Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => Hardware and Software => Topic started by: MWHUN on November 06, 2009, 04:37:03 PM
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Hello:
I have been away from the game a few years and I'm thinking about returning but none of my old gear is usable.
I used to have CH serial setup with separate stick, throttle and pedals. Later I used a MS Sidewinder but I hated the twisty stick part.
I looked at CH's site and it looks like I can still get most of my old gear in a usb form but I wanted to see what other options are available these days. Any feedback or recommendation is appreciated.
HUN
Vini Vidi Vulchi
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How much money do you want to spend? CH IS the way to go, but there is that Logicrap G490 out, a few have tried it and seem to like it. I personally use an X52 for about 5 years, but many have had 3 or 4 X52's in that time span...
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If it's been a few years, you might want to look at your computer to make sure it will be OK before spending any money on new controllers. The current game requires a bit more power than the old days. Try flying offline and check your frame rate B4 buying new sticks. Welcome back. :cheers:
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Joystic wise, my logitec attack 3 has lasted me 5 years of gaming and 3 years of AH2. It seems pretty good, and I haven't had any problems so far. Some may concider it a little lacking in buttons, but I find that for the basic commands, it has plenty of room, and I'm sifting through the other stuff trying to find what I'd use the most.
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Go with all CH gear. It's trouble free and lasts forever.
my 2 cents
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Thanks for the replies so far folks.
As for some of the questions:
The PC is a quad core AMD with 7GB of RAM and 2TB of space.
Gforce 7900 with 512MB
I guess my budget is around $300 for the stick...
HUN
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$300 should get you real close to a full CH set-up. Check www.provantage.com for prices.
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Over the last 10+ years all I've used is CH gear. The only reason I've bought any new was to switch to USB stuff. The analog pedals are kept as a back-up because they can still be used with a USB adapter, but seeing as it is CH gear, I may never need to use a back-up! :aok
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CH leads the way.......behind Rangers :D
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There is new stuff on the way. If you can hang I would wait to see how it works out. I.E. the X65F and the warthog from thrustmaster.
Infidelz
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If you can get the full CH set for the money you have go for it.
The new Logitech one is FFB, if you like that.
I wouldn't go for the fighterstick(I have it) go for the one with fewer hats on it, with Track IR and the throttle hats, you really do not need the extra hats on the stick.
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I've had some issues with my CH setup. However, I am a strong supporter of that product. It is amazing what you can do with a good set up. Also they have the Ch hanger website that just has all kinds of information.
BTW, I may have my issue resolved. Going to test it tonight.
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C&H are second to none for precision and reliability. Just make sure you have a big wallet and even bigger hands!
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I guess I am stuck with my $99 saitek x52 it hasnt let me down not matter what I do to it so it can break down so I can buy one of these indestructible ch products. I am not joking, but i have spilled beer, water, juice and sometimes slobber while vulching a field, I have dropped it, janked it and slapped it, and ,except for the occasional out of calibration issue, the so called pos wont quit. btw did you look at the postings in technical support about all the people that are having problems with ch now. I have only owned one ch gear that i got on clearance and it didnt work so i returned it. this is my first x52 and I have had it for about 2 years. I guess I am stuck with it for a while longer.
semp
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lol dont worry gun you will be marginalized along with the other 75%..... seems alot of high minded typists love to overjoy about CH on the boards.......... truth be told they have their share of problems just like every other brand
I had my Logitech Wingman for nearly 14 years before I knocked it off my desk and stepped on it this spring........ otherwise it would still be in use......... and just as effective as any CH product on the market
Ive said it many times and will again........ the stick does not make you a better pilot.........
I dont see any CH owners admitting that they would suck if they owned a saitek or logitech ........ no because even the boastful realize that a $10 stick is just as good if you are a skilled pilot
get a stick that feels comfortable in your hand..... and has the features (buttons, hatswitches, etc) that you think will work best with your gameplay......
otherwise there is no credible evidence that any brand is better than another
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have CH stick and pedals....................... ..150.- total on e-bay stick brand new for 78.- ..........pedals for 65.- barely used........have had them 3 years now and no problems.........
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I've had an x52 for 4 years now and I don't have any problems with it. I haven't (yet, knock on wood) experienced it decalibrating. I like the different profiles and the other features it has. The new pro models are even cooler. If I ever have to get a new one that's going to be very near the top of my list (depending on what else is out in several years when mine finally wears out). I just finally got some of the saitek pedals too, and they work great. I like how they're farther apart than the CH pedals, and they still have the toe breaks.
