Hardware & Technical Saitek x55 rhino

[Nomadski]

Yeah, due to a shocking bug on their GameShark website I got sent 2 of the units when I was told the order had not gone through properly. Still waiting for them to collect the extra one, though that was useful as Toggle 4 wasn't working on the one I unboxed so I did a quick swap. Now how do I organise the 'RMA' if I still have both units?

They don't seem to have debited my card yet, either!

Really like the X55 though. It's got so many buttons that I don't need to use the mode switch at all. No problems installing it or setting it up, either.

Here are my bindings:

Spoiler

Spoiler

Note that text in blue is programmed using the HUD software which as I suspected is a reskin of the old SST software (old profiles still work in HUD, btw!) with some fancy calibration functionality added. I can share the profile as well, if anyone's interested, but that means you need to be using identical relevant keybinds as I do as well!

Note use of Throttle rotaries as horizontal/vertical thrust axes. This has caused at least one takeoff disaster but they are still fun!

The pinky 'spin' button is absolutely ideal for sensor range. I can recommend this to you guys, if nothing else. I even think it will work correctly without using HUD (scroll up = button 30, scroll down = button 31), but have not tested this.

Hat1 on stick sends macros (5 button presses each). I could set it to 8-way functionality but don't have 8 different schemes I want to use!

Pinky is FA off on HOLD, I have a separate toggle for FA off TOGGLE.

I also use the pinky rotary on the throttle for the map zoom, it has always worked well for me too.

One thing I would say about your joystick setup, I had secondary fire on the same button initially, but having the FA (HOLD) on the pinky lever made it difficult in situations where I wanted to fire secondary and FA off. It is possible, but requires a little too much finger dexterity, and there are plenty of spare buttons anyway, so I switched the secondary to where you have the Heatsink.

Also, how do you find having so many functions on the POV hat? Are you switching between thrusters and targetting functions with the throttle macro select switch? Seems a little awkward to me, but if it works for you...

 

[Dogmeat]

Yeah I thought about the pinky button and FA, but as I always release the pinky and reassert FA before firing it isn't a problem for me.

The thrust functions on POV hat are toggled automatically by landing mode. With gear up they are target select only. Same as the changes on Hat3 on the throttle.

 

[Nomadski]

Yeah I thought about the pinky button and FA, but as I always release the pinky and reassert FA before firing it isn't a problem for me.

The thrust functions on POV hat are toggled automatically by landing mode. With gear up they are target select only. Same as the changes on Hat3 on the throttle.

I didnt realise you only used the POV hat for the landing thrusters - I thought you had it for the normal thrusters + landing thrusters + targetting.

I see now you have the normal thrusters on the thumb hat on the throttle.

Have you tried switching to have the main thrusters on the POV hat and the landing thrusters + targetting on the thumb throttle hat?

(Im not criticising your choice here btw, just wondered if you had experimented with that and went with your choice for a particular reason).

 

[Dogmeat]

It just seems natural this way. In combat I swap targets a lot and want the target select on my right thumb, on landing I like thrusters there. I guess I'm very right-handed and want the 'busy' stuff to stay on my right hand

 

[Nomadski]

I guess my query comes from the fact I use lateral thrusters all the time, and like you need the most used stuff on the right stick.

 

[Dogmeat]

I don't use them so much...yet, though next to the boost is probably where I'll keep them as I get used to the harder NPC's and players in my more sluggish Cobra.

 

[Teefur]

I'd quite like the slider to be usable, but for some reason it doesn't appear to be available without mapping through the Saitek software, and that causes it to be useless so I've abandoned that as well.

It would be good if it was even actually a slider, unfortunately it's just a two position switch. At the moment I've got it set to cargo scoop, but I'm just mucking around with ideas.

 

[Darojax]

It would be good if it was even actually a slider, unfortunately it's just a two position switch. At the moment I've got it set to cargo scoop, but I'm just mucking around with ideas.

I've got that one set up as 'reverse thrust' when it is pushed to the left. (Don't have my stick yet though, so it's just on my sheet that I have prepared.) Would that work?

 

[[VR] Mad Mike]

Are there any deals on this stick at no. I can't find any. I have an order in for the last month at CPC for 150 quid but eta is not till 4th Aug

 

[Teefur]

I've got that one set up as 'reverse thrust' when it is pushed to the left. (Don't have my stick yet though, so it's just on my sheet that I have prepared.) Would that work?

I'm not sure, I'll need to look at the controls in-game. Does reverse have a toggle/hold option? If it does, setting it to hold should work. Back in a mo...

Yep, toggle/hold switch on reverse, so you should be good with that setting. It'll need to be set to a keybind in the X55 software though.

 

[jgm]

I'm not sure, I'll need to look at the controls in-game. Does reverse have a toggle/hold option? If it does, setting it to hold should work. Back in a mo...

Yep, toggle/hold switch on reverse, so you should be good with that setting. It'll need to be set to a keybind in the X55 software though.

