Do I need all this expensive hardware to be competitive or enjoy the sim?
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Some tinkering skills and you can build you own wireless recharable IR headtracker which is basically the same as the Delan setup for around 25€ all together
Parts list for my wireless tracker. Only thing missing in the setup is a webcam, preferable a PS3Eyecam
https://www.benchmarksims.org/forum/showthread.php?39988-DIY-wireless-IR-Tracker -
You absolutely need headtracking. Not just to look around, but also to free some precious HOTAS buttons and the POV hat. But it doesn’t need to be TrackIR, there are several companies (Trackhat etc.) that sell headtracking packs based on Opentrack and a modded PS3Eye for below 50 bucks.
If you can strap your phone (Android) to your head, there is even a completely free solution: https://github.com/opentrack/opentrack/wiki/Smartphone-HeadtrackingA HOTAS with enough buttons is certainly very useful and the X52 is indeed the cheapest HOTAS that allows you to map everything. I used a T.Flight HOTAS X for a while and with headtracking I barely managed to map the most important functions. It is the bare minimum and I wouldn’t recommend it.
If you want the best HOTAS that isn’t super expensive, try to get a used X65F (discontinued! :(). It is a force sensing stick and it’s super awesome, assuming it works. Mine has a bunch of flaws, but I could fix all of them. However, you might encounter other flaws and maybe you won’t be able to fix all of them.
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Is the stick too imprecise for refueling? Or is it something else?
That heavy centering on the T-Flight X does feels a bit awkward/arcady though. I heard you can adjust that by opening it up. Does anyone have a link to the process?
If you want to lessen the tension, there’s a knob on the bottom, right below thw stick.
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Is the stick too imprecise for refueling? Or is it something else?
That heavy centering on the T-Flight X does feels a bit awkward/arcady though. I heard you can adjust that by opening it up. Does anyone have a link to the process?
So much has to do with drivers, and also the electronics (old school pan-pots vs hall-effect sensors and other similar).
I recently discovered, VKB make a nice little exe you can download to graph your joystick hardware inputs. Seems to work for any DirectInput device. It’s great for getting a quick sense of …
- hardware / driver deadzoning (or lack thereof)
- any saturation problems, esp with throttle axis, at each end of the range
- the true “sensitivity” ie. how much pressure you have to apply to see a “movement” at the driver / DirectInput level, at least
https://vkbcontrollers.com/?faq=how-does-vkbjoytester-work
Inside BMS, be sure to set flight-axis deadzones to ‘none’ or ‘small’, if joytester shows the axes are well behaved around the center (And for throttle axis, small/none saturation if it’s well behaved at the extremes)
After that … in terms of hardware tweaks, AAR is mostly about reducing your input-render-loop latency, to avoid PIO effects. (Maximizing frame-rate vs monitor refresh-rate … and things like G-sync and triple-buffering can help. But that’s a different thread, and potentially a different tier of $ expense
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I too have wired delan clip and PS3eye now. 50€ if I recall correctly
As for refueling, the difference between a “cheap” hotas and a “expensive” one are the sensitivity for the small corrections. With the cheap one that corrections tend to be bigger and thus you will have to anticipate more to counter correct. So basically you have to “fight” more with joystick and throttle. As Dragon said, you will need patience and develop your own technique, but is possible. I upgraded my HOTAS sensors and the change I noticed the most has been I now need to correct less and smoother than before.
About centering problems or so, search for T flight HOTAS mod, hack or fix. I’ve made a fast search and found some awesome stuff. But in my opinion I would not go into buying more things for it, but keep the money for a future better HOTAS.
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Oh, sorry for double posting. Another trick to compensate lack of HOTAS buttons is using a gamepad. You can put it at hands reach and use it. If you have one, great. If not, there are very cheap ones that can do the trick.
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@Snaphaan or anyone else who wants some good equipment. I have a pretty good CH Pro Joystick and CH Pro Throttle that I will give you free if you send me a UPS shipping label. The package is 4 pounds, 1.25 ounces. 12 inches W x 9 inches long x 7 inches deep. It would be shipped from Roseville, California ZIP 95747.
