X65F or Warthog Hotas?

[JohnMason643]

I've owned an X65F for a couple of months. I've been trying to love it... there are a lot of good things to say about it. However I had centering problems that made flying the 'Hog difficult.

 

Yesterday I found out that Frys was selling the Warthog for $350. At $500, it was too much for me. At $350 I could not pass it by. The build quality and feel of both the throttle and joystick are superb.

 

There are no doubts this is the best HOTAS I've ever owned. I've been a Saitek user over the years. I don't want to disparage the X65F because I really like it but there is no comparison to the TM.

 

 

I flew a number of flights last night and they were much more smoother and easier than I've flown before. The buttons on both the throttle and joystick do seem much harder to press than I care for. The slew stick on the throttle is also touchy. Otherwise everything feels fine.

 

I haven't flown it with anything other than DCS A10 so will have to wait to pass judgment there. Though I haven't programmed in TARGET yet it looks much more comprehensive than SST (which I hated).

 

I'm very happy with the Warthot HOTAS. For $350 there's really no comparison.

 

 

John A. Mason

US Navy Submariner, (Retired)

Strategic Weapons System Navigation Electronics Technician

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[Lost in clouds]

I owned a TM HOTAS for one day and took it back not because it sucked but because I got buyers remorse spending over 500 bucks on the HOTAS and pedals for SIM I dont understand at all, and have little time to devote to it right now. I will go back it to it later. I got mine at FRYs and the sale person let me take the TM out of the box and compare it to the X65f. Both nice but the TM HOTAS was hands down the winner in fell and looks. Plus I did not like the X65F's pressure sensitive stick. I like the stick to move with my inputs. Fells more organic to me. I think most would be happier with the TM. Also at 350 it is 50 bucks less than the Saitek right now.

[WRFirefox]

Today my new X-65F was delivered - 222,90 € ($ 316,-).:pilotfly:

 

And after the first 4 hours of testing just one word: AWESOME!!!!!:thumbup:

[Steel Jaw]

Fine you like the TMWH.

 

BUT how useful and practical will it be for a dedicated Falcon flier like me?

 

I will fly the BMS F16 far more than the DCS A10C.

[JohnMason643]

TMWH vs X65F

 

Fine you like the TMWH.

 

BUT how useful and practical will it be for a dedicated Falcon flier like me?

 

I will fly the BMS F16 far more than the DCS A10C.

 

 

Mower - no worries... it's all personal preference anyways. I thought long and hard before buying the TMWH... I thought it was too specialized. But I plan on flying the A-10C most of the time. At $500 I couldn't do it but at $350 it was a no-brainer.

 

I also fly other sims. I'm in the process of making a paper template that will go over the base of the throttle. I'll be able to change the labeling of the switches/buttons using that overlay/template. With the programming capabilities of TARGET I'll set the switches to whatever I want.

 

Along with that template, I think the TMWH will make a superb HOTAS for any sim simply because of it's excellent touch and feel.

 

I've been flying with it for several days now and I can say hands-down that this is the best joystick/throttle I've ever flown with. It will be difficult for me to go back to anything else after this.

 

But, again, it's all personal preference. I've got my X65F (which is the second best HOTAS I've ever used) up for sale on Craigslist. If you're interested, I can give you an excellent price on it... I'd rather it go to a dedicated simmer like you than someone else.

 

John

[WRFirefox]

Mower,

 

I fly the A-10 very much more than the BMS F16 - but for the Falcon it is still the best choice you will ever get!:thumbup: ....and for me - for the A-10C also....:pilotfly:

Cause! - The Force-Sensing is really awesome - but it have to be tuned by the settings and the placement of the stick an throttle!:smilewink:

just my 2 Cent

Edited September 15, 2011 by WRFirefox

[Ragtop]

Mower, I don't think you'd have ANY problem using the WH in BMS. Think about it, the X-65f is really the first FS stick that is commercially available, (Of course there was the FSSB mod for the Cougar, but then you're looking at >Consumer prices really) If the X-65f never came to be, its HIGHLY unlikely you'd worry about having an FSS to fly BMS with.

