Hotas. Which one should I choose?
- Thread starter randommagic
- Start date
I had X-55 and I have to warn everybody, do not buy any of those Saitek HOTAS systems. Me and few of my friends had the same issue:
after few months of using most of the cables inside the moving throttle part literally broke apart because of bending and I lost functionality of buttons.
Same thing reported about newest X model.
after few months of using most of the cables inside the moving throttle part literally broke apart because of bending and I lost functionality of buttons.
Same thing reported about newest X model.
And that's one of the issues that are easier to fix with a soldering iron. The malfunctioning twist, which breaks because the "conductor board" of the potentiometer is glued to the stick casing (hence, experiencing permanent shear forces). I tried finding that couple of times but after a few weeks it always broke again.
Yeah I actually tried to fix the broken wires myself and I succeeded 90% hah, luckily twist is still working for me.
Thing is, once you use a good stick without twist, you find you don't want to go back to one with it on account of your more accurate control. The CH Throttle has the mini analogue stick and while that's hardly pedals, it is 100% fine as a yaw (pitch and roll on stick). Most of the strafing is fine on a hat with ED so you really do get as full a control as you will with, say the T16000m Hotas that's coming. I have two Twist sticks (a T16000m and a Logitech e3d "pro") and they are just not as good (by a longshot) as my Fighterstick.
My first X-55 broke within 2 months (wires in the throttle). The replacement from Amazon lasted 6 weeks (wires in the throttle and the internal wiring harness at the base of the stick).
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Since Feb 16 I've been using the X52Pro with zero issues. I did mod the throttle to remove the stopper and replaced the magnets in the stick right away based on E.D feedback. Has worked flawlessly. Even use the mouse swivel on the throttle as lateral thruster control. It is pretty old tech though so I'm looking forward to reviews of the new Thrustmaster.
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Since Feb 16 I've been using the X52Pro with zero issues. I did mod the throttle to remove the stopper and replaced the magnets in the stick right away based on E.D feedback. Has worked flawlessly. Even use the mouse swivel on the throttle as lateral thruster control. It is pretty old tech though so I'm looking forward to reviews of the new Thrustmaster.
Honestly, it is worth it even without the twist, though pedals are needed for best results. The VKB T-rudder pedals are awesome if you use an office chair and the motion is more up down, otherwise, even if tou can just find any ild car pedals to use on ebay or something... I have seen plenty of CH pedals go for good priceson ebay too.
If you have a huge budget, Slaw or Crosswinds are the way to go!
Z...
If you have a huge budget, Slaw or Crosswinds are the way to go!
Z...
And let's not forget that pedals are really awesome when it comes to steering the SRV.
Artemis Zodiac
Banned
my x55 has lasted for a year almost.....good stick and throttle....I upgraded my x 52 to get this as I like the more switches ect...
one thing that is a must for the x 55 though is a powered usb hub
one thing that is a must for the x 55 though is a powered usb hub
Subbed for future reference. I started with an X52 Pro which developed throttle issues, moved to an X55 while the previous throttle was in RMA status, and have been using the X55 ever since. It's lasted about a year now without major issues (had to use silicon based lubricant to calm the joystick chatter), but I'm sometimes wishing for something better. The new TM HOTAS looks decent, but I enjoy having a few buttons within reach of my thumb on the flight stick. Can anyone with an existing TM T1600 stick confirm both the primary and secondary buttons on the stick, or is it just a single primary?
Just single primary. It's also made so you can use it left handed so none (and I mean none) of the other buttons feel natural to the hand. The buttons are also made of the cheapest plastic you could find and its quite a stiff stick so when you are really using it it will slide in the table unless quite well secured. It's Hall effect sensors are accurate but that's it. It's a cheap stick.
I've never had my T.16000M slide around; the grippy pads on the bottom hold the desk just fine. The base buttons are a little cheap but the ones on the stick itself are fine, and the immense quality of the Hall effect stick itself more than makes up for a few plasticky buttons.
I'm a leftie, so HOTAS won't really work for me, sadly - I have a 360 pad for my right hand which gives me the extra axes I need. I have the right trigger for analogue forward thrust, right bumper for backwards and the right stick for analogue laterals. You can have those controls mapped and still use the slider on the back of the T.16000M as your normal forward thrust for those regular travel moments where you don't want to be constantly holding down a button; it works surprisingly well.
I'm a leftie, so HOTAS won't really work for me, sadly - I have a 360 pad for my right hand which gives me the extra axes I need. I have the right trigger for analogue forward thrust, right bumper for backwards and the right stick for analogue laterals. You can have those controls mapped and still use the slider on the back of the T.16000M as your normal forward thrust for those regular travel moments where you don't want to be constantly holding down a button; it works surprisingly well.
I'm a huge fan of the Logitech 3d Pro stick myself, and will be ordering the CH throttle when I return from vacation.
I may well add pedals in the future as well, if for no other reason, I think they'd be the best option for the SRV.
I don't have much of a precision issue with the 3d Pro and I love the twist function. To me it just feels more natural.
And if you find you still need more buttons/switches:
https://www.amazon.com/Saitek-Flight-Switch-Panel-PZ55/dp/B001EYU1WS
Because you just can't have too many controls.
Or you can get:
https://webobjects2.cdw.com/is/image/CDW/313315a?$product-main$
and have lots of extra buttons!
I may well add pedals in the future as well, if for no other reason, I think they'd be the best option for the SRV.
I don't have much of a precision issue with the 3d Pro and I love the twist function. To me it just feels more natural.
And if you find you still need more buttons/switches:
https://www.amazon.com/Saitek-Flight-Switch-Panel-PZ55/dp/B001EYU1WS
Because you just can't have too many controls.
Or you can get:
https://webobjects2.cdw.com/is/image/CDW/313315a?$product-main$
and have lots of extra buttons!
Thank you for the feedback on this. I guess I'm going to have to continue my search for when the X-55 replacement windows occurs. That Warthog HOTAS seems very nice, but it's a bit hard for me (as a family man with kids) to justify $400 for a HOTAS.
Well, if a lack of twist is something you can live with, a CH hotas is excellent and known to last the distance (and while not cheap, cheaper than a warthog). It's not as pretty, but it's so functional that you end up never looking at it.
Family man with kids here, too, and I know what you mean. Even going cheap on pedals I'm looking at roughly $520.00 for a Warthog set up, a lot of dough for a man with responsibilities for sure. The only way I can pay for them, and any games in general, is from my aluminum scrap fund. I don't pay for any luxury items out of any revenue I make from by business, just my little side line scrapping, a byproduct of my construction company.
Just saying, I cannot and will not play ED without "rocker switch" like that one on T-Flight throttle.
Great for breaking speed in space, analog yaw and SRV steering...
Check out the VKB Cobra M5. Perhaps VKB may also have a jet fighter handle for their new Gladiator at some stage.
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