X-52 Joystick Questions

[SuperKungFu]

Hey, I’m really interested in getting the Saitek X-52 joystick but a few things is holding me back from my purchase and I was hoping you guys could clear it up for me.

1.) I know there was a deadzone issues in the early models but I have to look for the joysticks with serial number above S00245477 right? Well, how do I know if it’s the newer models by just looking at the outside box? I don’t think the store would let me open the box up and look inside.

2.) I saw the X-52 on display once and when I went to get a feel of it, the joystick seems kind of loose. Do some of you X-52 users feel the same way or maybe the X-52 on display was just jacked up? Anyway, if it is loose, is there a way to make it more resistant?

3.) I remember reading something about the X-52 not compatible with a nforce4 motherboard. Is that true because I’m about to get a new computer with a nForce™4 SLI™ Chipset Motherboard PCI Express and that will suck if it clashes with each other.

4.) There was something else about the X-52 mini-stick problems but I heard that was fixed in the newer models correct?

Sorry for all the questions but if anyone can answer anything at all that would clear some of these issues up for me I will really appreciate it.

[Shaman]

1) Just give it back to the store if there is deadzone issue. It is your right as a customer, and explain the issue. However I'm sure this will not happen.

2) It might feel loose to you, if you got used to other construction (that use a lot of springs.. This joystick is very light in use.

3) I don't know anything about that. I have nForce2 mobo. But as far as I know NVIDIA, untill you get your new computer updated nForce4 drivers will be already released.

4) I have no problems with my X-52 mini-stick. However I don't use it as mouse. I program it to do other things for me; and that depends on airplane I'm flying.

 

PS. I bought my X-52 first days of march 2005. And had no problems with it whatsoever. Well except one. Sometimes the joystick doesn't seem to respond properly. It doesn't happen during playing though. Rather after system re-boot. I have to unplug it, and plug it again. But it might be my OS. I work on Windows2003, and I've installed Saitek's drivers and software using WinXP compatibility mode. Otherwise it didn't work.

[Sleek]

reccomended highly from me ;)

 

I even upgraded from the x45 (only coz my throttle packed up!)

havn't looked back since :cool:

 

check the official forums out..and don't be put off to much with the prob's,the support is first class!

http://www.saitekforum.com/

[GoonerTC]

Hello mate, I know a lot of the 44th guys fly with the X52 and a couple have got the early stick including myself. I have no real problem with it you get use to it and didnt know of issue until I was told about from GrayGhost. good stick and very easy to use.

 

I have the same problem regarding taking out the stick lead form the throttle and plugging it back in. again you get use to it mate

 

Cheers 44th TC

 

good profile for the X52 as well from this website

 

http://forum.combatace.com/index.php?download=868

[S77th-Basscadet]

another happy customer here :) no complaints, i have the same issue also with having to unplug plug back in but like the guy said you get use to it,

ive had mine for around 4months its one of the early ones, its still just as good as outa the box, i would well recommend ya get one :)

[Trunks]

recommended by me also :)

[Rastus]

No problems with mine.

 

Yeh, it felt really light to me when I first bought it, but now I guess I am used to it as I dont notice it any more.

 

I use the ministick for slewing the radar & have a small deadzone programmed just to be sure. (easy to do). Works great.

 

I am happy with the stick but will probably upgrade to a CH when I can afford it. I think the CH may be a bit smoother & more accurate.

 

For the price the 52 is a great stick.

[SuperKungFu]

Hey guys thanks for the responses. One thing still bothers me and that is the profiles. I read on several forums that you can’t program the keys in the Lock On option menu since only button 33 and 34 shows up. So it forces you to install the program, but I remember I installed the magic keyboard and mouse thing for my old joystick a while ago and it bugged the crap out of me. I think I clashed with my wireless keyboard and mouse. Is this still the case?

[SuperKungFu]

Sorry to bump this but i really need the answer to the question above :icon_roll so i can make my final decision to buy it this weekend or not.

[coldcrew]

well I'll answer. it's has a nice stick but it's not usable in lomac without the profiler and magickeyboard/mouse. If you try hard enough you can configure it to work in lomac but lot of functionality on the throttle is devoted to mouse functions (which is baffling because it's supposed to be HOTAS not HOTASAM). The main reason you want the x52 is that the x45 is flakey doesn't last long while the x52 has a really great stick (compared to the one on the x45). However it will come in handy on games like bf2 with the retarded flight controls that require you to mouselook with a mouse instead of the hatswitch

[SuperKungFu]

This might be a stupid question but is there a way to calibrate the X-52 joystick? On the old joysticks like the X-36F, there was a calibrate button in the control panel/ game controllers/ properties. But after I install the X-52, I didn’t see such a button. I need to calibrate it because when I seems that the throttle is hitting the max range slightly early. For example…I’m only powered to 80-90% but I’m already in afterburners in the game. Could anyone help me out?

[Sealpup]

This might be a stupid question but is there a way to calibrate the X-52 joystick? On the old joysticks like the X-36F, there was a calibrate button in the control panel/ game controllers/ properties. But after I install the X-52, I didn’t see such a button. I need to calibrate it because when I seems that the throttle is hitting the max range slightly early. For example…I’m only powered to 80-90% but I’m already in afterburners in the game. Could anyone help me out?

 

Right click on the profiler icon on your task bar. Select 'Control Panel'

 

 

Check your throttle response on the first screen that comes up. If it's hitting full forward before the throttle is physically that far, go to the 'deadzone' tab and play around with the settings in there.

