Author Topic: CH Sticks, pedals and such (Read 814 times)

kj714 · « **on:** May 06, 2004, 07:45:19 PM »

Dang, CH is expensive! Why is that? Is it that much better? What justifies the big bucks?

BTW, all you pedal guys, do you feel they are really worth it? Whats the durability?

Morpheus · « **Reply #1 on:** May 06, 2004, 07:49:43 PM »

MS Prec Pro 2 is the best stick/set up I could ever ask for. I liked them so much that when they stopped making them I baught the last 3 they had for back ups.

And guess what. They are only about 40 bucks. No need for all that pricey crapola:D

IronDog · « **Reply #2 on:** May 06, 2004, 07:58:18 PM »

CH Products gear is top notch.I never did wear out my analog setup,it's in the closet,since I now use the pedals,Pro throttle,and Combat stick,USB.The old setup had several years on it,and was still going strong.
Buy your setup from Provantage, or something similar,and you'll get a better price.
Like the old saying goes,you get what you pay for!
IronDog

nopoop · « **Reply #3 on:** May 06, 2004, 08:45:57 PM »

I'm working out the kinks in a fresh USB system. Good quality, no complaints. I think it was $325 for USB fighter stick, pro throttle and pro pedals from provantage

I'm gonna love the setup once I'm used to it.

beet1e · « **Reply #4 on:** May 07, 2004, 05:09:24 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by MoRphEuS
MS Prec Pro 2 is the best stick/set up I could ever ask for. I liked them so much that when they stopped making them I baught the last 3 they had for back ups.

And guess what. They are only about 40 bucks. No need for all that pricey crapola:D

Agreed! I had two of those. But I wanted to get away from gameport and move to USB. My MSPP2 would plug into my Creative SB Live Value sound card.

I upgraded my PC last Oct. ready for the imminent arrival of AH2, and got an Asus A7N8X-DLX mobo. A lot of us have that board. For years I've had a dual boot system with two hard disks. I used WMe for AH and W2000-Pro for everything else. Reason for using WMe was that the Profiling software that goes with the MSWPP2 stick would install to C:\WINDOWS. There was no way to make it install to C:\WINNT. And although W2000 provided some profiling ability, there was no way to program all those buttons the way the profiling software could do it. So I soldiered on with WMe.

When MS stopped supporting the MSPP2, I decided it was time to move on from WMe. Installed AH on my W2000 partition and got a Logitech 3D USB. Hated it. And then it started acting up, so I returned it and got the Saitek Cybord 3D I have now. Good stick, very good aiming stick, and easy to use from Day1. But the thumb buttons are too big - too easy to press by mistake, so I had to reprogram, and the button setup is nowhere near as good as what I had with the MSWPP2. But it's OK.

I had to get rid of the sound card though - couldn't get the right drivers for W2000-Pro. But the mobo audio is excellent. But of course I also lost the gameport, so MSWPP2 would do me no good now.

So Morpheus - I'm curious to know - what mobo do you have, and what OS? How do you alter elevator trim using that stick? One thing I'm beginning to see about these twisty stick setups is that if you want to be a T&B/Y&B turn-pilot, you need to be able to alter trim quickly. And neither your stick nor mine provides a trim wheel.

TheDudeDVant · « **Reply #5 on:** May 07, 2004, 07:41:52 AM »

For my computer you simiply cannot buy a better flight control rig than the CH setup. As mentioned above, I too have never completely worn out my CH analog setup. My old is in my closet as well. I use all the usb stuff now. And yes, rudders are VERY important if you wish to game at a competative level.

You will spend more on a CH setup, but in the end its worth it. That is if you plan to use your computer for gaming for more than 6months.. hehe

dude

Ghosth · « **Reply #6 on:** May 07, 2004, 07:46:44 AM »

Well I'm with Morph on this one.

At the AH con 2002 I had the chance to fly 8 of my squadies setups.

Including a couple of all CH hotas systems.

Frankly I could not WAIT to get back home & get my hands back on my MS Sidewinder Prec 2 USB. I know, its not the gameport Prec Pro. But its so close in feel, and setup that switching is no problem.

As for the driver issue, I don't load em.

Plug it in when the computers on, it sees it,
and what mapping I do is done in AH.
(I'm a minimalist on stick mapping)

Trim, along with a LOT of other controls is on the keyboard. Which IMO is what the left hand is for.

Just picked up a spare prec 2 from ebay.
Box had been opened, if the stick had been flown it sure never showed it.
CD had never been out of the original wrapper. 28$ including shipping & I'm a happy camper.

