NXT mod ... or not to mod?!

[Conuk]

Hey guys the next run of IJ's NXT mod is going to be available soon.

 

Now this is going to cost me Ј227 for it!

 

For those of you with it can you give me some info.... What its like... Worth the outlay?

 

I've already done the throttle and stick mods with hall sensors and am we'll happy with them. But oh my good the stick is heavy for Rise of flight ... But has eliminated the shakey spiking and the duff throttle so was worth the money.

 

Its either a NXT kit or another SSD (may order 2 - just getting round to ordering the first one)

 

Let me know your thoughts. I'm sure the stick will last years and will be the final mod - its just a big outlay right now.

[Kuky]

I have it for few years now, Cougar with this gimbals mod is the perfect stick, In my opinion if you can afford it go for it, you will not regret it

Edited January 3, 2010 by Kuky

[159th_Viper]

With Kuky on this one - Nxt a 200% Improvement on Stock and currently the best Flightstick on the Market insofar as Performance/Precision is concerned. With the attendant Throttle Mods, Throttle Inputs are accurate to Incrimental 1% Axis Inputs. Same can be said for the Flightstick - Incredibly Precise.

 

Go for It :thumbup:

[Conuk]

thanks guys...

 

 

so it gets rid of all the centre play?

 

whats the spring weight like... the cougar (without the rubber boot) is too heavy to get diagnals with ROF .... the NXT softer springs ?

[159th_Viper]

Zero Centre Play. I'd say Spring Strength is similar to the X52, maybe? Honestly too long ago to compare, but a helluva lot easier on the Arm than the Stock Cougar - Will feel 'Floppy' at first to you - Weird but soon get used to it after the Stock feeling :)

[Kuky]

with the mods there is no centre play left at all... the stick will be very precise. One difference with the mod also is that the stick will feel very light in the centre and it'll wobble a little because the spring forces even out in the centre, as you progress the force becomes greater I think it's less force required to move the stick to the max position and it's no difference to what position you move the stick (moving the stick in only 1 axis or both requires same force).

[Lange_666]

Ask IJ if he has still different springsets available. He used to have the option to choose from 2 different sets. I found the basic springs he delivered still a bit to stiff (mind you that i don't have a NXT but one of his pre NXT designs. On the other hand, lighter springs might not be a good idea with a stick as heavy as this one.

 

If you can cash out the money...go for it, you will not regret it a single second.

[Conuk]

oh my god - just ordered the NXT MOD !!!!

 

how much have I spent on Joystick.... gulp.

 

Hope its worth it.

 

(Asked about the Spring sets.....)

Edited January 4, 2010 by Conuk

[RvEYoda]

Ok, I dont want to steal this thread or anything, but I think it may be interesting

to share some opinions about different hotas setups we've tried ?

Ive gone through 2 cougars with 3 different mods and an X52 plus a few cheaper sticks.

So to give my impression on the following :

 

Saitek X52

Hotas Cougar Stock

Hotas Cougar u2NXT

Hotas Cougar FCC2

Hotas Cougar FssbR2

 

Hotas Cougar Stock

Well the metal frame is nice ;), and the programming software rocks.

The inside mechanics are junk and the sensors are of the quality you can

buy yourself for less than 1 euro a piece. Their game performance reflects

that price unfortunately. Mechanics wear very fast, so tbh you really dont

want to use an unmodded cougar... IMHO if you cannot get a modded version

you should prob get a ...

 

Saitek X52

Plastic fantastic! The programming software honestly is crap, the sensors ( i have not opnened it so I can only speak from experience using it ) seem to be crap as well,

but the X,Y sensors work very well with good precision. The throttle sensor also seems

to work decent but the rotators are imprecise and tend to jump a bit, also the mouse

isn't very good, Cougar mouse is better imo.

 

Hotas Cougar u2nxt

Well, to this date the most precise stick i have ever tried, both mechanically and

electronically. If you want to fly on 3.1 G or a precise -2.95 degree glide slope this

mod will do the trick :). Still, for quick dogfighting etc you still have a heavy stick

to kick around. Very good for smooth play, little heavy for twitchy gaming.

You dont need to set up a deadzone for this mod. well, that is if you can hold the stick

precise enough in the center, cause the sensors will not let you down :).

Also expect having to replace a spring every 2-3 mths or so if you are a heavy user

( more than 1 hr/day )

 

 

Hotas Cougar FCC2

I've had all sorts of issues with this mod unfortunately. It is possible I got one that didnt

come out of production well but the sensors are not very precise, and mine tended to need

recalibration based on room temperature and/or what computer I plugged it into, also it

seemed to vary with ground potential of where I was at or something like that,

cause if I moved the computer the sensors were showing completely diff numbers.

Very quick, better than stock cougar, but no NXT killer :). Excellent for twitchy dogfights.

 

 

Hotas Cougar FSSB R2

Sure it may be the most expensive variant, but is it worth its money?

For my purposes, there is a resounding YES!!!

