Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => Hardware and Software => Topic started by: Schatzi on January 18, 2006, 11:20:03 AM
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After 15 months im pretty sure im gonna stick with flight sims for a while. ;) Time to upgrade my cheap 8-button stick.
Unfortunatly, CH setup is way out of my possible expenses. I have looked at the X52, but didnt really like the way it fit my hand and most of all, i dont want to get a twisty stick. Getting an X52 *and* pedals isnt an option either right now.
Soo, since im used to rocker switch rudder anyway, i thought about getting myself an X45. Now, searches on the web didnt reveal much besides "what a great stick, Saitek wont ever be able to top it". The only drawback it seems to have is a rather unstable ´footing´.
Is it really that good? Any other drawbacks they are not telling about? Id appreciate any comments, experiences, issues, hints, tips.....
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I find it to be rather large for my hand. The spring was stiff for my taste so I zip tied a couple of turns of the spring together. The biggest thing though is the thing is sticky if you want to make fine adjustments. I keep a cotton swab that is greased up to lube the "cup" the stick rides in.
I hated the rocker rudder but that was remedied by a pair of pro pedals off Ebay. Mine has been getting a lot of use in the last year and has held up well although the rear view has started to stick on occasion. Hehe...wonder why that view. :D
All and all, not a bad stick for the price. Lots of programmability options.
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I have had one since they replaced the X36 years ago
I tried the X52 and went back to the X45
pick one up at best buy, circuit city or Compusa and get a service policy - for the price of the service policy, you can get a new one every year like I do
and yes, get a set a pro peds - the rocker is not good for main rudder control but it does work well when programmed for aileron trim
If you go with one, see my sig for saitek profiles
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I like my x45. Had to do the same things Lye did though. Zip-tie'd springs, but I used candle wax to lube up the disc. I read anything petroleum based will case it to break down. The only problem I have now... about a year of use into it, is my main hat switch is starting to die. It's getting harder & harder to look right.
I couldn't get used to the paddle rudder either. I ended up getting usb pro-pedals. The setup is great now though. On the stick I've got view on the primary hat, elevator & aileron trim on the second hat, combat trim on/off on the pinky, fire both on the trigger, fire primary on upper left thumb, zoom on upper right thumb, and the usually fire secondary on upper middle thumb. On the throttle, I use a slider for ground/short/medium vis range, the little "mouse" hat for clipboard, look up, look down, & range, the little button next to it for VOX, the big orange button for WEP, and the rotaries for engine 1 & 2 rpm (the 38G got me hooked recently).
I very rarely even have to touch the keyboard now... unless it's to thank DaPup for shooting me down the second I walk back in from a smoke break.
Oh yeah, I tried an X52, but I hated it. I can't stand twisty sticks. Looks like I'm finally going to have to pay up for Cougar HOTAS :(
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Schatzi
you dont need a new stick your hard enough to kill now.
JT
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LoL, JT, i really wish you were right on that one......
I dont think the rocker rudder will be a prob, since im using one now and it works just fine for me.
I think with a little tweaking (as you guys did), i can get quite a nice stick for the price. Sounds like it will be an X45 for me.... If i ever manage to scratch up the money! Thanks for the helpful tips.
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I don't know that you'll like it schatzi.
I wouldn't buy anything schatzi until you've had your hands on it & tried it out.
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Originally posted by Ghosth
I don't know that you'll like it schatzi.
I wouldn't buy anything schatzi until you've had your hands on it & tried it out.
Well, thats kind of the problem with the X45.... havent seen it anywhere in a store anymore. All they got is the X52 usually (if any). Would love to get my hands on it first, but dont really know how or where.
Why do you think i wouldnt like it?
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I have an early model X-45 that despite all attempts to calibrate, tips right. I love the stick but clearly she's dying LOL
I'd like to upgrade to the X-52. You can lock the stick and disable the twisty function. (Go to yuor local best buy and see). Then replace the rudder function with pedals. (Although I do like how the X45 handles rudder)
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Ahh crap Schatzi been using a chitty cheap JS all this time were all doomed now.... lol
Schatzi, I love my X45, Would have liked to have an X 52 but I think the Twisty would bug me.
The only issues are:
Rocker Rudder:
I find that my hands are to big to get at the rocker rudder, So I setup one of my rollers as the rudder.
