Anyone own a Saitek X45?

[Innominate]

Please take a look at the following thread for me.
http://www.hitechcreations.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=68853

(Sorry for posting this in the gen disc, but it seems like nobody reads the hardware forum)

[Witless]

Hi,

I've had a X45 for about 4-5 months

The actual stick part runs through quite a large spring, which in turn sit's on a saucer which then travels over the the actual base unit. Centering for me hasn't been a problem apart from the friction caused by the saucer, a small adjustment sometimes needs a big effort which screws up any fine movement. The answer I've found is smearing the whole saucer and the part it moves over with huge amounts of candle wax, not ideal but it does the business.

The rudder on the X45 throttle does take some getting used to, mainly because the range of the throttle is quite long, so your fingers have to behave differently on the rudder when at full or half power etc. Plus it doesn't have a great deal of movement as you point out, but I think it can be achieved with practice.

I'm using the Saitek drivers in Win2k. The only functionality still lacking are the rotary knobs on the throttle. In my experience, these drivers are stable while playing AH 99% of the time. Sometimes the cute little joystick/throttle images in the programming window start to randomly fly about the screen (I kid you not) but you can avoid that by not using the 3d images.

Other than that, the main hat is weak. Mine went downhill fast although I do have a bit of a paranoid tendancy to look around me pretty much constantly. It's reached a pretty sloppy level but touch wood, hasn't got any worse although I'd imagine it's only a question of time. I do play AH way too much.

Cheers................Trikky

[Curval]

I have one.  I love it, but I haven't tried the newly released Saitek drivers...I don't dare.  I made the mistake of loading the older ones the day I got my X45 and spent over 40 hours trying to get rid of them and get my stick working.  I am still using Win98.  

I use the Dauzimmer drivers and Hazardscript for programming.  They work really well...but the rotary knobs on the throttle are still not programmable.  There are plenty of other programmable buttons, so it really isn't a big deal.

The rudder definately takes some getting used to, but CH pedals work well with the Saitek, or so I have heard.

I haver noticed no mushiness on the stick at all...I have had mine since the end of August.

[Creamo]

Love it.

The Dauzimmer drivers and Hazardscript for programming are about the learning curve for AH .commands if your a newbie, and the main view hat wears out in about 6-9 months. I just throw it away at that point and get another. It's at that point actually now btw. Forget about the rocker rudder throttle thing btw, just use CH PRO Pedals.

After watching guys at LAN play with hoopty twisty sticks, I am amazed how limited they are.

[Innominate]

You throw the stick away or the HAT?

I'd rather not get a stick I'm going to replace in a few months, and I don't think I can afford pedals, so the throttle-rocker is the only real option.  (Twist sticks are hardly built for fllight sims)

[Creamo]

The whole hotas mess. Without a main hat it's useless. Guys say you can buy a X45 warrantee at certain stores; so then you just get 2 for 1 sticks. $45 in the long run.

I just throw it away. I will try this though next time.

If you can't afford CH PRO Pedals, the X45 works fine. Although you could join the hoopty twisty ranks and forget about all the X45 stuff. Those things last a long time.

[Kronos]

I use the x45 combo - works good for me.  Saitek has pretty much fixed the bugs with the software too.   I've been running the saitek drivers since September, no problems.

[Furious]

I am not a big fan of the saitek stuff.  My main hat is fubar.  I lost back right, took it apart and cleaned it and it worked for about a week, now no back left.

I hate the positioning of the A button, have to reach up over hat to hit it.

I hate the throw of the throttle, so I use the thumb rotary for throttle and upper rotary for rpm.


F.

[Innominate]

ok, I bought an X45,
One question left, is there any way to remove the hook from the pinkie switch?

[DblTrubl]

Yes Inno, take the screws out of the right side of the handle and separate the halves. This will allow you access to the underside of the slider. The hook is held onto the slider with a couple of little plastic tabs. Use a screwdriver or other suitable tool to bend the tab back to release it. Pretty simple really, just make sure all the switches are lined up right and dont pinch any wires when you re-assemble the handle and you shouldn't have any probs.

You might be able to just pull the thing off of there without taking it apart (never tried it...didn't know how it was attached when I did it) but it's probly safer this way and it's really not a big deal to do. Should take you all of 5 minutes.

[Innominate]

Ahh perfect, thanks.

[nuchpatrick]

I think mine is over a year old the rear view is a bit fubar on the main hat.  As far as the twisty ones I think their POS! I think next time around I'm getting the extended warrany. I think it's well worth it.

[Tilt]

Originally posted by Innominate

I have an X45 in combination with Ch pro pedals...........

I like

the feel of the stick and throttle all the positions of stuff suit my hands (once I had removed the pinkie cover).......



I have

Velcro'ed the bases together so the stick stays on my desk.

Replaced the centring spring with one from a Saitek Cyborg to reduce the JS force.

Greased the area under the centring disc.

I dont like

The fact that the JS action is not smooth due to the uneven frictional qualities of the disc centring system........(basically the JS spring compresses until there is enough force to move the disc which then jumps a small amount..........)

The profiling software.....its very heavy on system resources......

The rudder........hence I got some pedals.

Opinion

The action of the saitek cyborg was the best of any stick I have ever owned .the action was smooth and without judder.......the Cyborg also used this spring and disk centring system so it can be made to work properly.....  but this is not so on the X45 which comes with a heavier spring and a less smooth action. A Cyborg type action on the  X45 would be a very good stick.........

I am eying up CH products for my next HOTAS........

[Eagler]

use graphite powder under the spring saucer to help with sticky-ness in small movements

get usb peds asap for full effect