Author Topic: CH Pro Throttle USB (Read 2550 times)

SB · « **on:** June 18, 2001, 11:40:00 AM »

After a freaking year of waiting I am the proud owner of a new CH Pro Throttle USB. I dug my other USB stuff out of the closet and have it all hooked up now. It was worth the wait for me.

The software that you have to download (software CD's aren't in yet and will cause delays if you decide to wait on it) does a real nice job of replacing Speed Keys. You can map any axis on any of the controllers to whatever joystick you want. You can set them for digital input for games that won't use the 9 axis you get with the throttle, pedals, and stick.

In Aces High I mapped the thumb joystick to use as my pan views. I can move my virtual head throughout the view range only using the joystick. Talk about immersion. When you look back left and want to look back right, your virtual head has to move to the front before you can look right. It moves fast so it's not a big deal. You can peek down just a hair to look at your flap indicator or fuel state on those planes that have those guages out of the normal front view and you can look up just over the canopy rail with just a small press of your thumb. Releasing the view stick returns your head to the front view.

There are 3 4-way hats and 1 8-way hat on the throttle. The 8-way is located right behind the view stick. I've mapped head movements to one of the hats on the joystick.

The toe brakes with the CH Pro Pedals USB are something else I really enjoy. Touching down and feathering the brakes just hard enough to keep the tail down and being able to steer adds a lot, much more than I would of thought.

Between the CH software and the flexibility of AH, you can do some amazing things. I still haven't experimented with the shifted function to give me even more stuff to play with and I'm sure there is much more here than I've been able to discover in a weekend.

popeye · « **Reply #1 on:** June 18, 2001, 11:56:00 AM »

Hey, SB!! Nice to "see" ya.

Thanks for the report. I've been thinking about switching to the USB stuff. Sounds like it's got some advantages. Is it more stable than the analog-and-gamecard?

Don't know about the view thingy though. I've been using the same view system for so long, I die like a dog every time I try to change.

popeye

SB · « **Reply #2 on:** June 18, 2001, 01:08:00 PM »

Hiya Popeye. Hmm the way to describe this... think AW DOS smooth is the best description I can give. None of the little stick glitches you get from Windows.

As for the view system you'd be amazed intuitive it really is. It will take some getting used to but not very long at all.

Starbird · « **Reply #3 on:** June 18, 2001, 01:50:00 PM »

USB should eliminate all spiking, centering and other such problems. Unless your stick is broke in some way.

I've had usb pro pedals for a few months now, and they're rock solid. Really nice once you get the expo curves set up in AH.

I didn't even know the throttles were out. I'll have to order one.

popeye · « **Reply #4 on:** June 18, 2001, 02:14:00 PM »

Okay...took the plunge.

I expect to provide lots of maneuver kills, while I try to learn the new views.

popeye

SB · « **Reply #5 on:** June 18, 2001, 02:54:00 PM »

Heh Pops,

You can keep your default views also. I've got both set up.

Wanker · « **Reply #6 on:** June 19, 2001, 10:37:00 AM »

Thanks for the review, SB, I'll be ordering my USB Pro Throttle shortly, if the negotiations with my wife go well.

[ 06-19-2001: Message edited by: banana ]

Eagler · « **Reply #7 on:** June 19, 2001, 11:24:00 AM »

doesn't sound like anything us X36 Saitek combo owners haven't been able to do for years

Eagler

-lynx- · « **Reply #8 on:** June 19, 2001, 11:32:00 AM »

Eagler - BS

I had 2 Saiteks before - must've been serial numbers within the very first hundred or so - both went back cuz they were c**p. Until the USB version came out Saitek was not very good to say the least. It's still behind CH for programmability (nothing beats SpeedKeys for ease of use and intuitivity) etc but for the price it's simply unbeatable. And it works with CH Pro pedals USB ...

I'm happy with Saitek USB - can't really justify buying another CH setup.

SB · « **Reply #9 on:** June 19, 2001, 02:24:00 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Eagler:
doesn't sound like anything us X36 Saitek combo owners haven't been able to do for years

Eagler

Hmmm looked at the Saitek site and didn't see anything about a secondary joystick on the throttle. Did I miss something?

Eagler · « **Reply #10 on:** June 19, 2001, 03:03:00 PM »

SB
On the throttle the X36 has at least two hats you can program for whatever, I use one for my up view then when used with the hat programmed on the joystick for views it gives me the up view of the 8 directions. the other hat on the throttle is for my zoom (on/off - in/out)set as a 4way hat. The other hat on the throttle I set the down function for gear, among other things. You can program them for just about anything, sounds like you are similarly setup. Yes, mine is USB. Had the analog - but was very buggy the way it tied into the keyboard. CH makes a fine product. Have had several pedals and 2 or 3 different sticks from them. Congrats on ur new setup.
Enjoy!

Eagler

SB · « **Reply #11 on:** June 20, 2001, 06:25:00 AM »

Eagler,

I understand what you're saying but I think you may have missed the point I was trying to make. There is a true X-Y joystick on the new CH throttle. Couple that with the pan view system in AH and you have something entirely new, the ability to have any view with the movement of one control. No more multiple hats to press with both thumbs or extra buttons for view modifiers, and it's not a snap view like the hats we are all so used to. Using this view system if you want to look at your 7 position and move to your 5 position you have to move your views all the way around to the right, no Linda Blair head spinning stuff.

Don't get me wrong, I was ready to buy a Saitek because of the frustration with CH and thier missed release dates. Saitek makes a good product.

This is something I haven't seen on any stick I've messed with and I've gone thru a lot of them. (Still have my beta TM stick from the 94 AW con in DC and all my beta CH stuff).

Wanker · « **Reply #12 on:** June 20, 2001, 11:07:00 AM »

Well, it sounds like both Saitek and CH have resolved their former problems. Man, remember how terrible controllers were back in the early 90's? We've come a long way, baby!

popeye · « **Reply #13 on:** June 26, 2001, 11:18:00 AM »

Well, I got the CH USB stuff. Now I need more USB ports. There are two USB ports on the MB, but I need to add three more.

Do I get a "hub", or a PCI USB card? Any (dis)advantage to either?

TIA

popeye

lakc · « **Reply #14 on:** June 26, 2001, 12:10:00 PM »

Popeye,
I dont know which is the best for you, but when you do decide, try these people first. I get all my hardware from "the shows". http:// [url=http://www.a1scs.com]http://www.a1scs.com [/url]