Thinking of buying a yoke..

[Zaphod]

Hi all.

I'm thinking of buying a yoke to replace/augment my Sidewinder precision 2 joystick but I have a couple of concerns.

1) How would I control Rudder functions with just a yoke? I'm particularly thinking of cross wind landings. I can't run to rudder pedals at this time.

2) Can I unplug the yoke and plug in the old joystick to use with fast jets etc? Will I have to select which to use from a menu?

Any help appreciated.

Zaphod.

[Sterk]

The same-thinking of purchacing yoke and ask my self the same question-what about rudder?

I address this question to those who already have the CH yoke-can rudder control be assigned to buttons or switch that this yoke has?

As for your second question-surely yes-since it's USB device you can plug/unplug/replace/switch controllers at any time.Most motherboards have usually up to six USB ports,so you can have joystick and yoke plugged in at the same time and switch between them from the FS menu before you start the flight...

[Fozzer]

One of the many reasons why I haven't abandoned my nice Logitech Wingman Force 3D joystick is because of the seriously expensive combination of Yoke and Rudder pedals...

Logitech Twist Joystick =

[garymbuska]

While I do not have a yoke, as long as the switch has the proper axis you should be able to assign the rudder to it but it would have to be a slider rather than a pushbutton type switch other wise the rudder would go from one extrme to the other with out any thing inbetween. I myself have the CH PEDALS and use a very simple Joystick that has a throttle control and have assigned the arrow keys to pan with since the joysick does not have a tophat switch on it.

[Saitek]

Ben (the other one) has a yoke for sale......

[JBaymore]

Zaphod,

If you go to a yoke, seriously plan on following that with rudder pedals as soon after that as you can afford them.  It is a natural pairing....... and it makes a world of difference if you typically fly aircraft that use yokes for control.

You can have both the joystick and the yoke plugged in at the same time.  They are seen as separate controllers in the sim setup.  I do that with a CH Yoke (and pedals) and a Wingman Extreme FF.  I just unplug the FF power to keep it from flopping around.

The sim will let whichever axis control that is "last active" take the priority for the controls.  If the joystick is sitting centered... and the yoke then moves... the sim will "beleive" the yoke is the one to use for control.  Move the joystick... and the "control" shifts over to that one.  If you have a lot of potentiometer "jitter" when they are sitting centered.... you will have to address this......but if not it works fine.

Withouit the rudder pedals, set "auto coordination to "on" until you can get pedals.  

Also if you are a "tinkerer" maybe drop down to the "Homebuilt Cockpits" forum to see some info on building your own rudder pedals and yokes out of an old joystick.

Yes, you can assign a button on the yoke to be the rudder control.  The logical one is the rocker switch below the hat switch on the top of the right handle.  But since the yoke is normally held and controled with the left hand, that will make you have the right hand involved too....... not too realistic since the right hand more typically is manipulating the throttles at "crucial times".

Rudder control can be assigned to either an axis or a key press as far as I know.  The rocker switch will act like controlling the rudder with the keyboard.  You can set the keypress repeat rate to adjust the response of the rudder.

There are better yokes available..... but nowhere near as cheaply as the CH one.  If you've got more like $500-600 USD and up to spend ....there are other options.  

Check EBay for new usb CH yokes...... sometimes you can find a bit of a bargain listed.  Watch out for the CH "light" version yoke....... it doesn't have all the same features as the one you are probably looking for.  For the best price in a regular store I have found on the CH yoke... go to the "Resources" sticky message at the top of the "Homebuilt Cockpits" forum........ a place called "Ink-4-U".

Hope these thoughts from a simpit builder help.

best,

.....john

[Zaphod]

Thanks John for that very comprehensive reply.

Yes I am A "Tinkerer" and the thought of a homebuilt cockpit really appeals. By coincedence, my two daughters are now grown and have left home so in theory at least I have two spare rooms. Hmm, food for thought.

Thanks to all who replied.

All the best.

Zaphod (Paul)

[Jared]

lol, I got mine from GotInk4U too! Pretty good deals on some studd there..

[Jared]

lol, I got mine from GotInk4U too! Pretty good deals on some studd there..

[expat]

[quote]One of the many reasons why I haven't abandoned my nice Logitech Wingman Force 3D joystick is because of the seriously expensive combination of Yoke and Rudder pedals...

Logitech Twist Joystick =

[Delta_]

I love my Logitech Force 3D.  Not only for the force feedback, but for the twist stick.  It makes taxiing so easy and also using the rudder in flight is so easy too.

[Zaphod]

Don't get me wrong. I don't dislike my Precision 2 joystick, but like most sticks (I assume) it has a habit of wanting to "self center" which means I use the trim buttons during flight to maintain level flight more than would be necessary with a yoke, which again I am assuming will stay in any position with regards to pitch (whew).
I agree, being able to twist the stick to control the rudder is great and soon becomes second nature. Hence my earlier questions.

Zaphod.

[GA_Pilot]

I use a Saitek X45, which has a rudder control on the throttle, which you control with your hand instead of your feet, but I wouldnt give up my X45 for a yoke and pedals....

[bbstackerf]

I have the X45 as well. A couple of weeks ago my boss was in town and took my wife and I for dinner. Afterwards he stopped by my house so I could show him a presentation I was working on. Keep in mind, he's totally computer illiterate. When he saw my X45 stick velcroed to my desk he asked about it. Well, I loaded the sim, put him in the Cessna 172 (He flys a real one) and I couldn't get him off! The very next day our IT guy calls me up and asks what all he needs to set the boss up with the sim in his office. So he goes out and gets him the X52 and a new $3500 gaming pc. Makes me want to scream. Here he barely knows how to turn the thing on and he has a system I'd kill for.

The good thing is that now instead of calling me to gripe about how much I spent to get a truck going, he's calling me contantly to ask how to do this or that. lol. We're flight sim buddies.

[Jakemaster]

I love my ch yoke!  Now that Ive gotten into flying the default cessna 208B, Its perfect.  Also, alot of other planes I fly have yoke (older props, like the howard, An-14 (excellent bush plane))