please recommend another "soft" stick

[derammo]

I have been using CH sticks forever, currently using a FighterStick. I tried Warthog or other more realistic sticks over the years but I need a really soft (low resistance) stick, because my hands are trash. Carpal tunnel type issues make it so I can't really play with anything with realistic resistance on it.

 

Are there other sticks I could try that might be more precise than the CH sticks and would require 0 dead zone? Maybe something adjustable?

 

Or is CH already very very precise and I should just try a new one (mine is a few years old at this point.) I don't use control center so I don't care that the software is basically dead at this point, I just use vanilla Win10 drivers.

 

Thanks for any ideas!

 

[edit: just looked it up, apparently my throttle is 15 years old and my stick is older than that... maybe just a refresh?]

[Rudel_chw]

Hello,

Sorry to hear about your hands .. if the CH softness is right for you, you can improve their precision by replacing its worn potentiometers with aftermarket units.

 

A user of this Forum manufactures a set for CH hotas, I purchased from him a set for my Thrustmaster Cougar and they have worked perfectly, vastly improving the precision of the Hotas .. here is more info:

 

https://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=220916

 

Edit: Here is a review I wrote about the upgrade I purchased for my Hotas .. I'm not related in any way to the manufacturer, just a satisfied customer :)

 

https://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=225733

 

Best regards

Edited April 5, 2019 by Rudel_chw

[derammo]

Awesome idea, thanks Rudel.

[dburne]

I have been using CH sticks forever, currently using a FighterStick. I tried Warthog or other more realistic sticks over the years but I need a really soft (low resistance) stick, because my hands are trash. Carpal tunnel type issues make it so I can't really play with anything with realistic resistance on it.

 

Are there other sticks I could try that might be more precise than the CH sticks and would require 0 dead zone? Maybe something adjustable?

 

Or is CH already very very precise and I should just try a new one (mine is a few years old at this point.) I don't use control center so I don't care that the software is basically dead at this point, I just use vanilla Win10 drivers.

 

Thanks for any ideas!

 

[edit: just looked it up, apparently my throttle is 15 years old and my stick is older than that... maybe just a refresh?]

 

VKB or Virpil.

Hard to get , but man are they smooth and highly adjustable. Plus extremely precise.

I currently own both.

[SVgamer72]

please recommend another "soft" stick

 

The electronics and analog potentiometers in the CH sticks are never going to be as precise as magnetic sensors. They just don't have the resolution. You might see a slight improvement getting a newer CH stick and throttle, but it won't ever be the equal of the newer products on the market.

 

EDIT - thread below says TM cougar, but CH kits are in the first post

 

If you are a DIY type person....Check out this post....A user on these forums sells contactless (magnetic) sensor kits for CH sticks and throttles. This would update them to the best they can be with the low res system board they come with. You could also replace the system board with a newer higher res board (Leo Bodnar for example) and have an updated Fighterstick CH never made...

https://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=220916&highlight=Cougar+sensors

 

VKB and Virpil will offer the most modern, precise, and adjustable options. Totally worth the cost and wait in my opinion, but that may not be what you want.

 

A Warthog center mounted with an extension will be MUCH lighter than what you feel out of the box. Or grab the T16000m. It uses the same sensor as the Warthog. You lose some buttons and hats, but it will be very light and precise.

Edited April 5, 2019 by SVgamer72

[oskich]

I have a VKB Gladiator Mk2 - Extremely smooth, and accurate. No center axis detent, as for the CH stick.

 

https://flightsimcontrols.com/product/vkb-sim-gladiator-mk-ii-joystick/

 

For 94 € it's a bargain! :-)

Edited April 5, 2019 by oskich

[Deano87]

You can also get softer springs for the Warthog if you have one.

 

https://warthog-extensions-by-sahaj.com/shop/warthog-green-springs/

[derammo]

so much great information, thanks! Now I definitely want to upgrade my CH stuff to a higher resolution board, even if it is just the rudder pedals and throttle (which I definitely won't replace)

Edited April 5, 2019 by derammo

[smallberries]

I second the VKB bases. You have various cam and spring options so you can make it a much lighter action. Unfortunately, the TM bases are neither smooth nor light, and even if you put in the work to mod them they will still be inferior to the VKB (and presumably Virpil) bases.

