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.

thanks for that

" ...most setups are more "wife-friendly"

lol, right gotta be W-F complaint , another acronym thats all I need

Wi-Fri

So...is the pencil sharpener also essential?



The Jedi Master

LOL

I hijacked this puter back from my wife after she got a laptop, that's how I got to two machines. She just hasn't taken her pencil sharpener back yet - really, she hardly even comes downstairs anymore

That "flight deck" unit in the picture above is the second one I made. It has two connections - power for the USB hub and the USB signal cable, so it is easy to disconnect and lift off of the desk for race time. There is also a ground post that I attach an alligator clip to ground - all the metal parts are grounded through 10 Meg Ohms. The charts along the back are the hat function lists for the China Hat, TMS & DMS.

I did have a Zalmon MC-1 microphone on the flight deck, too, but I recently moved it up to where the Track IR is so I can use the mic for racing when I don't want to use the headphones.

WC

Ice - I'll give it a try, I want to think now that they had a mod for this some time back. If I had a VAC program I might give it a serious try for the hands off functionality.

Thanks for the info on VAC

Any of you guys use ipad iControl DCS?

No ipad here but I use iWarthog which is a great resource app and I have an iPhone based UFC controller using TouchControl and publicly available files.

The VAC program is free to test for 30 days so feel free to try. I'd give you my profile but it is still currently WiP, but it's easy enough to make one. Even if you just get a couple of phrases down to test it, I'm sure you'll be hooked!

Steve, I've tried the free version of iControl, however, with my custom setup, all I really needed was the UFC and CDU and the inability of the end-user to make a custom layout put me off. I've tried iPadPit as well, but since that one uses a custom key config file, I couldn't be bothered with it. Best one for me at the moment is Helios and a second screen as it allows you to make your own layout so you can decide what is important for you and put it there. Helios with a touch screen would be sweet, but no cash for a touch screen at the moment.

I used a free voice command program years ago for Falcon 4 but you had to talk like Henry Higgins to get it to recognise your words and felt unnatural, is this one good at picking up on words?

Good enough for me, Mace. Download it and give it a try. Like I said, it's free to try for 30 days.

OK guys, now a owner of a TM Warthog HOTAS and TrackIR5 Pro: ETA 5 days

What have I let myself in for

Training starts Next Week with Tutorials at my own pace

Just going through all posts here, any advice willing to give would be appreciated

Well done you won't be disappointed with either of those. I couldn't even think of being without TIR now.

I found the tutorials very good although sometimes it feels like you are being bombarded with information so coming on here and asking why X does this and why Y has just fallen off is important too. No question is a dumb question.

I'm still learning myself and really enjoying doing so as it is without doubt the best sim I've flown. I've moved onto where things are firing back and trying to remember what I've learnt lol.

Steve, congrats on your purchase of a TM WH and TIR. You might want to look at getting some TM Cougar MFDs and a rudder pedal set... I have a Saitek Pro Flight set (£99) and they work fine. The MFDs are optional (less reaching for the mouse) but the rudders are essential

Above the DCS A10 forums are two sub-forums on Training and FAQs, I suggest starting there. I have a newbie guide that will orient you to the essential bits of the cockpit and Sim has a picture-guide on how to make things explode. The sim itself has very good tutorial missions so do them but don't worry if you don't absorb everything on the first go, just take notes. Wags' YouTube section has some really good stuff as well.

Make sure you have the latest version of the game installed, which is 1.1.1.1. If you bought your game elsewhere (Steam, boxed version, etc.), your keys will work with the DCS download so get the latest version here and input your CD key when asked.

When you get your TM WH, you will want to un-map the view control from the joystick's Trim hat (the gray-colored hat) since you will have TIR for your view control. Now re-map that Trim hat to the trim functions.

That should be enough to get you started. I would suggest starting with learning how to start up the aircraft, if nothing but to know where most of the switches are. Then move on to take off, navigation, and landing. Then on to the fun stuff -- making things explode, burn, or run away.

Good luck!

Thanks, going through your Newbie guides, great stuff!!

Just looking at the stick now out of curiosity is anything mapped by default to the paddle switch on front of the stick in the sim?

I would in time like a rudder pedal set but I assume its not that necessary in a modern jet sim like this, I take it the nose steering toggle switch on the stick allows me to taxi?

Question of TrackIR 5. The last TrackIR was version 2 and remember having to set a up a shortcut to reset the default look straight forward view.
I think what I'm trying to say, I would align up my cockpit front view with looking straight forward but after a certain time the cockpit view would be off centered when looking straight forward

I also remember setting up a little 'dead zone' say in looking straight forward so any minute head movements when looking forward would not be played upon. Not to sure if this is done now

I would say my system is Wi-Fri compliant (at the moment)

There isn't a paddle switch in the real A-10C so it isn't mapped. Well not so I know anyway.

NWS uses the rudder pedals to steer so you may need to use the keyboard for that until you get some pedals. You will move a fair bit left and right when rolling for take-off though. You may need to use rudders to land as well for fine adjustments and for turns, they aren't as redundant as in the F-16 sort of modern aircraft.

