Aces High Bulletin Board

General Forums => Hardware and Software => Topic started by: GrnEagle Jr on January 30, 2010, 03:31:10 PM

Title: I need a new Joystick
Post by: GrnEagle Jr on January 30, 2010, 03:31:10 PM
What are some cheap joysticks with a twist rudder for less then 50$
Title: Re: I need a new Joystick
Post by: 1701E on January 30, 2010, 03:41:19 PM
Saitek:
>Aviator (about 35-40$)
>ST290 (20$)
>Cyborg (think it's under 50$, can't be positive)

Logitech:
>Extreme 3D Pro (20-30$)


There are some others but those are the most common, and easiest to find.
Title: Re: I need a new Joystick
Post by: Ghosth on January 30, 2010, 03:44:07 PM
Saitek ST-290 (Walmart)
Saitek Aviator  (Best Buy)
Might look at the Saitek Cyborg EVO

MS sidewinder Precision 2 USB (Ebay, they don't make them anymore 25-35$)


Title: Re: I need a new Joystick
Post by: phatzo on January 30, 2010, 03:44:40 PM
if you have to do it cheap the logitech extreme 3d pro is probably the best cheap stick, if it had a pinky button I'd give it extra credit for the price.
(http://images.tigerdirect.ca/itemdetails/L/L23/L23-6268/L23-6268-callout1.jpg)
Title: Re: I need a new Joystick
Post by: GrnEagle Jr on January 30, 2010, 03:46:31 PM
does the logitech extreme 3d pro have a twist rudder
Title: Re: I need a new Joystick
Post by: 1701E on January 30, 2010, 03:48:40 PM
does the logitech extreme 3d pro have a twist rudder


All of them listed so far include Twisty Stick Rudder function.  So, yes, 3D Pro has it. :)
Title: Re: I need a new Joystick
Post by: JunkyII on January 30, 2010, 05:07:18 PM
I use a 3d pro....but I got the throttle and pedals to go with it so I OWN :D :salute
Title: Re: I need a new Joystick
Post by: Enker on January 30, 2010, 05:09:16 PM
I use a Logitech Extreme 3D Pro, and am quite satisfied with it. A nice step up from my old Attack 3. The trigger has gotten a little loose after a year and a half of serious abuse, but the stick is still pretty sound. The base buttons are a bit odd to push, and the buttons near the hat don't register every single time, but that could be because of the aforementioned abuse.

Go with the 3D Pro, it's cheap, sturdy, and cheap.

I have no experience with Saiteks, so I have no opinion on their products.
Title: Re: I need a new Joystick
Post by: MrAxe on January 30, 2010, 07:30:40 PM
Just picked up a extreme 3d pro. Love it after one night. Took some getting used to after flying with a gamestorm aw3 era Microsoft Sidewinder. My first thought was, damn this stick is stiff!! But got to thinking maybe my stick was just that old.

Squadies have mentioned that after nine-twelve months it may need replaced, but I haven't gotten that far!

Also took me a few sorties to figure out the best button mapping for my play.
+1 3d pro!
<S> and good luck with whatever stick you choose!  :cheers:
Title: Re: I need a new Joystick
Post by: 38ruk on January 30, 2010, 08:24:36 PM
I'm using a thrustmaster T1600 right now and it's been really good .  I've had everything from a full ch setup to a st290... prolly tried 20 different sticks over the years .  My favorite was a microsoft PP2.
Title: Re: I need a new Joystick
Post by: W7LPNRICK on January 30, 2010, 08:55:55 PM
if you have to do it cheap the logitech extreme 3d pro is probably the best cheap stick, if it had a pinky button I'd give it extra credit for the price.
(http://images.tigerdirect.ca/itemdetails/L/L23/L23-6268/L23-6268-callout1.jpg)

YES! The best. I bought mine at best buy for $29. It is soooo superior to my old saitek 290 pro, there's no comparison. Take your time to set all the buttons and practice with them. Only assign the most used to the stick.  Also, you can set Rt/Lt throttles to get extreme turns in multi-engine aircraft. :banana:   :joystick:
Title: Re: I need a new Joystick
Post by: Wingnutt on January 30, 2010, 09:25:44 PM
anything from saitek is good, there is some debate about the quality of logitech gear, ive never had any issues myself, just saying.
Title: Re: I need a new Joystick
Post by: MrAxe on January 30, 2010, 09:27:04 PM
YES! The best. I bought mine at best buy for $29. It is soooo superior to my old saitek 290 pro, there's no comparison. Take your time to set all the buttons and practice with them. Only assign the most used to the stick.  Also, you can set Rt/Lt throttles to get extreme turns in multi-engine aircraft. :banana:   :joystick:

