Looking for advices
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Hi boys,
I’ve been too busy with work but my love for falcon never quit. I simply want to jump back, which means i have to build a computer game, buy hotas and instead of buy a trackir i would like to take the VR route. I already owned the index a long time ago but never used in any flight sim, maybe in XP11 but i’m not sure.
Anyway, i would like to know which are the suggested VR headset and how they perform. I’m looking for something that allows to read on MFD and such, otherwise i would prefer to wait a little bit more. I saw some people complaining darkness fogginess, mind anyone to explain what is this about?
If there is a valid headset, what is the required PC specs.
For last but not least what could be valid hotas. Consider that in the past i owned the thrustmaster, the FSSB lighting R3 and such, so i don’t like to go very cheap, as long as the experience is valid. Besides i prefer to not having to rely on keyboard much.
Cheers
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Hi Williang83
If i should by all new, and i had the money, say 8 grand, i would buy a computer with a 4090 GPU, 32 GB Ram and a really fast CPU.
VR headset, Pimax Crystal simedition: https://pimax.com/crystal-sim-flight/ --------------------------------- https://forum.falcon-bms.com/topic/25408/pimax-crystal-bms-experience
F-16 throttle: ( https://fselite.net/content/watch-the-thrustmaster-f-16-throttle-quadrant-system-get-unboxed/ )
F 16 stick: F-16C Viper HOTAS Add-On Grip and mount it on a realsimualtor FSSB-r3-ultra ( https://realsimulator.com/fssb-r3-ultra/ )
Pedals at your own choice
I am aiming for this rig myself, only waiting for the Pimax 12K, because i have a Pimax 8k to trade in when the 12k is ready
Best of luckRegards Actionman
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@williang83 said in Looking for advices:
Anyway, i would like to know which are the suggested VR headset and how they perform. I’m looking for something that allows to read on MFD and such, otherwise i would prefer to wait a little bit more. I saw some people complaining darkness fogginess, mind anyone to explain what is this about?
That greatly depends on your budget and where you live. I would go no less than the HP G2v2, which is about €488 on Amazon right now, maybe less in the US. After that it’s between the Pimax Crystal ($1599+tax) and now, the Varjo Aero (€1,438.69 including VAT, shipping, and 1 Steam Base Station). Aero REQUIRES an NVidea GPU!
Edit :Add the Quest 3 as a viable option ~$500.If there is a valid headset, what is the required PC specs.
I would say any 12th generation+ CPU and at least a 4070 GPU (no idea about AMD)
For last but not least what could be valid hotas.
I think the easiest to start with is a new TM Warthog HOTAS combined with a good set of rudder pedals…
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@Actionman Thanks mate! Now i’m really in doubt. I was ready to buy full winWing F16EX combo. Thrustmaster option is new for me. I already owned the lighting in the past but the ultra is new for me aswell. That being said i have to decide which path to take.
My only problem with FSSB, is the fact that it requires a rock solid installation otherwise even flex can ruin your experience but other than that it was great.
WinWing (750) cost half the investment of FSSB ultra + grip + thrustmaster (490+390+499) but again i know that with FSSB you are going for quality. Unfortunately i have zero experience with winWing.
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@williang83 My best argument for choosing FSSB (i have FSSB R3L MKII ULTRA) is the presiceness and accuracy in steering the plane. I was a lousy wingman flying close formation, and i never made contact with the tanker for air refuling with the old thrustmaster cougar stick. Now i can do both, so i highly suggest FSSB. Maybe not the ULTRA, but FSSB something. Its not moving, like the real thing, and its super precise, also after many, many hours of hard use.
I still use my thrustmaster cougar throttle, and its ok.
VR choice is really depending on budget, PC and use. I am planning for the PIMAX 12K myself, due to fantastic reviews for the PIMAX Crystal (the little brother), i only hope my PC can run a 12K. 72 HZ will be fine. -
@Actionman Thanks mate, after a lot of thinking, having my past experience with the FSSB, i’ve decided to go with FSSB ultra + grip v2 + thrustmaster + TPR when it comes to INPUT.
Now i’m trying to get a final decision between VR or NON-VR
VR would be buying the headset and lately relying on onboard instruments, but then i have a few questions.
