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Introduction
There is a very active modding community at Cougar World. They have produced some outstanding replacement innards for the desktop Cougar, the main ones being IJ's Uber 2 and Greg's Evenstrain mod, benefiting from CubPilot's Hall Sensors replacing the standard Cougar pots. Both of these mods produce very light sticks that remove the centre play and detent feel.
Recently, a completely different sort of mod has appeared that replaces the Cougar innards and dramatically changes the feel of the stick. Their aim is to replicate some of the characteristics of a real F-16 controller. Namely, a stick that barely moves, requires considerably larger than normal joystick forces to operate, and moves away from using pots. These are the Force Sensor Mods. Both are complete drop in mods that replace all of the mechanical guts and the pots with their own setup.
There are two main parties producing them:
Arend "White Eagle" van Oosten produces the Force Controlled Cougar mod (FCC).
RealSimulator produce the Force Sensor Stick Base R1 and R2 mods (FSSB R1 and R2).
On the left is the FCC, on the right is the FSSB.
Note both units are beta units and final units may vary from these images.
The FCC mod is probably the one we all know most about, because we've been able to follow its exciting progress in this thread and it already has, quite rightly, its own dedicated supporters.
This review however concentrates on the other force sensor mods, the FSSB R1 and R2 from RealSimulator. In writing this review, I've asked Manu "Judy" Durant to chip in with any comments or thoughts (in red) as like me, he also has a RealSimulator mod he's been testing.
First off then – who are RealSimulator? As Manu can speak Spanish, and my language skills are limited to one Spanish/English Berlitz phrase book, I've asked Manu to ask all the pertinent questions and put together an answer. Over to him then for an introduction to RealSimulator.
Thank you James ;-) Initially, Realsimulator was the name of one of the numerous projects developed by EMYCSA, a Spanish engineering company active in several industries (robotics, mechanics, aeronautics, IT, electronics, etc.). This project soon became a full division of EMYCSA and a team of engineers was established to work full time on the development of a full-featured F-16 simulator. Realsimulator’s ambition is indeed to provide military air forces with high-tech and high quality simulation hardware and software. To showcase their technologies, they’ve been developing a range of simulation accessories designed for the international community of simmers. For instance, they sell an Aces-II seat and rudder pedals larger than life, not to mention very realistic MFD’s, a great ICP and indexer lights. To operate all the components of their future cockpits (four models will be produced: entry, medium, high and hardcore levels), the Realsimulator team has also developed a very powerful programming language based on C++. In July 2003, the team decided to launch another very ambitious project: the FSSB. Their objective was to create a drop-in mod for the Cougar that would perfectly imitate the real F-16 stick. To that end, they used the skills and experience they’ve acquired in their different fields of expertise and they’ve also sought the simmers community’s advice and help to go forward. Now let’s see if they succeeded. Back to you, James.
Thanks Manu! Ok – let's see what these mods are all about then.
The FSSB R1 and R2: Features
An FSSB R1 or R2 modified Cougar differs considerably from the stock Cougar. Out go the springs, pots and normal stick throw. The stick is converted into one that barely moves and uses force sensors (strain gauges) to measure the deflection of a metal "force plate."
The FSSB R1 and R2 differ in three aspects only:
Longevity of sensors: The force sensors used are different. The R1 features force sensors used in the automotive industry. They have a lifetime before failure of 10,000,000 measurements. The R2 incorporates force sensors used in the aeronautics and space industries, with a lifetime before failure of 100,000,000 measurements.
Price: The R1 mod is cheaper than the R2 mod.
Style of top plate: The laser engraved metal top plate that accompanies the mods has an extra cylindrical area with the R2 mod. It's sexy and non functional ;)
Both mods share these same features:
1.) They are complete drop in mods that replace all of your Cougar innards (apart from the circuit board.) No soldering or anything complex, just screws. So you get rid of springs, centre play and potentiometers with these mods in one fell swoop.
2.) They can be fitted by the user or by RealSimulator (for the cost of shipping of your base.)
3.) They feel the same – you cannot tell the difference between an R1 and R2 modded stick by their feel. They also look identical.
4.) They both provide independent axis selectable force assignment. There are 4 settings you can set each axis up with via dipswitches: 6, 8, 10 and 21 lb force. If you select 10 or above, you will need to secure your stick base firmly to your desktop or cockpit. And you'd better work out as well.