You hax!  My 3d pro only has one throttle and I got it from best buy as well!!  :O
Title: Re: I need a new Joystick
Post by: W7LPNRICK on January 30, 2010, 09:53:07 PM
You hax!  My 3d pro only has one throttle and I got it from best buy as well!!  :O

No, you set the buttons to chose rt or lt throttle neaner neaner  :rofl

Wingnut- I've had 2 Saitek 290 pro's. The Logitech Ext 3D pro is a definite upgrade. The Saitek felt like a cheap toy in your hand, it was light weight construction with hallow plastic shell. The Logitech is my first of that brand, but it is HEAVY Duty, feels strong and durable, it holds up to rough use. I broke 2 saiteck trigger housings, repaired them by splitting the case and pouring it full of epoxy to stiffen the case and trigger mount. In my hands there is no question, I've had both recently.  :salute
Title: Re: I need a new Joystick
Post by: MrAxe on January 30, 2010, 11:27:40 PM
Ahh good point. I have mine setup kinda funky, gotta figure out a good mapping. But still, for $30, the 3d pro rules. Ironically it's helped me conserve e in fights because my Microsoft Sidewinder was so flimsy and this actually requires some wrist to go all the way in a direction of travel.
Title: Re: I need a new Joystick
Post by: flatiron1 on January 31, 2010, 08:15:04 AM
use your old stick for extra buttons. I have my old logitec attack and extreme 3d right here with my CH fighterstick. Gives me a extra 20 buttons to program and much easier than using leyboard. One is set up strictly for GV's
Title: Re: I need a new Joystick
Post by: Shifty on January 31, 2010, 08:17:52 AM
use your old stick for extra buttons. I have my old logitec attack and extreme 3d right here with my CH fighterstick. Gives me a extra 20 buttons to program and much easier than using leyboard. One is set up strictly for GV's

Great idea Flat.  :aok It seems the longer I play this game the more buttons I need.
Title: Re: I need a new Joystick
Post by: Gooss on January 31, 2010, 12:52:01 PM
I've had a Thrustmaster T.16000M for about a month.  About $30. 

I wanted a twisty, too.

Smooth.  Stiff spring.  More buttons than my beloved MSFFB2.

Amazon's List of Sellers:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B001S0RTU0/ref=sr_1_olp_1?ie=UTF8&s=miscellaneous&qid=1264963805&sr=8-1&condition=new

Good luck.

HONK!
Gooss
Title: Re: I need a new Joystick
Post by: justIN on January 31, 2010, 08:42:55 PM
Thrustmaster T.1600,is a koose stick compared to the 3D pro from logitech.I had bought one and hate it ytried it fo one week and it sit's in the closet.
Title: Re: I need a new Joystick
Post by: Shuffler on January 31, 2010, 09:16:27 PM
 Also, you can set Rt/Lt throttles to get extreme turns in multi-engine aircraft. :banana:   :joystick:

 :rofl


Multi throttles are fun to play with... not to fight with.
Title: Re: I need a new Joystick
Post by: 38ruk on February 01, 2010, 10:36:50 AM
:rofl


Multi throttles are fun to play with... not to fight with.


Yep I've had a multi throttle setup for years and i've never used it for anything but messing around .
Title: Re: I need a new Joystick
Post by: Estes on February 01, 2010, 11:10:02 AM
Do I really hafta be the first to say it? Save your money and get CH gear! :) Seriously though, ive never used any logitech gear but ive always heard they have the tendacy to be flakey.

My first stick was a MS sidewinder FF2, great stick. Still have it, not entirely sure if it still works and im not sure what they run on ebay nowadays.

My first saitek stick was a cyborg something something. Then I upgraded to the X45 when it was relatively new, alot of folks disliked the rocker rudder but I didnt find it too bad.

After the X45 I had an X52, then moved on to the X52 pro. Both X52s are twisty sticks, not sure what they run for now either. But overall the saiteks are good sticks for the price, my only gripe with the saiteks are the hat switches tend to go wonky after short periods and they tend to have some play in the stick as well.

Now I have all CH gear, but before the CH gear I laid down a substanial amount of cash for the cougar HOTAS (which a squaddie of mine - silat, said NOT to get. But what does he know right? ;) )

Once I got the cougar, I hated it. All kinds of problems with the hats, which you have to mod with aftermarket pots to get the hats to work the way they should have right outta the box.

Good luck with whatever stick you get. YMMV.
Title: Re: I need a new Joystick
Post by: bbosen on February 01, 2010, 02:00:28 PM
... gotta figure out a good mapping. But still, for $30, the 3d pro rules.

