IMIX

I'm sure this question has been asked to death as well, but:
can you buy G3 without that useless controller?
I don't need any more junk in my house.
I just want to use my own radio.
if not, that'd be enough for me to buy a different sim.
I like the looks of G3, but definitely don't want that cheap 'controller'.

I'm new to all the 'sim war' stuff (and RC for that matter),
IMO, I think brand loyalty chest pounding is silly.
what works best for one person wont for others. nothing new there..
I'm just looking for a good/fun sim to practice on.

50%plane

My Feedback: (5)

No you can't. The controller holds the code for G3 to run on your computer. It's a pretty nice controller though.


50%

opjose

That and most good sims are switching over to this mechanism for copy protection.

Not all have it though.

In any event, the "useless" controller is something you DO want.

It draws no power from batteries or NiCD's unlike your real controller... so it's easier to use and costs less in the long run.

r1derbike

No chest pounding here...I've used all the major sims...hundreds of hours. G3 beats them all. Every one of them. I've also been in RC modeling for over 20 years. G3 comes closest to the "real thing".

Screen shots? You want screenshots?

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v4...tor/?start=all

b.bixel

My Feedback: (123)

The useless controller is really not so useless as you connect your own radio through it.

Regards,
Bart

Raylon

All those screenshots and only 4 heli's? Come on man, get those good lookin G3 Heli's in there!

r1derbike

Yeah! They are a bit "under represented", no?

I've been thinking about doing more helis, but the planks have been coming hot-n-heavy for a while. I'll add several at a time, and probably split-up into separate albums the helis, 3D aerobats, sports planes, warbirds, and such. It's very time consuming!

Screen shots? You want screenshots?

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v4...tor/?start=all

Ernie Misner

Which sim gives the best ability to "zoom in" so the plane doesn't get so darned small at times when trying to learn a new maneuver? My G2 zooms in great, really smooth. But on my friends AFPD and my neighbors G3, we never did figure out how to get a really good, smooth zoom. Perhaps zooming is video card intensive. (maybe just us?)

Another useful feature is going into a slow motion mode. I love the way my G2 2will slow down when learning a new move, but once again, we didn't have so much luck with the other 2 sims. More time needed with them perhaps.

Ernie

opjose

In G3, select Autozoom, the hit the plus key on the keypad to control the size of the on screen plane.

G3 will then maintain this size.

You can also enable the "binoculars" or another zoomed window.

Of course you can always use Chase Plane view as well.

mswlogo

That was exactly my thoughts. So I bought AFDP.
It turned out the other post it right, to have constantly keep the battery charged is pain and wear and tear on your good real radio. Great for testing your radio setup though.

I ended swapping with someone for G3 (for other reasons) and I really like the G3.
The dummy radio is good enough for the sim and it's always their ready to go.

mswlogo

I think G3 is better than AFPD in this regard. Although I might not have dug into all the options with AFPD to solve it.

On G3 I keep a Binocular pop window up (Gadet Window). The autozoom still does not zoom in enough and the other choices of position are too unrealistic from real RC flying.

weathervane

I have been reading some of the comments here. As a newbie to the R C airplane world, I like the idea of a simulator. One the other hand I just can't see spending $200 dollars for a sim. I did not pay that for my Sig LT 40, ready to go from the used plane lot. Ok I know it is used but you gota start somewhere. Now I understand that I am new here, but all of these different sim's makes my head spin. I downloaded this F M S it is ok but I can not get my transmitter to work with it. So for now I fly by a keyboard. It works out on rainy days.

50%plane

My Feedback: (5)

I know what you mean Weathervane. $200 is a lot for me also, but IMO, it is well worth it to get a good one. I have G3(obviously) and I've been very pleased with it. AFPD is also good. I would recommend that you get either one of those. G3 would probably be better for you though as you can go on to multiplayer and people will help you learn how to be a better pilot in real time. All you need to do is ask.


50%

opjose

As you'll be told over and over, by people who themselves have gone through all of the same misgivings as you, and then learned the hard way...

Get a good sim. It will save you it's own cost MANY times over and over again.

You will also gain the "memory muscle" needed for the flight line.

Yeah 200.00 seems like a lot, until you crash a couple of times... and either walk away completely discouraged, or bite the bullet and spend far more money. If you stick with RC, you'll do the latter.

weathervane

I agree a simulater is a wise investment. It will allso give some good experiance and technique. I have found that flying by a keyboard will help a little. As a beginer i have learned what input does what and how it will afect the planes flight. I gota start somewhere. It might as well be at the bottom, and work my way up.....


Thanks
Andrew

50%plane

My Feedback: (5)

But when the plane is coming at you, which way will you pull the stick? Since you are using a keyboard, you will probably have to think a minute before you decide which way to go. Using keyboard commands is completely different from the proportional control from an actual TX. The object in RC it to prettymuch become one with your airplane.(and do it well) You know it's habits and don't even think about your TX. Your fingers are just moving as your brain directs. This is very hard to achieve with unrealistic planes and a keyboadr as half or more of your "stick" time.


50%

r1derbike

Learning to fly with a keyboard is not good. You will have to "unlearn" it when you fly with a transmitter. Sure, for trying a sim to see if your computer will run it (G3 has a free trial version that uses the keyboard) it is fine, but it ends there, quickly, or it should.

weathervane

To be honest I reset the keys to the some position as my transmitter.
I down ellavator
M up ellavator
J left alleron
K right alleron
E throtel up
X throtel down
S Left rudder
D right rudder
N throtel close


It works out ok.I do thank you for the input. Like I said befor Iam new to this and still learning.

Andrew

Ernie Misner

Using the keyboard? Will that really help with learning to use a transmitter? A cheap joystick for gaming might even be better. IF you are going to stick with the hobby, do yourself a favor and get a transmitter type flight sim. The cost will be a thing of the past once you begin using it.

Ernie

mswlogo

Get one with a controller or adapter to your radio. Learning with the keyboard is not teaching you anything unless you plan to use a keyboard on your real RC.

You want to learn unconscious reflexes.

weathervane

Yea
I went out and bought the G 3 sim. I hated spending the money, but you know how it goes.

Ernie Misner

Wouldn't we be surprised if a keyboard turned out to be a superior way of working the "sticks"!!!!

Ernie

weathervane

Well

After about 24 hrs with it, there is a difference. Not as bad as I thought. It takes longer to react with the keyboard. The sticks seam to be alot quicker. As a newbie to the sport of flying, You gotta learn somehow. Baby steps work best, nice and slow.

Thanks for all of the input

Ernie Misner

How many "maneuvers per minute" can you type?

Ernie (just kidding)

weathervane

I can't type at all. I hunt and peck.(acording to the wife) Yea I found that a sim is a lot better than a keyboard. Like I said you gota start some where.