T.16000m throttle is dying, there is an X52 Pro available in my area, do it?

[SpaceScania]

Hello CMDR’s,

I am facing yet another hardware failure on my Thrustmaster T.16000m. I am so-so about the stick overall, the button placement on the stick itself isn’t great. The one thing that really works well on this HOTAS though is the analog joystick on the front of the throttle which I use for thrusters. Sadly however, the throttle joystick is acting up and it often pulls downward and I cannot fix it. I am done with Thrustmaster as their sticks don’t last very long.

The two sticks in my price range are the X52 Pro and the X56. There is an X52 Pro available in my area today, and I am tempted. The only thing that gives me pause is that it seems that the mouse pointing stick on the throttle is not as good for analog thruster input as the joystick on the Thrustmaster. The rest of the stick looks ideal. Apparently the ergonomics of this stick are just fantastic. Both D2EA and Exegious recommend this stick (Exegious specifically recommends it over the T.16000m). If I can convince myself that I can make the thrusters work well I will buy it.

The x56 has two analog joystick inputs but I wonder if they are noticeably better for thrusters? I understand that the ergonomics of the X56 are less ideal and many buttons are harder to reach. Obviously dual throttle is not important and I think both the x52 Pro and x56 have plenty of hats and switches.

So, CMDR’s can I replicate the T.16000m analog thruster input reasonable well on the mouse input stick on the x52 throttle? If not, is it worth waiting for an x56 to arrive in stock to use their analog sticks for that purpose? I appreciate any advice that is given.

 

[LexMoloch]

Have a X52Pro, on a second copy. There is a chance it will also fail on you. Wiring is dodgy - eventually resulting in dead buttons and ghost inputs. So keep that in mind.
The mouse nub is pretty crappy and useless. For lat/vet thrusters you will use the index finger on the throttle digital HAT. But you will not notice much difference in flight with digital controls for them. Possibly on landings is where the analog control would come in handy, but IMO it's not a dealbreaker, especially with larger ships.

 

[Stealthie]

Have a X52Pro, on a second copy. There is a chance it will also fail on you. Wiring is dodgy - eventually resulting in dead buttons and ghost inputs. So keep that in mind.
The mouse nub is pretty crappy and useless. For lat/vet thrusters you will use the index finger on the throttle digital HAT. But you will not notice much difference in flight with digital controls for them. Possibly on landings is where the analog control would come in handy, but IMO it's not a dealbreaker, especially with larger ships.

All of this.

I dunno if the Saitek "mouse" is actually analogue or it just uses the Saitek software to make it do mouse-stuff because ED just detects it as a 4-way switch.

Personally, I use up/down on the "mouse" for momentary forawrd/reverse thrust and then I use one of the joystick hat-switches for momentary left/right and up/down thrust.
ED has it's own interpolation on those controls, so a short dab on the control generates a small thrust and holding the control down gradually (over a period of a couple of seconds) applies full directional thrust.
The result is fairly intuitive though.

As for the joystick, itself, it's really nothing special.
I've had mine for years but it's been repaired so many times that there are, literally, almost no saitek components inside it any more.
If you want a joystick to last a year or so, fair enough.
Ideally, it's the sort of thing which you'd buy cheap off eBay and use temporarily, while you save up for a better stick.

Personally, faced with the OP's choice, I'd go for the X56 rather than the X52.
They're both "toy" joysticks but, if you can do DIY repairs/modifications, at least the X56 creates the opportunity to end up with something half-decent.

 

[AdmiralXanos]

Im using the X56, I like it. It has its issues but the amount of controls and in general decent build quality still outweigh its short-comings.

 

[SpaceScania]

Have a X52Pro, on a second copy. There is a chance it will also fail on you. Wiring is dodgy - eventually resulting in dead buttons and ghost inputs. So keep that in mind.
The mouse nub is pretty crappy and useless. For lat/vet thrusters you will use the index finger on the throttle digital HAT. But you will not notice much difference in flight with digital controls for them. Possibly on landings is where the analog control would come in handy, but IMO it's not a dealbreaker, especially with larger ships.

Thank you for the feedback. My understanding is that Logitech has massively increased the build quality in recent years, but yeah that’s not great.

It sounds like the mouse nub would not work for what I am looking for. That’s what I feared. Thanks again!

