Hardware & Technical New Logitech X56 HOTAS!

[who?]

I forgot I had posted this... Keeping in mind I am in Australia, so there's some logistics with returns like this. The process was pain free; I contacted Logitech, they took the info, gave me a job number and asked I drop it to the retail outlet that I purchased it from. I did that, eventually, and they sent it off. (There was about two weeks whereby I just couldn't be bothered taking it to the store.) Approximately three weeks after I did take it back, the store advised me that Logitech have issued a full credit for the purchase amount. During the two weeks between me making the claim and actually taking the X56 back to the store, Logitech mailed me about every three days to make sure there wasn't any problem with returning it to the store/telling me to get in touch if there's a problem. Three week turn around isn't too bad, from Aus.

Just saw this now. Wow.

I bought a Warthog HOTAS a while back. Had stiction issues (stick wouldn't recenter smoothly, but jumped back in steps), so I had to find the right kind of grease, and figure out how to open it up to get to the gimbal. Had one of the buttons on the throttle die too, and TM offered me instructions on how to open it up and what to look for (didn't find anything, but the button still either doesn't work or fires spontaneously and sporadically). Then the entire throttle unit died, and I had to buy a replacement board, and pay for a local repair shop to install it.

Logitech support sounds street ahead!

 

[c64orinoco]

My old X52 Pro lasted 13 years. It's an original Saitek, back when they were solid - and it's had pretty much daily use. ED is pretty hard use too. Pretty much all the pots are going, the lights flicker constantly.

I'm looking for a new HOTAS and the X56 looks like the best bet. The warthog is too big/heavy/expensive/needs rudder pedals (I don't have the room or money) and the Virpil and VKB kit - while it does look very nice, seems to be unobtainium even if you live in Europe or US. I doubt they would even know where Australia is.

How does the size of the X56 compare with the X52? While the X52 is large, I don't find it un comfortably so, and I have 13 years of muscle memory now too...

 

[znôrt]

I have burned through two x55s and two x56's since ED alpha

you must be punishing the thing really hard!
most of my circa 2000h in the game, mostly combat, i did with an x52pro, which i just gifted to a friend who just picked up elite, and it looks a bit worn but works as good as new.

 

[who?]

My old X52 Pro lasted 13 years. It's an original Saitek, back when they were solid - and it's had pretty much daily use. ED is pretty hard use too. Pretty much all the pots are going, the lights flicker constantly.

I'm looking for a new HOTAS and the X56 looks like the best bet. The warthog is too big/heavy/expensive/needs rudder pedals (I don't have the room or money) and the Virpil and VKB kit - while it does look very nice, seems to be unobtainium even if you live in Europe or US. I doubt they would even know where Australia is.

How does the size of the X56 compare with the X52? While the X52 is large, I don't find it un comfortably so, and I have 13 years of muscle memory now too...

If the Warthog is too big and expensive, don't look at Virpil/VKB. The Virpil throttle is bigger and a LOT more expensive than the Warthog, and the VKB throttle - if it ever launches - is way, way bigger than both. And from I can see the Virpil and VKB sticks are a lot bigger than the Warthog stick too. And a lot more expensive.

Virpil seem to be pretty reliable and prompt with orders/deliveries, VKB less so, in my experience.

 

[Bill Clement]

My old X52 Pro lasted 13 years. It's an original Saitek, back when they were solid - and it's had pretty much daily use. ED is pretty hard use too. Pretty much all the pots are going, the lights flicker constantly.

I'm looking for a new HOTAS and the X56 looks like the best bet. The warthog is too big/heavy/expensive/needs rudder pedals (I don't have the room or money) and the Virpil and VKB kit - while it does look very nice, seems to be unobtainium even if you live in Europe or US. I doubt they would even know where Australia is.

How does the size of the X56 compare with the X52? While the X52 is large, I don't find it un comfortably so, and I have 13 years of muscle memory now too...