 

I've never had to do this, but I found that I can reproduce that problem if the deadzone tab is set wrong.

 

EDIT: While you're in there, go ahead and adjust the LCD and LED brightness settings if that blue light is getting on your nerves. You can turn all the lights off through there if you want. Useful for me because all that blue in that shade gives me headaches sometimes.

[SuperKungFu]

Thanks Hyena. But now I got another strange problem. Since it’s so hard to program keys in the lomac option using the X-52 (since it always assigns the keys as 33 or 34) I created a profile. I followed the instructions in the manual, for example the Trigger command is space and after I saved it and load the profile into the game, it doesn't fire. It seems like all the buttons are disabled, only the axis work. I even downloaded another person's profile and load it up and the buttons still won't respond. I know it’s not a defect because the buttons work without a profile. And yes the profile appears on the MFD and I'm in the right mode. Any suggestions? Sorry I’m a noob at this stick.

[condor11]

Was anyone able to map small button on throttle beside the mouse? Or that other scroller (which can also be button) that keeps giving 33 and 34?

Whenever I press either one to map it isn't being detected.

[condor11]

This might be a stupid question but is there a way to calibrate the X-52 joystick? On the old joysticks like the X-36F, there was a calibrate button in the control panel/ game controllers/ properties. But after I install the X-52, I didn’t see such a button. I need to calibrate it because when I seems that the throttle is hitting the max range slightly early. For example…I’m only powered to 80-90% but I’m already in afterburners in the game. Could anyone help me out?

 

Can't be. The new Saitek controllers are self-calibrating. If you see a need to calibtate it, there is something wrong with controller. Same goes for deadzones. Unless you specifically need them, they arn't a solution.

[coldcrew]

Was anyone able to map small button on throttle beside the mouse? Or that other scroller (which can also be button) that keeps giving 33 and 34?

Whenever I press either one to map it isn't being detected.

 

I was able to map the D, E and hatswitch on the throttle. You can't map the mouse to anything except an axis (you need to switch to the mouse controller to do this) and the mouse button can be mapped to left click and the scroller can be mapped to right click. The scrolling is supposed to be axis3 but it doesn't work at all. The "I" key doesn't do anything so you can't map it. I happed the precision slider to an axis, works great in the su25t for changing the target box on the TV.

[condor11]

I was able to map the D, E and hatswitch on the throttle. You can't map the mouse to anything except an axis (you need to switch to the mouse controller to do this) and the mouse button can be mapped to left click and the scroller can be mapped to right click. The scrolling is supposed to be axis3 but it doesn't work at all. The "I" key doesn't do anything so you can't map it. I happed the precision slider to an axis, works great in the su25t for changing the target box on the TV.

 

So you are saying left mouse button can't be mapped to anything?

Oh and great itea on precision slider - I was wondering what to use it for!

[coldcrew]

it can be mapped, but at the top where you select "keyboard,mouse,and x52 usb" you need to switch to mouse and then map it to whatever you want. And not only does it work for the target box, it can control the gunpod elevation too :)

[SuperKungFu]

Is there a Saitek X-52 forum that is very active? Because I can't get enough answers through this site or the main Saitek forum. Please Help.

[SuperKungFu]

Well...Ill just ask my question here in hopes some kind soul out there will answer. I asked this question before, but I'll ask again a little more specific.

 

Is there a way to calibrate the X-52 joystick? On the old joysticks like the X-36F, there was a Calibrate Button in the control panel/game controllers/properties Screen. But after I install the X-52 Installation CD, I didn’t see a calibrate button and I badly need one! Here are several problems I’m having with my controller. First, the throttle control seems to be hitting its maximum range a little early. The pictures below show what I mean.

In the picture, it shows the throttle is at 100% but physically, the throttle is around 90%. The throttle control still has a couple cm left before it hits its maximum potential

I don’t think settings deadzone will help since that will make the signal reach the maximum range even earlier. I thought the new Saitek controllers are self-calibrating. Either that or I got a defect in this stick. But my serial number is above S00245477. I have the same problem with the precision slide too. The first picture shows the signal for the slider has also reached its maximum range, but physically, the slider still has a little more way to go before it hit its end.

This goes the same with the stick itself. Usually the old stick, like the X-36F, after you calibrate it, the X/Y axes box with the cross should move in a circular motion since the stick moves in a circular motion. But my X-52 could hit all sides of the box no problem, is this normal? The picture below shows the X-52 has reached the bottom left corner, but physically, the stick itself has maybe 1 more cm before it reach its end.

Another problem is with the tension force on the throttle control. If the knob is turned to the highest tension or the lowest tension, I feel no difference. The throttle control still remains pretty stiff.

Please, if anyone has any information/ suggestions I would like to know. I know this was a long read, but if I get any feedback I would greatly appreciate it.

 

Edit- P.S. I do not have any deadzone set.

[coldcrew]

Imho your stick is broken, you let saitek know about it and they'll have you rma it back to them. All the saitek sticks I've got (including gamepads) require no configuration. If everything is off you should get a new one.

[AnchorNC]

I just purchased an X52 and am curious where to adjust the tension on the joystick? I knew that you can adjust the throttle, but I was not aware that you could adjust it on the joystick?

 

Thanks.

[SuperKungFu]

You can't adjust the tension on the stick itself, only the throttle. However, there is this really complex way but it involves opening up the stick and shoving something between the springs. Which is a little radical.