 

[SpaceScania]

Im using the X56, I like it. It has its issues but the amount of controls and in general decent build quality still outweigh its short-comings.

How did you setup the vertical/lateral thrusters on the x56? Are you using the little analog sticks or a digital input?

 

[Rat Catcher]

How did you setup the vertical/lateral thrusters on the x56? Are you using the little analog sticks or a digital input?

I use the analogue stick on the X56 throttle for thrusters. Need to set a dead-zone in my case, but it does work... How it compares to the Thrustmaster one, I have no idea - but will point out I preferred the 4 way digital hat on the X52 throttle rear for landing.

 

[leonardofelin]

How did you setup the vertical/lateral thrusters on the x56? Are you using the little analog sticks or a digital input?

I'm using the analog on the throttle of the x56 for vertical/lateral thrusters. The analog on the stick for forward/reverse thrusters when I need them.

 

[Caydran]

Hello CMDR’s,

I am facing yet another hardware failure on my Thrustmaster T.16000m. I am so-so about the stick overall, the button placement on the stick itself isn’t great. The one thing that really works well on this HOTAS though is the analog joystick on the front of the throttle which I use for thrusters. Sadly however, the throttle joystick is acting up and it often pulls downward and I cannot fix it. I am done with Thrustmaster as their sticks don’t last very long.

The two sticks in my price range are the X52 Pro and the X56. There is an X52 Pro available in my area today, and I am tempted. The only thing that gives me pause is that it seems that the mouse pointing stick on the throttle is not as good for analog thruster input as the joystick on the Thrustmaster. The rest of the stick looks ideal. Apparently the ergonomics of this stick are just fantastic. Both D2EA and Exegious recommend this stick (Exegious specifically recommends it over the T.16000m). If I can convince myself that I can make the thrusters work well I will buy it.

The x56 has two analog joystick inputs but I wonder if they are noticeably better for thrusters? I understand that the ergonomics of the X56 are less ideal and many buttons are harder to reach. Obviously dual throttle is not important and I think both the x52 Pro and x56 have plenty of hats and switches.

So, CMDR’s can I replicate the T.16000m analog thruster input reasonable well on the mouse input stick on the x52 throttle? If not, is it worth waiting for an x56 to arrive in stock to use their analog sticks for that purpose? I appreciate any advice that is given.

@SpaceScania

If you will turn on your "Start Coversation" in your Forum Options and PM (Private Message) me, I will give you a source for both the Saitek X52 and the SaitekX56 here in the States where you can get these controllers.

The Saitek X56 is harder to get, but the source does have them from time to time. I just got the Saitek X56 for myself from them and I know they have the Saitek X52 now.

Unfortunately, This forum will not allow me to post the link to the source here.

Oh, Seven....

 

[BDelacroix]

Had an X52 for over 10 years and its still working.

 

[Vingtetun]

do it! the x52 (and the x52 pro) are excellent sticks for Elite.

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MAL7XL7C_II


It's 3 years old, but Riverboat and I put a video together about how to configure the stick to use 3 "modes" - one for combat, one for landing and one for standard flight etc that you might find useful

 

[Chaparral]

I burned through my X52 Pro in less than a year. Lots of combat...

I am sold on the T1600. 4 years now. Buy yourself the appropriate grease. Get a new T1600.

 

[Bottom Hat]

I use a 56 for 3 years now I imagine. I've had to lube my shaft a couple of times to stop it squeaking when I get a bit vigorous with it - unlike my usual posts, this innuendo is true.

What does the "do it?" part of your title mean OP?

 

[SpaceScania]

@SpaceScania
The Saitek X56 is harder to get, but the source does have them from time to time. I just got the Saitek X56 for myself from them and I know they have the Saitek X52 now.
Oh, Seven....

Canada. Also, there is a vendor here that I like to support so I will purchase from there. They do have the x52 Pro in stock now which is why my trigger finger is getting itchy.

 

[Caydran]

I use a 56 for 3 years now I imagine. I've had to lube my shaft a couple of times to stop it squeaking when I get a bit vigorous with it - unlike my usual posts, this innuendo is true.

What does the "do it?" part of your title mean OP?

Your shaft is squeaking?

Poor man......

Do it.

