Is Saitek Garbage or am I having bad luck

[TilDeath]

Checkers,

That sounds almost like a personal preference over actual quality and durability issues.

Saiteks are bashed way too much for issues that arent their fault.

Steel

Are the "plastic" pieces breaking off not a quality problem?  Not working out of the box not a quality problem?  Programing issues and compatability problems not a quality problem?  27 years in the business and ave about 20 stick sales a week and all I see coming back for problems are Saitek and Logitech, Not one CH in 8 years I think that says a lot IMHO

[drdeathx]

used 3 years running strong(x52)

[Steel]

Thats funny....I have seen and heard multiple stories of CH products having issues. Not too mention ergonomics and appreance that look like an engineer drew them up....

[TilDeath]

Thats funny....I have seen and heard multiple stories of CH products having issues. Not too mention ergonomics and appreance that look like an engineer drew them up....

Yes an engineer did draw and design them, they are modeled closely after real world items not Starwars.  I can only speak from real life experience from my own store both online and retail location.

If you are familiar with CH the game items are a sideline for them.  Their real business comes from actual sticks and throttles in aircraft, joysticks used in industrial applications, their HFX series joysticks and or "hat switches" are used in Bobcats, Caterpiller, Kabota etc and are their bread and butter.  The same hat switches are used in their sticks.

I don't believe that Saitek is able to make the same quality as CH but we all have opinions.  I form mine with my own experience with products and discontinue to carry products that tend to have a high RMA rate.  To me its a reflection on my business and my livelyhood.  I refuse to stock or sell any Logitech joysticks, they last about 3 to 9 months before failure (personal experience and customer experience)

[hlbly]

Yes an engineer did draw and design them, they are modeled closely after real world items not Starwars.  I can only speak from real life experience from my own store both online and retail location.

If you are familiar with CH the game items are a sideline for them.  Their real business comes from actual sticks and throttles in aircraft, joysticks used in industrial applications, their HFX series joysticks and or "hat switches" are used in Bobcats, Caterpiller, Kabota etc and are their bread and butter.  The same hat switches are used in their sticks.

I don't believe that Saitek is able to make the same quality as CH but we all have opinions.  I form mine with my own experience with products and discontinue to carry products that tend to have a high RMA rate.  To me its a reflection on my business and my livelyhood.  I refuse to stock or sell any Logitech joysticks, they last about 3 to 9 months before failure (personal experience and customer experience) hfx ? not like the old fx stuff is it ? they arent going to make  a force feedback stick are they ?

[TilDeath]

The "HFX" from CH is industrial and commercial sticks not game sticks

[Masherbrum]

Checkers,

That sounds almost like a personal preference over actual quality and durability issues.

Saiteks are bashed way too much for issues that arent their fault.

Steel

I disagree.   The most bashed in here are the Logitechs.   Truth be told, I used a 3D Wingman for 4 years, passed it along to a squaddie who used it for close to a year, by then the only problem was one of the hat switches went.   

I bought the X45 (biggest mistake ever) and went through 3 sets in 2 years.   Bought an X52 on the cheap from someone on the game.   I bought the CH Fighterstick because that x52 stick went (by June, I got it in Jan 08).   I use the old throttle (and the pots are shot on it) so I use a slider on it for the throttle.   In the Spring, I'll be getting the CH Throttle.   I already use their pedals.

I will never recommend Saitek.   

[Steel]

Going on my third without ANY issues.....

Better keep it in bubble wrap and not make any sudden moves.  

Steel

[Masherbrum]

Going on my third without ANY issues.....

Better keep it in bubble wrap and not make any sudden moves.  

Steel

"Third"?   That isn't quality. 

[Steel]

Meaning my third model.....

 

Steel

[Anaxogoras]

Thats funny....I have seen and heard multiple stories of CH products having issues. Not too mention ergonomics and appreance that look like an engineer drew them up....

And thank goodness for that!  Their appearance reflects functionality and nothing more.  Function is beauty.  A lot of other sticks have glowing buttons, shiny parts and other adornments that serve as a smokescreen for inferior quality...no thanks.

[bongaroo]

make sure you get a powered usb hub for the x52.  Mine had all kinds of weird things happening until I gave it the power it needs.  Smooth now.

[Masherbrum]

make sure you get a powered usb hub for the x52.  Mine had all kinds of weird things happening until I gave it the power it needs.  Smooth now.

Mine went and I used the powered hub.   

[Mace2004]

Try making a dead band at the center (resting) position. 

Select the mouse axis you want (x or y) and program it as "bands".  Select "edit bands" and divide the range into thirds.  Program the upper and lower thirds as the button inputs you want and leave the center unprogrammed.  This will leave a dead band in the center where no inputs are given. 

I've used this setup for three different Saiteks (X45, X52, and X52 Pro) and it works great.  Up and down are flaps up and down.  Forward is WEP and aft is Dive Brake.

If you still have a run-away mouse stick you should be able to return it through Saitek.

[Tigger29]

I've had my X52 (non-pro) for about a year now.. no problems.

Before that I had an X45 for about three years... it still works fine, except the base crumbled apart (due to me using WD-40 as a lubricant.. oops)... the stick itself works fine, just catches on the broken parts of the base... still acceptable as a backup if need be.

It seems like QC is an issue with them... if you get a good one, it's good and lasts a long time... but a bunch are not right from the get-go.

Their tech-support isn't so great, but they do help alot on their website: http://www.saitekforum.com