I don't know about the new logitec stick that's out, but I didn't have a good experience with my old wingman when I started playing this game. Maybe it was all the beating it took, but I had some serious flutter issues with it. If I ever upgrade I might look into thrustmaster, though they're expensive and a little more high maintenance. I do know people that swear by them though.
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Well personally I'm still flying with a MS Sidewinder Prec 2 usb.
They average 4 - 6 years of flying time before they wear out, lose a button or get sloppy.
Normally if I am patient and watch on Ebay I can pick one up for between 20 and 30$ including shipping.
It may not be ideal, but considering my lack of coordination with my feet, and the years and years of flying with them.
I really don't see myself ever switching.
That being said if I was to switch I'd most likely go for something like the Saitek Aviator or the new cyborg.
I have a squadmate with the new logitech, and I'll be talking to him regularly to see how it holds up for him.
Logitech has earned a iffy reputation for the last several years with low quality pots.
But it sounds like they are trying to climb out of that hole.
Yes CH is good, but its not perfect, and its not trouble free. They have pots and switch's go bad also.
Also I have another squadmate (Baumer) who is tinkering with the idea of building a no moving parts joystick with load cells. Which could indeed be the ultimate stick for the dedicated AH pilot. No moving parts to wear, no pots to go bad, or spike.
Find what "feels" right and suits your needs.
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lol dont worry gun you will be marginalized along with the other 75%..... seems alot of high minded typists love to overjoy about CH on the boards.......... truth be told they have their share of problems just like every other brand
I had my Logitech Wingman for nearly 14 years before I knocked it off my desk and stepped on it this spring........ otherwise it would still be in use......... and just as effective as any CH product on the market
Ive said it many times and will again........ the stick does not make you a better pilot.........
I dont see any CH owners admitting that they would suck if they owned a saitek or logitech ........ no because even the boastful realize that a $10 stick is just as good if you are a skilled pilot
get a stick that feels comfortable in your hand..... and has the features (buttons, hatswitches, etc) that you think will work best with your gameplay......
otherwise there is no credible evidence that any brand is better than another
C&H isn't perfect, the 8 way hat switch is really high up on the head, you need big hands to be able to reach it comfortably. I myself use the 8 way hat switch on the throttle for views.
Doesn't have flashing lights either. :(
I have a perfectly new X-52 just collecting dust in my cupboard because it's total chit. In fact, I'm even thinking about doing a comparison write up if I believed that people felt my opinion was worth something.
Having an exspensive stick or HOTAS will not instantly make you a pro player overnight. However, it will make you reach your full potential, something that you cannot do with a £20 stick from P.C world.
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C&H isn't perfect, the 8 way hat switch is really high up on the head, you need big hands to be able to reach it comfortably. I myself use the 8 way hat switch on the throttle for views.
Doesn't have flashing lights either. :(
I have a perfectly new X-52 just collecting dust in my cupboard because it's total chit. In fact, I'm even thinking about doing a comparison write up if I believed that people felt my opinion was worth something.
Having an exspensive stick or HOTAS will not instantly make you a pro player overnight. However, it will make you reach your full potential, something that you cannot do with a £20 stick from P.C world.
Agreed.
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even if you dont reach your full potential at least you'll feel like an ace :D when u switch from a regular stick to one with separate throttle controls. gives you more realism. :airplane:
semp
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I don't know why everyone complains about Saitek. All in all they're good quality. Could be stronger, but things could always be stronger. The only actual complaint I have is that the spring isn't very tight, but it's something I quickly got used to. Other than that I'd love force feedback, and I would have preferred to see FFB in their new stick rather than the no movement whatever you call it.
Saitek is still good stuff, but everyone has their own preferences.
Edit: Oh yeah, a survey of the gear at the CON showed a heavy predominance of Saitek gear, with CH also proving very popular, either with stick and throttle or flight yoke.
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I don't know why everyone complains about Saitek. All in all they're good quality. Could be stronger, but things could always be stronger. The only actual complaint I have is that the spring isn't very tight, but it's something I quickly got used to. Other than that I'd love force feedback, and I would have preferred to see FFB in their new stick rather than the no movement whatever you call it.
Saitek is still good stuff, but everyone has their own preferences.
