First time flying saitek x 55

[mbwdekeijzer]

Hello guys

 

I Always wanted to fly but the x-plane and microsoft fly simulator had bad graphics and is to hard to play and boring.

 

So now i wanted to play dcs and i started and noticed that it want a joystick for better experience.i think it is hard to play with a keyboard.

 

Should i buy a saitek x55 hotas?

Is it had to setup because i have no experience either with a flightstick or dcs.

 

I have already searched for x55 profiles but they are hard to find.

 

There are many people with the same question i think and i searched but i cant find much topics.

 

Thanks for youre time.

[Akuma]

If you want to play the simulation side of DCS (it has an arcade style too), then you will not have a straight answer for your question, mainly because there are a lot of factors envolved, being the HOTAS only one of them.

[Pocket Sized]

Welcome to the forums!

 

Honestly I would skip using another person's profile. It's like using another person's seat and mirror settings in a car. It may work but it won't suit you very well. It'll take a while but setting up your own in game control profiles is very rewarding in the end.

 

I've had my X-55 for over a year and it gets used pretty much daily. While the overall build quality isn't the best, nothing has broken or stopped working.

 

It has more than enough buttons for any aircraft in DCS currently (that's without using any modifiers) and if you lube the gimbal assembly every once in a while it is very smooth and precise. Thanks to the hall effect sensors in the stick there is practically zero jitter/noise around the center position.

 

Slightly off topic: it sounds like you're relatively new to flying in general. Most of the in game tutorials focus on weapon deployment. Ignore them for now. Learn to fly and land the Su-25 in the free flight missions or on the Virtual Aerobatics server where you're not carrying any weapons.

 

Most people (myself included) go straight to the weapons training missions and are forced to fly an aircraft weighted down with all sorts of ordnance. This makes a huge difference in the way it flies and makes it seem like a very heavy, slow, and underpowered brick when in fact it's none of the above ;)

[TomOnSteam]

If you'd like to fly the A-10C then the TM Warthog HOTAS is made for it (literally). (But you'll also need pedals, as the warthog hotas doens't have a twist grip for rudder)

 

I personally have never liked saitek products. The x-55 especially is hit-and-miss it terms of quality. You might have no issues with spiking and phantom presses, but not everyone is so lucky.

 

But everyone has issues with the ergonomics of the x-55 joystick because it's so large - for some reason they made it for people with giant hands, and everyone with normal hands cannot reach the buttons easily.

 

 

I would recommend something like a Logitech 3D Pro - they can be found for as little as $30, and is sufficient for most aircraft.

 

CH products are generally good quality and feel - however they're gear looks like it's from the 90s which puts many people off.

[Gladman]

I only had issues with ghosting when using Teamspeak but there is a very simple fix for that withing the teamspeak settings.

 

I have never had an issue with the ergonomics of the X-55 and can't understand what the problem is. I am not a guy with large hands by any means.

 

I would never suggest a 3D Pro over an X-55. The usability of the X-55 for every module you can purchase for DCS is excellent.

 

Now, lets talk about Win10 drivers. I did have issues there but never before. I believe that has been addressed but I'm not sure because I did buy a TM setup. Is TM better, yes, but its twice the price as well. If your trying to maintain a budget, the X-55/56 is a good investment that will last you years. Mine has.

[mbwdekeijzer]

Thanks for all of you're reply's.

I think that TM the shortcut is for thrust master.Am I right?

Then maybe it is better to buy a other brand instead of the saitek x55.

So what brand and model do you suggest?

The budget is from 0 euro to ...

 

And yes I am totally new in flying,I was doing the training but I noticed a keyboard sucks so I stopped till I have a good flightstick.

 

Thanks again

[Gladman]

Yes TM is thrust master.

The main ones are Saitek which Logitech just bought, CH products or TM. There's Few others but the price is similar to TM.

[Demon]

I agree that you should probably go with a Logitech Extreme 3D pro joystick if you're new to flying. Flying isn't as easy as it seems and it's going to take hundreds of hours to get comfortable with. By using a cheap ($30) stick you won't have to try to go buy an expensive HOTAS without even knowing what you're looking for in one. Learn to fly first before you attempt to learn weapon systems.

 

From there, I'd recommend looking at CH Products for gear. I've had the same pair of CH Pro Pedals since 2002 and they're still going strong, really excellent piece of hardware. Best $100 ever spent.

[Gladman]

I certainly will second CH Products. My Combat stick/pro throttle/pro pedals combo was excellent and lasted for years. This was back in the serial port days. The only reason I got rid of them was because they weren't USB.

[Sokol1_br]

To don't expend much initially are too the Tm FCS HOTAS (T.1600M FLCS + TWCS throttle), with 2 options for control rudder, in joystick twist and pads on throttle.

 

http://www.thrustmaster.com/pt_BR/products/t16000m-fcs-hotas

 

The downsize is the stick, despite having 16 buttons 6 is placed in wrong side of base - almost useless - and only 4 in grip.

Other than this the stick is OK as entry-level joystick, with plus over similar model due the use of HALL sensor in X, Y axis, for example the mentioned Logitech 3D PRO and their low cost potentiometers, that can start spike in 6 mounts of use.

The HALL sensor in T.1600M worth the 16$ more over 3DPRO if you compare only sticks price.

 

The TWCS throttle is new, so their flaws is not know yet.

Edited October 22, 2016 by Sokol1_br

[mbwdekeijzer]

I think that it must be a TM hotas warthog.

[Sokol1_br]

I think that it must be a TM hotas warthog.

 

Pay attention that Warthog require external rudder pedals (cost 90$ to ~550$+),

so look for Warthog sales that send a Tm TFRP free in the combo, latter you can

upgrade for better model.

[mbwdekeijzer]

Thanks I didnt know that and that is a little bit disadvantage because I like to play it for fun between my other games.

Also I like game that I can play with on autopilot without to much to think with my brains.

I am definitely an arcade but I think I give it a shot.

[Sokol1_br]

I am definitely an arcade but I think I give it a shot.

 

So, no reason to buy Warthog, Tm FCS HOTAS will serve you better. ;)