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General Forums => Aces High General Discussion => Topic started by: Nomak on September 30, 2006, 08:40:03 PM

Title: I finally did it
Post by: Nomak on September 30, 2006, 08:40:03 PM
After years of waiting and a debacle online tonight trying to use an X-52...... I orderd a full CH set up tonight :D

That is all....... carry on

Dave
Title: I finally did it
Post by: Dichotomy on September 30, 2006, 08:47:25 PM
awsome Dave... you'll freaking LOVE it :D

congrats
Title: I finally did it
Post by: Yeager on September 30, 2006, 08:47:32 PM
Grats.

please report back after set up and use.
Title: I finally did it
Post by: Tumor on September 30, 2006, 09:44:21 PM
You'll kick yourself for not doing it sooner... I did.  (Had my setup complete about 2wks now)
Title: I finally did it
Post by: LTARokit on September 30, 2006, 09:48:50 PM
he he............"Get Ready To Ruuummmbbblllleee"......well once you learn to fly again.  For the better...........it's the difference between night and day.

Title: I finally did it
Post by: airspro on September 30, 2006, 09:56:18 PM
Grats :) money well spent imo .
Title: Re: I finally did it
Post by: Widewing on October 01, 2006, 01:03:50 AM
Quote
Originally posted by Nomak
After years of waiting and a debacle online tonight trying to use an X-52...... I orderd a full CH set up tonight :D

That is all....... carry on

Dave


I make a point of emphasizing to players that hardware can be the difference between winning and losing. The more precise the hardware, the more precise a plane can be flown. CH gear is a micrometer compared to Saitek's steel ruler. Once you get accustomed to the new gear, you'll quickly see how much of an improvement it is.

It'll take a few weeks before you find the ideal stick settings and get used to the sliding throttle. If you're the type who rests your hand on the throttle, be advised that you can easily knock it out of WEP. You may find that it's a stretch to reach the hat switches.  I milled a custom hand rest out of Delrin and it clamps to the stick. The rudder pedals are superb.

Unlike Saitek sticks, I cannot yet wear out the hat switches on the CH gear. Every 6 months a Saitek hat would crap out. My FighterStick is as good today as when I bought it a year ago.

You will need to get used to the notchy feel of the CH stick as it transitions from roll to pitch axis. It'll feel odd at first.

I'm sure you'll be very impressed with the CH stuff. Have fun!

My regards,

Widewing
Title: Re: Re: I finally did it
Post by: SkyChimp03 on October 01, 2006, 01:23:34 AM
Quote
Originally posted by Widewing
I make a point of emphasizing to players that hardware can be the difference between winning and losing. The more precise the hardware, the more precise a plane can be flown. CH gear is a micrometer compared to Saitek's steel ruler. Once you get accustomed to the new gear, you'll quickly see how much of an improvement it is.

It'll take a few weeks before you find the ideal stick settings and get used to the sliding throttle. If you're the type who rests your hand on the throttle, be advised that you can easily knock it out of WEP. You may find that it's a stretch to reach the hat switches.  I milled a custom hand rest out of Delrin and it clamps to the stick. The rudder pedals are superb.

Unlike Saitek sticks, I cannot yet wear out the hat switches on the CH gear. Every 6 months a Saitek hat would crap out. My FighterStick is as good today as when I bought it a year ago.

You will need to get used to the notchy feel of the CH stick as it transitions from roll to pitch axis. It'll feel odd at first.

I'm sure you'll be very impressed with the CH stuff. Have fun!

My regards,

Widewing


lol the reach is not really  aproblem..  im young not too young ;) i dont have large hands or small i find it hard to belive a full grown man cant reach it. I have to reach to hit red button on fighterstick usb. But my thumb rest on hat easyly.


Grats mak wont say it takes weeks ;)
Title: I finally did it
Post by: Creton on October 01, 2006, 01:25:18 AM
WTG Nomak!!!