Edit: Oh yeah, a survey of the gear at the CON showed a heavy predominance of Saitek gear, with CH also proving very popular, either with stick and throttle or flight yoke.
The Saitek X-52 is a fantastic setup for the price, which about sums it up in my opinion. However, I can't get over the mechanical dead zone which plagues the X-52. It's still a massive step up from a standalone joystick. Being able to control every aspect of your game without adjusting you grip to much is a massive necessity if you want to improve.
The question you need to ask yourself is this. "Do I love the game enough to spend the extra money for a full CH setup". My answer was yes to that question, obviously. Was it worth it, without a doubt!
On the topic of this supposed "survey of the gear at the CON". I can well believe that more players had Saitek gear rather than CH, I bet most of them drive an SUV, but does that mean said SUV is better than Ferrari? No offence intended btw, I still drive around on a scooter. :D
Sometime next year, after the holidays are over, I'm going to put my CH gear aside and dust off my old X-52. I will no doubt spend a couple months, if not more time on evaluating it for a fair but just write up. Whether or not my opinion matters to anyone on these forums is another question. However, I've come across many video reviews on YouTube which praise the X-52. I completely disregard anything that comes out of their mouth when they can barely take off and land without crashing on an arcade game, let alone perform advanced aerial combat manoeuvres or pull God like snapshot in a fully fledged flight combat simulation game which I have the ability of doing.
To the AH2 community, please let me know if either a CH and/or a X-52 review would be of any use to you. I would only do a review if enough people from the forum showed interest. It would be my way of giving back to the community.
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I can well believe that more players had Saitek gear rather than CH, I bet most of them drive an SUV, but does that mean said SUV is better than Ferrari? No offence intended btw, I still drive around on a scooter. :D
well that depends........ do you plan to drive your ferrari uphill through the mud carrying a deer?
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well that depends........ do you plan to drive your ferrari uphill through the mud carrying a deer?
No, the bulter takes care of that for them.
P.S: Out of the wall of text I wrote, I love how you try to nitpick my quote. I could well have worded it as follows "I bet most of them drive an SUV and not Ferrari's also". kkthnxbye.
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it was picked apart because its an absolutely ridiculous analogy
and now on to the additional text you added in your edit that I found quite humorous........ at least if I understand you correctly.........
its your opinion that your ability to perform "god like" maneuvers is a direct result from having a CH setup? and in your opinion its not possible for someone without a CH to be "god like" such as yourself?
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Did you read my previous post?
Having an exspensive stick or HOTAS will not instantly make you a pro player overnight. However, it will make you reach your full potential.
You answered that question for yourself. Yes I have the "ability", but having the precision of CH gear means I can do EVERYTHING just that much more PRECISE.
As far as analogy goes, my one wasn't the best but was good enough to get my point across. It was hardy "picked apart".
Please don't try to start a debate with me, your stupidity is giving me a headache.
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Edit: maturity has its rewards......... someday you might reach them
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The Saitek X-52 is a fantastic setup for the price, which about sums it up in my opinion. However, I can't get over the mechanical dead zone which plagues the X-52. It's still a massive step up from a standalone joystick. Being able to control every aspect of your game without adjusting you grip to much is a massive necessity if you want to improve.
The question you need to ask yourself is this. "Do I love the game enough to spend the extra money for a full CH setup". My answer was yes to that question, obviously. Was it worth it, without a doubt!
On the topic of this supposed "survey of the gear at the CON". I can well believe that more players had Saitek gear rather than CH, I bet most of them drive an SUV, but does that mean said SUV is better than Ferrari? No offence intended btw, I still drive around on a scooter. :D
Sometime next year, after the holidays are over, I'm going to put my CH gear aside and dust off my old X-52. I will no doubt spend a couple months, if not more time on evaluating it for a fair but just write up. Whether or not my opinion matters to anyone on these forums is another question. However, I've come across many video reviews on YouTube which praise the X-52. I completely disregard anything that comes out of their mouth when they can barely take off and land without crashing on an arcade game, let alone perform advanced aerial combat manoeuvres or pull God like snapshot in a fully fledged flight combat simulation game which I have the ability of doing.
To the AH2 community, please let me know if either a CH and/or a X-52 review would be of any use to you. I would only do a review if enough people from the forum showed interest. It would be my way of giving back to the community.
Have paid $16.03 for 5 years now so investing in CH was the only way to go......
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Did you read my previous post?
