What are /r/dcsworld's favorite Products & Services?

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Can't comment on the A-10 as I haven't used it, but I've been using this inexpensive Android app as a head tracker for the F/A-18C module (and MSFS 2020). It works fantastically. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.epaga.smoothtrack

Actually came back here to gauge some opinons on https://www.amazon.com/Thrustmaster-T-Flight-Hotas-Flight-Stick-PC/dp/B001CXYMFS especially given on sale it's like $40. Of course it's going to be a cheap piece of crap but nothing is even comparable near it.

Have a Q2, that was the main reason I was trying to meme around HOTAS, ust not trying to drop a lot on HOTAS (on the flip side VTOL can't use it anyway) until I'm either content with DCS or find more than one game. Sounds dumb given my link is less than a full price game but just I don't like "wasting" hardware. Anyway noting the link down, probably going with mine first (and I assume my T300 pedals are enough to circumvent rudders and if I'm still into it would probably return it for that as an upgrade

Least on the DCS performance end I'm trying to grab a 7900 the second it's out.

Anyway sleep deprived ramblings aside thanks and I'm going to consider it outright anyway since I have a month to figure this out anyway

I used these Lilliput screens but they were a bit less expensive when I bought them back in 2014. Basically just double sided tape them to the back of the MFCDs. u/MNHemiGuy made these mounts for the 8” Lilliput which is much less ghetto than my tape setup.

Generally speaking for me in VR it's button boxes and muscle memory instead on controllers. Takes some getting used to but after a while you get very good at reaching and finding the bottoms and knobs you need. Little tactile"bump" stickers can help a lot with this. (Like these: Eshanmu Self-Adhesive Clear... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XCNM69B?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share)

Some try those fingertip sensors or VR gloves but seem very fiddly in a cockpit full of switches and buttons.

I just purchased a Thrustmaster Warthog HOTAS and am selling my TM T.16000M if you’re interested. It’s a great stick (although not even switches) and the throttle is actually fairly well equipped. https://www.amazon.com/Windows-PC-10-8-7-Vista/dp/B01KCHPRXA

DCS is not like War Thunder. I suggest you get the basic free version to understand how it works first. The free version comes with one map and one WW2 full-fidelity plane.

You then buy maps and planes depending on your interests. For example, I have the F-18, F-16 and JF-17. Any of these planes take months to master. So you'd pay only for that plane. I'm sure there are people who buy all planes and maps and campaigns, but you wouldn't be able to learn them.

As for peripherals, you need a joystick or a HOTAS to enjoy the game. At the most basic level, a Logitech Extreme 3D Pro will let you fly, but I definitely suggest something a bit more advanced, like the Thrustmaster T16000M. You can get pedals for it, but they are not required, you can leave them in the beginning. I recommend VR (if your PC can take it), or Track IR. It makes looking around much, much easier, and you will need it.

If you're looking to buy modules, I recommend the Syria map, which is very detailed and beautiful and the F-18. If you like carrier-based operations, the super carrier is really nice.

Have fun!

Mate, I'm not sure where u heard that bogus info, but TrackIR 5 is manufactured in China by natural point. Which gives a lot of Chinese businesses the opportunity to buy them in bulk from the nearby manufacturer plant and sell them online on per se Amazon.

It's like if America was still the leading manufacture for consumer products, then your next door neighbour mike might be running an online drop-shipping site to sell American made products to foreign consumers.

I bought mine 3 weeks ago, came in 2 weeks early then expected. The thing about buying from Amazon is you have Amazon on your side for disputes, if a seller tries to scam you. Which rarely ever happens.

https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B09Y692CKT/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_image_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I got HMTECH 10.1 Inch Raspberry Pi... https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0987468N2?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

Hooked it up with Hdmi cable and then used a script mod from hoggit fourm to export mfds from dcs. I using helios to have touch screen buttons working. You can get bigger screen if you want more than two. I am just content with two of them side by side

I am using an app called Gimbal Track: Gimbal Track and there are some similar apps on iStore (some use IR face recognition). It is surprisingly working well with minimum glitches. You just have to get used to it. On pc I use opentrack, you can find some tutorials on YouTube how to make it work together. if you're interested, reply to this comment.

Any idea if this is a good deal and or memory? I've heard of this brand before atleast...

Corsair Vengeance LPX 32GB (2 X 16GB) DDR4 3600 (PC4-28800) C18 1.35V Desktop Memory - Black https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07ZPLM1R1/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_i_KW0VN7HDVKXFCDPJK5KV

DCS is a resource-intensive game on your computer. Make sure you have at least i5 from the latest generations (or equivalent) and, I think, at least RTX 2070 (or equivalent) and at least 16 GB RAM.

You can play DCS with a mouse and keyboard but try to get at least some cheap HOTAS. My recommendation is this. This is what I use. Later you can think about VR and or IR track.

Tools:
- Soldering Iron
- Screwdriver
- Pliers
- Measuring Tape

Parts:
- Plastic Casing Box
- Switches and Buttons
- Cables
- USB Cable
- Paradisetronic.com Pro Micro Module with ATmega32U4, Similar to Arduino Leonardo Board, 5V, 16MHz (https://www.amazon.de/-/en/gp/product/B01D0OI90U/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1)

The whole thing cost me about 80€.

