Hardware & Technical T-16000m or Thrustmaster T-Flight Hotas ?

I recieved my flight-t hotas yesterday been playing elite with it and it make so much difference I completed the rest of the scenarios with it, I could not kill the anaconda with the joystick but this hotas is superb it really helps and makes it easier.

Yeah, the TFlight is great. I got one a few months ago in anticipation of beta and hardly used it until now. I'm amazed how intuitive it is to use. What a great purchase.

That said, I've had it stowed under my desk all that time and a while ago a neighbour came over for some blank CDs. She saw the black phallic thing emblazoned with the word Thrustmaster under the desk and gave me a right look. I told her it was a joystick and she said "I bet it is."

All I could manage was a slightly embarrassed laugh.
 
Any reason why you cant use a joystick, then also use a gaming keyboard as your secondary throttle device?

A gaming kb has more than enough keys to allow for incremental changes in speed.

Anyone using such a setup ?

No reason why not, its what i'm doing right now.

Using a Microsoft Sidewinder Force Feedback 2 with a Logitech G15 keyboard.

Works very well, until I get round to setting up my HOTAS.
 
Yeah, the TFlight is great. I got one a few months ago in anticipation of beta and hardly used it until now. I'm amazed how intuitive it is to use. What a great purchase.

That said, I've had it stowed under my desk all that time and a while ago a neighbour came over for some blank CDs. She saw the black phallic thing emblazoned with the word Thrustmaster under the desk and gave me a right look. I told her it was a joystick and she said "I bet it is."

All I could manage was a slightly embarrassed laugh.

hahaha thats really funny, glad she didn't slap you
 
No reason why not, its what i'm doing right now.

Using a Microsoft Sidewinder Force Feedback 2 with a Logitech G15 keyboard.

Works very well, until I get round to setting up my HOTAS.

g15.jpg


Yes, thats the kind of setup I was referring to.

Whats the reason you are moving to a HOTAS system?
 
I was looking for a keyboard with an analog stick, but didn't find one. Except the game keypads from logitech and razor that OF COURSE do not have shift keys at the right position (e.g. alt not reachable with left thumb). Only the logitech even has an analog stick. And logitech hardware always has really bad build quality and breaks far too soon.
 
Any reason why you cant use a joystick, then also use a gaming keyboard as your secondary throttle device?

A gaming kb has more than enough keys to allow for incremental changes in speed.

Anyone using such a setup ?

This is why:

I've tried a decent joystick without a seperate throttle (CH Fighterstick) and it was nowhere near as intuitive (for me at least) to use as a stick+throttle combo (X52-pro). Have ordered a CH throttle now.

Just my 2p.


I have my Gravis Blackhawk with keyboard, but this game looks like it was made for HOTAS, so I ordered Thrustmaster T-Flight Hotas X Flight Stick:

http://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B001CXYMFS/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Only $50 canadian dollars with free shipping! … just few more days and then those last 2 scenarios will fall in flames.
 
Tried 'em both, went for the HOTAS - the sheer versatility won out and lateral thusters on the throttle paddels is great as I find my self yawing on the stick naturally.

The only thing I don't like abut the HOTAS is the button on the top right of the stick - it's too easy to hit accidentally and I had it mapped to target so I'd lose my target and get lost so... practicew ftw :eek:
 
g15.jpg


Yes, thats the kind of setup I was referring to.

Whats the reason you are moving to a HOTAS system?

It was always the plan to go to a HOTAS to play ED just the one I picked wasn't supported in the early Alpha's being seen as multiple USB devices.

As to why I expect to find it to be better over the joystick, keyboard setup, its not that it will have more digital keys but more analog ones. Also they will fall under my fingers better.

The throttle and four base buttons are ever used by me and 4 joystick buttons and one hat switch don't' feel like enough on the joystick.

On the keyboard side its fine for having all the options to hand but I only use two key "W, S" to set my thrust and not the presets. Meaning that I'm having to check on screen what i've set where with an analog throttle I could feel the setting more.

At the end of the day I expect to end up with loads of control options

HOTAS, Keyboard, Voice Attack, H'ED' Tracker and if they add it or I can work out how to programme it a tablet for quick menus ( something like Roccat's Power-Grid ).
 
I thought I'd just add a few points that seem to have been missed so far:

-The T16000m allows the use of the TARGET software. This is potentially a big thing as is allows, I believe, axis swapping, button remapping, and setting up of virtual devices. For those who play a lot of old games, this could be a big bonus, as any game that does not allow specific axis re-assignment will force you to use whatever layout by default with the Tflight. That might mean roll when you want to yaw etcetc.