You answered that question for yourself. Yes I have the "ability", but having the precision of CH gear means I can do EVERYTHING just that much more PRECISE.
As far as analogy goes, my one wasn't the best but was good enough to get my point across. It was hardy "picked apart".
Please don't try to start a debate with me, your stupidity is giving me a headache.
Ignore it Kazaa. It isn't worth sacrificing 30+ IQ points for.
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I went through 3 X-45's within 2.5 years and an X-52 in less than 6 months.
I now use:
CH Fighterstick
(http://www.kbombpc.com.au/shop/images/CH%20Products%20F-16%20Fighterstick%20USB.jpg)
and
CH Pro Pedals
(http://www.kbombpc.com.au/shop/images/CH%20Products%20Pro%20Pedals%20USB.jpg)
I do not regret buying these. I regret not getting them and "doing it right the first time".
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C&H isn't perfect, the 8 way hat switch is really high up on the head, you need big hands to be able to reach it comfortably. I myself use the 8 way hat switch on the throttle for views.
Doesn't have flashing lights either. :(
I have to squeeze my fingers close together on the stick in order to use my pinky on the pinky button (ie. the stick is not so big).
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its your opinion that your ability to perform "god like" maneuvers is a direct result from having a CH setup? and in your opinion its not possible for someone without a CH to be "god like" such as yourself?
Kazaa is a god and you obviously haven't fought him.
Please return to this thread after 2 hours in the DA with him any plane your choice. I look forward to the excuses you may well come up with. Please don't use your current stick setup as one.
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I have to squeeze my fingers close together on the stick in order to use my pinky on the pinky button (ie. the stick is not so big).
Mate, my friends don't call me "Little Lukey" for nothing, I'm only 5,6'. Gratz on your beastly paws!
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I've spent more on controllers over the years than I have on some of the vehicles I've owned.
Precision makes a big difference - which was why I loved the MS Sidewiders so much. Not so much in comparing pilots to pilot, but I have found it to be true that my own enjoyment suffers greatly when I use a crappy stick (because I spend so much energy fighting the gear) than when I use a quality stick. It's the pilot not the gear, though - I've known sim pilots who flew with a 2 Axis joystick and the keyboard for everything else yet could wipe the snot out of 99% of the rest regardless of what gear they had.
The biggest problem I have with Saitek (beyond to poor quality materials that wear "loose" in a few months and the obviously "never meant to be opened for repair" construction) is that the spring and sliding disk tensioning mechanism is just about the poorest simulation of a flight control I've ever seen - it requires the MOST effort to make the SLIGHTEST change off of center - whereas a real aircraft (in trim) can be precision controlled with a fingertip. This makes precision near impossible, and means that Saitek users are often fighting their sticks as much as the opponent when trying to make difficult shots.
The best stick I ever had was the original Logitech Wingman Force. The worst I've ever owned (for a day) was the Logitech Wingman Force 3D. The best HOTAS I've ever owned was a modified MS Sidewinder FF wired to SimPeds for rudder and a Suncom SFS throttle.
The CH stuff I have now is a decent, solid setup, with the weakest point being the construction of the rudders - arguably in no way is it perfect. The size of the stick can easily be dealt with if you have short hands by cutting a foam disk and taping it to the top of the palm rest.
<S>
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Bah all you spending 300$ on joystick gear. I'm a cheapy, I just go around dieing with the trusty ol:
Logitech (improvised) Rudder system: (running on 3 years with not even 1 problem)
(http://www.novabilgisayar.com/urunler/LOGITECH_Driving_Force_Pro.jpg)
And the Saitek Av8r: (had it maybe 6 months now, not sure what to try when it dies)
(http://www.itreviews.co.uk/graphics/normal/hardware/h1155.jpg)
One thing I can't stand about most Joysticks is the amount of buttons they put in reach of each hand. I don't like having more then 3-4 buttons and a hat in my right hands reach.
I never have enough money at one time to justify CH. :D
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Same here 1701E, I use the pedals from my Logitech Momo wheel for my rudder so I can switch to driving games (Grand Prix Legends anyone?) without too much usb faffing
(http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:Jep-ZcRKtNEqFM:http://foorum.sponest.ee/viewthread.php%3Faction-attachment%26tid%3D1950%26pid%3D45668)
Apart from that my X52 seems fine, I prefer the weaker spring over the stiffer X52 pro. I tried a CH stick and even with a foam pad my hand ached after a while from the ergonomics
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The really great thing about CH is that it is so easy to change out potentiometers if and when they do go bad. The shortest time I have had to change them out was eight years (my throttle) and I dont know about longest yet (obviously). :D
Now after spending $300 and the stick lasts lets say eight years you spend $20 ($10 for the part and $7+ for shipping) to fix it and you are good for another eight years. If you have to do that for all three controls (I have four actually) it might end up costing a total of $380. I would have to replace the Saitek and Logitech controls every three months to a year and deal with a lot more down time and expense.