5.) Each axis has separate electronic channels with independent zero adjust for each channel.
6.) Each mod has 4 strain gauges mounted wide apart on the force plate.
7.) There's a few other bits and pieces that you can read on the website. These are the main ones you'll want to know about.
Installation
Having experienced installation of an FCC and a FSSB, both are relatively simple to install. In fact the hardest thing is removing the original gimbals, in particular those glue retained nuts! The installation manual is excellent and every stage of the installation and setup is explained and photographed. You really can't go wrong. I would advise initially that you set up the stick with the lightest forces on each axis.
What is perhaps slightly trickier is setting the axes up so that they're properly centred. Don't ignore this stage – it is very very important. It involves leaving the stick connected, and then rotating the small axis centering pots whilst watching the RAW values in the CCP's manual calibration routine. Both were set to around 323 or 324 for the upright stick. The reason why it's tricky of course is that as soon as you tilt the stick, its weight acts on the sensors and you have to keep adjusting and then checking with the stick upright, until you get the correct values. It's quite fiddly but it won't stretch you and once done, you can leave it set. Once set, you're ready to go.
Let me underline here that this centering procedure can be critical if it’s not performed correctly. In my case, I wanted to use the FSSB on a forward leaning stand mounted on the side of my Aker-Barnes cockpit. Centering the axes with the stick base horizontal was not that difficult, but after installing the modded Cougar on the stand, the centre values would change a little bit and that was enough to ruin the manual calibration. I had to remove the forward leaning stand. I’m now using the FSSB on a perfectly flat surface and everything is just rock solid. After all, a forward leaning stand is not necessary with this stick as it doesn’t move at all.
I suppose as part of the installation I should mention attachment of the base to your desktop. I purposefully did not stick down my base, and you would need to if you use the higher axis force settings. I fully intend to add Velcro and secure it but as I tended to be in and out of the base during testing changing axis settings, it wasn't convenient for me. It does of course show that this mod doesn't need to be secured on its lightest settings, but I would say that it is preferable if it is.
There's one thing I will add here. When I was a student I had very limited space on a desktop for a large monitor and stick. I had barely enough room for the stick when pushed fully forwards and it almost touched the monitor. Well that's one unintentional added advantage of a force sensor base ;)
Testing in Foxy
When someone asks me to test out a stick or a mod, I don't rush to test it out in a sim. I always follow the same routine:
a) Mechanical
b) Electronics
c) Manual calibration and profile setup
d) Test in Foxy's Windows Joystick Analyser
Mechanical: I make sure the mod is setup correctly physically first, and all screws are tightened (don't forget as well the bottom screw on the left hand side of the joystick grip). This is especially important with force sensor mods because with the loads applied to them and their restricted movement, any looseness is going to affect the feel of the stick.
Electronics: I make sure all connectors are connected on the circuit board, and that none of the wires have been displaced from the connectors when they're inserted. Once I'm happy with that, I disconnect the throttle and rudders, and flash update the firmware.
Manual calibration and profile setup: I then run through the manual calibration routine, and setup different manual calibration profiles, and especially one with no centre deadzones. I pay particular attention to the numbers I read during the manual calibration routine, because these are the RAW values that the firmware is seeing from the sensors, before it has had a chance to apply any of its own calibration and deadzone affects. What is especially important here is to note stability of signal, minimum, centre and maximum values.
Test in Foxy's Windows Joystick Analyser: Now the stick is ready for testing. I'm a great believer in using Foxy's Windows joystick analyzer. I can use it to check the quality of the signal from the stick in much greater detail, looking for spiking, hysteresis and centering issues. I can use it to setup deadzones and curves in the CCP to give me the response I am looking for. I can use it to train myself how hard and where to move the stick. It's a very useful tool and if you're a purist, then I recommend learning to use it well. Of course, I'm not for one moment going to suggest that issues you see here will translate directly into issues you'll see in a sim when you're flying. But they might.