-Tflight does allow buttons to be swapped on the fly, hardware side, however. So if the button arrangement is fixed, you can swap the assignments around, provided those functions were bound to buttons in the first place.

-TARGET also allows sensitivity adjustment; Tflight does not have this ability unless the game itself does. This is particularly important given the next point.

-I would also personally suggest that the sensitivity of the Tflight around the deadzone makes fine control very difficult in all three axes. The T16000m by all accounts is much more accurate in this respect.

-One thing that Tflight really does have going for it, and a can't say enough good things about, is the rocker axis on the throttle, which can be tied or untied to the twist axis with a button push. The yaw precision using the rocker is still difficult, however.

-The Tflight also has a 50% detent on the throttle which is absolutely perfect for elite, particularly if you use FAoff mode a lot.

Depending upon your usage, the software side of things (often overlooked) might make a huge difference one way or the other.

Overall, I'd tend to recommend the T16000m (although I only have the Tflight myself); but both are good options depending upon specific taste and requirements.
 
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-The Tflight also has a 50% detent on the throttle which is absolutely perfect for elite, particularly if you use FAoff mode a lot.

I've scripted an audible "detent" for my t.16000m, just added the relevant "how to" info to my GlovePIE guide (see sig) ... it should work for any stick with a throttle that lacks physical detents.
 
I thought I'd just add a few points that seem to have been missed so far:

-The T16000m allows the use of the TARGET software. This is potentially a big thing as is allows, I believe, axis swapping, button remapping, and setting up of virtual devices. For those who play a lot of old games, this could be a big bonus, as any game that does not allow specific axis re-assignment will force you to use whatever layout by default with the Tflight. That might mean roll when you want to yaw etcetc.

-Tflight does allow buttons to be swapped on the fly, hardware side, however. So if the button arrangement is fixed, you can swap the assignments around, provided those functions were bound to buttons in the first place.

-TARGET also allows sensitivity adjustment; Tflight does not have this ability unless the game itself does. This is particularly important given the next point.

-I would also personally suggest that the sensitivity of the Tflight around the deadzone makes fine control very difficult in all three axes. The T16000m by all accounts is much more accurate in this respect.

-One thing that Tflight really does have going for it, and a can't say enough good things about, is the rocker axis on the throttle, which can be tied or untied to the twist axis with a button push. The yaw precision using the rocker is still difficult, however.

-The Tflight also has a 50% detent on the throttle which is absolutely perfect for elite, particularly if you use FAoff mode a lot.

Depending upon your usage, the software side of things (often overlooked) might make a huge difference one way or the other.

Overall, I'd tend to recommend the T16000m (although I only have the Tflight myself); but both are good options depending upon specific taste and requirements.

I got my Tflight yesterday and it makes it so much easier to fly, just beacause of throttle control plus .... the feeling is great, like the real space ship ;)
Now, the accuracy is not great for stick deadzone and its important when you are trying to hit that small red dot at 1-2 km distance.
Bottom line is - HOTAS is way to go with Elite.


Cheers!
 
Just joined the Hotas fan club

I bought the premium Beta and was getting to grips with the mouse and keyboard but just didn't feel like I was getting what I needed.

I eyed the expensive warthog stick and my inner child very much wanted it. On the other hand my grown up self was intimidated by all the dang buttons :)

Anyway the Hotas at $49+ tax her in So Cal was a steal, I have it split with my keyboard in the middle so I feel even more like an armchair pilot, and my wife was laughing at me. I didn't realize the thing had so many buttons either but they just fall to hand and feel intuitive to me.

I dialed the resistance all the way and it feels spot on.

Anyone on the fence, buy with confidence... I have Windows 8.1 and it was plug and play.

My biggest worry now is I can totally see myself going the occulus rift route and maybe building a custom cockpit in my garage :)
 
Anyway the Hotas at $49+ tax her in So Cal was a steal, I have it split with my keyboard in the middle so I feel even more like an armchair pilot, and my wife was laughing at me.

I dialed the resistance all the way and it feels spot on.

My biggest worry now is I can totally see myself going the occulus rift route and maybe building a custom cockpit in my garage :)

Ouch thanks Ashmason! Now I also want to split it with keyboard in the middle :D The only questions is - do you lose a lot when it comes to stability of stick and throttle when they are separated???