I choose CH. :old:
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I really wish some of you ch owners would really stop with your "I am better because of my stick and lets da to prove it to you". that is just silly. just give your opinion and leave it at that. no point in arguing, you guys love your ch, that is great, we love our x52 that is great and some others love just the keyboard that's great too.
there's no such thing as "do it right the first time" it all comes down to a matter of preference. I bought ch gear and lasted me one day. I have had my x52 ,which i bought to replace the ch, for 2 years and still works great. based on that i could say that ch makes crappy products, but that would not be true. same for the x52 more people have problems with x52 because more people prefer it/buy it over the ch.
Me, I am not willing to spend $300 for a product that will last forever. I would rather spend $100 on a product that will last me 2-3 years, then buy it again if I have to. but then again that is my preference you guys think spending 300 is better then a big :aok.
semp
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The really great thing about CH is that it is so easy to change out potentiometers if and when they do go bad. The shortest time I have had to change them out was eight years (my throttle) and I dont know about longest yet (obviously). :D
Now after spending $300 and the stick lasts lets say eight years you spend $20 ($10 for the part and $7+ for shipping) to fix it and you are good for another eight years. If you have to do that for all three controls (I have four actually) it might end up costing a total of $380. I would have to replace the Saitek and Logitech controls every three months to a year and deal with a lot more down time and expense.
I choose CH. :old:
Are you talking about the Hotus Thustmaster or is this a pure CH product Joystick and Throttle set. Where did you buy it from?
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I really wish some of you ch owners would really stop with your "I am better because of my stick and lets da to prove it to you". that is just silly. just give your opinion and leave it at that. no point in arguing, you guys love your ch, that is great, we love our x52 that is great and some others love just the keyboard that's great too.
there's no such thing as "do it right the first time" it all comes down to a matter of preference. I bought ch gear and lasted me one day. I have had my x52 ,which i bought to replace the ch, for 2 years and still works great. based on that i could say that ch makes crappy products, but that would not be true. same for the x52 more people have problems with x52 because more people prefer it/buy it over the ch.
Me, I am not willing to spend $300 for a product that will last forever. I would rather spend $100 on a product that will last me 2-3 years, then buy it again if I have to. but then again that is my preference you guys think spending 300 is better then a big :aok.
semp
If the CH product lasted one day then why would you not send it back.....was it new....? I think not. There is definitely a difference in quality of a CH stick and rudder that I challenge you to dispute.Smoother controls and better reactions to controller input would ultimately equate to "god like " flying.Kazaa and BRUV are GREAT sticks and I would have to believe they could do what they do with a popcicle stick attached to a shoebox but quality definitely enhances they're skill. I myself have much better control with the CH setup I have, than any other setup prior and I will stick (no pun intended) with it until it goes down. Mind you stated in an earlier thread I can fix very easily problems with the CH or opt to send it back to CH and have them fix it for the price of shipping. Does any of your "Ungod" like gear companies do that . Trying sending a stick and or pedals other than CH for repair after 90 days let alone 2 to 5 years....................... :salute
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Check out the HFX Series IV joysticks!
http://www.chproducts.com/oem/hand_grip.html
http://www.chproducts.com/oem/hg_IV_multi_oval.html
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otherwise there is no credible evidence that any brand is better than another
Yes there is. Get a Gravis 4 button stick and compare it to a CH stick and you'll notice the difference in not only quality but also in accuracy. That is one of the main selling points of CH sticks, it's far more accurate than most sticks on the market and have been for at least the last 15 years or so. Sure, with sticks going digital, more sticks have become 'accurate' but not many have reached the accuracy of CH. But then, it's not like I know much, after all I only worked there for a few years as their Senior PC techs in the mid to late '90s.
ack-ack
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C&H isn't perfect, the 8 way hat switch is really high up on the head, you need big hands to be able to reach it comfortably.