Since it is a force stick it is VERY quick. On top of this calibration setup is basically a one

time thing, precision is great both high and low G. You can expect to not need more than

1-2% dead zone or possibly even zero if you are lucky :).

It does not beat the nxt in terms of precision flying in my opinion, but it comes close,

and the other advantages it offers are simply great. For my kind of flying this is the

stick for me :). This kind of stick will, in my experience, allow you to control the plane

directly, rather than just seeing the stick move ingame and somewhat reflect your intentions,

with this mod it will really feel like the plane is an extension of your arm.

Edited January 4, 2010 by =RvE=Yoda

[Conuk]

interesting read Yoda.

Was looking at the FSSB mod - but that would limit maybe the type of games I would play with the Cougar - so gulp! went for NXT.

 

My setups Ive tried. (in order of getting them)

 

Saitek X45

Didnt like the look of this but the price was great at the time.

Im not the best flyer in the word perhaps but the stick just wasnt good for me making small adjustments.

 

Saitek X52

Was MUCH better than the 45 - still a bit funky looking and was kinda happy with it.

Seemed more accurate - actually liked the buttons but the dials seemed a bit jumpy.

Then a friend wanted to buy one so I saw the chance to go for CH stuff and sold him the X52

 

CH Pro Throttle and Fighterstick.

Was strangely disappointed with these. Accurate was the word - noticed instantly compared to the X52 but I found the shape (?) of the stick and the layout awkward for me. I have small hands but I found the buttons on the stick hard to reach. Plastic seemed very well made but at the time I though they were expensive for what they were!

 

Thrustmaster Cougar

Ended up picking up a second hand one a while back for about £100.

Maybe the throttle worked when sent... maybe I damaged it updating the firmware... not sure... either way I needed a new pot on the Z axis.

 

First impressions.... Heavy..... but AWESOME - the metal is superb. I`d read all about the faults of the Cougar ... stock being rubbish etc... but I could fly well with the stock cougar... checking the joystick analyser showed `some` slight spiking in the stick.... so I bit the bullet and went fur Cubbys hall sensor mods for stick and throttle ... about £150 or so. Gulp.

 

WOW - sooooo precise when installed... throttle was fixed so i got to use the throttle for the first time with Black Shark as the collective.... Flying transformed overnight.

I love the switches and the buttons - they feel real good quality and seem they will last many years to come.... shame about the pots at the time I guess.

 

NXT - Will update - but looking forward to it!

 

Logitech G25 Pedals (!)

Started using these as the rudder on DCS - they work pretty well for me but I thought I was missing out so ordered the CH Pro Pedals.

 

CH Pro Pedals.

First impressions are these are not that good plastic - and feel cheap even compared to the G25 pedals.

Ive tried to use them but they just seem the wrong size for my feet and too close together. Pressing them is accurate but I just cant get away with them.

 

Decided to sell them (£55 delivered in the UK if anybody is interested ;)

 

So conclusions :

 

Saitek X52 - good price --- decent accuracy.

CH Products - Again not too badly priced - very accurate - Not a good fit for my hands.

CH Pedals - Cant get away with them!

Ch Cougar - Liked stock - Hall sensor mods = like a different stick - VERY VERY good - NXT looking forward to :)

 

so maybe Ive spent a massive wedge on the stick.... if its as good as Ive read - and it lasts a few years Ill be happy.

 

All my opinion of course.

[Lange_666]

WOW - sooooo precise when installed... throttle was fixed so i got to use the throttle for the first time with Black Shark as the collective.... Flying transformed overnight.

I love the switches and the buttons - they feel real good quality and seem they will last many years to come.... shame about the pots at the time I guess.

 

IJ had a coöp going with Cubby on delivering Hall sensors. The moment you ordered his gimbals, he ordered Hall's at Cubby's and both products were then separately send to you.

Maybe he changed this way of working with the NXT but to be 100% sure just tell him you already have a set.

 

 

Logitech G25 Pedals (!)

Started using these as the rudder on DCS - they work pretty well for me but I thought I was missing out so ordered the CH Pro Pedals.

CH Pro Pedals.

First impressions are these are not that good plastic - and feel cheap even compared to the G25 pedals.

 

Just out of curiousity, what do you currently use for pedals then?

I bought me a set of CH Pro's and i must still get used to these, i found racepedals as rudder a lot better but Windows 7 deals differently with racepedals now (sees them as 2 separate axis) so that they are useless for use as rudders.

[Conuk]

yeah ordered the kit from Cubby for stock gimbals... then decided to go all out for the NXT (you guys who said it was great owe me cash if it aint ;) !)

 

Told him - he said the sensors from cubby work with the NXT - just have to strip them off.

 

Am back using the G25 pedals... the harder pressure works great for me.

And also got a screw and pedal extender set for the G25s from the net ... so I can adjust the spacing on them and the angle... like the new G27 pedals.

 

Cant find the post - but you can get the G25 pedals working fine....