Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => Hardware and Software => Topic started by: rpm on October 29, 2007, 04:36:40 AM
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I need to replace my joystick. I'm using a Saitek X52, but it's got a bad axis and more bells and whistles than I need. I really miss my Sidewinder2 FF. Why Microsoft quit making joysticks, I'll never know.
Does anybody know of a good FF hotas setup?
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Well I know alot of people dont have much to say for LOGITECH
However, I use a EXREME 3d PRO and its very simple, I dont go to my keyboard for anything while i am in flight exept to pull up txt buffers.
If u are looking for force feedback options they do offer that as well.
They also have a WIRELESS option as well.
However a logitech will not last as longa s a saitek because the spring is not as strong.
I have gotten about 1000 hours or more use out of my joystick so far, its lasted about a year and now its finally time to get a new one. I have actually had to increase my dampening up some to prevent shaking and and slight rolling thats taking me out of autopilot.
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There is only 1 make of stick that gets bad press in here so buy anything but LOGICRAP....I had 3 extreme 3d's. Two lasted 3 month before the left rudder crapped out. One lasted 4 months.
Cheap and cheerful =Saitek. Expensive but long lasting =CH
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Rpm, go to ebay and get yourself another Sidewinder FF!
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Originally posted by rpm
...more bells and whistles than I need.
Exactly the reason I went back to my cheap Thrustmaster Top Gun Fox2 Pro after giving the X52 two long tries. I like to keep it simple.
I'm on my 2nd Thrustmaster stick after over three years of AH. I used to have time to play quite a bit, so the first one got a lot of use. My second stick is holding up very well, and should continue to hold up for some time to come, especially now since my time is limited during the week.
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I had a ST290Pro for 3 years...and the throttle finally went (Only because I took it apart).
So I bought a X52 and AV8R.
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At one time, the Logitech Wingman Force was the top of the line FF stick.
Nowadays, if you are going to fly with something from Logitech you'd be better off taping a popsickle stick over the light and wiggling it than using anything they call a "joystick".
If you want a good decent stick that will last a lot of hours of flight time go CH. They aren't perfect but for the price are dang good.
You'll also wonder how you ever flew with an Saitek X stick, too. They have the wonkiest tensioning system - that spring loaded ring requires the MOST force to move just off center, which is just utterly contrary and wrong with respect to how a real flight control feels.
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Originally posted by Ghosth
Rpm, go to ebay and get yourself another Sidewinder FF!
Can he use the X52 throttle with the Sidewinder?
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In AH (and any modern DX game) yes - because current games support multiple controllers.
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X52 Pro is a great stick for me. It's supposed to be a good improvement on the X-52 - it certainly looks less like a toy. No FF though.
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A) Forget Logicrap. Period.
B) I'm looking for a force feedback HOTAS.
I can find FF sticks, but not a HOTAS setup. CH makes great sticks, but I can't find a FF stick made by them anymore. Saitek has the EVO, but it's not a HOTAS.
I spoke to a couple guys at Saitek and they said there was discussion of building a X52Pro FF model, but they thought it would be price prohibitive. I can't imagine it not being a hot seller no matter what the price was.
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Looks like I'm going with an X52 Pro. It's not FF, but GoGamer.com (http://www.gogamer.com/Saitek-X52-Pro-Flight-Control-System-Accessories_stcVVproductId8283071VVcatId451798VVviewprod.htm) has it on sale for 1/2 price (99.90) today only. It will have to do until I can locate what I want.
BTW, that is a great price on the X52Pro.:aok
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CH is the only way to go.
The current HOTAS I have, well, the stick and throtle are from Max and god knows how long he's had em. I bought them from him as a replacement for my old CH stick and throtle that ended up meeting hard with the wall one night in college. Something that was not game related. Otherwise I would still have them. That was probably 3 years ago. I would bet the stick and throtle I got from max is close to 6 years old and they still work like a charm.
Don't waste your time and money on the other crap. CH is the only way to go.
