Aces High Bulletin Board

General Forums => Hardware and Software => Topic started by: Torcher on April 27, 2010, 02:29:26 PM

Title: Finally Taking the CH Plunge
Post by: Torcher on April 27, 2010, 02:29:26 PM
After years of MSFF2 usage ... and cannibalizing many EBay-bought replacements for parts ... I'm going to take the CH plunge and hope I don't twist the stick off thinking it's the rudder. Couple of questions:

Looking at the Fighter or Combat stick and rudder pedals. Do the sticks have a throttle aspect to them or do I need to get the separate throttle unit? The description mentions a throttle "Z" axis, but none of the pics show what I would think is a throttle slider on wither stick.

If I use their software for the programming (I've read the pros and cons ... seems to be like TrackIR; some like it some don't) and just use AH for scaling/deadband, are there any "conflicts" that come up between AH's keymapping and the CM software?

Thanks in advance.
Title: Re: Finally Taking the CH Plunge
Post by: SIK1 on April 27, 2010, 02:58:44 PM
The fighterstick does have a throttle wheel on the base, so no you don't have to buy throttle.

I don't use the CH control manager in AH so can't help you with that.
Title: Re: Finally Taking the CH Plunge
Post by: Masherbrum on April 27, 2010, 03:07:18 PM
The wheel on the left side of the stick, on the base, is the throttle wheel.   The other two wheels (right and bottom side of base) should always be centered in their "indents".   They adjust the X/Y axises.  I also do not use the CH Control Manager.

I went through 3 Saitek HOTAS sets (2 X45's and an X52) and have had no problems or regrets.  

Title: Re: Finally Taking the CH Plunge
Post by: Getback on April 27, 2010, 09:53:18 PM
Get the throttle, many more buttons and of course options. Install the CH manager software. It actually has some drivers for the hardware.
Title: Re: Finally Taking the CH Plunge
Post by: Ack-Ack on April 28, 2010, 12:53:50 AM
After years of MSFF2 usage ... and cannibalizing many EBay-bought replacements for parts ... I'm going to take the CH plunge and hope I don't twist the stick off thinking it's the rudder. Couple of questions:

Looking at the Fighter or Combat stick and rudder pedals. Do the sticks have a throttle aspect to them or do I need to get the separate throttle unit? The description mentions a throttle "Z" axis, but none of the pics show what I would think is a throttle slider on wither stick.

If I use their software for the programming (I've read the pros and cons ... seems to be like TrackIR; some like it some don't) and just use AH for scaling/deadband, are there any "conflicts" that come up between AH's keymapping and the CM software?

Thanks in advance.

Both joysticks have a throttle but to really get the most out of CH gear, a HOTAS setup is pretty much a must.  Also, what other kind of flight sims do you play?  If you primarily play prop flight sims, then the Fighterstick is a little bit of over kill with all the extra buttons and the Combat Stick is much more suited for prop flight sims.  However, if you play both jet and prop sims, then the Fighterstick might be the better choice but take stock of what you need.  There is no need to pay the extra cash for the Fighterstick to get a couple of extra buttons you'll rarely use.

ack-ack
Title: Re: Finally Taking the CH Plunge
Post by: CRYPTIC on April 28, 2010, 07:32:04 AM
I personally like the extra buttons.but to each is own. There are some amazing things you can do with the Control Manager.
Title: Re: Finally Taking the CH Plunge
Post by: gyrene81 on April 28, 2010, 07:35:53 AM
I have been looking at a CH setup for a couple of weeks myself...when I do take the plunge this is what I personally have determined to be the most bang for the buck.

Combatstick 568
http://www.amazon.com/CH-Products-Combatstick-Programmable-Functions/dp/B00006B84W/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&s=videogames&qid=1272457872&sr=1-7 (http://www.amazon.com/CH-Products-Combatstick-Programmable-Functions/dp/B00006B84W/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&s=videogames&qid=1272457872&sr=1-7)

Pro Throttle
http://www.amazon.com/CH-Products-Throttle-Switches-3-Buttons/dp/B00006B84Z/ref=pd_sim_e_2 (http://www.amazon.com/CH-Products-Throttle-Switches-3-Buttons/dp/B00006B84Z/ref=pd_sim_e_2)

Pro-pedals
http://www.amazon.com/CH-Products-Pedals-Simulator-300-111/dp/B0000512IE/ref=pd_cp_e_2 (http://www.amazon.com/CH-Products-Pedals-Simulator-300-111/dp/B0000512IE/ref=pd_cp_e_2)

Total cost $283.20

You might be able to find the throttle and pedals for a bit less elsewhere but Amazon ships very fast and free...I've found lower prices but the shipping rates were outrageous.

Title: Re: Finally Taking the CH Plunge
Post by: Torcher on April 28, 2010, 07:41:37 AM
Thanks all for your replies.

Ended up ordering the Combatstick and pedals. I figure I can always add the separate throttle later.

