PoleCat Posted January 28, 2009 Posted January 28, 2009 (edited) I will say this again as I have said it 1000 times or more. It is a complete load of BS that you will need to do expensive mods your to your stock Cougar. Any small shortcomings you find can be addressed for very small money. (A few bucks). If you simply open the stick a couple times per year and clean and regrease it wear can be kept to a minimum without any mods at all. It only costs about 186 bucks shipped as well. This is much less expensive then the plastic/ABS alternatives. Do your self a favor and go try them. Put your hands on a CH, Saitek, Logitech, and Cougar. I am pretty sure you will choose the Cougar for what will be very obvious reasons once you touch one. Everything else feels and looks like a toy by comparison. This is the primary way in which most people are turned away from Cougars, by this idea that you need to spend hundreds to MOD it and that it is not a great HOTAS right out of the box. Well it is in fact great. You do not NEED to mod it. Try one and you will see. Out Edited January 28, 2009 by PoleCat http://www.104thphoenix.com/
aledmb Posted January 28, 2009 Posted January 28, 2009 ...Everything else feels and looks like a toy by comparison... +1 ...You do not NEED to mod it. Try one and you will see... +1
Maverick-GER- Posted January 28, 2009 Posted January 28, 2009 Polecat is completely right i have my hotas cougar since 6 years now yes once or twice a year i open it and grease it a little bit but i dont have any play (even after 6 years) i dont have anything wrecked on it or buttons not working or anything like that, it is the stock cougar and it is working as perfectly as on the first day... and i am using it often, i flew il2 , il2 fb+ all expansions, lock on and now dcs with it and never had a problem! And i flew like at least 4-5 hours a day back in the il2fb times! If you read about cougars having problems with some buttons,yes it was mostly the speedbrake switch which wasnt working right on some models, but if you read that also read the voices of x52s breaking all the time in the first 3-5 months!!! I have nothing against CH Products really but compared to a Cougar it is just a toy! [sIGPIC][/sIGPIC] F-14 Tomcat Rest in Peace (and hopefully get reborn in DCS!) (Dream came true about 10 years later, now the Apache please :lol:)
531-Ghost Posted January 28, 2009 Posted January 28, 2009 I've never opened any of my CH Products to lube anything. Never had to replace a POT. I'm not saying that from time to time someone may have to have a POT replaced or something may need to be fixed for whatever reason. When and if they do, CH Products Product Support is second to none. Period. And, as far as them being "toys" let's face it, . . . . . . . . . . . They're all just toys. Cougar too. 1 :joystick:
Gael Posted January 28, 2009 Posted January 28, 2009 OP didn't ask abount Cougar or CH. Please keep to the topic. I vote for Saitek Cyborg.
531-Ghost Posted January 28, 2009 Posted January 28, 2009 OP didn't ask abount Cougar or CH. Please keep to the topic. I vote for Saitek Cyborg. Absolutely! So, pay no attention to this link :music_whistling: :joystick:
PoleCat Posted January 28, 2009 Posted January 28, 2009 Absolutely! So, pay no attention to this link :music_whistling: I see your link and raise you one. http://www.provantage.com/thrustmaster-2960534~7THRU00U.htm Out http://www.104thphoenix.com/
PoleCat Posted January 28, 2009 Posted January 28, 2009 (edited) I've never opened any of my CH Products to lube anything. Never had to replace a POT. I'm not saying that from time to time someone may have to have a POT replaced or something may need to be fixed for whatever reason. When and if they do, CH Products Product Support is second to none. Period. And, as far as them being "toys" let's face it, . . . . . . . . . . . They're all just toys. Cougar too. Congratulations on never having had to replace a POT on your CH Ghost. A whole host of Cougar owners that I know have had the same luck as you and have been happily flying their stock Cougars for years with out issue. Yes while all the HOTAS systems are 'toys" the Cougar is an all metal toy that feels real. CH and the others well, not so much. You will likely steer many less people to a CH after they put their hands on a Cougar. Once they do, the exageration of the Cougars supposed issues have much less effect. The trade off of having to open your stick twice a year to clean and re-grease is far outweighed for most by the all metal design, arcing throttle, standard analog rotatries and the less expensive price. All of which I might add are other good reasons to choose a Cougar over other brands IMHO. To each his/her own I suppose.;) Out Edited January 28, 2009 by PoleCat http://www.104thphoenix.com/
