Hardware & Technical Saitek x55 rhino

[Bear]

Ok. How long did it take for it to fix itself? I have had mine for 1½ month now.

After a month of hoping it would fix itself. I sent an email to Mad Catz about a self fix idea I had and they sent me a brand new replacement that worked fine.
A year later the twist action centering return has broken. Im now waiting for another replacement.

 

[bmx_446]

x55 rhino setup

i was just wondering what a good button setup is for my saitek x55 rhino hotas i dont have a head tracker yet so i know one of my joy stick hats will be to look around but i assigned a few others i was just wondering what i good button setup is to make use of all my buttons and switches that makes the important stuff easy to remember where it is and easiest to reach when needed . i dont know them as button 1 button 2 etc., like the it labels them in the options so if you could name them as they are on the stick and throttle or location of them on the hotas i would appreceate it..... also whatever extra that dont get assigned to the hotas and what keys on the keyboard do you have them assigned to.

 

[Lestat]

If you go onto Saitek website. It has a Elite Dangerous profile for x55 rhino. From there you can tweak it for your use.

You could also try a search on x55 rhino setup in elite dangerous.

 

[bmx_446]

i found what looks like a good setup and the guy has his config file but its not a download its just basically the code how do i copy his code to get it on my hotas

 

[Aussiedroid]

Can check out my profile for X55 if you get stuck. It has config for TrackIR but all the commands are also mapped for those not using one.

 

[EDbubba]

"Drivers" not needed for X-55

Just a FYI that "drivers" are not at all needed for the X-55.

There have been quite a few issues with the Saitek drivers doing odd things, sooo... Both the throttle and stick are just generic USB HID Game Controller devices, so they will show up in your Devices & Printers panel automatically.

Windows calibration will help for the analog axes, basically to determine the endpoints and "center", if relevant. You'll see that the throttles are set-up as an X/Y pointer, odd, but functionally irrelevant.

I've been using an X-55 in ED for over a year now, and other than the "typical" loss of throttle button functions(!) it has served very well. Been to the core & back, and never had any significant issues.

I may get around to fixing the weak wires in the throttle, but for now I just mapped the functions elsewhere.

 

[glojo]

I am also a victim of the fatigue issue that multiple posters have been describing. I was guilty of taking the base of the throttle apart to try and discover why certain buttons were not working and as soon as I looked into the guts of this unit... It was blatantly obvious what the cause was. Imagine my surprise when Saitek stated my warranty was void because I had taken the throttle apart!!!!! Hang on a cotton picking minute says I!!!! After words were exchanged and I put into writing what I thought about Saitek, they have agreed to replace the throttle because of that awful poor quality wiring and also they will replace the joystick because of the non returning twist grip.. These items are just 10 months old and both items have issues....

Yes I use them possibly for longer periods than most folk, but 10 months of use is simply not good enough

 

[Hurricane Moon]

ok ill ask here in this thread...i may get a response...

on monday i am buying a new hotas...

either a x52 pro or the x55 rhino......is there actually a real difference in performance.....or is it down to wich one i think looks the best..
at the mo i am swaying towards the x 55...

any advice appreciated,im already a hotas user,i made a seperate usb throttle from a old games power hotas and my main stick is a cyborg x....nothing wrong with it.....i even get vibration feedback when moving the throttle lol...
but i want something that looks more immersive.....do these saitek hotas have force/vibration feedback?

 

[Legacy_LuckyLuke]

I really want to get the x55. All the buttons around the throttle are the real draw for me. Plus I've read reviews where people have stated the button placement on the x55 stick are more intuitive than on the x52 (though that could just be personal preference)

However when I read threads on HOTAS issues I get put off again, as I don't really have the patience to deal with any faults if they come up. $400 is a lot of wedge for me to drop on something like this.

Right now I'm leaning towards a gaming mouse to give me a little more gameplay. See how that goes and maybe I'll revisit the HOTAS next year

 

[Valan]

So my game play experience improved drastically using the X55 if the more expensive competitors introduce a twist function on the stick I would consider them.

