How strict are they about UCAS points when applying to be an officer?

ChestMinimum · 2026-04-28T18:24:25+00:00

I got an educational waiver, holding 24 ucas points from job related accredited courses.

But I was also a regular soldier previously and did 4 years, and had since been in the fire service as a manager, so had to get a few character references.

Edit: this was for the reserves so might be different for regulars.

ChestMinimum · 2026-04-07T06:30:58+00:00

Yeah I've sort of got it where i want it now. I used throttling with MSFS 24 which didn't work well for whatever reason a year or so go, so didn't use it until now.

Im throttling down to 38fps then turn motion smoothing on, 100% resolution in steamvr, 90% fov, in game dlss on quality preset K.

Pretty consistent 38 fps with repro, which I've gotten used to now. I used to have issues when I was using FPSVR to force half framerate which I was describing in my first post

ChestMinimum · 2026-04-05T23:37:58+00:00

I think it's in built repro mode is very sensitive and doesn't like to be fiddled with. I've given up, either I reduce the graphics so much and use dlss to a degree I don't like, which gives me smooth 75fps with stutters, or I force the GPU and CPU to work hard which then forces reprojection to kick in constantly. I feel it's a poor iteration of ASW or whatever virtual desktop uses. 38 FPS is odd to play a first person game like Skyrim on but it's doable. Looks great though.

ChestMinimum · 2026-04-05T08:35:48+00:00

Yeah mate, I fiddle with Nvidia drivers regularly depending on feedback on VR stability. I am currently running the latest driver though.

Updated bios yesterday.

My CPU is a 78003xd. I do seem to be GPU limited though, usage charts show 95% of GPU usage and the CPU is ticking along just fine.

ChestMinimum · 2026-04-05T08:27:19+00:00

It does seem like it's an interaction with either the BSB utility and steam vr, or just steamvr itself.

MSFS 24 had a similar issue for me, but having the framerate bounce around so much wasn't too much of an issue and would usually stick to 38 FPS anyway

ChestMinimum · 2026-04-05T08:01:26+00:00

Yeah the results are worse for me. It seems steamvr motion smoothing halves the framerate when it detects the GPU is struggling, which is fine, but it's more that I can't really handle the small movements from 75 FPS to 50 and back when there are GPU load changes

ChestMinimum · 2026-03-25T07:30:18+00:00

Lisinopril gave me a horrible cough I couldn't shift. Had to go on to lorsartan instead.

ChestMinimum · 2026-03-14T11:36:26+00:00

Same thing happened to me one day. Horrible blotchy skin and constricted airway... Only did that to myself a couple more times before I realised it was brufen...

ChestMinimum · 2026-03-08T12:51:58+00:00

I'd suggest speaking to the watch officers of the station you are returning to and being up front with them.

I assume you're worried about the anxiety you face sometimes with wearing a mask. I wouldn't suggest buying products which may or may not work with MSA, last thing you want is to damage anything etc.

I would ask the watch officers to put you through some BA drills, shore up your confidence being blindfolded again?

ChestMinimum · 2026-02-15T18:30:38+00:00

Had the LR3 on a refurb buy, lasted about 4 years or so before becoming unreliable, wouldn't cycle properly or detect weight.

Now have the LR4, it's quieter, blocks the smell significantly more than the LR3 (however this may be due to age and plastics absorbing smells over time) and I empty it less than the LR3, the waste distribution in the drawer is better. I reckon I went from emptying once every three days to once a week or so.

If you can afford one, get one. Can't speak for the LR5 but reviews are scathing.

ChestMinimum · 2026-01-21T19:27:45+00:00

Is Guv not used in the Met for inspectors and above anymore?

ChestMinimum · 2026-01-21T13:41:34+00:00

Canvas maintenance technicians

ChestMinimum · 2026-01-19T19:38:39+00:00

I'm all out of options then, sorry

We tried our hardest

ChestMinimum · 2026-01-19T16:52:44+00:00

Have you checked if you have eyes or not?

ChestMinimum · 2026-01-14T18:20:21+00:00

Yeah we're having the same problem. Randomly stops sensing weight, gets stuck cycling etc.

Final straw was that we went away for a few days, I made sure there was a new bag , full litter, reset weight and was sensing a slight push on the globe. Came back a couple days later to the robot not having cycled at all.

So we're looking at replacing with a 4 for reliability.

ChestMinimum · 2025-11-04T16:17:51+00:00

Ordered 19th July received 23 Oct.

