Welp, I've started my transition from Xbox to PC. Need advice on HOTAS.
- Thread starter CMDR Muy Bien Gato
- Start date
The Warthog HOTAS is an over kill for ED, however so are your PC setup 
its all about quality and how you like to play your games.
WH can be modded in many ways, some of the mods are actually just fix for the TM WH manufacturing or lack of manufacturing QA.
With a good set of pedals, this JS will last a very long time, even without rudder pedals you can enjoy it a lot. Actually there are no JS in the same price range you can compare it with.
Its so heavy you can use it as a home defense weapon if needed.
its all about quality and how you like to play your games.WH can be modded in many ways, some of the mods are actually just fix for the TM WH manufacturing or lack of manufacturing QA.
With a good set of pedals, this JS will last a very long time, even without rudder pedals you can enjoy it a lot. Actually there are no JS in the same price range you can compare it with.
Its so heavy you can use it as a home defense weapon if needed.
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T-flight is my backup for the x55 I have. In all honesty the T-flight is sufficient and if supplemented by Voice Attack, it does everything you need in ED. x52's are also available at a good price, but if you have a wad of cash you are looking to blow, then the Warthog is top of the line, but beware it doesn't have a twist rudder and that was a deal breaker for me (hence the x55 and my crossed fingers over build quality).
I got the warthog, I recommend it. I was initially unsure about getting a warthog because the stick didn't have twist and I've had cheaper sticks that had twist, but I've come to see this as an advantage. Firstly, because it means the mechanical precision is direct and exact - unfettered by joints/hinges, but for me, mostly because I had been dismissing pedals as silly and going too far, but a lot of people who used warthog liked pedals, so I had to think about it. Thinking about it, I realized that the kind of full-body interaction with my ship that would happen by using pedals, throttle, and stick, was something that - once I stopped dismissing pedals as silly - I actually really liked the idea of. So I got pedals.
I got really nice ones and don't regret it for a second, but yaw is weak enough that you probably don't even need nice analog pedals, on-off is probably fine, hence the guy who made his own pedals from an old keyboard.
When I actually got the warthog... I wouldn't go back to anything else. Other joysticks felt like part of the make-believe, but the solid metal warthog just persuades you that you are real-life touching the controls of a real vehicle. Ok, a 1970s American combat airframe perhaps, but a real vehicle nonetheless
Plus, bonus, hollywood uses them all the time for spaceship set controls, so you can be watching eg The Expanse, and be all, "yeah, I totally recognize those controls, I could fly that bucket!"
The "Target" software it comes with is versatile and powerful, though kind of tiresome to use. You can use defaults but it's better to come up with a control scheme that makes sense to you, and you'll easily spend a few hours setting up all your controls and macros. But the Target software also interfaces with the thrustmaster MFD. So for example, when I use a fire button on the stick, lights on the MFD turn on, and when I flip a dimmer switch on the throttle, all the backlighting on the throttle labels and the MFD buttons adjust to the selected brightness. (It's useful for non-cosmetic stuff too )
I got really nice ones and don't regret it for a second, but yaw is weak enough that you probably don't even need nice analog pedals, on-off is probably fine, hence the guy who made his own pedals from an old keyboard.
When I actually got the warthog... I wouldn't go back to anything else. Other joysticks felt like part of the make-believe, but the solid metal warthog just persuades you that you are real-life touching the controls of a real vehicle. Ok, a 1970s American combat airframe perhaps, but a real vehicle nonetheless
Plus, bonus, hollywood uses them all the time for spaceship set controls, so you can be watching eg The Expanse, and be all, "yeah, I totally recognize those controls, I could fly that bucket!"
The "Target" software it comes with is versatile and powerful, though kind of tiresome to use. You can use defaults but it's better to come up with a control scheme that makes sense to you, and you'll easily spend a few hours setting up all your controls and macros. But the Target software also interfaces with the thrustmaster MFD. So for example, when I use a fire button on the stick, lights on the MFD turn on, and when I flip a dimmer switch on the throttle, all the backlighting on the throttle labels and the MFD buttons adjust to the selected brightness. (It's useful for non-cosmetic stuff too
)
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The Saitek software has issues on many modern Intel boards, including my x99 based one. The driver does not work with the USB3 support of the motherboard, even if connected to an USB2 port (installer hangs, Windows becomes unstable, HOTAS does not work). The only workarounds I found was disabling USB3 completely (unacceptable) or putting an USB2 PCIe card in my build. I did the latter, but even a year ago a pure USB2 PCIe card was not easy to find.
