New Joystick

[JackieAdkins]

so my joystick being the POS that it is broke today, or well i broke it cause it just did not work well anymore and i just got mad at it. so i am in the market for a new one, any ideas as to what to get??

thanks,
jackie

[bbstackerf]

Well kinda depends on what type of controls you want. If FF is not import to you I would suggest the Saitek X52 as a choice for joysticks. Not sure of the model, but I see people hear rave about the Sidewinder with FF. I have the X45 and if the X52 is 'improved' it must be one hell of a stick.

The other way to go would be a flight yoke. Once again FF is not an option on these as far as I know. The CH seems to be the choice of most for this.

Good luck

Keni

[town]

I am a Saitek convert, the X52 is the dogs dangly bits, but if that is too expensive the cyborg series is V good

[TSC.]

Word of warning if you go for the X52 - make sure you have plenty of spare desk space!! It's a big old girl.

Just to give you an idea of how much space you'll need - thats a 17" monitor behind them there controls:

Excellent stick though!!

Cheers,

TSC.

[JackieAdkins]

is that a touch screen display or some sort of display there on the throttle?

[TSC.]

It's just a little lcd display, just has a clock or a timer & also tells you what buttons do what (there is a 'clutch' button on the throttle - so when you press the 'clutch' & any other button, the display will tell you what that button is assigned to - without you accidenatally lowering the gear or something) - could be quite handy, but I never use it.

In all, it just looks quite cool, but you don't really need it.

Cheers,

TSC.

[elite marksman]

It may be big, but it has so many damn buttons that you wont need the keyboard while flying anymore, so you can just move the keyboard somewhere less conveinent while flying. My Sidewinder ends up in my lap most of the time as it slide around my desk too much. Ill be getting a X52 after Christmas.

[HyperionAirways]

When the X52 was released, I contemplated "upgrading" my X45.  After lots of thought (and research), I decided not to.  

I've flown the 45 for about 3 years now, and wouldn't change it for the world!

[SilverFox441]

I just upgraded to the X52 from an X45.

WOW!

The 45 was a great stick but the 52 does almost everything better. The "MFD" on the throttle isn't all that multi-function, there is so much more they could do with it, but I didn't expect a whole lot.

I would heartily recommend either the 45 or the 52 as a stick for those unconcerned about FFB.

[TSC.]

It may be big, but it has so many damn buttons that you wont need the keyboard while flying anymore

I still use the keyboard for some things like using the MP chatbox, entering codes into the GPS, adjusting your eyepoint in the VC - so I just put the keyboard right in front of my monitor & have the throttle & stick sat on the slidy drawer that I usually have the keyboard on - I don't think you can completely dispense with the keyboard for some things.

Cheers,

TSC.

[bbstackerf]

Well, this weekend my wife surprised me with the x52. I just got the tension right on my x45 and I had to reconfigure for the 52. Man! What can I say? Big improvement. I have more buttons than functions I can use them for.  At first I thought about setting them all so I would have as much as possible on the stick and I wouldn't have to search the keyboard - especially in the dark (I like to have it dark so the screen is all I see). So what does she do? She got me the matching Saitek keyboard. Oh yea! The keys are all back-lit so I can see the buttons clearly in the dark. I have most functions on the throttle and joystick set so anything I need the keyboad for is just out of the ordinary functions during flight.

I love the X52.

Keni

[TSC.]

Good to hear that you've had a good weekend bbstackerf - your wife must be a very understanding 'sim widow' to go about encouraging you even more by buying such goodies as the X52!!

That matching keyborad with the backlit keys sounds amazing - I'd never heard of that before (TSC goes searching the Saitek site!!)

Cheers,

TSC.

(edit)
Had to order the Saitek keyboard today - it looked too cool, blast you Keni

[bbstackerf]

TSC

Sorry.

Merry Christmas

Keni

[wealthysoup]

Well since my x52 didnt arrive for my birthday (dec 17th) hopefully it will be here for christmas.....but in the meantime ill just have to stare at tscs one  :D
Its going to be really hard to put that anywhere on my pc desk becasue my keyboard stand is to high...think ill have to do a little bit of diy and make something for it when it arrives.

[Gary R.]

I would never give up my CH yoke for anything.  Or the pedals.  My arraingement is quite weird.  I have the yoke and pedals.  The thrustmaster Afterburner stick and throttle set is my console controls.  The throttle of course and the buttons on the throttle are prop and mix.  The stick buttons have flaps, and spoiler.  I also have sidewinder pro and an interact raider.  I use the raider for stick controlled aircraft and unhook my yoke of course, and the precision pro I have mapped to do radio's and the thottle axis is my elevator trim.  It all sits on small tv stand next to my PC desk and  looks quite strange but hey, I don't need my keyboard very much, just for atc.  If I fly any military planes (fighters), the stand, with the throttle and the rest gets moved to my left.  I find it greatly more immersive to be reaching with the hands in similar ways you would in the real plane although it is a bit awkward to use a left grip throttle right handed but I got used to it.    I would like to get an X-45 for use with stick controlled planes and the CH throttle quadrent is also on my list.  After I get those 2 perhaps i can dump the raider and the sidewinder for keeps.  No X-52 though.  I just don't care for twisty sticks.  That's not realistic.  No stick controlled plane I've ever seen has a twisty stick. pedals pedals pedals.   Overall though, if you like GA or airliners for instance spend a little more and get a CH yoke.  Can't beat it for civil planes.