I'm not sure why people think the thing is flimsy. It doesn't make any difference how hard you squeeze it. If you're having trouble I suggest you stay away from the internet's primary purpose if you squeeze that hard when you get excited.

As far as fatigue goes it seems most people that have trouble are playing excessively. One guy was complaining it bust after 6 months of using it 8hrs per day. You've got bigger issues than a joystick breaking if that's the case.

The photo above of the wires is easily fixed with a soldering iron and a bit of insulation. I used to fix wires on telephone exchanges back in the day. Single core wire is a bad choice for a joystick. It shouldn't break but if you get at the wires and its out of warranty a fix is an option.

 

[CYB34]

ok ill ask here in this thread...i may get a response...

on monday i am buying a new hotas...

either a x52 pro or the x55 rhino......is there actually a real difference in performance.....or is it down to wich one i think looks the best..
at the mo i am swaying towards the x 55...

any advice appreciated,im already a hotas user,i made a seperate usb throttle from a old games power hotas and my main stick is a cyborg x....nothing wrong with it.....i even get vibration feedback when moving the throttle lol...
but i want something that looks more immersive.....do these saitek hotas have force/vibration feedback?

I have the T.FlightX, wanted to upgrade, got an X55, returned it after 1 week of testing because it was uncomfortable and the twist rudder felt like using a Hand Grip.

I blame mainly the thumb button. It might be realistic and work well in FSX or DCS, but it does not help the twist rudder at all, I can't grab the stick properly in my fist, like I do with any other stick that doesn't have a thumb button. This affects fixed aiming alot, for me.

Your Cyborg X doesn't have one either, the shape of the stick is more similar to an X52 pro.

The X55 dual throttle, even when locked, moves separately slightly. All in all, the setup was big and stiff, but precise and with tons of buttons.

I'm getting the X52 pro for Horizons.

 

[Hurricane Moon]

I have the T.FlightX, wanted to upgrade, got an X55, returned it after 1 week of testing because it was uncomfortable and the twist rudder felt like using a Hand Grip.

I blame mainly the thumb button. It might be realistic and work well in FSX or DCS, but it does not help the twist rudder at all, I can't grab the stick properly in my fist, like I do with any other stick that doesn't have a thumb button. This affects fixed aiming alot, for me.

Your Cyborg X doesn't have one either, the shape of the stick is more similar to an X52 pro.

The X55 dual throttle, even when locked, moves separately slightly. All in all, the setup was big and stiff, but precise and with tons of buttons.

I'm getting the X52 pro for Horizons.

thanks for the reply mate

yes I may go for the x 52 pro and get a new headset aswell,it is the hotas inside the ships after all....I just liked the more robust look of the x55..
all depends wich one is in stock when I go to the shop on Monday..

we are talking pc world in the uk here,so its likely the staff member in there will probably try and sell me a ten year warranty on the thing...that's even if they have bothered to restock the shelves lol

also thinking of the standard x52 aswell as I prefer the silver and blue look.....do you guys reckon there is a actual real difference between them aprt from being able to change the colour of the lights?

 

[F4ANTOM]

I might be lucky, but I love my X55 and TrackIR4. Upgraded from a well-worn X52 that had served faithfully for many years. My only gripe with the X55 over the X52 is I miss the left hand forefinger thruster hat. on the X55 there are two hats for the throttle thumb, but they are REAL close together, and I sometimes botch it.

 

[Hurricane Moon]

no hat on the x 55 throttle then?....
yeah headtracking is a must with a hotas imo....I use led ps3 cam headtracking using trackIR protocols

 

[[VR] Mad Mike]

DAMN looks like my x55 flightstick has just packed up.

i thought it had 2 year warranty with it but on sniffing around it looks like only 12 months..... one of the axis (the bottom one on the throttle iself) has packed up, as well as the 2 buttons on the back of the throttle (maked H and I)

i guess i can dismantle it but all in all pretty cheesed off. its not had that much use and is under 18 months old.

looking around it is clear what the issue is! it will be those wires.

how in gods name does this get past QC, and more over, how has this not been fixed in later batches? still waiting on a reply, contacted both the retailer and madcatz however will be linking to this thread if they try and fob me off.

