CH Pro Throttle and . . . ?

Terryfried · Dec 5, 2014

My thrustmaster hotas x is nigh perfect no deadzone or looseness.
I am considering a CH throttle if I can get one cheap. a couple of questions though,
1 is USB the only difference between CH throttle and CH throttle Pro, if not what other differences.
2 I know that 15 pin game port to USB adapters often work in different modes for different brands of controler with varying success with different software. Anyone had success with any particular converter for ch throttle and ED?

Non Grata · Dec 5, 2014

Terryfried said:
My thrustmaster hotas x is nigh perfect no deadzone or looseness.
I am considering a CH throttle if I can get one cheap. a couple of questions though,
1 is USB the only difference between CH throttle and CH throttle Pro, if not what other differences.
2 I know that 15 pin game port to USB adapters often work in different modes for different brands of controler with varying success with different software. Anyone had success with any particular converter for ch throttle and ED?

I'm not sure if there ever was a plain CH throttle - as far as I know the only one available is the Pro. The old model was gameport, and the new one is USB. As mentioned above, the old model has an 8-way hat in place of the new model's thumbstick. The old model also I think had a button where the new model's 8-way hat is. I've a feeling I've read that the new model has fewer potential electronic issues due to being USB vs gameport.

Not converted a gameport version to USB myself, but understand others have.

Slap Happy · Dec 5, 2014

Not to hi-jack the thread, but.. I currently have the T16000M which seems to be a good stick and I've been pairing it with the Razer Nostromos which it kinda like the key board in a sense..

How much easier or better does it get when you get the Ch throttle? Do you find yourself having to take your hand off the throttle for menu options or switch between things? Or is there a way to have Joystick, Throttle and that's it?

Currently seeing the CH Throttle for $120 which I can get a X52 Pro for $140.. Is that normal? I mean that's $$ just for the throttle piece.

Al-Hala · Dec 12, 2014

Slap Happy said:
Not to hi-jack the thread, but.. I currently have the T16000M which seems to be a good stick and I've been pairing it with the Razer Nostromos which it kinda like the key board in a sense..

How much easier or better does it get when you get the Ch throttle? Do you find yourself having to take your hand off the throttle for menu options or switch between things? Or is there a way to have Joystick, Throttle and that's it?

Currently seeing the CH Throttle for $120 which I can get a X52 Pro for $140.. Is that normal? I mean that's $$ just for the throttle piece.

Yes, in a sense.

The CH products are sold by a professional maker of industrial/military controls (as their core business), and all the components and shell reflect that. They are not the best looking/flashiest, but they work, period. No general issues with QA/QC, software that is supported (albeit not exactly in a warm fuzzy, pick up a manual and have everything glossy way). See any number of forums about all the grief with the Rhino's hit and/or miss build quality, Saitek's products general lifespan, and compare that to forum views of the CH units. I did over a month's work of research just like I'm advising, and went for the CH. I wasn't about to spend $200+ and then have to repair/inspect/mod the devices.

Having said all that, the X52 Pro seems to be the best choice in the Saitek line; long enough out to have stable quality, lots of reviews.

There's a good YouTube video comparing the CH products directly against it by an Elite : Dangerous player. Might give you some insights.
Edit: Heh. Abacus posted it way back in the beginning of the thread: https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=22382&p=529291&viewfull=1#post529291

Non Grata · Dec 12, 2014

Al-Hala said:
The CH products are sold by a professional maker of industrial/military controls (as their core business), and all the components and shell reflect that.

This one looks a lot like a Fighterstick - i.e. militaries are even using their consumer stuff:

http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20141212-press-x-press-y-fire-laser

MASTER_DEATHDEALER · Dec 12, 2014

i use the X52 Pro stick with the CH throttle through ED controls and it works very well. I have the 14000 but prefer the X52. I hated the Thrustmaster T. Mine had a huge deadzone all around the stick that made it impossible to aim. I could never use pedals. If it makes me 10% better at the game id rather sacrafice it to be comfortable and the same with that stupid rift on ur face and the track IR too. I used the track IR for around an hour and tossed it in a drawer. If this was real life i use all that crap, but its a game with ZERO competition so comfort wins out.

Ted Striker · Dec 12, 2014

taotoo said:
This one looks a lot like a Fighterstick - i.e. militaries are even using their consumer stuff:

View attachment 4311

http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20141212-press-x-press-y-fire-laser

That certainly explains why my CH HOTAS is so reliable and rugged. It may be plastic but it's a strong plastic.

Al-Hala · Dec 13, 2014

Ted Striker said:
That certainly explains why my CH HOTAS is so reliable and rugged. It may be plastic but it's a strong plastic.

Absolutely. Glass Filled Nylon (I believe, based on my limited manufacturing experience). Very resistant to hand oils, various other environmental factors.

By the way, here is CH Product's parent company (under the sliding windows you'll see CH Retail Joysticks)
http://www.apem.com/9-29181-Home.php

Zeeman · Dec 13, 2014

The Ch throttle/T16000M combo seems to be quite a very good way to go. I did the same due diligence Googling as the OP, and ended up with the same result. T16000M has been a revelation - it's so accurate, the buttons on the stick are cheap, and lacking, but... The stick itself more than makes up for it. I am doing the "snip the led power wire" mod though, that thing drives me nuts.