TIR5 still has reset to forward key, default F12, and there are loads of profiles out there. I use one called DCS but can't remember hwere I got it from. I've never messed with the curves myself and pretty much use the same profile for all sims.

Thanks Mate,

Your not gonna to believe this but just discovered I have CH Pro pedals (USB) just hope they are no compatibility issues

There shouldn't be as many use CH pedals.

cool thanks nice to know, just looking now to see if it needs drivers etc

When you get your Warthog and have the pedals plugged in, even theough DCS A-10 detects and assigns all the correct functions to the throttle and stick you will need to go into the controls menu in DCS and make sure the correct axis are assigned where they should be ie. pitch and yaw to stick and not the rudders or throttle, throttle to throttle and not to stick or rudders etc. as it will do this. Just takes a few minutes to rectify.

And as Ice mentioned the grey coolie hat on the stick will be mapped by default to view, but as you have a TIR you need to map that to trim the aircraft.

yeah getting a bit confuse with the pedals, I'll give it another go

I have the pedals calibrated in the Windows control panel.
In DCS A10 in the options I do have a new CH Pro Pedal column and there seems to be a lot of Joy_X Joy_Y assignments to varies actions set by default???

I also don't see any Tokens representing the Pedals to assign, must be missing something, I will keep researching

Yeah that caught me out too

Your rudder should be Joy_RZ

Toe brakes should be, for left Joy_X and right Joy_Y

me thinks I'm getting there.

I have assigned the rudder action and each toe break.

I think the rudders now are just to way to sensitive!

BTW thanks for help today much appreciated

I increased the tension adjustment on my pedals as I liked the sensitivity.

Well played with the play pedal behaviour using "Axis Tune" in the control settings and created a small dead zone with large curvature,smaller saturation. Now sort of content

Oh and I inverted my toe breaks!! Good job I played around first rather than doing a proper mission and finding out I'm landing with my wheel break on

Now I will start my training

Yes, invert the toe brakes and remember to tick the Slider box too. Like Mace said, it's a good idea to make sure no other extra functions are mapped to irrelevant controls. For instance, sometimes the game will assign function to buttons 1-12 for my Saitek rudder... which obviously does not have buttons. This usually happens after installing a new version of the game.

What does everyone use their slider for? I'm a bit surprised they didn't leave it as the throttle tension as in the real A-10.

The other piece of advice I highly recommend is picking up a USB trackball that works either right or left-handed, then keep it next to your throttle. The second mouse won't conflict with the primary mouse you use with your right hand, and if you have to use the mouse in flight, you can do so without removing your hand from the stick.

"remember to tick the Slider box too.."

Ice

hmmm,not understanding what this option does but if I do check it I get all sorts of problems, aircraft seems to turn/spin by itself etc
I have to uncheck it??

Congrats Steve, this sim just gets better with time and understanding.

It was about 5 months of training for me before I felt ready to tackle multiplayer. When you are ready join in an mp mission, especially with any of the folks from around here at SimHQ, the ability to ask questions and follow a conversation on techniques and functions is orders of magnitude better than training on your own. (The built in training is good, too!) There are a couple of pilots right now who are coming into the mp missions with little experience but are ramping up their abilities very quickly. We joke and poke each other over some of our individual techniques and it's great to get different perspectives. When you feel ready to join us don't hesitate too much - you can always fly around away from danger and watch and learn from the other guys. Your trigger finger will get itchy fast but you should be able to learn to survive longer, quicker.

A few weeks back the moderators put some new Training and Reference sub-forums at the top of this DCS A-10C forum - be sure to check those pages out.

Enjoy!

Wrecking Crew

You have to tick it. A slider means the inputs go one way, like zero to 100. With the slider unticked, that means it can go from -100 to 0 to 100.

Where is this tick box? I can't see it.

Tick box = radio button, whatever the term is.

Just checked mine and it's not ticked and my brakes behave correctly. What difference does it make?

Hi Ice,

My mistake I mis-read what you said, I applied it to the Rudder axis.

What you say does make sense but like Mace doesn't seem to make any difference, however will do anyway

Again thanks for your help
Steve

Thanks Wrecking Crew,

I just playing around getting things working in the sim (stick, rudders etc), everything seems to working fine at this time.

yep I know it going to be a long journey but I'm going to do a little bit at a time and enjoy learning it. Once I get to a point where I can start it, takeoff and land then I give you a shout

Hmmm... I guess I just like to overkill some things. At least with slider on, I know if my gear acts up, I don't end up getting negative brakes, if that even makes any sense.

I have it set to Slider, too. IMHO the toe brakes should not have a negative value as in an axis; they should go from zero to a positive value like a slider does.

WC

But mine do go from zero (when I am not depressing them) to full on (when I am depressing them fully). I'll check the slider box and see if there is any difference but you cannot brake in reverse so -100 will still be zero input surely?

Hmm, dunno, but maybe with Slider you will have more range. Same for the throttles.

WC

More range than stop and not stop?