Warthog-is it really worth it? A rant.

[RackMonkey]

This stick and throttle package is still unrealistically expensive even though it's a long in the tooth. I still see used one's on eBay for over $500.00 even though you can get a new one of around $450.00.

 

I read about slew switch's that are universally regarded as a piece of shit. PCB's that brick for no apparent reason and a stiction issue that can only be the result of poor manufacturing and quality control.

 

To top all this off I read about the marvelously spotty support from Thrustmaster. I just read a post about a guy who got his brand new F18 stick only to find one of the buttons is inop. Hell, they don't even keep a supply of replacement parts for their loyal customers who want to keep the old system working.

 

Thrustmaster has been setting on their butt because the Warthog WAS the best available at the time. All this time TM could have been learning from the mistakes. Researching new materials and methods of production to create a better system, but no, they will ride the old Warthog until Virpil or VKB relegates them to a second rate producer of sim hardware. They wont have far to go. Their very close to being there now.

 

I think I'll limp along with what I have until somebody comes along with a good product at a reasonable price and that will support their system.

Edited July 27, 2019 by RackMonkey

[streakeagle]

I got my first Warthog HOTAS for $350. I have seen Dell sell them for $300. When I needed to replace the PCB in my throttle, Thrustmaster was out of stock. I didn't want to wait for the part. It is not cost effective to buy just the Warthog throttle, so I bought a 2nd complete HOTAS. The only good deal at the time was from Germany: $375.

 

The Warthog isn't perfect, but I loved it enough that I now have two of them (after finally replacing the PCB in the throttle). $350 for many years of flawless service (purchased in 2011) isn't bad at all and when it finally failed I was easily able to fix it once the part was in stock.

[Ala12Rv-Tundra]

somebody comes along with a good product at a reasonable price

I guess you find other manufacturers expensive because Warthog alternatives have been out in the market for a good while.

[Rudel_chw]

... I think I'll limp along with what I have

 

And what is the Hotas that you have now? is it really worth using it while you wait for something better than the WH ?

[Supmua]

No matter which brand you own, they all have their own issues in some way. Just check the respective forums on their own websites (not here of course, since you'll see mostly biased opinions). The Warthog HOTAS set at $300 is pretty hard to beat (you can see this discount occasionally from Dell, Walmart, etc.).

[RackMonkey]

I've looked at all of them and I got a WH stick. I got one that "couldn't be tested" really cheap. It is in bad shape. I've already emailed TM to see about getting replacement parts. I've contacted debolestis about getting a few of his 3D printed parts that will be an upgrade to the stick.

 

The one thing I can't find, except for an upgrade to the slew switch, are replacement or upgraded switches. I can't find anything that looks like the originals at DigiKey or Mouser, but there are ever 4000 switches listed under "push button" filters. I kinda wish Radio Shack was still around.

 

But with all that said, given price and configurations on the other HOTAS systems, TM looks to be the best choice. I just need to find a TM throttle to buy and do some upgrades on it.

[willx]

No matter which brand you own, they all have their own issues in some way. Just check the respective forums on their own websites (not here of course, since you'll see mostly biased opinions). The Warthog HOTAS set at $300 is pretty hard to beat (you can see this discount occasionally from Dell, Walmart, etc.).

 

And currently, apparently ($300 at Walmart, "see price in cart"), I noticed from a slickdeals thread posted yesterday:

 

https://slickdeals.net/f/13280824-thrustmaster-hotas-warthog-throttle-stick-for-pc-300-tax

[RackMonkey]

Thanks for the heads up Willx. They'll be here by the weekend so I can be back on TTI by the weekend blowing up shit.

[Oceandar]

I've looked at all of them and I got a WH stick. I got one that "couldn't be tested" really cheap. It is in bad shape. I've already emailed TM to see about getting replacement parts. I've contacted debolestis about getting a few of his 3D printed parts that will be an upgrade to the stick.

 

 

 

The one thing I can't find, except for an upgrade to the slew switch, are replacement or upgraded switches. I can't find anything that looks like the originals at DigiKey or Mouser, but there are ever 4000 switches listed under "push button" filters. I kinda wish Radio Shack was still around.

 

 

 

But with all that said, given price and configurations on the other HOTAS systems, TM looks to be the best choice. I just need to find a TM throttle to buy and do some upgrades on it.

May I suggest you get an extension for it. It would make it even much better. I use 7 cm extension and it become so much precise and smooth. No need to buy one if you want cheaper route. Just 3d printed it and search on the web the design you want. I got my extension for only less than $10.

 

Cheers

[RackMonkey]

Already asked debolestis about 3D printing one of his offset tails with the extension baked in. 13 degrees forward and 15 degrees left will take a lot of stress off the wrist.

Just need to do the slew upgrade.

[Oceandar]

Awesome. You'll love it. I hope you'd become better pilot with it as it did to me.

 

Cheers

[Weegie]

The Debolestes tails are awesome, really make a huge difference to the comfort of holding the grip

 

Another thing that few appreciate is the software. I've been using the TARGET GUI for a long time and although there are a lot of haters I think it's a terrific piece of software. IMHO there isn't much out there that can hold a candle to it for simplicity, power and ease of use

 

Recently just started to explore scripting, Wow!!!! what you can do with scripts is a whole new ball game. That said it's pretty finiky and a PIA with all the syntax at first.