Centering: Initially then with my R2, with its axes set to their lowest strength, I tested the stick in manual calibration mode with no centre deadzones. The stick was perfectly centered, and moved along its axes smoothly. It's very sensitive around its centre position! You only need to rest your hand on it or squeeze it to start moving off centre. I then zoomed in on the centre region in the analyser, and pulled hard on the stick in one axis direction, and then let go to see what the stick would do. It returned to centre and stabilized straight away. I did this with all four main axes directions and the behaviour was excellent.
Signal stability: I could detect no spiking or oscillations in the signal.
Hysterisis: I could detect no time difference in the signal and position of the stick – the signal matched the movement of the stick perfectly.
I then proceeded to try the various axes strength options, by selecting the appropriate dip switches on the FSSB unit, and then repeated the tests. I found no difference in the tests apart from an as expected reduced sensitivity at centre, and greater difficulty in controlling the stick at maximum and minimum deflections, due to the higher forces required.
Happy with the test results, I set up profiles with different centre and end deadzones, for different sims. This again is a perfect time to set these up. By running the CCP alongside the Analyser, you can determine what deadzones you need to give you the desired response from the stick for different sims. A word of advice with any force sensor system: take time to read through the calibration document I wrote, and spend time setting up your deadzones. Deadzones can't be set programmatically, and you can always adjust the response in flight with CURVE statements if you so desire.
About my tests in Foxy: In the last two years, I’ve had the opportunity to test the stock Cougar gimbals and Ian Johnston’s Über and Über-2 mods and the results in Foxy have improved along the way. But I think this is it now, it cannot get better. As James pointed out, the FSSB is very sensitive but even then, it’s very accurate. With the appropriate force and sensitivity settings, it’s possible to maintain the cursor in Foxy on a particular pixel! It takes a little training though.
Testing in sims
With the testing completed in Foxy, and with the right profiles setup for different sims, I then put the RS through some flight testing. I've concentrated on:
Jet sims: F4 SP3, LOMAC
Helos: SAR4, X-Plane 7
WW2 dogfighting: Forgotten Battles
I did most of my testing with the stick on its lightest settings, and without the base stuck down onto my desktop. I didn't bother testing it in my pit or modifying it for my pit, as I wanted to test it how most people would use it – on their desktop in a stock Cougar base.
As for me, I installed it very firmly secured by Velcro tapes in my Aker-Barnes cockpit. There’s no reason why these things shouldn’t be tested in the conditions used by the minority :)
The first thing you notice when you use these force sensor mods is of course the fact that the stick barely moves. You would think that you would get the greatest control from a stick that moves a long way. After all, pushing open a door where the handle is and doing this in a controlled manner, is much easier there than where the hinge is.
But that's not how you use a force sensor stick. You fix your arm in one position and use your wrist to "squeeze" the joystick, and it's surprising how controllable that is. The stiffer the stick, the easier it is to control over short distances.
So the first time I spent time flying with the stick, whilst there was some adjustment needed, I was genuinely surprised how natural it felt and how well I was able to control the aircraft. I'm not going to linger much on the jet sims. There is no better stick for jets. Period. The level of control and the added immersion is something that you just have to experience. Dogfighting with guns is hard work, but just feels right and it's very rewarding. Air to ground, refueling, landing, formation flying, precision controlled flying are your friends with this mod. If you can’t afford a force sensor mod and you're into modern aircraft combat sims, I suggest you don't even try one of these sticks! My only caveat I would possibly add would be if the sim didn't support trimming the stick could theoretically be hard work to fly with, but on the other hand, as the Cougar itself supports axis trimming programmatically, then it's not really an issue.
What can I add? This is my feeling exactly. With this stick, the aircraft is really an extension of your arm, or rather your wrist. The fact that you can select separate force settings for the axes makes it even more comfortable and with all the possibilities offered by the curve statements, for example, the sky is really the limit.
My next big surprise was flying helos in different sims. I love to fly helos or any VSTOL aircraft, and my gut feeling was that this stick wouldn't be suitable for controlling a helo. So it was a great surprise to find that my flying and hovering skills immediately improved with this stick I was utterly convinced that my Evenstrain Cougar would be superior for this style of flying as I'd moved to that from a stock Cougar for helos. But, great though the Evenstrain is, I find myself preferring to and flying better with my R2. A surprising result for me.
