Some HOTAS input for the Thrustmaster HOTAS Stick X

JYD75

J
Hi Commanders,

Currently I play Elite with a Gamepad on the PC. Lately I have been thinking about switching over to a hotas. I enjoy the gamepad and it is - almost - perfect for me, but a few buttons more and a quicker throttle response could increase my enjoyment of the game.

That said, I do realise that may use the Saitek Sticks and higher level HOTAS systems but the price seems really high and, not knowing if I will fully enjoy using a HOTAS all the time, it seems like a pity to splurge and then sell it on.

From what I can see the Thrustmaster Hotas.x (http://www.thrustmaster.com/products/tflight-hotas-x) seems to be a good compromise - cheap and it offers quite a few functions.

Or maybe even the HOTAS 4? (http://www.thrustmaster.com/en_UK/products/tflight-hotas-4)

Thoughts? Alternatives?

Thanks for the input!
 
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kastia

K
I've been playing with the Hotas X since public beta, and it hasn't put a foot wrong. It can't be beat at that price IMO.
 

VR jefranklin18

VR jefranklin18
JYD75 said:
Hi Commanders,

Currently I play Elite with a Gamepad on the PC. Lately I have been thinking about switching over to a hotas. I enjoy the gamepad and it is - almost - perfect for me, but a few buttons more and a quicker throttle response could increase my enjoyment of the game.

That said, I do realise that may use the Saitek Sticks and higher level HOTAS systems but the price seems really high and, not knowing if I will fully enjoy using a HOTAS all the time, it seems like a pity to splurge and then sell it on.

From what I can see the Thrustmaster Hotas.x (http://www.thrustmaster.com/products/tflight-hotas-x) seems to be a good compromise - cheap and it offers quite a few functions.

Or maybe even the HOTAS 4? (http://www.thrustmaster.com/en_UK/products/tflight-hotas-4)

Thoughts? Alternatives?

Thanks for the input!
Click to expand...

Have the HOTAS-X and recommend it strongly as a good stick. I have had mine since premium beta and it is still going strong. Once your brain is "tuned" to controlling via HOTAS, you'll never look back.

The HOTAS 4 looks as if it is a HOTAS-X branded for PS4 to me.
 

Luniticisi

Luniticisi
Thrustmaster T-flight HOTAS X is a fantastic buy for the price .. I have had one since launch and have had zero issues with it ... for me it's a no brainer ... buy one ! :)
 

Wasp0

Wasp0
Can't comment on the sticks you mention, but my single bit of advice is:


AVOID ALL THINGS SAITEk.

At least until the build improves, their Componant quality improves, their Customer Service improves, their whole "Customers don't matter" ethos improves.

Please note i have not tried the X56 but after 4 faulty x55 in under 9 months and 3 heavy battles with the customer non service department it kinda put me off Saitek products.
 

Deleted member 38366

D
Running it since a while.

Apart from creating occasional random error-inputs in the Z-Axis (Stick twist) all on its own, looks like a fairly robust and durable Stick.
The only thing it doesn't like is too forceful stick jams to its edges - still chinese plastic after all. Such a move insta-killed my last HOTAS.X...

Another gripe is that the Throttle is physically cable-connected to the main Stick, so replacing i.e. a broken component of if (with the other still working flawless) seems not possible.

The Throttle friction seems a tad on the low side. After a month of usage, it likes to drop to idle/max. on its own due to insufficient friction remaining, if placed and left near those regions.
Finally, the main Stick likes to create scratchy/plasticy noises when moving around, but that literally seems to depend on the individual Stick (my 1st one made horribly loud movement noises, current one is far less noisy).

A typical minor issue (which luckily doesn't seem to be a factor with the HOTAS.X) is, that installing the available Driver replaces the Windows-internal functions Panel - and as a result losing its Calibration function (didn't find any in the Thrustmaster-supplied Driver Panel).

PS.
Tried various USB Ports, thinking about USB Voltage issues that love to cause Thrustmaster HOTAS to generate erroneous Inputs - to no success though.
 
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willowfan

willowfan
The T-Flight HOTAS 4 is the newest version of the X, now compatible with PS4 and is a great budget option.

You may want to look at the new "mid-range" Thrustmaster T16000M based HOTAS which looks like a good option.
 
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Pville_Piper

Pville_Piper
willowfan said:
The T-Flight HOTAS 4 is the newest version of the X, now compatible with PS4 and is a great budget option.

You may want to look at the new "mid-range" Thrustmaster T16000M based HOTAS which looks like a good option.
Click to expand...

The HOTAS 4 is compatible with PS-4 and the T-Flight HOTAS X is compatible with the PS3. I have the T-Flight HOTAS X and have no issues with it.

