X52 pro...is it "that" bad today???

[Ala12Rv-watermanpc]

hi guys...Im just thinking about buying an X52 pro (have no budget to go for a Warhog+pedals) because I like the hotas and its features BUT...OMG!!! Im amazed about all bad comments and problem spread in the internet everywhere!!!...BSoD, computer hangs, adapters malfunctions, mess with other drivers, broken in a few months/weeks or even DAYS!!!!!!!!! Oshit!!!!!:cry:

 

but the worst to me would be software issues as I dont want to screw up my system so hard to make a format necesary :cry:

 

Anyway it seems like probabilities of get ****ed with this stick are 99,999999% so my question is...

 

-do you think I should get it??

 

-can I prescind of ANY kind of software installation of the joy???I mean SST software AND drivers???

 

what functions would I lose by doing that??

 

-Would I be problems free (software I mean) by not installing soft/drivers or even then I can get troubles...

 

thanks!!

[WindWpn]

I have X52 Pro and have been using for a few years with DCS, IL2, CLOD, FSX, BMS. No problem with it and the MadCatz configuration software works fine. I would likely buy another if needed given its general overall use and great feel. There are also many good profiles out there developed by others for use in various sims.

[Devrim]

Same thoughts as WindWeapon. I used X-52Pro four years.

 

At first weeks, I encountered BSOD a few times, but it was my motherboard drivers. I updated it and BSOD went away. So far I didn't have any problem.

 

If you don't install SST software, you'll live with that and be happy with X-52Pro, but you may not use rotaries (on the throttle) as you want, and you can't assign mini mouse stick as how you desire. But! if developer has provided axis commands for some knobs or features of the module, you can easily use your rotaries for those features directly in-game.

 

If you install SST software, you can also use X-52's modes. Anyway, I recommend you to install and examine it.

 

Only one thing was annoying me about X-52Pro. It was that the connection cable between stick and throttle. It looks like old fashion PS/2 cable (you know, we used to use it for mouse and keyboards before USB comes out). Sometimes I needed to check it if it fit firmly. I saw some temporary malfunction moments on stick because of loose cable... But it was not big deal to me...

 

I guess you'll love X-52Pro.

Edited January 26, 2016 by Devrim

[Blooze]

Same here. If it fell apart today I'd order another one tomorrow.

[Ala12Rv-watermanpc]

thanks guys:thumbup:

 

 

can you tell me when did you buy your X52 pro??(I mean, are they within the last 3 or 4 years??

 

so i can use it without any driver/soft installed???...is DCS one of those games where you can bind rotaries without the soft??

 

what if I connect the jy to my PC without installing any driver/soft and THEN I decide to install them?? If I have read well, that can cause LOTS of headaches...:cry:

[Devrim]

can you tell me when did you buy your X52 pro??(I mean, are they within the last 3 or 4 years??

If this question was for me, I bought my 52Pro (according to my records) in 11/2011. I have no info about start-date of manufacturing of X-52 series.

 

...is DCS one of those games where you can bind rotaries without the soft??...

If we have no axis command for a feature that we want to use it with a rotary, you have to use abilities of SST software, but... Wait. Let me tell you with my poor English. :)

 

I'm in the cockpit of P-51D, and I want to bind cockpit lights knob to rotary 1 on my (your) throttle. If developer hasn't created/written an axis command for that, I would do that with SST software. If you'll look at SST, you'll see creating band and assign commands on it.

 

But for this example, we don't need SST or something, because P-51D module has already got an axis command for cockpit lights knob. You go enter the DCS World Options > Controls page, select proper line (Action) and click on Axis Assign button and so on...

 

...what if I connect the jy to my PC without installing any driver/soft and THEN I decide to install them?? If I have read well, that can cause LOTS of headaches...:cry:

 

No actually there's no headache with drivers. If I'm not wrong; you can use 52 without SST software, but you can't without drivers. In fact, I didn't try it without installing drivers, but I don't understand why you hesitate to install drivers. I think installing drivers is a must, but SST is up to you.

 

That's the story. :)

Edited January 26, 2016 by Devrim

[Ala12Rv-watermanpc]

Thanks for your reply mate!

 

About installing drivers...is it mandatory? I mean...what if I just connect the joy to computer without installing ANYTHING???

[Sokol1_br]

You can try, but probably when Windows detect will ask for proper drivers.

 

And for simplify the choice, in the price range of X-52 ~150$, are not alternatives. :)

[algerad3]

Drivers are required if I remember correctly. Have mine for many years and even got the mfd to display info for some modules. Love it, I still use the throttle for the mfd in conjunction with my x-65f.

[pepin1234]

You only need to fallow the right procedure to install and uninstall. Is not that bad Joy, good price.

[Tirak]

I don't know about the X52Pro, but I know that on the X52, the programming software conflicts with TS and will crash your computer. You need to change the hotkey settings.

 

Teamspeak Settings -> Options -> Hotkeys change to Keyboard & Mouse

 

What sucks is that it doesn't recognize any key that isn't on your keyboard or mouse, but you can program your joystick buttons to emulate keyboard keys.

[Ala12Rv-watermanpc]

Ok, I think its the only way to go then...sadly there is not a very "active" joysticks design activity for the last 10 years...I guess I have to risk...

 

Btw...I have also read about the slider being quite jittery, inaccurate and laggy...is that true???I want to use the slider for zooming with tracking, but then it must be quite accurate...

[Tirak]

Ok, I think its the only way to go then...sadly there is not a very "active" joysticks design activity for the last 10 years...I guess I have to risk...

 

Btw...I have also read about the slider being quite jittery, inaccurate and laggy...is that true???I want to use the slider for zooming with tracking, but then it must be quite accurate...

 

The slider can be a touch twitchy, but what you can do is program the slider so that the aft third of the slider zooms out, the middle third holds neutral, and the front third zooms in, making it more of a three way switch than a slide bar.

[cichlidfan]

Agreed with the others. It is a decent stick for the money and it worked fine for me, for the most part. Occasionally, the driver would die and the display would not work until I restarted the driver (a shortcut on the task bar took care of that) but aside from that I really have no complaints.

 

I did trade up to the Warthog, but if I wasn't able, and willing, to spend that much then I would still be flying with my X-52 Pro.

[Ala12Rv-watermanpc]

The slider can be a touch twitchy, but what you can do is program the slider so that the aft third of the slider zooms out, the middle third holds neutral, and the front third zooms in, making it more of a three way switch than a slide bar.

 

Oh boy!, is it really that bad to have to use it as a 3 points "slider" instead of using the full movement???:cry: ...that doesnt reassure me much to be honest...:(

 

thanks for your replies btw :thumbup:

[algerad3]

on mine, I just adjust it a little. It seems it tweeks out at a certain point. Others have had problems throughout the whole zone. Same with the rotaries. At one small point the jitters arrive just a little past that point they go away.

[Devrim]

Now I couldn't find the thread, but if you do a search with the keywords zoom, slider and axis, I'm sure you'll find many threads to read.

 

There was a thread. Because of jittery problem of 52's slider, someone told a method how to adjust zoom axis for slider.

 

I used slider for zoom long time, but later I've started to use mouse stick (Up: Zoom in, down: zoom out, left/right: zoom reset). Slider was for throttle (especially in helicopters).

[Socket7]

I've used a Logitech Xtreme 3d, an X52, an X52PRO, and a TM warthog.

 

I was never impressed by MadCatz offerings.

 

The X52 with the LCD display had some serious issues. When you pushed a button, it would tell you on the LCD what button was pushed, and what it was named. If it was named something over 16 characters it was supposed to scroll on the display. Instead it would throw my whole computer into a seizure, where I would get one screen update every 5 seconds or so. Killing the X52 driver in task manager let the system recover, but pulling the USB resulted in a BSOD. I believe I ended up getting the X52 pro because of that error, only to find that I still was not impressed by the build quality of either the X52 or the pro. I didn't have it long enough for anything to fail, but all the plastic was just a bit too flexible, and the buttons too mushy.

 

As far as precision goes, it's about as good as a TM warthog. Once you get the thing setup, and learn how to keep the drivers from throwing a fit, it should be an acceptable input device. The fit and finish leave something to be desired with the X52/Pro though.

 

The slider on both my X52 and X52 pro were incredibly jittery. No way you could ever assign an axis to it and use it's position as an absolute zoom. I'll tell you a secret though, the Warthogs slider will jitter too unless you turn the backlight to 100% or 0%. In general I feel it's best to avoid axis for zoom.

 

In summary, the X52 and X52 pro are cheap plastic peices of crap, but you won't find a better piece of crap on the market at the same price point and feature set. My advice would be to spring for the warthog if at all possible, but I feel that an X52 will function just fine once you figure out how to avoid the things that make it have seizures.

 

I really hope they fixed those driver and firmware issues in the 2 years or so since I last used an X52... The jitter in sliders and pots is probably not fixable without a complete hardware rework, which will never happen.

Edited January 27, 2016 by Socket7

[Sporg]

I will just add my experience with x52 and Warthog:

 

I first used a secondhand x52.

It was stable, but sadly the gimbals were worn, so quite imprecise in use.

 

I then purchased a new one, and this one was more precise.

However, any time I tried to use a SST profile it would reboot in-flight resulting in me losing all controls.

Even trying to optimize the profile did not help. :-/

(and my friend who tested the profile got same problem.)

 

Using it set up in DCS only gave no problems, that worked fine.

