Idea for good cheap joystick.

So, rather than spending the big money on a HOTAS (ok, it's "only" a x52), i was thinking on getting a cheap joystick, and save money for a new PC at some point. I was just wondering what people would recommend of cheap joysticks, that hopefully last long... :joystick:

Actually, never mind. If i really want a new computer, i'm better of saving that money.

There is no such thing as "cheap and good", not in this world, not in this lifetime...

There is no such thing as "cheap and good", not in this world, not in this lifetime...

What he said. Far better to wait until you can afford at least a mid range HOTAS (eg Saitek X52) than buy a cheap one.

I'd recommend Saitek Cyborg Evo. It is not top time joy but I've been using it since 2007 IIRC and still it is quite good.

Saitek ST290 for me.. I've been using mine since 2008 though the potentiometers seem to have degrade as time goes by.. but still usable.

Though i wish to invest on a HOTAS, provided i have enough funds and my Computer Table could support one (mine's an old design only able to accommodate a keyboard & mouse..)

+1 on the save money for a true HOTAS the X52 is gitting cheaper all the time. I saw it for 89$ the other day in a Best buy.

Logitech Extreme 3D Pro - very comfortable stick design (better then X52 for me),

enough buttons, hat, throttle-slider, rudder-twist (good for Ka-50).

It's still working for me very good for more than 3 years.

I expect to change it on HOTAS Warthog someday. :)

I was considering the Saitek cyborg X a little... Can't get the cyborg evo more...

edit. Nahh. I'll get a x52

Logitech Extreme 3D Pro - very comfortable stick design (better then X52 for me),

enough buttons, hat, throttle-slider, rudder-twist (good for Ka-50).

It's still working for me very good for more than 3 years.

 

I expect to change it on HOTAS Warthog someday. :)

DONT BUY THIS THING :doh: it has a centering isuae and spikes, it is a known issue, I had to trow it to the garbage. it has a nice feel and presition when it works.

Has anybody tried the thrustmaster T16000? Looks like a decent stick for 30 something €.

Saitek AV8R-01 is the best bang for the buck. Second - Thrustmaster Hotas X and T16000. Then maybe ST290. Also be aware of that only Saitek uses decent potentiometers in alll of their joysticks. All of the rest use the same 10 mm by 10 mm crap-pots. I don't know what sensors are used in exotic (for me) products like CH Products.

Also be aware of that only Saitek uses decent potentiometers in alll of their joysticks. All of the rest use the same 10 mm by 10 mm crap-pots. I don't know what sensors are used in exotic (for me) products like CH Products.

The T16000 actually uses hall sensors for the stick ;)

Saitek AV8R-01 is the best bang for the buck. Second - Thrustmaster Hotas X and T16000. Then maybe ST290. Also be aware of that only Saitek uses decent potentiometers in alll of their joysticks. All of the rest use the same 10 mm by 10 mm crap-pots. I don't know what sensors are used in exotic (for me) products like CH Products.

CH uses old fashioned but good pots. Saitek X52 series and TM T1600 use hall sensors.

The T16000 actually uses hall sensors for the stick ;)

I forgot to highlight it. Of course it's the reason why it's on my list of good joysticks.

Logitech Extreme 3D Pro - very comfortable stick design (better then X52 for me),

enough buttons, hat, throttle-slider, rudder-twist (good for Ka-50).

It's still working for me very good for more than 3 years.

 

I expect to change it on HOTAS Warthog someday. :)

I replaced this one 2 times when i got mine. The first one had a problem with Pots after 2 weeks of use. It had spiky X/Y-axis and centering issues in the joystick calibration page..

I went back to the store and replaced it with another one.. then after 2+ weeks, the new joystick developed the same problem. I don't know.. maybe i'm just unlucky.

It feels solid though, compared to the flimsy lightness of the ST290.

The software that comes with it seems nifty too. Though one thing is for sure.. never again would i go back to a logitech joystick.. ^

I replaced this one 2 times when i got mine. The first one had a problem with Pots after 2 weeks of use. It had spiky X/Y-axis and centering issues in the joystick calibration page..

 

I went back to the store and replaced it with another one.. then after 2+ weeks, the new joystick developed the same problem. I don't know.. maybe i'm just unlucky.

If it was not Saitek or CH Products or of the very few other joysticks then it was not a matter of luck because vast majority of joystick use the infamous crap-potentiometers (aka crappots)

while for example Saitek uses these (their X52/X52 Pro uses hall sensors on X and Y axes)

BTW, HOTAS COUGAR also uses the crap-pots :doh: , because all the Thrustmaster joysticks do (except of T.16000 and the PIG which use hall sensors)

I replaced this one 2 times when i got mine. The first one had a problem with Pots after 2 weeks of use. It had spiky X/Y-axis and centering issues in the joystick calibration page..

 

I went back to the store and replaced it with another one.. then after 2+ weeks, the new joystick developed the same problem. I don't know.. maybe i'm just unlucky.

 

It feels solid though, compared to the flimsy lightness of the ST290.

The software that comes with it seems nifty too. Though one thing is for sure.. never again would i go back to a logitech joystick.. ^

It's not just you. It's common problem with this model. Finally, I had discovered DX Tweaker and mitigated some of problems.

One more voice for "this is not so good joystick" :joystick:

Never ever buy Logitech joystick ! I have that one mentioned above and it was not last more than 1 month before suffering spikes, erratic movement and centering issue.

Logitech is good at making mouse and keyboard but not joystick