stick questions quality vs performance vs reliability

[mikev]

Saitek Pro Flight X-55 Rhino H.O.T.A.S. vs Thrustmaster T-Flight Hotas X Flight Stick .
 not going to spend for the warthog  so looking  between these 2

[hgtonyvi]

Just get a Ch Combat stick and Rudder pedals, You can never go back to anything after that. Ch sticks feels solid in the hands and doesn't wobble around like other sticks. But its all up to you on how much you wana spend.

[mikev]

Just get a Ch Combat stick and Rudder pedals, You can never go back to anything after that. Ch sticks feels solid in the hands and doesn't wobble around like other sticks. But its all up to you on how much you wana spend.

do you need the throttle control as well?  hate to try to use the wheels

[Bizman]

Can't tell anything about the Saitek, but I've got the predecessor of the Hotas X, the Top Gun Afterburner II. After a couple of Logitechs the stick immediately felt familiar. Although I'm very easy on my stick, right in the beginning I felt like something  cracked in the stick. Nothing could be seen, though, so I just tightened the screws and went on. Don't know what would have happened if I had used the twisty, but with pedals I didn't need to stress it that way. After a couple of years I was introduced to the T-16000M which I've been using ever since, using the Hotas for throttle. Currently I'm planning to build a control box out of the stick part of the Hotas, using the built-in circuitry.

There's a big rocker switch in the throttle for rudder, but I've never been able to use it to anything useful. Tried front-back and sideways movements but it didn't return to the center without a little tap to the opposite direction. That may be either a feature of this older model or this particular unit, don't know. Other than that it has served me well for the price.

[guncrasher]

forget the ch stuff, they dont make it like they used to.  I finally gave away my ch fighterstick after having way too many problems with it.  I got it to replaced by beloved x52, was my worst idea ever.

most of the players who vouch for the ch stuff got it years ago, i guess when they had quality controls.

I got the x-55 acurate as hell and lots of buttons to play with.  extra heavy duty and at 200 bucks it's a good buy.  just be away the stick and the he throttle are huge (i know that's what she said) and take up a lot of real estate, but to me it's the best stick i have owned so far.

got it about 6 months ago and I have yet to lose calibration.  ch fighterstick used to lose calibration about once a day.  funny think both x-55 and ch fighterstick were connected to the same self powered usb hub.  of course not at the same time.


semp

[Chalenge]

semp, I bought one last November along with a new throttle. No complaints.

[mikev]

ok got the x55 , kinda figured from comparison videos and feed back this was the way to go. added a power usb hub and trackir5  think i spent enough lol . now i have to be wary of flack from other sources......

[guncrasher]

semp, I bought one last November along with a new throttle. No complaints.

ok so you bought a ch fighterstick with a new throttle.  and you have no complaints.  so do explain to me how you fly without a rudder.  you really have that many buttons?


semp

[Chalenge]

No, my rudder pedals are a few years old now. CH gear only lasts about ten years or so. I tried everything else when I bought my first computer, TM, Saitek, Logitech, yada yada, . . . nothing lasted very long. CH is the better mousetrap.

[Bruv119]

I replaced my CH combat stick about a year ago (only issue was sticky HAT + 1 button after 7 years service),  at first on the new one it seemed the centre was messed up and I'm not fully convinced it is 100% but after wearing it in a little it seems playable.   

That being said I'd much rather have this stick than any other garbage out there. 

[Drane]

I have had bad experiences with MadCatz (Saitek) the last few years. 2 year warranty means nothing if you have to keep sending it back.

The cost of warranty shipping a couple times will pay for a Thrustmaster stick that will last.

[Ratsy]

Here on this BBS, and elsewhere, I've read that CH is no longer supplying replacement components (buttons, etc) for their 'home' products.  I have not substantiated that independently.

I have a CH rig (stick, throttle, rudder pedals) that I've used for five years with no complaints (other than cleaning pots).  Great products.

I am currently using a Saitek X-55 as primary with the CH pedals.  I am well satisfied and I use the split throttle in other sims.  This set-up will be a year old in April.  I did have to return my first purchase after unboxing because of a sticking button.  Buy from Amazon Prime and returns are free in that situation.

I have a pre-order in for new rudder pedals (Crosswind).

Hopefully the OP will enjoy his purchase as much as I have.

 

[Ack-Ack]

Here on this BBS, and elsewhere, I've read that CH is no longer supplying replacement components (buttons, etc) for their 'home' products.  I have not substantiated that independently.

While they do have a policy now that says they don't sell replacement parts, you can speak with them and they will send out a replacement part.  I had the wire harness go south on my Combat Stick and called them up, talked to them and by the end of the week, I had a new wire harness.  The prices they charge for replacement parts is a little steep, so beware of that.

[DREDIOCK]

ok so you bought a ch fighterstick with a new throttle.  and you have no complaints.  so do explain to me how you fly without a rudder.  you really have that many buttons?


semp

On the front of the CH throttle are 3 buttons.
Thats what I use for rudder control left, right, and center

[guncrasher]

On the front of the CH throttle are 3 buttons.
Thats what I use for rudder control left, right, and center

  for the same price as a ch stick and throttle you can get an x55 with more buttons that you will ever need.  x-55 in my experience is way more accurate than my chstick ever was.  I bought the chfighterstick to replace my x52 because I believed the myth that ch sticks would last forever.  I guess that was true years ago, but my ch fighterstick would lose calibration so often that it was really a waste of money.

I have owned the x-55 for 10 or so months, not once I have lost calibration.  now that my foot is back on track, i am thinking of setting my saitek pedals back on.


semp