Thrustmaster T.Flight Hotas X Discussion thread.

[Stachel]

with this article, I can make docking easier too! I use mouse wheel for up/down and left/right to make docking easy. Clicking a toggle to make the Hat Switch (or whatever it is called) do up/down and left/right for final approach will be awesome! No Keyboard or Mouse required.

Yeah the big issue with this hotas is that its not programmable per se, and definitely not using TARGET. Its possible to map it up using third party apps tho obv. I too would think being able to have several different maps for the hat would increase its functionality no end.

I haven't used this stick with the Alpha/Beta yet (the one I played on recently was a Warthog - which made me sick with envy). So I am just wondering, how's the close control accuracy, specifically targetting? Its a cheap stick all said and uses a cheap as chips gimble setup with potentiometers etc. I find the accuracy is less than stellar, even dialled in fully for tension and having adjusted the deadzoning to as little as possible in ARMA ..

 

[SzaryWilk]

I have this joystick and is doing a great in Alpha 1.1. I have no problem with what you write.

 

[Qpid Stunt]

I have the T-Flight X and have been using it up-until last week through the Alpha testing. The default setup was great initially, and only needed tweaking when docking came into the scenarios. Then I soon ran out of buttons!

As has been said, make sure its on the green setting so you don't get cross over issues with rocker and twist, I actually just took the default settings from E: D with no issues. The rocker ran horizontal thrusters and the twist ran yaw straight off the bat without any programming. The first time I tinkered with it was when Av3 arrived and docking. I re-program the silent running button to vertical thrust down so I didn't have to muck around with the k/brd as well as the J/S.

I have upgraded (?) to the X55 as of last week but haven't been able to use it more than a couple of nights because of work. I'm finding there are (easily!) more than enough buttons on it but I do miss that rocker!! On the X55 there are 3 buttons on the back of the throttle, one of which is a stiff (new?) up/down rocker so I programmed that as my vertical up/down and the other two are left/right thruster buttons... I am loving it, but also miss the Thrustmaster's ease. You could just pick that up and use it. I haven't used a joystick since the Amiga 500 days (Quickshot II days?) so the Thrustmaster Flight X was a joy to get hold of in that respect, nice and simple so you can just pick it up and use it. The X55 has SO many buttons and HATs you can tell it will be great and do everything you could want to do.... once you learn to use it and get a very good logical and natural layout for yourself rather than a game assigned build.... Yes, its one of those bits of kit!

 

[Robbie]

I've been thinking about getting the T.flight HOTAS, but I'd want to double the number of buttons on it with some kind of shift key assigned to one of the stick's buttons. But rather than get involved with Glovepie, was wondering if the Xpadder software (~£10) could add a shift function to the stick instead?

 

[huwthomas]

I've been thinking about getting the T.flight HOTAS, but I'd want to double the number of buttons on it with some kind of shift key assigned to one of the stick's buttons. But rather than get involved with Glovepie, was wondering if the Xpadder software (~£10) could add a shift function to the stick instead?

Xpadder looks interesting, from the description it can respond differently depending on duration of button press (so tap can be different from hold), which is along the lines of what you want, i.e. getting more out of the buttons.

Sensitivity to button duration can be scripted in GlovePIE and works really well, but if Xpadder supports it natively rather than by scripting, it could be a much easier option. I'd be interested to hear how it works out with ED, if you buy this software.

 

[Herro Zaber]

I'm still using the HotasX while I wait for consensus on the x55 vs x52 to settle down. Right now I don't know if I will even upgrade

What I love is the rocker and thumb buttons. My setup changed to:

Left Hand:

For my thumb

5 Boost
6 Up vertical thrust
7 Down vertical thrust
8 UI selection mode​

Index Finger

9 Team Speak
10 Flight Assist Toggle​

Ring and middle finger on the rocker for lateral thrust​

While I am looking at a monitor (and with Roccat on my Ipad) this layout is great. Once I get the Rift DK2 I will need to rework my entire control scheme.

