X55 Rhino Button Layout with Reference Card

[deMangler]

X-55 FA/Off in E:⁠D

Hi,
I have been a devoted KB/Mouse player, using a Logitech M570 and G13 and G110. I just bought a Saitek X-55 HOTAS setup and have been "running it in".

There are lots of threads on the X-55 here already but I have a specific issue that I would like some input on. I have found it very difficult to set up the X-55 for precision FA/Off flying. This is something that worked very well with my KB/Mouse setup and even though the X-55 is truly amazing for normal piloting it appears to suck when it comes to FA/Off.
Any of you X-55 users out there want to share tips on this?
Thanks in advance.

My Setup Currently...

Spoiler

..

I have tried a few configs - This is closest to good but I don't want to re-invent the wheel neither do I want to practice for ages with a config that is going to give me RSI....

 

[SlickReed]

I personally prefer the thumb button you use for toggle head look for FA/toggle.

I have Track IR so don't need the head look feature.

I don't have any issue flying to FA off for quick turns or anything else. Just counter thrust your ships movement with side thrust and the joystick and you will be fine.

I also use Rudder pedals for my side thrust so that helps alot as well.

 

[Incandescence]

"immersion"

This looks way too cumbersome.
Ill stick to my ol' KB and mouse

*GLORIOUS PC MASTER RACE!!*
/* Jumps away in hysteria.

 

[Andromalius]

I use the red button on the joystick, works like a charm.

 

[Titus Balls]

That's not that far off my setup (But I'm thinking of changing a few things like not having the boost and push-to-talk buttons so close ) Also the trims are also buttons, so the top trim is my FA/Off button, and I use the top thumb hat for lateral thrusters rather than the bottom.

Personally I find the joystick fine with FA/Off you just have to learn how to use the lateral thrusters a bit better.

And I use the Joystick X/Y for Pitch/Yaw and Z for Roll - goes back to the Freespace days, find it much easier to use.

 

[deMangler]

That's not that far off my setup (But I'm thinking of changing a few things like not having the boost and push-to-talk buttons so close ) Also the trims are also buttons, so the top trim is my FA/Off button, and I use the top thumb hat for lateral thrusters rather than the bottom.

Personally I find the joystick fine with FA/Off you just have to learn how to use the lateral thrusters a bit better.

And I use the Joystick X/Y for Pitch/Yaw and Z for Roll - goes back to the Freespace days, find it much easier to use.

I was using the top thumb hat for laterals but my thumb kept slipping. Agree that the lateral thrusters is the main issue - how to get precise control of them with the X-55... Also agree about the stick pitch/yaw/roll but I am sticking with the defaults to train myself in case I find myself having to use a stick with no twist I can always do without yaw.
Freespace and it's derivatives are still just about the best space flight experience I have had.

 

[forger]

i have red E1 button for fa on/off and strafe on my rudder pedals, so all works fine, but fa off is not worth it, i know a very good digfighter and he almost never even turns it off, so do whatever fits you best.

 

[deMangler]

i have red E1 button for fa on/off and strafe on my rudder pedals, so all works fine, but fa off is not worth it, i know a very good digfighter and he almost never even turns it off, so do whatever fits you best.

I have found FA/Off to be very much worth it with KB/Mouse, by comparison flying with FA/On is like being on rails. But I am starting to agree with you when it comes to using the X-55, I will give it more time and practice though.
I have just changed my boost button to be the Top Spin on the throttle which I can hit with my finger while using the thumb for laterals, because it really helps to be able to boost and hit laterals at the same time.
Having small hands doesn't really help...

 

[SharkH]

I use the Castle Hat for the thrusters on my X-55 I found it the most confortable way to control with.

I binded the top spin wheel on the throttle to thrust axis so at docking I can put the throttle to zero position and use the spin wheel for fine tune the speed and its easy to feel where is the zero position you don't have to switch between forward/backward thrust this way you can use the throttle for only forward thrust and the top spin wheel for forward/backward combined thrust control.

 

[Wolf]

Ok one last problem I am having a real hard time with my Z axis it will turn both ways only sometimes then in the middle of gameplay it just stops turning in one direction I think +zaxis anyone else been having problems with it?

Not sure what you mean exactly but it could have something to do with the joystick decalibrating a little. On the joystick I set a little deadzone in the the Joystick Software for each axis of about 50. Then in game before taking of I move the stick in full circle at max and then twist both ways full to calibrate.
See if that helps.

 

[fartex]

hello there guys, im a bit lost in all the buttons.
I have been searching on google for an original button layout reference card, meaning, I would like to know, for instance, where button 1 is, or 25 for that matter.

ive seen some nice elite profiles for the x55 in here, but since im still new in using this one, I don't know wich button is where.

hopefully you guys understand what im looking for, as im almost about to pull my hair out...

thanks in advance.

 

[Jagmas]

Thanks for taking the time to post this layout. I started with yours and edited to arrive at the following:

Note--I've got TrackIR, which eliminates the needs to access UI panels with buttons. You simply look in that direction and you can then interact with them. And you get a HAT switch by ditching the POV buttons.

