Dual Joysticks - any success stories?

[Viking84]

With the Mongoos T-50 sticks it looks like I would end up with the following axis:

Right Stick: Pitch and Roll on stick, thrust up on analogue break lever
Left Stick: Lateral thrusters (forward/back, left/right), thrust down on analogue break lever
Pedals: Yaw

Swapping Yaw and Roll sounds like something I would find very unnatural compared to regular flight sims, but I guess I would have to try it!

Veeeery close to pulling the trigger on these Virpil sticks... 650 ex vat pounds for two sticks with mounts, and an additonal mount and base for my Warthog Throttle is pretty pricey though!

 

[Knightshark]

I tried two T16k for a few days but couldn't get used to it, and i also found controlling throttle a bit annoying. Now for FAoff only i imagine this works better because you only need the throttle in super cruise. But what really turned me off in the end was that both sticks got mixed up randomly after reboots. Therefore i would first check how well the system/game handles two Mongoos T-50 sticks.

 

[leeG]

I use dual T.16000Ms. I haven’t experienced any issues with Windows swapping usb port assignments, probably because I use the T.A.R.G.E.T software to program the joysticks. T.A.R.G.E.T combines the two sticks into a single virtual device before I launch the game. The game sees the combined virtual device, not two separate joysticks.

 

[Magic Man]

The criticism of the T-50 seems odd to me...

the T-50 flightstick suffered from the same poor tension design that the VKB flightstick had where there is little tension in the center with increasing tension as you deflect the flightstick. As any competitive pilot knows, this is HUGE problem as you need tension at the center for precise shots, and you need less tension at the outside so you can quickly deflect the flightstick to maneuver.

...surely that's how virtually all sticks are loaded?

Why would you want more tension at the centre? You want little to no tension around the centre to allow small adjustments - the criticism seems totally backwards to me.

 

[VR andysonofbob]

I use twin T1600M and a set of racing pedals for forward and backwards and I LOVE IT.

I wouldn't change it for the world. So immersive and responsive.

 

[Frenotx]

You have a reputation as a good pilot, but I can't remember if you do fa-off. Can you module snipe with rails in fa-off on your setup?

I just switched out my TWCS throttle for a gaming mouse in an effort to git gud at that very thing, but I'd definitely be more comfortable with a second stick.

I actually fly mostly FA-on, with only occasional very brief occasional toggles to induce slides. I just use the lateral thrusters and reverse throttle liberally enough that it may sometimes LOOK like I'm in FA-off. I don't have issues module sniping with rails, though I do have my best results a longer range where the micro-gimbal effect works best. A mouse would probably be a bit more accurate for the "right stick", but then I wouldn't have my hands always on the controls for targeting, pip management, countermeasures, and fire group selection. Plus, dual sticks are just immensely satisfying to use in more complicated flight.

 

[Lowievisser]

yeah 1 trhusmaster joystick , 1 same brand with a hotas , and a steering weel between them + padels and a oculus for easy looking around

 

[Magic Man]

I use a 3D mouse - basically a small joystick with six bindable axes. I use the translation axes for movement, and the rotation axes in the galaxy map only.

Same here (3dConnexion SpaceMouse Enterprise) for full galaxy control, camera control and thrusters.

Am tempted by the thought of the upcoming VKB MCG Pro with twist adaptor though (if they do do a right hand version)

 

[Malatose]

That's pretty much what I thought. I can do the same with fa-on and my full HOTAS setup, but I cannot for the life of me achieve acceptable rail accuracy using that setup and fa-off.

Thanks for responding.

I use the Warthog HOTAS setup but if I wasn't I'd be using the Delta Throttle. There's video of it on Youtube. Looks like it'd be perfect for E.

 

[Space Dandy]

That Delta throttle looks interesting but how do you control your actual speed? Also is that thing still a work in progress or is it dead in the water?

 

[zarrazee]

I'm not running dual stick, but mouse and left handed stick.

