Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => The O' Club => Topic started by: GrimCO on April 22, 2004, 06:26:16 PM
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Not trying to be funny here fellas...
I am interested in what fellow gamers would pay for a joystick that will actually last for more than a year or two. I've owned just about every kind they make, and the longest has lasted just under two years. It's not difficult to make a nearly indestructible joystick, it's just expensive I assume. I'd be willing to pay about 150 dollars if it lasted at least five years.
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I would be willing to pay up to and over 500 if I KNEW it was worth it.
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Damn Gto,
I must be a cheapskate! LOL
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FOr that price it would have to be damn near perfect, I payed 300 for my cougar, and it is doing good for now.
Still, I do not mind spending top dollar if I know it will last.
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Well over TWENTY dollars........... American Money!
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I think I paid 129.00 for My CH Fighter Stick, about the same for the CH Throttle and Pedals each. Had never had any problems with them.
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Originally posted by GrimCO
I'd be willing to pay about 150 dollars if it lasted at least five years.
I know you said yer not trying to be funny, and I believe you.
but LOL!
The two sets of sticks I've bought cost me about a grand... One didn't last the 5 years, and the other is relatively new.
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I used my tm flcs for 7 years, did the digital upgrade, still works. Bought a Cougar when they first came out, put the hall effect sensors in it and still working fine.
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Well.... u must be flying LW ahrplanes then. :)
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CHPRO - have had three, all handed on to friends when I upgraded, oldest 6 years, all still working, you'll wear out before they do...
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Stuff All! Find it hard to spend money on anything other then my Jeep or my Bikes. Maybe my GF on occasion.
Seriously, I bought a MS PP 4 years ago and the hat switch has only now crapped out. And always found it more then good enough to get the job done.
X45 would be about the maximum I'd pay but then you'd need pedals and they are too expensive so I'd probably go back to a MS PP.
I have no idea how guys can afford or justify the cost for a full Cougar setup. Just the stick and throttle alone are about $700 here in NZ. :eek:
Why I like sumbarine sims and strategy games, all you need is the mouse the computer came with. :D
...-Gixer
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I'm doing fine with my X45.
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CH Fighterstick USB. Just over $100, it's been going strong for about 4 years.
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best stick I ever owned was the TM FLCS. what were those things like $25? Too bad they stopped making them. It had that nice 20 lb spring. Ever since my last one broke back in 2000 I haven't been able to fly like I used to.
I was a damn hot stick with that TM.
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Originally posted by NUKE
I think I paid 129.00 for My CH Fighter Stick, about the same for the CH Throttle and Pedals each. Had never had any problems with them.
Ditto. Amortize the cost over the time I play this sim and it works out to be dirt cheap! :p
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X45
$80 +$10 for replacement plan
another $10 a year (have done it for about 4 years now) and I have a brand new X45 every 10 to 12 months
still using same CH Pro Peds - they have to be around 6 years old now - knock on wood
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Originally posted by NUKE
I think I paid 129.00 for My CH Fighter Stick, about the same for the CH Throttle and Pedals each. Had never had any problems with them.
I'de like to find the CH fighterstick and throttle, I hear it is a good setup. How is the quality of the fighterstick?
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CH = better than TM.
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Originally posted by Sixpence
I'de like to find the CH fighterstick and throttle, I hear it is a good setup. How is the quality of the fighterstick?
I'll tell you my experience going from a MS Precision pro which I thought was awesome, to the CH Fighterstick.
I went from a stick that required tweeking of dampening and deadband to a stick that requires zero dampening and has close to ZERO nose bounce with most AH sliders set to zero.
No matter how I yank the stick, after I let go, the plane snaps to the new position and remains there as though auto angle is on.
Great stick imo and worth every cent.
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Originally posted by Udie
best stick I ever owned was the TM FLCS. what were those things like $25? Too bad they stopped making them. It had that nice 20 lb spring. Ever since my last one broke back in 2000 I haven't been able to fly like I used to.
I was a damn hot stick with that TM.
Pinky button!
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Originally posted by NUKE
I'll tell you my experience going from a MS Precision pro which I thought was awesome, to the CH Fighterstick.
