Hardware & Technical My X-55 broke now I'm a Troll on the Forum

[Hooplah]

After three years my Saitek X-55 yaw spring broke. There were other issues with the lower right Castle Hat on the joystick becoming limp and my select next ship target on the throttle getting sticky but I still managed with it. So after a painful decision I ordered a new X-56 from Newegg. They are great and whenever I order from them I get it 48 hours later. I must be in the right place on the planet. I seriously considered the Thrustmaster Warthog as they have a sale including free rudder pedals but I'm a yaw guy and rudder pedals are not for me with dogs underneath my feet wanting attention! I love my dogs! Also with the YouTube reviews the X-55/56 throttle is favored over the Warthog version. I've grown accustomed to all the binding abilities of the X-55 that no other HOTAS comes close to and doesn't need a software profile to connect with ED. Thus maybe I'll have to buy the X-57 in a few years from now.

So while I await the delivery I post a lot on the forum more than usual hopefully as a positive troll. Not much difference as in the game with two monitors I usually have the game on one and the Forum on the other. That is another version of Open play meeting friends. But I hope to help other players with my 1400 hours of playing. I certainly don't have all the answers and learn something new on the Forum all the time. But I love the game and hopefully being a positive troll for now awaiting new hardware if I can help someone out with my knowledge that is a good thing. Go figure.

Regards to All

 

[Aussiedroid]

Got a good run out of your X55 mate! Mine lasted only a year approx.

Was going to say that you do not need pedals for the Warthog (despite no twist), not mandatory, but certainly does help.

Hope you are not waiting long for your X56!

 

[Draxxen]

My x55 lasted about a year as well, just past the warranty..
I have had a Warthog ever since, and do not regret rudder pedals; it is a blast! And the stick feels real, with its metal parts.

Hope you don't have to troll too long

 

[Spacecat]

Lol at "positive troll". Engineers is the best mod system ever devised! Scouring system after system for for days looking for proto heat radiators made it all the more rewarding when I finally found them! Playing the ship upgrade lottery is more fun than video poker! Getting blown up by other players motivated me to improve my skills! Losing a ship because I didn't have rebuy taught me financial responsibility!

 

[Daitya Zo]

I've got a new CH Fighterstick, for which I've just finished programming all three LED modes. I have programmed 39 buttons, on top of primary and secondary fire and POV hat and mode/LED changer. So, it's crazy-- but no twist. I haven't been flying a lot while programming it. I did make it to a planet and have been driving around while I finish programming it.

So... I've got my very first rudder pedals coming tomorrow. I have owned many HOTAS setups, dating back to prehistoric times, but never rudder pedals. I got a deal on the CH Pro Pedals USB, from a GoodWill charity shop on ebay. They look mint, and were half price.

I can't wait. As someone who remembers when no joysticks had twist-- let me tell you that almost everyone I know thought that it was obvious that the manufacturers just tacked on a third axis wherever they could, thus practically RUINING the ergonomics of a "joystick". Twists were universally seen as a compromise of whatever severity you attributed to the difficult motion. But it's been quite a shock to switch from my T16000 to a fighterstick. I've become very used to twist sticks, much like everyone who grew up with them. So the pedals are very welcome!

 

[Hooplah]

Daitya Zo you may be right. But ED it is a lot easier to run around in a SRV using a joystick yaw versus rudder pedals. My feet are not as responsive as the yaw on a joystick. Still ED has a lot of options. X-Plane 10 and the upcoming X-Plane 11? A totally different story.

 

[Spacecat]

Wouldn't it make more sense to use the rudder pedals as gas/brake in the SRV, or am I being weird?

 

[Bryan K]

You should try the Thrustmaster T.16000/TWCS. The stick uses magnets instead of springs, so in theory it should never break.

My old X52 lost roll-tracking (since it used contact sensors) after many years of faithful service, so I had to get the Pro version, which nearly killed my rig with its awful corrupted drivers. Saitek stuff used to be brilliant, but now the QC has gone out the window. I wanted an X56, but I hear a lot of them are broken out of the box, so I'd steer clear of those if I were you.

 

[Hooplah]

Wouldn't it make more sense to use the rudder pedals as gas/brake in the SRV, or am I being weird?

I haven't tried them so my opinions using rudder pedals are meaningless all about opinions without any experience. That happens a lot on the Forum. I often fly in a lotus position in my chair so I don't bother the dogs below me. Yaw on the joystick helps a lot with this. I might have to kick some dogs out of the way with pedals. Given my love for them versus playing the game I'm not sure that it is worth it.

 

[Aussiedroid]

Wouldn't it make more sense to use the rudder pedals as gas/brake in the SRV, or am I being weird?

I tried that myself, but found it not to be overly comfortable (that might just be me or my setup position). Myself, I have set it up so moving the rudder pedal to the right upwards accelerates, and moving the left rudder pedal up sends the SRV into reverse. Besides simply being more 'fun' it gives great control over your speed using the full rudder axis.

