Author Topic: Cougar Owner Survey  (Read 1387 times)

Offline Animal

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« Reply #30 on: April 02, 2003, 12:35:44 AM »
Are those USB? can I go to your house and try them?

Offline Glasses

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« Reply #31 on: April 02, 2003, 01:19:55 AM »
Yes and no :D

Offline Animal

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« Reply #32 on: April 02, 2003, 01:27:16 AM »
Then I'll break in and force myself on your... computer!

Offline Vermillion

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« Reply #33 on: April 02, 2003, 07:12:26 AM »
Wow! Its the most expensive stick on the market, and you guys are spending hundreds (sometimes > $500) to "mod" it?!?!?!?! Damn. You must have more money and patience than I have ;)

I tried Cougars and didn't like them.  Overly heavy stick forces and difficulty in precision flying.

I'll stick with my full CH Pro setups.  I had my gameport models for 4 years before I went to the newer USB setup, and the stick was as crisp and precise as the day I bought it, and I didn't spend dollar one on any "mods" :p  Just bought the USB versions a couple of months ago, and I'm very please.

Offline LePaul

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« Reply #34 on: April 02, 2003, 09:30:58 AM »
Overall, I've loved the X45...it wont center for me, off by a smidgen, and I've pondered doing the spring mods at the base others have hinted at.  If i let go of the stick in level flight, she tips to the left...

That and the button on the throttle I use for WEP requires a bit more mashing to kick in than the other buttons do.

But its been a good stick...no complaints other than what was mentioned above.  And I've killed Sidewinders and other brands and much less time

Offline LoneStarBuckeye

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« Reply #35 on: April 02, 2003, 01:01:37 PM »
I've owned and sold a Cougar, even after investing the time to rewire a set of CH pedals so that the toe brakes would work when plugged into the Cougar's rudder port.  Many people, including the guy who bought mine, love the Cougars.  I do not.

I now own a CH USB set-up, which I rate as superior in every way, except that there is just no denying the coolness of the Cougar's heft and (almost) all-metal construction.  (Some would say that the fact that it is an "authentic" F-16 stick is a plus, but I actually prefer the layout of my CH Pro Throttle.  I don't miss Cougar's rotaries and I really like CH's additional hat switches.)  For a long time, the CH sticks were limited by very sub-par programming capability, but with the recent release of Bob Church's excellent CH Control Manager 2.0, the CH sticks can do anything the Cougar can do and more.  In my view, CM 2.0 is much more flexible, powerful, and intuitive than Cougar's programming environment.

Cougar may be worth buying just to set on your shelf, but using it to fly is another matter altogether.  As several users have noted, precise control around the center is difficult, if not impossible, due to the unfortunate confluence of two factors: center play and extremely stiff springs with a very high "break" force.  Indeed, so much force is needed to move the stick out of its center play area that it feels like it has a center detent.  Obviously, once you've exerted that much force, it is hard to stop stick movement near center to make fine adjustments.  (If you've ever driven a non-power steering U-Haul truck with out-of-alignment tires and a four-inch play in the steering system, you have some idea of what it's like trying to fly with the Cougar.)

Control of the CH Fighterstick, in contrast, is quite light and precise.  I'm pretty sure the play in my CH stick is less than in my Cougars (I've had two), but, in any event, it is insignificant because there is not a huge "break" force like there is with the Cougar.  To be honest, I find Cougar's control so bad that I prefer my three-year old Saitek HOTAS (which, by the way, has HUGE play in the center).

It may be that the various mods available turn the Cougar into the uber stick that I hoped it would be.  If money is no object, they might be worth a look.  In fact, the Cougar has so much potential that I would probably pay $1k for a Cougar that worked as I expected it to work.  

- JNOV

Offline Reschke

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« Reply #36 on: April 02, 2003, 02:01:57 PM »
As for rudders I still don't think you can beat a set of TM RCS rudders. I have a 2nd hand pair I bought when I bought my F-16 FLCS/TQS combo 4+ years ago (which I sold to help fund the Cougar purchase). So these rudders are every bit of 8 years old and the pot is finally dying. So I am about to break down and rework them and make them into RCS w/ Toe Brakes and a new pot. But I am doing a home "poor man's 4 spring mod" to eliminate the flat areas around the travel of my stick. As I said I have gotten out the Mitotoyo calipers from work and still register <1.5mm of play in both the X and Y axis. That is a heck of a lot less than what I had in my F-16 FLCs and in the Saitek, Suncom and CH gear I have used in the past. I wish I still had that Suncom throttle I could make a killing selling it on eBay. :D
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Offline EvenStrain

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« Reply #37 on: April 03, 2003, 12:54:34 AM »
Hey Reschke,

If you can hold off on your 4 spring mod for a week or so I'll have some info I think you'll like.  Cheap and easy DIY mod undergoing some testing right now.  Stay tuned to the CW forums next week.

Cheers,

Greg

Offline Hristo

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« Reply #38 on: April 03, 2003, 05:39:09 AM »
Cannot wait, Greg ;)

Offline FOGOLD

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« Reply #39 on: April 03, 2003, 08:31:29 AM »
Yes, I think I'm going to sell mine too. I might try CH stuff, but the dimensions of the stick are the same and one of the things I dislike about the Cougar is the stretch to reach HAT and gun buttons. The TopGun just fits so neatly in your hand, just move your thumb to the nice hat and gun buttons. No play whatsoever, HOTAS control for £25!

 I also would like the whole lot to be seen as one controller as I have USB CH Pro pedals which are great.

This isn't a problem in AH, but it would be nice to fly Janes WWII fighters again.

I could do with a few more buttons than the Topgun Afterburner has got though.

Offline gofaster

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« Reply #40 on: April 07, 2003, 01:54:01 PM »
Quote
Originally posted by Vermillion
I'll stick with my full CH Pro setups.  I had my gameport models for 4 years before I went to the newer USB setup, and the stick was as crisp and precise as the day I bought it, and I didn't spend dollar one on any "mods" :p  Just bought the USB versions a couple of months ago, and I'm very please.


I'm still flying with the same CH Combatstick and CH rudder pedals I used when flying with Vermillion in the Skull Squadron in Air Warrior Classic, AW2, and AW3.  Only replaced the Combatstick pots once; planning on buying a USB adaptor for it to bypass the spiking gameport on my new sound card next time I'm at Radio Shack or shopping on NewEgg.com.

Offline Pongo

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« Reply #41 on: April 07, 2003, 06:24:19 PM »
Quote
Originally posted by EvenStrain
Hey Reschke,

If you can hold off on your 4 spring mod for a week or so I'll have some info I think you'll like.  Cheap and easy DIY mod undergoing some testing right now.  Stay tuned to the CW forums next week.

Cheers,

Greg


Everstrain!
welcome to our board!
Hope you get a chance to try AH out once you have cleared your slate of orders.
 Here is Everstrains contribution to the pursuit of Flight controler perfection guys..



again..welcome everstrain!

Offline EvenStrain

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« Reply #42 on: April 07, 2003, 11:26:42 PM »
Thanks Pongo.

Actually the EvenStrain is looking a bit different these days.  I'll be posting some pics as well as some hard numbers later this week.  I'm also sending info and samples to Ian to try on the U2.  It's an easy and inexpensive addition, one that I like alot.

Cheers,

Greg