Fighterstick/Combatstick.
The Joystick/Controller discussion thread
Fighterstick/Combatstick.
I would say you have two distinct approaches you can take.
1: Buy cheap, expecting it not to last. Keep a spare for when it inevitably breaks. Take your pick there are several choices out there.
2: Look for the highest end of build materials and quality. If you're up for replacing both stick and throttle together look at the A10 setup, as that has a well-deserved reputation for an absolutely solid design and build. You'll pay through the nose for it though.
Although I use an X52 myself and it has served me well for roughly a decade, I do not recommend any Saitek sticks for you. It's been my experience that these are controllers that reward a light touch and perhaps that is why mine has lasted as well as it has? The implication in your question is that you're hard on the hardware so not only would their lighter construction be a disadvantage, you may find that they don't suit your flight style as well either.
Totally forgot about CH products, will have a look at these
I've been going with option 1 for some time now, even kept buying the same model so I would have collection of spare parts, but if the same component fails they are not much good for spare parts.
I'm not sure where I go wrong with my joysticks, I just use them a lot and its not like I'm really physically abusing them by moving the stick around with, a lot of force, slamming it hard in the end zones or anything, like it a joystick from the arcade halls that really get physically abused
I properly have to much hand/arm weight resting on the whole joystick unit when using it, but that`s just me guessing.
If durability and longevity are of any concern, CH Products is the only brand you should be looking at.
Why not test them all out, and find which one suits you best. I'd be in favor of the HOTAS.
I am in quite the same situation. I'm looking for a good stick to complement the CH pro throttle. I want one with three axes and as much buttons and hats on the stick as possible (-:
For now I am using the T.Flight Stick.
The T.16000 does not fit my hands quite well and starts to hurt after some minutes of playing.
The CH Fighterstick - while having a good load of buttons and hats - has only two axes.
What would you recommend?
This is the problem I came up against. high-end kit like the CH Fighterstick (and the thrustmaster warthog, I think) dont have rudder twist because the serious flight simmers who buy the bulk of them don't want rudder twist, they want pedals.
for years I've had two main sticks - a CH fighterstick for modern jets where you don't need rudder, and an MS sidewinder with rudder twist for space games and WW2 games where you need rudder control.
But the MS stick has stopped working so I decided to sell the CH and put the proceeds towards an X52 pro to settle on a single setup. the best stick I know of that has twist is the X55. quality is said to be good if not up to CH level, and it has 3 axes, 5 buttons and 3 hats. so, it's a hat down on the CH but you gain twist. problem is, you can't get it seperately.
I have the Saitek PRo Flight yoke system with throttles and pedals.. having a hard time thinking of where to bind everything though
Just an FYI.
I have an X52
The programming software was causing all kinds of errors on my machine, mouse pointer going crazy etc.
Deleted the software, but left the drivers in place.
I could then not use a load of the buttons in E.
I found by mistake, that the buttons would then all work (including the MFD buttons) if I leave the controller properties open (Windows) whilst playing the game.
Not sure if this has been mentioned anywhere in the previous 115 pages.
I now have every command mapped to the Joystick/throttle and don;t need the keyboard at all.
Also less crappy software on my PC.
I have an X52
The programming software was causing all kinds of errors on my machine, mouse pointer going crazy etc.
Deleted the software, but left the drivers in place.
I could then not use a load of the buttons in E
.I found by mistake, that the buttons would then all work (including the MFD buttons) if I leave the controller properties open (Windows) whilst playing the game.
Not sure if this has been mentioned anywhere in the previous 115 pages.
I now have every command mapped to the Joystick/throttle and don;t need the keyboard at all.
Also less crappy software on my PC.
X52
My X52 arrived yesterday and upgraded me from my Cyborg X that had a mind of its own.
The controls are so precise and smooth with more buttons than you can shake a stick at, very happy to be in the owners club.
My X52 arrived yesterday and upgraded me from my Cyborg X that had a mind of its own.
The controls are so precise and smooth with more buttons than you can shake a stick at, very happy to be in the owners club.
Lucky you (-:
Can't wait to get mine, I ordered it from Frontier on the day they offered it at a special price but got email today saying it was out of stock due to high demand - gotta wait another 5-7 days
Didn't think the price was that interesting ...
I see it listed for 155 euro's in the Netherlands
that's 50 pence (UK £) more that the one i ordered from Frontier inc delivery... but the delivery part hasn't happened yet (-:
I had a Saitek x52 years ago ('06/'07) and liked it well enough but the stick's spring wasn't strong enough and it felt floppy. Sadly it was stolen when I moved and I haven't bought a new one. I've been using the ole Logitech Extreme 3D Pro ever since (which is what I used to use b4 I got the x52 anyway).
I've since worn out that old 3D Pro and had to buy a new one about two years or so ago. I highly recommend it as a cheap single stick system as it's very sturdy, well made and well for $30-40 you really can't find a much more solid, quality product in that price bracket. I also like how it doesn't require any software and my win7 pro found and installed the necessary drivers as soon as I connected it to the usb.
All that being said now that I'm getting back into flight sims more since Elite is available and with Star Citizen on the horizion, I'm seriously considering getting an x52 again and I hear that the x52 Pro has fixed the floppy stick spring problem that the org x52 had (which was my only real complain about the thing).
I've since worn out that old 3D Pro and had to buy a new one about two years or so ago. I highly recommend it as a cheap single stick system as it's very sturdy, well made and well for $30-40 you really can't find a much more solid, quality product in that price bracket. I also like how it doesn't require any software and my win7 pro found and installed the necessary drivers as soon as I connected it to the usb.
All that being said now that I'm getting back into flight sims more since Elite is available and with Star Citizen on the horizion, I'm seriously considering getting an x52 again and I hear that the x52 Pro has fixed the floppy stick spring problem that the org x52 had (which was my only real complain about the thing).
Thats pretty much what i did, you are absolutely right, the HOTAS takes things to another level. +1
There are some threads on here where forum members have customised and tweaked their x52, definately worth a look again, either pro or standard. imo.
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I'm running a Thrustmaster T.Flight X Hotas currently. I'm adding a G13 today, and over the weekend I'm going to disassemble a Saitek AV8R stick, remove the joystick and reposition the buttons to create a USB switch system that allows me to control some of the basic mundane functions like Landing Gears, Silent Running, Cargo Scoops, etc,. so I don't have to touch the keyboard at all. I'll probably ditch the G13 after that but the G13 was a steal. I just like the added immersion that switches and toggles provide.
P.S. I'd love if Frontier would expose the ability to Enable/Disable Module slots via toggle switches.
P.S. I'd love if Frontier would expose the ability to Enable/Disable Module slots via toggle switches.
Personally, I'm using a hotas X with a few additions/modifications
There will eventually be a pair of PSP thumbsticks added to the throttle and another to the stick. I think that should give me about enough controls then
17 axis of control in total once I'm done.
(Hotas X with 7 + 3 analogue thumbsticks and 2 digital)
There will eventually be a pair of PSP thumbsticks added to the throttle and another to the stick. I think that should give me about enough controls then
17 axis of control in total once I'm done.
(Hotas X with 7 + 3 analogue thumbsticks and 2 digital)
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NEW SAITEK X52 PRO PRESET CONTROLS with BETA 3
