Saitek X52 - DOA

[scottydawg]

Went out and found an X52 locally at Worst Buy, bought it, scampered home to set it up and get jiggy.  

Damned thing was DOA. Drivers installed, stick detected, then nothing. no buttons worked, stick and throttle didn't respond, couldn't turn down the lights. Loaded a profile, nothing. Bleah.

I took i tback to exchange it and predictably it was the only one in stock.

Just wanted to share my misery.

[shiningpathb4me]

choice but to take this one back also.  It seems unlikely that two in a row would be defective, but I've tried everything else.

[scottydawg]

That's messed up. What was wrong with yours?

I even tried it on 3 different computers and with the newest drivers from the website, no luck.

I really want the features but can live without the frustration of crappiness.

[Easyscor]

I picked up an X52 last month to replace my wonki 2+ year old X45.  It works fine using only XPs' drivers and I really like how smoth the joystick is compared to all the other sticks I've had.  IMHO There's a lot to like about this inexpensive joystick but the "mouse stick" on the throttle is worthless, for AH anyway.  I need to install the saitek drivers and see if I can make it work like a 4-way hat switch and then I'll be happy.

I should clarify that I have CH rudder pedals or I'd hate the x52 along with all other twisty sticks.  IMO a rudder toggle on the throttle is much better solution.

GL finding a stick you like.

[scottydawg]

It's ridiculous!

You've got CH which is outrageously expensive and comes only piecemeal.
You've got Cougar, which is a POS and pretty expensive until you manually upgrade the internals, then it's insanely expensive AND a lot of work.
You've got the plethora of junky sticks that cost $15 to $40.

And finally you've got the Saitek, which would be midrange price and featureset, but it's an unreliable piece of junk.

Lose lose situation.

[shiningpathb4me]

I built a new PC and it wont work on the new one. Other joysticks work the new PC, but not the X52. I've disabled the onboard and installed a PCI card. (Ive tried the drivers from Windows and installed the ones that came with the PCI card). I bought a powered USB hub, still no luck. The joystick worked quite well on the old POS box. B4 that I had an X45 and it worked fine on old POS box as well. Maybe if I turn off USB 2.0 in bios so only legacy USB is on board!!!

(Mutters to himself something about pulling that *&$^$& pci card out and shoving it up . . . .)

[Eagler]

I've had a saitek since the X36 was introduced as gameport version only...

I always got the replacement plan for an additional $10 and have replaced my stick for another $10 (price of another service plan) somewhere in that 12 month span. Saitek is well worth the money when you see what else is out there ..

[shiningpathb4me]

who decided to take the rudder rocker off the throttle on the X52. When my old X45 went out, I had my choice, the discounted but discontinued X45 display model, or the shiny new glowing X52 (for only $40 more). Heheh it said on the box that it had some new mechanical design that would last longer than the old X45 (or I interpreted their marketing mumbo-jumbo to mean that).  I was horrified when I discovered the missing rudder rocker.  Trying to shoot with the same hand I'm trying to work the rudder with is beyond my limits of manual dexterity. After a few days of missing opportunities and getting shot down I turned on 'Auto-combat trim' and havent switched back since. Unfortunately, that doesnt solve the problem of driving a tank or ostwind while shooting the gun. It took weeks of practice to get anywhere close to where I'd been before.

Stone posted a thread asking if anyone had experience with the Thrustmaster "Top Gun II".  I notice that it has a rudder rocker on the throttle. I might try that one if for no other reason than to get away from twisty rudders. (years ago I had pedals and never could get them positioned where they were comfortable)

[scottydawg]

Just ordered another X52 from NewEgg.com

Got the service plan.

Hopefully this one actually works.

Funny thing is that the X52, plus the service plan PLUS shipping 3 day is only a couple of dollars more than Best Buy.

SUCK IT, BRICK AND MORTAR!

[Easyscor]

Originally posted by shiningpathb4me
 I was horrified when I discovered the missing rudder rocker.

If you don't mind the extra clutter, use both the x45 and x52.  That's what I do because I hate the "mouse stick" and I need the x45s hat for gun positions.  For a while I was using the x45s rudder toggle as well but I fixed the broken wire in my rudder peddals so I don't use it now.  Be warned, it's a pain to map all the buttons from two sticks and have them all working right.

Edit: Remember you must map the stick and physical buttons to virtual buttons in AH and then map these buttons to AH functions.  Two separate dialog windows.

[TinmanX]

Best Buy flogs used gear as new.
I went through 3 X52's before I got my current one (#40) that works fine. The thing was, when I was taking them back and getting them replaced, for #3, they gave me #1 and told me it was new into the store (I have a habbit of logging my serials).
For this reason I now only go to Best Buy when the wife wants me to go shopping with her and I really don't want to go through yet another clothes store. They're PANTS.

So, don't be so quick to dismiss the X52 as a decent peice of hardware for the price. More than likely, it's where you purchased it that is faulty.

[scottydawg]

TInmanX,

That does not surprise me in the least. I did ask the blueshirt assclown if it was used because the box was so beat up and he said no...

[moneyguy]

i had a microsoft stick, lasted 8 months. had a logitech stick lasted 1 month. had a saitek cyborg evo, used it for a year with no probs. gave that one to my nephew when i bought an X52, had it 6 months, no problems at all. does take a lil getting used to though.


my $.02

[scottydawg]

My Microsoft Sidewinder FFB Pro outlasted the gameport technology.  I've had it for about 8 years. The rudder got kinda spikey though.  I got my X52 from NewEgg, it's great, but I've noticed you kinda need to set the outside deadbands if you don't want to "row", it's got a LOT of X-Y movement. I might put a spacer in the spring to help with the resistance, it seems a little floppy to me.  Working on a nice profile, will post when I'm happy with it.
Next up, TrackIR!