General Forums => Hardware and Software => Topic started by: gpwurzel on November 22, 2025, 03:52:57 PM
Title: Hotas Recommendations
Post by: gpwurzel on November 22, 2025, 03:52:57 PM
Working on getting back in game, and my current hotas (x52 from saitek) wont connect to windows 11 (driver issue), so I'm thinking its way too old kinda deal
What recommendations do we have, games will be a lot of flightsims, as I dont play anything else pretty much.
Thanks,
Wurzel
Title: Re: Hotas Recommendations
Post by: AKIron on November 22, 2025, 03:57:46 PM
I like Virpil but it is a bit expensive. Many love their VKB Gladiators etc...
Title: Re: Hotas Recommendations
Post by: AKIron on November 22, 2025, 04:03:55 PM
I have VKB pedals and like them a lot. Mine do not have toe brakes which is no biggie for me.
Title: Re: Hotas Recommendations
Post by: gpwurzel on November 22, 2025, 04:10:13 PM
Or is anyone aware of a programmable software that will allow me to use the throttle portion in the meantime.
Appreciate the info AKIron
Title: Re: Hotas Recommendations
Post by: AKIron on November 22, 2025, 04:25:08 PM
Title: Re: Hotas Recommendations
Post by: gpwurzel on November 22, 2025, 07:12:28 PM
That never opens anything to download, appreciate the assist though. Looking at options for replacement now sigh!! :grin:
Title: Re: Hotas Recommendations
Post by: Spikes on November 22, 2025, 08:01:32 PM
X52 should be fine with W11 though I did need to install the drivers/software for it to work properly that I can recall. Didn't need to use the software, though.
I'd recommend vkb, they also offer free shipping now I believe which was a large expense prior. I have the Gladiator NXT, STECS Standard, and Mk 4 pedals.
Title: Re: Hotas Recommendations
Post by: AKIron on November 22, 2025, 10:23:51 PM
.
Title: Re: Hotas Recommendations
Post by: AKIron on November 22, 2025, 10:31:51 PM
.
Title: Re: Hotas Recommendations
Post by: Eagler on November 23, 2025, 07:19:54 AM
Found this in comments..
"This, hit the windows key, type joy.cpl and hit enter.... done"
In the thread here: https://www.reddit.com/r/hotas/comments/1ip2c5a/just_bought_an_x52_pro_my_first_flight_stick/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=mweb3x&utm_name=mweb3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button
I didn't think windows needed special drivers for the X52 to work in AH as long as you can see them in game controller window in windows..
Eagler
Title: Re: Hotas Recommendations
Post by: hazmatt on November 23, 2025, 08:09:31 AM
For the money I like the WINWING URSA MINOR Fighter Joystick. It feels well made compared to other sticks in the same price range and you can use it with whatever throttle you want.
Title: Re: Hotas Recommendations
Post by: Animl-AW on November 23, 2025, 09:22:48 AM
X52 should be fine with W11 though I did need to install the drivers/software for it to work properly that I can recall. Didn't need to use the software, though.
I'd recommend vkb, they also offer free shipping now I believe which was a large expense prior. I have the Gladiator NXT, STECS Standard, and Mk 4 pedals.
This^^^
He talked me into VKB, very happy with it. Very smooth.
Title: Re: Hotas Recommendations
Post by: AKIron on November 23, 2025, 10:14:59 AM
Whichever way you decide to go there are a few tools that will expand the functionality of your controls. Joystick Gremlin/vJoy and Voice attack. The former free the latter $10. Voice Attack may be the best $10 I've ever spent.
Title: Re: Hotas Recommendations
Post by: AKIron on November 23, 2025, 10:25:56 AM
I don't even use VA much for actual voice commands anymore though it works well for that. I use it more as a macro tool. One joystick button performs a sequence of commands.
Title: Re: Hotas Recommendations
Post by: AKIron on November 23, 2025, 11:16:13 AM
I mentioned that my VKB rudder pedals do not have toe brakes. They have only one axis. One example of what I use Joystick Gremlin for is discrete toe brakes. One axis for left and one for right. I do that by splitting a dial axis on my Virpil throttle. The dial is just one axis so can't be applied natively to two separate in game axes. JG let's me spilt it and assign each half to a vJoy axis. I then assign one vJoy axis to the left wheel brake and the other to the right. I have another axis on my Virpil stick that I use for applying braking to both wheels evenly at the same time.
You can get pretty creative with these tools.
Title: Re: Hotas Recommendations
Post by: gpwurzel on November 23, 2025, 01:26:43 PM
Ordering from VKB - very much appreciate the recommendations - its the throttle quadrant causing the issue, as I use a CH joystick. Doesn't get recognised by USB, and wont allow update of drivers, which are not installed.