It can be a pain though as it does not auto center. more than once I left the rudder on full lock and let the plane use auto take off. only to find myself being flung to one side when I moved the stick and cleared the auto pilot.
Spring Tension
I also have used zip locs to losen the spring. I tried graphite powder but it did not help.
Its a pitty they did not make it adjustable like the fiction lock on the throttle (a little screw under the throttle)
Calibration
Even though the stick shows as being fully calibrated in Windoze and It looks calibrated in AH I find that I fly a HELL of a lot better if I calibrate it every time I start AH.
Stick Set
I have been working on a stick set up that assigns key strokes to the buttons you have a mode selector on the throttle and a pinky switch on the stick (gives you a hell of a lot of options).... But I have had problems where a button is assigned in AH say button 1 and in the Saitek software it is a key stroke. AH appears to activate the direct x button and the key stroke....
I am going to look at it further but it gets complicated lol
Other than the above Its great..... I got mine on sale about %30 off
Dont forget that the hook on the pinky switch is removeable, I found that my hands are to big and the hook gets in the way. It does not tell you how to remove the hook in the Manual (stupid I know) but pull it foward and the hook just pops off..... There is an indentation that your finger will sit in so the pinky switch is still Very usable....
Good luck Schatzi let me know if ya get the X-45..... I might stand a better chance agenst ya while your getting used to it LOL
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Oh One other thing mate..... reverse the throttle axis in AH.
I find it a hell of a lot more comfortable to have Max throttle all the way back and not all the way forward.
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Hi Schatzi
If you buy X45, then stay a way from official saitek drivers. Those POS-wares cause tons of problems to me.
I use Dhauzimmer's excellent X36/X45-driver with powerfull XD-profiler. No problems :)
Tons of X36/X45 info
http://saitekhelp.simhq.com/
Dhauzimmer driver download (x36usb2105d.zip)
http://vega.dyndns.org/x36/
XD-profile
http://xdprofile.freebirdswing.org/index.asp
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Ive just let XP find the stick and use the default MS Drivers. Never had an issue with mapping or the sort.
I, too, have the calibration issue you mention. I cant take my hand off the stick...it'll commence a right turn.
I've checked some other sticks...I just cant see paying the big bucks for cougars...and Ive never really been a big CH fan. They are nice, but nothing "neat", you know?
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I use the saitek profile software with XP pro and do not have any issues
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I don't know if it's still available on the Saitek Homepage or not, but you used to be able to get factory re-furbished X-45's for about $39.00. They always tell you they are out of them, but if you call them, they'll put you on a list and send you one "when they get it in." Only took about two weeks for mine to arrive. (It's a back-up - and my son uses it now...)
I second the idea about the pro-pedals, makes a great set-up with the x-45 for those of us unable to upgrade to the all CH level.
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Originally posted by Eagler
I use the saitek profile software with XP pro and do not have any issues
Maybe it's my bad luck but sudden boots's, CTD's, sticky keys, no profile and/or stick reponse after x minutes/moon position/sea level etc AND limited programming finally drives me off from saitek drivers.
Dhauzimmer + XD-profile take some time to get use to but it pays off.
Schatzi, you can use also a car pedals as a rudder in AH. I use Logitech rud... pedals :)
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I have had both sticks, I used the X45 first, and I had many problems with it's mapping software.
I now have the X52 and I have NO problems with it's mapping software, I also use it with the CH pro pedals, It is a great set up! I am very happy with it. It has a better feel that the X45, and the JS is lightly sprung compared to the X45, and I like that.
MHO
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Thanks for all the help everyone. Much appreciated.
As i said, ill probably go for a X45, with possible upgrade of pedals etc later. Im currently monitoring ebay even though it seems that the price for a new one isnt all that much higher anyway. I just wish there was something like refurbished stuff in Germany.
PS: Sled, i like my Joystick rather firm ;).
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Originally posted by Lye-El
The biggest thing though is the thing is sticky if you want to make fine adjustments. I keep a cotton swab that is greased up to lube the "cup" the stick rides in.
Try this.
Greatest stuff since sliced bread
Teflon Lube (http://www.shipstore.com/SS/HTML/BOE/BOET90004.html)
comes with a little hose (like WD40) so you can put it exactly where you want it but lasts longer.
Sprays out thin like WD40 but turns into a gel almost immediatly,it wont drip onto other parts and displaces and repels water
Works GREAT on fishing reels too
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Originally posted by Schatzi
PS: Sled, i like my Joystick rather firm ;).
