Deleted member 110222
D
Hi guys. Last night my new Speedlink Quinox gamepad arrived.
For those who don't know, here's a link to the product page on Speedlink's website, which I encourage reading to get a rundown of the features:
http://www.speedlink.com/?p=2&cat=2132&pid=45833&paus=1
Basically, the controller is the company's entry into the "high-end" gamepad market, already populated by the rather well-known Xbox Elite Controller, and the Razer Wildcat. Unlike those two controllers, however, it only works on a Windows PC. However, it is also better than half the price if you shop around, and usually retails at about £60. A huge reduction from the £120 asking price of the other two controllers.
The build quality is pretty good. In the case of my controller, it sits comfortably between the quality of a regular Xbox controller, and the Elite model. It's not cheaply made, which is important. The pad features LED's that give it a red glow when in use, and these can be turned off on the fly.
Now, the really exciting part of the controller. That little OLED screen at the bottom. It lets you access the button remapping on the fly. You can save four control profiles to the controller, where two of those support macros. The two profiles for one button re-maps are called "PROFILE 1" & "PROFILE 2". The two macro profiles are called "MACRO 1" & "MACRO 2". You access the profiles by pressing a button underneath the OLED screen, and using up/down on the D-pad to select the profile you want. There is also a fifth profile which disables the six extra buttons. Because there are six extra buttons, you can have up to six macros on one profile, all on the controller. Note however, it only recognises buttons on the controller. It won't be performing keyboard macros. You can also adjust the sensitivity of the sticks and triggers.
Driver support is great. When plugged into a Windows 10 machine, you can view the connected devices via the control panel, and it will show up as an Xbox 360 controller. This is good because it means it will work on any game that supports that controller, and works flawlessly with Windows. I suspect modded 360 pad support will also work.
In Elite, I recommend using the "Default Context" control preset in the options. This will set the controls to work on PC exactly the same way as the Xbox One client, with either a One pad or a 360 pad. You can make a few button combos afterwards to "hotkey" things like chaff, SCB, etc. The default controls FD have made for the Xbox gamepad layout is superb. It may take some getting used to for you life-long PC gamers, but take it from me, it works brilliantly. Just takes a very small amount of mental training.
All in all, I am extremely impressed with the controller. When playing, my hands never leave the gamepad, apart from using the keyboard for comms/map search, and pressing [x] to zero throttle in jump screens. All other commands are performed with the pad. What's more, because of the extra buttons, my hands leave the sticks less during flight, granting improved control.
To conclude, this gamepad is in my opinion, the best value option you can get on PC right now. It brings all the features of the Elite/Wildcat, for half the price, and is of the same build quality of the Wildcat, and offers two more buttons over the Elite. The programming is extremely user friendly, and can be done on the fly, even while running a game, and with the game window open. It's all displayed on the OLED screen. The only real neg-point is that the button remapping won't simulate key holds, so you won't be using this controller to give you an easier time in FA-off. However, it grants great access to other features of your ship like countermeasures, targetting, etc.
I, personally, am happy with the product.
Finally, I really do prefer the gamepad over a HOTAS. This is, I must stress, a personal thing. I have been playing games on consoles since I was three years old. The reason I'm so proficient with console style gamepads, is because I have 20 years experience using them. It's a hard habit to shake, but in combat, I can use fixed weapons no problem with a pad. Not so much with a HOTAS. I also deal with interdictions like a pro on the pad. On a HOTAS, I really struggle. Both as the aggressor and the victim. All in all, I'm just too much of console breeding to ever do well with a HOTAS. But I have higher than average skills with a gamepad, so on gamepads, I do know what I'm talking about.
I highly recommend the Speedlink Quinox to any Elite player looking for a feature-filled gamepad. It's a quality product.
Thanks for reading.
For those who don't know, here's a link to the product page on Speedlink's website, which I encourage reading to get a rundown of the features:
http://www.speedlink.com/?p=2&cat=2132&pid=45833&paus=1
Basically, the controller is the company's entry into the "high-end" gamepad market, already populated by the rather well-known Xbox Elite Controller, and the Razer Wildcat. Unlike those two controllers, however, it only works on a Windows PC. However, it is also better than half the price if you shop around, and usually retails at about £60. A huge reduction from the £120 asking price of the other two controllers.
The build quality is pretty good. In the case of my controller, it sits comfortably between the quality of a regular Xbox controller, and the Elite model. It's not cheaply made, which is important. The pad features LED's that give it a red glow when in use, and these can be turned off on the fly.
Now, the really exciting part of the controller. That little OLED screen at the bottom. It lets you access the button remapping on the fly. You can save four control profiles to the controller, where two of those support macros. The two profiles for one button re-maps are called "PROFILE 1" & "PROFILE 2". The two macro profiles are called "MACRO 1" & "MACRO 2". You access the profiles by pressing a button underneath the OLED screen, and using up/down on the D-pad to select the profile you want. There is also a fifth profile which disables the six extra buttons. Because there are six extra buttons, you can have up to six macros on one profile, all on the controller. Note however, it only recognises buttons on the controller. It won't be performing keyboard macros. You can also adjust the sensitivity of the sticks and triggers.
Driver support is great. When plugged into a Windows 10 machine, you can view the connected devices via the control panel, and it will show up as an Xbox 360 controller. This is good because it means it will work on any game that supports that controller, and works flawlessly with Windows. I suspect modded 360 pad support will also work.
In Elite, I recommend using the "Default Context" control preset in the options. This will set the controls to work on PC exactly the same way as the Xbox One client, with either a One pad or a 360 pad. You can make a few button combos afterwards to "hotkey" things like chaff, SCB, etc. The default controls FD have made for the Xbox gamepad layout is superb. It may take some getting used to for you life-long PC gamers, but take it from me, it works brilliantly. Just takes a very small amount of mental training.
All in all, I am extremely impressed with the controller. When playing, my hands never leave the gamepad, apart from using the keyboard for comms/map search, and pressing [x] to zero throttle in jump screens. All other commands are performed with the pad. What's more, because of the extra buttons, my hands leave the sticks less during flight, granting improved control.
To conclude, this gamepad is in my opinion, the best value option you can get on PC right now. It brings all the features of the Elite/Wildcat, for half the price, and is of the same build quality of the Wildcat, and offers two more buttons over the Elite. The programming is extremely user friendly, and can be done on the fly, even while running a game, and with the game window open. It's all displayed on the OLED screen. The only real neg-point is that the button remapping won't simulate key holds, so you won't be using this controller to give you an easier time in FA-off. However, it grants great access to other features of your ship like countermeasures, targetting, etc.
I, personally, am happy with the product.
Finally, I really do prefer the gamepad over a HOTAS. This is, I must stress, a personal thing. I have been playing games on consoles since I was three years old. The reason I'm so proficient with console style gamepads, is because I have 20 years experience using them. It's a hard habit to shake, but in combat, I can use fixed weapons no problem with a pad. Not so much with a HOTAS. I also deal with interdictions like a pro on the pad. On a HOTAS, I really struggle. Both as the aggressor and the victim. All in all, I'm just too much of console breeding to ever do well with a HOTAS. But I have higher than average skills with a gamepad, so on gamepads, I do know what I'm talking about.
I highly recommend the Speedlink Quinox to any Elite player looking for a feature-filled gamepad. It's a quality product.
Thanks for reading.