Joysticks

[cveirs]

What is the best joystick or flight control stick that you recommend ?  I understand that the CH products are good and will last a long time but I can't find one with rudder control. I'm on my 5Th Logitech 3D pro which last about 1 year before the buttons start going bad. Thanks you for any info you can give me on this matter.

[Tigger29]

You're right, CH sticks are known for being of high quality but they do have their downsides:

- The stick is longer than most (and less comfortable if you have smaller hands)
- The stick has a stiffer feel to it (not necessarily a bad thing but I prefer the looser ones)
- No "Z Rotation" rudder axis

Now you can fix this by purchasing rudder pedals but if you're strapped for cash or don't have the space this may not be an option for you.
They offer two sticks that will work fine for aces high.

The COMBATSTICK (CLICK HERE) with shipping sells for $87.29 through Amazon or for $77.54 from provantage.com
The FIGHTERSTICK (CLICK HERE) is basically the same stick but with more buttons and with shipping it goes for $102.24 through Amazon or for $106.23 from provantage.com

If you go with a CH stick then you'll probably want a throttle and rudder pedals as well.  A common thing to do is to purchase the X52 Standard (below) and if you don't like the stick then replace just the stick with a CH stick and some rudder pedals as you can use the X52's throttle all by itself.  (The entire X52 Standard setup is less expensive than just the CH throttle).

CLICK HERE for some stand-alone throttle options.

As far as rudder pedals go, the two main contenders include the SAITEK rudder pedals and the CH rudder pedals.  There are of course other options but these are the two most popular.  Both are very nice and very precise.  The Saitek pedals have a wider stance and bigger feet to them.  The CH pedals are more narrow with smaller feet.  It's all about what is most comfortable for you.

The SAITEK PEDALS with shipping (CLICK HERE) sell for $99.82 through amazon.com or for $104.98 through provantage.com
SAITEK also offers COMBAT pedals that are about twice the price (CLICK HERE).  I have no experience with these though.  With shipping they sell for $199.93 through amazon.com.

The CH PEDALS (CLICK HERE) with shipping sell for $95.00 through amazon.com or for $97.05 (almost $30 in shipping!!!) through provantage.com

The next most popular "HOTAS" is the Saitek X52.  This is the most 'economical' option as far as I'm concerned as you get a complete HOTAS for not a lot of money.  It comes with a sitck (with twisty rudder) and a full featured throttle control as well.  If you end up not liking the stick you can still use its throttle by itself and install any stick you want.  Personally I used my X52 for five years and it still works almost like new (aside from a tiny bit of shaft play in the stick).  It's still in my closet able to be used as a spare if I need it to.  Other people have reported a shorter lifespan with theirs, ranging from several months to several years.  I think it all has to do with whether or not you use a powered USB hub and how rough you are with it.  Again this does have its downsides:

- Its very power hungry.  A powered USB hub is a necessity
- You have to be careful with the cable that connects the stick to the throttle - it comes unplugged easily
- It tends to be a little less precise than the CH sticks (but definitely not enough to be a deal-breaker!)
- It's much more loose than CH but can be tightened up by making a shim for its springs.
Saitek offers two versions of the X52 - the X52 Standard and the X52 Pro.  Both sticks are very similar but the pro has a programmable display on it, is made with more metal and less plastic, and features a double spring on the stick so it has a stiffer feel to it.

The X52 STANDARD (CLICK HERE) with shipping sells for $82.82 through Amazon and for $87.24 through Provantage.com
The X52 PRO (CLICK HERE) with shipping sells for $154.99 through Amazon and for $142.51 through Provantage.com

If you get either X52 option, get a powered USB hub too.  It doesn't have to be anything expensive or fancy it just has to work and come with a power AC adapter.  I see options ranging from under $6 to well over $50.  CLICK HERE to see your options.

The least expensive "acceptible" HOTAS is the Thrustmaster T-Flight Hotas X.  I've never used it but from what I hear it's really decent for the price.  Just don't expect it to last for years and years but it will get you by in a pinch.  It comes with a stick and a throttle and rudder can be controlled by either a twisty stick or by a rocker behind the throttle.

The THRUSTMASTER T-FLIGHT HOTAS X (CLICK HERE) with shipping sells for $33.95 through amazon.com

If you want just a good quality stick you can get the Thrustmaster T-16000M stick.  It is very precise and seems to be of really good quality.  It has a throttle control on the stick itself.

The THRUSTMASTER T-16000M (CLICK HERE) with shipping sells for $44.82 through amazon.com (look on the right where it says "more buying choices).

