A few Questions before I sign up for AH

[LeadDog]

Hello everyone and thanks for any answers to my numerous questions below.  I used to fly AW for two years about 7 years ago as LeadDog.  I switched to Warbirds for a year after that but finally gave it up due to not enough time.  I used to be fairly decent but realize I will be newbie for a few months as I relearn how to fly again.  I am asking all these questions before I start a 170 MB download over dialup for the software or beg a friend in town with Broadband to d/l it for me.

I am on dialup does Ahvoice work ok or should I plan not to use it?  If I use it any suggestions on a good headset piece that everyone is happy with?

Do enough people play AH each night to have good battles and not just a few repeated one on ones?

Are the scenarios or CT well attended?  I really enjoyed the added challenge of one death in those in the past.

I have Saitek X36F controller with CH Rudders(analog not USB).  I was considering adding a TrackIR 3 Pro to this setup if I start playing very much.  On the TrackIR 3 can you only set up 6 views? Or can you still use a keyboard button for look up and mix that with the 6 views from the TrackIR?  Do most use set views or the panning view with the TrackIR?

Reading the site I haven’t found flight characteristic charts for all the airplanes like I used to have in hard copy for AW.  I am most interested in Max FPM climb and corner velocity graphs for the different models used in AH since I realize every sim is a little different. Any links I missed?

Is the training arena well staffed?  I have to say it was nearly impossible to get any help in the WB training arena the four or five times I went there years ago.

If I can get setup in a couple of weeks I will be looking for a squadron that doesn't mind helping me knock the rust off, likes to fly wingman tactics (I prefer double attack or loose deuce).  So I hope to find one with several active members that fly each night, a set squad night, and active participation in the scenarios or whatever they are called here.

I can’t really use a callsign yet to sign off since I don’t have one yet.
So call me

OldNewbie

[TequilaChaser]

Hello Old Newbie,

first off, AHvoice should work fine over dial up for you

to answer your next question, you will find normally over 100 to 600 players flying at any given time in the MA, the CT is less with 0 to 30 more on planned nights...scenarios are good but are getting better the more we have
I am not up on the IR Tracker thingy......sorry have no answer for you here..
for charts on climb & speed check here:

AH climb & Speed charts from Hitech Creations

or here:

WWW.NetAces.org

you can get intouch with the trainers thru email, send an email to :
trainers(at)hitechcreations(dot)com  or I can help you fire an email off to me at:
TequilaChaser(at)flyaceshigh(dot)com

I would suggest not jumping feet first into a squad until you get a good feel of how everything works , go solo for a month or 2 and fly with different squads as a guest, so you get to know them and they get to know you......to see if each of you like the other ( you and any particular squad ) don't rush it, the right squad will find you and vice versa

go ahead and come join us here in AcesHigh, and prepare to have a blast!

[xHaMmeRx]

LeadDog,

Jump in. Lots of players on dial-up with little to no problems. As in most things, it's a matter of your ISP.

I have limited experience with TrackIR. You can set it to pan or snap view. I can tell you it is not limited to 6 views.

Trainers in the TA don't work a set schedule but, if you email us at the addy TC gave you, we are happy to schedule times with individuals.

Just like AW, there are tons of squads all looking for new members. Take your time and find one that suits.

Good Luck!

[Widewing]

Although your ping may tend to be a bit greater, dial-up works just fine. Speaking from experience, dial-up connections are often more stable than broadband, with fewer disconnects.

I have used both Plantronics and Labtec headsets. Both are excellent.

A typical evening in the Main Arena (USA time) will be populated by as many as 500 players. Typical week day evenings see from between 400 and 450 players in the MA, another 30 to 40 in the CT as well as a dozen in both the TA and DA.

Analog joysticks will work as long as they do not spike excessively. I do, however, suggest that you get a digital stick at your first opportunity.

For specific plane performance data that is generally applicable, but hasn't been updated for AH2 yet, go to this page and click on the Help link, scroll down to aircraft and vehicles. Also visit the sites listed by TC in his reply.