Ho hum.
Appreciate the info on the pedals AKIron, may well hit you up once everything arrives.
I expect each and every one of you to kill me in short order once I get back :grin:
Wurzel
Title: Re: Hotas Recommendations
Post by: AKIron on November 24, 2025, 11:43:02 AM
Most modern HOTAS use hall effect sensors these days. At least for the main axes. These are not prone to jitters as pots are. Even so some manufacturers will slip in pots on some of the "accessory" axes. A little jitter around the center can be dealt with through dead zones. Sometimes, like with sliders, you may want to use them in various positions throughout their range. A little jitter may still not be a problem. If it is then there is a filter you can use with Joystick Gremlin that creates a moving dead zone in whatever size around the stopping point you want. I use it for the zoom axis in games that support that. It doesn't just create a stepped range. You might stop right on the edge of one of the steps and a little jitter would cross that boundary. Very noticeable if your view is zooming in and out even a little. Instead it creates a deadzone (of 3 in my preference) around wherever you stop the axis.
Title: Re: Hotas Recommendations
Post by: gpwurzel on November 24, 2025, 11:46:39 AM
Gotcha, thank you. Waiting for all these to arrive is a bit like early christmas lol........very much appreciate all your help,
Wurzel
Title: Re: Hotas Recommendations
Post by: Animl-AW on November 24, 2025, 01:38:17 PM
Edit Here is 2025 hotas reviews. Evidently he didn’t enable embedding https://youtu.be/2z54NHzy_Gc
Title: Re: Hotas Recommendations
Post by: Shuffler on November 25, 2025, 09:29:14 AM
Almost everything is better then my old 8 bit CH gear now. ROTFLMAO
Title: Re: Hotas Recommendations
Post by: AKIron on November 25, 2025, 10:19:17 AM
Gotcha, thank you. Waiting for all these to arrive is a bit like early christmas lol........very much appreciate all your help,
Wurzel
Indeed. Please let us know how you like what you get.
Title: Re: Hotas Recommendations
Post by: AKIron on November 25, 2025, 10:25:57 AM
What are you doing for head tracking Wurzel? I've used TrackIR for a long time and like it a lot. There are cheaper alternatives like in the video below but I can't speak about them.
Title: Re: Hotas Recommendations
Post by: gpwurzel on November 25, 2025, 11:59:16 AM
Wife ordered me the pimax crystal light, so going to use the inbuilt 6dof tracking on that, I have trackir as a standby if that doesn't work out. Loved the immersion from trackir, hoping this will be even better, time will tell lol.....
Title: Re: Hotas Recommendations
Post by: Eagler on November 25, 2025, 12:42:48 PM
If you have not experienced vr you are in for a treat..it blew away trackir for me..
It takes a little while to get used to..like 2 days/hours for me, longer for some...a desk fan blowing in your face might help..
Be sure to order the dmas earpiece upgrade if you have not already..
Eagler
Title: Re: Hotas Recommendations
Post by: gpwurzel on November 25, 2025, 12:48:22 PM
Thanks Eagler, already ordered lol........and appreciate the info on the tracking. Looking forward to getting back......easy kills are returning!!!!
Title: Re: Hotas Recommendations
Post by: AKIron on November 25, 2025, 12:51:24 PM
Brother has a Pimax Crystal and loves it. I bought the first consumer Oculus Rift and later a Quest 2. The Rift didn't have high enough resolution for me and the Quest 2 sweet spot is too small. Gave them up. VR is great and some won't play without it but not for me.
Title: Re: Hotas Recommendations
Post by: The Fugitive on November 25, 2025, 01:09:11 PM
I was most happy being ignorant about what is available these days when it comes to "Hotas", but these threads have opened my eyes and one of you guys are going to have to call my wife to explain this! :devil
Title: Re: Hotas Recommendations
Post by: Brooke on November 25, 2025, 04:20:35 PM
Wurz! Hello!
Please come fly with us in the scenario in March (or so).
I miss the Wurz!
Title: Re: Hotas Recommendations
Post by: gpwurzel on November 25, 2025, 05:17:28 PM
Hey Brooke, hoping to be back and able to actually fly by then, so most probably count me in.
Fugitive, yeah, I was shocked at what HOTAS equipment was out there, really liked the virpil gear, but the vkb stuff fit my budget a little better (heard great things about both). Wanted something to last longer than some of my previous stuff, and vkb fit the bill in both cost and longetivity (according to the reviews I read).
Wurzel
Title: Re: Hotas Recommendations
Post by: gpwurzel on November 28, 2025, 10:45:36 PM
Welp, everything has arrived, working on setting it up now. Didnt realize there would be 258 buttons available lol..........