I know you say you lack a proper setup, but you don't need VIRPL hardware, or high end Thrustmaster joystick and throttle to play. Hit up Amazon and buy a basic 30 dollar joystick. Start there with just the control stick and keyboard.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00009OY9U/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_RMTTBJP4GKEC5RWC7SQP

Link to Logitech G Extreme 3D Pro Joystick, not an affiliate link. Just the first thing that came up for joystick, and I picked it because it did have a throttle and several extra buttons.

I love to look on in awe of the super cockpits and control rigs other players have set, and dream of having a setup I can switch between fixed wing and rotorcraft someday, but I appreciate the X56 a friend gifted me. Its enough.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Speedlink-SL-6638-BK-Controller-Dimensions-Assignable/dp/B00M1R7QGG/ref=mp_s_a_1_23?crid=3DMPMPRHJ1C1Q&keywords=usb+flight+stick&pscroll=1&qid=1646159264&sprefix=usb+fli%2Caps%2C191&sr=8-23&wIndexMa...

This is one I used for about 6 months while saving up for a better one. It's got a few buttons, throttle slider and twist rudder axis. Might need to return if it's a dud unit but my second one was fine.

I highly recommend you get a head tracker. TrackIr is kinda expensive for something so simple and that is a few decades old (and hasnt seen a software update since forever, the manufacturer seems to have forgotten its still selling them).

There is a clone now called TrackNP 5 which looks and works identical, even works with the original software, but it is more reasonably priced. I had an original trackir 4 that I broke, and recently upgraded to the tracknp5 clone, and it works perfectly. I got mine on amazon.de : https://www.amazon.de/gp/product/B08HRR1M39/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Im sure you can find it on ebay or wherever your purchase your stuff.

There are cheaper alternatives if you dont mind some tinkering. Usually involves modifying an old webcam and then soldering up some IR leds. Google "DIY headtracking". You can also buy some kits that usually include a modified playstation webcam. My brother uses that. Its a bit of tinkering and there are some issues with the webcam drivers, I cant fully endorse it but it is cheaper and the headtracking software (opentrack / freetrack) itself is awesome and even more configurable than the trackir software.

Once you get the planes they'll be in your dcsworlds/mods/aircraft/(plane)/doc

Yeah it helps a lot to read through it. You don't have to study it but the manuels explain the systems pretty well. I uploaded the m2000 one if you want to check it out https://smallpdf.com/shared#st=36c199a2-da7b-4796-a811-513d0bdac873&fn=DCS+M-2000C+Flight+Manual+EN.pdf&ct=1590098102902&tl=share-document&rf=link

J-PEIN (Upgraded): the desk mount for the flight sim game joystick, throttle and hotas systems. Fully support almost all of flight sim game hand-control devices. (not include game-device) https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B07KJCC4Q7/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_glt_fabc_ZRDEXDBSNYBYNB4M8RBW

havit HV-F2056 15.6"-17" Laptop Cooler Cooling Pad - Slim Portable USB Powered (3 Fans), Black/Blue https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00NNMB3KS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_EMBEG9D8TGM14BWDJKJ8?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

I like history in general. But I think its neat sitting in a modern fighter jet and getting to use the instruments. Im leaning more towards the f 18. Also being im on a tight budget I went with this option as a beginner and will get something more advanced if I get into it a lot.

I figured because im not entirely sure yet and don't want to drop over 100$ right now im going with this and will upgrade if I love it enough to do so.

Because im still on the fence and on a tight budget I went with this. I figured being im just going by what I see its smarter to go cheap then upgrade later.

The CPU is Overkill as hell for DCS, no problems there, the GPU is really fine and decent, will be plenty. I play at 1440p60 fps low-medium settings, or 1080@30 at high-ultra on a 590- a technically weaker card by ~15%, so you are fine on that front.

One problem though, 8 gigabytes of ram is simply not enough, you may survive, but you'd have to turn off EVERYTHING using task manager down to absolute minimum system functionality-critical processes, even kill windows defender. Then, with a lot of optimization and googling, you should be able to turn down specific settings (or all) to minimum-low to reduce RAM usage, and no multiplayer. Then you should be fine :)

Or I suggest buying another 8 gb of ram, it's REALLY cheap right now, I'd even go as far as to say get 32, 2x16 kits are 110$, ram is nearly cheapest it's ever been, or just buy another 8-gig stick for like 30$ if you have just 1, if you have 2x4, get another 2x4, running quad channel is beneficial to performance. Your experience will be EXTREMELY better and 16 gigs is becoming standard for most games in 2020 ^^ 8 is still enough for general system use and most games, but not much else, windows takes up more and more each update, even at idle it's eating up 3 for me, if I launch every background app I usually have it's 5.

I have 16 gb @ 3600 MHz (dual channel) and DCS usually doesn't take up more than 15, even on 50-player servers like Growling Sidewinder's Open Conflict that's constantly above 20 players, often gets to 50+. At that point the rest of my system tends to lag at ground level though, mostly my graphics card with 4 gigs of VRAM.

Hope this helps :)

@theLaluna & @tlwhite0311 We are a DCS group that has many prior military in our ranks, myself included. Please check out our site. We strive to be professional and realistic as possible but aren't ultra hardcore. I fly the A-10 but I know that a dedicated JTAC would be welcome to join our team. Here is link to onboarding FAQ's to the TAW (The Art of Warfare) site if you like to check it out

http://taw.net/wikis/digital-combat-simulator/onboarding-faq.aspx

Best, Steeltiger SGT A-10C flight lead - TAW