Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => Aces High General Discussion => Topic started by: muckmaw on August 13, 2002, 12:34:33 PM
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I've come to understand that the only people I can really trust for honest opinions are the guys I fly with every night on AH.
I've finally broken down and decided to buy a set of rudder pedals. Would you believe I cannot find a product review worth reading on the web?
So I need your help.
Which would you choose:
Thrustmaster Elite
or
CH Pro Pedals USB?
Keep in mind, I have a Cougar HOTAS from thrustmaster, and ease of use/compatability is my primary concern. I'd also like to spend $100.00 or less.
Guys, I know this belongs on the Hardware/Software BBS, But very few people will read it there. Revvin was kind enough to narrow it down to the 2 listed above.
Thanks in advance for your help.
It is greatly appreciated.
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I've had both brands.. not USB though. These were the old "plug 'em into the game card" kind.
Sold the TM's. Still using the CH Pro's. Gotta be maybe 8 years old now I think. Work fine.
TM's gave me problems with pots and I never felt they gave me the fine control that the CH ones do.
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What toad said...I used to beta test for TM, they're known for bad potentiometers...I used to have them send me a dozen at a time..this was before TM sold the business...
Using USB CH Pro pedals I bought from Curly at the con, they're a good medium between the old style CH peddles (feet close together) and TM pedals (Feet wide apart)
I like em!
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I'm still using my CH Products regular rudder pedals plugged into a game card. They've survived 3 versions of "Air Warrior" on three different services, along with "Jane's Fighter's Anthology", "MS Combat Flight Sim 2", "MS Flight Simulator 5.1", "MSFS 95" and "MSFS 2000 Professional Edition", "Su-27 Flanker" (the first one) and a two versions of NASCAR Racing before I bought a USB steering wheel and gas pedals. Haven't gone USB for flight sims because my old CH Products stuff still works.
If I'm not mistaken, the CH rudder pedals will also work with the fancy TM Cougar set up.
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It's all down to choice and I'll try and outline what I like about both.
TM Elite - Cheap no frills plastic rudders,that's not meant to be derogatory but they are cheap the act as rudder pedals and that's it simple as that no toe brakes but very good very reliable pedals. I owned a set that lasted me around 6 or 7 years before they died and never gave me any problems, not spiking or anything. Typical Thrustmaster rugged build that never gave me any problems, no drivers to install just plug them in and away you go. Nicely spread apart to feel realistic but not spread too far so you feel like you're at the gynecologist :) They interface perfectly with the Cougar and plug directly into the base of the joystick and the Cougar and pedals are seen as one device so even older games can take advantage of this great rig.
CH USB Pro Pedals - More expensive than the TM Elite's but come with the added extra of toe brakes. The rudders slide up and down as a normal rudder pedal set would and each pedal also tilts like a car pedal and infact the pedals come with stoppers so you can stop the rudder action so you can use the pedals for driving games (although I prefer dedicated car pedal sets for driving sims) The usual good CH buildquality on display again in these rudder pedals they feel very solid even though they are made of plastic like the TM Elites. You will need another USB port for these pedals and that means Windows will see the rudders and Cougar as TWO separate devices which means older games which only supports one controller will not see the rudder pedals. Such games like Falcon 4.0 and Flanker 2.0 will not allow input from more than one device. One newer games such as Aces High, Warbirds III, IL-2 Sturmovik these pedals work great! and the added toe brake facility is very handy in Aces High for taxiing to the re-arm re-fuel pads and taxiing from hangars. A very nice set of pedals.
Both rudders have great build quality and it's hard to pick between the two. The only real problem comes if you want to play older games like the ones I mentioned above (and many others) that only allow input from one controller. Another downside to separate rudders that don't plug into the Cougar is that you won't be able to program the axis of a separate device but you will be able to plug any rudders that connect directly into the Cougar. I have both sets of rudder pedal and tend to use the TM Elites more than the CH ones.
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The spring in my TM Rudders broke, along with the view button on several TM Sticks I had.
That was 3 years ago.
I then bought the complete CH setup (F16 Fighterstick, Pro-Throttle and Pro-Rudders) and still have them in use today.
go figure :D
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Well, I guess it all comes down to personal experience.
I was about to buy the CH Pro's, but after talking to their tech support (Who seemed like they could care less if I bought their product), I realized that compatability might be an issue with my Cougar.
I like the toe breaks, but in the end, I went with ole Rev's input about compatibility, and orders a set of TM Elites from Chips and Bits for $43.95.
Thanks for all the help guys! I really appreciate it!
<>
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glad to help muckmaw
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got my old and loved CH F16 CombatStick along with CH Throttle and CH Rudders. there is nothing more precise then CH... i have searched something better, but returned to my old setup :)
BTW: seeking desperatly the programming tool (dos) for the ol'gameport-throttle... anyone here care to mail me that? sveno@sveno.net would be the destination, thanks in advance!