But when that happens I will miss the rocker and vertical thrust setup that I have now. Just something very natural about having all the thrust vectors on one hand laid out that way. Even rudder pedals don't feel the same for me.

 

[Adam Lusardi]

I'm still using the HotasX while I wait for consensus on the x55 vs x52 to settle down. Right now I don't know if I will even upgrade

While I am looking at a monitor (and with Roccat on my Ipad) this layout is great. Once I get the Rift DK2 I will need to rework my entire control scheme.

But when that happens I will miss the rocker and vertical thrust setup that I have now. Just something very natural about having all the thrust vectors on one hand laid out that way. Even rudder pedals don't feel the same for me.

That's why I use a T-flight and Xbox controller for the extra buttons etc hoping easier to use than a keyboard with the DK2 don't forget there might be lots more important functions like ECM that require buttons in future builds.

 

[Pembs]

I have the Thrustmaster T-flight Hotas X. It's my first joystick of this kind. I'm on a tight budget so £40 seemed like a reasonable investment. I'm very happy with it. The stick feels great and the way it twists feels very natural and definitely helps my accuracy.

I keep the two parts connected (they can be separated) as I find this stops the pieces from moving around on my desk in the heat of battle.

If I had to criticise one thing it would be the way the throttle sticks at the neutral position. It's useful to feel a little 'bump' there when you're moving it back and forth so that you you know you're at zero, but for my liking it sticks there just a little to much and I have to push a bit to hard to push past it. To be honest I have pretty much gotten used to that now though so it's only a minor thing.

 

[JonnyRedHed]

I've just ordered a Thrustmaster T-Flight Hotas X £31 delivered. My first HOTAS. Starting out simple. So thanks for the great info so far in this thread.

My plan is to use this along with roccat powergrid on my android phone. Eventually also the 'DIY headtracker for a tenner'. And Voice Attack. So I've got some learning to do. I like the idea of nice touch screen buttons and use of ones voice.

I might consider the detent notch mod to smooth out the centre notch on the throttle, which then leaves a tiny dead zone but no notch. But will hold off until I think I need it. My first outing with HOTAS, so a new learning curve first.

Also, are there any 2013/2014 driver updates for Win7 64bit.

 

[byrneda]

Desperately seeking hotas config

Left Hand:

For my thumb

5 Boost
6 Up vertical thrust
7 Down vertical thrust
8 UI selection mode​

Index Finger

9 Team Speak
10 Flight Assist Toggle​

Ring and middle finger on the rocker for lateral thrust​

Thanks for this.. I have a Hotas X too, but this is my first time ever using a joystick on PC games.

Can anyone tell me what buttons (like above) I should be using for my Hotas X?.. and what they are called within the controller config menu? The axes (plural of axis) confuse me.

Sorry for being such a noob...

 

[Odyssey]

Great thread guys, I got mine second hand for £20 and not looked back yet, but the lack of buttons are scaring me.

I have been experimenting with the G13 gamepad in conjunction and that has some pretty cool results too.

Im hoping to use Track IR on this game too if I can find the beans to pay for it.

I still feel like a newb (prem beta owner) at this but Im leaning towards the X55 as Im also a backer or Star Citizen so I know I wioll get the use out of a more 'dedicated' and costly controller,

Anyway good hunting guys. See you out there.

 

[byrneda]

Thanks for this.. I have a Hotas X too, but this is my first time ever using a joystick on PC games.

Can anyone tell me what buttons (like above) I should be using for my Hotas X?.. and what they are called within the controller config menu? The axes (plural of axis) confuse me.

Sorry for being such a noob...

bump - don't want this getting lost, as this is the first thread I've seen that gives examples, and I really need your help...

 

[technome]

You might want to check this thread out. Links to a reference sheet with my preferred setup; a blank version for scribbling on; and editable templates for making your own.