:aok
Title: I finally did it
Post by: Waffle on October 01, 2006, 02:07:23 AM
so...did you go with the ch throttle or the ch throttle quadrant?
Title: I finally did it
Post by: B@tfinkV on October 01, 2006, 03:53:43 AM
yeah yeah yeah, i shall still punish all you $300 stick dweebs with my $20 saitek cyborg twisty!! mwwaahahaa (PS: jealous)
Title: I finally did it
Post by: Reynolds on October 01, 2006, 05:43:35 AM
Damn. How much did THAT run you? Im jealous too! Im so broke im using a Saitek ST290 ($20 stick) and the stick half of a Saitek X-45, because the throttle crapped out. Man I am jealous...
Title: I finally did it
Post by: Sketch on October 01, 2006, 06:10:20 AM
Quote
Originally posted by B@tfinkV
yeah yeah yeah, i shall still punish all you $300 stick dweebs with my $20 saitek cyborg twisty!! mwwaahahaa (PS: jealous)


:rofl

Yeah I hear you there Batfink! From Air Warrior til March 2004 I flew with the old school Microsoft Sidewinder Precision Pro 2!!! ARRRGGGG!!!! :aok  Then went to a Saitek X52.... but don't tell my wife! I just told her that I watered the old sidewinder and it grew!! :noid  She didn't believe me....
I will evevntually move up, but until then I need to stcik with this X52 or else I will be sleeping on the couch for the rest of my marriage! :t
Title: I finally did it
Post by: B@tfinkV on October 01, 2006, 06:24:22 AM
i dream of the days when i had my microsoft sidewinder 3D pro 1. compared to a saitek cyborg the sidewinder is the mecca of all twisty sicks.
Title: Re: I finally did it
Post by: Balsy on October 01, 2006, 07:25:59 AM
Quote
Originally posted by Nomak
After years of waiting and a debacle online tonight trying to use an X-52...... I orderd a full CH set up tonight :D

That is all....... carry on

Dave


NOMAK,

I got my Ch gear and Track IR at the sametime.  I figured if I was gunna suck again, I might as well learn TIR at the same time.

Take the plunge sir...you wont regret it.

Balsy
Title: Re: Re: Re: I finally did it
Post by: Widewing on October 01, 2006, 08:41:07 AM
Quote
Originally posted by SkyChimp03
lol the reach is not really  aproblem..  im young not too young ;) i dont have large hands or small i find it hard to belive a full grown man cant reach it. I have to reach to hit red button on fighterstick usb. But my thumb rest on hat easyly.


Grats mak wont say it takes weeks ;)


My point is that you shouldn't have to reach, it should be comfortably under your thumb. For an average sized hand, it isn't. It measures 7 inches from the palm rest to the center of the hat, an inch more than Saitek or Thrustmaster.

My regards,

Widewing
Title: I finally did it
Post by: Gryphons on October 01, 2006, 08:44:21 AM
Great choice on stick. after going through logitech's and saiteks i went with ch and never looked back. after over a year of use they are still as good as the day i got them, and the software is great for letting you use the stick in games that use ancient code like falcon 4.0, battlefield 2 and apache longbow.  You definatly will not regret the money spent :aok

P.S.  one complaint i've heard over and over again is that Ch throttles will come out of calibration. so after some use you may only be able to get your throttle to go as low as 20% throttle and as high as 80% throttle. it can be a real pain especially in helicopter sims.  But when this happens simply recalibrate the joystick in windows control panel and it will be good for a few months before recalibration.
Title: I finally did it
Post by: Gryphons on October 01, 2006, 08:49:00 AM
Widewing, have you tried using the hat switch on the throttle for views?  it takes getting used to but it works great and you don't have to reach.  then the hat on the stick can be used for trim or whatever.
Title: Re: I finally did it
Post by: bcee on October 01, 2006, 09:01:30 AM
Quote
Originally posted by Nomak
After years of waiting and a debacle online tonight trying to use an X-52...... I orderd a full CH set up tonight :D

That is all....... carry on

Dave



There ya go..!...you won`t regret it..........
Title: I finally did it
Post by: KTM520guy on October 01, 2006, 09:15:03 AM
I love CH stuff. I even bought a CH stick for my real airplane.
Title: I finally did it
Post by: Widewing on October 01, 2006, 09:45:57 AM
Quote
Originally posted by Gryphons
Widewing, have you tried using the hat switch on the throttle for views?  it takes getting used to but it works great and you don't have to reach.  then the hat on the stick can be used for trim or whatever.


