Author Topic: Whats the best stick/ throttle combo? (Read 1103 times)

rabbidrabbit · « **on:** June 30, 2005, 11:37:13 AM »

OK,

My second x45 is flaking out into oblivion so I'm thinking about a new Hotas setup. I liked the x45 , for 40 bucks its a great bargain but it's just not reliable nor does it seem very percise.

I'm thinking a fighterstick usb for a stick and a x52 throttle but does the x52 throttle have a usb connector or the same freaky plug the x45 throttle has? I think the x45 has a serial port connector but I might be wrong. Do I need the x52 stick to use the x52 throttle? Any better ideas?

rshubert · « **Reply #1 on:** June 30, 2005, 11:58:22 AM »

It's expensive, but nothing beats the whole CH products setup. I have the stick, rudders, and throttle all CH, and have never been happier--except in the good ol' days, when I had a saitek x36 setup.

The CH stick has very low stick forces compared to the x45, though, and it will require some getting used to.

Suave · « **Reply #2 on:** June 30, 2005, 12:01:38 PM »

MS stick, CH throttle, TM pedals.

Some like CH pedals, I prefer TM pedals because they are set wider apart and don't move independantly.

CH pedals are better suited for auto racing games.

CH sticks are very good, but they aren't optical, so they will spike. I had a x36 stick throttle setup, throttle was a bit more usefull than the stick, which was a POC. Even my Suncom setup was better.

SOB · « **Reply #3 on:** June 30, 2005, 12:04:39 PM »

ThrustMaster F-22 & TQS. Unfortunately, they aren't made anymore, so this doesn't really help you. Your welcome.

Hangtime · « **Reply #4 on:** June 30, 2005, 01:05:23 PM »

Have an old analog/serial CH suite, stick, pedals & throttle. Was good 'back in the day' but when the new usb/digital setups came out the speed and precison difference was very noticeable.

I was very happy with the CH gear.. only gripe is to re-buy it all digital costs more than I'm willing to spend.

I keep hearing from the Saitek users about early 'wearout' and other problems.. seems the CH stuff lasts a whole lot longer.. particularly if you fly a lot and fly agressively.

Reschke · « **Reply #5 on:** June 30, 2005, 01:21:28 PM »

Check back through the Hardware/Software forum. We just had this discussion over there. Me I guess I am a hardcore because I wouldn't trade my Cougar HOTAS setup for anything. I have tried all the others and keep coming back to that one.

Suave · « **Reply #6 on:** June 30, 2005, 01:25:27 PM »

I was instantly turned off by saitek sticks. It felt like a joystick with a big thick rubber gearshift boot on it. At the '02 AH con I could've had an x45 for free as a prize. I'm glad I had allready used one before that.

Suave · « **Reply #7 on:** June 30, 2005, 01:27:54 PM »

Cougar Hotass was the WWII Online of computer game flight controllers. Dmdmax and Hristo hit the nail on the head with their amazon.com reviews.

I also notice that a lot of players here that gave the cougar a lot of praise when it first came out don't use it anymore.

As the pirate flag dude pointed out, he's one of the hardcore because he still uses his.

FUNKED1 · « **Reply #8 on:** June 30, 2005, 01:47:36 PM »

Get the CH USB stuff. Stick, pedals, throttle.
I don't even do flight sims anymore and I still use this stuff because of the programmability. And they have the best customer service of any PC hardware company I have encountered.

rabbidrabbit · « **Reply #9 on:** June 30, 2005, 01:50:28 PM »

whats with the beefing that ch has a weak throttle setup then? Ie no dials etc... I have to admit I like using the dials especially for rpm.. Thats the reason I was pondering using the x52 throttle with the fighterstick.. the best of both worlds...

Suave · « **Reply #10 on:** June 30, 2005, 02:00:29 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by FUNKED1
Get the CH USB stuff. Stick, pedals, throttle.
I don't even do flight sims anymore and I still use this stuff because of the programmability. And they have the best customer service of any PC hardware company I have encountered.

If it's so good, why are you knowledgable about their costomer service?

Don't fret Rabisrabbit, you can't go wrong with CH stuff. I really like the throttle, because it is the only one I can find that isn't desinged to rotate on an axis against gravity, it is a flat sliding mechanism.

Which is almost as good as a side mounted suspened sliding mechanism. I'm still waiting on one of those.

SOB · « **Reply #11 on:** June 30, 2005, 02:09:04 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Suave
Cougar Hotass was the WWII Online of computer game flight controllers. Dmdmax and Hristo hit the nail on the head with their amazon.com reviews.

I also notice that a lot of players here that gave the cougar a lot of praise when it first came out don't use it anymore.

As the pirate flag dude pointed out, he's one of the hardcore because he still uses his.

I think the Cougar was a almost a fantastic piece of hardware. They got 99% there, and then skimped on a couple of critical building blocks. Even if they had gone the whole way, I might still have ended up back at the F22, as I just like the feel of it better (movement, tension). I took one of the best parts of the Cougar set (the hat switches), and installed them into my F22 and TQS. If I had the cash, I might have tried one of the more expensive mods that took the Cougar to 100%.

Suave · « **Reply #12 on:** June 30, 2005, 02:13:22 PM »

I agree critical is an apt adjective.

SOB · « **Reply #13 on:** June 30, 2005, 02:18:21 PM »

Yep. Use of the soft metals for the gimbals: stupid. Use of plastic instead of metal in the arm of the throttle: stupid. Use of pots instead of a digital device like a hal sensor: a bad idea due to the negative stigma attached with pots. There are rock solid ways to use pots and not have any tracking issues, particularly when you're converting the pot signal to digital before sending it to the computer (like you do with USB), but it probably would have been a good idea to up the price and nix the pots completely just as a marketing point.

JB73 · « **Reply #14 on:** June 30, 2005, 02:24:34 PM »

rabidrabbit...

thats the setup i use, a CH stick and pedals, and an x45 throttle. yes i still have the whole x45 plugged in, but keep the stick off to the back of the desk.

the reason i didn't get a CH throttle is the analog trim rotaries are not on the CH.

the throttle of the x45 is sturdy as heck from my experience, and with that setup, i have a spare stick in case something with the CH goes wonky