The X-56 is larger; both the bases and the stick are much larger. I have quite large hands, so the X-55/6 fits me perfectly. Mileage varies, but when you throw in the many buttons, hats and axes it's a much better HOTAS in my opinion. The stick comes with four spring settings that can be adjusted in seconds, but the tensioner on the throttle is about as much use as a chocolate fireguard! [haha]

(Not my pic, shamelessly blagged from an Il-2 forum post!)

[/URL]x52 vs x56 by William Clement, on Flickr[/IMG]

 

[Mole HD]

After a year and a bit of heavy use, my old Saitek X56 blue developed a right yaw drift on the twist rudder axis...which was annoying but could be cancelled out with a bit of deadzone. It still bugged me so I decided to chance my luck with the Logitech 2 year warranty as I had registered the HOTAS on the Logitech site after purchase.

After a few emails back and forth over 3 days, I explained I couldn't return the X56 to Amazon where I'd bought it online as it was outside the 30 day return policy...besides living on a remote island with no retailers besides the one local shop.

A few more emails later and there's a new Logitech built X56 grey on it's way out to my little rock in the ocean. Besides the confusion surrounding my address on Logitech's customer services part (we don't have any streets or house numbers, everyone lives on a croft or small farm and there's no towns...far less cities) customer services were extremely helpful throughout the process responding sometimes within a few minutes of any email I sent.

Sometimes, it pays to chance your luck a bit...Logitech also said they didn't require the year and a bit old old Saitek X56 returned so I'll have a spare too.

Let's see how the new one fairs

 

[Micha]

My ancient X45 still works; bought it for "X-Beyond the Frontier" (yes, the original one) -many- moons ago and been using it for ED the last 3 years or so.

So far I've only had to resolder a couple of wires which broke off a switch on the stick part, and spray a bit of contact cleaner into the Pots, so overall it seems to be holding up reasonably well, but I think it's getting close to having to replace the Pots; they are getting very jittery.

Sometimes I consider getting a new HOTAS, but unless/until there's a true replacement (I love the yaw-rocker on the back of the throttle; tried twist-to-yaw and really didn't like it), I'll just keep repairing this one for as long as it'll go.

 

[mp4x]

Just saw this now. Wow. I bought a Warthog HOTAS a while back. Had stiction issues (stick wouldn't recenter smoothly, but jumped back in steps), so I had to find the right kind of grease, and figure out how to open it up to get to the gimbal. Had one of the buttons on the throttle die too, and TM offered me instructions on how to open it up and what to look for (didn't find anything, but the button still either doesn't work or fires spontaneously and sporadically). Then the entire throttle unit died, and I had to buy a replacement board, and pay for a local repair shop to install it. Logitech support sounds street ahead!

Damn, well hopefully I don't have to find out what the Thrustmaster service is like - I bought a Warthog, instead of replacing the x56, and I love the Warthog joystick - I hope I don't have to RA it. Truth be told, I find the X56 throttle to be more practice/better for Elite. If I could find a cheap X55/56 throttle side, I'd use it together with the Warthog joy stick.

 

[Bill Clement]

Yep, if Logitech sold X-56 throttles I'd buy one tomorrow. But I'm not forking out for an entire HOTAS when I already have four perfectly serviceable joysticks! [haha]

 

[-VR- Max Factor]

Yep, if Logitech sold X-56 throttles I'd buy one tomorrow. But I'm not forking out for an entire HOTAS when I already have four perfectly serviceable joysticks! [haha]

I would like an X56 joystick on it's own. I have a perfectly working TWCS throttle, I just want a good stick to go with it. I don't like the one that is meant to go with it, not enough options on the stick.

 

[mant3z]

Where to buy black one for a good price?
In my country there are only few blue kind available

 

[CMDR Rainbowfhürer]

I would like an X56 joystick on it's own. I have a perfectly working TWCS throttle, I just want a good stick to go with it. I don't like the one that is meant to go with it, not enough options on the stick.

I don't know what country you are in but whttps://www.logitech.com will have a store and a list of retailers that sell the new black one.

 

[Mole HD]

Just as an addendum to my previous post. The warranty replacement Logitech X56 RGB arrived today....Logitech customer support gets another tick of approval from me.

