Tell me about your Thrustmaster Warthog

[PFactorDave]

Thinking of buying one.

If you have one, what do you like and dislike about it?

[FLS]

If you add a little extension to the stick it's perfect.

[PFactorDave]

If you add a little extension to the stick it's perfect.

Was it easy to setup for AH?  Did you have to use their software, or could you do everything you wanted in the in game set up?

[james]

All I did was get the update to the drivers. I bought the 4" extension before the warthog.
It was as easy to set up in ah as an x52 or other stick.
After using a cougar I couldn't go beck to a plastic stick. It simply is the vest stick over ever had.

[Delirium]

I just went to a Warthog from a CH stick so my views are little lopsided. Heck, I haven't even had a chance to fly in the MA with it yet.

1. CH programming is so far ahead of the Thrustmaster programming for ease of use, it is comical.

2. If you're heavy handed on the stick, the resistance the Warthog offers is much more comfortable. If you're accustomed to a light stick, the resistance will definitely work against you in the short term.

3. The Warthog doesn't have a physical X and Y axis like the CH does. With the CH stuff, you know exactly if you are rolling or pitching the aircraft and with the Warthog it is seamless. This is both a perk and boon, depending on your opinion.
----

My personal take is CH is far better for the programming of the stick itself, the Warthog is far ahead of CH in the terms of quality and beauty.

[PFactorDave]

I just went to a Warthog from a CH stick so my views are little lopsided. Heck, I haven't even had a chance to fly in the MA with it yet.

1. CH programming is so far ahead of the Thrustmaster programming for ease of use, it is comical.

2. If you're heavy handed on the stick, the resistance the Warthog offers is much more comfortable. If you're accustomed to a light stick, the resistance will definitely work against you in the short term.

3. The Warthog doesn't have a physical X and Y axis like the CH does. With the CH stuff, you know exactly if you are rolling or pitching the aircraft and with the Warthog it is seamless. This is both a perk and boon, depending on your opinion.
----

My personal take is CH is far better for the programming of the stick itself, the Warthog is far ahead of CH in the terms of quality and beauty.

Well, I'm currently using an X52.  When I first got it (replacing my beloved MS Sidewinder), the X52 was waaay to light for me.  I ended up doing a minor mod to the stick to stiffen it up.  I've heard this about their software before, which concerns me somewhat.  I don't like the Saitek software either, but I am able to set my X52 up how I like it within the AH system.

[morfiend]

Dave,


  Had mine for over a year now,you dont need to use the software as it's easy enough to just use the AH system to setup the warthog. the toggle switches are single action so that will take abit to get used to but other than that I highly recomend it.

  single action means that it doesnt return to center and you must do that manually,at first this sort of messed me up but I soon got used to it and now it doesnt affect me at all.



    The spring tension is high,quite stiff,but once you get used to it I think you'll really enjoy flying with it.



   

[Reschke]

Pretty simple for me. I like....no I love the fact that I got mine for free; the plus side is that I love the feel of the stick and I haven't wanted/needed to modify it in any way to make it better like I had to do with my old Cougar. The feeling of the stick and the action is nearly seamless in the transitions from X:Y axis' and those that complain about it...well what can I say other than they are flight sim players and we can never be fully satisfied with what we have. My abysmal gunnery is actually a little better than abysmal now due to not having to feel like I am fighting with every part of the stick just to point my nose at something to shoot.

The don't like side for me is the software. I do not have to use it for either DCS: A-10C or AH to play either game. In A-10C it is recognized immediately and the buttons and switches perform EXACTLY as they do in the game. In AH I am able to program everything that I need to into the stick for true hands off the keyboard flight. HOWEVER in my saying that I don't like the software that isn't exactly true. I have had my Warthog for just over a year now and in the beginning I truly hated TARGET; BUT now I am learning the scripting side of the program instead of fudging around with the GUI side and I am liking it a little better. I still do not want to use TARGET for AH but I will end up using it for other games that aren't as easy to work with as AH is for programming your flight gear.

Hardware rating = 10/10 (would go higher if there was a higher scale for me)
Software rating = 5+/10 (that is only because I have just scratched the scripting surface and may change that rating at a later time.)

