Hi all,

 

I was thinking of obtaining a VR headset... I would use it primary for DCS. Is there anything I should be aware of or know beforehand? 🙂

Tips and guidance would be appreciated. 

Currently I use a Logitech 3D Extreme Pro... I'm a little unsure of whether or not I should get a HOTAS joystick as well and if so - which one?
I couldn't see it (since I would be wearing a VR-headset, so I'm don't know if it's necessary.

Thanks a lot for all advice 🙂

 

29 minutes ago, Anders Bermann said:

Is there anything I should be aware of or know beforehand? 🙂

 

Yes, there is no way back to 2D flying once you do this 🙂

I am already a vr dinosaur with my ancient Rift CV1 but still having fun with that. There will be better headsets nowadays no doubt.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The newer VR headsets give better display quality and the price is coming down too. My CV1 gives just about OK quality on X-Plane 11 Prepar3D is not so good in VR, as you need to use the mouse and/or use a 3rd party program to get virutal hands such as https://flyinside-fsx.com/Home/AddOns , whereas X-Plane controllers work right out of the box.

P3D give a good guide

http://www.prepar3d.com/SDKv4/prepar3d/virtual_reality/virtual_reality_tuning_guide.html

 

Yearh... thanks a lot 🙂

I know about the 'no going back'... I was thinking of getting the HP Reverb.

Is it necessary to get a HOTAS as well or not? 🙂

Thanks again.

I would say not mandartory to buy joystick hardware if you are happy with what you currently have. The HP Reverb looks great, if you can get your hands on one!

I use the HP Reverb and love it.  It's the highest resolution headset out there at the moment, at least in the consumer product range.  I have read that the controller tracking is not as good with the Reverb as other systems and that it may not be the best setup for other type of VR games (standing room etc), but if your main use of VR is sit down simulators and you don't need to use the controllers, its a good headset. I myself had not had any issues using the controllers with other games.  Using VR in a simulator cockpit, you will need to be able to read all the gauges and screens easily without having to lean in to read them.  I have no issues reading them in all the DCS planes.  You will also want the highest resolution you can get, so you can make out a bandit at a distance. I also have the Vive Pro, purchased before the HP Reverb came out,  Its also an good headset, but the Revreb is better resolution and I can tell the difference in the cockpit. I mainly fly the Hornet and the Viper. I use my HOTAS for most things and a mouse for clicking in the cockpit for everything else, like setting up a tacan.  If you set up your desk area nicely, you will quickly gain muscle memory of where your mouse and Joystick/Hotas are.

Be prepared to stretch those neck muscles.  You will be looking behind you for the bandit, like in the real aircraft. When using a monitor, you don't move your head that much, but in VR, everything is like sitting in the real cockpit at real 1:1 size and you look around just you would in real life.  I also find it easier to land. 

how's the reverb's fov compared to cv1?

6 hours ago, rickjake said:

I use the HP Reverb and love it.  It's the highest resolution headset out there at the moment, at least in the consumer product range.  I have read that the controller tracking is not as good with the Reverb as other systems and that it may not be the best setup for other type of VR games (standing room etc), but if your main use of VR is sit down simulators and you don't need to use the controllers, its a good headset. I myself had not had any issues using the controllers with other games.  Using VR in a simulator cockpit, you will need to be able to read all the gauges and screens easily without having to lean in to read them.  I have no issues reading them in all the DCS planes.  You will also want the highest resolution you can get, so you can make out a bandit at a distance. I also have the Vive Pro, purchased before the HP Reverb came out,  Its also an good headset, but the Revreb is better resolution and I can tell the difference in the cockpit. I mainly fly the Hornet and the Viper. I use my HOTAS for most things and a mouse for clicking in the cockpit for everything else, like setting up a tacan.  If you set up your desk area nicely, you will quickly gain muscle memory of where your mouse and Joystick/Hotas are.

Be prepared to stretch those neck muscles.  You will be looking behind you for the bandit, like in the real aircraft. When using a monitor, you don't move your head that much, but in VR, everything is like sitting in the real cockpit at real 1:1 size and you look around just you would in real life.  I also find it easier to land. 

Thanks for sharing your experience! 🙂

Is it necessary to purchase a separate throttle, or could you manage to use mouse etc within the headset for pushing buttons/switches (like for engine start etc)... or does that get to cumbersome... I could get a HOTAS system as well, but would it be necessary? My desk-space is rather limited (so if it were possible to mange without, without destroying too much immersion, it would be preferable - also in order to maintain order within the household 😄 ). But I'm of course set to get it, if I need it 🙂 - I would think, that it would be more necessary, since you cannot see any of your controls? I dunno... 

I would mainly be playing DCS (F/A-18), and maybe Elite Dangerous.

Thanks again for all input!

I actually use my existing hardware - Saitek Yoke and Throttle with Rudder pedals. You can also use the virtual ones (at least in X-Plane) Prepar3D has been disapointing in VR and I use 2D there.

 

For dcs in vr you will want a Hotas with as many buttons as your budget affords. That and Voice Attack. 
 

since your headset will be on you won’t be able to really see the keyboard to do keyboard commands for the plethora of stuff that you could program to a hotas button and or use voice attack for.

i rock an old x52 hotas and run voice attack in VR with the A10c/f18 and f14. Have not flown in dcs without the headset since I bought it last year.

15 hours ago, Anders Bermann said:

Thanks for sharing your experience! 🙂

Is it necessary to purchase a separate throttle, or could you manage to use mouse etc within the headset for pushing buttons/switches (like for engine start etc)... or does that get to cumbersome... I could get a HOTAS system as well, but would it be necessary? My desk-space is rather limited (so if it were possible to mange without, without destroying too much immersion, it would be preferable - also in order to maintain order within the household 😄 ). But I'm of course set to get it, if I need it 🙂 - I would think, that it would be more necessary, since you cannot see any of your controls? I dunno... 

I would mainly be playing DCS (F/A-18), and maybe Elite Dangerous.

Thanks again for all input!

Its not necessary to purchase a separate throttle, but a HOTAS is the preferred method. If you purchase F/A-18 or the F-16, A-10 etc., they all have 100 percent clickable cockpits, so you can do almost anything with the mouse. However, do to the complexity of these planes, Radar, Weapons, Navigation, Air to Air mode, Air to ground mode, etc, They were designed so the pilot can interact with the systems quickly with the HOTAS.  You can use a mouse, but it might be a bit slower. for example, you want quickly switch from an Amraam missile to a Sidewinder missile while tracking a bandit. With the HOTAS, its a quick press of a button, while still keeping your eyes on the target. Using the mouse will work, but you will have to look down into your cockpit to click the appropriate buttons. This could be the difference between you taking out the bandit, and the bandit taking you out.  

If your interest is in just getting used to the planes and attacking stationary targets, or  drones, then the mouse would be fine, but I think you would be at a disadvantage if you are playing against others in multiplayer or more difficult missions.  Just my opinion. 😁

16 hours ago, kdfw__ said:

how's the reverb's fov compared to cv1?

Reverb is a Windows Mixed Reality headset with 2,160 by 2,160-pixel screens (per eye) and a 114 degree field of view. 

 

I don't own the cv1, but a quick google search, I found this:

The FOV of the Oculus Rift CV1 (consumer version 1) is about 80 horizontal degrees and about 90 vertical degrees when your eyes are about 10mm away from the lenses. That's about 120 diagonal degrees.

80deg horiz to 114deg horiz would be an upgrade...  thank you.