Between the old Saitek X56 blue and the X56 RGB as a side by side comparison, there's a definite difference in the build quality even at first use. Everything is just tight and smooth...no loose rotary switches, no rattly feeling buttons or coolie hats, no over greasing of the throttle assembly and the stick feels more solid and accurate.

Even the analogue thumbsticks have had a spring/resistance update as they're not quite as floaty feeling with a definitive centre. There's also absolutely no drift or centre juddering apparent in the software for any hat, rotary or thumbstick. All the indicators are dead centre and solid across the board.

I've even got the old blue Saitek X56 as a spare now since Logitech didn't want it back....plus a brand new 2 year warranty on the X56 RGB

 

[Brian of Ardagh]

I have the old blue X56 but replaced it with a Warthog setup. I like many things about the Warthog overall but I miss the multiple thumbsticks that the X56 has, I did replace the mini-mouse button with a full analog stick courtesy of Delta Sim. One of the few things keeping me from the new X56 would be the lack of programmable mode-based throttle/joystick curves. Has there been any change to the X56 software to allow programmable curves based on the position of the mode switch?

 

[Mole HD]

I have the old blue X56 but replaced it with a Warthog setup. I like many things about the Warthog overall but I miss the multiple thumbsticks that the X56 has, I did replace the mini-mouse button with a full analog stick courtesy of Delta Sim. One of the few things keeping me from the new X56 would be the lack of programmable mode-based throttle/joystick curves. Has there been any change to the X56 software to allow programmable curves based on the position of the mode switch?

Yup...new Logitech software has everything including the kitchen sink...

 

[Hooplah]

I was using an X-56 blue. The yaw was a little off per not centering but usable. I ordered the X-56 grey when it came out and it worked fine. Then the yaw went severely out going 30 percent left when it should have been 50 percent null position hands off. Interesting I attached the X-56 blue joystick handle to the X-56 grey base and was back in business. Anyway something worth knowing if one happens to own both.

I haven't seen any YouTube videos describing this problem and a solution yet.

 

[Thargon]

Yup...new Logitech software has everything including the kitchen sink...

Where is this software mole? I bought a new X52 pro recently and installed the driver software with that, but I dont have these deadband settings in my version.

 

[Mole HD]

Where is this software mole? I bought a new X52 pro recently and installed the driver software with that, but I dont have these deadband settings in my version.

Direct from the Logitech support page. I've posted a download link for the X52 pro software which includes the latest drivers. I downloaded and switched to the Logitech software for my old X52 Pro when I had it. A huge difference from the old Saitek/Madcatz rubbish it came with. I can't remember if the X52 pro has the deadzone and curve settings in it but I was using the very first version of the X52 software that Logitech released...that was over a year ago.

The version number on the software is exactly the same as the software I'm using on the X56, so I'd imagine it's very similar.

X52 Pro HOTAS software

You can also register your Pro from that page too...gives you the 2 year warranty.

 

[Mole HD]

My old X52 Pro lasted 13 years. It's an original Saitek, back when they were solid - and it's had pretty much daily use. ED is pretty hard use too. Pretty much all the pots are going, the lights flicker constantly.

I'm looking for a new HOTAS and the X56 looks like the best bet. The warthog is too big/heavy/expensive/needs rudder pedals (I don't have the room or money) and the Virpil and VKB kit - while it does look very nice, seems to be unobtainium even if you live in Europe or US. I doubt they would even know where Australia is.

How does the size of the X56 compare with the X52? While the X52 is large, I don't find it un comfortably so, and I have 13 years of muscle memory now too...

The X56 stick, especially the coolie hats and top buttons can be a stretch even for folks with large hands and long fingers....I think it was designed by this guy...

Still a cracking bit of kit though

 

[Brian of Ardagh]

Yup...new Logitech software has everything including the kitchen sink...

I've used the software you have shown but, in the past, those curves were set once for each axis, there was no ability to assign a specific curve to a mode switch.

For an example, I might want to set the throttle curve for landing in one mode, the mode switch is that 3 position switch on the base of the throttle. That curve would allow finer control at the bottom of the range and limit the full range so I don't go too fast in forward or reverse. Then I could switch away from that mode for full range operations.