I like the HOTAS X and would have no issues recommending it. That being said I have the Thrustmaster T16000M FCS HOTAS on order as I wanted more buttons on the throttle. The price is $129 US and it will ship on or about October 2. Looks like it will be a really nice stick. It has separate cables for the throttle and stick and the throttle has a plug-in for the TFRP pedals that I recently bought and that should allow me to use the pedals in Battlefield when flying. As a plus it is based on the highly regarded T1600m joystick so I can't wait to get mine!

You can see the new HOTAS here http://www.thrustmaster.com/en_US/products/t16000m-fcs-hotas
And a couple of threads if you are interested https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php/285839-Just-pre-ordered-the-T16000M-FCS and https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php/283315-Thrustmaster-T-16000M-FCS-HOTAS-official-thread
 

JYD75

J
Pville_Piper said:
The HOTAS 4 is compatible with PS-4 and the T-Flight HOTAS X is compatible with the PS3. I have the T-Flight HOTAS X and have no issues with it.

I like the HOTAS X and would have no issues recommending it. That being said I have the Thrustmaster T16000M FCS HOTAS on order as I wanted more buttons on the throttle. The price is $129 US and it will ship on or about October 2. Looks like it will be a really nice stick. It has separate cables for the throttle and stick and the throttle has a plug-in for the TFRP pedals that I recently bought and that should allow me to use the pedals in Battlefield when flying. As a plus it is based on the highly regarded T1600m joystick so I can't wait to get mine!

You can see the new HOTAS here http://www.thrustmaster.com/en_US/products/t16000m-fcs-hotas
And a couple of threads if you are interested https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php/285839-Just-pre-ordered-the-T16000M-FCS and https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php/283315-Thrustmaster-T-16000M-FCS-HOTAS-official-thread
Click to expand...

Thanks! I have seen that aswell, the thing is here in Europe the Hotas X retails for around 40 Euros the T16000M is avaliable for preorder at 129 Euros - quite the price difference unfortunately.

If I were a versed and constant HOTAS User I'd look at that as a viable option, at the moment it just seems a bit too pricey to get as a test system.

From what I have been reading I think I will order the Hotas x and see how I get along, I can always swap it out later for the better one (if it is as good as it looks :) )

Thanks for all the input guys, much appreciated!

Fly Safe! o7
 

Rich Bramwell

Rich Bramwell
I have broken 2 cheap sticks in the past, costing around 70 to 80 pounds each, if you can save for a little longer chap, buy the best you can afford because when you get interdicted the mini game you have to play to escape is really stress-full on the sticks, nowadays I can just submit every time and fight with my big ships, but there are some times you may not wish to fight and just want to run. It took me as little longer to save, but the Warthog Stick can be serviced by owners with good Utube vids online to help with taking it apart and what grease to use too. There is a Chinese stick and throttle that I saw with similar quality but that was also quite expensive too. You pays your money and takes your choices, not had any problems with my stick or throttle so far.
 

PiLhEaD

PiLhEaD
kastia said:
I've been playing with the Hotas X since public beta, and it hasn't put a foot wrong. It can't be beat at that price IMO.
Click to expand...

Yup, 100% exact same experience for me.

I'd buy a replacement without delay if it broke, except the t1600 fcs looks quite interesting.
 

JYD75

J
Yeah, the t1600 fcs sure does look good.I'm a bit on the fence, maybe I'll have a little think still and possibly wait for christmas and Santa to put one under the tree :D
 

Karunamon

Karunamon
I've gotta give another +1 to the HOTAS X. It's the single most comfortable joystick I've ever used, controls great (with a tiiiiny bit of slippage on the center point of the throttle after years of abuse), and the throttle/joystick can be separated.

And it's cheap too!

Highly recommended.
 

mossfoot

mossfoot
I used the HOTAS X for several years back during X3: Terran Conflict and onward up until Horizons started.

I upgraded to the HOTAS 4 because I have a PS4 and liked the idea of it being compatible with that, as well as the possibility of foot pedals in the future.

Also I heard that the HOTAS 4 is more sensitive than the X for more fine tuning, but I can't confirm that other than reddit posts that SOUND legit, but, you know, interenetz and all. https://www.reddit.com/r/hotas/comments/47oe50/has_anyone_tried_the_tflight_hotas_4_any/

Anyway, my own take is it's a great budget HOTAS and if you're looking for a combination of low price and quality of function, you can't do better.
 

Zaggeron

Zaggeron
I used the Hotas X for a while after I got tired of using a game pad. Big improvement. All the functions I needed worked for me without installing their drivers. I've since upgraded to an X52 pro (I know, I know, but time will tell). The only things I didn't like about the Hotas X was the scratchy plastic noises the joystick began to make after a week or so -- didn't affect performance -- and the thruster control. I found the rocker switch + buttons to be sub-par for thruster control. If you can hold out for a month or so the new Thrustmaster Hotas looks like it has a much better throttle unit with better thruster control. If my Saitek breaks I'll be "upgrading" to that.
 
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