X-52 Pro rotaries

[irfanahmed1979]

I'm trying to decide between the two options:

 

1. TM T16000M Flight Stick and CH Pro Throttle

 

2. Saitek X-52 Pro

 

I've about the rotaries on the X-52 pro not working smoothly. Also the slider on the throttle. I wanted to use the rotaries as trim controls.

 

Which option should I choose? Which is more durable?

[irfanahmed1979]

anyone?

[MTM]

I've never owned a Thrustmaster, but I currently use an X52 Pro. I'm pleased with it and I feel like it was a good buy, but the rotaries seem pretty stiff and I've decided not to use them. And I haven't found a way of programming the slider to make it useful. I'm sure there's a way to do it, I just haven't had the need to. The slider and the rotaries really aren't serious problems though. You have so many buttons and hats to work with, I've just assigned trim elsewhere. The only thing that's ever really frustrated me with the X52 is the twist rudder on the stick. In a dogfight when you're lining up a gun kill, you're pulling back on the stick to pitch up and twisting the stick to get him in the crosshairs. It makes for an awkward feel. I liked it much better back when Saitek had the rudder on the throttle. Anyway, that's the only complaint I've ever had. I'd still buy the 52.

[Tumbleweed]

Hello,

 

I've owned my X-52 Pro for around just over a year. Total number of hours use, maybe 50 or less. They've been looked after like one of my children. Cleaned regularly, unplugged when not in use etc.

 

 

The X-52 Throttle / Rotaries:

 

Personally speaking, the rotaries and slider are next to useless for anything that requires precision such as zoom. To date, I've not found a use for any of them except the slider which I use to control the RPM on the P-51 because it's slightly more reliable than the rotaries.

 

In windows, in the joystick controller options where you can test all the buttons, sliders and axis, you can see the rotaries and slider wavering around all over the place both when centered and when moved to new positions. Maybe 1/4 of their actual range is usable.

 

The mini stick I've also found to be flimsy and useless. In the configuration settings where you can test all the buttons axis etc it also wobbles about all over the place like the slider and rotaries.

 

My mini stick also doesn't have a full range of motion in the test window. It refuses to move the cursor all the way up and it generally feels cr*ppy and cheap. I don't use that either. So I'm already down 2 roataries and a mini stick and in most cases a slider.

 

Everything else however works fine. Buttons, throttle, switches etc. All function perfectly well. It's just the rotaries, slider and mini stick that suck.

 

Oh and the MFD display on the throttle occasionally throws a fit, flickers, dims and the backlight goes off completely for seeming no reason at all.

 

Moving on to the stick:

 

I can't say that I'm impressed with the stick much either. All the buttons work fine and the overall feel of the stick is nice and big but it suffers from horrific friction and there's quite a bit of play when centered under its own tension.

 

What it boils down to is this.

When sat centered, there's quite a bit of play in the stick which you have to null out either in game or in the joystick settings. In my case this is worse because I've done the magnet mod which increases the sensitivity even around this deadzone.

 

Then when you've nulled out the deadzone, it puts the starting range of motion right where the friction kicks in. This means when you want a slight precice movement when flying formation say, you first have to fight past the friction to do it. This results in jerky movements in game and is not nice.

 

You can further null out this friction zone but then you're losing more and more range of motion in the stick and have to add more and more curve to compensate. It really is not nice at all.

 

I've been down the lubricating and mod route and nothing cures this horrible friction and wobbly centering. I could forgive the cheap useless rotaries, slider and mini stick if the joystick was nice and smooth but it's frankly horrible to work with. I've not found a setting I've ever been truly happy with.

 

It's definitely a step up from my old Logitch 3D in that I have more switches and buttons close to hand but the handling of aircraft is horrid with the stick.

 

At first I was really impressed with it and I've tried to love it enough to see past its faults but I can't. The more I do, the better I get, the worse it seems.

At this point I think an old Atari 2600 Joystick would be better :/

 

My personal oppinion is that I will be getting rid of mine as soon as I can afford a Warthog. I've never tried a warthog so I can't say what they're like so I'm making the leap based on other people's experience and ratings of it but I can tell you what the X-52 Pro is like and that I won't be getting another.

 

Sorry it's not good news but it is honest.

Edited November 19, 2015 by Tumbleweed

[irfanahmed1979]

thanks both. I'm not buying the X-52

[Sokol1_br]

T.16kM major issue is: limited buttons on grip, dont have even a pinkie button for act as "shift" for the few top buttons.

 

Unless you plan mod then, placing some switch on grip and rewire in the base right side buttons position, this usefulness is very limited.

 

Why don't try find a Cobra M5 instead T.16km?

[irfanahmed1979]

T.16kM major issue is: limited buttons on grip, dont have even a pinkie button for act as "shift" for the few top buttons.

 

Unless you plan mod then, placing some switch on grip and rewire in the base right side buttons position, this usefulness is very limited.

 

Why don't try find a Cobra M5 instead T.16km?

 

 

Ok I'll have a look

[irfanahmed1979]

Cobra M5 seems to be sold out on its website. I don't think I'll be needing that many buttons for DCS Sabre, Huey and Mi-8. It would have been ideal if I could trim the aircraft using a combo of throttle and stick but I'm on a budget.

 

I also would need it for War Thunder if I like to play in simulator mode.

[irfanahmed1979]

T.16kM major issue is: limited buttons on grip, dont have even a pinkie button for act as "shift" for the few top buttons.

 

Unless you plan mod then, placing some switch on grip and rewire in the base right side buttons position, this usefulness is very limited.

 

Why don't try find a Cobra M5 instead T.16km?

 

I tried the VKB FSC Europe website which sells the cobra joystick. First of all they're out of stock. Secondly I tried to order the ECS throttle which is still in stock but they have only 2 payment methods (Paypal & Bank transfer). Paypal is not an option for me. For bank transfer I need an address of the company but they have no such information on their website so it's pretty much useless. The about us page says they're based in Amsterdam but no address.

[Sokol1_br]

Try via email get the information you need: vkb@flightsimcontrols.com

 

My advise is: wait ~January 2016 to see the prices of new VKB line - Gladiator, Gunfighter and two new throttles in development, they will be better, mechanics and electronics that Saitek's and T.16000M.

 

http://vkb-sim.pro/

[irfanahmed1979]

Try via email get the information you need: vkb@flightsimcontrols.com

 

My advise is: wait ~January 2016 to see the prices of new VKB line - Gladiator, Gunfighter and two new throttles in development, they will be better, mechanics and electronics that Saitek's and T.16000M.

 

http://vkb-sim.pro/

 

alright, thanks