 

[Odyssey]

I'm still using the HotasX while I wait for consensus on the x55 vs x52 to settle down. Right now I don't know if I will even upgrade

What I love is the rocker and thumb buttons. My setup changed to:

Left Hand:

For my thumb

5 Boost
6 Up vertical thrust
7 Down vertical thrust
8 UI selection mode​

Index Finger

9 Team Speak
10 Flight Assist Toggle​

Ring and middle finger on the rocker for lateral thrust​

While I am looking at a monitor (and with Roccat on my Ipad) this layout is great. Once I get the Rift DK2 I will need to rework my entire control scheme.

But when that happens I will miss the rocker and vertical thrust setup that I have now. Just something very natural about having all the thrust vectors on one hand laid out that way. Even rudder pedals don't feel the same for me.

The two main issues with this I find is:

1) No Target buttons apart from Select Target Ahead which defaults to button 3 on the Stick

2) For some reason, lateral thrusters do not work on my rocker! In the neutral position it goes into thrust right? if I toggle the 'inverse' all it does in the neutral position is thrust left. So annoying. The home screen is green by the way.

I cant seem to find the right combination for the HOTAS flight X at all.

I have been having slightly better luck with the G13 but thats not ideal really.

 

[Herro Zaber]

The two main issues with this I find is:

1) No Target buttons apart from Select Target Ahead which defaults to button 3 on the Stick

I cant seem to find the right combination for the HOTAS flight X at all.

I have been having slightly better luck with the G13 but thats not ideal really.

I opted to have "target ahead" and "most hostile?" on the right hand. With fire group and additional targeting moved to ROCCAT. You can probably save those somewhere else but movement was what I mapped first and everything else is mapped as a secondary concern.

2) For some reason, lateral thrusters do not work on my rocker! In the neutral position it goes into thrust right? if I toggle the 'inverse' all it does in the neutral position is thrust left. So annoying. The home screen is green by the way.

Neutral position there is no movement, toggle should be off. When you calibrate the axis in ED push to the right (or select inverse if you pushed to the left).

If you open the first scenario you can hop safely in and out of options and you will get it.

 

[Robbie]

Great thread guys, I got mine second hand for £20 and not looked back yet, but the lack of buttons are scaring me.

If you're concerned about the lack of buttons, you could try using a third party program such as xpadder, where you can create a modifier key, set a button up as a shift key to double the number of buttons on your HOTAS setup.

Xpadder cost about £5. If you wanted to try it out before buying it then there are a some old demo versions of xpadder kicking around on the internet so you can test this software to see how well it works with your T-flight sticks.

 

[byrneda]

You might want to check this thread out. Links to a reference sheet with my preferred setup; a blank version for scribbling on; and editable templates for making your own.

Thank you very much - this is exactly what I've been looking for

 

[Amos]

Nice I will have a go playing with that too, the little house button what do the lights mean again, how do I program the rocker switch?

 

[JonnyRedHed]

I too am using this HOTAS for the first time, and have xpadder. Trouble is that xpadder does not see the analogue rocker axis. I've asked why on the xpadder forum, no answer yet. I suspect xpadder is just limited in seeing lots of axis.

its a shame the stick has no hat on the throttle.


Roccat Powergrid seems a good option to suppliment the lack of buttons.

 

[Robbie]

I too am using this HOTAS for the first time, and have xpadder. Trouble is that xpadder does not see the analogue rocker axis. I've asked why on the xpadder forum, no answer yet. I suspect xpadder is just limited in seeing lots of axis.

its a shame the stick has no hat on the throttle.


Roccat Powergrid seems a good option to suppliment the lack of buttons.

Pity it can't see the rocker button. I hope it's something the developer can incorporate for you for the next release.

I'm thinking of getting xpadder eventually for when I purchase my T.flight HOTAS. Do you know if xpadder can assign a shift function to a stick's button so it can double-up the functions of the other buttons.