My Logitech G490 thoughts

[Lava]

Hey all, I've been a simmer for 6 years, off and on. I've only owned a few joysticks: Saitek x45, and, years ago, a Saitek Cyborg something. Never used force feedback before. Never owned rudder pedals.

 

I've always wanted a new joystick. I've also always wanted rudder pedals. Force feedback (FF) was just a bonus. So I sprung for the G940. Here are my thoughts.

 

The G940 is a solid piece of work. It is high density, tough, THICK plastic. The FF has a -lot- of power behind it. It can make my flimsy Ikea desk shake alarmingly. When you test buttons in the calibration screen, it also sets off FF. My desk nearly was shaken apart during calibration. However, the joystick needs a little guide. There are a couple of physical dials I'm uncertain as to their exact purpose. They actually don't seem to DO anything resistance wise. One on the underside of the throttle, and one in between the pedals. I suspect they are supposed to change resistance but again, they don't seem to do anything.

 

The stick is very very sensitive and easy to aim. I've had much better aiming with my rockets than with my x45. I'm impressed. Need to get used to rudder pedals though. They are already improving my flying, until I forget my feet are commanding my heli and I start spinning when I stretch my leg!

 

The trim knobs have paint showing neutral position. I'll probably file a notch into the center point of each marker. Notches are all I want. I like the knobs where they are. In IL-2, that means I can KEEP a hand on the stick while reaching over with the throttle hand to tweak the trim. The knobs are of course pointless as trim in Black Shark. :) Need to think of a use for them.

 

The throttle-joining device is just a fiddly button; the two throttles may sometimes register slightly different numbers because they can be at very slightly different positions even when joined together.

 

I'm not sure what to do with the second throttle. It does nothing now. It's a bit awkward to have them separated, but I could make it work if there was a good use for it. Ideas?

 

I like the FF trimming. On the advice of a pilot/server admin, -Merc- Cat, I'm trying out the 'normal' trimmer (no "central position trimmer mode"). I was used to the other trimmer with my x45. It feels about as accurate as my x45, that is, it pulls away a bit from the trim position, but autopilot compensates. I will keep trying the trimmer mode, I know people are curious about this. Any specific questions I can try to answer/experiment around.

 

It's a lot easier to fly with a FF joystick. It turns the Black Shark into a different helicopter. I can feel the bite of any maneuvering. I'm not fighting the autopilot nearly as much, and I'd already gotten decent at working with the autopilot before this. Also, having the joystick reflect the trim position makes life much easier. I have a better feel for the chopper as a result of the FF.

 

The only problem I'm having now is rudder trim. I forget that the trim hits the rudder too. I have to take my feet OFF the pedals, then trim, then back on with the pedals. Otherwise I get annoyed at the chopper spinning until I reset trim. We need FF on pedals now! :)

 

Resetting trim is very easy. I just hold the joystick in the position it's ALREADY in, brace myself for the kick of the FF repositioning, then reset trim.

 

The mini-joystick is very precise. It's smooth and does not feel like a normal HAT switch at all! I'd use it for the Shkval if it wasn't so HORRIBLY in need of calibration. Apparently the software update will let us calibrate it. The other mini on the throttle is really just a HAT switch, nothing like the first mini on the joystick.

 

Someone mentioned the FF felt like it was 'grinding'. You can feel the gears of the motors mostly when the stick's out of game. I haven't noticed it more than once or twice in game. Also, someone mentioned their joystick was making 'arcing' sounds near center. Mine does that, rarely and very quietly. 'Arcing' is the wrong word, I think. I just move it around to stop it. Finally, I've read about the joystick base heating up a lot. Mine gets warm but not hot.

 

(edit) Currently the software's doing well. No problems installing it. Logitech Mark is active on various forums and collects feedback for the releases, which is nice. Right now there's a bug which affects my platform (Vista x64) and causes crashes. Given our recent experience with rapid updates, this should be fixed shortly. (/edit)

 

Having so many rotaries highlights fairly inconsequential limits in the game engine. You can't bind your HUD brightness or Helmet-Mounted-Display brightness directly to a rotary switch. Oh well.

 

The buttons on the base of the throttle are very very handy, although the colors don't change and won't for a while. They make me want one of those 25-key programmable MFD things, because the 8 buttons are so darn useful! I map them to the left targeting panel, and with in-game shift, right autopilot panel. Roughly the same spatial layout as the real panels, it's wonderful.

