HOTAS Logitech G940

[-fox-]

Well, I had a problem with my Logitech G25 steering wheel and they just sent me out a new one after I emailed them photos of the wheel and a copy of the invoice in PDF to verify purchase. Pretty damn good support.

 

I think this G940 will be very good. If the Logitech G25 wheel is anything to go by, the build quality will be second to none.

 

:wassat: May I ask why they had to replace your first G25 then?

[BTTW-DratsaB]

I actually broke the steering wheel its self. I think it was a weak point in my particular wheel tbh, I have never heard of anyone having the same issue. The steering wheel and pedals are very chunky, heavy with lots of metal parts. Before my wheel broke, I would have said that shifter was the most likely thing to break, it is however still the best built joystick/controller I have ever owned. + I now have a spare G25 for if anything else brakes.

 

Compare this to my x52 which was broken on arrival (I had to jiggle some wires in the throttle to get it to work) and the fact that it has that pretty much unfixable nasty feeling when using the stick and that after a few years of use my axis are not nearly as precise as they once where, I know which company (Satiek or Logitech) I would want to build my Hotas.

[-fox-]

Personally, I have mixed experiences with Logitech-devices. I owned legendary Logi-mice (my current MX518 refresh is just "ok"), two so-so keyboards, two crappy gamepads and one really bad joystick. I also have a Momo Racing Wheel and am happy with it. If there is anything I have learned about Logitech, than it's that their products come in a broad range of quality levels and that the price is not necessarily a good indicator for it.

[VMFA117_Poko]

This setup looks outstanding. Don't know how others but I'm a big fan of Logitech controllers - I had many of them - very solid. I own G25 now and I'm very happy with it. That was probably best choice of steering wheels available in market. Can't imagine how good can be force feedback in this setup. I'm considering buying it shortly after release.

[HitchHikingFlatlander]

Personally, I have mixed experiences with Logitech-devices. I owned legendary Logi-mice (my current MX518 refresh is just "ok"), two so-so keyboards, two crappy gamepads and one really bad joystick. I also have a Momo Racing Wheel and am happy with it. If there is anything I have learned about Logitech, than it's that their products come in a broad range of quality levels and that the price is not necessarily a good indicator for it.

 

I generally have to agree with this comment though it seems they have cheap products that feel and are cheap and the same for good products that feel and work great. Like mentioned the G25 is a top product and I've owned the Z5500 5.1 surround set for a few years now and its top notch quality and performance, I've owned home theater equipment that was more money and didn't sound anywhere near this good.:joystick:

[AussieFX]

Generally my experience with Logitech is if you buy their cheaper components then they will break in short order. The more expensive items I've had have lasted me well. Namely G25, Momo Force and G15.

I had a cheap FFB joystick a while back and it was dismal, naturally it went in the rubbish not long after I purchased it.

[Sokol1_br]

A user review of one of pre prodution G940:

 

http://mission4today.com/index.php?name=ForumsPro&file=viewtopic&t=6666&finish=15&start=15

 

Jay_Hall is autor of "Newbie's Guide to IL2 Joystick Setup", using Neural Delay principles.

 

Sokol1

[-fox-]

A user review of one of pre prodution G940:

 

http://mission4today.com/index.php?name=ForumsPro&file=viewtopic&t=6666&finish=15&start=15

 

Jay_Hall is autor of "Newbie's Guide to IL2 Joystick Setup", using Neural Delay principles.

 

Sokol1

 

Well, as you write: it's not the retail version that has been reviewed which lowers the use of this review to that of a preview. Especially the overall quality with it's tolerances could change significantly when it goes into mass production.

[Logitech_Mark]

I am the Product Manager for G940, as well as a long time flight simmer. If anyone has specific questions about the Flight System G940, I will do my best to answer them.

[DarkWanderer]

Is there a non-FFB version planned?..

[blaster454]

I am the Product Manager for G940, as well as a long time flight simmer. If anyone has specific questions about the Flight System G940, I will do my best to answer them.

 

Thank you, Mark, for being here. I personally think it will do a lot for the 940 launch to have representation on the popular sim pages.

 

My question concerns the programming software that will drive the 940 system. There seems to be very little available to read about concerning features and abilities. For instance,

 

 

1. can you program rotaries as directional axes (one direction = some response while the other direction = a different response)?
   
