Aces High Bulletin Board
Help and Support Forums => Technical Support => Topic started by: Ecliptik on September 09, 2003, 07:00:09 PM
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I'm wondering what everyone's favourite joystick is, and why. Currently I use an MS Sidewinder Precision 2, which is an inexpensive, but adequate stick. It's perfect for newer players, but now I'd like to replace it at some point and move to something better. The only thing I really like about the Sidewinder is the buttons, although there is a problem with forward-right on the hat not working very well. I get a little pitch and yaw bounce, nothing catastrophic, but it does hurt my gunnery, and no amount of fiddling with stick settings gets rid of it entirely. I'd like to move to rudder pedals instead of the twist-rudder, because I find that accidentally twisting the stick during tight manoeuvers or snap aiming is throwing me off.
Suggestions on new equipment? Thanks.
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Hello,
Well, you can start off w/just a set of usb ch rudder pedals to go along w/that stick, or
Really splurge and get the whole ch usb hotas setup, fighterstick, pro throttle, pro peds.
Recently moved to complete ch setup myself and love it.
Was using a MSFFB pro and ch peds and was ok, now all ch, and much smoother.
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i went from the ms twisty to the saitek, then added rudder pedals. I like the saitek with the pedal combo, works great, highly programable. The pedals take a bit of getting used to but then they are quite natural.
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I'm still using my 8 year old analog CH stuff. Modified Pro Throttle (48 programmable buttons instead of 24), modified Jane's F-16 Combat Stick (8-way hatswitches) and Pro Pedals hooked up using a Rockfire Gameport to USB adaptor (replacing my old CH Gamecard III Automatic).
I see no real reason why I should switch over to pure USB gear. My analog stuff hooked up through a USB gameport gives me pretty much the same performance as a USB stick.
ack-ack
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Should go for a Yoke if you want some enhanced realism in the 38, Ack-Ack. :)
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Logitech Wingman Extreme
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I'm with AKAK.....used everything at one time or another...but CH
Products best imho. CHdoes very well supporting their equipment......never wore out a Pot....but CH will send them to
you if you need them.
I just gave away a complete analog CH Hotas set...F16Combat
Stick....Pro THrottle, and Pro Pedals.....Throttle was about 3 yrs old and working great.
However I upgraded to win2KPro....and the USB Hotas that I bought, were all CH again...568 Combatstick usb, pro throttle usb,
and pro pedals usb......once I learned how to use control manager
I wouldn't consider using anything else.....running off a DLink USB Hub....I wouldn't consider using anything but CH based on their performance since I've been using them.
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I own several sticks and have used more.
Best bang HOTAS for the buck is Saitek's X45. Best HOTAS (IMO) is Thrustmaster's Cougar plus pedals.
If you're on a budget but want something with more feel than the Saitek, consider getting an old Suncom Talon stick and SFS throttle and two gameport to USB converters.
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i have good news!!!!
Microsoft Sidewinder Force Feedback 2 is now $59 (it used to be $100) in Best Buy electronic stores.
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For some reason I think Ike works for Best Buy.... ;)
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MS Sidewinder user here for 8 years now.
First the 3d pro, then the prec pro, now the Prec 2 usb. (Prec pro still on wifes sys)
I've tried all kinds of setups at the AH con.
Frankly, I wouldn't touch any of em with a 10 fot pole.
There is one thing that I do however, add a lot of deadband to the rudder. So you only use it when you really mean to.
Yes you can spend 400$ on a all usb CH setup, but will you really be happier?
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Yes you can spend 400$ on a all usb CH setup, but will you really be happier?
YEP :D
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Originally posted by Ack-Ack
I'm still using my 8 year old analog CH stuff. Modified Pro Throttle (48 programmable buttons instead of 24), modified Jane's F-16 Combat Stick (8-way hatswitches) and Pro Pedals hooked up using a Rockfire Gameport to USB adaptor (replacing my old CH Gamecard III Automatic).
I see no real reason why I should switch over to pure USB gear. My analog stuff hooked up through a USB gameport gives me pretty much the same performance as a USB stick.
ack-ack
If your using windows XP you will have to switch to USB stuff. Been there done that. Have a fairly new ch pro throttle and stick gameport style for cheap if anyone needs it.
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I use the regular microsoft sidewinder...works well enough. Doubt any of those fancy techno gizmos with built in cellphones and stuff makes you any better....
Would be neat to have a *smack ack-ack* button tho.....just to get him 10k lower in MA :D
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I was a CH HOTAS guy until I tried the Cougar. Hands down the best HOTAS out there.
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I wouldn't say equipment is in any way related to pilot skill, Nilsen, but it's a matter of maximizing your potential.
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True, but you don't miss what you haven't tried :)
I have throttle on my stick and a few buttons. On the left side of my keyboard i also have a fairly cheap numpad keyboard thingie that makes it easyer to control views and 2-3 other things.
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Imagine if my homies (slang for friends) sees my playing A.H. with pedal rudders. They'll laugh at me. BTW, the rudders gives you the feel of flying a "real" plane, but whats missing is the G-forces.