 

The flexibility though is just amazing, just read the scripting guide and look at the examples and very quickly you'll appreciate just how flexible a package this is.

 

TM sure have their drawbacks but for the cost and what you get I think it's a good entry level to the "HiFi" HOTAS market

[frogger]

in australia it goes for around $700 to $800 for the hotas. i have a logitech 3d pro which is modified with a heavy spring and an extension and even under those forces the 95% plastic joystick is still working flawlessly 8 years on. if the warthog was to come down to 300 aud i might consider it but id probably look at virpil first.

[RackMonkey]

That would be $200US. I don't think it will ever get that low. As said, we are finding them for $300US. It might be worth it to have a friend in the US get you a "gift" and send it to you. I have no idea what shipping would cost but it might be less than buying the WH in Aus.

[RackMonkey]

What you hope not to find

 

I purchased a used WH off eBay. They did say they couldn't test it but I took a chance it wasn't to bad. I thought you guys would get a kick out of what I found inside.:doh:

 

Somebody had to use a hammer to try and get this thing back together. The pivot ball is in 3 pieces.The bell wires are broken and the end of the Y axis guide looks like it's been pounded on. The last part is the CMS button shaft. It looks like they tried to twist the button off of it.

 

I've contacted TM to see if I can get replacements. We'll see how much it's going to cost to get this thing working again. :joystick:

[JG27_Arklight]

Walmart was selling the WH + Throttle for $300 this weekend. Lol

[Rick50]

Walmart was selling the WH + Throttle for $300 this weekend. Lol

 

Wow. In Canada they sell em for near double that.

 

Actually, that's the price for a Hornet stick up here!!:pilotfly:

[Canadus]

Just for information; contacted TM recently, to ask them for a replacement Warthog-grip ( wanted to use this grip in combination with the WarBRD-base). They told me, that a replacement would cost me ~180€ shipping included. :huh:

You can get used Sticks for ~150-160€ here in germany. Used Warthog HOTAS for aprox. 320€ and Amazon sells new ones for ~370€.

 

All those posts about those Issues with the Slew-stick and other things, currently do hold me back from making the switch to the Warthog (T16.000 user atm).

[Guppy]

So the slew stick is absolutely atrocious. But there is an upgrade that is super easy to install. It basically takes a Ps4 ministick and puts it into your WH. This upgrade makes the WH relevant; it's too bad TM went with a terrible solution instead.

 

https://deltasimelectronics.com/

[Canadus]

Have ordered the slew upgrade, though I don‘t even own a Warthog Throttle myself yet :D

 

Estimated shipping for new orders not before October; keeping in mind, that Brexit is waiting around the corner, made that decision a lot easier :music_whistling:

[RackMonkey]

And the hammer hits the nail

 

So the slew stick is absolutely atrocious. But there is an upgrade that is super easy to install. It basically takes a Ps4 ministick and puts it into your WH. This upgrade makes the WH relevant; it's too bad TM went with a terrible solution instead.

 

https://deltasimelectronics.com/

H

 

This is the bases for my rant. TM has known for years that there are problems with the WH and yet they did nothing. Nobody was asking to go back and replace all the sticks out there already but they didn't even switch to the better slew option when it was available.

[Rogue Trooper]

The warthog is as good as it gets at this price point.

 

But more importantly it is popular and this means software and hardware updates in the community are far more numerous than the lesser known devices.

Its grip locking system is becoming a standard with the smaller more expensive boutique manufacturers which allows for superb (but expensive) upgradability.

What you get with the thrustmaster, whether you like it or not, is a slowly growing way of gradually moving into the upper echelons of flight sim controllers... and there are some superb base units out there that can be used with the TH warthog joystick/cyclic.

Even a simple steel gimbal replacement bearing, created in the community, would elevate this joystick into legendary status!

 

 

The throttle is simply great and there are upgrades out there that make it superb, the throttle is just great/superb out of the box/modded..... it will do just fine.

 

 

Regarding the F-18 grip, The momentary rotary that TH added to this grip would have been sublime if this was an analogue rotary with a centre detent, this would have been an incredibly tactile zoom function that ALL hunters would have loved. It would have been an insta flip of the wallet from this sim pilot.

Edited August 6, 2019 by Rogue Trooper

[RackMonkey]

#2289 Here comes my upgrade for the slew control from Delta.

 

I'll have to start a new thread titled "My Journey from Lost to Warthog Nirvana"

[Oceandar]

So the slew stick is absolutely atrocious. But there is an upgrade that is super easy to install. It basically takes a Ps4 ministick and puts it into your WH. This upgrade makes the WH relevant; it's too bad TM went with a terrible solution instead.

 

https://deltasimelectronics.com/

I was tempting to order. The slew is not great but still can do its job so I don't think its critical as adding stick extention IMO. My throttle is quite new and I don't want to void the guarantee. Each has its own preference.

[pepin1234]

I own one. Was the best Hotas for years. Right now you have better options like Virpil and VKB. See input forum.