Author Topic: Need some Joystick advise... (Read 1543 times)

Sandman · « **Reply #15 on:** December 23, 2001, 06:24:00 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by SOB:
PS to Sandman...it's a shame your poor TM gear is sitting useless & lonely in your closet. How's about you send 'em to me, and I'll make sure they get some use!

Hmmm... what's a used F16 FLCS/TQS/RCS worth?

SOB · « **Reply #16 on:** December 24, 2001, 12:08:00 AM »

If you're serious about selling them, you'd get more money off of ebay then you'd get from me

http://search-completed.ebay.com/search/search.dll?ht=1&query=thrustmaster+TQS&SortProperty=MetaEndSort

Sandman · « **Reply #17 on:** December 24, 2001, 12:32:00 AM »

I'm not so much interested in making a lot of money as I am with simply a fair price.

Hmmm... $100 for the FLCS, TQS and RCS doesn't sound too bad to me. Interested?

[ 12-24-2001: Message edited by: Sandman_SBM ]

Horn · « **Reply #18 on:** December 24, 2001, 12:51:00 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by lazs1:
horn.. i have the f16 combat stick and when I got it the "springs" were so weak that I could move the stick throughout its travel with the tip of my pinky finger. There is no clean fix that I am aware of. The springs are not made to be easily replaced with springs stiff enough to matter. My fix is crude but effective.
lazs

cc, lazs...I must be *way* to gentle

(several years w/ ch--and from Mac to bug-box, too. My mileage must vary.

thanks, tho.

dh

SOB · « **Reply #19 on:** December 24, 2001, 02:31:00 AM »

Sandman...check yer private msgs

Curval · « **Reply #20 on:** December 24, 2001, 07:30:00 AM »

Okay...I think I am sold on the Cougar...went to the web site and I am impressed. I will have to make some serious modifications to my computer chair to accomadate the throttle AND the stick but such is life.

Anyone in Toronto selling it? I would like to pre-order one and have a buddy ship it to me....I just need to know who will be selling it.

Thanks for all your help people...have a Happy Happy, Merry Merry....

Curval

StSanta · « **Reply #21 on:** December 24, 2001, 07:57:00 PM »

Couple of things about the Cougar (which will be a fantastic stick, and probably the best out there).

There are a few things I dislike, which will make me go for an all CH rig:

The rubber skirt. Thrustmaster have a bad habit of putting a rubber skirt on their sticks. This means another artificial resistance on the stick, that increases exponentially as the stick is moved more and more. This means you'll have to use different amounts of power to get it to a specific location, and, due to the way the skirt is constructed, it's not always the exact same amount of pressure.

Some'll say "it's just like with the F16 stick: it hardly moves, and is sensitive to the amount of pressure on the stick". I'd agree with that. Unfortunately, the skirt system isn't precise enough - and the stick travels a LOT more.

Secondly, for those of us who like weak springs a la CH, it's gonna take some time to get used to.

That's the two minor complains I have, and both are cases of "my personal taste" - i.e I won't try to justify them, or I won't call them "shortcomings", as they aren't.

CH is it for me. With the new USB gear, they're durable as hell, easy to use, and jsut right in terms of resistance. More precision due to linear pressure.

Curval · « **Reply #22 on:** December 24, 2001, 08:09:00 PM »

StSanta....currently with my Precision Pro stick I experience significant "bouncing" when trying to slightly adjust my pitch and roll....I compensate and over-compensate to the point where if I hit something it generally results from a hosing of ammo rather than precise well aimed bursts. I could be wrong, but I think part of the problem is in the "bounce back" or centering effect of my joystick. Does CH gear (due to the lack of resistance in the stick) solve my problem, in your opinion?

StSanta · « **Reply #23 on:** December 25, 2001, 05:32:00 AM »

The CH stick is very good, IMHO. Resistance is uniform over the entire range. Played with a MS Precision Pro for a bit, and it was awful compared to the CH stick.

CH will definitely improve yer flying. Cougar will too, if you like the rubber skirt and more resistance thing.

.

I recommend the CH Fighterstick USB

SOB · « **Reply #24 on:** December 25, 2001, 07:48:00 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by StSanta:
Some'll say "it's just like with the F16 stick: it hardly moves, and is sensitive to the amount of pressure on the stick". I'd agree with that. Unfortunately, the skirt system isn't precise enough - and the stick travels a LOT more.

If they do they'll be wrong. The Cougar, like the F22 Pro, will have a full range of motion...it's just got stiffer springs than most. The one in the real F16 is strain gauge, and trust me, no one wants to fly any flight sim with a strain gauge stick. It sucks.

Now, as for your dislikes, who can argue with personal taste. However, I feel that if you work hard at it, & get yourself motivated with a regular porn regiment, you'll soon have no problem with the increased tension of the Cougar!

And the skirt? You get used to it quick and grow to like it...it's very liberating!

SOB

streakeagle · « **Reply #25 on:** December 25, 2001, 08:43:00 AM »

I have had the Saitek X-36 USB stick/throttle for a year and a half now. The only mechanical problem was the primary thumb hat stopped detecting the diagonal positions which was easily fixed by wrapping the stem of the thumb hat with black electrical tape. The original programming software had some major problems, but the current version is mostly stable. Of course, they have yet to provide a Windows 2000/XP compliant version (and despite their claims, it seems like they never will

). But for Windows 9x/ME You can't beat this stick for programmability. You never have to calibrate it either. Motion feels pretty smooth, too. I don't have rudder pedals, so the rudder rocker on the front of the throttle grip has been doing a great job for me. As long as you are using Win9x/ME, you can't beat this stick for the price. I don't know if the X-45 has maintained the same quality. Usually, re-engineering something and offering it at a lower price means they found some way to make it cheaper. That may mean reduced quality or durability, but time will tell.

If the TM Cougar ever has a plug-in version of the F-4/F-15 style stick, I would be interested in getting it. I have no use for the F-16 or its ugly stick

[ 12-25-2001: Message edited by: streakeagle ]

lazs1 · « **Reply #26 on:** December 25, 2001, 10:01:00 AM »

I believe that "nose bounce" is increased with wimpy springs. A good rule of thumb is that if it is possible to fly without screwing your jstick down to the desk then it has springs that are way to weak in it. It is also possible that you are gay. Not that there's anything wrong with that..
lazs

milnko · « **Reply #27 on:** December 25, 2001, 10:02:00 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by streakeagle:
<SNIP> If the TM Cougar ever has a plug-in version of the F-4/F-15 style stick, I would be interested in getting it. I have no use for the F-16 or its ugly stick

Yeah a couple of nice WW2 handles would be nice... like the Spitfire handle would really be unusual.

They interchangable handles is one major selling point for me, I've already pre-ordered one.

I've had probs with Saitek X-36 sticks (gone thru 2 now) so what I've done is left the USB X-36 hooked up so I can use the throttle, connected my old MS FF up to the soundcard JS port, and USB CH Pro pedals.

Real hodge podge of sticks I'll grant you, but it works well, at least til the Cougar gets here

Animal · « **Reply #28 on:** December 25, 2001, 10:23:00 AM »

X-36 until Cougar gets to stores and I murder my granma for her money.

Tyro48 · « **Reply #29 on:** December 25, 2001, 02:07:00 PM »

CH Combat 565F USB has stronger springs, has been absolutely flawless as has their Pro Throtle USB and Pro Pedals USB.