531-Ghost Posted January 28, 2009 Posted January 28, 2009 Nice link there PoleCat. And tell us about the Company Product Support for the Cougar, PoleCat. How does it rate? Not to start a pissin' contest, just thinkin' the buyer would like to know... Anywho, To each his/her own I suppose. :thumbup: :joystick:
LtFransky Posted January 28, 2009 Posted January 28, 2009 My 2p. I would get the Logitech. I have an Attack 3 for less serious sims and the throttle works well. It has nice resistance and tracks well. Anyway, hope this helps. Ours is not to reason why, but rather to do and die. A man walks into a zoo. The only animal in the entire zoo is a dog. It's a shitzu
2GvSAP_Dart Posted January 28, 2009 Posted January 28, 2009 You will likely steer many less people to a CH after they put their hands on a Cougar. Once they do, the exageration of the Cougars supposed issues have much less effect. I've got a Cougar in the box in the closet. I doubt I'll ever pull it out ever again. I'm no weakling - but if I wanted an arm wrestling exercise device I'll go to the gym. It's not what I wanted in a joystick. The fact that this 300 USD HOTAS really needs another 300 bucks in modifications to really make it worthwhile puts it in the vanity toy league. My money is on the Saitek X52Pro - great product at a good price that has stood up very well for me. I can't speak for CH stuff (I dropped out of CH about the Flightstick II era), other than their pedals, which are very good. But I wouldn't recommend a Cougar to anyone. It's simply too overpriced, too stiff, and not really ready for play out of the box.
Peyoteros Posted January 29, 2009 Posted January 29, 2009 http://www.vkb-flightsimcontrols.com/index.php now these are real ruder pedals... "Eagle Dynamics" - simulating human madness since 1991 [sIGPIC][/sIGPIC] ۞ ۞
CyBerkut Posted January 29, 2009 Posted January 29, 2009 Now girls... you're *all* pretty! :smartass: [sIGPIC][/sIGPIC] There's no place like 127.0.0.1
LtFransky Posted January 29, 2009 Posted January 29, 2009 (edited) Oops. Dbl Post Edited January 29, 2009 by LtFransky Ours is not to reason why, but rather to do and die. A man walks into a zoo. The only animal in the entire zoo is a dog. It's a shitzu
PoleCat Posted January 31, 2009 Posted January 31, 2009 (edited) I've got a Cougar in the box in the closet. I doubt I'll ever pull it out ever again. I'm no weakling - but if I wanted an arm wrestling exercise device I'll go to the gym. It's not what I wanted in a joystick. The fact that this 300 USD HOTAS really needs another 300 bucks in modifications to really make it worthwhile puts it in the vanity toy league. My money is on the Saitek X52Pro - great product at a good price that has stood up very well for me. I can't speak for CH stuff (I dropped out of CH about the Flightstick II era), other than their pedals, which are very good. But I wouldn't recommend a Cougar to anyone. It's simply too overpriced, too stiff, and not really ready for play out of the box. Not sure where to begin with all that is wrong with your post. About the only factual thing I can find in there is that you do not like it. The rest is exageration. Thank you for making this your 4th post ever on these boards. Which is not too bad, it is after all 2 posts more then BlackHawk has made. I am glad this subject has motivated you both so. 1: While it may be too stiff and difficult for you to move the Cougar my wife has no problem with it and she is just a wisp of a thing. 2: The cost of the Cougar is 178USD, no where near 300. 3: It works fine out of the box. And in many peoples opinion easily competes with the competition and surpasses it on many levels. 4: It does not need 300 dollars in mods to compete with the CH on virtually every level. (IMHO surpasses). 5: The X-52 is not even in the same league as a Cougar or a CH. Again all overstatements stretching the reality to the breaking point. Out Edited January 31, 2009 by PoleCat http://www.104thphoenix.com/
