what joystick should i use for AH?

[guitargod9989]

for the past few weeks i have been researching new joysticks because on my old one the buttens are fried so i have to shoot with the keyboard.  My old joy stick is a Gravis Thunderbird which i think is discontinued so the option of getting another Thunderbird.  i would like a joystick that has a throttle lever and a flaps lever. What joysticks would you recomend for this game and are $50 - 70.

[Puck]

Lost count of the number of people who swear.  They also seem to like the Saitek joystick/throttle combo.  I've only unsed one once at the con.

So far I've been spending roughly $300 a year on flight controls, so I'm a really bad person to ask.

[wolf37]

I have sent you an e-mail, please read and get back to me.

wolf37

[Vulcan]

I'm kinda curious what the Saiteks like. My CH Pro Pedals and Throttle are about 6 years old now, getting a bit spikey, and I really want to go all USB.

I was thinking of rekitting with the X45 and CH Pro Pedals USB. Anyone have any comments on this combo?

[guitargod9989]

the X45 doesn't work with Xp

[DmdMac]

Originally posted by guitargod9989
the X45 doesn't work with Xp

Are you sure?  I heard Saitek came out with a XP/2000 version within the last month or so.

[fuzeman]

If you really, really liked that stick I would investigate the possibility of fixing it. Unless you wanted to upgrade or move to USB. My 3 year old CH FX stick was loosing the 6 view, a view you desperately need. I checked out CH's site and they had switches I could buy to repair it. It now acts like the day I bought it, and am very happy with it. Unfortunately they aren't made anymore.
Check and see if they sell or have parts. Maybe a very cheap model from the same company could be used as a 'parts stick'.
As an alternative check Radio Shack or an electronics store and see if they have anything that matches.

fuzeman

[Vulcan]

According to Saitek it does:
"System Requirements ::
 PC Pentium 133MHz or higher with USB port / Microsoft Windows® 98 and Me (2000 and XP via download from website) / DirectX® 7.0 compatible"

http://www.saitekusa.com/usa/supp/sd02.htm

Originally posted by guitargod9989
the X45 doesn't work with Xp

[OZkansas]

Check thid out too....

http://saitekhelp.simhq.com/SGE%20Start.htm

[Innominate]

Screw the saitek sticks!  They work with win2k/XP, but only enough that saitek doesnt get sued.  The sticks have absolutly no configuration utilities(unless they've released them recently)  Even when it does work the saitek software is crap.  With AH this isnt an issue, but not all games have such great joystick setup options.

Take a look at the thrustmaster afterburner.  It's $70 for the afterburner II, I believe $50 for the first one.

It looks like a cheap toy.  But it's one of the most solidly built joysticks I've used.  It has a seperate unit for throttle.(Though only eight butttons)

The best feature of it IMO, is that, along with the standard joystick twist, it has a rocker control on the throttle.  The twist locks solidly in place, The stick doesnt have any wiggle when the twist is locked.

I've found the rocker control to be infinitly superior to a twist in flight sim games.  And if you play something else where the twist is a better option, you can easily switch back and forth.

[airbull]

Saitex sticks are very nice to start they got lots of buttons to programe.
Problem is they wear out fast. 3 months started getting problems with hats.
The drivers are crap. (I here they finally got xp working only took them a year )
I now use MS ffb stick with the old saitex throttle (soon needs replacing ) & ch peds. Will probably get a ch throttle to replace the saitex one.
I wouldnt buy another saitex they just dont last.

[Duedel]

Dont use MS Sidewinder. I've the feeling taht this thing is way to shaky (could someone plz approve this or is it just my feeling).

[DmdMac]

Originally posted by airbull
Saitex sticks are very nice to start they got lots of buttons to programe.
Problem is they wear out fast. 3 months started getting problems with hats.
The drivers are crap. (I here they finally got xp working only took them a year )
I now use MS ffb stick with the old saitex throttle (soon needs replacing ) & ch peds. Will probably get a ch throttle to replace the saitex one.
I wouldnt buy another saitex they just dont last.

I think your right on this.  My hat is already getting flaky and I've only had it a month or so.  May buy a Cougar near eoy.

[Vulcan]

Thanks Airbull/Dmdmac, thats exactly the sort of feedback I was looking for. Guess I'll stretch to a CH Pro Throttle USB.

[DmdMac]

Originally posted by Vulcan
Thanks Airbull/Dmdmac, thats exactly the sort of feedback I was looking for. Guess I'll stretch to a CH Pro Throttle USB.

I like the feel of Saiteks, and the throttle is near perfection, but those damned hats:(  I flew with my original X36 which had a non-existant 2 oc view for month before picking up a X45, now I'm wondering if I shouldn't have just gone ahead and ponied up for longer lasting gear.  Oh well, I'm a dweeb on a mission to screw myself up financially:)

I used a CH Combatstick(I think it was the Combat) and standard throttle and peddles for a long time in AW4W-AW2/3  I like them, but I don't have large hands, and making the stretch to the upper hat was difficult.  Eventually the stick wore out, the throttle took a tumble(actually a hard smack), and the peddles, they're collecting dust in the closet.  But they are good, long lasting gear.