Went through Amazon (Buy.com) for around $175 with free shipping. Got my "Your FedEx package has been shipped"  around 4 hours later ... suhweet.
Title: Re: Finally Taking the CH Plunge
Post by: maddafinga on April 28, 2010, 07:45:25 AM
I have the  fighterstick and throttle and pedals, so you'd think that the throttle wheel on the stick would be useless, but, I use it to control the engine rpm, and that works wonderfully.  You can dial the rpms down easily to really stretch your gas when  you're on fumes, or if you're a glider you can feather the prop, it's handy.  I like all the buttons, I pretty much have everything mapped to my stick and only have to touch the keyboard to type.  If you get creative, you can come up with something good to do with every button, just leave them unassigned until you start to discover a function you need sometimes, then program it.  Before you know it, you'll have them all programed.
Title: Re: Finally Taking the CH Plunge
Post by: Hap on April 28, 2010, 09:08:30 AM
I never got the hang of rudder pedals.  :(
Title: Re: Finally Taking the CH Plunge
Post by: Bruv119 on April 28, 2010, 12:37:33 PM
Thanks all for your replies.

Ended up ordering the Combatstick and pedals. I figure I can always add the separate throttle later.

Went through Amazon (Buy.com) for around $175 with free shipping. Got my "Your FedEx package has been shipped"  around 4 hours later ... suhweet.

won't regret it m8,  you can get away with not having the throttle but ya might aswell go the whole hog right?
Title: Re: Finally Taking the CH Plunge
Post by: CRYPTIC on April 29, 2010, 11:44:38 AM
Here is where I found the best price when I went from anolog to USB. 

http://www.provantage.com/scripts/search.dll/Q-P?MAX=30&MAN=CHPD&QUERY=ch+products&SORT=3 (http://www.provantage.com/scripts/search.dll/Q-P?MAX=30&MAN=CHPD&QUERY=ch+products&SORT=3)
Title: Re: Finally Taking the CH Plunge
Post by: zack1234 on April 29, 2010, 12:20:08 PM
Bruv has a gold plated CH stick he keeps in a shrine :old:
in the corner of his cell :old:
Title: Re: Finally Taking the CH Plunge
Post by: ink on April 29, 2010, 01:52:17 PM
I have the  fighterstick and throttle and pedals, so you'd think that the throttle wheel on the stick would be useless, but, I use it to control the engine rpm, and that works wonderfully.  You can dial the rpms down easily to really stretch your gas when  you're on fumes, or if you're a glider you can feather the prop, it's handy.  I like all the buttons, I pretty much have everything mapped to my stick and only have to touch the keyboard to type.  If you get creative, you can come up with something good to do with every button, just leave them unassigned until you start to discover a function you need sometimes, then program it.  Before you know it, you'll have them all programed.

exactly the way I use it, although I am using the X-52 throttle, I went through so many saitek sticks they all are crap, this fighter stick is DA balls,once the X-52 throttle is cooked and saitek peddles are toast, I am going all CH and I will never go back.
Title: Re: Finally Taking the CH Plunge
Post by: Torcher on April 29, 2010, 02:50:23 PM
Holy cr@p-in-a-hat :O Just checked on my FedEx tracking and the stick and peddles are already delivered :x

Ordered Monday from Amazon (Buy.com) and there three days later with the standard free shipping. So much for yardwork when I get home from work. Plus, just remembered I have an old X52 throttle I may resurrect.
Title: Re: Finally Taking the CH Plunge
Post by: Kenne on April 29, 2010, 04:05:31 PM
I have the pro throt and pedals, but an old USB 4 button JS.
Title: Re: Finally Taking the CH Plunge
Post by: Getback on April 29, 2010, 06:27:21 PM
Holy cr@p-in-a-hat :O Just checked on my FedEx tracking and the stick and peddles are already delivered :x

Ordered Monday from Amazon (Buy.com) and there three days later with the standard free shipping. So much for yardwork when I get home from work. Plus, just remembered I have an old X52 throttle I may resurrect.


Long work day  :lol :lol

I ordered Amazon.com and had it in 2 days using the free service. Ordered some stuff from Newegg and it took 2 weeks for their free shipping.
Title: Re: Finally Taking the CH Plunge
Post by: maddafinga on April 29, 2010, 06:27:56 PM
exactly the way I use it, although I am using the X-52 throttle, I went through so many saitek sticks they all are crap, this fighter stick is DA balls,once the X-52 throttle is cooked and saitek peddles are toast, I am going all CH and I will never go back.

When I first started playing Aw, I bought a cheap MS sidewinder stick, a very old one, I think it had two buttons.  That was after reading Brooke's manual and before playing the game.  Just reading I knew I was hooked immediately.  After about a week of the crappy stick, I ordered a complete TM rig, the flcs tqs and rcs getup, those rudder pedals were great.  In fact, the whole rig was, but the stick crapped out on me after about a year of everyday use.  I tried to fix it but couldn't.  

Then I ordered a CH rig, the old gameport stuff, which I loved and stuck with until aw died, around the time that the usb stuff started really coming out.  I played FA for a while while it was on the Zone (and Rapier was running it, it was good then) and I was here for a few camps too, all still using my CH rig, it was nearly indestructible.  I say nearly because I lost it in an apartment fire.  

When I came back here last year, I ordered a Saitek rig, because it was cheaper.  It took me about two months to get myself a CH getup again, and I love it just as much.  They just make great stuff.  It simply works and you just don't think about it at all when you're flying.  

Once you get  your full rig Ink, you'll wonder what took you so long.