[Sokol1_br]

VKB or VPC is the natural option, since came with several springs with different resistances, different CAM profile options, with more "clear" center position, more "hard" center - CH, although use light springs have a very "hard" center - the audible and tactile "clunk".

 

With this features plus a extension you can set the stick to a very light operation. Plus their advanced electronics with contactless sensor and USB controller with 4 or more times CH resolution (what is the same since ~1999).

 

The suggested above VKB Gladiator (non PRO) have a very light operation - even more than CH, their gimbal is very similar to CH, but due damper grease don't have the characteristic "cluck" of CH gimbal when crossing center position.

 

But Gladiator grip has few buttons: 3 physical that can be 8 with mode and shift and their HAT is probable the most awkward HAT put in joystick until today. :noexpression:

[Rudel_chw]

VKB or VirPil are undoubtedly very nice ... but they cost around 400 euros for the just the joystick ... so, I still believe that it is better and more cost/effective to start by upgrading the Pots of the OP's current CH Fighterstick.

[derammo]

VKB or VirPil are undoubtedly very nice ... but they cost around 400 euros for the just the joystick ... so, I still believe that it is better and more cost/effective to start by upgrading the Pots of the OP's current CH Fighterstick.

 

Well, I think it depends on where people fall on the tinkering vs. buying things spectrum. They're both perfectly valid and II like both :) but I have already ordered replacement USB controllers from Leo Bodnar and reached out to rel4y to see about getting upgraded sensors. That's just too awesome to pass up, being able to upgrade my joytsticks... I need to change their enclosures anyway for mounting, so might as well replace things inside.

 

Also, my rudder pedals are a bit flaky and the USB device fails after PC suspend/resume. Replacing the controller in there will also presumably fix that.

[SVgamer72]

Well, I think it depends on where people fall on the tinkering vs. buying things spectrum. They're both perfectly valid and II like both :) but I have already ordered replacement USB controllers from Leo Bodnar and reached out to rel4y to see about getting upgraded sensors. That's just too awesome to pass up, being able to upgrade my joytsticks... I need to change their enclosures anyway for mounting, so might as well replace things inside.

 

Also, my rudder pedals are a bit flaky and the USB device fails after PC suspend/resume. Replacing the controller in there will also presumably fix that.

 

You will love the Bodnar stuff.

 

I rewired a CH Throttle Quad with one, and it resolved the jitter/spiking on all 6 axes. Add vJoy and Joystick Gremlin, and I can map buttons to axis positions etc. So no need for the defunct CH manager (not that it would work with the new controller board)

[RabidRider]

I just replaced my ten year old CH fighterstick with the VKB gunfighter2 and extension (and MCG pro). Preordered and had to wait I think about 2 months, but it was worth it! High quality and a buttery smooth feel. No noticeable center. Using Stock springs here. It just feels great for flying the Huey or the Hip. So I'd choose VKB or I guess VPC as well, you won't be dissapointed, it's a huge step up from CH

[Gman109]

You'll never get a Virpil stick as soft as a VKB stick IMO (I have several Gunfighters, 2 T50 and 2 Warbrds), unless you go out and find some very light custom springs on your own. Using the lightest springs that come with the Gunfighter, you can make the GFMk2RevB even lighter than the Fighterstick (I have several of these as well for comparison's sake).

 

 

 

I too prefer a light stick for certain sims (online WW2 PVP mainly), and used the FighterStick since it was a gameport device exclusively for that purpose as well - until the Gunfighter/VKB stick came out. I now have one set up with the springs/cams that come with it out of the box to be pretty much exactly the same resistance that the CH Fighter/Combat sticks give. Haven't been able to replicate that with the Virpil sticks as of yet, despite messing around with a lot of different springs sets I've found here and there.