2. Is there any capability for setting bit flags so that, for example, if some condition is false a button press does one thing while if it is true, another action is realized (pretty powerful and very useful)?
   
3. what are the macro capabilities of the software (how many commands, are all keyboard buttons recognized, can multiple macros run in parallel, etc.)?
   
4. what is the size of the keystroke buffer(s) ... how many keystrokes can be input before you start stepping on previous keystrokes before they are implemented (important for complex macros).
   
5. Has the software been tested for compatibility with other controller software (yes, even your competitors' software :)) to enable using multiple input devices in parallel. I seem to remember some difficult problems with setpoint software concerning other applications where I had to disable setpoint before being able to continue ... granted that is mouse SW but they are not that dissimilar, methinks.
   
6. How will button and axis assignments be made viewable outside the software? That is, what utility is present for printing out control assignments.
   
7. Is it possible to change profiles from within a simulation?
   

I saw that the 940 is available for pre-order through Amazon but I'm hesitant to pre-order something that still seems a little too murky. Any chance on some information on the software that can make potential customers feel more at ease with a new product?

[hannibal]

Hello Mr Mark.

Can you give us some details about the programming software?

 

right now i have been modding old controllers with CH Products Circuit chips.

for get the Leonid Bodnar BU0836...

 

CH Products is number one for me only for the fact that the CH Manager is quiet customizable...

 

features it allows me to do that other joysticks dont, are like

 

a) allow me to assign anything to the Axis. such that, for example, i can configure pushing the AXIS for throttle UP, i can assign it as,

-pressing the 'enter' key or

-pressing 'Numpad 0' or

-positive X-axis or

-negative X-axis or

-negative Rotation X-axis or

-down MOUSE movement or

-left MOUSE movement.... Etc, etc.

basically almost ANYTHING I WANT.

 

b) i can manipulate the sensitivity, dead zone, response curve, or even make it a slider curve for the Axis. (Black shark allows you to do this In game, thank god, BUT Ch manager allows you also to do this, so that GAMES THAT DO NOT have a flexible controller assignment, can be configured through this CH manage)

 

c) make custom scripts, in which you can have logic applied to input control functions...

like if an statments, so for example, if throttle is at 20%, the combination SHIFT 'a' is inputted...

 

basically, what can the G940 software do?

[CyBerkut]

Mark, any chance we could eventually see Force Feedback Rudder Pedals? I realize that it probably looks like a small market for that, but in a sim like DCS:BS, it would really make the trim functions work like they should.

[Maximus_G]

I am the Product Manager for G940, as well as a long time flight simmer. If anyone has specific questions about the Flight System G940, I will do my best to answer them.

 

Hello Mark,

are there any plans to produce separate devices based on G940 set? I'm enchanted with its throttle, but i don't want to buy the pedals again.

[7rooper]

I would love to see the question above answered. I need a Hotas Setup and don't need the pedals right now.

[Logitech_Mark]

Thank you, Mark, for being here. I personally think it will do a lot for the 940 launch to have representation on the popular sim pages.

 

My question concerns the programming software that will drive the 940 system. There seems to be very little available to read about concerning features and abilities. For instance,

Any chance on some information on the software that can make potential customers feel more at ease with a new product?

 

 

1. Can you program rotaries as directional axes (one direction = some response while the other direction = a different response)?
   

Axis movement can be divided into “zones”. These zones can each be assigned a command. So you could assign “Volume increase” to a zone on one side of center, and “Volume decrease” to a zone on the other side. The software cannot send a command based on axis directional movement like a rotary encoder.

 

1. Is there any capability for setting bit flags so that, for example, if some condition is false a button press does one thing while if it is true, another action is realized (pretty powerful and very useful)?
   

The software does not have that feature

 

1. What are the macro capabilities of the software (how many commands, are all keyboard buttons recognized, can multiple macros run in parallel, etc.)?
   

All keys are recognized, including left & right versions of Windows, Shift, Ctrl and Alt keys. Multiple macros should run in parallel, but they may confuse the simulation, since they are just sending key commands, which may combine in an unintended way, which would not be the fault of the Logitech software.

 

1. what is the size of the keystroke buffer(s) ... how many keystrokes can be input before you start stepping on previous keystrokes before they are implemented (important for complex macros).
   

Not sure – I’ll look into it.

