Former console peasant requests Joystick / HOTAS advice

samphilconlor · Oct 3, 2020

Played Elite Dangerous just after release on the PS4 and ranked all the way up the Imperial line got my Cutter, was working my way through engineers etc but left the game for a while (don't ask) and have now come back about 2 years later on PC. Using the controller was fine lacked a little something but I preferred it the mouse I'm currently using.

Simple questions what joystick/hotas/controller would you recommend to someone on a budget that is currently available on Amazon UK and will work with Elite Dangerous OK?

Any advice greatly appreciated I'm a complete newbie to flight sim controllers so anything fantastically complicated or expensive really would be wasted on me.

madmattnz · Oct 3, 2020

Cheapest - Thrustmaster T.Flight 4. Will also work on PS4 but does not appear to be available currently on Amazon.co.uk. Also has some drift/yaw issues over time but I have had mine since PS4 launch and is still working ok.

For other options I will let the PC master race answer you question

Ashnak · Oct 3, 2020

How budget is your budget? If you can swing 140 quid, then the Thrustmaster T.16000M FCS HOTAS. The electronics are ok (hall sensors for the main stick axes and the throttle), the wiring can be prone to failure and the mechanics are plastic. Mine stood up for a few years, though. Still have it siting around - can't really get myself to dump it, but don't want to sell it, either - it's "well used", with some play now on the stick.

Can't recommend anything cheaper than that which would not be an XBox gamepad.

VR Roxydog · Oct 4, 2020

X56 if you really love the game - then Virpil Alpha with the X56 throttle when you want more accuracy.

Saltyseadog · Oct 4, 2020

You can't beat the Thrustmaster T-Flight Hotas X if you are on a budget in my opinion. http://www.thrustmaster.com/products/categories/joysticks-0&tid=505 I had mine from the time I first bought ED in 2015 until a few weeks back when the drift I had on the yaw got so bad it made steering left and right impossible, but that was the only thing wrong with it in 5yrs. I went for the Logitech G X56 at £215 from Currys to replace it as I have a bit more cash now. I like the X56 and appreciate the extra knobs and buttons but is it £155 better than the Hotas, not a chance. In retrospect I would probably buy another T-Flight.

samphilconlor · Oct 6, 2020

Appreciate the feedback guys unfortunately I can't find the Thrustmaster Hotas X or T.Flight 4 in stock anywhere, availability was Feb 2021 ins some cases :-(

The X56 was just too pricey at the moment.

Played safe and went for something in stock which had reviews mentioning Elite Dangerous and hell it has to be better than combat with the mouse.

Logitech G Extreme 3D PRO Joystick, 12 Programmable Buttons, 8-way Hat Switch, Stable, Weighted Base, Rapid-fire Trigger, USB, PC - Black/Silver: Amazon.co.uk: Computers & Accessories

www.amazon.co.uk

Para Handy · Oct 6, 2020

samphilconlor said:
Appreciate the feedback guys unfortunately I can't find the Thrustmaster Hotas X or T.Flight 4 in stock anywhere, availability was Feb 2021 ins some cases :-(

The X56 was just too pricey at the moment.

Played safe and went for something in stock which had reviews mentioning Elite Dangerous and hell it has to be better than combat with the mouse.

Logitech G Extreme 3D PRO Joystick, 12 Programmable Buttons, 8-way Hat Switch, Stable, Weighted Base, Rapid-fire Trigger, USB, PC - Black/Silver: Amazon.co.uk: Computers & Accessories

Logitech G Extreme 3D PRO Joystick, 12 Programmable Buttons, 8-way Hat Switch, Stable, Weighted Base, Rapid-fire Trigger, USB, PC - Black/Silver: Amazon.co.uk: Computers & Accessories

www.amazon.co.uk

You won't be disappointed with that stick. I have one which I did use for a while to see if the twist-action was useful - I decided it wasn't enough of an advantage so reverted back to my CHPro Fighterstick. The Logitech has good precision in the x and y axis but the twist axis is a bit of a weakness - you might get one who's twist axis needs re-calibrating every so often or you might get lucky and have a rock-solid one. I didn't use any driver software, the stick is plug-and-play and you calibrate it in windows game controller settings.

Use the "dead zone" settings in Elite's controls assignments if you feel the need - I only used it for the twist axis, x and y didn't need it.

Good luck and make sure you read the sticky at the top of this forum about renaming and backing-up your binds file - you will be glad you did.

BDelacroix · Oct 6, 2020

I use a Saitek (not logitech) x52 hotas with a logitech g13 keypad. They no longer make the later.
Only thing I wish the HOTAS had was an analog hat. They are all digital but 8 way (you have to turn on the 8 way feature, or you used to have to).

Virpil makes some nice stuff but as I have seen it, you need a lot of money and you won't see anything for a few birthdays. Possibly they are handcrafted? That would explain it. [note: I do not think they are actually hand crafted].

My issue with the thrustmaster 1600000 is that the throttle is flat. The button layout isn't comfortable either. It does have an analog thumb stick, though.