digital/optical joysticks

[Sancho]

I am currently suffering from bad spiking in the Y-axis of my el-cheapo Logitech joystick--the 3 axis 4 button $20 one.  Ya get what ya pays for, eh?   I've been reading some old posts about problems people have been having with old sticks, and the consensus seems to be that analog sticks will always spike as the POTs wear, some lasting much longer than others.

So the question is, which sticks if any, other than Microsoft's, use alternative non-POTs based mechanisms?  (optical, magnetic, etc.)

In an earlier post, Camel mentioned a Logitech Interceptor joystick which uses a magnetic technology similar to the Simped vario pedals, but I am unable to find any information on this stick or anybody currently selling it.

Does anybody know if the future Thrustmaster HOTAS gear is fully digital, or does it use POTs?

[Sancho]

Now I read Saitek Cyborg 3d is all digital.  Looks interesting, especially since it is configurable for lefties.  Anybody with experience with this stick?  Any caveats?

[Rocket]

My brother just bought a Cyborg 3d.
He is a leftie and loves the stick.  It is a little stiffer than what he was used to but is adjusting nicely.  Go with the USB.  He has the gameport version and is getting some spikes in the throttle and rudder right.  Saitek support has been great so far and hope to work it out soon  

S!
Rocket

[Staga]

I'm not sure if remember correct but some Cyborg sticks have only 4-way hat?
Maybe USB-2000?
edit: Just checked: Looks like they all got 8-way hat.

[This message has been edited by Staga (edited 03-06-2001).]

[TheWobble]

 

Now I read Saitek Cyborg 3d is all digital. Looks interesting, especially since it is configurable for lefties. Anybody with experience with this stick? Any caveats

I have teh cybord 3d gold USB and yes it is AWSOME, no spikes i mean NONE not even the smallest you can imagine..8 way hat (though it is tricky)  

too bad im probably going to sell it and  get an X-36 soon  

[snafu]

Yup another satisfied Cyborg 3D user here. The only stick if your a leftie. You gotta get the USB version though. I've tried tha gameport version and got more spikes than a cactus. (This has been echoed by many others and is a known problem at Saitek with some system configs). The "Gaming Extensions" interface is also fairly sophisticated meaning you can program the buttons to do just about anything including running macros Multiple key presses, Timed Key presses etc from a single button press.

But..... apparently it does not work well with Win 2K. Saitek are producing new drivers which should be ready end 1st qtr 2001.

TTFN
snafu

[Sorrow[S=A]]

Sancho- AFAIK there are no Magnetic or Optical solutions out there at the moment besides Microsoft. Magnetic devices have been tried at Guillemot (sp?) but proved too problematic for the new Thrustmaster sticks so they switched to a digital pot solution last year. At least thats what they told me when I visited them 6 months ago.

Optical solutions are probably not going to appear anytime soon. Microsoft Patented a great deal of the basics behind cost effective Optical devices. Thus no one else has bothered to do much research into this at this point. Logitech paid through the nose I understand to gain permission to use the system for their own optical mouse and no-one else has even bothered to request since.

Hope that helped-
Sorrow

[Sancho]

Thanks for the input guys.  So since Microsoft has the optical joystick market locked up, nobody else has done anything like it, eh?  Is that why I can't find the Logitech interceptor anywhere?  Cyborg has pots?

[bowser]

Have you tried ebay?  I bought a brand new Logitech Wingman Interceptor there, some retail store was selling about 30 of them.  This was about 4 months ago.  There are all sorts of sticks, new and used for sale.

bowser

[Laika]

Another happy Cyborg 3D (USB) user here. Great sticks for the money and I've never seen any problems with the USB versions.

[MaxQ]

What Bowser said above. Logitech Wingman Interceptor here, no pots, magnetic technology. No spikes, very smooth, easy to program. Got it from Ebay 4-5 months ago, liked it so much I bought a backup...$22 bucks each. Right handed stick however..

MaxQ

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MaxQ
The Cozumel Putting Course...Golf with a Latitude!
http://annuit.com/spiffytek/oceania/minigolf

[Sancho]

Welp took the plunge and bought the Cytek.  Even though I believe it has POTs (at least I think it does), I gotta have an ambidextrous stick, and the Cyborg has nice smooth action, and so far no spikes either. <phew!>  Thanks y'all.  

[cheetah6]

Is this four axis stick? (pitch, roll, throttle and rudder/twisting stick)  I've been meaning to replace my analog stick with optical one and I'm leftie too. If not, anyone know any optical leftie stick with four axis?

thanks

tom

[Sancho]

Yes it is 4 axis.  I do not believe it is optical, but it has digital signal to pc via usb, so spiking is not problem (until pots go bad I'm guessing).

[Dowding]

I've got the Wingman Interceptor - it is digital and I've had it for 3 years with not a single problem. It has 9 programmable buttons, a throttle and 3 Hat switches. A really great stick.

The only reason I don't use it anymore is because my gameport on my new system does not seem to work, so I bought the USB X36.