CH Products

[iVVChewy9141VVi]

I currently want to get the CH Products setup i head the manager does not work with windows 10 but everything else works fine. Anyone here have the CH Products Fighterstick, Pro Throttle and rudder pedals?

[Jostis]

I have a throttle and would not recommend it. It stops working every time I restart my PC...I have to remove the device, uninstall manager, install it again, calibrate. After doing this, I still get unstable axis inputs and the ministick does not always recenter properly. I had no issue with it when I had windows 7 so my guess is that CH abandoned this product.

[sobe]

I used CH products for over 5 years and now they are in my closet.

The reasons are:

The ch manager kept causing the BSD and their tech support could not solve the problem.

You need the ch manager to calibrate and therefore, I could not calibrate the controllers.

Only 8 bit precision.

Programing was not easy if you wanted to do something more than just the basic key assignments.

They are great products that unfortunately, the company does not seem to want to continue to support consumer products.

[Mitthrawnuruodo]

I would not recommend CH.

 

Even if they work as expected, the price of these obsolete products is rather high.

 

In general, comparable Thrustmaster products are more modern and less expensive. Besides, they are free of any compatibility issues.

 

Edit: I apologize if you're not looking for opinions. The fact is that CH work fine as long as you avoid the known software issues.

Edited January 10, 2018 by Mitthrawnuruodo

[lasvideo]

I highly recommend CH products having owned the Fighterstick, Pro Throttle and Pro Pedals. They are well designed and constructed products (CH builds joysticks for business and industry so they know what they are doing).. And customer service is first rate as well. I fly the DCS A10C with the CH HOTAS and get great performance and reliability from them. Never need to use the CH Manager (except to calibrate infrequently) since I just plug all three into a USB hub and away I fly. I am very happy with their performance. If you cant fly well with these, it aint the equipments fault.

 

Whatever you buy , do a lot of research before you do. I would avoid the Thrustmaster Wart Hog stuff at all costs. The gimbal is badly designed and for many develops stiction which you will spend a lot of time trying to fix. The throttle has bricked on lots of folks as well. It looks great on the outside but is crap on the inside. A word to the wise. ;)

Edited January 9, 2018 by lasvideo

[TrigaNZ]

I have the same CH setup as above and have never had any issues. I don't use the CH manager anymore after the update to windows 10 that stuffed it, it is not even installed. I have been using the windows calibration since then.

 

If I have a gripe it is the clunk spot when the Fighterstick passes throught the centre in both axies.

 

Cheers

[Mr_sukebe]

I used CH products for over 5 years and now they are in my closet.

The reasons are:

The ch manager kept causing the BSD and their tech support could not solve the problem.

You need the ch manager to calibrate and therefore, I could not calibrate the controllers.

Only 8 bit precision.

Programing was not easy if you wanted to do something more than just the basic key assignments.

They are great products that unfortunately, the company does not seem to want to continue to support consumer products.

 

I'm a bit confused.

I calibrate mine via Windows10 settings, don't even have the software installed.

 

Don't get me wrong, I'm sure there's now better kit coming (the new VPC/VKB kit), but CH is renowned for it's reliability, certainly more so than Saitek or Thrustmaster.

[Sideslip]

...They are well designed and constructed products (CH builds joysticks for business and industry so they know what they are doing)...

 

Correction, they knew what they were doing 20 years ago when they designed the devices. They know plenty more now, some of their industrial joysticks now use HALL effect sensors, but they have not applied any of their newfound knowledge since the GPU was invented.

 

If there is anything wrong with their software in Windows 10, don't hold your breath on them fixing it.

[VZ_342]

I have had CH pedals for about a year and running Win 10...no problems so far. Plug ‘n play!

[sobe]

iVVChewy9141VVi

I am sure you are now confused as to what to do. My summary is: if you already own CH gear, keep using them until you have problems. If you are looking to buy CH gear, I have had the TM WH for 5 years and the only issue I had was that I bricked the throttle motherboard and TM sent me a new one under the warranty. The bottom line is if you are looking to program CH gear with complex arrangements, good luck. My Ch gear are all in working condition but I had to replace them because of the BSD whenever I used the CH Manager.

[Sokol1_br]

From constructive, longevity and functional point of view are nothing wrong with CH's.

 

For some is by made in "plastic" (for one who care about), and so feel like a "toy" and/or the "vintage" overall look. :)

 

Their gimbal is plastic too, but sturd plastic (reminder R/C servo arms plastic) with bronze bushing and metal pins in pivots - potentiometer axis central pin is part of gimbal mechanism and result a bit "play".

 

Due the old "pincer" center system - like in R/C controllers, has pronounced tactile an audible "cluck" in center or across center movements, making then little suitable for helicopter flight.

 

Their most common "hardware" issue is bad contact in potentiometer connections, where is not used solder - for allow easy replace pot', but this is easy to fix with a Philips screwdriver and pliers or solder iron.

 

Software issues apart - some people can' live without this, some can't touch this with long pole - the remaining flaw, continue use the 8 bits (standard in 1999) can be easy fixed with little DIY and ~$6 Arduino PRO Micro board for handle axis in 10/12 bits as independent stick.

Edited January 11, 2018 by Sokol1_br

[lasvideo]

I have the same CH setup as above and have never had any issues. I don't use the CH manager anymore after the update to windows 10 that stuffed it, it is not even installed. I have been using the windows calibration since then.

 

If I have a gripe it is the clunk spot when the Fighterstick passes throught the centre in both axies.

 

Cheers

That "clunk" is something Ive never experienced with my Fighterstick. I also use just the calibration function of CH manager with Win 10 with no issues.

[Iku_CC]

That "clunk" is something Ive never experienced with my Fighterstick. I also use just the calibration function of CH manager with Win 10 with no issues.

 

Well I lost that function after Windows 10 1709 version..I have thread of problem to uninstall this damn CH manager...haven't figure out it yet..

[grunf]

I only ever used CH manager to calibrate, and it is still working fine with Win 10 1709.

[lasvideo]

I only ever used CH manager to calibrate, and it is still working fine with Win 10 1709.

 

Ditto.

[Nereid]

I only ever used CH manager to calibrate, and it is still working fine with Win 10 1709.

 

Yes it is working - partially.

 

If you use the CH manager outside of DCS its fine. All is working and I never had any issues in Win10 so far. But using it while DCS is running results in a loss of all sticks/throttles until next reboot. This happens not every time but often.

 

I'm not sure but this did not happen a few months ago, so it could be caused by a Win10 update, or it could be a problem with DCS.

 

Unfortunately I doubt there will be any update from CH anymore. So I'm waiting what VKB will deliver and maybe I will give the modern combat stick a try.