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Seen the new banner? LOL :)
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Originally posted by Ripsnort
What toad said...I used to beta test for TM, they're known for bad potentiometers...I used to have them send me a dozen at a time..this was before TM sold the business...
Using USB CH Pro pedals I bought from Curly at the con, they're a good medium between the old style CH peddles (feet close together) and TM pedals (Feet wide apart)
I like em!
Unless they've since changed suppliers, you'll find potentiometers from the same manufacturer in both CH and TM pedals - CTS. Not counting the original RCS of course, which used the junkyard crapola special potentiometer that came pre-soiled.
SOB
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I personally VERY much prefer the regular old CH Pedals. You can find them on ebay new for less than $50. These are gameport pedals, and I find them much easier to use than the CH Pro or TM Elite pedals.
If you want proof that they are the best pedals on the market, good ole Drex uses 'em as well :D
Here is a link to some on ebay (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1372711513)
Nim
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I use the CH Fighter Stick, Pro Throttle, and the TM peddles. I like the feel of the TM than the CH peddle. Somehow useing the rudders by moving your feet up and down doesn't feel natural. I like the feel of moving the peddle by moving your feet. And I've had no problem with the CH and TM working together. And they all 3 have lasted me over 3 years. But it's all what you like and how it feels. I'd like to get the Couger setup. But the throttle doesn't seem right for flying an WW II sim. Now with that setup,Falcon 4.0 works. If I can just get the silly game to work. :confused:
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Originally posted by sveno
got my old and loved CH F16 CombatStick along with CH Throttle and CH Rudders. there is nothing more precise then CH... i have searched something better, but returned to my old setup :)
BTW: seeking desperatly the programming tool (dos) for the ol'gameport-throttle... anyone here care to mail me that? sveno@sveno.net would be the destination, thanks in advance!
PTSETUP or CHTHROT?
ack-ack
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I know you've already bought the pedals...
but CH pro's work great for me, and I've got a Saitek HOTAS. I don't have any older flight sims that I still play, so compatibility wasn't an issue for me; all the sims I have take inputs from two joysticks. I love the toe brakes too. :)
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Originally posted by akak
PTSETUP or CHTHROT?
primary i would need CHTROT, but both would be nice - my mailbox takes up to 5 megs...
BTW: thanks! :D
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Have you checked the Hardware & Software forum?
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Originally posted by SOB
Unless they've since changed suppliers, you'll find potentiometers from the same manufacturer in both CH and TM pedals - CTS. Not counting the original RCS of course, which used the junkyard crapola special potentiometer that came pre-soiled.
SOB
I'm assuming your speaking of the 1992-1995 era...thats when I was getting stuff from them (When did you work for them?)...however, during that time, I also had CH gear, I never changed a pot in my CH stuff, but TM stuff, I changed the pots once every 3 months as they'd go haywire...why that is (as you said, both from the same vendor) is beyond me.
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I've got one set of TM Elite pedals and one set of CH Pedals (not Pro), both gameport versions. Anyone who wants either or both can have them, for the price of paying for the shipping. The TM Elites are recently refurbished, so I know that they are in fine condition. E-mail me if you're interested.
- JNOV
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Originally posted by Otto
Have you checked the Hardware & Software forum?
yep, but to no prevail... in this thread i did see some who actually have the same outfit - im sorry for hijacking the thread ;)
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Just FYI - You can plug in any gameport device to a USB port with the proper converter.
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now i found it - right on CH's page :p
i admit that i'm lazy - but i have some good sides too :D
for those who wanna check for drivers / updates for CH-products:
http://www.chproducts.com/retail/tech_support_pc.html
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Muck..what is the weblink to the place you ordered those pedals?
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I found it through Yahoo Shopping:
Try this one:
http://shop.store.yahoo.com/chipsbits/
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Originally posted by Ripsnort
I'm assuming your speaking of the 1992-1995 era...thats when I was getting stuff from them (When did you work for them?)...however, during that time, I also had CH gear, I never changed a pot in my CH stuff, but TM stuff, I changed the pots once every 3 months as they'd go haywire...why that is (as you said, both from the same vendor) is beyond me.
93-97...different products had different pots. The RCS had the old crapola pots, the Elite pedals had CTS pots, though I have no idea if Guillemot still buys pots from the same supplier or even if they're making Elite pedals - or just using up stock on hand.
FLCS, FLCS LE, F22 Pro, Last incarnation of the PFCS, all had CTS pots...anything older had the little crapola pots that you could purchase at the dollar store in quantities of 100 or get free from a cracker jack box. F22 had serious control issues, but they weren't necessarily related to the pots.
SOB