So if you liked the Sidewinder Precision Pro, go find a good sidewinder Prec 2 USB.

lazs2 · « **Reply #7 on:** May 07, 2004, 07:56:46 AM »

I am still using the CH analog stuff.. it is great stuff with the exception of the weak springs in the stick. They can hardly center the stick. I have modified mine with half inch rubber bands on all the axis.

I want to have a throttle and rudder... never could get into the twisty stick thing. Used to fly ultralights and you don't twist the stick for rudders.

lazs

sickbird · « **Reply #8 on:** May 07, 2004, 07:58:03 AM »

Hey KJ,

I really like the CH setup. I tried the Saitek setup and now it's sitting in the closet. Others swear buy it. One big difference between the two is that CH has almost no stick resistance. The Saitek has a lot. Obviously this is personal preference. There are things you can to reduce the resistance of the Saitek.

The Saitek is about $80.

You can pretty much program everything on the CH. I don't go to the keyboard except to type.

I have one problem. My current desk doesn't allow me to use my rudder pedals (I'll fix this eventually) so for now I'm using the mouse stick on the throttle as my rudder.

I have a Saito I can give you a good deal on.

-SickBird

fuzeman · « **Reply #9 on:** May 07, 2004, 10:14:26 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by lazs2
I am still using the CH analog stuff.. it is great stuff with the exception of the weak springs in the stick. They can hardly center the stick. I have modified mine with half inch rubber bands on all the axis.

I want to have a throttle and rudder... never could get into the twisty stick thing. Used to fly ultralights and you don't twist the stick for rudders.

lazs

You could sheck out Home Depot, they have have a very large selection of springs. Found this out from my first stick, a POS and I forget the brand. Now I use a full analog CH setup still running after 5 to 6 years. Luckily Santa helped acquire some of it

beet1e · « **Reply #10 on:** May 07, 2004, 11:07:11 AM »

Ghosth - I never knew there was a USB version of the MSPP2 stick.

Yep, I know I'm an old fusspot when it comes to programming buttons etc. I spent some time this morning trying to figure out how to pre-program commands. Seems that for anything longer than 1 character, you have to program it as an "advanced" command or macro. Macro was fine for me. The software is clever, and even replicates the time interval between keystrokes when you programmed the button. But that can be overriden. So now I have two more buttons programmed -

/.speed 190
/.salvo

Personal preference, but I don't think AH allows buttons to be programmed like that.

Anyway, Ghosth - I'm like you - tried those fancy setups and didn't like 'em at all.

Grits · « **Reply #11 on:** May 07, 2004, 11:24:51 AM »

When I came back to AH in Feb, 8 years after I quit AW, I had no gaming gear left. While I had tried CH back then and liked the reliability, but I had always been a full HOTAS TM guy because of the lack of programming and limited buttons on the CH sticks. I did a little research and the iffy reliability of the Cougar stuff made me go CH. I got the whole USB setup and I can say that I'd buy the whole thing again without hesitation. It wasnt cheap at $300+, but the CH stuff seems to be so reliable its a once every 5-10 year purchase so in that respect its cheap.

MOSQ · « **Reply #12 on:** May 07, 2004, 06:17:54 PM »

lazs2,
I have the analog CH too. They are having a sale on their remaining analog gear. I just replaced my F-16 Combatstick with a new F-16 Fighterstick for $19.97! There was nothing wrong with the Combat Stick, I just wanted the additional 8 way hat and 4 way hat.

F-16 FighterStick
$19.97
Features one 8-way switch, three 4-way switches, three push buttons, trigger, added trim controls and rotary throttle. Gameport connection. Compatible with DOS, Windows 95 and 98.

I've found the springs in the FighterStick are much stiffer than the CombatStick. Took me a while to get used to the more heavy duty feel. A new FighterStick is actually cheaper than ordering new springs!

This might cure your spring problem....

http://www.chproducts.com/shop/page2.html

And the analog pedals are only $23.97 too.

dracon · « **Reply #13 on:** May 07, 2004, 06:32:20 PM »

Well, I have put my HOTAS together over several years. I bought the USB Peds to go with my X-36's (2). Then I finally added a throttle to go with my MSPPFF (3) and my Logitech (3). I have finally added the Fighterstick.

Get the picture? How many sticks did I go through and I am still using the CH stuff?

Do it! Beware though the Combat and Fighter Sticks are for people with big hands! I had to modify mine. Go to ch-hangar.com for info.

GL

kj714 · « **Reply #14 on:** May 07, 2004, 06:53:14 PM »

I'm getting persuaded on this for sure!