Open/Group Mode Communications?

Hooplah

Hooplah
Greetings,

So how are PS4 players talking to each other in Open and Group modes? I'm using a T.Flight HOTAS 4 which is pretty basic for typing text. With both USB slots being used (a flash drive installed) I could use a bluetooth keyboard if it doesn't mess up my HOTAS settings when I log into the game. Add in a communications headset for those that have voice communications and all the bases are covered. Both would be nice as I assume many more players will be doing text versus voice for now.

I have a DS4 with a Chat Boost keypad but then that wipes out my HOTAS control settings when I change over to it. It would be nice to be able to save ED controller profiles as there are times I would prefer the DS4 versus the HOTAS.

Personally if I have to go all the way I like the Sennheiser Game Zero. Still a simple light weight one ear speaker/mic headset just for voice comms would be nice so that I don't lose the awesome audio/video setup I already have playing ED. I prefer not to wear a dedicated full enclosure headset if only 10 percent of my gameplay involves voice communications.

Obtaining a goal in ED often takes many hours. Thus I watch movies and TV on a side monitor while I'm playing the game. It is often a competition thinking can I get to the next desired level before the movie ends? If I'm into the movie the next thing I know I have advanced farther in whatever I'm doing. A dedicated headset doesn't work well with this.

I'm not very knowledgeable with PS4 comms or even if communication headsets are working in ED at the moment. So what solutions have the PS4 players come up with? Hopefully this will be a great thread with awesome setups so that we can quickly communicate with another player and for me let them know my intentions...or I know theirs. Then maybe they won't jump out once they see me. Being mostly a Trader I'm not all that interested in live combat but they might not see it that way while I'm doing bounty missions now and then in an engineered combat Corvette! :)

Regards
 

Vinsanity84

V
I use a 4 usb hub under my cockpit I built. Regular usb keyboard for (text chat), hotas, charge cable for my tablet and phone.
The other usb ins on the ps4 pro are used for my headset dongle, and the back one I have my 5tb external hardrive plug in.
 

Hooplah

Hooplah
Vinsanity84 said:
I use a 4 usb hub under my cockpit I built. Regular usb keyboard for (text chat), hotas, charge cable for my tablet and phone.
The other usb ins on the ps4 pro are used for my headset dongle, and the back one I have my 5tb external hardrive plug in.
Click to expand...

So a USB hub will work with a PlayStation? Could be interesting when I fire it up and it asks me which controller I want to use. I'll give it a go! Thanks.
 

Techup

Techup
There are those cooling stands they sell that usually have a couple extra USB slots. It plugs into one of the ps4s usbs and splits that into 2 more or 3. You could look into one of those.

I'd love to have one, but I have a very rambunctious cat and I'm too paranoid to stand my ps4 up.
 

blitzfreigabe

B
Techup said:
There are those cooling stands...
Click to expand...

I am always wary of those, I have friends that swear by it, but from my time building computers putting fans next to fans is a bad idea due to airflow issues that it could cause. I would say as many friends as say they like using them say they don't work and a few have said that they think that is what caused the untimely heat death of their console.
 

stormyuk

Volunteer Moderator
stormyuk
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CMDR Lukas Vance

CMDR Lukas Vance
I currently use this chat pad (I have a few gadgets around so something which can be multi purpose is always a good thing) and the Sony Gold Wireless headset. I use party chat fairly regular with people I've struck up a rapport with (Stormy and JonTheGreat mainly) but when events like GDO come up there's more people join in and it's great fun and really adds to the atmosphere in group events. I also use the chat pad just to touch base with people and see what they are up to whislt playing on an evening, and also to send a friendly o7 to random strangers.