TC, Hammer and I are trainers. I spent 7 hours in the TA yesterday (I have the week off from work). Normally, I try to get at least 10 hours a week in the TA. When you log in to the TA, check the roster and look for trainers. Even if none are on at that time, you can usually find someone who can answer your questions. Aces High is in the process of increasing the number of trainers. Chances are that there will be at least one trainer online during primetime. Last night we had as many as three at times.

There are many good squads flying the MA. More than a few came over from AW (=Ghosts=, Green Mountain Boys, and Nazgul being but a few), you will likely see people you knew from AW.

If you have any questions about billing, system requirements or even getting the game on CD, call HTC at 817-251-1540.

My regards,

Widewing

[MaddogJoe]

ya for the most part, what TC said  

I believe you can buy a CD from HTC with the game on it to save you tieing up your phone line for a week. It costs $5 here http://www.hitechcreations.com/buyah.html

I use a Yamaha MH500 for a headset w/mic I've had it for a couple of years without any trouble. The speakers have a very good response, and Im told the mic works very clear.

I use all old analog CH stuff myself, I'm too cheap to upgrade, and there nothing wrong with what I have. As for the IR traker, note the above remark on "cheap"  

The MA is full of all kinds of fights. The smaller maps tend to have more "massed" attack, or furballs is what they turn into, but the big maps you can find any kind of fight ya want. Ya did know that the map changes at least once a week right?

The links TC posted are the best for info on the game, The senarios are picking up as they are starting to get a core group become adicted. The CT is a more leasurly run area, with out the big numbers of pilots. You do tend to run into the same guys time after time, but if ya learn faster than them you can stay on top  

The community is great here, much like AW. I was MDJOE in AW as I am here, and I still fly for the 444th Air Mafia.... I guess I don't like change as much as I thought!  LOL!!! Welcome to Aces High!

[MOSQ]

LD,
Welcome!

I agree with all of the above. You didn't mention your system specs, so a word of warning, the min specs listed by HTC are a MINIMUM. You may not be happy with the results if your system is an older one. You might post your specs here or in the Hardware section for feedback so you know what to expect.

WW how do you become a trainer? Like you, I'd like to see the general skill level increase and some of the better aspects of our "culture" developed in newbies before they become dive bombing Lancaster flyers.  I meet folks in the TA or DA occasionally but am ready to make a formal approach to it.

[LeadDog]

Thanks for all the prompt responses.  I am excited to see the numbers in arena at one time as high as they are.  The numbers make the game seem more realistic to me.

I am taking your advice on posting my PC specs but I think I am good.

3.0 Ghz AMD 512 MB
Nvidia Geforce FX 5900 128 MB
Saitek X36F Usb stick and throttle
CH Rudder Analog

I have my brother downloading the game as we speak with his BB connection so I should be able to sign up in a week when I see him next.

[MOSQ]

That system should work fine.

On headsets, I had the Plantronics Audio 40 for at least two years, they were fine.

But then I saw the Plantronics Audio 90 at Frys for $18 the other day and grabbed them. They are great!  I'm not sure why they were so cheap there, on all the online websites they are $30-35. The volume control on the wire is useful for those times when a friendly GV engine is deafening you, the 40 mm speakers sound great, and the mic is very clear.

These are both analog sets, not USB.

Soda's Aircraft page is a good resource. It has not been updated for AHII yet so is a little off, but in general all the opinions there are still valid. You can get there from Hammer's excellent NetAces page, or direct at Soda's  AH Aircraft Page

[TequilaChaser]

Originally posted by MOSQ

 how do you become a trainer? Like you, I'd like to see the general skill level increase and some of the better aspects of our "culture" developed in newbies before they become dive bombing Lancaster flyers.  I meet folks in the TA or DA occasionally but am ready to make a formal approach to it.

