Noob,,,,,almost! some Questions

[SlapStik]

Hi Folks,

I just received the "package" and installed it, Wahooo. I had the original SB but never got into it the way I wanted to (you know, the whole wife and 4 kids thing)!

I just have a few quick questions I hope you’all can help. :)
-Can the Dongle stay in the USB port all the time with no adverse effect on other programs?
-I just got a Cougar HOTAS (major wood sported) and have a CH Products HOTAS, which is preferred for this sim?
-Finally, do you use the throttle and joystick or just the stick?

I've been single player Flight Simming since '94 so I have some experience but I really want to get into this big time!!

Thanks for your help!
Doug

[Ratcatcher]

Hello and welcome !
1: I've been leaving the dongle in and have had no probs.

2: I've got a cougar, but had orginally had probs with sb1 recognising it and also concious of the amount of effort the tracking took I thought I'd buy a cheap basic joystick for pro PE, I shouldnt have bothered, it just wasnt sensitive enough. I have now gone back to the cougar and taken a crash course in programming it... AGAIN ! Its very versatile and think its a good stick for SB.

I just need a few more trips down the gym to improve my stamina with holding it :shock:

I havent used the CH stick so couldnt comment on whats actually better.

3: I just use the stick, but use a combination of keyboard and the dx1 by ergodex, I'd just started a thread about that today funnily enough, please see the link for an explanation if needed. If your into flight sims you might like it !

http://www.steelbeasts.com/index.php?name=PNphpBB2&file=viewtopic&t=6932

[Captmatt]

I've left the dongle in out of sheer laziness and I have not seen any adverse affects. Its been a week since I have received the game.

I use the Saitek X52 joystick and throttle. I have a few buttons programmed on the throttle part. There is a POV hat on it that I use to drive with. Thats about it. I try to keep from using the keyboard as much as possible.

[SlapStik]

Whaoooo Ratcatcher, I saw that today and am thinking (too hard) about getting one!

Thanks for your responses, I'm leaving the Dongle where it hangs and will start doing some curls to wrestle with the Cougar.

BTW, the CH Fighter stick and Throttle are awesome too so I'm betting they see plenty of action!

Thanks again!

[deees]

Whaoooo Ratcatcher, I saw that today and am thinking (too hard) about getting one!

BTW, the CH Fighter stick and Throttle are awesome too so I'm betting they see plenty of action!

Thanks again!

I picked up the CH Fighterstick to use in SBPE, but didn't like the detents. I replaced the springs with some lighter ones I picked up a the hardware store and find that it reduces the irregular tracking that occurs as you transition across the axes. I used 5/16 x .032 gage string, but you might be able to find even lighter ones. For a tank sim the springs probable don't need to do much more than hold the stick upright. With the Fighterstick, the gimble design mean that you can never completely eliminated the detents, but it also makes the zero point on the travel very determinate.

[Ratcatcher]

Whaoooo Ratcatcher, I saw that today and am thinking (too hard) about getting one!



It's a very tasty bit of kit, I ended up doing the exact same thing when I first saw it. I kinda felt like Homer..." Doughnuts hmmmmm, must have doughnuts, mmmmmmm" :D

[SlapStik]

like Homer..." Doughnuts hmmmmm, must have doughnuts, mmmmmmm" :lol: Good way of putting it!! I did the same thing with the Cougar at CompUSA, it's like being in a trance.

I fired off a few shots last night, in a tutorial, using the Cougar joystick and man was it stiff. I'm gonna try the CH Fighter stick tonight and consider the "Springs" idea, thanks for the input!!

[Ratcatcher]

I fired off a few shots last night, in a tutorial, using the Cougar joystick and man was it stiff. I'm gonna try the CH Fighter stick tonight and consider the "Springs" idea, thanks for the input!!

Yes, I must admit, the more I'm using the cougar the more I'm acheing !

I wish I could lessen the tension of the springs on it but my technical knowledge kinda makes me think twice about f'ing up a costly stick.

Let us know how you get on.