I did this the other night; I was in my Dolphin doing some passenger missions and spotted an hollow shape on my radar. It was an Orca so I sent the usual o7. I got a reply, which I don't usually so responded with 'I hope your passengers are not being too demanding CMDR' as all passenger pilots know what a bane this can be! I didn't get a response, but thought nothing of it as a friendly o7 is so much more than I usually get. However, the reason I wasn't getting a reply is that the CMDR was sending me a friend request with a message saying that that was the best interaction they had had yet in this game! So then we proceeded to have a friendly chat via text for 20 mins before I had to go and have dinner. It was really great for me but I think this person also got a lot more out of it and seemed to give me the impression they didn't really meet anybody in the game. So sending that friendly o7 may not get you much in response, but when it does I think it can be really beneficial.

I've also (maybe foolishly) just ordered one of these this week. I pay for Apple Music Subscription (the family plan) and I had been paying for Spotify as well. For many reasons I decided to cancel Spotify but really miss being able to listen to music in the game so after some research telling me that just splitter cables alone could damager my headphones I though I would give the mixer a try. I really am not sure if the microphone will work at all, but using a mic is a small portion of my playing time and I can easily switch when this is needed and would not be listening to music when chatting with people anyway. Yes, yes, I know the game music is great and I do enjoy it but I have about a week and a half's flying time logged now and it's getting a bit samey. Driving around a dry dusty planet in your SRV with Miles Davis' 'Sketches of Spain' really is a fantastic experience. If Miles has been lost to humanity in 3303 then I really don't want to be there.
 

stormyuk

Volunteer Moderator
stormyuk
Hehe yeh I remember the other day chatting across the expanse of 2000ly and you trying to explain something to me, "Can you party chat?" Yeh, lets just do that LOL.

Still for when you are chatting to random peeps, like the guy last night who asked how my Imperial "grind" was going in Wu Guinagi so was nice to just exchange a few lines.
 
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donkclarke

donkclarke
Bog standard wired Logitech USB keyboard does for me. Very rarely get text chat responses, but then again, i find using the on screen keyboard a bit pants so I can understand folks not being bothered with the hassle of replying.

When ever me and my mates wing up, for voice comms we us party chat, rather than the in game comms. Clarity is loads better IMO. My Turtle Beach PX51 headset is awesome. Cost a fair few quid, but it is superb. The battery lasts ages so rarely do I need to use up a USB slot for charging it when playing.
 

Hooplah

Hooplah
CMDR labrunning said:
I currently use this chat pad...

I did this the other night...

I've also (maybe foolishly) just ordered one of these this week...
Click to expand...

Thanks CMDR labruning for testing the envelope. If you can get the Digital Optical Audio out of the PS4 to a simple Behringher analog mixer then all things are possible. You might need something like this.

Still who is talking by voice on the PS4 and how are they doing it without messing up a DS4 or HOTAS controller.

Regards

https://www.amazon.com/Digital-Optical-Analog-audio-converter/dp/B004C4WPXA
 

CMDR Lukas Vance

CMDR Lukas Vance
Hooplah said:
Thanks CMDR labruning for testing the envelope. If you can get the Digital Optical Audio out of the PS4 to a simple Behringher analog mixer then all things are possible. You might need something like this.
Click to expand...

I've just ordered one of these; http://UGREEN Audio Splitter with M...p/B00Y458NA6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_wryHzbPY85F8Z

Hopefully that will work by splitting the audio/mic before it goes to the mixer and then I don't need another box!

Hooplah said:
Still who is talking by voice on the PS4 and how are they doing it without messing up a DS4 or HOTAS controller.
Click to expand...

I do all the time. How would it mess up the HOTAS/DS4?
 

stormyuk

Volunteer Moderator
stormyuk
Hooplah said:
Still who is talking by voice on the PS4 and how are they doing it without messing up a DS4 or HOTAS controller.
Click to expand...

Yeh, I don't get that line. I just use these wireless beauties:

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or if they are not charged, plug these in (these cost me like £4.99):

sonypsvitainearpeadset_psv-p.jpg
 

Hooplah

Hooplah
OK, I ordered this custom USB hub for the PS4 Pro on Amazon. Now it's a matter of seeing how many controllers per Thrustmaster T-Flight HOTAS 4, USB keyboard and/or headset will work together in the game. Some mini-keyboards also come with lighting effects and a mouse touchpad/trackball which could be useful.

