X-52 PRO - Out in November

[zaGURUinzaSKY]

http://www.saitek.com/uk/prod/x52pro.htm

[Pilotasso]

Thx for the heads up.

 

LOL when the pics leaked out months ago they said it would not look like as they shown, but I see it looks EXACTLY like that. great bluff on the saiteks part. :D

 

A bit disapointed that they added yet more nearly useless roatries at the base of the device, instead of more buttons on either the stick or throttle itself.

Dunno why they insist on the MFD thing when other, better improvments could be made.

[EscCtrl]

Probably still not worth an upgrade form the X45?

 

On second thoughts...

 

* 2 dedicated MFD buttons and 2 rotary dials with in-built buttons to control additional game functionality

* MFD displays data directly from games, including Radio Stack info

from Microsoft Flight Simulator 9 and 10

* Software Development Kit included for creating game-specific programs to interact with the MFD

* Choice of red, amber or green button illumination

* lluminated buttons and MFD - ideal for low light environments

* Throttle unit illumination varies depending on throttle position

* Enhanced MFD backlighting

* Improved cable management system

 

 

More than half of those 'key points' are based on the awesome illumination LED options!! haha

[33rd_bratpfanne.]

LOL forget about all that lights. I do not look at my hotas at all when flying.:music_whistling:

 

S!

 

Brati

[theGozr]

Rotary buttons are just soo bad. X45 rotary are way better ( quality and easy use ).

Saitek should seriously fix that..

[hitman]

They should provide options to either have a rocker switch on the throttle or the twist stick on the joystick.

[4c Hajduk Veljko]

Well, it is not perfect and there is nothing better for that money. My X-45 is wearing out and I am looking forward to buying X-52. I would love to get the Rudder Pedals and HOTAS at the same time.

[theGozr]

The stick of the X52 is better than the X45, but i can't deal with the bad rotary buttons , i wanted to try, i got X45, X52, CH stick, CH pedals to me the best combo is the X45 throtles with CH stick. X45 and X52 stick are just too toyish.

[Pilotasso]

the rotaries on my X52 are left unused. They are badly placed and too hard to manipulate. I can hardly believe 2 more are going to make any difference. But having said that this X52 Pro might end the critics about the centring spring looseness.

[theGozr]

Get a CH stick and try to find a older X45 for the throtle, or you can always try to mod the X52 rotary buttons with the one from X45 not too difficult to do. ofcourse if you want to be serious on flying.

 

In the other hand i find the rotary very well placed on X45 and X52 but the buttons are just from a so bad quality and hights on the X52. Now flying jets you may be able to bypass those buttons but on IL2 those 2 buttons are very important.

[Flexman_UK]

Looks like a nice update to the X52. Lot of interesting little touches to what is already a neat out of the box HOTAS. I kinda like the fact it looks like a "toy" (which it is), so visitors to the house don't think I'm a gun nut or anything like that :)

 

I hide the TM Cougar under the bed, which is where it belongs IMO.

[theGozr]

LOL..

[Pilotasso]

Looks like a nice update to the X52. Lot of interesting little touches to what is already a neat out of the box HOTAS. I kinda like the fact it looks like a "toy" (which it is), so visitors to the house don't think I'm a gun nut or anything like that :)

 

I hide the TM Cougar under the bed, which is where it belongs IMO.

 

If you try to robb off a bank with a real F-16 HOTAS no one will take you seriously anyway. So whats your issue with a good looking stick ?:D

[zaGURUinzaSKY]

Looks like a nice update to the X52. Lot of interesting little touches to what is already a neat out of the box HOTAS. I kinda like the fact it looks like a "toy" (which it is), so visitors to the house don't think I'm a gun nut or anything like that :)

 

I hide the TM Cougar under the bed, which is where it belongs IMO.

 

nice words.

[Omega Oska]

-Choice of red, amber or green button illumination

-Throttle unit illumination varies depending on throttle position

Why would they think of these as selling points? My Chrismas tree has even more colors.

 

But putting that aside, the X-52 was a nice stick. And now it has two more rotary switch, maybe for rudder trimming.

 

For those who are considering this stick, here is my 2 cents:

1. The wheels on the throttle are not very precise (large deadzone), drive someone crazy if you need accurate trimming (assuming that you are using them for triming)

 

2. The joystick gets squeaky after prolonged use, but I guess that's the same for all stick. Some deadzones, but again, I think it's inevitable.

 

3. Mouse drift issue - the mini-stick makes your mouse cursor runs like mad on your screen. But the Saitek support guy insists that it should not be a problem.....Could be "FIXED" by setting it as bands, not mouse...

 

Other than these, it's just a matter of tastes (and wealth) .

[Pilotasso]

I use a x52 and I dont get the mouse crazy thing issue.

[Omega Oska]

I use a x52 and I dont get the mouse crazy thing issue.

