Aces High Bulletin Board

General Forums => Hardware and Software => Topic started by: Snubby on July 20, 2007, 03:03:43 PM

Title: Saitek X52.. not loving it..
Post by: Snubby on July 20, 2007, 03:03:43 PM
First off, hello everyone..:)

I recently got into this game and figured it was a good enough reason (excuse) to buy some new hardware..

back in "the day" I had the good ole X36, and loved it, so naturally I picked up the X52..

got home hooked everthing up..

1: the button on the top most part of the throttle is flashing blue..  like a flourecent light thats going bad.. the rest just stay one.. minor proble,'

2:.. I HATE the feel of this thing is on the X/Y axis..  it just doesent FEEL right to me..  

for starters there is way too little resistance.. Im guessing I can make a shim for the spring and tighten in up a little bit..

second, Its just intuitive to me that the farther from center you get.. the more resistance you should get...  maybe thats not realistic.. but it just feels wierd.

im sure Ill get used to it.. eventually, but first impression is.. I regret the purchase
Title: Re: Saitek X52.. not loving it..
Post by: OOZ662 on July 23, 2007, 03:48:51 AM
Quote
Originally posted by Snubby
1: the button on the top most part of the throttle is flashing blue..  like a flourecent light thats going bad.. the rest just stay one.. minor proble,'


They're supposed to stay on. That flashing is a sign that the stick isn't getting enough power from your computer which is very common these days. Leaving the stick this way will probably lead to the stick degrading in control until it's a brick.

Buy a simple powered USB hub. It's a USB connection that provides power from a wall outlet, thereby easily providing enough for the X52. This will take massive strain off your computer's power supply and the stick's sensitive equipment, and add precision to the movements.
Title: Saitek X52.. not loving it..
Post by: Denholm on July 23, 2007, 10:39:09 AM
My first guess would've been that the "clutch" button was somehow stuck in the "depress" position.
Title: Saitek X52.. not loving it..
Post by: Bad31st on July 23, 2007, 11:04:07 AM
Quote
Originally posted by Denholm
My first guess would've been that the "clutch" button was somehow stuck in the "depress" position.


Mine too.  

But it could be a bad stick/LED or power issues. I'd purchase a powered usb hub - there's a thread around here somewhere that Skuzzy suggests one or two. If the light doesn't stop flashing/flickering I'd make sure it isn't the clutch and exchange the stick...
Title: Saitek X52.. not loving it..
Post by: Krusty on July 23, 2007, 11:19:42 AM
I'm curious.... Folks have mentioned powered USB hubs a lot (as a way of fixing a joystick problem), but I don't recall anybody saying how expensive they are.

Are we talking $5, or $50, here?
Title: Saitek X52.. not loving it..
Post by: OOZ662 on July 23, 2007, 04:48:30 PM
http://www.thinkgeek.com/computing/accessories/9009/

And these guys are expensive due to being a novelty shop.
Title: Saitek X52.. not loving it..
Post by: Krusty on July 23, 2007, 05:11:53 PM
Thanks, that's not too pricey, but is that the "good" brand that folks were suggesting for use with CH gear and whatnot?
Title: Saitek X52.. not loving it..
Post by: OOZ662 on July 23, 2007, 05:18:09 PM
I doubt it, but it will work. I don't know if I'd trust something as pricey as CH gear to it, but just about any run-of-the-mill USB2.0 Certified powered hub will cut it for anything else.
Title: Re: Re: Saitek X52.. not loving it..
Post by: Snubby on July 23, 2007, 05:28:47 PM
Quote
Originally posted by OOZ662
They're supposed to stay on. That flashing is a sign that the stick isn't getting enough power from your computer which is very common these days. Leaving the stick this way will probably lead to the stick degrading in control until it's a brick.

Buy a simple powered USB hub. It's a USB connection that provides power from a wall outlet, thereby easily providing enough for the X52. This will take massive strain off your computer's power supply and the stick's sensitive equipment, and add precision to the movements.


You hit it on the head, I went to best buy and bought a powered hub and now not only do the lights stay on, but they are MUCH brigher than before.. so it definatly was not getting the needed power.

Im guessing it was good to get this anyway, considering im about to add Track IR.



also, I fashoned a shim to put between the spring and the bast of the stick, which stiffened the resistance up a bit and made things MUCH better.
Title: Saitek X52.. not loving it..
Post by: Snubby on July 23, 2007, 05:32:21 PM
Quote
Originally posted by Krusty
I'm curious.... Folks have mentioned powered USB hubs a lot (as a way of fixing a joystick problem), but I don't recall anybody saying how expensive they are.

Are we talking $5, or $50, here?