 

The rotaries and the slider had a bit of jitter, so were not super to use for trim and zoom.

Especially zoom I had to give up on. :-/

(My current Saitek rudder pedals has jitter too, so it seems to be inherent.)

 

About the precision, it was sufficient for normal aircraft, but not very good for hovering in helicopters.

(in my experience)

 

So, eventually I purchased a Warthog HOTAS.

And I must say, it is much more precise than the x52.

I had much better control with my flying, and especially when I got an extension for the stick, my hover in the Huey got significantly better.

 

The feeling was like going from a stick connected with rubber bands to the aircraft (x52) and to having direct control (WT).

 

The throttle is also much more precise for collective.

 

Finally, the slider on the WT throttle is so stable that I can use it for zoom in all my modules.

 

If you can find the money for it, (and also rudder pedals) TM Warthog is much better.

But for the money, the x52 is fine for a start.

For me I could even fly the helicopters with the twist rudder, so you can save on the pedals to begin with.

 

PS: Just to make it clear:

I have never had problems with the drivers on Windows 7. Only with certain profiles made in Saitek's SST software, and eventually I had to give up using those.

Edited January 27, 2016 by Sporg

[Ala12Rv-watermanpc]

Many thanks for your replies mates!!

 

I have search for all slider/rotaries, post in this forum and I have realized how bad things are for them...:(

 

Sadly, the TM Warhog is waaaay too expensive for me now, its really big and would be hard to fit in my desk and I cant believe it doesnt have a rudder (that they could have give the option to block)...so its out of my choices...

 

Incredibly, there is NOT any better choice I see, so I think I will go for it and pray to get a "good" or a "not so bad" unit.

 

Also, I find hard to believe how a company can "survive" for SO many years in such a way (lots of angry customers, returns, support issues, etc)...wouldnt it be better just to (slightly) increase product quality and make a ****ING proper 2016 drivers (it cant be so difficult) and let us enjoy our joys in peace???...it would be good for them also...happy customers who enjoy their quite expensive products, all we win!!

[HiJack]

Get the X52 Pro!

[Blooze]

Regarding rotary knobs or sliders let's get one thing clear. There are no controls in a DCS World cockpit that are progressive, as in a volume control on a radio. Every control is an on/off switch. Therefore, those that want to try to simulate a progressive control using a rotary knob or slider will always be disappointed. The best that can be expected from Saitek software in an effort to make an on/off switch seem like a progressive control is to set them up in stages. The only exceptions available with any HOTAS are the axis controls.

[Ala12Rv-watermanpc]

Ok, Im going for it...

 

About progressive controls, I have read your link (HiJack) to "Better trim with the X52 Pro" and If I undertood well, it looks like its not possible to push a button and let it pushed for as long as you want the action to be continued?¿?¿?:huh::huh::huh::huh:...I mean, with my T Flight X, I have the elevator trim set this way:

 

"button 10" = elev trim UP

"button 11" = elev trim DOWN

 

buttons 10 and 11 are just that, BUTTONS (no axis, no slider, no hats...just simple buttons) but THE LONGER I KEEP THEM PRESSED, the higher the change in trim I get...so its very easy to trim planes for me right now, and surprisingly accurate also...

 

it looks like you CANT achieve this with the X52 pro?¿?¿?¿?:huh:

 

If I make the same with x52 pro as I did with my T Flight X it wont work the same way??, I mean just use one button for trim up and other button for trim down and as I keep them pressed I get more trimming???

[Blooze]

If I make the same with x52 pro as I did with my T Flight X it wont work the same way??, I mean just use one button for trim up and other button for trim down and as I keep them pressed I get more trimming???

 

Yes, that's exactly how to set it up and the best one can expect.

[Sporg]

Regarding rotary knobs or sliders let's get one thing clear. There are no controls in a DCS World cockpit that are progressive, as in a volume control on a radio. Every control is an on/off switch. Therefore, those that want to try to simulate a progressive control using a rotary knob or slider will always be disappointed. The best that can be expected from Saitek software in an effort to make an on/off switch seem like a progressive control is to set them up in stages. The only exceptions available with any HOTAS are the axis controls.

 

Well, that's not quite true:

The zoom is progressive, the brakes as well, and in the P-51 the trim controls are also progressive.

Same with HUD controls for wing span, range etc.

 

Most of the time, if it is in the axis panel under controls settings, it is progressive.

 

I used to use the x52 slider for brakes in all modules, and the rotaries for trim in the P-51.

In other modules I would use the rotaries for HUD wing span setting etc.

 

But ie. in the 109, the flaps and trim controls appear to be up/off/down, even if they are present in the axis settings control panel.

 

(By the way, eventually I gave up on using the x52 rotaries for trim controls, partly due to them being jittery.)