I tried that, but it was counter-intuitive to muscle memory. I use the throttle hat for 3/4 high views, especially useful when turning with an enemy.

Rather than relearn, I simply spent a few hours in our machine shop and milled a contoured hand rest for the stick. It matches the contour of the stick. It's retained by a pair of socket-head cap screws in recessed counter-bores. I used black Delrin (a high-impact thermo-plastic) and it looks like it was OEM.

Therefore, the stick now fits me perfectly.

My regards,

Widewing
Title: Re: Re: Re: Re: I finally did it
Post by: Ack-Ack on October 01, 2006, 01:46:47 PM
Quote
Originally posted by Widewing
My point is that you shouldn't have to reach, it should be comfortably under your thumb. For an average sized hand, it isn't. It measures 7 inches from the palm rest to the center of the hat, an inch more than Saitek or Thrustmaster.

My regards,

Widewing



When I used to be the senior PC tech at CH Products, one of the most common complaints we would receive was that it was too hard to reach some of the buttons on the Combatstick and Fighterstick.  That was because the owner, Chuck Hayes has very large hands, I'm talking about freakishly large hands and the sticks were designed to fit his hands.


ack-ack
Title: I finally did it
Post by: Fencer51 on October 01, 2006, 02:14:45 PM
I am still using the CH stick and throttle that I bought in 1994 for AirWarrior.  Granted it had a 6 year hiatus in there but that still says something for their quality.
Title: I finally did it
Post by: Apar on October 01, 2006, 04:19:53 PM
Whats wrong with X52?

(<=using it)
Title: I finally did it
Post by: Messiah on October 01, 2006, 10:46:01 PM
Quote
Originally posted by Apar
Whats wrong with X52?

(<=using it)


Heya apar how you been my dutch friend? :)

The reason I retturned my X 52 was because there was too much travel.  It felt TOO loose for my taste.  I like a tighter feel on a stick for more precise movements and the X 52 just felt sloppy.  However, the throttle and everything else was sweet.
Title: I finally did it
Post by: Kazaa on October 02, 2006, 04:49:45 AM
I tried moving to the darkside, I brought the whole X52 HOTAS setup and everything.

But at the end of the day my good old ball mouse does the trick for me :D
Title: I finally did it
Post by: Nomak on October 02, 2006, 08:10:30 AM
Quote
Originally posted by Waffle BAS
so...did you go with the ch throttle or the ch throttle quadrant?


I went with the seperate throttle assy.

Dave
Title: I finally did it
Post by: Nomak on October 02, 2006, 08:13:59 AM
Quote
Originally posted by Reynolds
Damn. How much did THAT run you? Im jealous too! Im so broke im using a Saitek ST290 ($20 stick) and the stick half of a Saitek X-45, because the throttle crapped out. Man I am jealous...


Well..... Thruth is I didnt go looking for any deals.  I paid full price.  It was a bit of an impulsive buy.  The whole deal was $322 from Amazon.  Although I did get free shipping.  Because I got the free shipping though they said the stuff wont be here for 10 days or so.

Dave
Title: I finally did it
Post by: Nomak on October 02, 2006, 08:27:42 AM
My post may have been a bit misleading....... I am actually am a hard core Microsoft FFB2 user.  I have about 4 of them right now.  Many I bought used on ebay.

I really have 2 problems with my current set up.  I dont like using my FFB2 when flying Falcon4AF.  The game has so many commands to use/remember (way more than AH) that a HOTAS is really the only way to go IMO.

So I had my X-52 all set up for that.  Then when I would go to fly AH I had to switch everything around to get my MSFFB2 working.  A real pain in the butt.  Also.... my "Best" FFB2 is now spiking on elevator input :confused:.  

In the past I have stolen parts out of 1 FFB2 to make another one work.  I am just tired of that nonsense.  I am hoping this $300 spent will get me a set up that will work in both games.

In the past I have put off buying new stuff just because I didnt want to deal with the learning curve of a new stick.  However at this point I am so tired of switching stuff back and forth that I really dont care if I suck/cant fly for 6-8 weeks while I learn pedals and a non FFB stick.  Hopefully it will be worth it in the end.