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Big thumbs-up from me for the DelanClip, too. I bought the full (wired) package including a modded PS/eye cam for around 60€ a few years back, cannot recommend it enough for its build quality, sturdiness and ease of use. I used FaceTrackNoIR for a while but then switched to opentrack during a system rebuild (and the added bonus that opentrack works both on Win and Linux).
All the best, Uwe
Seems pretty much like what I did. I use the same curves for BMS and the others.
I prefer the cabled one, though I would prefer “antlers” as I have a 30" screen, placed high.
I’ve overcome the cable thing with a small power bank that can also feed my headset. [emoji4]Sent from my MAR-LX1A using Tapatalk
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I’ve seen some crazy hardware setups and just wondering if someone with a Aruco setup and Thrustmaster T-flight X will get anywhere? At the moment it looks like to fully realize the sims capabilities you need at least a X52 (more buttons) and TrackIR (more responsive?). Anything added on top of that like extra mfd’s, monitor or whatever will give you more of a edge. This isn’t quite like CS:GO. Your skills are hardware dependant right?
In short, will someone with a Thrustmaster T-flight X and Aruco setup be a handicap in a multiplayer game?
Greetings Snaphaan-
The “hardware” is simply an aesthetic appeal for us die-hard simmers. Instead, one very important thing you need to consider, regardless of whether you play single- or multi-player is the ability to MULTI-TASK! The developers make great strides in making this a very authentic flight sim, and just like in the real F-16, the secret to any pilot’s success is the ability to Multi-task: Develope your tactics based on your current situation (aka Fight) and continue to fly the aircraft. Whatever hardware you do this with is completely up to you. So if you’re not into aesthetics, build your “cockpit” (as in-expensively as possible) to ensure you can multi-task from takeoff, to your fight & back to landing and you will be just as good as anyone with Thrustmaster Cougars, Warthogs…and etc.
Like this guy! >>> :mrgreen:
Hope this helps.
Cheers,
Jolly -
I’ve overcome the cable thing with a small power bank that can also feed my headset. [emoji4]
+1 for small powerbanks - makes the Delanclip basically wireless. All you need is a bit of power to drive the LEDs.
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Seems pretty much like what I did. I use the same curves for BMS and the others.
I prefer the cabled one, though I would prefer “antlers” as I have a 30" screen, placed high.
I’ve overcome the cable thing with a small power bank that can also feed my headset. [emoji4]Sent from my MAR-LX1A using Tapatalk
I was thinking in a powerbank like that. Which one do you have?
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Oh wow. Thanks for the offer. I live in South Africa. Maybe I will work with what I have and see what happens. Investing in something like a Logitech G Saitek X52 Pro?
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:shocked: Setups like THAT is what got me worried. Thanks for the advice. I will keep it in mind.
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I was thinking in a powerbank like that. Which one do you have?
Oh, just a “no” brand one, that was small/light enough to velcro on my headset. [emoji4]
Sent from my MAR-LX1A using Tapatalk
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:shocked: Setups like THAT is what got me worried. Thanks for the advice. I will keep it in mind.
Yeah, don’t get “smitten” mate. That’s expensive. Even my GF got hooked now. Sheeet… Thanks to the BMS team, things are not so hard here, but even ALL the DCS modules, twice, fades in comparison to all the hardware. [emoji4]
Sent from my MAR-LX1A using Tapatalk
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I’ve seen some crazy hardware setups and just wondering if someone with a Aruco setup and Thrustmaster T-flight X will get anywhere? At the moment it looks like to fully realize the sims capabilities you need at least a X52 (more buttons) and TrackIR (more responsive?). Anything added on top of that like extra mfd’s, monitor or whatever will give you more of a edge. This isn’t quite like CS:GO. Your skills are hardware dependant right?
In short, will someone with a Thrustmaster T-flight X and Aruco setup be a handicap in a multiplayer game?
In short, it is not your hardware that will make you a handicap in multiplayer.
