Hardware & Technical Joystick advice

Tino · Sep 22, 2014

Hi All

I am strongly considering getting a joystick (maybe not a throttle) for ED, I am 100% new to flight joysticks, the last joystick I used was a zipstick on my Amiga

good times.

What should I be looking for in a flight joystick in terms of functions? number of buttons, types of controls such as analogue and so on, axis controls on stick.

Any recommendations for <£50 sticks? Is a throttle a must when going with a joystick. Any Sticks I can add a throttle to later if I feel the need?

Thanks

Surfinjo · Sep 22, 2014

I use Black Widow.

Has everything you want and good reviews.

Well within your budget.

This is a layout of the controls which I drew so I could set the keys to my liking

Philip Coutts · Sep 22, 2014

I use a T-Flight Hotas (see linkie). It has a throttle and comes apart so you can split the throttle and stick and sit them either side of your keyboard or wherever you want. You can pick it up for a bit less than the attached Amazon link (£39.99) if you shop around and for the money I've found it a really good stick.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Thrustmaste...sr=1-1&keywords=thrustmaster+t+flight+hotas+x

Surfinjo · Sep 22, 2014

Looking for a review of the Hotas and found a rather nice dual review of it and another stick.

http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/pe...cyborg-fly-5-vs-thrustmaster-t-flight-hotas/1

Found this for the Black Widow

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GC-002-SL

That's 3.

The Cyborg seems to have up to 24 programmable keys and a scroll wheel. That looks pretty intersting

Tino · Sep 22, 2014

Thanks for the responses so far, my #1 worry is the feel and quality of the stick, a few years ago I went from your standard £10-15 keyboards to the more expensive £70-90 mechanicals and the weight and build quality I just love and could never go back, I'd hate to get a stick that creeks and flexes as you use it and just feels cheap even if it's functional. I am a snob I know.

I am almost certain if I went with a throttle I'd need to have that as a separate piece, looks ergonomically wrong having it next to the stick.

I'll check out some reviews and those sticks already mentioned.

Ttaskmaster · Sep 22, 2014

For £45, the Saitek (MadCatz) Cyborg FLY5 is an okay stick.
It is about as entry-level as you'd perhaps want to go and does have a few niggles, but most of them would not be immediately apparent unless you'd used a top end HOTAS.

As is, I do alright with mine, but I will be getting a better one before too long...

Andy Kappa · Sep 22, 2014

Another option you might want to consider is the Thrustmaster T.16000, especially if you're Left-handed (although it's still a good choice even if you're not). There's a throttle slider on the base - it has a bit of a short throw for ultimate throttle control, but that would be about it for criticism at the price. If you can get somewhere to try some of the options out before buying that would be best. Frontier are at Earls Court later this week if you're able to get there, and the guys there would be only too happy to let you try stuff out.

Tino · Sep 22, 2014

I just watched this video review\demo of the Thrustmaster T-Flight Hotas X https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ZuWi3nyYF8 - I think the reviewer put it right in that is looks\feels cheap cus' it is - but its good for getting ya feet wet and to see if HOTAS will work for me. I think the separate throttle will help the experience.

Now to find a good deal.

@ Andy i wish i could drop into PC world and have a feel of the sticks though I fear id get arrested if i asked

Cmdr Moschops · Sep 22, 2014

For ~£40 the T-Flight is a great bit of kit and for me is perfect to get my skills up on. Yeah I wanted a Warthog but I just had to be realistic about value for money. I can get a couple of decent monitors with the change.

I'd recommend it as a first stick for sure.

calculon68 · Sep 22, 2014

Tino said:
Any recommendations for <£50 sticks? Is a throttle a must when going with a joystick. Any Sticks I can add a throttle to later if I feel the need?

I briefly used an older version of the Thrustmaster T-Flight Hotas X. The T-Flight adds a bit more features and buttons, but I believe the form factor and build quality is basically the same. It is a good entry-level stick and it did serve me well; but its precision left me wanting, and it sped me to save/upgrade to a better HOTAS rig.

I'm not saying drop $200-300 USD. But you mentioned the qualitative difference between cheap membrane keyboards and mechanical ones; the exact same comparison can be made with joysticks. You get what you pay for. It's £25 more, but I think a CH Combatstick 568 would serve you better in the long run. You can add a Throttle later down the road. (CH Products is the only company that sells a HOTAS as separate components)

Philip Coutts · Sep 23, 2014

I guess to a degree the old saying is true, you get what you pay for! at £40 or less the T-flight is great value for money in my opinion. Although it's not that expensive it's pretty solid. Yes I wanted an X52-pro but the price tag is rather stiff especially as I hadn't used a joystick in years. The T-Flight does me just fine.