Another option is the Logitech G940.  It is a complete FORCE FEEDBACK flight system including a stick, pedals, and a throttle for under $300.  This is what I use and I love my stick but I have to be honest in telling you that I had to HIGHLY MODIFY mine to get it to work in a way I consider it to be proper.  It's been a big pain in the butt and because of that I cannot recommend it but if you're willing to take you chances then by all means take a look at it.

The LOGITECH G940 (CLICK HERE) with shipping sells for $279.82 through amazon.com or for $281.89 through provantage.com

If you don't mind spending some more coin, the Thrustmaster WARTHOG is the king of sticks right now.  Metal construction, very precise, very high quality but also on the expensive side.  These go for well over $500 but I found it with shipping for $441.36 through amazon.com CLICK HERE

Of course there is a whole bunch of other stick options from Logitech, Thrustmaster, Saitek, CH, etc.  and it would be impossible for me to go through them all.  CLICK HERE for a big list

[PR3D4TOR]

Thank you!

[Fud]

If you get an X52, you can stiffen the stick by pulling the coil spring down past the bottom of the hand grip and inserting a cut out of a 3x5 card and notched to accept the joystick post. I also found a thread somewhere in here about leaving the X52 joystick properties open in Windows and all the buttons on the stick will work. If you close the properties windows, the scroll wheel, mouse click button, and the blue thumb button no longer work on the throttle.
<S> fud

[Tigger29]

If you get an X52, you can stiffen the stick by pulling the coil spring down past the bottom of the hand grip and inserting a cut out of a 3x5 card and notched to accept the joystick post. I also found a thread somewhere in here about leaving the X52 joystick properties open in Windows and all the buttons on the stick will work. If you close the properties windows, the scroll wheel, mouse click button, and the blue thumb button no longer work on the throttle.
<S> fud

I made my shim out of the lid from an old CD holder thingy.  After a couple of weeks I decided I liked the looser feel better.

The blue thumb button is just a matter of turning off an option in the X52 properties box.  The scroll wheel and mouse click button I had programmed through the SST software anyway so I can't give input about that.

[Noir]

the T16000 is a great starter stick.

[68valu]

I'm on my 5Th Logitech 3D pro which last about 1 year before the buttons start going bad.

Do you have any of your old logitechs, and if so want to get rid of them?

[Fud]

I made my shim out of the lid from an old CD holder thingy.  After a couple of weeks I decided I liked the looser feel better.

The blue thumb button is just a matter of turning off an option in the X52 properties box.  The scroll wheel and mouse click button I had programmed through the SST software anyway so I can't give input about that.

For some reason the blue button works outside the game but once inside the game it no longer works, unless I bring up the properties box.

[ink]

save yourself some money and get the CH fighter stick

like tigger said you need peddles though, the stick is far above and beyond what the others are, in the long run you will save money and headaches....I went through 3 X-52's, 2 cyborgs, and 1 CyborgX......all in 4 years

my CH fighter stick is the same today as it was brand new two years ago

if you do have small hands, there is an easy fix to make the castle switch, the view hat switch.....it is not very complicated at all I am sure you could do it.

[Bruv119]

CH combatstick comes FPH approved! 

[Ardy123]

I recommend the CH stick. I don't use a throttle unit, the CH stick has a wheel you can use. I recommend getting rudder pedals though.

[ebfd11]

I use the Logitech G940 and love it ... the joystick is solid and there is enough buttons to make you happy. The FF is adjustable and the throttle is split so you can use in P38 and control the engines separately. But as in all things here it is a debate as to which is better, CH or Logitech or Saitek. Just as Obi Wan would say "Let the force guide you through your decision, young padawan."


Lawndart

[BoilerDown]

First of all, Tigger's response is one of the best helpful posts I've seen on these forums, it should be stickied!

the T16000 is a great starter stick.

Man, if I didn't already have a CH stick, I'd get that one for sure.  That and the Warthog are the only two I know of with increased precision past 8 bit.  I'm really itching to find out for myself how much of a difference it makes, I imagine its quite a bit.  For the price, it seems well worth the risk of not getting CH and the associated guarantee of quality.

Edit: The OP mentioned wanting rudder control on the stick.  If I'm not mistaken the T16000 is a twisty stick, so there you go.

[CRYPTIC]

CH combatstick comes FPH approved! 

Combatstick has less buttons then the fighter stick.  I would recommend more buttons.

[PropHawk]

The only thing I dont like about the X52 is the handgaurd thingy. Not great for big hands or long fingers. The Saitek ST290 pro is cheap, $20, stiffish, 5 extra buttons, 1 hat switch, throttle, Z rotation. Buttons falling off mine, but I pop em back on and they work fine.