That's because the owner, Chuck Hayes has big hands and all the stick molds were fitted to his hand.
ack-ack
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If the CH product lasted one day then why would you not send it back.....was it new....? I think not. There is definitely a difference in quality of a CH stick and rudder that I challenge you to dispute.Smoother controls and better reactions to controller input would ultimately equate to "god like " flying.Kazaa and BRUV are GREAT sticks and I would have to believe they could do what they do with a popcicle stick attached to a shoebox but quality definitely enhances they're skill. I myself have much better control with the CH setup I have, than any other setup prior and I will stick (no pun intended) with it until it goes down. Mind you stated in an earlier thread I can fix very easily problems with the CH or opt to send it back to CH and have them fix it for the price of shipping. Does any of your "Ungod" like gear companies do that . Trying sending a stick and or pedals other than CH for repair after 90 days let alone 2 to 5 years....................... :salute
it was brand new out of the box. and yes i did return it. and like i said before when the x52 wears out I gonna buy one of these great ch stick just to give it another chance, the thing is mine wont break down and trust me, I have tried :).
semp
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try and break sticks .............???? doesnt make much sense...... :huh
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Went from using a full x52 set up (stick, throttle and pedals) to now using a CH Fighter Stick, Saitek Throttle and Pedals (prefer the pedals to the CH ones as they are further apart).
The difference between my x52 stick and the ch stick is big, ch stick is much more accurate, allows me to ride the edge of the stall much much longer - that said, I was happy with the x52, but found it was holding me back in fights (thats my particular stick tho).
As for the choice of sticks, I'd go with a CH stick, saitek throttle and pedals (my throttle is so far over 2 years old with nary a glitch, ditto my pedals).
Just my opinion, ymmv
Wurzel
Edit:- If you want to find out how the x52 stick I had is doing now, ask Lormaxs (as I sent it to him as his went t/u!!)
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any input from a thrustmaster user ? come on give us ypur input
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any input from a thrustmaster user ? come on give us ypur input
Thrustmaster sitting under my desk keeping my feet warm.....nuff said......last a year......went to pedals...
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Just saw that CH is no longer family owned, bought out by some European industrial firm last year. Sad, I really did enjoy working for the Hayes family during my stint at CH many years ago. Hope this means the famous CH quality doesn't go down the crapper like Thrustmaster's did when they sold out to Guillemot.
ack-ack
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Ok then
I have owned and used in AH
A logitech twist stick(4-6 months till death)
A Saitech hotas system(bought it at the first con, 4-6 months till death by play)
A Thrust master cougar system(moded to hall sensors and uber upgrade after 4-6 months) then sold after 4-6 months
got tired of wrestling with the springs in that even though it did fly great.
and ONE CH set. I flew it for 2 years, then took a break for a few years, then flew it for 6 months, then a year + break, now am flying it again.
In all those years of using this system, across 3 computers, it has never ever ever ever ever raised one issue. It has never failed to just work perfectly in AH or IL2.
Does it make me a better pilot, no, but it never makes me a worse one, it is accurate, non spiking and very predictable in its play. My first set of joystick port CH pedals that I used with the saitek and Cougar have been in the closet for years. I went full USB when I got rid of the cougar.
So. Some people protest too much. When some of us bang the CH drum it is not from some kind of pathetic noodle envy. It is from dropping hundreds of dollars into this for years then finding that they dont have to spend or worry about joysticks anymore, they bought one that just works.
Not the sexiest, not metal, no exchangeable grips. lol
Just works. for gaming, which is what I do.
When I had the cougar I was like a joystick hobbiest not a fligh sim hobbyist.
But the uber cougar with halls, it had the best feel, quite a bit better feel then a CH stick......
I do have quite big hands though.
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My only advice with CH or any setup is make absolutely sure you have a good PSU.
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Thanks for the replies so far folks.
As for some of the questions:
The PC is a quad core AMD with 7GB of RAM and 2TB of space.
Gforce 7900 with 512MB
I guess my budget is around $300 for the stick...
HUN
check out Siatek x-64 series and add pedals that will keep it under 300 and have a nice set up. I use the X-52 for several years and no problems after i added the pedals
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Have been using the X-52, for 2 years now without a problem. Got the stick and throttle first then added pedals last spring. One advantage saitek has over CH is the twisty. You don't have to buy pedals to fly. Second BIG advantage for me is size. I have small hands and when I tried a CH once, it was uncomfortable because it was too big. The X-52 is adjustable. Finally, the X-52 is much cheaper than a CH setup. I'm still glad I got the X-52.