I will also try it with the resistance maximized... Oculus Rift /sigh :D :D :D

P.S.

Holy crap! Amazone raised price for Thrustmaster T-Flight Hotas X Flight Stick from 49.99$ to 79.95$. WoW!

http://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B001CXYMFS/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
 
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T-Flight problem...

Hi there,

I'm a premium beta backer so have been enjoying playing the aplha 1.1 build allotted to us.

I was happy using an XBox controller but thought I'd step-up to the Thrustmaster T-Flight HOTAS. It exhibits an odd behaviour so thought I'd mention it here in case any other users of this device can tell me if mine is potentially faulty. All is well with the stick and buttons. The problem comes with the throttle. When set on the default 'Full-Range' Throttle Range the ship will only fly backwards with zero velocity at full throttle going to max in reverse at zero throttle, as it were. This occurs whether or not 'inverted' is selected in the Throttle Axis setting. If 'Forward Only' is selected in Throttle Range then a zero setting on the Throttle produces no thrust, which is fine of course, however, when put to full throttle is only reaches the blue 'sweet-spot' marker and no further - even at max. Again this is irrespective of whether or not 'inverted' is set. I am using the appropriate in-game profile by the way. I hope I've explained the problem adequately.

If this behaviour seems familiar to any T-Flight users then please let me know, but I fear it may be faulty, which would be a pain as I bought it on the Net.

Any guidance would be gratefully received.
 
Going to grab the T-Flight HOTAS X in an hour or so. $30 USD seems like a steal. I have a CH HOTAS (Fighterstick, Throttle & Pedals) but they take up so much room. Plus I have had trouble with 1.1 (Prem Beta here) and the CH.

Once I get access to 4.03 or whatever they are going to call it on the 30th, I might switch back to CH and keep the T-Flight for the PS3.
 
Hi there,

I'm a premium beta backer so have been enjoying playing the aplha 1.1 build allotted to us.

I was happy using an XBox controller but thought I'd step-up to the Thrustmaster T-Flight HOTAS. It exhibits an odd behaviour so thought I'd mention it here in case any other users of this device can tell me if mine is potentially faulty. All is well with the stick and buttons. The problem comes with the throttle. When set on the default 'Full-Range' Throttle Range the ship will only fly backwards with zero velocity at full throttle going to max in reverse at zero throttle, as it were. This occurs whether or not 'inverted' is selected in the Throttle Axis setting. If 'Forward Only' is selected in Throttle Range then a zero setting on the Throttle produces no thrust, which is fine of course, however, when put to full throttle is only reaches the blue 'sweet-spot' marker and no further - even at max. Again this is irrespective of whether or not 'inverted' is set. I am using the appropriate in-game profile by the way. I hope I've explained the problem adequately.

If this behaviour seems familiar to any T-Flight users then please let me know, but I fear it may be faulty, which would be a pain as I bought it on the Net.

Any guidance would be gratefully received.

I don't believe it is a fault of your joystick as I am currently using a Logitech joystick with a throttle control slider on the back of it and if I load up a single player scenario with the throttle set to full ahead all I can do is fly backwards.
If I start the scenario with the throttle at the zero position I can fly forward no problem, but for some reason during the combat the throttle gets reversed and I can no longer fly forward again until I restart the scenario.

So in my opinion it is just the old Alpha version that is to blame for all these issue and not your throttle control.
We will see next Friday for sure but my guess is that your joystick is perfectly fine.
 
I don't believe it is a fault of your joystick as I am currently using a Logitech joystick with a throttle control slider on the back of it and if I load up a single player scenario with the throttle set to full ahead all I can do is fly backwards.
If I start the scenario with the throttle at the zero position I can fly forward no problem, but for some reason during the combat the throttle gets reversed and I can no longer fly forward again until I restart the scenario.

So in my opinion it is just the old Alpha version that is to blame for all these issue and not your throttle control.
We will see next Friday for sure but my guess is that your joystick is perfectly fine.

Many thanks SpectralMeat for the prompt reply. What you say is certainly possible. However, I just downloaded Oolite (an original Elite clone - excellent btw) and similar behaviour is exhibited in that the throttle will only allow a 50% maximum setting which, to me, suggests the possibility of a hardware issue. Also the joystick Windows Control Panel displays similarly imperfect throttle axis issues. I'd like to be able to reset the auto-configuration and start from scratch without drivers. I still hope to hear from other T-Flight users.

Thanks again!
 
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