Pretty sure that hold doesn't work, because the X55 software seems to translate it in to multiple kepresses rather than a single continuous keypress. At least that's how it felt when I tried to use it.

 

[Obsidian Ant]

Is it possible to have the X55 have the full 6DoF controls all on analogue?

For example; pitch, roll and yaw on the joystick.

Then vertical and lateral thrusters on another analogue control?

I'm waiting for delivery of my X55 and just realised I don't know how many analogue controls it has...

 

[quish]

Are there any deals on this stick at no. I can't find any. I have an order in for the last month at CPC for 150 quid but eta is not till 4th Aug

The only place that has them right now in the UK
http://store.gameshark.net/Saitek_P..._on_Throttle_and_Stick_System_for_PC/5733/173

But you will need to be quick

 

[Teefur]

Pretty sure that hold doesn't work, because the X55 software seems to translate it in to multiple kepresses rather than a single continuous keypress. At least that's how it felt when I tried to use it.

I have cargo scoop on the slider, set as an advanced command in the software, and hold mode in the game. If you set it as a simple key press in the software it will repeatedly press and release the key.

The advanced command only needs the key press in the top pane, it will hold the key while the switch is in the relevant position and release when not.

Edit: Just tested, simple key press works as press-hold-release too. Maybe you still had toggle mode set in-game?

 

[Teefur]

Is it possible to have the X55 have the full 6DoF controls all on analogue?

For example; pitch, roll and yaw on the joystick.

Then vertical and lateral thrusters on another analogue control?

I'm waiting for delivery of my X55 and just realised I don't know how many analogue controls it has...

There are the expected x, y and z analogue axes on the stick, two analogue axes on the throttle levers, and four analogue rotaries. Two of the rotaries are on the base, and two are thumb controls which have a detent at the middle of their movement. You could map vertical and lateral thrusters to any of the four rotaries on the throttle, though I'm not sure how practical they would be in use.

I suppose, depending how nimble your left hand is, you could have main forward/reverse thrust on one throttle, lateral or vertical on the other throttle, and the remaining axis on one of the thumb rotaries. Personally I think that would be a nightmare, but it's an option.

 

[.Stu.]

Just got one.

I had an X52 some time ago and really liked that.

This is better built and feels great to play with.

The software is a bit rubbish compared to the logitech game software, well rubbish to look at, it seems to do much the same except there is no lua programming mode.

I have a G15 and G13 - spent hours and hours programming that, but wanted to play with a joystick and throttle.

Its actually a little less functional in some ways that the keyboard(s) but I like the throttle and the toggles for things like landing gear, feels a bit more immersive.

Decent joystick has defo improved my flying, I have improved from crap to a bit pants now!!

The only bit of the hardware I don't eally like are the two hats on the throttle, I'm finding them difficult to accuratly press in a single plane. Doesn't sound bad but hitting 2 thrust planes while entering or exiting a station caused me some loitering penalties lol.


Stu

 

[Obsidian Ant]

There are the expected x, y and z analogue axes on the stick, two analogue axes on the throttle levers, and four analogue rotaries. Two of the rotaries are on the base, and two are thumb controls which have a detent at the middle of their movement. You could map vertical and lateral thrusters to any of the four rotaries on the throttle, though I'm not sure how practical they would be in use.

I suppose, depending how nimble your left hand is, you could have main forward/reverse thrust on one throttle, lateral or vertical on the other throttle, and the remaining axis on one of the thumb rotaries. Personally I think that would be a nightmare, but it's an option.

Lateral thrusters maybe fine if mapped to one of the throttles.

Alternatively, would it be possible to map lateral and vertical thrusters to the 'mouse' button do you think?

 

[Teefur]

Lateral thrusters maybe fine if mapped to one of the throttles.

Alternatively, would it be possible to map lateral and vertical thrusters to the 'mouse' button do you think?

It's possible, but the only way I could get that to work was by mapping the mouse nipple to the actual mouse and assigning the mouse to operate the vert/lat thrusters. However, thinking about it, I'm not sure those thrusters are analogue anyway, as I couldn't really notice any difference between analogue and digital controls.

 

[jgm]

I have cargo scoop on the slider, set as an advanced command in the software, and hold mode in the game. If you set it as a simple key press in the software it will repeatedly press and release the key.

The advanced command only needs the key press in the top pane, it will hold the key while the switch is in the relevant position and release when not.

Edit: Just tested, simple key press works as press-hold-release too. Maybe you still had toggle mode set in-game?

Thanks, will give it a go and see where I went wrong.

 

[Dogmeat]

I've got that one set up as 'reverse thrust' when it is pushed to the left. (Don't have my stick yet though, so it's just on my sheet that I have prepared.) Would that work?

As Teefur said, you can definitely make it work with the programming software. It's standard joystick mode is to endlessly repeat the bound keystroke, which may or may not work in 'hold' mode under the E: D keymappings. I tried everything I could out in 'Waste disposal' mission.