New stick needed...

[Swoop]

My beloved 15 year old Sidewinder FF2 is dying.  Several buttons no longer work, she's been a bit spikey and jerky for years but since it happened gradually I compensated naturally.  Now the left hat switch stops working until I jam the stick left as well.....and I'm getting random rudder spikes, enough to knock a plane off autopilot and seriously screw up aiming.

I bought a cheap Logitek extreme 3D pro as a stopgap measure but.....I'm looking for recommendations.  I want a force feedback stick as good as an FF2, that'll last as long, has a twist grip yaw control and built in mini throttle.  Basically, I want another FF2.   

 

[Bizman]

How about these four: Ebay search for MS FF2 in the UK or these twelve: Same but worldwide

[Swoop]

Ebay isn't an option as it involves PayPal....and PayPal and I have an ongoing disagreement.  If I can't buy it with Visa or cash I can't buy it.

Plus I'm a little wary of buying second hand kit, if there was a new FF2 still in the box never been used then absolutely.....but there isn't. 

[mechanic]

has something changed on ebay in the last year? I remember buying lots of things without paypal, just visa.

[Bizman]

has something changed on ebay in the last year? I remember buying lots of things without paypal, just visa.

I was going to say the same, for the last few years I've always paid with Visa until this fall.

[Randy1]

I was going to say the same, for the last few years I've always paid with Visa until this fall.

Didn't ebay get hit my hackers and lost security of credit card information.

[Rob52240]

If you want a cheap stick for the money, Thrustmaster T Flight Hotas retails for $50 and I've had no problems with mine.

I didn't think that there was much selection if any for force feedback sticks anymore.

[Gman]

Rob is pretty much right, there haven't been a lot of manufacturers making them recently.  I remember when AH first started, there was some big names in the stick biz making them still, CH made one very similar to the Combat stick with a very large base that worked pretty well back then.

Then only when I can even think of in recent times isn't in production any longer is that Logitech G940 Hotas.  I think it was only in production for a few years, and from what I read on Logitech's and SimHq's forums, there were a lot of issues with quality control and problems with dealing with Logitech over it.  I know a few guys here have them and have said they were OK, but I would still probably avoid these and instead either try and find a replacement for your current dying stick on Ebay, or embrace the horror, and get a non FF stick for now.

[Swoop]

Thanks guys. Saved me a lot of depressing research to get to that conclusion.  

So.....I've found a second hand FF2 on Amazon....or it claims to be an FF2, but the pic is of an FF1.  Seller emailed with the question: WTF?

I've also found a local IT firm that claim to be able to fix any peripheral and are a microsoft partner wossname.....emailed them to see how much they want to fix a 15 year old stick.



Option 3 is:   I find some partners who actually know something about electronics / engineering / marketing, try Kickstarter and build a brand new stick .  There certainly appears to be a gap in the market.  Any takers?

[Swoop]

P.S.   Come to think of it......I went to highschool with a lad who used to write drivers for Saitek.  Now he's got his own company doing iPhone apps.   I think I feel a need to go buy him a pint or three....

[Bizman]

P.S.   Come to think of it......I went to highschool with a lad who used to write drivers for Saitek.  Now he's got his own company doing iPhone apps.   I think I feel a need to go buy him a pint or three....

Make some preparations like get a nice soldering iron/station and some pots and knobs. During the third beer you'd then innocently ask if he liked to see your sticky project, not forgetting to mention you have some gourmet beer at your house... 

[Swoop]

The last thing I'm ever going to do is "invite a guy back to my place after 3 beers to see my 'sticky project'". 

It'd take at least 20 beers.   



That joke probably doesn't translate into Finnish very well though.

[100Coogn]

So far, Ebay/PayPal work fine with my Visa card.

Coogan

[Bizman]

The last thing I'm ever going to do is "invite a guy back to my place after 3 beers to see my 'sticky project'". 

It'd take at least 20 beers.   



That joke probably doesn't translate into Finnish very well though.

Translating is overrated, understanding is much more important. This one might even translate, although the meaning might change a bit.