HOTAS Recommendations

Joehockey

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There is so much you can do with a wide budget like that. The T.16000m is the ideal "starter" full HOTAS setup that can also be a HOSAS or even HOTASAS. There as well seems to be a fairly substantial part of the community that believes HOSAS is better than HOTAS but I only have experience with HOTAS. As Shadow Reaper mentioned, Vipril is without a doubt the king of the castle. And N00bifier who he linked does quite a few quick and easy stick reviews and some setup help if you want to really dig into the HOTAS world.

I'm also pretty sure that there is a HOTAS or Joystick related SubReddit that has a fairly knowledgable community if you can't find enough info or find too much info.
 
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marcsand2

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My price range is 'Atari 2600 compatible' to 'My wife will leave me if she sees the receipt'.
2x VPC WarBRD Base €339.90
1x VPCConstellation Alpha-R €179.95
1x VPCConstellation Alpha-L €179.95
2x VPC WarBRD Base - CosmoSim Cams €39.90
3x VPC Desk Mount V2 - S €119.85
1x VPC Desk Mount V2 Adapter - TMW Throttle €19.95
1x VPC MongoosT-50CM2 Throttle - TMW Throttle Mounting Adapter €24.95
1x VPC MongoosT-50CM2 Throttle €289.95
1x VPC ACE-2 Rudder Pedals €349.95
total €1,544,35

She will only leave you once, sooo, make it count.

but, the grips and handles give you a discount of €69.98, Women are very sensitive for discounts, point that out and she might stay. You earned almost €70 ...
ah yes, what is the exchange rate to US dollars??? €0,91 is $1. That makes a total of $1620,19.
The best part is that you must get it you're self in Belarus, since you also must add shipping.

Don't forget to mention the $76.90 discount, very important!!!!!


The Cheap option would be:

1x VPC WarBRD Base €169.95
1x VPCConstellation Alpha-R €179.95
1x VPC WarBRD Base - CosmoSim Cams €19.95
2x VPC Desk Mount V2 - S €79,90
1x VPC Desk Mount V2 Adapter - TMW Throttle €19.95
1x VPC MongoosT-50CM2 Throttle - TMW Throttle Mounting Adapter €24.95
1x VPC MongoosT-50CM2 Throttle €289.95
discount €34.99
total €749,61
total $823,75

It is very costly, but totally worth it. I started with a Thrustmaster Warthog, modded the base until it was as smooth as possible, counter springs etc. but when I switched to Virpil bases, definitely worth the investment.
You might want to check out tthe HOTAS/HOSAS/SIMPIT discord, it is the counterpart of the
HOTAS or Joystick related SubReddit
reddit.
They have a #buy-sell-trade channel. Only look for Virpil or VKB. The rest is inferior.
 

Devil Dog Hog

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There is so much you can do with a wide budget like that. The T.16000m is the ideal "starter" full HOTAS setup that can also be a HOSAS or even HOTASAS. There as well seems to be a fairly substantial part of the community that believes HOSAS is better than HOTAS but I only have experience with HOTAS.
I agree with this statement. The T.16000m are good to try out and see if you like HOTAS or even HOSAS. They may look cheap, but their insides are good, and I believe they have hall sensors. I would go with this option first and decide from there. You can also augment with rudder pedals to give yet another input. I myself run a Saitek x52 (prior to being bought by Logitech) and a set of rudders and enjoy it, but still like to use mouse and KB or a console controller depending on the situation.
 

Tei

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The Thrustmaster T16000m is a good budget option
I agree, those are great starting option if OP wants to try first without large financial commitment.

Also consider HOSAS (2x sticks) instead HOTAS.

I got myself 2x Thrustmaster T-16k and I like it very much and already thinking about getting something better (Virpil woild be great but they struggle with fulfilling demand) and some ruders.
 

CosmicTrader

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Tei

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If cost is a factor & you are not trying to impress the Air Force fighter pilots.......

I have this one and LOVE it....

The newest version is HOTAS T Flight 4
Do not want to rain on your parade, but those look horrible in terms of available buttons. Maybe could be ok with Voice Attack tho.
Do you have to take hands off often to perform different tasks?
 

Cugino83

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Do not want to rain on your parade, but those look horrible in terms of available buttons. Maybe could be ok with Voice Attack tho.
Do you have to take hands off often to perform different tasks?
Agree aon that...
I've a Logitech X56, buyed about a year ago from amazon, a used offer on extreamly good coondition at the right price (about 150€ if I remember right...).
It's a good set, but the joystik has a lot (and I mean a LOT) of free movement and is not reaally super precise, so if you are aplanning on using fiex weapon hardpoint on your ship maybe is not the best option.

If you are not restricted on the financial side I'll suggest you to go for the Virpil set: they are expensive, but I think the quality is absolutly there, and by the way, they are going to release theyr new stick:
 

Shadow Reaper

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I'm still thinking the twist function of the Connie Delta stick is a game changer for anyone wanting to fly an extremely maneuverable bird into a death spiral around a target. Just in case someone wants to try, explaining again from my old Mechwarrior days. . .

The ultimate "brawler" maneuver is to close as tight as you can on an opponent, and circle it as tightly as possible while keeping your guns pointed at it. That means you're circling with strafe, not main engines. What this does is cause you to cross the opponent's targeting horizon so quickly, they can't get a shot at you, and yet keeps max guns (no gimble needed) on your opponent at all times.

The Razor EX should be perfect for this, since it has an absolutely tiny nose cross-sectional area so will be hard to hit, it has huge strafe rates, and has guns that really want to be close in. When it is in close and all the pellets hit, the tiny ship does big damage and should be extremely hard to hit.

This should be easier with the twist on the stick, which is just what I used to pilot a Black Knight so effectively in Mechwarrior.
 

Ayeteeone

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If cost is a factor & you are not trying to impress the Air Force fighter pilots.......

I have this one and LOVE it....

The newest version is HOTAS T Flight 4
...tries to imagine the terms Air Force and fighter pilot together. I know they have a lot of nice toys filling up the tarmac.. I met one AF pilot who they thought might be good enough to land on our deck.

J/K; retired Naval Aviation here. Respect for all the services, but AF will get no slack :)
 

Aramsolari

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I agree with this statement. The T.16000m are good to try out and see if you like HOTAS or even HOSAS. They may look cheap, but their insides are good, and I believe they have hall sensors. I would go with this option first and decide from there. You can also augment with rudder pedals to give yet another input. I myself run a Saitek x52 (prior to being bought by Logitech) and a set of rudders and enjoy it, but still like to use mouse and KB or a console controller depending on the situation.
Upvote for T16000. I run dual T16000 and Pedals. Does all I need and more (I also have head tracking set up via webcam). I mean I'm still a rubbish pilot but at least I have immersion!
 

Shadow Reaper

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I do use Voice Attack for 'mundane' things.......
Also, I have yet to use all the buttons.
Is there a way to use voice attack or a button, to toggle many functions at once? So for example, could you say or click "stealth mode" and the shields, one of two reactors, and all the EM hot stuff like jump drives, would all shut down at once and go decoupled flight; and alternatively say "combat mode" and everything would come on in a specific sequence?
 
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