It may take me some time to figure out the programming for the VKB gear as well
Wurzel
Title: Re: Hotas Recommendations
Post by: xanax on November 28, 2025, 11:32:02 PM
Welp, everything has arrived, working on setting it up now. Didnt realize there would be 258 buttons available lol..........
It may take me some time to figure out the programming for the VKB gear as well
Wurzel
They have great Youtube videos to help you and their Discord channel is manned by some helpful folks and they seem to monitor the channel and answer questions pretty much 24/7. Also, their BBS on their website under "support" is pretty good too.
Once you get a feel for the software, it's pretty limitless. For AH I suggest simply calibrating it the VKB program then AH sees it perfectly. If you got the rudders, I think AH already sees them.
I think you'll like the VKB stuff.
Title: Re: Hotas Recommendations
Post by: gpwurzel on November 29, 2025, 07:43:46 AM
Thanks Xanax, appreciate that info, gonna be a long day lol........hopefully see ya'll soon.
Wurzel
Title: Re: Hotas Recommendations
Post by: Animl-AW on November 29, 2025, 10:56:17 AM
They have great Youtube videos to help you and their Discord channel is manned by some helpful folks and they seem to monitor the channel and answer questions pretty much 24/7. Also, their BBS on their website under "support" is pretty good too.
Once you get a feel for the software, it's pretty limitless. For AH I suggest simply calibrating it the VKB program then AH sees it perfectly. If you got the rudders, I think AH already sees them.
I think you'll like the VKB stuff.
Program it within the game. I ysed the software once. As long as windows sees it you’re fine. Not hard at all.
Title: Re: Hotas Recommendations
Post by: AKIron on November 29, 2025, 10:57:57 AM
I haven't looked at the VKB config software but I suspect it's similar to the Virpil in function. With the Virpil you can, among other things, assign buttons to various positions on axes. You can create profiles with different configs and swap them on the fly. If VKB won't do that for ya Joystick Gremlin will.
Title: Re: Hotas Recommendations
Post by: AKIron on November 29, 2025, 11:02:24 AM
One example of assigning a button to an axis would be turning on WEP when the physical throttle hits 100%. With a curve you should be able to hit 100% power just before hitting the end of physical travel. Push that last quarter inch to remain at 100% and engage WEP. Pull back slightly to disengage.
Title: Re: Hotas Recommendations
Post by: gpwurzel on November 29, 2025, 11:38:24 AM
Figured out how to show AH in VR (finally) how do I get to hit enter for selections on the opening screen, as in, selecting off line practise, online arena's etc (yeah, I know, stupid question, but cant figure that one lol...)
Title: Re: Hotas Recommendations
Post by: The Fugitive on November 29, 2025, 11:47:02 AM
The mouse buttons should still work. I programmed a "left" mouse and "right" mouse button to my stick. Place the white ball as a curdor by moving your head and click either the mouse button or a switch you programmed as a mouse button
Title: Re: Hotas Recommendations
Post by: gpwurzel on November 29, 2025, 12:01:57 PM
Thanks Fugitive, working on set up now, just saw a spit in VR for the first time, head officially blown. Still cant fly worth a damn though!!!
Title: Re: Hotas Recommendations
Post by: Animl-AW on November 29, 2025, 12:03:04 PM
Figured out how to show AH in VR (finally) how do I get to hit enter for selections on the opening screen, as in, selecting off line practise, online arena's etc (yeah, I know, stupid question, but cant figure that one lol...)
No such thing as a stupid question. Let em rip.
Title: Re: Hotas Recommendations
Post by: The Fugitive on November 29, 2025, 12:28:19 PM
Thanks Fugitive, working on set up now, just saw a spit in VR for the first time, head officially blown. Still cant fly worth a damn though!!!
VR wont make you a better flyer, you is what you is! :x :P
Ya, your going to be dying alot because your looking at all the pretty planes :devil
Any other questions, just fire away!
Title: Re: Hotas Recommendations
Post by: gpwurzel on November 29, 2025, 12:55:07 PM
Just flown around the practise arena, all wife heard was OMG - got all the graphics turned up, none of the aids on, very impressed with the view. Its gonna be a while till I go into the mains, not worried about dying there, just at least wanna make em work for it lol......
Eagler, great recommend on the crystal lite,
And thanks every single one of you who has helped so far.
Wurzel
Title: Re: Hotas Recommendations
Post by: AKIron on November 29, 2025, 12:56:36 PM
VR guys have complained that head trackers like TrackIR have an advantage in that you can apply curves to them but not VR. With TrackIR I can look straight back by turning my head left or right maybe 35 degrees left or right. There is a free app called necksafer that grants a similar ability to VR. Don't know if it still works or what headsets it works with.