I got a dynex one at best buy, it was ~$30 and has 4 ports.

im sure they can be had for less on newegg.
Title: Saitek X52.. not loving it..
Post by: Krusty on July 23, 2007, 05:39:54 PM
Thanks
Title: Saitek X52.. not loving it..
Post by: Snubby on July 23, 2007, 05:45:07 PM
well.. I was wrong.. its still flickering..  something is wrong with the LED..

now its turning fully off for a few seconds and coming back on.. flickering a little then going off etc etc..

the rest of the lights are on and steady and do not flicker..

great QC Saitek.:furious
Title: Saitek X52.. not loving it..
Post by: OOZ662 on July 23, 2007, 05:47:58 PM
Sure it isn't the clutch button? It's the button where your thumb goes on the throttle. It can cause some real weirdness if it's depressed and yours might be stuck. Also make sure the wire connecting the two bases is snug.
Title: Saitek X52.. not loving it..
Post by: Bad31st on July 23, 2007, 05:54:46 PM
Quote
Originally posted by Krusty
Thanks, that's not too pricey, but is that the "good" brand that folks were suggesting for use with CH gear and whatnot?


I belive one Skuzzy mentioned was a belkin - don't remember how much though...
Title: Saitek X52.. not loving it..
Post by: Snubby on July 23, 2007, 05:56:27 PM
everything is snug,  the button is fine aswell, I unplugged the stick from the throttle and it still flickers exactly the same as with it connected.

I just turned the LEDs off, the flickering was becomign distracting:(
Title: Saitek X52.. not loving it..
Post by: Snubby on July 23, 2007, 09:05:53 PM
now it suddenliny went off calibration mid game, un plugged the stick from the throttle and plugged it back in and it was fine..


:rolleyes:
Title: Saitek X52.. not loving it..
Post by: OOZ662 on July 23, 2007, 09:09:49 PM
Sounds like you got a defective one. Might wanna contact Saitek; they'll usually replace it.
Title: Saitek X52.. not loving it..
Post by: Snubby on July 23, 2007, 09:32:01 PM
I'll forgoe the hassle and just use it till it croaks and buy the pro model like I should have in the first place.

im not keen on the send it off.. wait wait wait.. get it back.. hope it works etc etc..  bleh!
Title: Saitek X52.. not loving it..
Post by: Denholm on July 25, 2007, 07:38:39 PM
Krusty, I have an 8-port Inland USB Hub. I couldn't find any on google for you yet it powers my X52 fine! Here's a 4 port USB 2.0 hub from the same company:

http://www.amazon.com/Inland-Speed-Usb-Hub-2-0/dp/B000234MBI/ref=sr_1_1/002-1230684-6154414?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1185410250&sr=8-1
Title: Saitek X52.. not loving it..
Post by: Dowding on August 14, 2007, 09:48:32 AM
I bought the X52 Pro last week and it is superb. Resistance is light, but the precision is top class. Very smooth.
Title: Saitek X52.. not loving it..
Post by: Spikes on August 14, 2007, 12:56:53 PM
Quote
Originally posted by Krusty
I'm curious.... Folks have mentioned powered USB hubs a lot (as a way of fixing a joystick problem), but I don't recall anybody saying how expensive they are.

Are we talking $5, or $50, here?


Err...I just went to Big Lots and bought mine for $7.
Title: Re: Re: Re: Saitek X52.. not loving it..
Post by: SIK1 on August 14, 2007, 01:22:33 PM
Quote
Originally posted by Snubby
You hit it on the head, I went to best buy and bought a powered hub and now not only do the lights stay on, but they are MUCH brigher than before.. so it definatly was not getting the needed power.

Im guessing it was good to get this anyway, considering im about to add Track IR.



also, I fashoned a shim to put between the spring and the bast of the stick, which stiffened the resistance up a bit and made things MUCH better.


I use a belkin powered usb hub for my HOTAS set up. There was a tech from CH that posted here recomending the use of powered hubs because the usb ports on computers may not be able to keep up with the power demands placed upon them.

Just an fyi, IIRC you are not suppose to plug TrckIR into a usb hub, or maybe you are not suppose to use an usb extension. I'm at work right now so I can't look at the instructions that came with TrackIR, but I do know that mine is plugged into my computer.
Title: Saitek X52.. not loving it..
Post by: Meatwad on August 14, 2007, 05:58:58 PM
My X52 is plugged straight into the computer's USB port on the motherboard.  It hasnt gave me one bit of trouble at all
Title: Saitek X52.. not loving it..
Post by: Sketch on August 18, 2007, 12:11:59 PM
Quote
Originally posted by Bad31st
I belive one Skuzzy mentioned was a belkin - don't remember how much though...


Paid $20 for mine and fixed everything....and that was 2 years ago roughly