Warning about he X-55: There are some drastic differences in build quality on these sticks. Mine worked great for about 8 months before the internal wiring inside the throttle separated due to stress. If you do get an X-55 my advice is to pop open the base of the throttle and if the wires coming out of the throttle down to the base aren't wrapped either return the unit or wrap them yourself to prevent unnecessary wear and tear.
Here's an image someone else posted to the internet showing the area where the wires tend to come apart:
On the other hand I've owned two of the Thrustmaster T-Flight HOTAS X. Gave the first one to my son and bought the second one after the X-55 died. Absolutely no complaints about this excellent low-cost alternative to the fancy professional-looking and more expensive options.
Here's an image someone else posted to the internet showing the area where the wires tend to come apart:
On the other hand I've owned two of the Thrustmaster T-Flight HOTAS X. Gave the first one to my son and bought the second one after the X-55 died. Absolutely no complaints about this excellent low-cost alternative to the fancy professional-looking and more expensive options.
I started with the T-Flight X then upgraded the stick to a T16000M still using the T-Flight throttle. The unused stick sits behind the monitor. Finally I will get the CH Pro throttle.
The T16000M is a great joystick and a good upgrade when you can afford it.
I would say you can't go wrong with the T-Flight as a starter.
VoiceAttack is also very good and I also use FaceTrackNoIR for head tracking. Really adds to the Emerson and only requires a webcam.
The T16000M is a great joystick and a good upgrade when you can afford it.
I would say you can't go wrong with the T-Flight as a starter.
VoiceAttack is also very good and I also use FaceTrackNoIR for head tracking. Really adds to the Emerson and only requires a webcam.
I moved over from xbox to PC. I purchased a CH fighterstick which is great but I don't think I prefer it over the xbox pad and I find myself still using the xbox pad quite often.
I played a long time with the T 16000. Fine stick. Upgraded to an X55 and all the extra buttons are great. But the best gadget to a t16000 you could add is something like the Logitech G13.
I have one too, and it is good for the money, but I struggle with accuracy. How do you cope with the centre deadzone?
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Can I has your XB1 controller when your finished... I need an upgrade!
I can fully recommend this setup. Cheaper that buying a top saitek / warthog setup.
For build quality, then this is a great CH hotas and cheap price http://www.goalprice.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=80
For myself i have a t-flight and an x52. The t-flight works great with ED, but i wanted more buttons and hats, so i bought the x52. If this fails on me too soon (sorry stories about the saitek build quality) i would go for the CH fightstick and throttle i listed above. But i will always keep my t-flight as an emergency spare at the price i paid for it.
For myself i have a t-flight and an x52. The t-flight works great with ED, but i wanted more buttons and hats, so i bought the x52. If this fails on me too soon (sorry stories about the saitek build quality) i would go for the CH fightstick and throttle i listed above. But i will always keep my t-flight as an emergency spare at the price i paid for it.
Buy what fits your hands and what you enjoy. Poke around a bit and see if there's someone or some store local where you can go get a grip on a couple of sticks.
I.E. the X55 isn't enjoyable for a lot of people who have average or smaller sized hands, the Warthog is as close as you'll get to a one size fits all but smaller hands will have to move around a lot on the stick, CH Pro is good for smaller hands. If you have arthritis the CH Pro gives you the most switches with the least movement, etc...
Buy what feels right and the price won't matter, you'll be happy. A good HOTAS will last 5-10 years, so the cost is only expensive when you think short term.
Edit: Note that it doesn't hurt to use different pieces from different manufacturers either. There won't be any conflicts or problems finding the hardware. Mix and match as much as you like.
I.E. the X55 isn't enjoyable for a lot of people who have average or smaller sized hands, the Warthog is as close as you'll get to a one size fits all but smaller hands will have to move around a lot on the stick, CH Pro is good for smaller hands. If you have arthritis the CH Pro gives you the most switches with the least movement, etc...
Buy what feels right and the price won't matter, you'll be happy. A good HOTAS will last 5-10 years, so the cost is only expensive when you think short term.
Edit: Note that it doesn't hurt to use different pieces from different manufacturers either. There won't be any conflicts or problems finding the hardware. Mix and match as much as you like.
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I use a Saitek X52 and the only time I touch the keyboard is to enter names into the galaxy map. Don't use a mouse at all. Don't even use the custom Saitek software to map buttons, just plug'n'play.
Used a 360 gamepad before, way to imprecise for fixed weapon combat.
Have a buddy with an X52 Pro, without the custom software he actually has fewer functions directly available than me as the Pro replaced some buttons with scroll wheels, so I'd say: X52 is perfect.
Used a 360 gamepad before, way to imprecise for fixed weapon combat.
Have a buddy with an X52 Pro, without the custom software he actually has fewer functions directly available than me as the Pro replaced some buttons with scroll wheels, so I'd say: X52 is perfect.