saitek x45

[punchdrunk]

I was thinking about buying a saitek x45 from the saitek site, the only problem is that it is refurbished.  does anyone know is this is a good idea or not?

[Sketch]

Go with the next step up if your going with Saitek.  Go for the X52 instead... I will tell you why.  
The X45 has a rocker-rudder on the throttle...it is hard to run the rudder as well as any other button pressing your doing on the throttle control at the same time.  The X52 has a twist-grip joystick so it is easier to fly, and if you use rudder pedals, you can lock the joysitck so it doesn't twist....
There you go, better deal for the money...
ALF has a good review of it here:
http://www.combathanger.com/fighterreviews/x52/x521.html

[JB73]

Originally posted by punchdrunk
I was thinking about buying a saitek x45 from the saitek site, the only problem is that it is refurbished.  does anyone know is this is a good idea or not?

there are quite a few that fly with refurb x45's

it is a great stick and i flew with it for 2+ years.

the rudder takes some getting used to, but like i said many have played with it. if money is an issue, i say definatly, if not take a peek at the x52.

if money is really no object look into a whole CHproducts setup ($400+ total)

if you are looking at refurbs i would guess money is a consideration though.

[Golfer]

The rudder rocker to me was absolutely worthless.  I invested in CH pro pedals (I actually bought them from an AH player in Colorado) and have never looked back.

I can't imagine playing without the X45 and Rudder pedals.  For traveling, I'd like to get my hands on a MS Sidewinder Precision Pro.  Gotta get on ebay

[NJMAW]

I have had my X45 since it was introduced and I use the CH USB pedal with it and it works great.  Actually this is my second X45 cause I got careless and broke the throttle cable connector.  Great stick for the price.  If I had to buy another one I would get the 52

[LePaul]

SHawk pointed out to me that my X-45 is one of the early ones with issues.  I literally have 1.5 to 2" of play just to start rotation/pitch.  Using my X45 can be quite a workout, especially with more jittery aircraft like the Yaks or La7s.

I plan to upgrade to an X52 in the near future.  Asides the quirks, its been a great and very affordable combo.

[eagl]

I'd take a rudder-rocker anyday over a twist-grip.  I absolutely despise twist grip sticks.  The rudder rocker on my X45 setup works just fine when mapped to give me rudder trim, and I use my analog CH pedals for rudders.

Whoever says that rudders on a throttle is harder to be precise than twist grip on your primary control stick is on crack.  I've seen guys try to survive a scissors with a twist grip...  It's funny as heck seeing them spin out of control and then grab their wrist to massage out the pain after they auger or get shot down.

Buy a cheap twist-grip stick before dropping any real coin on them.  You might like them...  Lots of people seem to like them because the damned stick manufacturers seem to be putting twist grips on everything nowadays.  But why not just get some real rudder pedals, which also gives you the option of adding in a wheel and having a decent car racing setup too?  Watching someone flail with a twist grip rudder setup is almost as funny as watching someone try to play car racing games online without brake and throttle pedals.

The refurbished part bothers me, but not nearly as much as the threat of having to use a twist grip stick.  There's nothing wrong with the rudder paddles on the x45 throttle except that in my case, the pot is crappy and now it spikes continually so I had to set a deadband that is about 95% of the range of motion.  But it still works, and it's never been a problem.

[tapakeg]

I know the answer to this but i'll ask anyway................

The rudders to be used with the x-45 have to be usb right?



I agree, twisty sticks suck



Tapakeg

[JB73]

yes



and yes

[Eagler]

having success with the X52 twisty rudder banded & programmed as aileron trim - use usb pro peds for rudder

[eagl]

Rudders with x45 do NOT have to be USB.  The way to do it is to plug in some other analog stick or wheel along with the rudders.  I found a cheap $20 racing wheel that works ok for casual car racing games, and I plugged my rudders in with it.  Windows XP has absolutely zero problems recognizing it along with the saitek setup, and AH has had the ability to map any recognized stick and axis to any control for years, so it works great.

There is a utility out there that lets you use analog rudders in a stand-alone fashion, but I never could get it to work so I just use the wheel.

[Ghosth]

EAGL

In my case I'm lucky to be able to walk & chew gum. My feet are just NOT that coordinated.

I've flown every type of controler setup availdable. And frankly nothing suits me like the MS sidewinder.

But variaty is the spice of life. Thankfully there are several options out there nowdays joystick wise.

[Golfer]

Ghost, this sounds like a case of "you should learn how to fly an airplane"itis.  Your friendly neighborhood flying school would love to see you

[Alky]

Originally posted by eagl
Rudders with x45 do NOT have to be USB.  The way to do it is to plug in some other analog stick or wheel along with the rudders.

I have a set of CH Pro Pedals (game port) left over from my Air Warrior days and there seems to be no way to use them. The game port on my 9700 Pro card has a different connector and there are no adapters available to use the pedals as USB
I have a Momo wheel and Act Labs pedals for racing, which I'm not doing anymore, but I have no room on my desk for a wheel and a joystick and I don't think I can get the pedals to work for rudders. It seems to me I tried with my Logitec 3D stick. I haven't tried to use it with my X45, maybe I should.
I can't get a feel for the X45 rudder switch so I pretty much never use the rudders.  I know in AW with the CH setup, plane control was awesome, I'd sure love to get back to that feeling

[JB73]

Originally posted by Alky
I have a set of CH Pro Pedals (game port) left over from my Air Warrior days and there seems to be no way to use them. The game port on my 9700 Pro card has a different connector

... sorry but i have never heard of the video card having the gameport connecter.... i think that is the DVI out for LCD moniters

the gameport should be on the sound card.

the biggest problem is getting win XP to recognize it.