What would I say is essential for BMS multiplayer?
1: Any HOTAS. Sure, there is a whole range of options out there, with widely varying capabilities, quality, and price, but you can become a very good pilot with even the most basic HOTAS. I started flying way back when Falcon 4.0 was first released and had a Logitech joystick where the throttle was a tiny little thing built into the base of the stick. It only had a few buttons, but it was most certainly “good enough”. Some people have claimed to fly, and fly well, with keyboard and mouse, but I find that very hard to believe. So, as I said “Any HOTAS”.
2: Head tracking. This really makes a massive difference. I used to fly without head tracking, using a hat-switch to move the view around. It was very difficult. I got the Delanclip Gamer and after a couple of weeks of tweaking the settings, it is a world of difference. Being able to look around “naturally” is a game changer, and very important when flying multiplayer to keep your eyes on your flight/package, and regularly glance back at the FCR/RWR/HSD/TGP etc.
3: Nope, that is it as far as hardware is concerned.
I would suggest you add voice control to your setup. I use Janjan’s plugin for VoiceAttack. This can really compensate for having a basic HOTAS without many switches and buttons. You can control just about everything with your voice. Need to change UHF frequency? Need to set Master Arm On? Need to request picture from AWACS? Need to change the QNH? You can do all that and more without taking your hands off the HOTAS.
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I just signed up today so I’m new to BMS and this may be a little late, but I’m in a similar boat. I found that Joy2Key keymapping software can really expand the capabilities of the T-Flight X (I’m using the same). I 3D printed a part to fix the center bump to make it smooth which worked beautifully BUT….there is a built-in dead spot over the bump area and without it I found it really hard to tell when I entered and exited the dead spot. I may try making a new piece that has a tiny bump in it at both ends of the dead spot so at least I can feel it without having to look. You might consider that before filing off the “bump” permanently as others have recommended. I can provide STL files for printing the part if anyone’s interested.
I’m also using FoxVox voice recognition to handle all the menu commands and supplement the game - very nice and something I plan to offer free for the BMS community (since I designed it just for BMS). It works so well I may add joystick mapping into it to replace the Joy2Key completely and have everything in one package, but we’ll see. Just let me know if you’d be interested in it as I don’t have a website yet to distribute it. I think if you check out my profile you can see pics and info about it.
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I just signed up today so I’m new to BMS and this may be a little late, but I’m in a similar boat. I found that Joy2Key keymapping software can really expand the capabilities of the T-Flight X (I’m using the same). I 3D printed a part to fix the center bump to make it smooth which worked beautifully BUT….there is a built-in dead spot over the bump area and without it I found it really hard to tell when I entered and exited the dead spot. I may try making a new piece that has a tiny bump in it at both ends of the dead spot so at least I can feel it without having to look. You might consider that before filing off the “bump” permanently as others have recommended. I can provide STL files for printing the part if anyone’s interested.
I’m also using FoxVox voice recognition to handle all the menu commands and supplement the game - very nice and something I plan to offer free for the BMS community (since I designed it just for BMS). It works so well I may add joystick mapping into it to replace the Joy2Key completely and have everything in one package, but we’ll see. Just let me know if you’d be interested in it as I don’t have a website yet to distribute it. I think if you check out my profile you can see pics and info about it.
Welcome! FoxVox sounds interesting as a free Voice-text app, saw some mention of it online but from what I read it’s a Firefox extension yet Firefox doesn’t list it… Is it comparable to VoiceAttack? All online links seem bad, not on GitHub… ?
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Hi Icer,
I did see the Firefox plugin but that’s not this. My app isn’t out yet…I’m just gathering a few beta testers before putting it out to make sure system compatibility is good first. If you’re interested I can add you to my list and send you a link, just send me a private message and I’ll get it out to you. Requires 64 bit windows with .net 4.7 or later installed. I’m planning to compile and share the beta msi today.
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Hey Jc1, Just popping in for a moment. I live in Roseville, CA as well!! Good to know there’s another Pilot in town.
Gavel1955