PoleCat Posted January 31, 2009 Posted January 31, 2009 (edited) Nice link there PoleCat. And tell us about the Company Product Support for the Cougar, PoleCat. How does it rate? Not to start a pissin' contest, just thinkin' the buyer would like to know... Anywho, :thumbup: Sure thing, One of my squadmates in the 104th that has a Cougar (there are a few). Two weeks ago he became convinced his HAT4 was broken. He emailed TM support and recieved his HAT4 promptly and for free. Further more after replacing it for him at his insistance, I tested his supposedly broken Hat and found nothing wrong with it. It is now sitting in my spare parts box in case we ever need one. He proly just needed to clear the firmware and re-setup to correct. What more would you like to know? Or are you still all about ancient history? If and when CH ever changes hands or is sold to some other company then we can judge how support from them rates while they are in transition. That is what you are basing your opinion on isn't it? That wouldn't be a fair comparison today now would it? You are bashing thier support even today and have not even dealt with them right? Sorry but most of what you claim is old, outdated, and has been addressed and at least now is just so overstated. I know you can not help yourself. Neither can I.;) All the best! Out Edited January 31, 2009 by PoleCat http://www.104thphoenix.com/
531-Ghost Posted January 31, 2009 Posted January 31, 2009 Good to hear PoleCat! I'm sure those that go the Cougar route, will be glad to hear this! I'm not claiming or bashing anything actually. Just thought J.Q. Public would like to know the current state of affairs is all, not history. Thanks for the update. :joystick:
drummer Posted April 9, 2009 Posted April 9, 2009 hi, as the title of this thread asks which joystick, here is my opinion. I have had a X52 pro for about a month. It came with outdated cd based drivers that didn't recognise the Pro. profiles. It took a while to find,download and get working the right drivers/software etc. It was a pain to set up and took three attempts at installation. The throttle has an afterburner detent at the top and bottom of the movement so that you can't get smooth increase needed for subtle heli flying. You can remove this but at the cost of negating your warranty. The stick itself has a small amount of resistance around the neutral where the spring plate starts to move. Again not ideal for heli flying. On the plus side it looks and feels good in the hand and I got quick support from the forum in gettting it running right..however good it might be for fixed wing I wish had bought something different for black shark
GuntiNDDS Posted April 10, 2009 Posted April 10, 2009 i currently have the X52 pro. i like the throttle control alot. the jostick feels very nice and has many buttons. however after about a month of use it wears allready and gets "loose" in the middle. i am planning on buying the CH Fighterstick and the CH Pro Pedals next. from the pictures tho i feel the CH Fighterstick seems to have too few "normal" buttons. it has alot of 4-way collie heads, but i would appreciate normals buttons instead. with the pro pedals i am kinda scared they are too cloose to each other, because i am a big guy and i also have big feet. well, i'll try and see.
hannibal Posted April 10, 2009 Posted April 10, 2009 i got CH... the have the BEST Programming software... i just bought a fighterstick, though i have to mod it to be stiffer... find me on steam! username: Hannibal_A101A http://steamcommunity.com/profiles/76561197969447179
Yskonyn Posted April 11, 2009 Posted April 11, 2009 Well my X-52 has served me very well over the past 3 years and still does. I have a tiny bit of play in the stick and in the throttle, but nothing causing problems, so for a 'garbage product', as some seem to rate it, I am quite impressed. Ok, the looks of the hotas are a bit on the sci-fi side and I can understand many people do not like that and the driver support is a little sketchy as well, but in terms of functionality, though, this stick has a lot of buttons and sliders where they are comfortable to use. Well thought out ergonomics. I like it very much and just like the stories about the unusuable Cougar are probably exaggerated, this goes for the X-52 being garbage as well. [sIGPIC][/sIGPIC] Asus Z390-E, 32GB Crucial Ballistix 2400Mhz, Intel i7 9700K 5.0Ghz, Asus GTX1080 8GB, SoundBlaster AE-5, G15, Streamdeck, DSD Flight, TM Warthog, VirPil BRD, MFG Crosswind CAM5, TrackIR 5, KW-908 Jetseat, Win 10 64-bit ”Pilots do not get paid for what they do daily, but they get paid for what they are capable of doing. However, if pilots would need to do daily what they are capable of doing, nobody would dare to fly anymore.”
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