 

[jgm]

I've updated my reference sheet generator to handle the Horizons bindings, as well as to handle modifiers more cleanly. Please give it a go (link in my signature) and let me know if you find any problems with it.

 

[Ank]

I've updated my reference sheet generator to handle the Horizons bindings, as well as to handle modifiers more cleanly. Please give it a go (link in my signature) and let me know if you find any problems with it.

As an avid user of your tool, I just want to say Thank You! I really appreciate the work you've done on this.

 

[DidierDrbois]

I've updated my reference sheet generator to handle the Horizons bindings, as well as to handle modifiers more cleanly. Please give it a go (link in my signature) and let me know if you find any problems with it.

Thank you good Sir, you're doing one hell of a job. Sadly, both (!) hats on my X55's throttle died recently and I made a conscious decision to say good bye to Saitek. Thrustmaster's HOTAS-X is on order and shipping.
_
Thanks again!

 

[glojo]

WARNING TO UK OWNERS
How I wish this specific post could be a separate 'sticky' that could warn prospective buyers of the awful design issues and sadly the after sales service for this otherwise very practical piece of equipment.




Hopefully this image will expand so that everyone can see the problems I have with the throttle part of the X-55 and it will be highly likely for 'heavy' users to experience the exact same issues. By 'heavy' I do not mean I am either heavy handed or clumsy, I am bed-bound and computer games help keep me sane so a 12hr game playing day is quite common for me.

This 12hr day could be a great test bed for Saitek and my thoughts are it might be in their interest to use the likes of myself as a test bed for their products but that is a side issue.

My product went defective on the last week of October. The first thing that happened was Saitek tried to void the warranty just because I removed the base of the throttle. In my defence this product was just 9 months old and I was hoping a cable had become disconnected and I was desperate to keep playing.

Once Saitek saw the pictures of that awful wiring, they kindly accepted responsibility but then took an extremely pedantic stance regarding proof of purchase. When I purchased this item I also bought a few other expensive items which all appeared on the invoice which was sent to me via email and these emails were not acceptable as proof of purchase!!! This was a strange state of affairs as I was corresponding via email.

Saitek made all sorts of silly demands regarding what they deemed as an invoice and it was not until the second week of November that Saitek FINALLY accepted my proof of purchase. This was the second week in November, it then cost me approximately £12.90 to post this unit to the manufacturer, but if I wanted action then I had no choice.

it is now the 3rd of December and Saitek tell me I should get my, or a replacement X-55 'next week!!!'

At the very, very earliest this will be the 7th but obviously if the post it on that Monday, I am looking at probably the 14th of December.

Is this fair? They have released a product which I believe has a design or construction flaw where the wiring loom will most definitely eventually breakdown. I say most definitely purely because we are talking about metal fatigue and if we keep bending these poor quality pieces of wire, they will most definitely eventually break.

If you are a heavy user, or want a product that will last... Study the pictures folks are posting and ask yourselves 'Is this what you want?'

If anyone here knows of a similar product with a twist stick type joystick, then please let me know as I am disgusted with the so called After Sales Service that I am experiencing and YES, I have both phoned and wrote to this company highlighting my issues and all I got was.... Please be advised that we already escalated your ticket, in order to provide you a tracking number as soon as possible.

Thank you very much for your patience,

That was last week and quite clearly they were meaningless words as I have now been told I should get my replacement 'Next week' which will be at least 10 days after I received notification that my ticket had been 'escalated' bah!!!!!

 

[jgm]

I've updated the reference sheet generator so that it shows the entire X-55 configuration on a single page, rather than the previous one that created two separate pages. Please let me know if the update has caused any problems when showing your configuration.