Author Topic: Thrustmaster quality (Read 795 times)

Widewing · « **on:** October 28, 2002, 09:57:12 AM »

I have been using a Thrustmaster Topgun Afterburner joystick and throttle since March of this year.

To date, I have had a number of problems. One unit was returned to CompUSA after a pot crapped out within three weeks. Back in August, the twist-stick pot began to drift, forcing me to switch to the rocker switch on the throttle. Saturday, the hat switch began to malfunction, often refusing to close contacts in any direction but forward (mapped to view up). Last evening this failure cost me.

I had a pair of Ta 152s zoom down on my heavy P-51D. I spotted them long before they were a threat and had no trouble avoiding their attacks, and still was able to hang on to my ordnance. However, after the second one made a run, and failed to keep his E up, I dumped my ord and took off after it. We all know that the Ta 152 is somewhat undermodeled. So I was able to close on it in a shallow climb. At about 1.4k the 152 reversed, and I turned to gain position. When I tried to track the 152 using the hat switch, It crapped out yet again. All I had was forward and up views.

So, now I'm fumbling around with the keypad, having to take my eyes off of the screen. Trying to find the proper combination of keys, and still fly is impossible. I can't find that damn 152! Finally I spot it, right on my six, not 300 yards distant. I dump flaps, pull off power and try to scissor. But, he's too close and I can't change aspect nearly enough and I'm whacked by the potato gun.

Good flying and shooting by Urchin only exacerbated things.

Generally speaking, I'm far from satisfied with Thrustmaster hardware. Bad pots, cheap switches (a good switch design should survive millions of on-off cycles) and they still don't offer anything but XP Beta drivers for the Afterburner.

However, the throttle assembly has been trouble-free so far. It also has its own USB plug. So, I'll hang on to it as a back-up. Meanwhile, I think I'll go buy a Saitek X-45 and try my luck with it.
Until I can get it, I'll try to try to repair that hat switch, or get proficient with the keypad.

Either way, finding out you are blind in the middle of a dogfight is no fun.

As to Thrustmaster, I found that my old Suncom was infinitely more reliable, but being an analog joystick, it spiked like mad. In general terms, Thrustmaster has not impressed me with their products or their customer support. I hope Saitek is better in both regards.

My regards,

Widewing

AKDejaVu · « **Reply #1 on:** October 28, 2002, 10:10:27 AM »

I've never been a fan of the "Topgun" model line. It symoblizes the beginning of a downard spiral for Thrustmaster that culminated with the "fragmaster".

TM's pots have always been their weak point. As a rule though, they've made up for it by setting the industry standard in every other category as well as with the best tech support in the field (once SOB quit).

I've owned most every product they've ever made. FCS, Mk I, Mk II, FLCS, TQS, F-16, F-22, Cougar, numerous wheels, RCS, their first game pad (can't remember what it was called), The new Firestorm game pad, and a bunch of other stuff I simply can't remember.

Most of it is still in service somewhere (distributed to friends). I'll continue to upgrade.

BTW... the FCS was still my favorite product. It was totally revolutionary for the time. The Cougar is a close second. It, once again, is setting the standard for the market.

AKDejaVu

Innominate · « **Reply #2 on:** October 28, 2002, 10:13:26 AM »

Is it the black or silver afterburner(The first or second one)?

Mine sure as hell doesnt have a USB plug for the throttle unit.

I had a drift problem with the pot on the twist, taking the grip apart and repositioning the pot fixed it. (Then again, the rocker is far more usefull in AH) And the clickiness on the hat dissapeared just recently, but the hat still works fine. Considering that it's over a year old, and has been used for thousands of hours, thats not too bad.

I'm curious though, I've considered an X45 for a while now, but it uses the same spring mechanism as the cyborg. The stick I used before the one I have now was a cyborg 3d, and after only about a month of use, the spring mushed out, and has a very wide center. Has anyone had the problem with a cyborg, and would an X45 do the same thing?

brady · « **Reply #3 on:** October 28, 2002, 01:18:37 PM »

I have a CH throtel, pedals, and a CH F56 stick, all USB...had them for over a year, never had a problem, and some moths have been know to log 180 hours in this game.

Before that I had literly broken stick's right off their base plate from over use and well I get a lettle tense sometimes:)

CH is a good product imo.

g00bd0g · « **Reply #4 on:** October 28, 2002, 01:49:25 PM »

I've had two TM F-16 FLCS, and two F-22 sticks. The pots on all of them crapped out fairly quickly. Some lasted only a couple days some made it a couple weeks. A gave one of the F-22 sticks to a friend who did the digital conversion and that seems to work great. I've had two CH Fightersticks which both lasted over a year. Does anyone make a quality digital/optical stick? I've been using the Saitek Cyborg 3D for a year now and i't starting to fall apart. Can anyone recomend a Saitek stick for long-term durability? Just my experience... Anyone want to buy a used TM F-16 or F-22?

Vipermann · « **Reply #5 on:** October 28, 2002, 01:51:12 PM »

I've been using TM's FLCS and TQS for over 3 years with no problem. I recently added the RCS and it's been going strong as well.