Thx for all the input guys.  I will post a follow up once its up and running.

Dave
Title: I finally did it
Post by: SlapShot on October 02, 2006, 08:52:53 AM
Quote
Originally posted by Widewing
I tried that, but it was counter-intuitive to muscle memory. I use the throttle hat for 3/4 high views, especially useful when turning with an enemy.

Rather than relearn, I simply spent a few hours in our machine shop and milled a contoured hand rest for the stick. It matches the contour of the stick. It's retained by a pair of socket-head cap screws in recessed counter-bores. I used black Delrin (a high-impact thermo-plastic) and it looks like it was OEM.

Therefore, the stick now fits me perfectly.

My regards,

Widewing


WOW !!! ... how hard would it be to make another one ... (hint hint) ... I have large hands, but not looooong fingers so reaching for the hat switch on the stick was causing me fits ... along with the very annoying nipple on the top of the hat ... I was getting a very nasty blister from that sucker.

I filed down the nipple and have somehow adjusted to the reach, I tried to jimmy up something that would accomplish what you did, but I am just not that creative or mechanically inclined to pull it off.
Title: I finally did it
Post by: SHawk on October 02, 2006, 09:28:04 AM
Quote
Originally posted by Widewing
I tried that, but it was counter-intuitive to muscle memory. I use the throttle hat for 3/4 high views, especially useful when turning with an enemy.

Rather than relearn, I simply spent a few hours in our machine shop and milled a contoured hand rest for the stick. It matches the contour of the stick. It's retained by a pair of socket-head cap screws in recessed counter-bores. I used black Delrin (a high-impact thermo-plastic) and it looks like it was OEM.

Therefore, the stick now fits me perfectly.

My regards,

Widewing


A Man after my own heart.:aok
When it doesn't work the way you like, Reverse engineer it.
Title: I finally did it
Post by: Apar on October 02, 2006, 01:35:45 PM
Quote
Originally posted by Messiah
Heya apar how you been my dutch friend? :)

The reason I retturned my X 52 was because there was too much travel.  It felt TOO loose for my taste.  I like a tighter feel on a stick for more precise movements and the X 52 just felt sloppy.  However, the throttle and everything else was sweet.



Good Messiah, I returned after a nice long break (still brushing off dust hehe)

I agree on the sloppy feeling, but I think it only feels sloppy, the respons is immediate and no spikes here. I have to calibrate it though everytime I enter an arena



Apar
Title: I finally did it
Post by: Clifra Jones on October 02, 2006, 01:36:46 PM
Good choice Nomak You'll love it.

You can program this gear to do anything you want. Just takes time and a little learning.

I agree with Widewing, Long reach for that hat switch. I have small hands so I just programmed the microstick on the throttle to control the views.

I'm pretty good with the CMS scripting so if you have any questions about it I'll be happy to help.
Title: I finally did it
Post by: airspro on October 02, 2006, 03:10:57 PM
Quote
6-8 weeks while I learn pedals


Wish I had learned that fast :( hehe .

=======

 SlapShot
 
 
1 1/2 metal bracket from Truevalue hardware store and a hose clamp :) Yep I took a file to that hat also , was hurting my thumb , why they don't use the left one is beyond me as that is the best feeling one of he bunch .

Widewings looks a hell of a lot better but this is working fine for me so far , just don't over tighten the hose clamp or the pinkie button won't work .

(http://www.onpoi.net/ah/pics/users/1007_1155674493_bracket.jpg)
Title: I finally did it
Post by: SlapShot on October 02, 2006, 04:06:46 PM
hmmmmmmm
Title: I finally did it
Post by: Charon on October 02, 2006, 05:48:31 PM
I Just programmed the lower hat button on the stick for views, and the higher one (with the little point) for less important tasks :)

Works just fine. You can see the button clearly in the image posted above by airspro.

Charon
Title: I finally did it
Post by: FiLtH on October 03, 2006, 08:03:02 AM
I take great pride in being a peasant flying with sub-standard equipment.
Title: I finally did it
Post by: Bucky73 on October 04, 2006, 12:53:59 PM
Batfink...I'm glad u don't use CH products. It's scary to think how good you would be with one.:eek: