Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => Aces High General Discussion => Topic started by: 68DevilM on December 22, 2004, 06:46:13 PM
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just got my new stick, and i must say im impressed
(http://www.onpoi.net/ah/pics/users/357_1103762132_pc_afterburnerffb.jpg)
cant wait for the new video card tommorow
:D
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I'm sorry you got that stick.
I used to have one of those as a quickie backup stick. It was OK if you separate the stick and throttle, but I'd not want to use it long term.
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why not?
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go x52 at least....
all CH if you can afford it, thrustmaster if you won the lottery
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Had "NO" probs w/my TM Afterburner until it was broken .. was/is my favorite stick. Presently using CH Fighterstick :)
Happy1 :D
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All you need is a $15 Thrustmaster, CH Mach-II, Toe-switches and a GorkleBox. It's the way of the future. You know you want to.
http://home.swiftdsl.com.au/~pchance/squidgear/index.html
http://home.swiftdsl.com.au/~pchance/gorklebox/index.html
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All you need is a saitek St90 15$ enough said.
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Originally posted by JB73
go x52 at least....
all CH if you can afford it, thrustmaster if you won the lottery
I have a thrustmaster and, frankly, it's worth the money when you consider how much you have to replace other sticks. All I've ever needed was a new Pot and that was free.
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If this is the standard Thrustmaster Top Gun stick, it's a reasonably good package. I've owned three of them. I tried the Force Feedback model, and it would never allow full deflection of control surfaces. I kept it for a few weeks and took it back and exchanged it for another X45.
Use the Allen wrench provided to separate the throttle from the joystick. Don't use the twist stick option, learn to use the rocker on the throttle. There's a selector switch on the front of the joystick base. Using the twist stick is bad because you will find yourself inadvertantly carrying rudder displacement. With some practice, the rocker can work as well as pedals, but it will take time to develop a good feel for it.
Weaknesses:
Hat switch will last 6 months, at the most. If you don't wear out hat switches, you're not looking around enough.
Pots are inferior to those used on the X45. After a few months of use, I found that I had to recalibrate several times a night.
If you bought it at CompUSA or Best Buy, invest a few dollars in the warranty exchange. When the hat switch craps out, or a pot becomes unstable, just return it for a new one, pay the fee again and you'll never pay more than $10-$12 for a joystick. I haven't paid more than $11 for a new stick in three years. I have returned sticks at least 7 times. In fact, I just exchanged my X45 for a new one yesterday because the hat and trigger switches started to go off. Just keep the box and all packing. This is far better than waiting for new parts from the maker and having to disassemble and repair the damn thing yourself.
I won't buy the new X52 because they did not carry over the rudder rocker of the X45, and its $60 more to boot.
My regards,
Widewing
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I have never really understood how people go thru sticks so fast?
I started out with a regular wingman stick ( not 3d, not xtreme, not pro plain wingman) it lasted lil close to a year, then I went CH, then CH combat stick when it came out ( the Janes CH combatstick one ), still got it, still works.
in 1997 I bought new CH hotas setup and am still using it, it is closing on its 8th year of use, a switch here, pot there, etc......maybe add a rubber band or 2 to the worn out springs, but all in all it has held up pretty well........only part is it is all analog.........
some must get really mad and slam their sticks or really YANK and BANK them ham fisted like to tear them up so fast........
I tryed a friends MS sidewinder when they first came out and hated the feel and the grip, I bought a CH FX fighterstick, and it was the only CH stick I never really liked did not care for the force feed back stuff much, I gave it away ( read never got paid for it, but was to a friend so don't matter :-)
from the first time I ever spoke to Ack-Ack on the phone back in 95 or so when he was tech support for CH... I have always stayed with them and the support when needed has always been top notch!
thats my thoughts, YMMV
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Originally posted by jetb123
All you need is a saitek St90 15$ enough said.
had it for 1 year!:lol
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I started out with a regular wingman stick ( not 3d, not xtreme, not pro plain wingman) it lasted lil close to a year, then I went CH, then CH combat stick when it came out ( the Janes CH combatstick one ), still got it,
Mine lasted 3 weeks
I have used a x45 for 2 years since and the hats are just going now.
ZABE
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That TG afterburner is a great setup. It's what I bought off of Ebay about a year ago. Only problem I've had was the stick breaking away from the base (prolly got it off of one of you abusive punks). Nothing a little Gorilla Glue couldn't fix.
..btw that rocker on the throttle is a great way to go if you can't afford pedals.
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Originally posted by TequilaChaser
from the first time I ever spoke to Ack-Ack on the phone back in 95 or so when he was tech support for CH... I have always stayed with them and the support when needed has always been top notch!
thats my thoughts, YMMV
Now that was some real tech support.
