Hardware & Technical X56 HOTAS: JUST SAY NO!!!

[Farbenfinsternis]

Well I informed myself and bought a VKB Gunfighter. It runs with a Warthog now but I will buy the MCG.

Oh yeah and about that before. My PC doesn't die when I install a driver so that's my qualification.

 

[Sir.Tj]

Had a X55 which went after about 14 months, contacted Logitech who after a bit of faffing about sent a replacement X56 which so far has been ok.

The quality of both are both poor sadly but when working are the best hotas on the market.

Shame Logitech didn't re-engineer.

 

[JetsonRING]

Now, with modhat off
My first HOTAS was Thrustmaster T.Flight X and it broke after 14 months of usage. I then purchased X52 Pro and I have it since then. I recently had to remove the throttle limiters (the part that marks -75% and +75%), but other than that I didn't have any problems with it.
My mate however has returned 12 X52 Pros because they keep breaking.
It is true that Mad Catz Saitek HOTAS' can be of poor build quality, but not all of them are that bad. It is a lottery unfortunately though... I would go for Warthog, but it lacks yaw, because it's a replica of a real life system - and yaw on the stick is a must for me. So I keep using my X52 Pro, hoping that there will be something nice and shiny available on the market by the time it breaks.
It's also worth nothing that the build quality of the former Saitek/MatCatz HOTAS' may improve when Logitech manufactured batches will start shipping.

I hope so too however, it is not just the hardware, which is flimsy and prone to breakage. It is also the software and drivers, plus Logitech's seeming indifference to improving either. Logitech has owned the Saitek brand for a year, released "new" drivers which incidentally, bricked my X-56 requiring a clean Windows install to restore function, the profiler software does not work and since there are no comprehensive instructions beyond "install this software and it will work" I cannot tell what, if anything is incorrect. I reset my Logitech support password just today because the site failed my login, logged in and was immediately prompted to login again, which failed (again). It's as if Logitech has been infected by the same disease Mad Catz had. o7

Well I informed myself and bought a VKB Gunfighter. It runs with a Warthog now but I will buy the MCG.
Oh yeah and about that before. My PC doesn't die when I install a driver so that's my qualification.

The PC didn't brick, just the HOTAS, like it says in the post. o7

 

[Farbenfinsternis]

If you're in for quality -> VPC, VKB or FSSB R3 mod for Warthog.

Saitek/Logitech is bad. Thrustmaster Warthog is bad but metal outside (but cheap plastic as gimbal).

 

[rootsrat]

I hope so too however, it is not just the hardware, which is flimsy and prone to breakage. It is also the software and drivers, plus Logitech's seeming indifference to improving either. Logitech has owned the Saitek brand for a year, released "new" drivers which incidentally, bricked my X-56 requiring a clean Windows install to restore function, the profiler software does not work and since there are no comprehensive instructions beyond "install this software and it will work" I cannot tell what, if anything is incorrect. I reset my Logitech support password just today because the site failed my login, logged in and was immediately prompted to login again, which failed (again). It's as if Logitech has been infected by the same disease Mad Catz had. o7

Sorry to hear about your experience. Luckily I didn't have any problems whatsoever with X52 Pro drivers... Just plug and play, the only thing I had to do was disable Clutch Mode, so the pinky button on the stick worked correctly.

 

[amigacooke]

No!!!

 

[JetsonRING]

I am thinking this will be my next HOTAS setup, too bad it is so expensive:

http://www.mypilotstore.com/MyPilotStore/sep/11576

or maybe just the T.1600 flight control kit, since it has twist for about $300 less. I will be sad to lose the dual thumb-joysticks, they are a great feature . . . ooh, and I just read the T.1600 FCS is "fully compatible" with a 2-joystick setup! o7

 

[Crank Larson]

The X-55 is pretty poor too. Cheap components, as I found when I had to open mine up to fix it.

Logitech used to be a quality brand. I haven't been impressed with any of their products in the last few years. Though as pointed out, it was MadCatz that killed Saitek before Logitech took over.

 

[dognosh]

I had the GOOD X52-pro(before sell off it had good components) for over 12 years and now an X-55(6 months) , but I do TOTALLY AGREE with this thread.

Customer support, Instructions & build quality are low, very low. I got given the X-55 so it cost me £0 .

 

[CMDR-AD]

Sorry to hear of your trouble with it. The early Saitek products were excellent. My X45 is now over 15 years old, and still working well. If it ever failed, I have no idea what I'd replace it with. I very well might just switch to using my XBox 360 control pad.

 

[Deleted member 110222]

I guess I got lucky on the lottery, speaking for the X52 mind. Works perfectly. Love it.

 

[wrmiller]

I am thinking this will be my next HOTAS setup, too bad it is so expensive:

http://www.mypilotstore.com/MyPilotStore/sep/11576

or maybe just the T.1600 flight control kit, since it has twist for about $300 less. I will be sad to lose the dual thumb-joysticks, they are a great feature . . . ooh, and I just read the T.1600 FCS is "fully compatible" with a 2-joystick setup! o7

I saved my pennies and finally got my Warthog HOTAS setup after my X52 pro (that I've had for many years) started getting a bit more loose than I like. Except for the fact that those rudder pedals are so tiny for my size 13EEE feet. I ended up selling those pedals and getting a set of the VKBs. Love this setup and IMO it was money well saved/spent.

The only tinkering I have done so far is to smooth and re-grease the internals of the joystick and reduce the tension of the centering spring. Very smooooth now. I'm now working on a gimbal replacement (metal of course) for the joystick that will replace the plastic ball and socket arrangement. Not that mine needs replacing, but as a former engineer I believe I can make a better one that will likely last longer than I do.

 

[Zieman]

Logitech used to be a quality brand. I haven't been impressed with any of their products in the last few years. Though as pointed out, it was MadCatz that killed Saitek before Logitech took over.

My experience with Logitech too, decreasing quality with increasing prices.
Sadly, the story of almost everything nowadays.

 

[Micha]

Another happy X45 Commander here. Gave it a proper workout with the X-series, then stored until I got ED nearly 2 years ago. Since then it's been getting almost daily use and still going strong. Am seriously considering trawling fleabuy for a backup, while they're still around, just in case.

Don't like the new models - overall better design with more buttons, but they replaced the rudder yaw controls with twist-to-yaw, which I can't stand.

 

[andyg63]

I have been using an x55 for over 2 years without any problems. I do not use the profile software so don't get the use of the 3 mode switch. I just program directly in game. A good setup for those who do not have the cash for a Warthog and the yaw saves on the need for extra pedals so all in all a good buy. Yes build quality is not great and every once in a while a real bad one may get through but if you open them up on arrival and check the cables are not fouling then generally they will last.

 

[Stigbob]

Thrustmaster t-flight hotas X cost twenty quid four years later its still doing fine.

I've had some Saitek/madcatz stuff in the past and its just overpriced tat that constantly breaks, looks flashy though.

 

[Jenner]

Thread necro.