Total newbie here, not sure I'm doing this right

[Max]

The basic X52 is a good set-up, I have the same one. It can be set-up quite easily with the AH joystick programming, or you can use the Saitek software and really go to town. Although you can use it out of the box with the twist handle (rudder) you can also incorporate Saitek Pro Flight peds ($135usd) The X52 sells for about $110usd  Saitek recently released the X52 Pro. As far as I can tell, there's not much difference other that a bit more metal in the construction and a 2nd tension spring on the joystick itself. Most folks find the single spring X52 to be a little too loose.

My two cents: If you buy the basic X52 only, you're getting a very good HOTAS for the money. If you add in the peds or go for the X52 Pro, I'd steer you towards a complete CH HOTAS - Fighterstick or Combatstick, Throttle USB and Pro Peds USB. A little more money but like I said, folks who use CH gear swear by it.

[sidneylopsides]

What about the HOTAS Couger? That looks good, and for £30 more than a CH Combastick I get the full HOTAS.
I think it's that or the X52. Just sold an expensive phone on ebay so will use some of that for the stick now!

[Max]

Shortly after the Cougar was released a few years back, I parted with $265 and bought one. Within a month or so, I was experiencing drifting and nose bounce...constantly...even after calibrating the stick in the game and in Windows.

Some research on the nose bounce led me to a Cougar web forum at http://www.frugalsworld.com It seems, back then anyway, a LOT of Cougar owners were having the same problem. So much so that a few enterprising souls were selling repair kits for $125, which replaced the potentiometers and joystick base gimbels that shipped with the Cougar. Rather then spend my hard earned money fixing defective parts, I sold the stick to a guy in Croatia, warning him of the porblems. You'd be well advised to check the website I mentioned to see if Thrustmaster has resolved that issue.

The Cougar has no provision for rudder input...no twist handle. TM was talking about companion peds...dunno if they ever did anything. While you can add in a set of Saitek or CH peds, you're talking another $100 minimum.

Bottom line, I wouldn't touch another Cougar with a 10 m pole


Having been to several AH Cons, in a room of 100 players, 65% use CH Gear, 25% are using the Saitek X45/52 stuff and the rest have the various stuff available on the market. The Siatek X52 does seem to be gaining in useage/popularity.

Why not post a little poll in the Hardware/Software forum, asking who uses what and why? Also, if you have access to a store that sells this stuff, wrap your hands around different sticks...there's a pretty wide difference in height, width, tension, etc.

Good luck!

[sidneylopsides]

Max, thanks for the reply! This is already turning out to be one of the best forums I've joined!
I'll try that poll, I'd had a search and not seen many threads about the gear people use.
The only thing stopping me buying the X52 straight out is the colour scheme, I know it's petty but my 'rig' has a colour scheme, black with red highlights. The Saitek just doesn't fit! :-p

[The Fugitive]

CH is the best you can get. If your thinking of spending the money on a cougar, get the CH products instead. Do a search on these boards for "joysticks" and you'll get a ton hits. If you plan on spending more than 6 months flying sims, invest in CH stuff. Solid equipment, easy to program (supported in AH2), lasts forever. But should you have any trouble with them, CH has great support.

[Max]

Originally posted by sidneylopsides
The only thing stopping me buying the X52 straight out is the colour scheme, I know it's petty but my 'rig' has a colour scheme, black with red highlights. The Saitek just doesn't fit! :-p

The X52 Pro is available with red, amber and green colour schemes

Not to be cute but you're probably going to be too busy staying alive to worry about colours. 8^/

[sidneylopsides]

Hehe, it's when I',m not using it that I'll bother about the colours The X52 Pro looks the better option, as well as being darker with illumination choices, it's stiffer, which I prefer. The CH would cost too much, I'm looking into the Cougar to see what they are like these days.
I can't see how to post a Poll either.

[Max]

Originally posted by sidneylopsides

I can't see how to post a Poll either.

I meant to post a query in the Hardware-Software section of the forum, which you'll find half way down the list of General Forums.

Someone did include an actual poll in a recent post. I have no clue how that's done.

[sidneylopsides]

I've got myself an X52 Pro, it's fantastic! I've managed to survive a few fights in fighters now, I can fly much better. I just need to practice my aim now.
Spent hours just working out what to make the buttons do, still not totally happy so need to tweak things.
Thanks for the help!

[4deck]

Glad you have taken the time to com here. Not alot of people take the time to research the game, just jump right in. In some games that might work, but this one has a fairly steep learnign curve. If your into Bombing I can help you out there. Im on the knights, and we use vox 144.  So if you ever want any tips, by all means fire away.

Cheers and welcome to the show.

[sidneylopsides]

Coo, thanks
Once I work out comms I'll take you up on that offer.
I guessed I'd need some help when I first tried to fly and couldn't get the throttle up!
I'm enjoying this quite a bit now, my main focus for learning now is aim and dogfighting techniques, knowing what my plane does that is better than whoever is shooting me etc.

[morfiend]

Lopeside, I have had an X52 setup for about a year now. It worked flawlessly for the first 6 months,then I noticed the twist axis started to spike. At first some simple adjustment seemed to work but it got worse.

 I solved the problem quite eazily,bought a set of rudder pedals and disabled the twist axis.

 Saitec has a good warranty,the problem is you have to send your rig to them,turn around time can be weeks to months depending were you live.

 Overall I'm happy with this setup,went through 7 or 8 logijunks in a 2 year span so to have the X52 last this long is a good thing......