What a difference a stick makes

[Ironhand]

For the last year I've been using an X-45 and, after an initial blush of enthusiasm, I'd become more and more disenchanted with it. The spring seemed unduly hard, so that fine control was difficult. The stick seemed to "bind" and, then suddenly release. It was better than what I'd been using but not what I'd been expecting when I bought it. And, lately, some other issues had started creeping in.

 

To make a long story short...I bought an X-52 yesterday and set it up this morning. Straightened all the input curves, got rid of the dead zones, smoothing to zero. What a precise and sweet stick! Just took an Su-25T up for a spin. Smoothest takeoff and landing I've ever made. Whatever I thought, the aircraft would do. Crisp, precise handling. Flying is fun again. :)

 

Rich

[VMFA117_Poko]

Indeed! I bought it a week ago too. But I don't like a design of x52 - it looks like "Star-Trek" thing, toy for a little boys. Too soft also IMHO - but the best choice for LockOn as Chizh said.

[RvETito]

Yet another happy X52 user! I've never tried LO with other stick. It's just made for this sim. I also don't like too much it's childish design but since it's a HOTAS I don't need to look at it during flight :P Have you seen the new X52 Pro? It looks just awesome!

[Spyros]

Hmm I'm considering new a joystick too.

 

I've got crappy logitech and if I straighten all the curves the game's almost unplayable. Fighters going AOA overlimit with the slightest move of my hand, SU-25 going out of control etc.

So, I have added a bit of curve to the pitch and a slight deadzone (but no curve) to the roll, because without it , it tends to roll left even when I'm not holding the stick.

 

With these settings I can pull some Gs instead of going AOA overlimit in the fighters (but not perfect) and the SU-25 is OK, but I'm not sure I haven't lost in realism when flying it.

 

If the X52 is as good as you say, then maybe I'll get that, although I don't like all those fancy little lights etc, as Poko mentioned. :)

 

In contrast, I can get a second hand Cougar very cheap.

 

Which of the two should I get considering that I mainly fly the SU25 and SU25T, but some times I like to fly a fighter for a change?

 

I mean I'm mainly interested in flying the 25 and the controls being as realistic as possible, but also having good controls in fighters.

 

P.S. Hmm maybe I'd get a TrackIr first. Oh please Santa!:D

But the Cougar might be sold to someone else, so if it's better for me than the x52, I should hurry.

[504MrWolf]

Well i fly the SU25 with a X52 and its an absolute dream ! :D

[VMFA117_Poko]

Have you seen the new X52 Pro? It looks just awesome!

Yeah! I've seen this already. Upgraded MFD and a little bit better look.

[RvETito]

Does anyone of you use the MFD in flight? I find it useless, I have a look at it only late in the night to check what time is it after I've been for few hours in the Lobby:joystick:

[159th_Viper]

Does anyone of you use the MFD in flight?

 

In-Flight only for the Stopwatch/Timer - other than that just for the time and time-zones.

[VMFA117_Poko]

Me too! I prefer to use Timer on my HOTAS than click alt + c combination in Lockon and look into the cockpit, zooming to read the a/c clock.

Also I don't use clutch to read the buttons assign on MFD - I remember all of my modes. I changed the clutch in registry to have an additional button (but it's still invisible in profiler - I may only assign it in LOMAC).

[Kyril]

The new MFD wil have some more useful functions. http://saitek.ru/other/x52pro_review/

 

Translate here: http://babelfish.yahoo.com/translate_url

[192nd_Erdem]

Wait untill you try it with a Microsoft Force Feedback 2. I hate the X-52 stick so much, that now it's dusting somewhere in my room. I plugged the FFB2 instead and I'm really really comfortable. Shame that Microsoft stopped producing these great sticks.

[Ironhand]

...looks like "Star-Trek" thing, toy for a little boys...

It's a lot easier to take with the LEDs either turned off completely or dimmed very low.

 

Too soft also IMHO - but the best choice for LockOn as Chizh said.

It had a soft feel to it until I got rid of the curve. That change alone made it wonderfully responsive and it now feels very natural in my hand. If I think a movement, the aircraft moves. If, OTOH, I pull a movement, the aircraft MOVES. For the time being, anyway, I like the feel. :)

 

...{Use the MFD}...In-Flight only for the Stopwatch/Timer..

Excellent idea. I was wondering of what earthly use the MFD would be. Saves programing ALT-C to the stick.

 

Rich

[brewber19]

I had an X52, then got a CH Fighterstick - I love it and wouldn't use anything else...although the grip on the x52 was moer comfortable than the CH for extended flights.

 

Glad you enjoy the sim now, whatever kit you use, as that's the most important thing ;)

[GregP]

Rich, have you ever tried a modded Cougar, one without the 'ruts' and original spring force? I ask because I've got a Cougar with the Evenstrain and Hall Sensors mods, and I feel I've reached flightstick perfection with this setup. Whenever I try out a stick like the X-52 in stores, or even the CH Fighterstick, I'm annoyed by the uneven response as I move the stick around the entire range of motion.

 

I would imagine, if you felt that your X-52 was so smooth, that you'd be positively ecstatic with a modded Cougar.

[Ukr_Alex]

I use a microsoft sidewinder force feedback 2.

 

Its a lovely stick, but not enough buttons so I was considering the X-52.

 

 

Is it worth it the change? Keep in mind new that M$ stick was premium stuff.

[beewee]

I used to use a Logitech Wingman Extreme 3d (no force feedback) and, ergo, had to learn all the keyboard commands. Now, it is hard to move back all of those commands to the X52. It takes time and I am sure we will be friends in the future, but just not yet.

[Cosmonaut]

Wait untill you try it with a Microsoft Force Feedback 2. I hate the X-52 stick so much, that now it's dusting somewhere in my room. I plugged the FFB2 instead and I'm really really comfortable. Shame that Microsoft stopped producing these great sticks.

 

:thumbup: Thought I was the only one :D

 

The only time I'd trade in my FFB2 is when I get a CH fighter stick but I'm in no rush for that either. I like the way I can change the centering force for each aircraft in LO .. so the Su25 gets a hard centering force while the Eagle is as smooth as butter .. I wish CH would design a FFB stick but I doubt they'd do it anytime soon if at all. One thing though, I really hope ED spend some time sorting out the issues with the FFB effects and trim. I always have the FB effects turned off and I just run with the centering force.. too bad becasue the effects with the AFM are great.

[EricJ]

I use a microsoft sidewinder force feedback 2.

 

Its a lovely stick, but not enough buttons so I was considering the X-52.

 

 

Is it worth it the change? Keep in mind new that M$ stick was premium stuff.

 

I had to bow down and get a Cyborg Evo, replacing both of my Sidewinder Precision 2s. I mean I used those jokers for years and just were great to use, excellent ergonomics, and never a problem ever. The Evo is okay, but the central throttle is a little annoying, especially since you may accidentally throttle down when you're pressing on it. Plus I finally had to recalibrate it, and now that I got it done, I'm happy with it, but still miss the Precision 2s.

[CanadaDave]

:thumbup: Thought I was the only one :D

 

I wish CH would design a FFB stick but I doubt they'd do it anytime soon if at all.

 

Once upon a time they did. The CH Force FX was a great stick back in the old DOS days. Basically a Fighterstick with an enormous force feedback base. It was a fantastic stick and I haven't found anything that I like nearly as much so far. Sadly it only sort of worked with Win95 and the force feedback doesn't work at all with any current game under XP.

[SuperKungFu]

hey rich, congrats on the new stick. If you haven't done so already i recommend doing 2 things to the X-52. I put a plastic washer in between the springs to increase the tension. If you like the way the X-52 feels currently then you don't have to do it. This is what i did to my X-52

See that white plastic washer, it increased the tension by a lot and I really prefer it that way. But again, its up to you.