He would actualy confront the problem you were having and address it instead of giving you some of the "canned" replies that does you no good that seems to be the norm nowadays.
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Its too bad Microblow doesnt make the Sidewinder Prec 2 anymore. It was the best stick ever created.
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must admitt im haveing difficulty's learning to play with this new stick.
gonna hang out in the training a while and get used too it.
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Its always nice to find something you like. Hope you get a lot of service from it.
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i have a complete CH set (analog 1) for 5 years now, its a bit noisy but still works like a charm.
you just cant beat reliability.
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Originally posted by streetstang
Its too bad Microblow doesnt make the Sidewinder Prec 2 anymore. It was the best stick ever created.
I have 11 brand new MS Sidewinder precision pros sitting on the floor next to me. The Original Sidewinder. Was the longest lasting stick i have ever owned. My first one still works and it is 5 years old! Little sloppy...But still better than any other I have owned. No I haven’t ever owned a CH setup or any other high dollar stick/hotas combo. Give a holler if you need/want one.
ahmugz@yahoo.com
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I really like the AB2.
Im no my 2nd one now.... its wearing out and I will be replacing it soon.. BUT Ive had 2 in 3.5 years... Ive played over 1000+ hours on each stick...
Any stick that lasts over 1000 hours is a good stick imho.
Only downsides 8 buttons is a bit to few, throttle is a bit too light. You do get used to it. Alternativly put something friction increaseing under it.
Tex
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I really like the AB2.
Im no my 2nd one now.... its wearing out and I will be replacing it soon.. BUT Ive had 2 in 3.5 years... Ive played over 1000+ hours on each stick...
Any stick that lasts over 1000 hours is a good stick imho.
Only downsides 8 buttons is a bit to few, throttle is a bit too light. You do get used to it. Alternativly put something friction increaseing under it.
Tex
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Mugz, I'll buy one or two just for the heck of it. If I ever come back I'll have a stick. I got rid of the ones I had, they were pretty beat up after all the abuse they took.
I will email you later today with my home address. Just let me know how much you want and where to send the check to. Money order is ok I presume?
Thanks In advance.
Morph.
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I love my standard Thrustmaster Top Gun Afterburner II. Rudder control on the throttle is awesome. Great stick.
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I used to have that stick after my serial port ms ffb stick malfunctioning.
6 months later it died
the pots arent "jerk proof"
back on ffb2 with usb port
opticals are "jerk proof"
:) it still lives almost 3 years
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IMO the Afterburner II is the best bargain stick on the market.
We have had a couple over the years.
All the essental bits and buttons in one package with a proper throttle lever.
As a rocker hater the oppurtunity to use either it or twisty in such a budget stick is a real bonus.
We just cant get them in the UK now (easily).
I currently use a much more expensive X52 + CH pedal set up which I can afford and am very happy with, but would have no problems reverting to the ABII.
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I'm still running the CH stick I used in Air Warrior! :) hows that for long life? Going to break the bank when I have to switch over to USB tho :(
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so far the only real difficuty's im haveing is getting used to working harder on finding the center point, my last stick a logicrap wingman force feedback would for the most part snap back to it's center point rather easily, and with thrustmaster i have to work harder to find the center, also the force feedback feels a lot stiffer that the last stick, make's me stall out alot more now.
i wonder if real pilots experianced this when they flew different type aircraft.:p
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Originally posted by 68DevilM
so far the only real difficuty's im haveing is getting used to working harder on finding the center point
this is why i refuse to buy a force feedback stick (any make/model), again. :(
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If anyone waqnts a Brand new in box MS FFB2 stick,my local EB has one under a bunch of other boxed sticks/steering wheels.It's been there for almost a year(i keep hiding it every time they move the stock around)..The price is $150 Canadian...Gonna snap it up on boxing day if it's still there...If anyone interested,I can ship it to ya.
If they are going for cheaper on EBAY..ignore this.
And Meeeery X-Mas!!
:D
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Originally posted by 68DevilM
so far the only real difficuty's im haveing is getting used to working harder on finding the center point, my last stick a logicrap wingman force feedback would for the most part snap back to it's center point rather easily, and with thrustmaster i have to work harder to find the center, also the force feedback feels a lot stiffer that the last stick, make's me stall out alot more now.
i wonder if real pilots experianced this when they flew different type aircraft.:p
I had the privilege of belonging to a group that flew RL WW2 aircraft to airshows. I got about 20 hours in the T-6 and C-45. With no prior piloting experience, I was able to work up to doing aileron rolls in the T-6. I recently went for a ride with a friend in his RV-4. He new of my experience in the 6's and let me do some rolls. It was unbelievable how effortless the RV was. It was really like the difference between my old TM and the lighter CH.
