Combining a 3Dconnexion Spacenavigator 6 Axis controller and a CH Product Fighterstick Pro you end up with the ultimate First Person Shooter (FPS) gaming controller.
Using RCB9's program for the SpaceNavigator and the CH Products Control Manager you can program any axis and any button to do what ever you desire.
Don Muddiman's HONS system
Hands On Navigator and Stick
Hands On Navigator and Stick
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What is a Spacenavigator?
The Spacenavigator is a Six-Degees of Freedom (6-DOF) Controller made by 3DCONNECTION. With it and RBC9's software, you'll move through your 3D action games as if you were actually in the game itself. Simultaneous Six-Degees of Freedom Control (6D Control) technology allows gamers to STRAFE, ROTATE and FREELOOK on ANY AXIS and create complex moves like Circle Strafes and Barrel Rolls INSTANTLY & EASILY!
What is "6D Control"?
"6D Control" is the ability to interact with a computer-created 3D world exactly like we interact with our everyday world. This includes the ability to navigate through that world, as well as manipulate and interact with 3D objects in the world as if we were picking them up and holding them in our hands. To provide this "real life" 3D capability, The Spacenavigator provides 3D game controller to support full simultaneous SIX DEGREE OF FREEDOM (6D) CONTROL -- techno-speak for the ability to move in ANY and EVERY direction in a game. You can move forward and backward (1st DOF), slide right and left (2nd DOF), jump up and down (3rd DOF), as well as look up and down (4th DOF), look left and right (5th DOF) and roll left and right (6th DOF). And what's really unique with the Spacenavigator is that you can also simultaneously combine any of these to perform outrageous combination moves for the most realistic game play. For example, to perform a clean and quick Circle Strafe, you would pull the PowerSensor left or right while at the same time slightly twisting the ball - instant Circle Strafe!
Fighterstick Pro provides
24 programable buttons – 3 traditional push buttons – 1 mode switch button – 3 four direction HAT switches – 1 eight direction POV HAT switch • Total of 176 programmable functions with Control Manager software• with three color mode indicator LEDs.
As a long time SpaceOrb fan I have been in search of a replacement gaming controller for the PC. When the SpaceNavigator came out I purchased one to test the possibilities and found this could be an excellent gaming controller. The SpaceNavigator had precision control unlike the SpaceOrb; unfortunately 3Dconnexion does not provide software and drivers for gaming. I kept checking the forums for such a driver when one day I discovered RBC9 had created the software and drivers. Thanks to RBC9 I can now explore the possibility of using the SpaceNavigator as a gaming controller. The SpaceOrb was a good controller but it had mechanical play and minimal buttons. I researched different options for button configuration and realized there was something already on the market, the CH Products Fighterstick Pro designed after the F-16 flight stick. My prototype HONS uses the Fighterstick Pro. The United States Air Force (USAF) spent hundreds of hours and lots money designing a flight stick that would maximize operation using one hand on the flight controls. This was the answer to my problem. The Fighterstick Pro is fully programmable allowing the freedom of programming each button movement. I have been developing the HONS system combination since January 2007 when RBC9 released his Windows XP driver. After many configurations and hours of testing I believe I have found the ultimate setup for FPS gaming. The RAM mount used to hold the two devices together allows you to obtain the best ergonomic position for the HONS system. I use the Spacenavigator to control my movements and the Fighterstick Pro to program all my weapons control and other commands. This setup just about eliminates you having to ever touch the keyboard once you start gaming. This is not a cheap combination to put together and requires a higher learning curve, but once mastered I have found as a 55 year old male I can compete with the best of the best. Maybe one day someone can produce such a device, but until then you may want to lay down some bucks and a little time to put yourself together a HONS system.