 

1. Has the software been tested for compatibility with other controller software (yes, even your competitors' software ) to enable using multiple input devices in parallel. I seem to remember some difficult problems with setpoint software concerning other applications where I had to disable setpoint before being able to continue ... granted that is mouse SW but they are not that dissimilar, methinks.
   

The software has been formally tested with all current and near release Windows versions. It has also been tested with most flight simulation titles and other Logitech software. There have been some informal tests with competitive products, and there haven’t been issues.

 

1. How will button and axis assignments be made viewable outside the software? That is, what utility is present for printing out control assignments.
   

Assignments for a game profile can be printed.

 

1. Is it possible to change profiles from within a simulation?
   

Profiles can be loaded only from the profiler, or load automatically when an assigned game is loaded.

[Logitech_Mark]

Hello Mr Mark.

Can you give us some details about the programming software?

 

right now i have been modding old controllers with CH Products Circuit chips.

for get the Leonid Bodnar BU0836...

 

CH Products is number one for me only for the fact that the CH Manager is quiet customizable...

 

features it allows me to do that other joysticks dont, are like

 

a) allow me to assign anything to the Axis. such that, for example, i can configure pushing the AXIS for throttle UP, i can assign it as,

-pressing the 'enter' key or

-pressing 'Numpad 0' or

-positive X-axis or

-negative X-axis or

-negative Rotation X-axis or

-down MOUSE movement or

-left MOUSE movement.... Etc, etc.

basically almost ANYTHING I WANT.

 

b) i can manipulate the sensitivity, dead zone, response curve, or even make it a slider curve for the Axis. (Black shark allows you to do this In game, thank god, BUT Ch manager allows you also to do this, so that GAMES THAT DO NOT have a flexible controller assignment, can be configured through this CH manage)

 

c) make custom scripts, in which you can have logic applied to input control functions...

like if an statments, so for example, if throttle is at 20%, the combination SHIFT 'a' is inputted...

 

basically, what can the G940 software do?

 

Mark, any chance we could eventually see Force Feedback Rudder Pedals? I realize that it probably looks like a small market for that, but in a sim like DCS:BS, it would really make the trim functions work like they should.

 

Hello Mark,

are there any plans to produce separate devices based on G940 set? I'm enchanted with its throttle, but i don't want to buy the pedals again.

 

I would love to see the question above answered. I need a Hotas Setup and don't need the pedals right now.

 

Sensitivity,dead zone, range and polarity of all axes can be adjusted in the driver software. Strength of force feedback components can be adjusted for the X and Y axis.

 

Logic scripts are not supported. However, there is a lot of the functionality of your example using the zone assignment. the range of an axis can be divided into multiple zones, so that a command is triggered when the axis is within that range. So for example, a rotary could be divided into 5 zones, 0-20%, 21-40%, 41-60%, 61-80%, 81-100%. system mode commands can then be assigned to the range. NAV, BVR, CAC, HMS, A2G, for example. In this case, scrolling through the range would switch the system to the mode corresponding to its zone. I use this feature in LOMAC. Note that the commands assigned in a zone are like any other command so they can be complex key macros.

 

The software also has cycling commands. a list of commands can be assembled and assigned to a button. each time it is pressed, it will do the next command on the list, looping back the the first command after the end is reached. This can be used for a number of things, including a ramp start sequence, or selection of views.

 

Finally, the throttle mode switch has three positions. each button can have three separate commands based on mode switch position. In addition, any button can be turned into a shift, doubling commands for a total of 6 per button on stick and throttle.

 

I can't comment about any possible future products or product features.

 

We are planning to do more detailed product descriptions in blog posts on the Logitech site in coming months.

[joey45]

When is it released in the UK? and how much in £££'s?

 

what type of materials is it made of cos it looks like cheap plastic?

[no offence] and yes pics can look deciving.

 

thats all from me.

[Logitech_Mark]

When is it released in the UK? and how much in £££'s?

 

what type of materials is it made of cos it looks like cheap plastic?

[no offence] and yes pics can look deceiving.

 

thats all from me.

 

I'm not sure of the UK price, but suggested retail price in euro is $299.99. Availability is early September.

 

G940 is made from a number of materials; plastics, glass-filled polycarbonates, aluminum, stainless steel and rubber. None of it looks or feels cheap in person; Its a very heavy, solid product :)

[Slayer]

Glad to fianlly see a full FFB HOTAS setup hit the market. Just what we need for Black Shark. Thanks for the heads up.

