Hi,

I'm new to this forum so excuse my ignorance.

Just been watching videos of the DCS a10c sim and using the TM warhog HOTAS find it really interesting.

I know the HOTAS takes a lot away from using the keyboard but am I right in thinking you still need to use the mouse to interact with the cockpit

For everything you really need to have at hand for launching weapons and using your optics etc is all on the Warthog HOTAS as it is an exact replica of the real thing.

You can get the Thrustmaster Cougar MFD's so you can use them instead of clicking the on screen ones but then yes, you need the mouse still to click around the cockpit.

Unless you build a replica cockpit or at least have a board full of toggle switches and knobs, yes, you will still need the mouse for things like pushing buttons and toggling switches or changing radio frequencies and the like. As most of these are done en-route to target, it's not really that important.

All the "essentials" to help the A10 do it's role of CAS is on the stick and throttle, so no need to grab the mouse in the heat of battle, especially if you have the TM Cougar MFDs.

Welcome to the boards!

Great Guys, thanks for the info

Now to decide to go through with it

If you can afford it, go for it. It adds tons of immersion and it's all mapped out for you in DCS A-10C.

I have a pretty good number of commands set up in my simpit but I still require a mouse for some actions and a keyboard for the stupid radio commands. Really wish I could just click on the radio commands when they appeared on screen instead of having to reach for a keyboard and set in my lap while flying. That's a real PITA!

For the extra ~$60, add MFCDs into your hardware. These MFCDs are placed so I can touch the buttons with HOTAS, but the mouse is often used .

And an essential piece is a Track IR.

WC

lol wow!! there's a setup!

Another quickie, It's been mentioned that most keyboard/mouse interaction is only necessary for pre fight if you have the Warthog HOTAS but what about communication to the flight group in single player mission/campaigns. As far as I'm aware its a menu of options prefixed with numbers that appears in the top right of the screen. I take it this is another case of having to use the keyboard?

BTW

TrackIR5 inbound

On the Warthog HOTAS throtle there is a mic switch to go between the different frequencies, they do bring up the menu on the screen and you select via the F keys on the keyboard. This is usually quite quick to do though.

Not if you have VAC or some other voice command recognition software. Then you just have to speak to the mic... for example, when I am coming in to land, I just dial in the freq of the airfield, key the mic switch, and call inbound. Or for JTAC missions, I just "answer" him back, no need to reach for the mouse. At $18, it is a very cheap way to increase the immersion!

And if you think WC's setup is cool, wait until you see what the others have set up... like one guy with 3x27" monitors and 3x24" touch-screens for panels.

Having said that, most setups are more "wife-friendly" than "uber-cool," lol!


Again, I would recommend VAC or some similar software, or you could toggle the mouse-click function so you could "click" on the selection with your mouse instead of using the F-kay.