I usually don’t fly helos but I thought it would be a good test for me to try it in MS Flight Simulator 2004. Well, I wouldn’t say that the FSSB makes life easier for I haven’t flown helos with other sticks or mods to be able to compare, but it definitely helps you to be fully aware of what you’re doing.
Finally, dogfighting and online dogfighting in Forgotten Battles, for me, one of the most unforgiving flight sims for those of us who don't have the time to put the hours in anymore. Plus, you can spend quite some time going round in circles adjusting your Cougar response curves as well the sim's response axis options. I remember writing about how my flying improved dramatically going from the stock Cougar to my Evenstrain and how I felt the Cougar wasn't the perfect stick for this style of flying. I've spent the last few days swapping between these two sticks flying Forgotten Battles, and I'm leaning towards just using my Evenstrain. If I didn't have an Evenstrain I could probably get used to the FSSB and prefer it over the stock Cougar, but I just find it a little too much hard work and I just don't seem to be able to fly and aim as well as I can with a lighter stick. It does help in preventing stalling because it takes a lot more work to pull maximum g's with these sticks, and for precision flying and air to ground, again, it's absolutely superb. So whilst I'm happy to say that the jury is still out on this, and that this is a very subjective matter, for me, if I'm dogfighting in this sim, I think so far I prefer a lighter stick.
Thoughts/Conclusions
So to summarise, I think this is the perfect stick for a sim where you're not spending all your time rapidly moving from one axis extreme to another, and where you can easily maintain a trimmed aircraft. For jets, civilian sims and helos, the RealSimulator Force Sensor Stick Base mod is the superlative flying experience. For aerobatics, WW2 dogfighting and non flight sim games where the stick gets thrown around more aggressively, I personally prefer to fly with an Evenstrain/Uber 2 style mod. My recommendation? Well, I've used and owned a variety of modded Cougars. I would recommend that you acquire two Cougars, mod one with a RealSimulator Force Sensor Stick Base, and the other with either an Evenstrain or an Uber 2 mod. You'll be setup for life with those two!
Exactly! I have a Über-2 and an FSSB and like James, I now have the feeling both sticks will get me very far indeed. I’ve also been swapping between both mods for the last days and I just can’t make up my mind. I still love my Ü-2 and I think I’ll keep using it for Forgotten Battles, but I’m getting better with my FSSB and there might come a day when I’m equally “bad” with both sticks ;-) And that day, the only thing preventing me from using the FSSB in Forgotten Battles will be the fact that the stick doesn’t move.
Contact details, further information, and additional comments
More information can be found on the FSSB R1 and R2 mods here. Contact Sofia for sales/ordering information (sales@realsimulator.com) or Manuel (manuel@realsimulator.com) for technical information.
Additional comments: One thing of course we don't know is how well any force sensor mod will stand the test of time, both in terms of the mod or the effect on the Cougar alloy. I have no reason to doubt that they will go the distance, but I also think it's prudent to point out that the review is based on owning the mods for a relatively short period of time. It will be interesting to come back here in a year's time and add any further comments then.
James
20th August, 2005 update
Well since the review was written, I think it's a good idea to return to it and comment on what has happened in the 16 or so months that I have owned this mod.
Err ..... :question: .... hmmm .... what can I say? I bought a second one to add to my cockpit, and both are performing as I would expect them to. No issues, and no need to revisit their calibration pots. The pit FSSB R2 is set at a high force and the Cougar mounted FSSB is set to the lowest force, and I've not had any issue with either.
Sorry ... rather boring really ... but that's it. If ever I hear RealSimulator are going to stop making these, I might buy another for the stable. These things are wonderful! One other thing I mentioned in the review and that I haven't changed my mind on, is that for me, my Evenstrain modded Cougars are my preference for WW2 dogfighting sims and non flight sim games, and my FSSB modded Cougars, for jets, helos, and pretty much everything else. Certainly if you consider Falcon or LOMAC to be your bread and butter, you should be flying with a force sensor mod. Period. You certainly won't go back to anything else once you're used to them.
One last question I've seen in the forums and many have asked me about, because I've spent extensive time with both, is what are the differences between the two mods, the FCC and the FSSB, and which one would I recommend? That's a debate I don't particularly want to get into, but looking at the forums, I see users enjoying both mods. And that's all that matters.
James "Nutty" Hallows and Manu "Judy" Durant
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