 

I suppose it is a software problem, so it may be solved after I had fromatted/upgrade my PC in the distant future.

[Flexman_UK]

We have a company laptop with a mini-stick like the one on the X52 that goes nuts. If you have a dodgy ministick it's probably related to our laptop. A replacement part may well be required. The Saitek rudder pedals I got came with only one detachable footrest, I was onto their support like a shot, eventually after a few days they got back to me and politely offered a new part, at which point I found the bloody thing under my desk. :/

 

On the topic of the TM Cougar under the bed, it was a love hate relationship. It became quickly apparent after taking possession of it (unit number #604 so it was from an early batch) that it was all fur coat and no knickers. External quality was impressive, but I had to operate on the thing just to get the airbrake and dogfight buttons to work correctly. This was a common issue, the Cougar World web site carries instructions on how to fix these issues (and more). 'Sick' out of the box is not good at those prices. If you want it to work properly and reliably you have to replace the gimbals and sensors, doubling the cost of your unit. After gutting the stick in this way I'm not sure it can be called a Cougar anymore.

 

Importantly for me the stick tension is way too strong for what I fly mostly, the real F16 sidestick as we know doesn't move (hardly), the springs in the Cougar are like 20lbs and feel like it's made for WWII enthusiasts. Flying a helicopter you really don't want much tension at all, you're flying with your arm or fingers, movement is light, often rapid. So the Cougar is not much good for helos, at odds with F16 realism and likewise for WWII sims. But the handle IS detactable and usable as a blunt instrument. And BOY does it look good on a desk, always turns a head. :)

 

One day I might get around to fixing it up with hall sensors for an F16 cockpit but until then it stays under the bed with all the other discarded sex toys (tempted to mention TouchBuddy at this point for an even cheaper laugh).

 

I suppose it's a case of the Cougar not working as good as it looks. The Saitek stuff working far better than it appears. You don't expect too much for what you pay, like a cheap date you're thrilled when it puts out.

 

Saitek, pimp my plane.

 

:)

[3Sqn_Fudd]

I use an X-52.

 

This model seems like a better development... looks like they're trying to compete.

 

If you really think about it the X-52 (X-52 pro) is in a class all its own...a lower class, but still. I will someday get a CH set but until then i really dont feel I have missed out... :pilotfly:

[192nd_Erdem]

I suppose it is a software problem, so it may be solved after I had fromatted/upgrade my PC in the distant future.

 

It doesn't solve out after format, mine has the same problem and the only cure is to disable it from devices but that causes random "unresponsiveness". Also, some sticks have a weird issue that if you keep one button on throttle pressed, stick becomes more precise.

 

I thought it was BS but when I saw same thing happening on mine I immidiately taped one down :) If you ask for support, they just tell you to return it. I can't because I know the only X-52 version out here in Turkey is the one I have.[/rant off]

[Pilotasso]

use bands and arrow keys on the mini stick. :)

[wasserfall]

If somebody bought a new cougar, what could he expect?

It is expensive i know, but is it good out of the box, or is it neccesary to replace or modify things?

[Flexman_UK]

Visit http://cougar.frugalsworld.com/ (site has popups though)

 

And you'll probably want to fix the Speedbrake if it jams, details on the surgery required here...

http://cougar.frugalsworld.com/mods.php#speedbrake

 

It will work out of the box, might not be to ones personal satisfaction though. You'll hear a lot of differing views. But the above site has a lot of information and their own forums.

 

But if you DID buy a new Cougar, expect a very heavy solid metal stick with strong springs with an "X" slot centering feel, very flexible programming software, some metal buttons that will either feel too loose or too tight. Cool to the touch, looks to die for. You'll probably want to modify it or fix it up after a short while.

 

I said already what I feel about it in a post above, for the cost of one of the 3rd party gimbal mods to 'fix' it up nicley I bought a differemt plastic HOTAS, time is money. Great if you can afford the expense and time of fitting the uber kits IMO.

[crime]

I have an X-52 and all the improve it needed was the "non-contact technology" on the throttle axis and a usable ministick. Actually I have lost a good percentage of usable throttle movement because of the inacuracy at the limits. I could not have the engine at the idle position any more without setting a big area of deadzone at the limits of the movement. And the ministick it's too sensitive to be usefull. The IBM laptops from ages ago already had that kind of "ministick" to move the mouse pointer and it worked extremely well. Before buying my x-52 I expected that kind of behaviour... but not.

The other rotaries and the slider are nearly useless too because of the inacuracy, but effect

hall sensors there it's to ask for too much if even the throttle is using a conventional potentiometer.

Anyway, if you don't believe after reading all this, I love my x-52 :)

And the leds... well, I turned them off some time ago but, after a time, I turned them on again. There is something obscure on the human mind that makes you enjoy all those lights around the hotas.

Without the improvements I talked about on the throttle axis and the ministick I won't envy the new x-52pro.