[PFactorDave]

I appreciate everyone's input.

I went ahead and ordered one.  Actually I was amused to find the best price (at a company I trusted) from B&H Photo, a company that I have done business with for years.  I've spent tens of thousands of dollars on photographic equipment from B&H Photo.  I didn't even know B&H sold that kind of stuff, but I guess I'm not really that surprised, their inventory of camera equipment is amazing.

[Butcher]

I appreciate everyone's input.

I went ahead and ordered one.  Actually I was amused to find the best price (at a company I trusted) from B&H Photo, a company that I have done business with for years.  I've spent tens of thousands of dollars on photographic equipment from B&H Photo.  I didn't even know B&H sold that kind of stuff, but I guess I'm not really that surprised, their inventory of camera equipment is amazing.

I ordered it off B&H and got it in 2 days, PF I highly recommend the thrustmaster - my good friend DH367th just ordered one and I helped him set it up last night, its quite simple - unplug all your joysticks and uninstall their drivers.

Plug in the Thrustmaster FCS and WCS and reboot your PC - thats ALL you need to do, don't even bother with the TARGET software.

Go in aces high and set it up, DO NOT ALT TAB when you so, you will lose all your settings.

when you are done, exit the game and log back in to make sure everythings good.


HOWEVER I highly recommend you have a set of pedals with the Thrustmaster, the secondary throttle does not work as rudder pedals (its not a twisty stick).

Cons: in a few days I haven't found any yet. Don't think I will

[Delirium]

Having read a lot of the reviews, make sure you update the firmware on the Warthog system before you start using it. Some of the older models have been bricked after a few hours of use without the update.

[PFactorDave]

I ordered it off B&H and got it in 2 days, PF I highly recommend the thrustmaster - my good friend DH367th just ordered one and I helped him set it up last night, its quite simple - unplug all your joysticks and uninstall their drivers.

Plug in the Thrustmaster FCS and WCS and reboot your PC - thats ALL you need to do, don't even bother with the TARGET software.

Go in aces high and set it up, DO NOT ALT TAB when you so, you will lose all your settings.

when you are done, exit the game and log back in to make sure everythings good.


HOWEVER I highly recommend you have a set of pedals with the Thrustmaster, the secondary throttle does not work as rudder pedals (its not a twisty stick).

Cons: in a few days I haven't found any yet. Don't think I will

Cool, thanks.  No problem with rudder, already have pedals.  I'm looking forward to it!

[PFactorDave]

Having read a lot of the reviews, make sure you update the firmware on the Warthog system before you start using it. Some of the older models have been bricked after a few hours of use without the update.

Thanks for the heads up, I'll be certain to do that.

[wabbit]

I love my warthog!

It's so much tighter then my old Cougar, and the wobble I was forced to get used to with my cougar is pretty much gone with the Warthog.

I programed it using the 'Target' software that came with it. I've been told that it's easy to program using Aces if you want, (came from an X-squadmate that has one). The target software was actually easy to learn, as it's similar to my old cougar software- Foxy.

The dang thing has more switches, buttons, and hats, then I could find uses for. The biggest problem I've had with it is remembering which switch, button or hat does what. I set as many as I could the same way my cougar was set, and those aren't a problem. The new setups are what I just have to get used to. That just takes time.

I got mine from Amazon with free shipping for $399.00. It shipped promptly and I had it five days later.

Installed and worked perfectly with Win 7 Premium.

MOST IMPORTANT:  There was a reputed problem with the firmware on some Warthogs, that could, (after repeated usage), cause the throttle to stop working and require that it be sent back to Thrustmaster for repair. I was warned of this, and was told to update the firmware FIRST before doing anything else, (once the Warthog drivers were installed). Did that and haven't had any problems, in the Month or so I've been flying with it.

I use the Warthog along with the Simped USB Rudders. They make a great combination, but the cost of both are high. In my opinion, the cost is well worth it.

You won't regret buying the Warthog - not one bit!



Wabb

[Butcher]

Having read a lot of the reviews, make sure you update the firmware on the Warthog system before you start using it. Some of the older models have been bricked after a few hours of use without the update.

My new warthog came with the latest firmware drivers, I have serial 07001 if that makes any sense to how newer mine is.