Hardware & Technical CH HOTAS dual joystick setup, advice and guidance

[Sundalo]

I currently use a CH HOTAS setup with combat stick pro throttle and pedals and not satisfied with the throttle acting as a possible lateral thruster control. I can't stand the sliding action of the throttle and mini thumbstick as a control option. A few people suggested that the pedals be used for forward and reverse thrusters with the sliding axis. Now the toe brakes seem to be tricky, so I'd like to know an optimal use for it because my legs get really tired using this for forward/reverse thrust.

I've considered buying a CH flight stick pro usb as a lefty control for flying dual stick. I've read that the left hand stick control would be good for up/down/left/right thrusters and the buttons for everything else. So that leaves the throttle but I think that might be too overkill if I combine all the CH devices at this point right? Voice Attack is mandatory for me as well lol. You see where I'm going with this lmao. So my fellow CH pilots, can you help me with a solution for an ultimate CH HOTAS dual joystick and/or throttle experience?

 

[Vjornaxx]

I currently use a CH HOTAS setup with combat stick pro throttle and pedals and not satisfied with the throttle acting as a possible lateral thruster control. I can't stand the sliding action of the throttle and mini thumbstick as a control option. A few people suggested that the pedals be used for forward and reverse thrusters with the sliding axis. Now the toe brakes seem to be tricky, so I'd like to know an optimal use for it because my legs get really tired using this for forward/reverse thrust.

I've considered buying a CH flight stick pro usb as a lefty control for flying dual stick. I've read that the left hand stick control would be good for up/down/left/right thrusters and the buttons for everything else. So that leaves the throttle but I think that might be too overkill if I combine all the CH devices at this point right? Voice Attack is mandatory for me as well lol. You see where I'm going with this lmao. So my fellow CH pilots, can you help me with a solution for an ultimate CH HOTAS dual joystick and/or throttle experience?

In a similar topic, this was my response:

I'm slowly assembling my CH HOTAS setup. I was considering a dual stick setup for a time. I had 2 ideas in my head of how it would be set up:

(1) Axes of the Combatstick control pitch and roll and the axes of the Flight stick control throttle and yaw. Vertical and lateral thrust to the top hat on the Flightstick. No pedals required. I thought that this would be ideal for FA OFF since letting go of the sticks would mean no signals are sent to any thrusters versus a throttle being left anywhere but centered at zero would mean your engines are constantly firing in FA OFF.

(2) Axes of the Combatstick control pitch and roll. Flightstick is mounted low and tilted forward to mimic the collective in a helicopter. Axes on the Flightstick control vertical (back is up and forward is down) and lateral thrust. Throttle up mapped to trigger and throttle down mapped to center thumb button. Yaw mapped to left and right thumb buttons or pedals.

 

[Sundalo]

Thanks for the suggestion I'll give it a shot. The absence of the pro throttle won't be a big deal since having the necessary axis control mapped on both sticks take priority. I'll just figure out voice attack commands for other functions. Is it beneficial to make use of the shift function in ch manager to map out additional buttons?

 

[Vjornaxx]

Thanks for the suggestion I'll give it a shot. The absence of the pro throttle won't be a big deal since having the necessary axis control mapped on both sticks take priority. I'll just figure out voice attack commands for other functions. Is it beneficial to make use of the shift function in ch manager to map out additional buttons?

I would take advantage of it. With so many hats/buttons available on the Fighterstick, most of your immediate combat functions are available to use without shifting - but unless you want to use your keyboard, there are still many non-combat functions that you'll want to have mapped.

 

[Luceferous]

I run a full CH HOTAS with some little modifications. First off, I've performed the 'Velcro' mod on the throttle to give it a MUCH better feel. Works wonders! I've scripted the pedal toe brakes to act as the yaw function (a vast improvement). The pedal slider action is chocked so not used at all. I think it's a good fast dogfighter solution. If I really want to chalk up the kills, I use my Microsoft Sidewinder FF2 with the throttle and put aside the Fighterstick and pedals. It's a fantastic HOTAS set-up, and weirdly more modern than the full CH HOTAS, despite the Sidewinder being 12 years old! Next to join the HOTAS is a Razer Chroma keyboard so I can pick out function in specific LED colours.