Hehe MrAxe: Welcome to the controversial world of Logitech Extreme 3dPro users. Most of the posts here are critical of that stick, but I've had great luck with it. I map mine like this:

(http://TechVideoReview.com/FlightSimMovies/General/ControlsAndCockpits/AcesHighControls.jpg)

There are some brief video clips describing my entire setup here:

http://techvideoreview.com/FlightSimMovies/AcesHigh/Training/AcesHighTrainingByPeabodyPage02Full.htm

I hope this works out as well for you as it does for me!


-Peabody-
Title: Re: I need a new Joystick
Post by: JunkyII on February 01, 2010, 03:13:14 PM
Not a bad set-up bbosen....but I think the Hats are better served for views :salute
Title: Re: I need a new Joystick
Post by: SirLoin on February 01, 2010, 03:47:00 PM
Hehe MrAxe: Welcome to the controversial world of Logitech Extreme 3dPro users. Most of the posts here are critical of that stick, but I've had great luck with it. I map mine like this:

(http://TechVideoReview.com/FlightSimMovies/General/ControlsAndCockpits/AcesHighControls.jpg)

There are some brief video clips describing my entire setup here:

http://techvideoreview.com/FlightSimMovies/AcesHigh/Training/AcesHighTrainingByPeabodyPage02Full.htm

I hope this works out as well for you as it does for me!




How about a thread where you post a picture of your stick and how it's mapped?Would be interesting.


Title: Re: I need a new Joystick
Post by: trax1 on February 01, 2010, 06:01:35 PM
I own the Cyborg Evo, if you get it don't go with the FF version I've had nothing but problems with it due to the FF on it.
Title: Re: I need a new Joystick
Post by: Enker on February 01, 2010, 06:31:43 PM
This is my set up with everything else mapped to the keyboard, sans MS Paint hotrod flames:
(http://i383.photobucket.com/albums/oo280/Enker_photo/L23-6268-callout1.jpg)


In reality, I just pound at the bottom buttons until I get the desired result. I'm too used to the keyboard.
Title: Re: I need a new Joystick
Post by: 1701E on February 01, 2010, 07:01:49 PM
You all must have good memory...When I used a 3D Pro I never used the bottom buttons since they always confused me.

I use the Av8R now and have all the buttons I need on the joystick....and a bunch of useless ones.

(http://www.nforcershq.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/saitek-aviator-avr8-flight-stick.jpg)

I only use the bottom part for Gear/Tailhook, and those are rarely used (throttle exempt from the "bottom part")!  99% of the time I only use:

(http://www.ocmodshop.com/images/reviews/input_devices/saitek_av8r/saitek_av8r_20.jpg)

Mapped as Left to Right: Fire Secondary, Weapon Select, Zoom toggle.  Trigger is Primary guns and Hat for views.  Anything else is done via keyboard.  Tried using an X-52 (hate the stupid thing) and the buttons confused the crap out of me. :)
Title: Re: I need a new Joystick
Post by: MrAxe on February 01, 2010, 08:38:27 PM
Right now I have bottom buttons as wep, look up, zoom in, zoom out, flaps up, flaps down. Ill change that in the morning. Didn't know two sticks were an option. Ill use the Sidewinder for gv and reevaluate my 3d pro mapping!
Title: Re: I need a new Joystick
Post by: W7LPNRICK on February 03, 2010, 03:15:07 PM
Ahh good point. I have mine setup kinda funky, gotta figure out a good mapping. But still, for $30, the 3d pro rules. Ironically it's helped me conserve e in fights because my Microsoft Sidewinder was so flimsy and this actually requires some wrist to go all the way in a direction of travel.
Yup! Like I said, it doesn't feel cheap like you're gonna break it. Feels like it might actually work in a real plane. :D
Title: Re: I need a new Joystick
Post by: W7LPNRICK on February 03, 2010, 03:17:30 PM
:rofl


Multi throttles are fun to play with... not to fight with.
Not sure Shuf, Coola used it to kill everyone around him in mid war. I think it was him.
Title: Re: I need a new Joystick
Post by: W7LPNRICK on February 03, 2010, 03:19:18 PM
Not a bad set-up bbosen....but I think the Hats are better served for views :salute
rgr! :rock
Title: Re: I need a new Joystick
Post by: W7LPNRICK on February 03, 2010, 03:41:31 PM
(http://images.tigerdirect.ca/itemdetails/L/L23/L23-6268/L23-6268-callout1.jpg)

Hat switch for views
1 dive brakes
2 view up-behind
3 wep
4 view straight up
5 global fire all guns
6 secondary weapons
7 flaps up
8 flaps dwn
9 Shift up
10 shift dwn
11 left engine throttle
12 both engines throttle   :airplane: