H.O.T.A.S (Warthog or X-55)?

[slicker55]

DCS addict, X-55 owner, studying A-10C, enjoy the other modules also.

 

I have invested considerable time in mapping profiles for most of the modules and producing hard copies for easy reference

 

Dilemma: SWMBO wants to know if I would like a Warthog from Santa?

 

Benefits v drawbacks?

Edited December 11, 2015 by slicker55

[dburne]

If the opportunity is there, I would not hesitate.

Been running mine for some time now and love it.

Nothing like the feel of that cold, hard, heavy metal.

 

Probably the main drawback, is the spring force. Might take a little getting used to. Lot of folks are getting the extensions for it that a couple of folks are offering, which certainly alleviates much of that force.

Personally it does not really bother me, guess I have gotten used to it. I am going to be adding one of those extensions here in the near future though, as I want to give it a try.

For the A-10C, it is ideal obviously as that is what it is based on and pretty much plug and play for DCS A10-C.

 

Drawback - I guess in addition to the spring force, some have reported issue over time the gimball mechanism getting rough due to not having great lubrication from the factory. There are some threads where folks describe how to re-grease the gimball to make it much better, but it is a little involved mainly protecting the wires as they apparently are easily pinched.

Me personally, I have not noticed any difference in my Warthog since the day I got it, and do not plan on doing the grease thing unless it gets to the point I feel I need to.

 

I don't think there is a single stick on the market today that does not have some drawbacks, imho the Warthog is quite a piece of work, the quality is very good, and well worth the dollars.

 

Edit: Forgot to add, the joystick does have some stiction - by that I mean if you move the stick on it's axis a little, stop, and then try to start moving it gently, it takes some force to overcome to get it going again, resulting in some not so smooth small inputs when doing this. Personally it does not really bother me that much, some though it does. And again, an extension would certainly help alleviate that as well.

Edited December 11, 2015 by dburne

[bart]

I have the Warthog too and I can't recommend it enough. It's awesome and for the A10C module it adds immersion 1000%. I agree on all points dburne made above. I've had mine a couple of years now and it still performs without a hitch. The red paint has faded on the stick trigger but hey I just love the A10C's gun :D I put a 80mm extension on mine too I bought of Wassy100 (great guy BTW) here on the forums, which make flying the helicopters a little easier.

 

If you can get one.........do it. :thumbup:

Edited December 11, 2015 by bart

[slicker55]

WOW... thought I'd have time to put the kettle on before bracing myself for a flurry of answers but you beat me to it!

 

I have quite a lot of time and effort invested in my custom profiles, for each I have created a hard copy for easy reference - more work, less time flying...

 

The X-55 has a great selection of switches, buttons and rotaries... if I upgrade to the Warthog, will I lose any of this functionality?

Edited December 11, 2015 by slicker55

[slicker55]

Stang,

 

Thanks for the offer... I'm in the UK but who knows, someone else might just pop up and snap it up...

[dburne]

I wish the throttle had some rotaries like the Cougar throttle did, but still I love the HOTAS. Really the only additional axis on the throttle is the friction slider, well you have the ministick ( slew control) but not really feasible to use it effectively.

 

Here are the layouts:

 

 

Edited December 11, 2015 by dburne

[dburne]

One last thing I forgot to mention.

 

The independent throttles also have idle detents, where when pulled back to the stop ( at idle), you can raise them slightly and slide them over the hump all the way back, which is the engine shutoff for the A-10C.

 

They also have afterburner detents iirc one can set as well, I never bothered with those.

[slicker55]

dburne,

 

This is a no brainer really... I'm just agonising over something which I will inevitably end up with... I've always known it... it was just a case of when not if... as we speak, my wife is whispering in one ear saying, 'you won't regret it'...

 

Am I right in saying there has been a significant price drop?

 

If memory serves me right, I thought the Warthog was £400+ when I bought my X-55 for £160. Now the Warthog is going for £260 on Amazon and even less if you shop around!

[slicker55]

I would like to hear from someone who has used both products in order to compare how they actually 'feel'. Despite regular maintenance, my X-55 stick often feels, shall we say, 'less than smooth'... some say the build quality of the X-55 is very 'Fisher Price' although I have been quite happy with mine. I suppose it all depends upon what you're comparing it to.

[dburne]

Hmmm ya know it has been so long, I can not really recall what I paid for my Warthog. Yesterday I was going through my email folders, as I was curious how long I have had it, and I normally save email receipts, but could not find it.

 

I do not remember reading about any big price drops on the Warthog, I do remember seeing someone running a good sale on them several days ago, may have been Amazon.

 

Listen to your wife! Trust me, the first time you pull that joystick out of the box, you going to go - wow, unbelievable...

 

BUT, if you happen not to like it do not blame me , I mentioned the shortcomings lol. I think if you read up on the forums here though, you will see most folks that get one, like it.

 

Good luck!

[slicker55]

dburne,

 

you've convinced me but a word of caution... my lovely wife says if it comes and I don't like it , you'll be getting a visit from a couple of guys with big hands!

 

hahhahahaha!

[dburne]

dburne,

 

you've convinced me but a word of caution... my lovely wife says if it comes and I don't like it , you'll be getting a visit from a couple of guys with big hands!

 

hahhahahaha!

 

LOL, I look forward to hearing your initial impressions. IMHO the Warthog is in a whole other league than the Saitek offerings.

[slicker55]

dburne,

 

glad you saw the funny side of that... only jokin (of course) ... don't want to get caught out with finding the best price to later discover it's a slightly different model... is there only one Warthog HOTAS or do I need to bear anything like this in mind?

[dburne]

dburne,

 

glad you saw the funny side of that... only jokin (of course) ... don't want to get caught out with finding the best price to later discover it's a slightly different model... is there only one Warthog HOTAS or do I need to bear anything like this in mind?

 

:thumbup:

 

Yep, only one.

Well now thinking about it, make sure it is the complete HOTAS. I think TM does offer like the throttle unit, or the joystick, can't remember which - one of those, they sell separately. Make sure it is the complete throttle and stick unit.

But yes, only one model.

[slicker55]

Ah, thanks... you're right... I have seen the items sold separately but so long as there is only one model, I'll just find the best price on the complete set... Oh, what am I saying, none of this matters, silly me... I just write a nice letter, leave it next to a glass of sherry and a mince pie (oh, not forgetting a carrot for Rudolph) and it will just appear (free of charge)...

[dburne]

Lol, I just did the euro to dollar conversion, if that price is for the complete HOTAS that is a very good deal.

Amazon here in the states currently has it for 365 USD.

[dburne]

I just write a nice letter, leave it next to a glass of sherry and a mince pie (oh, not forgetting a carrot for Rudolph) and it will just appear (free of charge)...

 

Santa drinks sherry and eats mince pie over there? You guys are too good to him!

 

He gets cookies and milk, here in the states! ( no drinking and sleighing, we cracking down on that stuff). And Rudolph gets zilch!

 

Btw, he is bringing me a new set of MFG Crosswind Pedals, he should be loading them up on the sleigh here in the next few days.

:)

[slicker55]

365USD = £239

 

That's the better deal!

[dburne]

365USD = £239

 

That's the better deal!

 

I ain't that good at conversions lol.

[slicker55]

No probs... just going back to the differences (I need to do a direct comparison) of features, etc... on the X-55 you get four rotaries on the throttle which can be quite useful. Each of the toggle switches are three-way and, although it doesn't work properly, there is a three-way mode switch. The latter is designed to increase the number of available key commands but I've never used this feature. I have a touchscreen which I use with Helios profiles - I wouldn't enjoy DCS without it. So, all things considered, any shortcomings of the Warthog in term of rotaries may not be an issue for me. On the Warty, I do like the way the switch type and physical position mirrors the one in real life.

[dburne]

You would love it for the A-10C hands down.

 

I actually added a CH Throttle Quadrant to my setup, to give me some additional axis to work with. Had it mounted beside my throttle unit, but never got to where I needed to use it, finally removed it and set it aside for now.

 

Now for additional buttons, what I do is assign the paddle lever on the stick, as a modifier in the DCS controller setup menu. Effectively doubling the number of available buttons I can assign. The paddle is easy to depress with my pinky, so very easy to use this as a modifier. Any button though can be set as a modifier.

 

Now as for what you are talking about, like the three modes, you can do that as well with the Warthog by using the TARGET software. Now that is very powerful , for programming the Warthog. Had a bit of a learning curve, but once you get the basics down not that bad to create a profile for your module. You would not want to use it for the A-10C though, as it is plug and play with the Warthog.

 

I have used TARGET with other sims for some time, here recently with the great controller setup options in DCS, I started to just assign my buttons in the game. You will want to install TARGET either way, if nothing else to control the LED states for the throttle. Then you can just close TARGET and fly if you assign from within the game.

Or learn and use TARGET to really open up the possibilities.

You can download the TARGET manual from the TM website and read up on it, to get an idea of what it can do.

[slicker55]

dburne,

 

Thanks again... rest assured I will want to get the most out of the Target software. I'll take a look at it a bit later... guess what I'm doing right now... yeah, banging some adverts on Ebay - need to get rid of all the stuff left over after my last system upgrade. This has got my ass in gear for sure and if all goes well, the X-55 will be next. In the meantime, me thinks the Warty will be making it's way to a new home soon! (sod Santa) HoHoHoHo....

[dburne]

 

In the meantime, me thinks the Warty will be making it's way to a new home soon! (sod Santa) HoHoHoHo....

 

:thumbup:

 

You are most welcome , good luck and be sure and let me know what you think when you finally get it.

[Rogue Trooper]

The TM Warthog grip is simply the best there is.

Its the number of hats and buttons that are superb for any aircraft in DCS.

It is the perfect military ergonomic layout that the US spent thousands of dollars to perfect and that really does impress.

 

Then add the feel of the solid Aluminium construction with almost all switches feeling solid.

 

And just when you got bored of all that, add the fabulous and essential variety of extensions available and you really start to understand how good a stick this is.

 

The throttle is good.

[TomOnSteam]

Warthog 100%

Saitek make toys.