I went from a stick that required tweeking of dampening and deadband to a stick that requires zero dampening and has close to ZERO nose bounce with most AH sliders set to zero.
No matter how I yank the stick, after I let go, the plane snaps to the new position and remains there as though auto angle is on.
Great stick imo and worth every cent.
Thnx, I have a MS precision pro, and it is failing big time. I purchased CH usb pedals about a year ago, but I never got them set up. Some buttons on the pp are are not responding now, so a decision must be made soon.
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7 years on my $79.00 dollar CH F-16 Combatstick and still going strong. Now if only I could get windows to work that well. :confused:
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Originally posted by Sixpence
Thnx, I have a MS precision pro, and it is failing big time. I purchased CH usb pedals about a year ago, but I never got them set up. Some buttons on the pp are are not responding now, so a decision must be made soon.
If you need a stick that's programmable for older sims, go with the CH Fighterstick USB (http://www.provantage.com/pr_31986.htm). If you can live with a few less buttons and want to save some $$, go with theCH Combatstick (http://www.provantage.com/pr_37245.htm). I bought the Fighterstick and use the extra buttons for rudder and aerleron trim, but I really don't trim those as much as I do the elevator up/down. If you're only going to buy one stick, you might as well get the Fighterstick. There's no such thing as too much functionality.
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darn... nash made a funny that I laughed at! Yep.. go girly grey and you will never wear out a J stick.
I am still analog. I killed tmaster stuff every six months.. it was crap. bought a ch combat stick that lasted a couple years (had to stiffen what they call sprigs with rubber bands at all four corners)
The ch finally died I had paid $100 buck or so for it.. they don't make analog ones anymore but..... they has a closeout. I bought 2 discontinued ones for a total of $25. Should last me till Imake the plunge to all usb CH stuff on the next computer upgrade.
ooodee... I missed the old tmaster hat and pot eater too until... I modified the combatstick. Take some 3' deck screws (4 of em) and screw em into the desk (or a wood base) about a half inch so that they are about an inch above the top of the combatstick base and at all four ends of the axis(s).... use #84 or half inch rubber bands to go from the base to the screws.. I use 8 total but you can use 4 or 12. it feels just like the old tmaster spring.
lazs
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Originally posted by Nash
CH = better than TM.
I've owned joysticks since 1981 and tried many including several CH sticks. I think CH are the best made, however, nothing has the programability of the TM sticks.
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I've tried many different brands in the past 15 years: Microsoft, Suncom, Saitek, CH Products and Thrustmaster.
For overall feel and quality, I really liked the TM Cougar, but the springs were so stiff that I decided to go back to my CH Pro Throttle USB, 568 Combat Stick USB and Pro Pedals USB.
Overall, I think it's hard to beat the CH stuff for functionality, durability and price.
YMMV, however.
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Originally posted by lazs2
I missed the old tmaster hat and pot eater too until... I modified the combatstick. Take some 3' deck screws (4 of em) and screw em into the desk (or a wood base) about a half inch so that they are about an inch above the top of the combatstick base and at all four ends of the axis(s).... use #84 or half inch rubber bands to go from the base to the screws.. I use 8 total but you can use 4 or 12. it feels just like the old tmaster spring.
lazs
That's not a half-bad idea. But, I wonder if I couldn't develop something below the top deck to stiffen it up, so as to preserve the appearance of the stick. Have you opened it up? How much open space is below there? I know the old analog ones had quite a bit.
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Laz!
Man you rock, CH is better then TM all the way for long lasting and quality products but the springs are so light i just cant use them. With your Idea I bet I can, I loved the old school FLCS from TM, but I went through like 4 in 4 months, lol the whole stock at the local Egghead went to me!
I moved onto a f16 FLCS, and loved it, then got an F-22 and never had a problem with it, other then dirty pots the WD 40 fixed, and now have the cougar.
I may get CH stuff it the coagar dies on me.
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Originally posted by Sixpence
I'de like to find the CH fighterstick and throttle, I hear it is a good setup. How is the quality of the fighterstick?
