TonyStovepipe Posted October 14, 2020 Posted October 14, 2020 Bought a fighter stick that is used condition from an online store. My question is what problems should I look out for and what the best software to test everything working perfectly? Thanks for any help.
Rick50 Posted October 14, 2020 Posted October 14, 2020 Best software to test it: DCS UH-1 Huey Problems to look for: excessive time at the computer flying pretend aircraft, eyestrain, awake late into the night... jk
Rick50 Posted October 14, 2020 Posted October 14, 2020 I kid, but really, these CH sticks are built to last, so you are probably ok. A very long time ago, I had to retire a CH Flightstick Pro, I think it had 5 years of hard use before it started giving up. If memory serves I think one of the pots started getting jittery and with occasional spikes. But see, that was a unit made in 1995, before USB was a thing. It seemed to be losing some grey powder around the pivoting joints... not sure if that was dry lubricant escaping, or if it was just plastic powder created by plastic on plastic rubbing without lube? I might have just got one that was missing some lubricant or maybe some other "lemmon" "special edition"... but I kinda think it was just massive use, and eventually a pot just gave up. I've heard from many people that it's kinda rare-ish for CH sticks to give up like that. It happens, but not too often, or at least not without many years of use.
Svsmokey Posted October 14, 2020 Posted October 14, 2020 Yeah CH stuff lasts forever ... i gave away a 17 yr-old stick that still worked perfectly . No need , really , for software . You can test in windows controllers menu . I do use CH Control Manager for calibrating , but never had a problem doing so in the windows calibration utility previously . 9700k @ stock , Aorus Pro Z390 wifi , 32gb 3200 mhz CL16 , 1tb EVO 970 , MSI RX 6800XT Gaming X TRIO , Seasonic Prime 850w Gold , Coolermaster H500m , Noctua NH-D15S , CH Pro throttle and T50CM2/WarBrD base on Foxxmounts , CH pedals , Reverb G2v2
Sokol1_br Posted October 14, 2020 Posted October 14, 2020 (edited) Get VKB Joy Tester and analyze axes response. http://ftp.vkb-sim.pro/Programms/ VKB Button Tester for test buttons, HATS, or test these in Windows Game Controllers (joy.cpl). CH (Apem) CTS potentiometers for replacement are available in Digitky, around ~$5 each. Rel4y sell contactless replacement (KMZ-41) for those vintage CH's. Edited October 14, 2020 by Sokol1_br
TonyStovepipe Posted October 15, 2020 Author Posted October 15, 2020 Thank you very much, I hope it turns up all good.
Bob_Bushman Posted October 17, 2020 Posted October 17, 2020 Depends how old, If it's from the quality years it's probably all good, if it's from the mid 2010's. Mine from 2016 has some spongy buttons, and one hat register one out of three presses on average, and loose pins, but even after tightening the pin connectors I got so much pot noise it was nearly unusable for flying things in DCS. i7 8700k @ 4.7, 32GB 2900Mhz, 1080ti, CV1 Virpil MT-50\Delta, MFG Crosswind, Warthog Throttle, Virptil Mongoost-50 throttle.
TonyStovepipe Posted October 17, 2020 Author Posted October 17, 2020 I am not sure how to tell when it was made but I got yesterday and testing in the CH manager and everything seem smooth so far, working perfectly. Anyone have a good CH profile for a10c? Thanks.
A2597 Posted October 19, 2020 Posted October 19, 2020 worst case, replace the pots with the hall sensors available a couple topics down. I did that to my Fighterstick and it's been awesome.
TonyStovepipe Posted October 19, 2020 Author Posted October 19, 2020 worst case, replace the pots with the hall sensors available a couple topics down. I did that to my Fighterstick and it's been awesome. Thanks, so far it looks all smooth in ch manager and ingame. Just hope the throttle I ordered turns out to be the same lol. I do have the fighter stick connected to a powered USB hub and I read this can remove the jitters?
Sokol1_br Posted October 19, 2020 Posted October 19, 2020 Jitters are caused by fault potentiometers, with worm out or with dirt on resistive tracks. CH' have a "Achilles heel": use plug connector in potentiometer wires, what can be loose and cause bad contact, is recommended check and press that connector tabs with pliers, or if have tools/skill apply solder.
TonyStovepipe Posted October 22, 2020 Author Posted October 22, 2020 Jitters are caused by fault potentiometers, with worm out or with dirt on resistive tracks. CH' have a "Achilles heel": use plug connector in potentiometer wires, what can be loose and cause bad contact, is recommended check and press that connector tabs with pliers, or if have tools/skill apply solder. Thanks I keep that in mind if they start messing up :)
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