 

One important thing i would do to the X-52 is to change the cluth button (which is the "I' button on the throttle). I changed it to an actual button and moved the cluth function to the reset button on the throttle. Thay way you can get an extra key, i mapped it to release flares. But since it wasn't intended to be an actual key, you can't map it in the SST program, you would have to manually do it in the lock on options menu. But this is how you do it

 

Few weeks ago I bought my X52 and became obsessed with so called Clutch button that I cannot map anywhere. I decided to correct the situation.

There is two way to make it work 1)kill the drivers and SST and you can use it, but you lose the possibility to program your stick. 2) you can move the clutch button somewhere else for example on RESET key :-) More than that you don't loose your clutch functionality (for the maniacs that used to switch profiles while in game) nor reset.

BE ADVISED THAT WHATEVER YOU DO, YOU DO IT AT YOUR OWN RISK

I did NOT perform extensive tests of that solution, but it works very good for me.

 

Environment: SST and drivers (4.3.3.2000 и 5.0.0.2000 respectively), OS: Windows 2003 Server

 

so here are steps to follow:

i)open registry (start>run>regedit [press OK])

ii)search for "AviemoreCltBtn" without quotes with the following parameters:

"search for value" and "match the whole string only".

iii)By default the values are:

in decimal: 30 or hexadecimal:1e

change it to

in decimal: 29 or hexadecimal:1d

!!!you may find multiple instances, so do it for every one!!!

iv)Close the registry, unplug from USB and plug back the stick.

You are done. Now the clutch button is moved to RESET and "i button" is free to be assigned. I use it in Ventrilo as push-to-talk button.

 

I hope you'll find it useful :-)

 

EDIT: forgot to mention that I didn't yet find a way to program this button in the SST so you have to program it in a game or application (teamspeak, ventrilo, whatever...) you want to use.

taken from http://forum.lockon.ru/showthread.php?t=16973

[Prophet]

The problem I had with my X45 and it looks to be the same with the X52. See in that pick, the black piece below the spring rides on the base.

 

Mine developed eccentric grooves on both pieces, and then precision went to crap. I tried many greases and stuff. The best was Teflon tape I got from work. I still have a bunch rapped around a pen :).

 

I suggest doing something about it before they develop. Grease was too messy, slick tape worked the best.

[VMFA117_Poko]

It's a lot easier to take with the LEDs either turned off completely or dimmed very low.

I done that already but "design" I mean the shape of the stick - throttle is OK!

hey rich, congrats on the new stick. If you haven't done so already i recommend doing 2 things to the X-52. I put a plastic washer in between the springs to increase the tension. If you like the way the X-52 feels currently then you don't have to do it. This is what i did to my X-52See that white plastic washer, it increased the tension by a lot and I really prefer it that way. But again, its up to you. (...)

SKF Thakns!:thumbup: I shall do the same. I NEED increasing the tension too. I don't like a feel of driving a paper plane.

[504bigtonka]

Rich, have you ever tried a modded Cougar, one without the 'ruts' and original spring force?

 

I have to agree with this - i have a recently modded UberIINXT cougar and its a dream to fly with - nwext up has to be the X52 though IMHO (I havent had a chance to have a go with the CH gear - apart from the pedals : which Simpeds blow out of the water i must say ;) )

 

But as brewber said, whatever works best for you, an X52 is an awesome piece of kit - especially for the cost....

[Pilotasso]

Dont grease uner the black spring disk, just the axis. Youll develop serious precision issues if you do. Its supposed to rotate on the base as you move the stick arround and youll get vibrations if you grease it.

[Cosmonaut]

Guys, don't use anything but Sherwin Williams Tri-Flow for lube. It works great and it won't eat the plastic. Here's a shot of my AR15 that I Tri-Flowed the hell out of to put it back into storage. The stocks are camo painted and I Tri-Flowed them too. The paint didn't melt one bit. I've been using Tri-Flow exclusively for years and it's never caused any issues with plastic.

 

 

Nice :thumbup:

Whats the magnification on your ACOG?