Joystick Replacement Options

[68Wooley]

My X52 stick appears to be on the way out. After nearly two years of reliable service, I'm finding it out of calibration with increasing regularity. I can usually sort it out, but its a pain.

I've a $50 Amazon gift voucher needing to be spent so it seems I've now found something to spend it on. I'm considering three options:

1. Upgrade to a X52 Pro Set-up
2. Buy a CH set up - stick and throttle.
3. Buy a CH Stick and keep my existing X52 throttle, which is working fine.

So, I've a couple of questions:

1. Is the X52 Pro a significant improvement on the original, and is it worth the extra $50?
2. I have relatively small hands - is the CH stick going to be a problem for me?

I'm inclined to go with option three. Aside from being the cheapest, I do think the X52 throttle is probably better than the CH throttle (trim wheels / rolling rather than sliding action). Anyone got any comments before I make the plunge?

[Getback]

My advice, stay away from the x52 pro. I believe you can use the throttle with a ch stick and rudders. You will need the rudders. Also, I have large hands and it can be a reach. However, there are so many hats on the stick within reach you can set it up pretty comfortable for your hands.

[OOZ662]

Just as a passing thought, a lot of the time the never-ending loss of calibration can be remedied by using an externally powered USB hub. Generally the computer's USB ports just can't supply the complex sticks with enough power. That goes for the X45 and up, CH products, ect.
I've had seven X45s and two X52s. The first six X45s (paid for by Best Buy ) were killed by my computer's lack of USB oomph. The seventh one lived just fine on a USB hub. After that, none of my sticks have ever lost calibration; one X52's rudder potentiometer died, however.

After a while of use without one, the hardware may be damaged though.

[Spatula]

Option 4: Replace the saitek stick with a CH Fighterstick. Keep the saitek throttle - it will work fine with the CH gear. Get yourself a pair of rudder pedals - CH sticks dont have a twist rudder axis. Preferably get CH rudders.

Two years of use is a walk in the park for CH gear

Not sure about smaller hands tho - i have heard about people putting some padding on the rest on the stick column to boost the height. Not sure if you'll need to go that far tho?

When you mix non CH gear with CH gear, you wont be able to use the control manager to its full potential - eg you wont be able to add your throttle to the mapped mode CH virtual mega-stick But thats cool - i dont use mapped mode anyway. Direct mode is fine.

Oh yer, www.provantage.com have the BEST prices for CH gear!

[Max]

68wooley Spatula has it spot on. You'll need peds for rudder control. Either Ch or Saitek peds will do just fine.

Having used both the X52 and the CH Fighterstick, the hand ergonomics are basically the same. A CH Fighterstick will last you many, many years.

[68Wooley]

Option 4: Replace the saitek stick with a CH Fighterstick. Keep the saitek throttle - it will work fine with the CH gear. Get yourself a pair of rudder pedals - CH sticks dont have a twist rudder axis. Preferably get CH rudders.

Hi Spatual - this was the third option in my original post - great minds think alike, or is that fool seldom differ....

I also forgot to point out in my original post that I already have rudder pedals albeit Saitek and not CH.

Anyway, I went ahead and ordered the Fighterstick from Amazon - they had for $100, plus I had a $50 gift voucher, so $50 outlay doesn't seem too bad -  that's the same as 2 cr@py sticks.

Thanks for the comments everyone.

[Spatula]

Anyway, I went ahead and ordered the Fighterstick from Amazon - they had for $100, plus I had a $50 gift voucher, so $50 outlay doesn't seem too bad -  that's the same as 2 cr@py sticks.

Wow! $50 for a fighterstick - that's a steel!

[68Wooley]

The fighterstick arrived yesterday.

Initial comparisons with the X52 stick:

1. The unit is much lighter than the X52 - didn't expect that.
2. After using the X52, you're very much aware of there being separate X and Y axis on the CH stick.
3. Movement is smoother than the X52 - particularly when trying to make small adjustments. I found the X52 somewhat jerky in those situations.
4. There are more than enough button options to map essential controls.
5. The eight-way hat is just a little too high to be fully comfortable - if it was swapped with the four way below it, things would be perfect. Might see if that's mod-able.
6. The mapping software is even less intuitive than the Saitek software (albeit much more powerful).

Overall, I like it. Only issue is that I have to shift my grip to reach the eight way which is a pain when trying to grab a quick look around me. Might mean I have to dig out the track IR and have a more determined effort at getting used to it.

[OOZ662]

1. The unit is much lighter than the X52 - didn't expect that.

The X52 contains metal deadweights to make it heavier, by the way. You can remove them as they're just stuck in with phillips screws.

[Bruv119]

the seperate X/Y is key to the accuracy.  Your not accidentally putting in elevator/aileron movements when your rolling or turning = less energy loss.

You have small hands?  the saiteks have always been great for adjustability but I wouldnt swap my CH stuff for anything now. 

the throttle has another 8 way hat you will get used to it!