 

What I'm asking is, do you only feel like you need the X-65 because it's an FSS, or for other reasons? If it's the former, one could just as easily argue that the WH would be better for BMS because of the actual stick design/button layout, it's the same as the Viper.

Edited September 16, 2011 by Ragtop

[Total]

I usually don't agree with Mower, but this time I think I know where he is coming from. I REALLY wanted to buy an X-65F. My X-52 lasted for years. The durability and the overall long term ergonomics of Saitek's products were top notch to me. The X-65's centering issue on some of the sticks and the lack of further driver development for Win 7 64 was my deciding factor to not get one. That's the ONLY reason I did not buy it.

 

The X-65 is not dedicated to just one aircraft in its design and appearance. That gives it the automatic feel of being versatile across different simulators. The Warthog wouldn't be any less versatile, but the immediate dedication to the A-10 automatically makes one wonder how well it would work with another sim. That question doesn't arise with the X-65.

 

In the end though, I am extremely happy with my purcahse of CH's stick and throttle. Still would love to have a WH and an X-65 to use at my liesure, but that kinda cash is beyond me lol.

Edited September 16, 2011 by Total

[Steel Jaw]

I usually don't agree with Mower

 

I would recommned that you do so more often, you will sleep better at night. :megalol:

Edited September 16, 2011 by Mower

[Yskonyn]

I have not flown with the X65 at all so no comments there, but I wanted to chime in about the supposed specialization of the TMWH.

Ive got mine now for several months and been flying A10, BS, RoF and CoD with it.

Its equally suitable for each and everyone of them. Programming it is a joy and with a little creativity you can map all functions you need.

No, indeed its not realistic to fly a vintage plane with an F16/A10 stich, but nor is it with the X65. ;)

I really dont see how this specialization should be a problem. I use paper cutout overlays over the throttle for example in other sims.

In the end I at least have a HOTAS that actually looks like real aviation kit, albeit in a modern jacket.

I am sure the X65 is a great piece of kit (I am a fan of Saitek myself too), but for me the WH is just tha shizzle! ;)

[MTFDarkEagle]

... the WH is just tha shizzle! ;)

4real!! QFT!!!!

[cichlidfan]

4real!! QFT!!!!

:thumbup::thumbup:

[AeroOrange]

cheap-ass :D

 

If I could be cheap like that I would! There is no bottom to frugality.

 

Anyhow, the quality of both is outstanding if you put it in relative terms of the past twenty five years of toying with these products.

[Sense]

Since the X-65F has a twist function for the rudder (I'm pretty sure) that is an advantage over the Warthog since you would need to get pedals, unless of course you already have a some.

 

The rudder on the x-65f is no advantage since it doesn't work properly. when twisting the stick, you influence the x and y axis.

[WRFirefox]

The rudder on the x-65f is no advantage since it doesn't work properly. when twisting the stick, you influence the x and y axis.

 

The rudder on the X-65F are working properly, if the settings of the force-sensing are fine adjusted.:smilewink:

 

.....but im not really a fan of the twist!

Edited September 21, 2011 by WRFirefox

[Reticuli]

Ferrite choke cores work on the X-65F to drastically reduce interference, particularly with the twist axis. It should have them built into the cables, especially the end that plugs into the stick, but you can do this yourself. I'm using a bunch of small ones, but a single large cheap ring one would probably work with that cable wrapped around it a few times to get a similar effect.

[Succellus]

Fine you like the TMWH.

 

BUT how useful and practical will it be for a dedicated Falcon flier like me?

 

I will fly the BMS F16 far more than the DCS A10C.

 

 

IMO, once you got a stick and are used to a mindset, (IE: sets of control placed a fixed place) it doesn t matter much which stick you use, or which SIM you are.

 

But i agree the more closer you are to your prefered plane the better you feel.

 

But In the end if you don t have a realistic cockpit, it doesn t matter.

 

So far i m vary happy with the WT, even having wasted tons of money on the damn Cougar.

Even when i do not use it i rest my arm on it. It feels great and cool in this 30c+ hot country :)