Snork
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ms sidewinder 3d pro, 10 years and still going strong, im looking for a way to build pedals onto it and extend the stick tho:)
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Wow!!! You guys/gals undecided, have joysticks? I can only dream.
I currently use my keyboard as I cant afford a mouse. I hope to get a monitor very soon as its getting very expensive sitting on the phone long distance getting directions from Leviathn. And hes really lousy at it too.
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only stick able to stund up under myu less than gentle maulings is the CH. It is very durable but has springs made for women. very small and weak women...
I add some quarter inch rubber bands to the four corners and get a thrustmaster like spring rate with CH dependability. Gotta figure out how to beef up the spring rate in the rudders now tho.
lazs
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I still maintian that the older-generation Thurstmaster stuff is the best stuff to get. I *still* use the same FLCS and associated components I bought in 1996.
I still buy them for cheap on ebay for the occasion part I might need...
-Llama
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getting as little more used to it now:)
like in it so far
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I loved the feel of tmaster stuff and used it for years... trouble was... it never lasted more than 6 months before something broke... usually a hat.
lazs
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Originally posted by lazs2
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I add some quarter inch rubber bands to the four corners and get a thrustmaster like spring rate with CH dependability. Gotta figure out how to beef up the spring rate in the rudders now tho.
lazs
how did you add the rubberbands?
was wondering if I can do the same thing to my new X52, it has springs/feel for a 5 year old
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Originally posted by Silat
Wow!!! You guys/gals undecided, have joysticks? I can only dream.
I currently use my keyboard as I cant afford a mouse. I hope to get a monitor very soon as its getting very expensive sitting on the phone long distance getting directions from Leviathn. And hes really lousy at it too.
What a liar! I thought ewe told me ewe were a quadriplegic with removable false teeth!!!???!!! If so, how do ewe manage to get the phone under yer butt?
Bastid :mad:
culero
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Originally posted by SirLoin
If anyone waqnts a Brand new in box MS FFB2 stick,my local EB has one under a bunch of other boxed sticks/steering wheels.It's been there for almost a year(i keep hiding it every time they move the stock around)..The price is $150 Canadian...Gonna snap it up on boxing day if it's still there...If anyone interested,I can ship it to ya.
If they are going for cheaper on EBAY..ignore this.
And Meeeery X-Mas!!
:D
Look FiLtH up, you'll be his hero.
culero
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Thrustmaster HOTAS Cougar!!!
Got mine for christmas and now I don't want to leave the house!
(http://www.itc.ua/img/ko/2002/50/thrustmaster_hotas_cougar.jpg)
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Ive got a Force Feedback 2. Ive had it 4 years now I believe. No problems, Its a great stick. The only thing Ive noticed now is that the view hat is not always resonding now. I dont use it much anymore and switched to the number pad for better views.
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eagler... it's ugly... ran some deck screws into the desk at the four corners and the rubber bands go from the deck screw heads to the base of the stick... ugly but... it has a really good feel to it.
lazs
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Originally posted by 68DevilM
so far the only real difficuty's im haveing is getting used to working harder on finding the center point, my last stick a logicrap wingman force feedback would for the most part snap back to it's center point rather easily, and with thrustmaster i have to work harder to find the center, also the force feedback feels a lot stiffer that the last stick, make's me stall out alot more now.
i wonder if real pilots experianced this when they flew different type aircraft.:p
Turn over the joystick and you will see a black knob. Turn the knob to adjust centering tension. I always cranked down to max resistance.
My regards,
Widewing
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Originally posted by lazs2
eagler... it's ugly... ran some deck screws into the desk at the four corners and the rubber bands go from the deck screw heads to the base of the stick... ugly but... it has a really good feel to it.
lazs
Post a pix dude..I know I'll chuckle..:D
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I have 3 MS joysticks. the First MS 3dpro, MSFF1 and MSff2 for 3 computers. They all still work great. I recently bought the Logitech Freedom 2.4 ghz cordless. Still not as good as the MS joysticks.
MS should never have got out of the joystick game.
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Originally posted by Widewing
Turn over the joystick and you will see a black knob. Turn the knob to adjust centering tension. I always cranked down to max resistance.
My regards,
Widewing
cant find the black nob, but hey i found another button.
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sirloin... don't know how to post a pic but it is ugly as you can imagine. Who cares? works great. The ch stuff is also light and so you have to fasten it down to the desk in any event. the deck screw do double duty now is all. If you fly in a manner where stick movement is not necessary or, seldom necessary then any stick, or, even a mouse will do.
lazs