Mosq,
fire an email off to Ghosth, he is the Head/Lead Honcho  and he can get you on the list of (what ever his list is of  )

[bockko]

Here are some comparisons to AW (full realism that is..if you flew r/r you are in for a steep learning curve):
-more people in the arena
-planes are more realistically modeled, with a very low # of modeling errors people can use to game the game. the downside of this is that you actually must pay more attention and learn not only your plane, but most others so you know how to fight them and win
-ah voice works great
-you will still find that the # fluctuate for each side from day to day, week to week, and month to month
-just like in aw, there are 70% decent people to fly around , 20% irritating people to fly around, and 10% either totally @#$$@#$ up or so good they wreck your ego
-much more difficult to master both the planes and gunnery, takes some practice and getting used to
-the bombers are a bit more fun, you have to cal your sight to hit anything, but you can only have 1 gunner onboard; you will find many more bombers to choose from.
-the maps are much more diverse in size and topography, which is either good or bad depending on your personal taste
-this game will hammer a weak system, so I hope your computer is fast and you have alot of memory and a good video card

All in all, this game makes aw seem more like an arcade sim....and I love AW!

[LeadDog]

Bockke,
Thanks for the info.  I flew AW full realism for awhile then WB's for a year.  In fact the reason for my post was I have the WB software and have been flying it offline full realism to get ready for online play.  I was trying to decide between this and WB.  I think this is going to be the better sim for me right now.

I plan to get the software next week.  Fly a week or so offline to get my views down, keys mapped and learned, and carrier landings consistent.   Memorize the plane characteristics of a couple of planes.  Then log in and get shot down faster than I can get my wheels up in the well:)

[6GunUSMC]

you cant mix usb and analog controllers... just doesnt work.

[LeadDog]

I currently have the USB Saitek X36F joystick and throttle working with an analog CH Rudder on Windows XP and in AH offline mode.

I just shoot down a bunch of drones and it worked great for rudder control.

Question:  I mapped throttle to my Saitek Throttle but I did NOT map RPM.  When I try to fly the P38 I just do doughnuts in the hangar.  Any thoughts?

[Widewing]

Originally posted by LeadDog
I currently have the USB Saitek X36F joystick and throttle working with an analog CH Rudder on Windows XP and in AH offline mode.

I just shoot down a bunch of drones and it worked great for rudder control.

Question:  I mapped throttle to my Saitek Throttle but I did NOT map RPM.  When I try to fly the P38 I just do doughnuts in the hangar.  Any thoughts?

Two things first. Don't spawn in the hanger, spawn on a runway. Rather than click on the H, click on the NE, or SE runway button.

Second thing, go into setup, preferences, flight and turn on auto-takeoff and combat trim. You can turn these off as you gain some experience, but they make the transistion into the sim a lot easier.

One more item. Did you calibrate your joystick and pedals in the game? On the clipboard, click setup, controls, control settings and make sure your controls are getting full deflection and are centered. If not, go back and click on calibrate joystick and follow the instructions. If you are still having issues with the P-38, disconnect the rudder pedals and try again.

By the way, I know others who use CH analog pedals without a problem. So, look at the calibration.

My regards,

Widewing

[LeadDog]

Thanks for all the help.  I got everything working last night and logged in.  I got 6 kills, 5 assists, and 29 deaths hehe.  Still not bad for the first time flying in almost 5 years.

To clear up some of the issues I had for others that may see this.  The USB Saitek X36F stick and throttle work very well with the CH analog Rudder you just have to add a simple joystick to the rudders and press the rudders button in windows XP when configuring the rudders.

I had a BUG that when I set up the Saitek Throttle to map to throttle 1, 2, 3, 4 in the setup it made throttle 1 and 2 reverse of each other.  What I mean is pull throttle back to idle engine one would idle and engine two is full, put throttle in middle and engine 1 and 2 are both in the half speed, go full throttle and engine 1 is full and engine 2 would idle.  I did some interesting doughnuts with my P38L.  I went to setup and cleared all throttle setting EXCEPT throttle one and then everything worked correctly.  So now throttle 2,3,4 are unmapped but follow throttle one so I don't care.

So now everything works on my setup and flying worked well last night.  Now to find  a good wingman or two to protect me