I've been using the same CH Fighterstick, Pro Throttle, and Pro Rudder Pedals for over 7 years now. I don't fly a lot at AH, but I would often log 40+ hours a week at Air Warrior, so the setup has seen some use. I've never experienced a malfunction, and have only had to clean the pots once (recently) due to them spiking....and I think that's more to inactivity than use (as I said, I don't fly a lot here). I cannot tell a difference in performance between now and when these products were new.
I did product support (including tech support) for Air Warrior for 4 years, and by far the products with the least complaints there were CH.
I can't recommend this brand highly enough. IMO its not the best choice, its the only choice.
If you want an insider's view on this company's commitment to quality, talk here to AKAK, he worked for CH as a product support rep for years.
culero
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Actually the FLCS I used for so many years and still have is an F-16 FLCS. Had the original wcs but not the original tm stick.
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took the thing apart and it seems real difficult to stiffen up from underneath plus... all the electronics get in the way.
My way is adjustable but it does break rubber bands every week or so... big deall a package is real cheap.
It really sounds mickey mouse but everyone who has tried it said the "feel" was perfect.. you can adjust just how much tension by the amount of rubber bands. I use 2 for each axis for a total of 8.... if one breaks it is no big deal to pop another on during a break in the action..
one problem that is no problem for me... one of the buttons is covered by the rubber bands at the base of the stick so you will have to disable it or... not enable it.
I am not too concerned with how things look... only how they work.. this works great. if I wanted a cleaner look I would use strips cut from a bike inner tube for the all black look.
lazs
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thanks for the input fellas... I'm working on developing a joystick made with all metal construction (no plastic parts to break or wear out) and digital optical sensors (no wearing out there either), adjustable tension on the spring and excellent programability. Wish me luck fellas, this one is going to break the bank.
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Originally posted by GrimCO
thanks for the input fellas... I'm working on developing a joystick made with all metal construction ...
Sounds to me like a re-work of the Cougar. I owned one for two months and sold it...spring tension was brutal and the j-stick pots began spiking after a month. So much for "the last HOTAS you'll ever need." Two months ago I bought a TM Top Gun Fox 2 Pro ($35) - twist handle pots went to hell after about 40 hrs of use.
CH makes the best stuff - no bout adout it. Just wish they'd came out with a twist handle for us dweebs who can't deal with peds,
Good luck with the project Grim!
DmdMax
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yep.. what will work for a LW guy won't last 6 months for a furballer. none of the metal parts ever broke on my Tmasters... it was a steady stream of broken hats, triggers and cheap pots going south.
The CH has a lot better switches and hats and trigger setups and the pots seem to last about twice what the old tmaster ones did. I beef up the springs with rubber bands and hope it lasts a year or 2... better than anything else out there that I know will be trash in less than a year.
lazs
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Originally posted by lazs2
yep.. what will work for a LW guy won't last 6 months for a furballer. none of the metal parts ever broke on my Tmasters... it was a steady stream of broken hats, triggers and cheap pots going south.
The CH has a lot better switches and hats and trigger setups and the pots seem to last about twice what the old tmaster ones did. I beef up the springs with rubber bands and hope it lasts a year or 2... better than anything else out there that I know will be trash in less than a year.
lazs
Laz, maybe your sweaty hands cause the hats to die.... :)
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The problem that I've noticed, and don't quite understand is that there are well constructed joysticks out there, but they use cheap potentiometers and momentary switch buttons. Why in the hell don't they just make a stick that is 100% top notch all the way around. I'm sick of buying sticks that always break, so I'm going to make my own! Who knows, it may turn into a profitable business venture...
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to answer the question...
I guess I would pay what I pay now for one.. That is, if you could build one that NOTHING broke on for say... 3 years... I would pay three years worth of CH... say $250
lazs
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Personally I would have to save for a while but to get a full setup I would spend $500 - $700.
GrimCO,
I wish you lots of luck and would like to help out in any possible way if you need it.
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I appreciate that Reschke...
I'll certainly keep that in mind! I'm fortunate in that my father has a 25 year background in the programming business, and I've got the technical skills to design the hardware. I think we'll be able to make one hell of a joystick... One I'd be willing to put my name on and not be embarrassed anyway... LOL