X-55 simple countermeasures button mod

[huzar]

One of many quirks of the X-55 is a single countermeasures button on the stick. So I replaced it with two switches.

 

Original single tactile switch is on the right:

 

 

I wanted to keep it simple as possible so I just wired pinky switch in parallel, which I never used anyway:

 

 

Caps were made out of potentiometer knob and piece of 10 mm rod:

 

 

And modded stick, works perfectly :thumbup:

 

 

If I have more time I'll try to do a 3D printed version.

Now it's time to mod the throttle. :joystick:

Edited September 5, 2016 by huzar
typos

[Dudikoff]

The pinkie button is usually used as a shift button, either in DCS settings or in Saitek SST so it seems weird to dispose of it, IMHO. If you use the pinkie switch as a shift button, the problem at hand could have been solved by programming the CM button to e.g. release chaff in non-shifted mode and flares in shifted.

[huzar]

I tried to use shift button for countermeasures but found it rather troublesome - in the heat of the fight I don't want to think if I pressed shift or I'm releasing flares instead of chaff... :)

There are couple of other buttons that can be sacrified, in my case pinky button was the one not used thanks to the Saitek design (and the need for hand rest).

[Brewnix]

Nice mod!

[Dudikoff]

I tried to use shift button for countermeasures but found it rather troublesome - in the heat of the fight I don't want to think if I pressed shift or I'm releasing flares instead of chaff... :)

There are couple of other buttons that can be sacrified, in my case pinky button was the one not used thanks to the Saitek design (and the need for hand rest).

 

I'd agree that it was very lame from Saitek to reuse the X65 design, but then gimp it by replacing 3 of the hats with plain buttons, especially this one in question. On the X56 they've put back some analog thingy which in theory should be better than this lame single button.