In that case, the next time i'm in Germany, I'll give you a call.:D
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X 45 works very good Schatzi.
It is an inexpensive alternative to the Ch sets available. Rocker rudder can be hard to get use to. The spring tention can be adjusted in the stick very easily. there is a retaining ring in the mount that can be turned counter clockwise to loosen the stick. I would not recommend putting any lubrication in the mechanisim itself. Reversing the axis in th throttle makes it much more comfortable to use. It has a multitude of programmable hat switches. In the states you can not buy them new it is the x 52 or nada. I got mine about a year ago it has held up very well!:aok
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You guys and your "Twisty" hangup. The X52 is NOT ONLY a twisty stick. You can lock that option and it is quite stable.
You can also adjust the Grip to make it a bit smaller.
Schatzi.....
X45 will work just fine for you. Pick one up and have no worries. It is a bit stiffer than what you may be used to.:lol However , I think youll hadle it just fine.
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I have aquired a used X45 via Ebay two months ago. Works fine for me, after a month i got used to the stiff spring and my hit % restored to its former level.
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Just ordered myself a new X45.
Watch me flaunder and crash the next weeks ;).
Thanks for all the help I got! Very much appreciated.
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Sorry if I hijack this thread (not true, as Schatzi knows, I'm a professional hijacker :D), I just bought an X 52 and I have a couple of questions:
As you stated, the spring is quite limp and I don't like it... is there a way to stiffen it? Something comparable to what Lye El did to lighten his spring? Keep in mind that I'm a total noob in this kind of works! :p
The right turn thing: in the last months I noticed that it was impossible to leave the stick without the plane bank to the right, but I just thought it was fault of my old stick... now it keeps doing it even with the 52. Have to calibrate the stick every time I enter the game? Does it suffice to solve the problem?
Thank you! :)
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I owned an X45 and the spring became so stiff that any sort of minute movement was impossible. I found that the rocker rudder was a tad tough to operate when at full throttle, so as above, reverse the throttle imput if you need to.
I prefer the X52, the spring and contact is a heck of a lot smoother, the bases are smaller, and the additional buttons and adjustment settings are a HUGE plus.
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Well, after roughly a week i can report that im quite happy with my X45.
Yes, the springs are pretty stiff, but thats just the way i like it. All sliders maxed out, deadband/damping to 0 it makes for a fine control.
Rocker rudder *is* hard to reach, but managable. Ive thought about mouting the throttle on a wooden plate with a slight inclination.
Also the base of the throttle isnt very stable, so i might just end up strapping them both to some sort of "construction" to put on my desk.
Schatzi
PS: Gian, im sorry i cant help with your stiffness problem ;).
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Originally posted by Schatzi
Well, after roughly a week i can report that im quite happy with my X45.
Yes, the springs are pretty stiff, but thats just the way i like it. All sliders maxed out, deadband/damping to 0 it makes for a fine control.
Rocker rudder *is* hard to reach, but managable. Ive thought about mouting the throttle on a wooden plate with a slight inclination.
Also the base of the throttle isnt very stable, so i might just end up strapping them both to some sort of "construction" to put on my desk.
Schatzi
PS: Gian, im sorry i cant help with your stiffness problem ;).
Schatzi,
I found that "silicone grease" (available at Home Depot in the plumbing dept.) works well on the base of the stick. It helps smooth up the action of the stick for when you just wanna make very small, minute corrections.
As far as mounting it, I took an old piece of shelf about 24 inches long and mounted the sticks to that. Then, I just use a couple of C-clamp type things to hold it to the desk when flying. When not flying, off it comes, and others can use the computer with no problem.
I'd put a picture on here, but it says I'm not allowed to post attachments....
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Thanks John.
To post pics here, you need to host them on the web (for ex Picture Hangar (http://www.picturehangar.com)). Upload it there, the post the link (parse it with IMG tags).
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if you don't mind the wrinkle noise, just slip a piece of wax paper folded to provide two sided wax coating in between the bottom of the spring cup and the top of the rubber boot. just cut a hole in the middle to go around the jstick shaft and you are good to go...
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Schatzi, check this out for future
http://www.repulonap.hu/redhunters/templates/images/x45upgrade/x45_upgrade_eng.pdf