Author Topic: cant find a comfortable stick (Read 752 times)

68DevilM · « **on:** August 07, 2004, 11:19:06 AM »

first stick i had was a old cheap saleitek cyborg grapic, but i used it because i like the smooth sideing controls, and it was a fairly stiff stick. upgraded to the longitech wingman force 3d after exusting and testing out a couple more sticks, but for the last 3-4 months of play i have yet to find comfortable setting for this stick.
it has about an inch of play centered and pulls like im stretching rusty spring or someting...

need a stick with firm but smooth gliding feel, and no play in the middle, and of course throddle, twisty, and hatrick, and 6 accesory buttons

anyone have any suggestions:)

MadBull · « **Reply #1 on:** August 07, 2004, 11:47:21 AM »

I got a saitek cyborg evo about a month ago and love it.
Adjustable grip and tilting head all very comfortable. All with 12 programable buttons (triggers included in count ). And the cool pimp lights it has put it over the top for me.
The down side is the positiong of the throttle really stinks.
And it seems I have to recal quite often. Once when I first log on and about once every 2 hours after that.
But all in all I like it and would buy another one if needed.

MOSQ · « **Reply #2 on:** August 07, 2004, 01:26:25 PM »

If you are right handed the CH products stick, throttle, pedals can't be beat.

A lot of lefties use it too, they just had to adapt.

And if you use Win 98, the analog version of the F-16 Fighterstick is the steal deal of the decade at clearance sale of $19. This same stick used to cost $150. The USB version still does.

If you're running WIN XP you can't program the analog stick easily because it programs in DOS. Some folks dual boot 98/XP, others keep an old 98 machine around for the occasional change they make to the programming.

http://www.chproducts.com/

JB73 · « **Reply #3 on:** August 07, 2004, 02:55:08 PM »

the logitec feels awsome to me, though i cant use a twisty i use pedals.

buddy has the logitec, and is i was flying with a twisty i'd pick it. nice smooth action, and comfortable.

this one:
http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/products/details/US/EN,CRID=12,CONTENTID=6954

FOGOLD · « **Reply #4 on:** August 07, 2004, 03:20:20 PM »

CH Sticks are very big unless you have large hands. Cougar is the same. I would try first or you will have cramps from stretching to the hat and gun buttons.

4510 · « **Reply #5 on:** August 08, 2004, 10:28:02 AM »

I too am adjusting to new stick etc. I have had the old TM gear for.. um... 10 years or so. But they never worked well in AH... (I had no throttle for example.. analog settings just wouldn't work). Changed to a new computer for AH2 and my TM stuff kept spiking all the time. So I went out and bought a SAITEK X45 stick and throttle combo.

Taking a little getting used to as I don't have rudder pedals (yet). There is a rocker on the throttle for rudder but I cant get comfortable with it. (Feet still move when I want rudder)

The X45 is a bit large as well.... (larger than TM) and the CH as previously mentioned I remember as being large.

However the X45 is fairly smooth. I found spring tension a bit tight but the spring that does this sits right out in the open. So I used a zip tie wire wrap and zipped about 3 coils of the spring together. Softened up the resistance markedly. A little silicon grease where the tension cup rides against the JS base and I am in business. Now I just need to get some rudder pedals.

Boat · « **Reply #6 on:** August 08, 2004, 11:15:04 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by FOGOLD
CH Sticks are very big unless you have large hands. Cougar is the same. I would try first or you will have cramps from stretching to the hat and gun buttons.

My hands are medium rather than large and I had some trouble adjusting at first to the CH fighterstick. While it felt like I was reaching for buttons at the beginning, I did adjust and now it feels just fine.

It seems like there is a period of adjustment with any stick but I would agree that a CH stick might be a problem for someone with small hands.

ALF · « **Reply #7 on:** August 08, 2004, 11:35:51 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Boat
My hands are medium rather than large and I had some trouble adjusting at first to the CH fighterstick. While it felt like I was reaching for buttons at the beginning, I did adjust and now it feels just fine.

It seems like there is a period of adjustment with any stick but I would agree that a CH stick might be a problem for someone with small hands.

CH sticks are hard for Med-Smaller hands....best solution is a small piece of pipe insulation around the base of the stick to raise your hand 1/2 inch or so....it also helped me to add an extention to the pinky button so I could press about an inch above the button.

FBScud · « **Reply #8 on:** August 09, 2004, 05:04:09 AM »

I love my CH HOTAS. The stick can be a problem. The solution is to map your view hat to the throttle. I don't use the view hat on the stick at all and can reach all the other buttons just find. It took a little getting used to, my many of the frequently used buttons (voice coms, map, landing gear) are on the throttle while the stick is mostly weapons, flaps, etc.

It did take a little bit of time getting used to, but it is well worth it.

4510 · « **Reply #9 on:** August 09, 2004, 08:08:29 AM »

Perhaps if enough of us are finding the CH a bit large.. we should get a topic started and get a list of names.... then approach CH and ask them to consider making a smaller version of the stick. That way they could sell a large and small version.

FOGOLD · « **Reply #10 on:** August 09, 2004, 10:01:11 AM »

I would be all for that. I have CH throttle and pedals with a Topgun Afterburner, which I love. However, it is a cheap stick and not long lived. I would buy a CH stick tomorrow, but I had a Cougar once and didn't like the size of it. Am reluctant to buy a CH if it is similar, although i don't doubt the quality.

Let's do it:aok Personally I find the Thrustmaster Top Gun a perfect fit for my hand. I also feel we have to get away from this "replica of a real F16 stick" fetish. This is not what you need for PC Gaming!

Boat · « **Reply #11 on:** August 09, 2004, 11:50:55 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by FOGOLD
I have CH throttle and pedals with a Topgun Afterburner, which I love. However, it is a cheap stick and not long lived.

I had an afterburner for less than a year before it suddenly became jumpy and useless. Too bad there isn't an easy way to repair them.........

DAVENRINO · « **Reply #12 on:** August 09, 2004, 01:41:44 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by FBScud
I love my CH HOTAS. The stick can be a problem. The solution is to map your view hat to the throttle. I don't use the view hat on the stick at all and can reach all the other buttons just find. It took a little getting used to, my many of the frequently used buttons (voice coms, map, landing gear) are on the throttle while the stick is mostly weapons, flaps, etc.

It did take a little bit of time getting used to, but it is well worth it.

The view hat on the throttle is great once you get used to it. I use my Fighterstick 8-way for autopilot/combat trim.

68DevilM · « **Reply #13 on:** August 09, 2004, 03:35:23 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Boat
I had an afterburner for less than a year before it suddenly became jumpy and useless. Too bad there isn't an easy way to repair them.........

ha jumpy! you should try mine, with the inch of play in the middle but still provides input within that inch of play....

my fricken sights jump around so much its really frustrating trying to kill someone. and ive dampered and deadband my poor wings off

4510 · « **Reply #14 on:** August 09, 2004, 07:21:14 PM »

About 4 years ago I bought 10 Thrustmaster Top Gun sticks. (Very similar to the old FCS and FCSII sticks) for $10 ea. (brand new)

I would have to open the stick up .... pull it apart 1/2 way... and loosten the nuts that held the pots. For some reason they were always very tight. I don't know why that would make the pots spike but it did. Loosten the pots and everything was fine.

However the internal parts that centered the stick were cheap and frequently broke within about 8 months. So I would use spare parts from broken sticks etc to keep them going.

However since my new computer I cannot get the TM stuff to work without serious spikes. Have a feeling it has to do with XP as I had no issues with 98SE (save the loostening of the nuts).

So now I am on a SAITEK X45.