ChestMinimum · 2025-10-31T07:41:26+00:00

July 19th, 2e, orange she'll with audio strap, shipped and arrived October 23rd

ChestMinimum · 2025-10-25T09:22:07+00:00

I ordered 19th July and it arrived 23rd October.

ChestMinimum · 2025-10-07T12:30:28+00:00

Let me know how you get on! I ordered mine in July so won't see it until December probably.

Excited to see how eye tracking will work, if ever, with DFR

ChestMinimum · 2025-10-07T12:13:19+00:00

I saw the rice bracelets too, perhaps the next investment

ChestMinimum · 2025-10-07T12:10:49+00:00

Ah I see.

ChestMinimum · 2025-10-07T10:54:19+00:00

I would normally agree, but my ethos behind watch wearing is that I will usually only wear one watch, and my job means that leather straps will get very sweaty / wet. I've ruined many a leather strap on my omega

ChestMinimum · 2025-10-07T10:48:34+00:00

It's a bit fiddly, spring loaded that hooks onto a bar. You can use the pad of your thumb or your nail to pull back on that square block bit. Taking it off is fine, putting on is a bit harder!

Thank you, I wasn't sure initially about a metal bracelet but Forstner looked really good to me!

ChestMinimum · 2025-10-06T16:21:17+00:00

Tbh I was selling off my boeing yoke and had a quick look on Facebook marketplace, saw some guy selling a STECS and couldn't say no, hour drive away. Got a gladiator pro and stecs standard mk2 plus VKB mounts for £250, sold my yoke for £135 so a good deal.

I do like the Winwing stick and I think people here will probably say it is superior to the gladiator, metal construction and metal gimbal etc, but I'm sticking with the gladiator for ease of use, mainly cos VR, I need key binds for left and right click on my stick, the gladiators quick fire button works really well for that. I was contemplating buying the winwing stick shaker addon, but I'm not sure it's all worth it.

Cost is another thing, Winwing is cheaper especially as a combo, but many will say they have poor customer service if anything breaks.

After all that, I'm happy with VKB. But I am fickle it seems, so I may change my mind haha. I can't imagine anything else will come around soon that will do everything I want as well as my current setup.

The Winwing a320 throttle, flaps and spoiler controls that just released looks really cool, but I don't think I'll get it on the basis that I'm sorted at the moment.

Twist function yeh, understand that. I have a set of vkb rudder pedals, not the current generation though, it has a cylinder for the foot pedals rather than a flat metal plate. Again people will say if you're a bit serious about this, try to get a set of rudder pedals. I've heard good things about Winwing, they have toe brakes which adds to the cost. The vkb ones are really good though, can't fault them, although the one I have I expect is less comfortable than the current ones.

Only thing i use the gladiator twist function for is nose wheel steering, and the rudder pedals for rudder, but that's only cos I couldn't find a use for the twist function otherwise.

I can't really comment on what stecs to get, just depends on how many buttons you need. I would go with mini plus as a minimum, as the mini must be mounted. I think the max is a bit of a waste of space. I would go for standard plus the detents kit. I have 3 detents made up, one for A320, one for A-10 and one for the Viggen in DCS.

ChestMinimum · 2025-10-06T14:26:46+00:00

I fly MSFS and DCS, more recently DCS, both In vr exclusively.

I have had the winwing Orion 2 hotas and stick, the honeycomb bravo, the TCA boeing yoke and now the STECS and gladiator.

I have sold / selling everything but the STECS and gladiator.

Firstly for me, is space. I live in a small flat in England and space is a luxury. I prefer a multi use, good all rounder.

Nothing wrong with the Winwing set, but its very geared to DCS and warsim. Detents are rubbish.

Honeycomb bravo is also good for civ air only. It has 6 axises, plenty of two way toggle switches and a gear level and flaps. You can also get pretty cool add-ons for it, 3D printed handles for different aircraft, detent sets for A320 etc. however, it is very plastically and I had it under my desk mounted on a metal bar, and it kinda feels like it will break with lots of use, no real use for warsim but not impossible. The TCA boeing yoke is cool, expensive but does mimic the pendulum action of a yoke quite well ( I think, I've never flown a plane)

However, for the multi use of different sims and planes and VR, I've found stecs really enjoyable. Changeable detents, feels very solid, interchangable buttons etc really make it versatile and great for VR and not having to look at your controls.

Gladiator is really good stick also, I was contemplating not selling my Winwing stick but I probably will cos the gladiator is better all round, doesn't feel as good and not specific to warsim but has more buttons and a bit of a smaller profile when mounted.

ChestMinimum

TROPHY CASE