Mouse controls: Pitch / Yaw / Thrust / Set 0% speed / Primary & Secondary Fire
Stick - Roll / Lateral & vertical thrusters / Boost etc

Works well for me.

 

[Arkku]

I have tried dual joystick a couple of times, basically I modified my broken Saitek X55 stick to be usable in the left hand (I cut off the thumb button, which was one of the broken things anyway)… FA on I hate it, because I much prefer a throttle control. FA off I think it could work nicely, but I don't have the time or patience at the moment to learn it.

The setup was:

• Right hand: pitch/roll with pitch/yaw as alternate
• Pedals: yaw with roll as alternate, thrust forward/backward on toe brakes mapped to a single axis
• Left hand: thrust vertical/lateral

For supercruise I had increase/decrease throttle as well as 0% and 100% mapped to a hat.

 

[Masta Squidge]

I use dual T16000Ms


The only problem I have is occasional swapping left to right, which I have learned to deal with, and actually the last several days since the last swap (I just swapped the sticks ambidextrous parts) and left it with the switches on the sticks set incorrectly and it has not done it at all.


I feel that it's amazing for fine movements, like docking. I can whip into a docking pad like an old pro these days.

10/10 do recommend. I use voice attack though so I don't use any of the base buttons at all.

 

[zarrazee]

That's basically what I've gone to. But being a lefty, my mouse is on the left in place of the throttle. The biggest difficulty for me has been getting used to controlling pitch / yaw with my left hand. It's a little weird, but I'm getting used to it, and it seems to work well for fa-off.

Good call. I tried dual stick, but I preferred yaw/pitch with the mouse - less buttons, but just bought the TM T.16000m FCS, so lots of buttons on the base.

 

[the100thmonkey]

Yeah. I'm using a t1600 as well. I hate the buttons on the base though. None of them really seem convenient to reach. Great stick otherwise.

The base buttons are only useful for landing gear, cargo scoop and lights.

The fact that E:D supports shift keys makes the stick viable - I have two on my left-hand control, which gives about 20-or-so available commands on the top of the stick.

 

[the100thmonkey]

Yeah - it's a lot to adapt to if you just dump the shift keys on all at once. I moved up from one shift key a few moths back, after a year or so. Muscle memory works like that.

 

[Viking84]

I couldn't resist any longer - ordered the Virpil joysticks with desk mounts, and an extra mount for my Warthog Throttle. Should have enough buttons and axis to control pretty much everything now!

Will do a review with some pictures once I get it set up and tested

 

[wrmiller]

I considered dual sticks, but couldn't work the mapping of everything out in my head. I have a WH hotas and got tired of the digital thrusters on the throttles POV hat, so I moved them to the mini-mouse. Up, down, left and right thrusters are now on the mini-mouse, with reverse thrusters on a side toggle. I don't use forward thrusters as I have main engines for forward movement.

The mini-mouse, being analog, gives me much finer control of my thrusters.

 

[leeG]

I'm hoping as more people start using dual joysticks in space simulations, the manufacturers will step up with some new or improved products. The T.16000 could use the addition of a pinky button as a minimum. Dual hat switches and a pinky would be great. Although, I use Voice Attack and am not restricted by lack of buttons.

 

[Viking84]

I tried the mini-mouse, might be my particular throttle (or my lack of dexterity) but I could never get the hang of it and found that I ended up using it like a digital switch just like any other.

I also had a 3D Connexion Space Pilot Pro that I used for fine control of the thrusters for a while. That gave amazing control, especially if you set it up to control all axis including pitch yaw and roll, however it felt too fragile to use in combat, so it became a pure secondary controller which in the end I stopped using.

Hoping this new dual stick + throttle setup will be the best of all worlds. Robust hardware, buttons that are easily identifiable in VR, and lots of axis Will be interesting to see how the two analogue "pinky switches" work for thruster control.