I do still map digital controls to the Throttle arm so if I am feeling lazy, want to rest my legs or are simply going on a long trip I can use that as well.

 

[Mendaharin Tusca]

3 years? what foul dark magic did you use to keep it working that long? I tossed my in the bin after 1½ years, during which time 5 wires broke in the throttle, on the stick the pinky botton and the prime tophat were all but shot. The throttle grease never let up kept acting like glue, the stick always had a slight drift on it.. Never touching Saitek AGAIN.

 

[Cmdr. Numa]

After three years my Saitek X-55 yaw spring broke. There were other issues with the lower right Castle Hat on the joystick becoming limp and my select next ship target on the throttle getting sticky but I still managed with it. So after a painful decision I ordered a new X-56 from Newegg. They are great and whenever I order from them I get it 48 hours later. I must be in the right place on the planet. I seriously considered the Thrustmaster Warthog as they have a sale including free rudder pedals but I'm a yaw guy and rudder pedals are not for me with dogs underneath my feet wanting attention! I love my dogs! Also with the YouTube reviews the X-55/56 throttle is favored over the Warthog version. I've grown accustomed to all the binding abilities of the X-55 that no other HOTAS comes close to and doesn't need a software profile to connect with ED. Thus maybe I'll have to buy the X-57 in a few years from now.

My condolences. The X56 essentially suffers from the same build quality as the X55, so may break just as fast. If you still can, cancel that order and get a Thrustmaster FCS.

 

[Argus Leadhead]

I got my x-55 shortly after I got the Elite beta. The only thing wearing out is the little pinky button on the stick. I think the spring is wearing out, as it takes almost no pressure to hit it now. Thankfully, the stick/throttle setup is still very functional. One of these days, it's going to wear out completely. Hopefully it'll be a while yet. I've had a great run so far and loathe the day when I'll lose her.

Here's hoping it's a long way off.

 

[smiths121]

You should try the Thrustmaster T.16000/TWCS. The stick uses magnets instead of springs, so in theory it should never break.

My old X52 lost roll-tracking (since it used contact sensors) after many years of faithful service, so I had to get the Pro version, which nearly killed my rig with its awful corrupted drivers. Saitek stuff used to be brilliant, but now the QC has gone out the window. I wanted an X56, but I hear a lot of them are broken out of the box, so I'd steer clear of those if I were you.

I just swtched back to an X-52 with lower hat going loose from T16000FCS/TWCS. The analogue stick for thrusters is nice, but after landing or turning in a dog fight a few hundreds time never re-centers from down thrust. Putting deadzones in jut made it worst.
Nice stick, nice idea but not sure it is useable after a few months. And yes I have 2, both developed the same problem (one actually came with the problem).

Simon

 

[lemny]

My X55 broke too, a few weeks ago. The cables in the stick base are crying for that to happen.
The only option I saw quality wise was the high end Thrustmaster, but the missing twist is trade off I don't want to go. I have pedals, but I don't like to use them in ED much enough.

For now I am using the XBox Elite controller with many layers and GlovePie script in the background to capture double taps of the buttons and optimizing a few other things.
I am surprised how well this works because I mainly flying my Anaconda and no smaller fighter craft, It feels not so wrong.

And mining and trading it's more comfy with a controller than a HOTAS anyway.

I am looking forward to a successor of the X56 with the quality Logitech delivers normally.

 

[GaryII]

My X55 broke too, a few weeks ago. The cables in the stick base are crying for that to happen.

Same here I replaced those with standart LAN cable wires = works like new..
Saitek i guess there are using some veeery cheap cables...

In general X55 quality is not good, but I really like design, button placement

 

[StarJim]

Thrustmaster Warthog

You had a chance to by a Warthog and didnt use it ?

You do not need pedals for jaw - you can do it with thumb perfectly.
Give it a chance and try it - you wil never regret it. Not only it newer breaks - it looks like new after several years of use. And feeling which you get of using it... adds a lot to feeling being real pilot

 

[DNA-Decay]

Daitya Zo you may be right. But ED it is a lot easier to run around in a SRV using a joystick yaw versus rudder pedals. My feet are not as responsive as the yaw on a joystick. Still ED has a lot of options. X-Plane 10 and the upcoming X-Plane 11? A totally different story.

I steer the SRV with my feet.

It's not hard.

I reckon you missed out on that deal. Those Warthog pedals look solid.
My saitek pedals are still going, but they feel pretty dinky.

 

[dayrth]

....So after a painful decision I ordered a new X-56....

I'm thinking of getting one. Let us know what it's like.

 

[Wasp0]

My Commiserations for all users of failed X55. Been there, seen it, done it, unfortunately got the Failed X55 'T' Shirt (I have actually 3x 'T' Shirts in a year).

I was sent an X52 pro by the failing Saitek Tech Support as i refused to have yet another X55, and i must say i am more than pleased with it. It has lasted now over a year and i play almost EVERY day in ED. I was going to change to the 1600 latest stick, but feel the x52 Pro is doing me ok (For Now!)