Help deciding on a joystick or track IR

[falcon23]

I have the x52 currently,and have enjoyed it for along while,but the flashing lights and uncalibrating are getting annoying.I have tried "ALL" fixes to no avail,SO,this being the 44th time I have orbited around the sun,I am getting some cash from the wife. And want a new stick.

I want a CHfighterstick,but recently have seen people having issues with them.I want to get rid of the nose-bounce I think I am seeing in-game where I push the stick down and after I let go it bounces up a bit,or vice-versa.you guys that use a chf,do you like it because it does not have this problem?when you point it down it goes down and does not bounce back to center,or left or right?

 Also,I am of course going to keep using my saitek throttle which I know I can with the saitek,but I also want to be able to use the programming for both items..I know,some people dont recommend that,but it does come in handy for me..

 Last item.my dog chewed up the LED part of my track-ir last year and I have yet to get it replaced,it would be about $30 to replace it,somehow I feel a new JS would be a better investment..

                                                Thanks,
                                                     Falcon23
 

[Ghastly]

Agreed that a good JS is more important than the Track-IR.  And while a few have had problems with CH, the overwhelming majority do not.  Since 2000 I've owned 2 Saitek X-45's, 3 or more MS Joysticks,  a Logitech Wingman Force (not to be confused with the current Logicraptastic stuff) and the CH rig.  The CH beats all else all hollow for quality and durability.   (MS was a close second on quality, but miserable on durability.)

Nose bounce however, is also simply one facet of how aircraft respond to input - aircraft always fight to return to equilibrium, and unless you are trimming constantly, when you let up, you will see what you are describing.  Be aware that you may simply be becoming a "better" pilot, and are noticing it where you didn't before.  As a result, you may find that changing hardware doesn't eliminate what you are trying to eliminate if it's not hardware induced. 

<S>

[Max]

Falc, I remember a few years back when you bought the X52 and thought to myself...or maybe even told you...you're only one stick away from CH gear 

My CH Fighterstick is coming up on 5 years and NEVER have I had an issue. Combining it with a Saitek throttle is a non-issue. I used the same combo till I bought the CH throttle a couple years back.

[The Fugitive]

I have the CH full set-up, and have had it for years with no real troubles....had a button go bad and replaced it myself once....as for nose bounce. I don't see any, but from your description it sounds like your letting go of the stick and letting it return to center on it's own. In which case the springs are going to cause the nose bounce. Personally I don't let go of the stick except to grab my beer  Not sure if that is your issue.

Second thing, you didn't say anything about rudders. CH does NOT have a twisty stick so you will have to use something else for rudders, which is kinda important if you want to fight in a fighter. 

[falcon23]

Ghastly,you are right about me seeing the plane try to equalize..I have used ack acks scaling and I do seem to be getting better,and now I want to get good.someone told me that with a ch I guess the inputs are such that one does not blackout as easy using a ch as opposed to a 52.(maybe because it is fine tuned??)

yes max I believe I do recall that..lol..

 Fugitive..I do have the saitek pedals so not a problem there.

 How about the tension on the flightstick compared to the 52..

[Max]

 How about the tension on the flightstick compared to the 52..

Hmmm it's been awhile since the X52 days but IIRC the CH has a tad more resistance. It's a very comfortable, smooth movement.

BTW Falc, a few of my squaddies in Flying Circus use the CH Combat stick...a few less bells & whistles for less money. Compare the 2 and see what's best for you.

[shiv]

Falc I went the exact same route as this.  I was happy enough with the X52 and then had a bunch of technical problems with it.  Got the CH Fighterstick and loved it.  Even replaced the X52 throttle with the CH throttle after a while even though I didn't really need to.  If you make the switch I don't think you'll regret it.

As for resistance the CH is a lot smoother than the X52.  There's a noticeable difference between the feel of the two.

[guncrasher]

Just got my ch stck about a month ago.  Wasted my money.  Have to mess with the wheels on base all the time, I tape them and still have problems.  second ch I buy, first one didn't work out of the box.  Went from having 6-8kills in il2 to lucky if I get 2-3.  I am not the exeption, lots of other ch owners have same problem the just don't post.  Do a search for the past year and u will see.   Other problem I have is I can't "screw" stick in place like the x52.  So it moves all over the desk.  And out of the box you feel cheated because it feels and looks like the joystick that came with the Nintendo 6400.


Semp

[minke]

Standard x52 sucks, the pro certainly doesnt. Get the x52 pro make it easy on yourself.

[Max]

Semp you must be one ham fisted SOB. All 3 trim wheels on the stick base have dentents...you have to forcibly push them one direction or another to move 'em.

My desk has a vinyl top...never had a problem with the Fighterstick sliding on me but if I did, the problem is easily solved with some Velcro on, or in place of, the four rubber base mounts.

Quite clearly you're not a satisfied CH customer...different strokes for different folks. I'd be willing to bet ya $25 that if you polled 100 CH joystick users if they were satisfied, you'd get 95 positive responses.

[guncrasher]

Neg max I tapped the wheels with my finger.  Not pushed but a soft tap, they moved,  that's why people recommend they be taped.


Semp

[TequilaChaser]

Most people who switch from whatever brand to CH never go back ... exceptions are mostly those MS Sidewinder users.... or people with Little hands that have trouble reach the top hats on the Fighter/combat sticks..... or if they are Semp....... he definitley dislikes CH for some reason

as for nose bounce.... you may rid yourself of it some by using scaling..... but the main cause of nose bounce I have found has been those people who use Combat Trim or who manually trim and do not know what they are doing....

personally.... I prefer my cartoon plane to have a nose down attitude during combat, to where I have to slightly/gently pull to put the bore sight on the target..... I accomplish this by setting my Trim to manual at Level Crusie sped of the airplane I am in....... once I had learned the different speeds of the different aircraft at level cruise speed..... I could then just dive if slow and toggle Combat Trim ( CT ) on then off at that speed.... so anytime I am in a Dog Fight, I am most times just slower than that top level cruise speed I am Trimmed for.....

no nose bounce in any plane..... and my Scaling is 100% across the top in all axis......

hope this helps

[falcon23]

The 52 pro looks nice,and with the new pots and all..could really be nice,but I am worried that it may uncalibrate and flash lights as my x52 does now..

[Ghosth]

Generally speaking falcon thats a sign of low power.

Instead of plugging it directly into the computer try plugging it into a good externally powered USB hub.

[maddafinga]

The 52 pro looks nice,and with the new pots and all..could really be nice,but I am worried that it may uncalibrate and flash lights as my x52 does now..

Where in Oklahoma are you?  If you're in Tulsa, you could come over and fly my ch rig a little and see how it feels to you. 

Also, if the dog chewed up the led clip for your TrackIR, are you not using it now or are you using the hat clip with the reflectors?  I've got the hat clip if you are here in town and want it.  I've never used it ever, so it's not doing me any good.