TM Cougar HOTAS Review

[Reschke]

The gimbals mod has been on my savings and shopping list for a while. I have the sensors sitting in a package waiting on the gimbals to go with them. I should have it finished by the summer. The only reason I haven't gone ahead with it personally is because of having 3 kids and almost no time to mess around with my stick anymore.

[rvflyer]

Been using a Cougar for a little over a year with NXT 2  mod. with Hall sensors. Would never go back. Yes it is expensive but if you can afford it there is nothing better out there.

[wabbit]

Everything is set with Ian to get my U2NXT. I'm just waiting to hear from Cub Pilot for the Hall sensors.

I should have my Mods sometime in February.




Wabbit

[Wingnutt]

UPDATE:

Well ive had time to put even more use on the Cougar and am now totally used to it, and i LOVE IT..

I had a strange issue with the cougar drivers/calibration software though.

for some reason.. if I opened it and did nothing else (or anything) and clsoed it.. it would throw off windows and thus AHs calibration..

in such that it would more or less lessen the throw..  i.e. moving the stick 3/4 of its travel in a direction would put you at 100%  that direction/input in-game.. which made for spastic movment obviousley, so I would have to recalibrate in-game'

finally i just un-installed all the software that came with the cougar, i wasnt using it for anything, and the above mentioned issue got old.

so in short, so far so good..

[ALLEN86]

this isnt a thread hi-jack, but thats a fine look P-47(D-40 by the looks of it;) ) cockpit!

i know you didnt want to compare the cougar vs.  the x-52, but what are the prices between the two????

[Wingnutt]

COUGAR COST MOAR!!

[indy007]

My Cougar Review, 1 1/2 years later....


Still rocks. Still works the same as the day I got it.. except...

The right index finger button on the upper right of the joystick falls out.
The left index finger hat switch (for radios I believe?) broke off completely.

Other than the abuse I put on it, still works like a champ. I don't even mess with the software.

[LLogann]

My Cougar came 2 days ago.  And an evening delivery at that.  Day 1 was tough, I took it apart to check the grease (which it actually had) and I didn't correctly fit the plug back in.  SO the throttle worked fine but every HAT and switch on the stick did not.  Got fed up and went to bed.  Next day did a ton of reading, got home from work, fixed the plug and off we went.  

Like you Wingnutt I am not using the Control Panel or Foxy for anything.  But in the future I will definitely start programming it for more functionality.  At this time though I am getting used to the HOTAS system.  I still reach for the keyboard.  Other then to type I don't really need to use it.

The biggest issue I am having so far is relearning the "correct" way to hold the stick.  It needs to be held right.  I need to figure out a way to lower it off the desk.  

I can see why mod'ing it would be wanted.  Not a fan of the gimbles movements.  But I just sprang for the system and any mods will be a ways away.

[wabbit]

Hey LLogann,

     I love my Cougar. I'm in the process of springing for the U2NXT and Hall Sensors, along with Jarbo. Should have them by the middle or end of February.

     I use foxy to program my Cougar and love it. Foxy has a built-in tutorial that will walk you through programming it as you do the actual programming. Works Great!

     Now I'm looking hard into the Simped/Vario F16/C or F16/USB Rudders.

     Soon I'll be completely broke, but I'll be a wery wery happy Wabbit...



Wabbit