Schoff, I'd like to run a similar setup. Do you mind posting your custom bind?

 

[PimPy_Butcher]

Nice layout.... I´m gonna buy me a X55 as well

 

[Neillm]

hello there guys, im a bit lost in all the buttons.
I have been searching on google for an original button layout reference card, meaning, I would like to know, for instance, where button 1 is, or 25 for that matter.

ive seen some nice elite profiles for the x55 in here, but since im still new in using this one, I don't know wich button is where.

hopefully you guys understand what im looking for, as im almost about to pull my hair out...

thanks in advance.

Hi. Yeah, I do know what you mean and it's very confusing. Especially when, in Elite, both the throttle and stick will show a Joy 1, for example, in the control bindings.

I'm afraid I did it the hard way to find out what all the numbers are. I printed out a blank reference sheet (from jgm), selected one of the control in elite and then clicked each button in turn on the controls and wrote down the number. I then did the same for the various axes and rotaries.

Sorry I can't be of any more direct help, but it only took ten minutes or so in the end.

 

[Bobby N]

Thanks guys

After reading everything I could find about joysticks, this thread has talked me into buying the X55. In stock at Gameshark so should be here soon - absolutely can't wait ask for help with it.......

 

[AndySpwn]

I'd been searching for something just like this, but most of them were overly complicated (no disrespect to anyone's efforts) until I spotted Dobbo's. Now my layout is a little different so I hope he doesn't mind me making my own version based on his;



I haven't been playing with the x55 for very long so this will probably get tweeked as time goes on

 

[deMangler]

After a bit of practice and trial and error I have been happy with this setup for a while now.

Spoiler

..

I have uploaded some FA/Off videos of the combat scenarios using this config to my Beta 1.03 playlist on YouTube. HERE. I am not the best of pilots but it seems like a workable config anyway.
Soon I hope to have some head-tracking sorted. That will make all the difference.

 

[Hydrino]

I'd been searching for something just like this, but most of them were overly complicated (no disrespect to anyone's efforts) until I spotted Dobbo's. Now my layout is a little different so I hope he doesn't mind me making my own version based on his;



I haven't been playing with the x55 for very long so this will probably get tweeked as time goes on

Hi AndySpwn, Do you have one of those templates in blank form? I like the one mcdee generates but this is an interesting simplified view and I might want to use it instead but with my mappings.

I am mapping my X55 buttons tonight. I was happy with the keyboard but not the mouse. I played the intro scenarios over and had a much easier time blasting the AI with the Rhino stick than I did with the mouse, I think having a dead-center spot and tension helps me subconsciously process my input better. Well, time to re-train the muscle memory!

For some reason Elite seems to have lost one attempt at mapping all the buttons and lost part of another. I am about to try dumping a few of the custom keybind files from other users and see how it goes but I have my own mappings in mind, of course.

Final thoughts - It would be really cool if Frontier could add a keyboard and hotas setup screen so when mapping keys you can see what is already mapped instead of the long scrolling screen and trying to memorize if Key X was mapped already. And it would be great if they offered at least two X55 setups by default (maybe choose a couple from this thread?) for new players. The UI really needs include a built-in keyboard cheat-sheet printer as well, because to get up to speed the first thing I had to do was write down key-bindings on a sheet of paper.

 

[Aleksej]

Hi,
I have been a devoted KB/Mouse player, using a Logitech M570 and G13 and G110. I just bought a Saitek X-55 HOTAS setup and have been "running it in".

There are lots of threads on the X-55 here already but I have a specific issue that I would like some input on. I have found it very difficult to set up the X-55 for precision FA/Off flying. This is something that worked very well with my KB/Mouse setup and even though the X-55 is truly amazing for normal piloting it appears to suck when it comes to FA/Off.
Any of you X-55 users out there want to share tips on this?
Thanks in advance.

My Setup Currently...

Spoiler

..

I have tried a few configs - This is closest to good but I don't want to re-invent the wheel neither do I want to practice for ages with a config that is going to give me RSI....

You have very inefficient controls for cycling the fire groups as well as for targeting subsystems. If you need to cycle them you lose control over throttle, however, you need both the throttle and these controls in combat.

Having hyperspace on throttle's J2 button is also not the best idea. Usually you do not need to control the throttle when you are initiating the SC or hyperjump as it should be set to max at this time.

 

[deMangler]

You have very inefficient controls for cycling the fire groups as well as for targeting subsystems. If you need to cycle them you lose control over throttle, however, you need both the throttle and these controls in combat.

Having hyperspace on throttle's J2 button is also not the best idea. Usually you do not need to control the throttle when you are initiating the SC or hyperjump as it should be set to max at this time.

Good points. I have changed some of those things and posted a new setup since I posted that a while ago. It's a bit mixed up as my thread was merged with this one. Thanks for the advice it is still a work in progress...