[joey45]

I'm not sure of the UK price, but suggested retail price in euro is $299.99. Availability is early September.

 

G940 is made from a number of materials; plastics, glass-filled polycarbonates, aluminum, stainless steel and rubber. None of it looks or feels cheap in person; Its a very heavy, solid product :)

 

thanks, and like I said pictures can lie [tell a thousond words]

 

Is early september worldwide release?

[Logitech_Mark]

North America release is late August - a few short weeks before Europe.

[blaster454]

Mark, thank you for taking the time to answer our questions here. It's done a lot to give us a more clear picture of this new system. Again, I think the time you invest on boards like this can only serve to make the G940 launch more successful ... I hope it goes well for you.

 

Late August release in NA sounds good ... not so long now!

 

Not having directional axes is not a deal killer for me, especially with the zone programming capability. Add to that, if I understood correctly, the ability to program mode states to an axis' zones and it adds a degree of flexibility that needs investigating.

 

I am really sorry to see that more advanced logical programming is not available. CH Products has been the run-away leader here for many years (with Foxy being a close second but not nearly as intuitive). It might be worth tucking away into your business unit's idea bin the thought of adding some programming functionality ... and it doesn't have to be a point-for-point matchup against the competition. I'd think just adding a dozen or so settable flags and including some if-then-else functionality would be a strong feather in Logitech's competitive analysis standings. :thumbup:

 

I understand your thought process regarding zone division being able to provide some degree of advanced logical "programming" but the disadvantage I see there is that the access control devices (e.g., rotary controllers) usually are not physically detented so it can be very hard to determine just which zone you are in. Two is easy as you can drop a big dead zone in the middle and use end of control travel as positive reinforcement. But in your example given to Hannibal, you show five zones...I think that would be hard to control. Maybe another idea for your "what might we look at next" bucket could be a detented controller--not a rotary switch but a rotary axis that can be divided into physical as well as logical zones. My engineering days are comfortably behind me now :smilewink: so I'd leave the implementation to some of your bright, young engineers. I'm certain that there can be an innovative and economically feasible way of implementing adjustable physical zones.

 

The inclususion of cycling commands is a positive as is including any button as an additional shift controller (I assume you can have more than one) :thumbup:. The biggest issue with shifted controls is being able to remember where all the commands are ... with today's programmability, you can have a lot of keystroke assignments crammed onto a few buttons. Either need a good memory, or a cheat sheet, or a button that speaks the command to you as you press it and it's shifters :megalol:. Or better yet, a small but readable LCD display andgled so that it's clearly visible from an operating position that lets you either preview a command (maybe with a special preview shift button) or shows the command when the shifter-button sequence is pressed to aid in training on a new profile.

 

I also must agree with the many other comments concerning hats. I fully understand the tooling and design constraints you are under so maybe this too goes in the idea bucket but a minimum of three hats on the stick and two on the throttle unit would be ideal ... even more could be used for some sims.

 

So many ideas and so many constraints! I think Logitech is to be congratulated for their design ingenuity and for their acceptance of taking the first of what I'll call the new series FFB HOTAS products to market. Sure, others will come out with responses and they'll try to beat you on features or programming but if you have a well-defined product road map and the ability to "add features" through SW changes, you will be in the game.

 

As a final comment, although I think I understand the marketing and logistical drivers for selling this as a complete system, you might be missing a chunk of the marketplace. The die-hard simmer is at worst going to seriously consider your product and at best scoop it up :pilotfly:. But that must be a fairly niche market and I can't help think you'd be better served by breaking out your offerings at least into HOTAS and pedal packages to make the price points more appealing to mainline sim buyers.

 

Am I going to pre-order? Don't know yet :smilewink: but you've helped in the decision process. Given my proclivity to be a leading-edge buyer, I might well be in there at the start. Thanks, again!

[Pilotasso]

Mark, thx for your avaiablity to answer our questions. I got one too:

 

Will it be avaiable in Portugal? We got some major stores like FNAC, VOBIS and WORTEN who could get the G940 as they have the cougar, CH and X52. Some aviation association also sell advanced SIMing interfaces.

 

Cheers

[sobek]

Anybody had a hands-on with this stick yet? I'm really curious about the quality of the stick and it's feel. Besides, does anybody know what sensors the rudder and throttle use? AFAIK the stick seems to use hall sensors.