I've used TM products only since AW on GENIE and I've never had a problem with one until it's at least 5 years old and then it's always been plastic breaking (hat switch pops off) never POTS.

Guess I've been lucky so far.

AKS\/\/ulfe · « **Reply #6 on:** October 28, 2002, 01:51:49 PM »

Innom, I have the X36... both springs simply broke. I replaced 'em using a gutted CH stick by clipping the spring in half..

Most sticks stock work well for a couple of months... after that, either you return it for a new one or you end-user-mod it to your liking.
-SW

Pirate BK · « **Reply #7 on:** October 28, 2002, 02:01:15 PM »

I have CH pro throttle, rudder pedels, and F16 Combat stick ... no USB. Works & has worked great. Want to .. thought to upgrade but why? Tech is also great. In fact, if you have a problem they will replace/fix problem. Just send it back to them. I had TM setup way back when, before CH had the Throttle. BTW I use speedkeys to make the ptw files.

Chuck

AKcurly · « **Reply #8 on:** October 28, 2002, 02:21:58 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by AKDejaVu

TM's pots have always been their weak point. As a rule though, they've made up for it by setting the industry standard in every other category as well as with the best tech support in the field (once SOB quit).

AKDejaVu

I hear a lot about TM pots. A number of the AKs have poorly functioning cougars because of potentiometer problems.

The stick DJ describes is exactly like a car with the best paint, upholstery, audio and steering in the automotive industry whose engine repeatedly fails.

It's great to look at - hey, you can even jump in the front seat, grab the steering wheel and go "Vroom, vroom" but god forbid you start the engine.

Guys, I think the "Force" has been applied to you. "Move along, there's nothing to complain about here."

curly

SOB · « **Reply #9 on:** October 28, 2002, 03:07:29 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by AKDejaVu
TM's pots have always been their weak point. As a rule though, they've made up for it by setting the industry standard in every other category as well as with the best tech support in the field (once SOB quit).

Oh and it was the Phazer Pad - super programmable & super suck!

As far as pots go, the only product I ever saw with real problem in the pots was the F22, and although ThrustMaster had a fix for this, they never implimented it - for whatever reason - probably the same reason I moved on to greener pastures. It involved an entire new board inside the stick, and instead of the pot signals going directly to the game port, they were filtered through a chip which analyzed the signal coming from the pot and discarded any erroneous data (spiking)...and passed all good data that conformed to a proper curve through to the game port. It worked flawlessly and was easily the smoothest stick I'd ever used...I had one of the few, but unfortunately it didn't work with Bob Church's new digital chips.

For the Cougar, I thought it was a mistake to go with Pots. Although I don't follow the often misguided stigma that pots are "of the devil", I know there were/are a lot of flight sim enthusiasts who do - and for that simple fact, I think using something else (and upping the price of the units to accomodate the increased parts cost) would have been a better choice. I'm sure they had their reasons tho', and cost may have been one of them.

SOB

jconradh · « **Reply #10 on:** October 28, 2002, 03:15:31 PM »

I have had the FCS, ProFCS, F22 and the Cougar along with their accompanying throttles, the WCSII, TQS and the one included with the Cougar. Been using them since 1995 and my brother and a friend keep getting the hand-me-downs as I upgrade.
I only had to spray my pots out once, maybe twice, and replace the pot on my RCS.
When I had a problem with the pots (which was fixed with WD-40), I emailed TM and they sent me a complete repair kit including 2 hat switches, 2 pots and 2 springs at no charge. I haven't had to use one of the kits, yet (the pot they sent was too big for the RCS, but I found one locally for $2.00). Let me also say I had no problems until well after my warranties had expired.

Just my experiences,

Jeff

BNM · « **Reply #11 on:** October 28, 2002, 03:42:45 PM »

CH is the best setup I've come across. I used MS Sidewinder for a long time and a couple of the TM sticks but they wouldn't last over 4-6 months. I have all CH - USB Throt, Rudder Pedals and Stick setup now with no problems at all. Had these for 4-5 months and the stick hasn't loosened up much at all. I'm very satisfied with CH and won't be changing again in the forseeable future. Good luck!

poopster · « **Reply #12 on:** October 28, 2002, 03:52:17 PM »

I've been real lucky. Been using the Top Gun flight control system since 1997. Same pedals, same throttle, third stick.

Problem is, been buying sticks on EBay ( 10 bucks for the last one ) when I can find them, and they all spike big time.

Don't know what I'm going to do when the stick I'm using for the last 3 years craps out. Haven't been able to find a replacement that doesn't spike.

AKIron · « **Reply #13 on:** October 28, 2002, 04:23:34 PM »

Have found the quality in my Cougar to be less than expected. If I wasn't so addicted to the functionality (for over 7 years now) I'd try something else.

streakeagle · « **Reply #14 on:** October 28, 2002, 08:50:31 PM »

My Saitek X-36 USB is still as good as the day I bought it over two years ago. I now have an X-45 as well for a 2nd computer and intend to get a couple more to go with my other 2 computers when sufficient funds become available. I have read of other people having various problems with Saitek sticks, but so far I have been pretty lucky. Everything works right and NEVER needs to be calibrated.