Question DOF Reality H3 vs SRD-motion ultimate, which to choose, yaw or heave?

I'm brand new to this field, and trying to find my way through the forest.

I currently have no equipment, and had originally settled on the DOF Reality H3 platform. Just yesterday however, I came across the SRD-motion package ultimate.

From what I can tell, the overall differences of each would boil down to:

• H3 has slide/yaw, while the SRD has heave
• The H3 is essentially touted as the cheapest route into motion sim
• The SRD appears to be of a higher build quality, perhaps more robust

Regarding cost, on the face of it, the SRD-motion is quite a bit more expensive. However I live in the UK, and taking into account the import tax and VAT that would apply to the H3 (coming from Ukraine), which wouldn't apply to the SRD coming from Sweden, they both work out to effectively the same price for similar option levels.

If I'm honest, my first reaction is that I think I would prefer slide/yaw over heave. However I am slightly nervous about build quality (I'm 6'5" and 120kg) on the H3, and prefer the robust look of the SRD, and saving on import taxes makes the SRD seem a comparative bargain.

I would like opinions on those 2 key points if possible. Which would you rather, yaw or heave? and given no difference in price, which of the 2 would you go for?

I guess I'm also happy to hear about alternative systems, but please note my budget is limited, I'm already over budget by realising the import costs on the H3.

a sim rig with 4 actuators one on each leg doesn't really work

the H3 is really a H2 that has been upgraded not a true 3DOF imo

what options do you have for a genuine 3DOF ?

I'm aware the H3 is an H2 with a 3rd DOF added on. Is that necessarily a bad thing? is the H2 considered to be rubbish?

What other options do I have? I dunno! this why I'm asking

You say you don't think 4-corner actuators 'really work' ... why is this? I'm really keen not to waste my money on something that will massively disappoint, but I don't know what's required for good, and not. Does it 'not work' because you 'need' that twisting DOF? or is there something more fundamental about the setup I'm not understanding?

Since posting this, I have found a UK company, symdeck, that make (what look like) neat products. It's handy that they're in the same country, so no worries about import duty and stuff, but it's hugely upping the budget from around £2000-2500, to around £3500 (or more like £4500-5000, if I wanted traction loss).

When you use 4 actuators one of them will lift off the ground, this sustem would give better motion with only 3 actuators !

Often the sims i see like this are static sims that have been converted to motion and were not designed with motion in mind.

What is your budget ?

Well, to be honest, this all started with spotting a sub £2k motion platform (the H3), and thinking, "hey, maybe I can just about justify that". Soon realising that I'll need for fork out about £1k on ancillaries (wheel base, wheel, pedal, seat, shifter, etc), and thinking "... OK, so £3k? mayyybe".

I would say I wouldn't be able to go over £4k all in (for everything), max. Is it possible?

I've been thinking about this a little more, and I think a reasonable option might be to go with a static cockpit initially, that can be upgraded later. Like the symdeck: https://symdeck.com/cockpit/

That way I can spend some, most, maybe ALL of my budget on the best quality wheels/pedals/shifters/etc I can get, and then later (if and when I have the money and it's important enough), add on the motion platform: https://symdeck.com/s3-pc-motion-platform/ and possibly later still, get the traction loss upgrade: https://symdeck.com/tl-deck/

I'll end up spending more money, but split over a period, it might be possible. Plus, I should end up with better gear overall. Hmmmm ...

Buy a 2dof for now is my opinion

Any recommendations for one? I presume not the DOF Reality H2 ...

The dof h2 might be a good buy, i have bo experience of it

David, I just got an H2 about two weeks ago and haven't tried other rigs so I won't claim to be able to answer your question fully but I will say this: motion rigs simulate lateral Gs by rolling your seat the opposite way (sway) and traction loss can be conveyed by easing up on the amount of that roll. This is what 2 DOF units do and personally I was surprised at how much it felt like I would expect H3-style TL to feel. In VR especially I could swear the whole rig is sliding sideways sometimes. I imagine 4-actuator systems are similar in that regard.

Hi David, I have the same dilemma as you are in trying to decide on a sim. Like you, I'm new to all of this, so I'm in some ways learning the hard way relative to costs once you start to add on all the peripherals. At this point, I'm learning toward an H3 or even a P3 if I can squeeze out a justification in my mind to buy one. However, what got me interested in these units is that on Youtube.com they have a clip (or possibly more) that goes over how they function. Good luck on your endeavor!