3, then set.
SOB
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I just went from a MS Sidewinder to X45....I find I have to work to keep the nose up a lot...but my stick is still breaking in.
Post pics of these new Cougars guys!
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SOB,
I tested it in Windows and the buttons were responding.
Once I removed the jsmap.cfg file from the Aces High\Settings\ folder and restarted AH I could map them.
I like that setup quite a bit more than what I was using. I do believe that I'll use it in my file.
Thanks.
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Heh, I removed JSmap.cfg right from the get go since I was starting with a new stick for the first time since flying AH. I wasn't sure if it'd make any difference then, but now I'm glad I did!
Glad to hear the view setup is to your liking. I spent quite a bit of time getting it set up after the logical programming was first implimented in the F22 back in the day (I set it up for WarBirds), and have stuck with it since. Used to be a lot more compicated tho', because I used RAW Codes programming, as you couldn't program DirectX buttons on the F22 in the same way you can on the Cougar.
SOB
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Cougar is sitting across my desk from me right now. It is taunting me and speaking to me. The thing wants me to leave work right now and go hook it up.........AHHHHHHHHHHH!
I can't take it anymore I must go home and obey the COUGAR! :D
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Just got mine today. I can see that I will be a busy guy this weekend learning to program it.
My only real gripe is how tight the springs are. I will probably get used to it, but does anyone know a way to get softer springs?
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I just ordered the F22 springs from TM. I'm not sure if they'll be any lighter. Shot in the dark. I'll give you a heads-up if it works.
The only other idea I have is order a few custom made springs.
Here is a link to a place that makes them. Just plug in the measurements and place the order.
Torsion springs (http://www.mcmaster.com/param/asp/psearch.asp?FAM=torsion&desc=Torsion+Springs)
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Sissies.
SOB
:p
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Tight springs? I really do not mind having the tighter springs there. It seems pretty easy to move and the F-22 (IIRC) had stiffer springs than this one does. It is not easy and my son (5 1/2 yrs old) has to pull on it with both hands but it will just make him stronger in the long run.
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Brent,
F22 springs are 20 pound springs, 2 pounds heavier than Cougar springs.
Sorry.
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Originally posted by Karnak
Brent,
F22 springs are 20 pound springs, 2 pounds heavier than Cougar springs.
Sorry.
I heard that too. But someone else said they were lighter. But anyway I got them. Put them in the stick and bingo. Big improvent. Feels around 30% lighter. Yet still strong enough to keep this heavy bastard standing straight up.
I'm very happy with my sissy Cougar now :p
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Arrrrgggg!!!! You guys are making me crasy! I ordered my Cougar 12 Dec 2001, and the Chips&Bits site is telling me they haven't shipped mine yet. The PAIN! I can't stand the PAIN!!!!
Sabre
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Originally posted by Sabre
Arrrrgggg!!!! You guys are making me crasy! I ordered my Cougar 12 Dec 2001, and the Chips&Bits site is telling me they haven't shipped mine yet. The PAIN! I can't stand the PAIN!!!!
Sabre
Sabre's Cougar SN: LAST
:D
I feel for you bro