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Hope this means the famous CH quality doesn't go down the crapper like Thrustmaster's did when they sold out to Guillemot
...
Amen!
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I started out with a MS Sidewinder FFB which was great at the time. Over the years I had a couple of flightsticks leading me to the HOTAS Cougar which cost me >600 CHF at that time. It was sturdy and precise. The programming software required a degree in engineering but it was worth the trouble. I 'modded' it what didn't help it from slowly falling apart being hold together by duct tape finally.
Coming back to simming I choose the Logitech G940 despite the somewhat questionable reputation it has in these forums. And I haven't regreted it. It's an awesome HOTAS system with an abundance of buttons and even more rotaries than the Cougar. The programming software is somewhat limited but very user friendly. I cannot do the wild macro cylces I did with the Cougar software but it's more than enough for any sim out there (excluding the DCS series maybe). The stick itself is sturdy and has a great button layout for bigger hands (like mine). It's FFB which is more off a hindrance than a treat in AH but is great for FFB optimized sims. You can screw it to your simpit easily since it has pre-drilled holes. The throttle offers a dual/split mode which can be locked and unlocked during flying with one hand. Also it has illuminated buttons which can be programmed to change color (haven't figured that one out yet though). The rudders are the best pair I had since I started sim flying. It offers a wider stance than most which is great and it has toe brakes. I haven't had that spiking yet some people gripe about.
All in all the G940 is a wonderful care-free all in one packages at a very reasonable price. It might be overkill for AH but any serious simmer will quickly reveal its full potential, especially with modern war sim.
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any input from a thrustmaster user ? come on give us ypur input
Ok I think I can give a good opinion on pretty much everything up to the CH USB based gear. I have owned/flown with almost everything that was produced to play a cartoon airplane game with and still have some of them in boxes (never used) in a cabinet.
- Saitek - Currently using an X-52. It isn't the greatest but it does the job. The profile software sucks monkey balls so I just program and calibrate within AH. Overall it was CHEAP and I needed a cheap stick for my son since I wasn't going to give him a TM Cougar to learn with. I do use it quite a bit because I just don't have my TM gear setup for a quick flight all the time.
- Logitech - Owned several different ones for a couple of months in various stages and they never work long enough for me to do anything other than return and get my money back. Somehow I feel soiled and violated when I buy something from them that isn't a keyboard or mouse. They just don't seem to have their stuff together to make a decent bit of flight sim kit.
- CH - Used the original Flight Stick years ago and liked it but wanted more and was given a set of TM which I will talk about next. I continued to use it and even bought a full set of Fighter Stick, Throttle and pedals and thought they were very well made and worked great. I could not stand the way the pedals were so close together. I don't have any experience with their USB based items so I can't comment there but they make/made some good stuff to play these games with. I remember that the profile builder that they had back in the beginning was kinda clunky to use but worked fine once you learned the syntax. I really liked the CH gear back when I used it and it was a solid and well built item but ultimately I decided that TM had the better items on the market.
- TM - As mentioned above I was given a FCS/WCS with no pedals by a friend. I flew on that from time to time while I owned the CH and really could not find a difference in the two sets. I then bought an RCS set of pedals when I bought the FLCS-Pro/TQS (which got upgraded with the digital chips from Bob Church) and about that time frame I quit using the other and moved exclusively to my TM gear. I gave the CH stuff to a friend and he eventually gave it away after buying a TM Cougar setup like me. Anyway I sold all my used flight sim gear when I moved my family to California and that was one of the biggest mistakes I have ever made. Now I own a TM Cougar FLCS and TQS controller set with RCS pedals that have been upgraded and repaired using a Hall Sensor mod. My Cougar is still original condition but will most likely be getting the upgrade on the gimbals and then passed down to my oldest son for him to use. I am currently waiting on the newest TM gear that has been announced to see if I should buy a second Cougar or if I should wait on the A-10C Warthog. One last thing...I love using the Foxy software that comes with the Cougar; it makes the programming of the gear easy and works great in all sims that I have played using it.
So I personally love my TM Cougar and RCS pedals setup. I get by with the X-52 that I may pass down to my son if I don't buy the new TM gear and I am waiting to upgrade the current TM gear.
BUT in order to make the decision that is best for you. Try each one out either at a friends house, in the store, somewhere because only you can decide what is best for you.