Hardware & Technical Joystick selection. Halp!

Preferred budget Joystick/HOTAS?

  • Logitech Extreme 3D Pro Joystick

    Votes: 6 9.4%
  • Thrustmaster T-Flight Stick X Flight Stick

    Votes: 1 1.6%
  • Thrustmaster T-Flight Hotas X Flight Stick

    Votes: 35 54.7%
  • Other -- please explain

    Votes: 22 34.4%

  • Total voters
    64
This ^^ The responsiveness of the Fighterstick is streets ahead of the 3D Pro (I know, I have one too). If you can afford it, get CH.

Don't be afraid to mix and match either. Warthog stick with a CH throttle was perfect for me. Really didn't like the setup of the Warthog throttle but the CH throttle is perfect for Elite in my opinion. Warthog stick simply because flying with a hefty chunk of iron is more satisfying. See if you can lay hands on one first, it can be too big for some people's grip.
 
I have a Thrustmaster HOTAS stick/throttle coming in the mail. all the reviews I read were very positive and now I see the community here endorses it as well. Glad I made the right decision on flight sticks!
 
I have a Thrustmaster HOTAS stick/throttle coming in the mail. all the reviews I read were very positive and now I see the community here endorses it as well. Glad I made the right decision on flight sticks!

me too, arrives tomorrow. And i know most might not agree, but one feature that the others inc x45,x52 ect don't have, is the 50% de-tent on the throttle, i really wanted this feature, for when flying my anaconda, it will be nice to be able to go from full throttle, straight back to reverse in combat.(without nudging to find 0 throttle)
 
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The thrustmaster hotas X is a really great buy. I have been using one on E D (many hours a day) for over 4 months and it still feels great. Sure it would be good to have a couple more hat switches but the size and sheer stiffness of the X55 throttle made it a real pain to use and I sent it back. The Warthog and X55 joysticks are much "taller" than the hotas X one, this means that you have to hold your arm up in the air more even though they all have rests on them for the heel of the hand (they also don't have a twist axis which I would really miss for yaw control in E D). As for having your left hand on the throttle all the time, well you don't really, only when manoeuvring but in any event the throttle has a "domed" surface to the base, this means that you can rest the heel of your hand on it whilst still in control of the throttle position and in reach of all of the buttons bar the two on the face and the slider axis - using them is the only time you need to actually raise your hand - you can't do that with the X55, CH or Wathog throttles. All in all the hotas x is a good size for a desk (the PC's keyboard fits between the split units), is very comfortable to use and a real bargain.
 
Mad Katz V.1 stick - Why? It's ambidextrous! You don't have to be right handed to use it! :D

It's got 7 programmable buttons, a throttle control, 8 position HAT, X, Y and Z axis controls on the stick; and it was only UKP20. Excellent!

I'd hunted around for ages trying to find one a south-paw can use and this is it! The Sidewinder Pro I used to have came close, but I still had to work the throttle control with my right hand, reaching under my left wrist to get at it (it was on the LHS of the stick's base).
 
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Hotas X is awesome for immersion - tbh I'd have quit playing ED months ago if not for it.

You can use "shift" buttons so that you have more than enough binds -

[video=youtube;wJF2f0uQd0g]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJF2f0uQd0g[/video]
 
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My Speedlink Black Widow was cheap as chips and has performed really well.

Nice selection of buttons in easy reach. Works on M$ own joystick drivers.

At the price, if it goes wriong, I'll chuck it out and buy another.

speed_link_black_widow_flightstick_sl_6640_sbk__4.jpg
 
I've jut learned of the cable joining the HOTAS X. Can someone get me a measurement of that cable? Nothing in store listings lists its length and people on the amazon question and answers said, "A foot or two ish" which isn't helpful.
 
I've jut learned of the cable joining the HOTAS X. Can someone get me a measurement of that cable? Nothing in store listings lists its length and people on the amazon question and answers said, "A foot or two ish" which isn't helpful.
That's fairly accurate, it's about 60-70 cm i think (mine is boxed up in storage, so can't physically check) ... enough to go from one side of my chair to the other, but it could be longer.
 
I've jut learned of the cable joining the HOTAS X. Can someone get me a measurement of that cable? Nothing in store listings lists its length and people on the amazon question and answers said, "A foot or two ish" which isn't helpful.

When separated there is approx 19" (49cm) space between the two parts, more than enough for most keyboards to fit. When not separated (or by only a shorter distance) cable can be wound into the base of the throttle.
 
I would be one of the other...I use the thrustmaster warthog Hotas...I prefer it to the others...though the x52-and 52 pro are decent...and I still have the x65...also good..but I like the over all feel of the warthog...the others do the job just as well...they just have a different feel.
 
The cable is 70cm but it only leaves a 49/50cm gap in-between the stick and throttle when fully stretched out.
 
I use a combination of a Warhog as flight stick and a small box built by me with an thuster and rotary axis for yaw and a few buttons.
 
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Robert Maynard

Volunteer Moderator
I use the Thrustmaster T.16000M. It has hall effect sensors and a twist grip - nice action - smooth and accurate. I chose it as it is the only stick that I know of that can be configured for use in the left hand.
 
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I also prefer Thrustmaster T-Flight Hotas X Flight Stick. It woorks great and I love it. For those that are wishing for more hat switches you can use the three thumb buttons on the throttle as modifiers (similar to shift, ctrl or alt) to the main stick buttons in controller setup. This multiplies the buttons on the main stick: You essentially have 4 hats, 4 triggers, and 4x2 thumb buttons on the main stick. I just assign each throttle button to a ship function- like #1 = defensive countermeasures, #2 = navigating/docking operations, #3 = utility (i.e. deploy cargo scoop, silent running, etc.) and I have more than enough capability with this setup. Another nice feature that compliments the game is the middle detent in the throttle that allows you to easily locate zero-throttle versus reverse throttle. Highly recommend for Elite:Dangerous
 
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