NON-VR would be buying MFDs + Display, Track-ir and maybe triple monitor…not my favorite choice due to track-ir and required spaces for tripleThe investment is not that different. My only doubts about VR are the following:
- How readable it is? Is the PIMAX Crystal readable? I’ve owned the index in the past and frankly reading cockpit was rather difficult on some games.
- What if i wait for the next VR headset, would be my PC enough even if i buy the best of the best today?
I mean the jump from PIMAX Crystal to 12K must be huge in terms of resource required, so it is not automatic that today PC would run it properly.
Of course i’m leaning to the VR solution, i just need to iron out a few doubts, not about the VR per sé but rather about the proper PC to be built.
One more thing, is there a consensus about the best input method to interact with the cockpit today?
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@williang83 Hi. I just received my Pimax Crystal, and yes, it is absolutely readable. Everything in the cockpit is clear. Even the smallest text on the kneeboard, the hydraulic gauges etc. I had 8kx, but Crystal is a lot better. I run it at 90 FPS airborne, 40-50 FPS on the ground. Same as with 8KX. Sweetspot is a lot bigger, seems to me almost the entire wiev actually. The FOV is smaller than the 8KX, but the clarity is worth it. I adjust the IPD up to 70 to get bigger FOV, whitout distroying clarity. Strange, but it works. I run the Crystal on a I9-9000 and a 4090 GPU. I use two mouses to interact in the cockpit, and find it ok.
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@williang83 I’m playing on a 3080 with a Reverb G2. Let’s just say I’m in the middle of constructing a replica pit now because of BMS’s jump into VR. The cockpit instruments and MFDs are readable in the G2, so anything better is a plus. However, if you look at one of my other threads here, there seems to be an issue with being able to spot aircraft at certain distances… things seem to be drawn further out when in non-VR but I need to be closer to spot them in VR.
BTW, my old setup was a triple screen setup with additional 2x touchscreens for Helios. I sold the triples and one of the touchscreens soon after the devs fixed the HUD collimation issue.
If going VR and budget is not much of a concern, then at least a 3080 for GPU, maybe a 4080 or 4090 if you can get it. Personally, I will wait for the 5XXX series before upgrading my own setup.
@williang83 said in Looking for advices:
One more thing, is there a consensus about the best input method to interact with the cockpit today?
Best method? Reaching out in VR and being able to touch/manipulate the correct switch/knob/dial in physical reality. aka – replica cockpit.
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Be careful, slippery slope with going VR. Before you know it you’ll be asking for a gravity generator to simulate pulling Gs. And that can get expensive.
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@spotdott hahahhahahaha
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@Atlas how close is this replica? lol … I mean are you referring to MFD and ICP or more like switches ? I was thinking about going mixed so something like VR + MFD + ICP + TQS + FSSB but what get me worried is how usable it really is because you have to rely a lot on muscle memory (unless you go fully mixed reality or use passthrough), i have some doubts about hitting properly the keys.
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@williang83 and you can always do both!
I actually prefer BMS with my MFDs and ICP on triples, but as BMS VR progresses that may change…
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I suggest you the Quest Pro.
It doesn’t require base stations and works very well with Falcon. You have 30 days to return it if you don’t like this VR set.Nice choice for the HOTAS.
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As close as possible with as much as possible. Current pit has the LG panel a bit too high and a bit too far so reaching out “somewhere else” to grab the gear handle or having to “feel around” to get to the correct switch, ie, parking brake, can be a bit of an immersion breaker.
On the other hand, my ICP is very close to the real ICP position and so pressing the right button or entering the correct sequence of numbers is much easier despite not seeing my hand/fingers in relation to the ICP.
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@Atlas do you have advice for the center dash? Do you have any diy or 3d model for printing? So i can consider buying the ICP and MFDs
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@williang83 centre dash? You mean the front console? Or the CPD?
In any case, I would only suggest that you get it as close to the right spot as possible. Being off by a little bit is so much easier to mentally adjust for; if you reach for the parking brake switch and you end up grabbing the LG lever is way different. For the MFDs, that can be even worse with little/no reference for your hand. I printed out some MFD buttons with raised edges to help me distinguish the buttons and make sure I’m pressing the right one. However, this is a recent mod so I’ve not tried it out yet as I’m still building the new cockpit.