And oh yeah. I've had the sitek x45, the sidewinder's... None of them compare.
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I'm actually using a joystick that I picked up for Ace Combat 5 on the the playstation 2. I had to download drivers from some japanese website but its great....throttle and stick combo. Has enough buttons on it that I really don't need to use the keyboard while in flight.
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Originally posted by rpm
I need to replace my joystick. I'm using a Saitek X52, but it's got a bad axis and more bells and whistles than I need. I really miss my Sidewinder2 FF. Why Microsoft quit making joysticks, I'll never know.
Does anybody know of a good FF hotas setup?
Nothing ever compaires to the SW FF2..
I'd buy a used one off E-bay b4 I used another stick..
http://search.ebay.com/sidewinder-2-force-feedback_W0QQ_trksidZm37QQfromZR40QQpqryZsidewinderQ202Q20forceQ20feedQ20back
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Originally posted by LYNX
There is only 1 make of stick that gets bad press in here so buy anything but LOGICRAP....I had 3 extreme 3d's. Two lasted 3 month before the left rudder crapped out. One lasted 4 months.
Cheap and cheerful =Saitek. Expensive but long lasting =CH
Obviously you've found thier alotted faulty sticks. My Logitech Extreme 3D Pro is from late 04-early 05, and no issues what so ever. The one small problem I had a month ago was a loose connection inside the handle.. all I did was adjust it, and it works the same it did on day 1.
I do want to invest in a new setup though. I'd like rudder pedals, and a left hand (throttle?) I'm not sure what it's called, but I've seen a couple that move slightly on thier own with many more keys. While my logitech has most everything I want covered by switching the Key Maps between 1, 3 and 4, but I'd like to not have to do that. Any suggestions?
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RPM, I just picked up a Microsoft Force Feedback 2 from Ebay last month. I paid 100 dollars for a slightly used, still with the original box stick. They are out there. You just have to be patient and find a good one. Or you can seriously bite the bullet and blow around 300 dollars for a CH set up. Good luck.
Obie
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You bet he can use throttle, peds with sidewinder.
They should all be USB devices, plug, calibrate in windows and AH and setup the way you want.
I've heard a rumor, that X52 throttles have a Midi port for the old style Gameport joystick connection. That actually lets you plug a joystick with gameport plug into the throttle. In which case there is a ton of MS sidewinder Precision Pro's out there going for cheap.
My wife brings em home from the second hand store for 2 - 3 dollars each. But they are not USB so most don't want them. Although I did sell a pair to Sloehand. :)
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(http://content.vcommerce.com/products/fullsize/777/20733777.jpg)
looks neat for dual throttle in the 2 engs planes
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Will AH support a multi-throttle setup?
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Originally posted by rpm
Will AH support a multi-throttle setup?
yes - throttle is just an axis in AH.
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Originally posted by Eagler
(http://content.vcommerce.com/products/fullsize/777/20733777.jpg)
looks neat for dual throttle in the 2 engs planes
How about a link to that product?
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Originally posted by MrRiplEy[H]
How about a link to that product?
found it at GoGamer (http://www.gogamer.com/Saitek-Pro-Flight-Throttle-Quadrant-Accessories_stcVVproductId20733777VVcatId451798VVviewprod.htm) click on the X52 pro link under "Top Selling" on that page and you should see it below
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Great thanks.
This one is for the bomber buffs:
(http://content.vcommerce.com/products/135/8784135/main-150.jpg)
:D
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Well I got the X52Pro and so far I am impressed. It's not FF, but I can't find much else to dislike other than the green MFD.
The mode and main hat switch are machined aluminum along with several other parts of the stick. It definitely doesn't have a "cheap" feel. There are upgrades on LED lighting thruout.
The springs and centering are upgraded and there are now double axis readings instead of single sensors.
The software seems to run much smoother than the old Saitek SST programming and is very AH friendly. I programmed the stick from scratch and had no problems at all.
Got to give this stick 9 out of 10.:aok