The CH throttle has been hard to find here in Aus, no one has stock, and due to the nose dive of the Aussie dollar, it's not worth importi g whilst our local prices are actually cheaper.

I did manage to find a CH throttle in stock, though, placed my order, and expect it Monday - the buttons on the throttle will also more than make up for what's missing on the stick - I am so looking forward to giving it a run...

Z....

Al-Hala · Dec 13, 2014

taotoo said:
This one looks a lot like a Fighterstick - i.e. militaries are even using their consumer stuff:

View attachment 4311

http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20141212-press-x-press-y-fire-laser

Excellent article, that; thanks for posting it. It's going in my reference library

Grayman · Dec 13, 2014

I'm updating my setup soon so as to work better for flying with Flight Assist off. I have everything but the sticks, which are in the mail. I'm using a Logitech Extreme 3D Pro for now.
2x T16000Ms (one for each hand, roll/pitch on right and translational thrusters on left)
CH Pro Rudder Pedals (right toe brake used as throttle, left as reverse throttle switch [WTB optional reverse thruster throttle axis plz])
TrackIR 5

Al-Hala · Dec 13, 2014

Grayman said:
I'm updating my setup soon so as to work better for flying with Flight Assist off. I have everything but the sticks, which are in the mail. I'm using a Logitech Extreme 3D Pro for now.
2x T16000Ms (one for each hand, roll/pitch on right and translational thrusters on left)
CH Pro Rudder Pedals (right toe brake used as throttle, left as reverse throttle switch [WTB optional reverse thruster throttle axis plz])
TrackIR 5

These links might be useful to you then:
Dual T1600 Joystick Target Script
https://www.reddit.com/r/EliteDangerous/comments/2fr9a2/dual_t16000m_joystick_target_script/
TARGET Script to use two Thrustmaster T16000 Joysticks with Elite Dangerous
https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=15215

Darby Creek · Dec 13, 2014

Maybe I'm doing it wrong on my Pro Throttle, but I prefer the yaw on the analog stick for more precise aiming. Does anyone else use it this way? It just seems like yaw on a digital control would be like trying to play a driving game on a keyboard.

One other thing, does the Pro Throttle's analog stick also function as a button? It seems to click like a game pad's stick when I press in on it.

calculon68 · Dec 13, 2014

You can use the PT ministick as a mode switch button, (notice the LED lights change) or a single function button. I use my ministick for lateral/vertical thrusting, and BOOST mapped to it when I press.

I prefer YAW on the pedals.

Al-Hala · Dec 13, 2014

Darby Creek said:
Maybe I'm doing it wrong on my Pro Throttle, but I prefer the yaw on the analog stick for more precise aiming. Does anyone else use it this way? It just seems like yaw on a digital control would be like trying to play a driving game on a keyboard.

One other thing, does the Pro Throttle's analog stick also function as a button? It seems to click like a game pad's stick when I press in on it.

I've set mine the same way; Yaw on the mini-stick. The push function is the dedicated MODE SHIFT for the unit's modes on it. If I recall correctly, there is a way to bypass it; I'll look through my records and post up an edit if I find it.

Edit: CMDR Rog found a way to use the MODE switch as a normal button in the following:
https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=34259&p=662412&viewfull=1#post662412

In this, the button referred is the MODE SHIFT on the fighterstick. The CH Throttle button will have a differing number (in my case, the throttle MODE SHIFT is #17).

JC Ford · Dec 15, 2014

Looking to purchase a CH pro throttle here in the UK, £110 seems to be the cheapest I've seen, or does anyone have any recommendations other than ebay.

aRtFuL · Dec 15, 2014

Bromley86 said:
Summary: What's the perfect twist-yaw joystick partner for the CH Pro Throttle?

Should've never gotten the CH Pro Throttle if you've wanted a twist-yaw stick.

Getting the x55 Rhino HOTAS would've been better value for money (since CH Throttle + T16000M is going to cost about the same as x55, but with a lot less buttons and switches and heads), plus imo that the throttle in this package is better than the CH Throttle in terms of functionality.

x55 Rhino is solid enough for playing games like elite. The joystick's accuracy is pretty much the same as T16000M.

Non Grata · Dec 15, 2014

aRtFuL said:
plus imo that the throttle in this package is better than the CH Throttle in terms of functionality.

Does it have a thumbstick or at least two simultaneously reachable analog axis? If not then IMO it can't compete in this game - unless you can simultaneous laterally and vertically thrust with your left hand while also pitching plus yawing with your right, then you're effectively playing the game in two dimensions rather than three.

prasak · Dec 15, 2014

CH pro throttle is awesome for this game, why you dont want the pedals ? They are very precise and useful in ED.

aRtFuL · Dec 15, 2014

taotoo said:
Does it have a thumbstick or at least two simultaneously reachable analog axis? If not then IMO it can't compete in this game - unless you can simultaneous laterally and vertically thrust with your left hand while also pitching plus yawing with your right, then you're effectively playing the game in two dimensions rather than three.

It has 3, on each side.

Plus 2 thumb wheels on the right throttle and an updown selector on the left throttle itself.

It has so many buttons, wheels and thumbsticks available that I found I'm struggling to map them all.