As I log into the PlayStation it only asks for one controller. Maybe a second one should be used as Guest? We'll see.

Meanwhile here's my setup. Using two metal outdoor patio tables I attached two Farberware kitchen plastic cutting boards using Velcro then placed the HOTAS on them. The rough texture of the boards ensures that the controllers do not move around. The controllers and tables can easily be moved for the perfect position with kids to adults playing the game.

Using yaw on the joystick instead of rudder pedals allows for using a racing wheel and pedals for other games. Finally the Playseat Challenge is very comfortable for hours of play. I can't say the same for an office chair.

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Vinsanity84

V
No it will ask u what user is using the keyboard and just click o the same user, then when u log in with the hotas just click on the same user again. It will show u up in the left hand corner 2 controller icons if u have a ds4 and hotas logged in on the same account along with a keyboard icon, mouse icon and a headset icon if u r using them all.
 

Hooplah

Hooplah
Vinsanity84 said:
No it will ask u what user is using the keyboard and just click o the same user, then when u log in with the hotas just click on the same user again. It will show u up in the left hand corner 2 controller icons if u have a ds4 and hotas logged in on the same account along with a keyboard icon, mouse icon and a headset icon if u r using them all.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info! I'll try this out.
 

Hooplah

Hooplah
Some testing results.

I like the Turtle Beach Ear Force P4C headset. It is designed for voice while using the TV or dedicated surround speaker system for the gaming sounds. The earpad is designed to allow the system speaker sounds to pass through. It is lightweight and comfortable for long gaming sessions. For testing game audio can also be toggled but it seems that the volume is low. Probably me not having it set correctly. It connects to the DS4 controller. It would be nice to connect it directly to the console but I haven't found an adapter yet.

There are USB adapters for gaming headsets with separate mic and speaker connectors. That opens up a lot of opportunities with high end very expensive gaming headsets (Are they worth it on a PlayStation?) to extremely lightweight professional voice communications headsets used for handheld two-way radios.

For texting a DS4 with an after market ChatPad (there are many different keypads available) works. Logged into ED with the HOTAS I went to the PlayStation screen and activated the DS4. Both controls now work in the PlayStation screens. Back into the game only the keypad on the DS4 works. Totally acceptable as the HOTAS controls are not effected. Connecting the headset to the ChatPad audio connection makes for a complete texting/voice solution. Powering the DS4 via USB cable resolves the battery power issues for very long sessions. Note that the ChatPad has it's own rechargeable battery which greatly extends the DS4 battery power when the keypad is turned off and this mode is selected.

Texting only I like the Gear Head KB3800TPW 2.3Ghz wireless mini-keyboard with touchpad mouse. At 11 x 4.5 inches it is a good size to use all the fingers for typing versus thumbs on a ChatPad. It uses two AAA batteries (which was a concern) to keep it small but has an on/off power switch. Turning it on when texting and off when idle and the batteries will probably expire with non-use in a year versus consumption.

The Dobe P4 Pro Hub puts it all together. Four 2.0 USB connectors for controllers and a fifth 3.0 for hard/flash drive storage. Only playing six games on the PS4 Pro (I bought the PS4 for ED!) I already have 197 Gb saved. The speed of the 3.0 port is great. So connecting a Thrustmaster T.Flight HOTAS 4, Logitech G29 Racing wheel and pedals, Gear Head keyboard, data storage and even powering a DS4 is resolved. Positive it looks like it is part of the console. Negative it does not lock in place so hold it when removing a connection.

Anyway with so many communications toys available I hope this info helps to set them up from a player who didn't have a clue how all this worked a week ago! I'll still have to chat with someone in the game to figure out what I'll obviously be doing wrong then. Being an old guy I am sure that any 10 year old PS4 player is an Elite expert at all of this. Where is a 10 year old when you need one! :)

Regards to all and fly safe!

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PS4-Pro-Accessories-Play-Station-4-Pro-Host-font-b-USB-b-font-Hub-3-0.jpg
 
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