The Spacenavigator puck has been covered with a Carbon fiber shell sphere that has been bonded on with hot melt adhesive. Trying to use the Spacenavigator without the sphere cover does not perform well as it is not ergonomically designed to function in this way, the sphere is a must. The sphere is 2 ¼” in diameter the same size as a billiard ball that was used for the mold. Thanks to my good friend Dale for making the sphere. As you can see all the casing has been removed from the Spacenavigator and it is then mounted on a flat base plate using four 2-56 screws and spacers. The handle for the Spacenavigator was a cut section from an old SpaceOrb. A 1/16" piece of model aircraft plywood was used for the base plate. It was then bonded to the top of the old SpaceOrb section in the original SpaceOrb ball position. Bondo was then used to fill in and form around the base plate. A 1/8" aluminum plate was epoxy bonded in the cut opening to mount the RAM mount ball. The Fighterstick Pro X, Y and Z pots were not used and had to be centered using fixed resistors or the Control Manager software would not function. The Fightersticker PC board is mounted inside a Radioshack 4x2x1 project enclosure box. An aluminum bracket mounts to the Fighterstick to accommmodate the RAM mount ball. RBC9's software and driver could use some tweeks but I have found it to be very stable and functionable running 32 Bit XP. If you play COD4 and COD5 multiplayer you might just run into me using my HONS system.
Links:
Download link for RBC9 Windows XP driver, docs and LED Off/On update: http://www.eagle-i.us/HONS/RBC9.zip
3DCONNECTION Spacenavigator: http://www.3dconnexion.com/3dmouse/spacenavigator.php
3Dconnexion RBC9 link: http://www.3dconnexion.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=336
CH Products Fighterstick: http://www.chproducts.com/retail/j_fighter_usb.html
RAM Mounting Systems: http://www.ram-mount.com/
Qty. Part numbers: Description:
1 RAM-B-201U-A UNPKG RAM DBL SOCKET ARM B BALL A LENGTH
2 RAM-B-237U UNPKD. RAM 1" BALL W/ 1/4"-20 ALUM STUD
The Spacenavigator puck has been covered with a Carbon fiber shell sphere that has been bonded on with hot melt adhesive. Trying to use the Spacenavigator without the sphere cover does not perform well as it is not ergonomically designed to function in this way, the sphere is a must. The sphere is 2 ¼” in diameter the same size as a billiard ball that was used for the mold. Thanks to my good friend Dale for making the sphere. As you can see all the casing has been removed from the Spacenavigator and it is then mounted on a flat base plate using four 2-56 screws and spacers. The handle for the Spacenavigator was a cut section from an old SpaceOrb. A 1/16" piece of model aircraft plywood was used for the base plate. It was then bonded to the top of the old SpaceOrb section in the original SpaceOrb ball position. Bondo was then used to fill in and form around the base plate. A 1/8" aluminum plate was epoxy bonded in the cut opening to mount the RAM mount ball. The Fighterstick Pro X, Y and Z pots were not used and had to be centered using fixed resistors or the Control Manager software would not function. The Fightersticker PC board is mounted inside a Radioshack 4x2x1 project enclosure box. An aluminum bracket mounts to the Fighterstick to accommmodate the RAM mount ball. RBC9's software and driver could use some tweeks but I have found it to be very stable and functionable running 32 Bit XP. If you play COD4 and COD5 multiplayer you might just run into me using my HONS system.
Links:
Download link for RBC9 Windows XP driver, docs and LED Off/On update: http://www.eagle-i.us/HONS/RBC9.zip
3DCONNECTION Spacenavigator: http://www.3dconnexion.com/3dmouse/spacenavigator.php
3Dconnexion RBC9 link: http://www.3dconnexion.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=336
CH Products Fighterstick: http://www.chproducts.com/retail/j_fighter_usb.html
RAM Mounting Systems: http://www.ram-mount.com/
Qty. Part numbers: Description:
1 RAM-B-201U-A UNPKG RAM DBL SOCKET ARM B BALL A LENGTH
2 RAM-B-237U UNPKD. RAM 1" BALL W/ 1/4"-20 ALUM STUD