Hotas

[jetkid]

Ok... i need new hotas...

 

For my budget i found only x52.

But i'm dubious of dependability, especially about the auto-calibration system.

Indeed saitek built x52/pro with digital sensors and many people experienced flaws.

I read x52 has several problems with pov switches and throttle wheels too.

 

What are your suggestions?

Thanx :)

[SFJackBauer]

Can only tell you my experience.

 

Almost 2 years in ownership of a X-52 and the only thing I could complain about it is the centering spring becoming noisy and grippy.

[159th_Viper]

For all the foibles of Saitek, admittedly their After-Sales service is very good. I went through a lot of Saiteks, each winging their way back to the factory for replacements and ultimately a refund and at no stage was their any drama relating to returns/refunds.

 

I was fortunate that my budget allowed for better and moved on. If you are however constrained, go ahead and purchase Saitek and rest assured, if my experiences are anything to go by, that any problems you might encounter will be swiftly dealt with.

[jetkid]

Ok.. essentially you said: "it's a decent product, with good support, the only one you can find for 99$ in respect to fairly good tech features".

I valued also the Cougar or the CH Products ones (flight stick + pro throttle) and they seem very solid.

I can't find big problems about their dependability and performances... but i've to double my budget... and u know... it's a game... there's no problem spending 245$, but it's a joystick we're talking about!

 

i'm very doubtful...

 

 

thanx for your opinion!

[jerda]

Think of it more as a tool than a joystick. Then you can justify paying money for it.

[isoul]

The only disadvantages I can find on my X52 is its (light)weight and non-precision slider.

 

1) If its base was heavier and a stick a bit harder it would be perfect.

2) The slider on the throttle stick is non-precision IMHO. Leave it somewhere between 1%-99% and it will "flicker".

 

Its strong point is that its quite good for its price compared to other products!

[159th_Viper]

... but i've to double my budget... and u know... it's a game... there's no problem spending 245$, but it's a joystick we're talking about!

 

 

Aye - Quite so :)

 

As with all things, what you put in is what you get out.......I had no foibles about modding my Cougar with the UberII Nxt, knowing that it simply does not get any better, not by a Country Mile. The degree of precision personally required from a HOTAS thus made my decision a no-brainer. Then again, to me it's more than just a 'Game'.

 

As said, for the X52 price you cannot go wrong.

[159th_Royalman]

Viper and his Cougar...

 

He almost married it! Keep in mind that Viper's Cougar mod came a price!

 

Some people claim that the X52pro is more precise compared to the un-modded version of the cougar. I can't confirm that, but it's something I've been hearing a lot. After all the cougar still uses pods, while the X52pro uses magnetic sensors. But the Cougar is full metal, and if feels like a better product. The X52pro feels a bit cheap. It's all plastic, but so is 95% of all the things you buy!

 

If you go for the X52 I'd say spend some extra money to get the X52pro. It's just a bit better, and worth the extra. And I think the X52pro is a great compromise for people who want a good HOTAS, but don't want to spend a fortune on it.

 

I've had my X52pro for more then two years now, and no problem with it what so ever. And trust me it has seen a lot of flight hours and abuse :smilewink:

 

Just don't buy the X52 for it's little MFD build into the throttle. It doesn't work with LOMAC or BS, it's just for the bling. It works in FSX though...

[159th_Viper]

Viper and his Cougar...

 

He almost married it! Keep in mind that Viper's Cougar mod came a price!

 

 

:megalol:

 

Guilty!

[Cahuete]

You can take only the normal x52, because the difference is only cosmetic :yes: (it's the same thinks into) and take the saved money for buying a used TIR 3 or 4 :thumbup:

[S77th-konkussion]

If your Saitek breaks- replacing it once will exceed the $ that a set of CH Professional will cost you. (comparing US funds) The CH gear will NOT break.

 

However- it's perfectly logical to go cheap if you are not 100% dedicated to the flight sim genre. You gotta start somewhere- and trying to fly this with no HOTAS is like trying to build a racecar with just a pair of visegrips.

 

EDIT: Italia & worldwide-- http://www.chproducts.com/retail/world.html

Edited April 17, 2010 by S77th-konkussion

[BuddhaOnP]

Mwell, just a word of caution on the X52 pro from my corner...

 

I bought mine online last year and about 1 month after first getting it the mouse-stick started to "drift" of its own accord. The only workaround was to disable the mouse part of the stick entirely (which is no solution at all, really). Purchased online from a company in Australia which has now vanished so no luck with returning the sucker either >:(

 

Whilst its a good stick all round the sliders and rotaries all "jitter" and for the life of me I can't figure out how to average or smooth their signals rendering them useless for bindings requiring any precision.

 

That being said I can't really comment on other sticks having never tried any other that some very average microsoft varieties. Good luck with your decision!

 

Meh. -BuddhaOnP

[jetkid]

reading your comments, x52 seems a quite reasonable product, but as i said not so reliable and accurate.

as it costs 100€ i cannot understand the reason why saitek cannot guarantee a solid product.

citycars aren't less reliable than luxury models, which cost much more and offer superior characteristics and performances, but the basic features are assured on both car types.

otherwise only very very few people can buy cars, or the greater part of drivers should be garage mechanics. :doh:

it seems saitek's thinking "ok we offer a cheap product and so we can built it with some defects..."

this is very annoying!

 

so my dilemma will continue...