I wish all future planes should have "twist" (like the ones from Sidewinder force feedback 2 and Logitech cordless) feature on flightsticks to fly UAF fighters or bombers with ease
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I'm using a CH setup. FX stick with Pro Throttle and Pro rudders. A squaddie of mine just went full USB CH and sent me his analog Pro throttle , pro rudders and Fighterstick.
AKAK, can a dOOfus like me modify the throttle? Seeing I have a backup I could experiment some.
I'm going into my SB sound card now as the Gameport was getting long in the tooth.
As The Kinks once sang... "I'm on a loooow budget" :)
fuzeman
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I have a TM Hotas with pedals for sale.Less than 1 year old.Hat is broke on the stick but the stick u have will work with it.E-Mail me if your interested.
badcougar454@hotmail.com
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Originally posted by Ack-Ack
I'm still using my 8 year old analog CH stuff. Modified Pro Throttle (48 programmable buttons instead of 24), modified Jane's F-16 Combat Stick (8-way hatswitches) and Pro Pedals hooked up using a Rockfire Gameport to USB adaptor (replacing my old CH Gamecard III Automatic).
I see no real reason why I should switch over to pure USB gear. My analog stuff hooked up through a USB gameport gives me pretty much the same performance as a USB stick.
ack-ack
Were you able to multi-program your analog stuff? If so, I'd love to have the procedure for that, I have CH HOTAS analog, and just bought a new CH USB HOTAS setup,---for a steal---$305.05 to the door in a day...but I can always return it :)
Gainsie
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Used various sticks in the past from MS, TM, Saitek and even Logitech. I have the 568 Combatstick usb, pro throttle usb, and pro pedals usb setup now and don't think I'll use anything else until there's something alot better. It sure makes it fun! :)
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Regarding CH: I work quite often in their neighborhood. Twice now have I gone to their office for a new Pot...haven't paid
a nickel yet. Nice bunch they are.
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I think of buying used CH throttle on ebay and a Rockfire gameport-USB-converter. Would this work under WinXP?
I can program the throttle under a win98 system, no problem, but I wonder if I could use the throttle and buttons together with my USB stick and USB pedals I already have under WinXP.
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Originally posted by lucull
I think of buying used CH throttle on ebay and a Rockfire gameport-USB-converter. Would this work under WinXP?
I can program the throttle under a win98 system, no problem, but I wonder if I could use the throttle and buttons together with my USB stick and USB pedals I already have under WinXP.
Operating system is not a problem: you must go crazy a bit, but you can solve all the issues (programming the throttle under 98 once, then info stay in device BIOS).
BUT
CH gameport products don't work well if you have a recent gameport (or the Rockfire adapter). CH support told me it's a matter of gameport (or adapter) electric resistance: more recent ones have higher resistance, incompatible with CH gameport products.
I had to bring back my CH fighterstick for this reason: after few minutes of playing the axis positions got very unstable, unplayable actually (possibly you remember my kind words in suqad channel after spending 90€ for a non-working 2 axis joy).
I tried it on my old PC, and it was working perfectly, but it is too slow to run AH.
I tried it on 4-5 more recent PCs, and it was having the same problem.
I also tried the Rockfire adapter but it did not solve the problem (same resistance as the recent gameports).
If you don't want to spend the huge amount of money for a brand new USB CH throttle you can get an X-45 and use the throttle only, while using for axis your favourite stick: quality for throttle is not as important as for stick.
Mail me if you need more info about this subject, which I unfortunately got pretty deep into.
Regards
Promet
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Hmm, I have a 2+ years old SoundblasterLive with gameport, but the problem is, would WinXP recognize the throttle on gameport? I guess that's why people use the rockfire USB converter and some people have it working (maybe newer converters have different resistance?).
Anyway, the throttle is at ebay for 5-10 Euro and the converter for 20Euro and I could send the converter back and get the money back, if it doesn't work. Definetly the cheapest way and I think I try it, when I get the throttle for <10 Euro. :)
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CH recently (6 months ago) released gameport products drivers for XP, and they worked fine for my fightestick.
The only thing you can't do in XP is buttons programming, but you can do it on any 98 system just once, after which settings are stored in the device.
For 5-10$ it's defenetly worth the risk.
I would try the throttle on the SB first, and get the converter only if first atempt does not work.
But remember that converter emulates standard sticks (some combinations of axis/buttons), not sure it's gonna work for the thorttle (1 axis only) and I'm pretty sure you're going to loose some buttons functionality (I remember it supporting max 8 buttons, CH throttle owns many more). And having few buttons on throttle sucks big time because you'll need the keyboard while inflight, and it will be pretty unhandy if you have joy+throttle on the table already.
Good luck
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I use the Logitech Wingman Force Feedback Pro, in combination with Thrustmaster's "Tacticalboard". The combination is just awesome. As far as I know, the Tacticalboard is now difficult to come by at retail stores, but you can still get it from Thrustmaster's web site.
My entire Flight Simulation Laboratory setup is described here:
http://www.geocities.com/rjbosen/fslab.htm
Regards,
-Peabody-