 

Pros:

Very precise joystick

Sturdy (so far)

Force feedback greatly improves feel of flying

Great Mini-Joystick on the main stick

I am flying much better with this system so far

 

 

 

Cons:

Can feel FF gears if you concentrate (not an problem to me, far outweighed)

Software is somewhat inadequate and could be developed more

No notches in trim tabs or rotaries

Mini-Joystick calibration is whacked and can't be fixed yet, and second Mini isn't a Mini at all

Joystick makes little tiny ticking or arcing noises occasionally near center

 

Geez. What a long post. Hi, by the way!

Edited September 26, 2009 by Lava

[MrReynolds]

Thanks dude....can't wait for them to appear in Blighty :-)

[Pilotasso]

Nice Imput LAVA, Im considering a new HOTAS myself. I have a brand new CH setup gathering dust cause couldnt get used to its handling or take the time to program it.

[sobek]

Thx for the post. It's getting clear to me now that i'm getting one. Just a matter of raising the funds and somebody being able to deliver it in austria :-S

[CAT_101st]

nice post good info

[Boulund]

Always nice to hear more feedback from consumers on this one. Maybe this year's purchase of an X52 Pro wasn't that clever... =D I'll stick to it for a while though (pun intended)

Edited September 20, 2009 by Boulund

[GERY]

Excellent post. I am trying to decide which stick to buy (They're not cheap) I was going to buy the X52 Pro. Can anyone tell me honestly,which system i should go for. I am returning to helicopter sims after a long break from Longbow 2, such great times. So i want to buy the best for Black Shark. Many thanks. Gery.

[Lava]

Gery, I haven't used the other high-end HOTAS systems, so I can't comment on the relative merits of a Cougar or whatnot. However, the G940's a lot better than my x45. Part of that is the utility and immersion of rudder pedals, though, which might be bought separately with your x52.

(edit) Force feedback, however, really helps with the game and trim.

Edited September 20, 2009 by Lava

[GERY]

Thanks very much for your response Lava. These things cost a fortune. I have just ordered Track IR 5 (Mmm, having to wear a hat while playing will seem strange. My pals say i should just screw the dots into my head :-) ). Huh, what do they know. I will keep searching the forum regarding controller type, although your review certainly points me in the G490 direction. Cheers Gery.

[CyBerkut]

Thanks very much for your response Lava. These things cost a fortune. I have just ordered Track IR 5 (Mmm, having to wear a hat while playing will seem strange. My pals say i should just screw the dots into my head :-) ). Huh, what do they know. I will keep searching the forum regarding controller type, although your review certainly points me in the G490 direction. Cheers Gery.

 

It does add up in costs, doesn't it?...

 

You might want to wait and see how Saitek's upcoming HOTAS offering (X-65F) stacks up against the other options.

[Griffin]

Thank you for the review! This seems like a great piece of HOTAS. I'm really dreaming about it, especially after reading this, but I'm unsure whether to buy it or not as it's so expensive. I do have money for it and simming is my hobby but it still hurts to pay almost 300 € for a "toy". :ermm:

Edited September 21, 2009 by Griffin

[HitchHikingFlatlander]

Lava, good read and take on it. Given you've been talking with Cat are you on the Merc Teamspeak often? If I ever get the chance I'd like to pick you brain about it that way I know the differences between it and the upcoming saitek FFB HOTAS! I don't want to commit to FFB until Saitek release's their model!

[Logitech_Mark]

Update:

We are releasing version 5.08 this week. It corrects a number of things, including:

 

Shift mode: Assigning a shift on on one device now works across to the other. i.e.assigning shift on the stick will cause a shift of the buttons on the throttle as well.

 

Manual Mini-stick calibration: the mini-joystick on the Stick is now calibrated manually during installation, so it gives a more precise center.

 

Updated Profiles: added many profiles to the game updater. Profiles are included for IL-2 series, Falcon:AF, Flight Simulator X, Lock On series, DCS: Black Shark, and others.

 

OS Support: Includes Windows 7, 32 and 64 bit.

 

I expect it to be available Wednesday.

[Pilotasso]

Thx for your continued assitance. I dont own one, but your bosses should recognize your work. Thumbs up!

[Scarecrow]

Thankyou Mark for the update I hope to be the proud owner of one of these units in the next 21 days. You guys have a very signifigant advantage over your competition in bringing this to market first, and if you continue to listen to the flight sim comunity and provide software that fits our very stringent requirements you have a better than average chance at dominating this niche market for then next 12 months at least. The software is the key to success

[Lava]

Mark, that is fantastic news! Thank you for letting us know about the upcoming changes.

 

Flatlander, yes, I'm on that server occasionally, when I have time. About once every two days right now :)

[Logitech_Mark]

The download is now available.

 

http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/441/5855&cl=us,en?WT.ac=sc|downloads||dd

[connos]

Thanks Mark I am considering getting one in Christmas.

[Kirai]

I have just ordered one of these and hope to get recieve it next week :)