 

[SpaceScania]

I am sold on the T1600. 4 years now. Buy yourself the appropriate grease. Get a new T1600.

This is the second hardware failure I've had, one stick and one throttle. Lubricant is not going to fix the broken panels nor the analog stick on the front of my throttle.

 

[Caydran]

Canada. Also, there is a vendor here that I like to support so I will purchase from there. They do have the x52 Pro in stock now which is why my trigger finger is getting itchy.

Great. But the Saitek X56 is harder to get and have a source for that one.

 

[SpaceScania]

Great. But the Saitek X56 is harder to get and have a source for that one.

Yeah sorry if I purchase from a local vendor they give me good support and sell supplemental warranties and stuff. Also, COVID is hitting business hard here and I want don't want the universe to delete my favourite computer vendor here. Thanks though!

 

[Tividar]

Hello CMDR’s,

I am facing yet another hardware failure on my Thrustmaster T.16000m. I am so-so about the stick overall, the button placement on the stick itself isn’t great. The one thing that really works well on this HOTAS though is the analog joystick on the front of the throttle which I use for thrusters. Sadly however, the throttle joystick is acting up and it often pulls downward and I cannot fix it. I am done with Thrustmaster as their sticks don’t last very long.

The two sticks in my price range are the X52 Pro and the X56. There is an X52 Pro available in my area today, and I am tempted. The only thing that gives me pause is that it seems that the mouse pointing stick on the throttle is not as good for analog thruster input as the joystick on the Thrustmaster. The rest of the stick looks ideal. Apparently the ergonomics of this stick are just fantastic. Both D2EA and Exegious recommend this stick (Exegious specifically recommends it over the T.16000m). If I can convince myself that I can make the thrusters work well I will buy it.

The x56 has two analog joystick inputs but I wonder if they are noticeably better for thrusters? I understand that the ergonomics of the X56 are less ideal and many buttons are harder to reach. Obviously dual throttle is not important and I think both the x52 Pro and x56 have plenty of hats and switches.

So, CMDR’s can I replicate the T.16000m analog thruster input reasonable well on the mouse input stick on the x52 throttle? If not, is it worth waiting for an x56 to arrive in stock to use their analog sticks for that purpose? I appreciate any advice that is given.

I started with the Thrustmaster T.16000m stick and throttle. After doing a fair amount of home repair to fix the jittery Yaw I finally broke down and got a VKB Gunfighter Mk.III. Obviously no point in comparing a $400 stick with a $70 stick, but it paired well with the T16000m.

I started looking for throttle replacements and Tried the X52 Pro. I found the stick ergonomics to be a side-grade to the Thrustmaster, but the throttle was a complete disappointment. The X52 doesn't really have a good alternative to the finger analog stick (the mouse stick is way to squirrely for my tastes), and I didn't care for the button placement.

Finally I ordered the Virpil Alpha stick and throttle. During the six months it took to arrive I used the VKB stick and T.16000m throttle, and was content with it. I've had the Virpil set for about two weeks and I'm still getting used to it. I miss the T.16000m throttle's self-centering analog axis and I think I prefer a sliding throttle to a lever, but the Virpil throttle is better in every other way. The stick comparison is more complicated: I like the Virpil stiffness, the noticeably distinct pitch and roll motion, and the adjustable hand rest, but the VKB stick has better button placement.

TL;DR: If you can mount the stick, get a VKB or Virpil stick. Its worth it. For the Throttle, The T.16000m is a great value even if you're replacing it every few years. The X52 Pro feels and plays like a toy. Whoever designed it was went for "cool" looks over good ergonomics. The Virpil throttle is a great adult "toy." You need something like joystick gremlin to get functionality for it and the extra buttons are fun, but if you're on a budget or don't want to learn about UI software a premium stick with a T.16000m throttle works great.

 

[SpaceScania]

I started looking for throttle replacements and Tried the X52 Pro. I found the stick ergonomics to be a side-grade to the Thrustmaster, but the throttle was a complete disappointment. The X52 doesn't really have a good alternative to the finger analog stick (the mouse stick is way to squirrely for my tastes), and I didn't care for the button placement.

This is fantastic feedback, thank you! Any CMDR's upgrade from the T.16000 to the x56? Do its analog outputs work better? Virpils and Warthogs are way outside my price range sadly.