Title: Re: Hotas Recommendations
Post by: gpwurzel on November 29, 2025, 01:00:00 PM
Thanks AKIron, i'll look into that, 1:1 tracking is a bit hard on my old neck.
Wurzel
Title: Re: Hotas Recommendations
Post by: Spikes on November 29, 2025, 01:17:50 PM
I use Necksafer in IL2 but isn't really required in AH because AH by default allows you to use your hat switches in VR.
Title: Re: Hotas Recommendations
Post by: Eagler on November 29, 2025, 02:29:10 PM
Like Spikes said AH is unique in vr as you an still use the jstick views..that's what I do..
Make sure you have a view center button on your jstick as you will need to recenter your view alot..
Let us know if you have any questions..
Eagler
Title: Re: Hotas Recommendations
Post by: AKIron on December 02, 2025, 09:51:11 AM
Does instantly switching from a linear head controlled view orientation to a fixed view cause any disorientation? I know pauses and even micropauses can cause disorientation. Perhaps not or less so when you are expecting it.
Title: Re: Hotas Recommendations
Post by: gpwurzel on December 02, 2025, 12:12:18 PM
Mapped a button to look directly back (as per Spikes suggestion), with the tracking, no disorientation so far, so all good.
Trying to get finger memory so I can use all the buttons I've mapped otherwise i'll be dropping gear when looking for flaps etc...
Wurzel
Title: Re: Hotas Recommendations
Post by: Eagler on December 02, 2025, 12:15:06 PM
A button to look directly up helps imo ..
Eagler
Title: Re: Hotas Recommendations
Post by: AKIron on December 02, 2025, 12:45:23 PM
Don't forget Voice Attack. Don't have to remember which button for the gear. I do recommend you go through two levels of voice training in VA. Can make a big difference in the voice recognition.
https://voiceattack.com/
Title: Re: Hotas Recommendations
Post by: AKIron on December 02, 2025, 12:58:58 PM
Title: Re: Hotas Recommendations
Post by: gpwurzel on December 03, 2025, 09:03:21 AM
Thanks AKIron, appreciate the reminder, still wowed by the vr so taking my time kinda deal.
Wurzel
Title: Re: Hotas Recommendations
Post by: AKIron on December 03, 2025, 09:08:52 AM
I understand. I usually set up controls for something, use them a while, then reconfigure for better intuitiveness. Have to rewire my brain every time.
Title: Re: Hotas Recommendations
Post by: AKIron on December 03, 2025, 09:28:21 AM
You may not be able to tell or have watched the little video above but when I say "gear" the voice after is a recording that VA plays. Got me to thinking I could record instructions for myself for things obscure, complex, or less used and have VA play back those recorded instructions. Or even something like this:
me: WEP time left VA: You engaged WEP 37 seconds ago and have 83 seconds left
A more practical use for something like that would be using VA for WEP and have it ding or announce at the half used, or other specified time point.
Title: Re: Hotas Recommendations
Post by: Shuffler on December 03, 2025, 02:47:01 PM
Ding... you lost your other wing.
That is how mine works.
Ding.... Pull up! Pull up!
Title: Re: Hotas Recommendations
Post by: AKIron on December 03, 2025, 03:43:23 PM
I turn that altitude warning off in DCS. Annoying.
Title: Re: Hotas Recommendations
Post by: AKIron on December 09, 2025, 08:58:29 AM
Someone made toe brakes for the VKB rudder pedals. I may have to try this.
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:6061041
Those are designed for the older style VKB pedals. Would have to do some reworking for mine.
Title: Re: Hotas Recommendations
Post by: Eagler on December 09, 2025, 09:08:05 AM
I programmed a button on the throttle for braking both wheels at the same time..
Eagler
Title: Re: Hotas Recommendations
Post by: AKIron on December 09, 2025, 09:30:15 AM
I have an analog lever on my virpil stick I usually use for both wheel brakes in whatever sim. I have also split the axis of my pedals with Joystick Gremlin and assigned left/right each to vjoy. Then used the pedals for both rudder and left/right wheel brakes independently.
Sometimes I just need a little project. :)
Title: Re: Hotas Recommendations
Post by: AKIron on December 09, 2025, 09:33:09 AM
A problem with splitting the axis like I mentioned is that in some planes/sims you need the wheel brake on roll out with gradually decreasing input as you gain speed. However, you still need rudder input when you lift off. So, splitting it not a perfect solution.
Title: Re: Hotas Recommendations
Post by: Shuffler on December 09, 2025, 11:08:13 AM
I have my pedals apart because of a broken wire on one toe brake. Even with them, I generally use a tree or hanger of a "all stop".
Title: Re: Hotas Recommendations
Post by: Eagler on December 09, 2025, 12:00:35 PM