Upgrading Controls

[Exorcet]

I currently have a Saitek X52 Pro (that's it, no Helios, TIR, etc), this has been my main stick for a while now, and it's been pretty good up to this point. However, after buying A-10C, I think I've found the stick's limit. The only last chance I have is setting up multiple control profiles which I can't try at the moment because I don't have the installation disk with me.

 

So my first question would be, does anyone manage to fly the A-10 using the X52 alone?

 

My next question is, what HOTAS should I get to replace the X52? I'm currently looking at the X65, G940, and Warthog. Now, I may own DCS A-10, but it's more or less a place holder for DCS Fighter, which is the first reason I won't automatically go for the Warthog. The second is [correct if wrong] lack of rudder and the fact that the accuracy of the stick is diminished by my need to assign some way of looking around (unless I get TIR or something).

 

I don't really have a preference between the three, though I very much want to replace twist rudder with proper pedals for yaw, which is an advantage for the G940. The G940 seems to have the least buttons though, which is a problem.

 

Last question is, if I do get a new HOTAS, can I use it and the old X52 at the same time. This could give me a few extra buttons to help the G940 match the others. It would also be helpful for the Mustang as I'd have an axis for throttle and RPM.

 

Lastly, going back to A-10 being a place holder, if say DCS F-15 comes out and we get a Thrustmaster Eagle, I will purchase that automatically, which is why I'm not sure if I'm going to get a new HOTAS right now.

[agrasyuk]

i came from x52, that stick was doing its job pretty well. upgraded to WH, could barely justify the price and for days kept thinking if i did right. but today i can't imagine using anything of lesser quality. for once, flying the hog will be much more natural with actual working HOTAS . and yes, i also had to get pedals....

 

TIR however is entirely different story. if i could only have one upgrade aside of joystick for my simming TIR is hands down it. takes a bit to adjust get used to but then becomes almost natural. cant imagine flying. absence of head tracking in BF3 it always surprises me again and again, i just naturaly expect the view to change as i look :)

[Feed]

The likelihood of a ThrustMaster "Eagle" is low - development and tooling costs wouldn't justify that, especially when the Warthog Throttle is already very similar to the Eagle's and the stick has more than enough buttons. I wouldn't even hold my breath for an Eagle grip that would screw on to the Warthog base - because that was the idea as far back as the Cougar - but never materialized.

 

My advice to you is to get the TIR, first ... once you've flown with it, you'll wonder how you got along without it.

[Exorcet]

I understand that the chances of a purpose build stick for a fighter is low, but I'm willing to wait as fighters is what I'll be doing 90% of the time.

 

I already kind of wonder how I fly without TIR too, especially with the Mustang where I constantly need to take my hands off stick and throttle to zoom and look around.

 

But anyway, I guess the take away is get TIR, so I'll look into that.

[cichlidfan]

But anyway, I guess the take away is get TIR, so I'll look into that.

 

Yes. Absolutely, yes.

[PFunk1606688187]

I currently have a Saitek X52 Pro (that's it, no Helios, TIR, etc), this has been my main stick for a while now, and it's been pretty good up to this point. However, after buying A-10C, I think I've found the stick's limit. The only last chance I have is setting up multiple control profiles which I can't try at the moment because I don't have the installation disk with me.

 

So my first question would be, does anyone manage to fly the A-10 using the X52 alone?

 

Yea it works fine. For one you have to tweak the stick's curve (meaning how it reacts to your inputs and translates that into actual movements in game). Short throw sticks are really poor representations of how a real stick works and this continues to be true even with the super expensive TM Warthog (why else do people make long throw mods for them right?).

 

However, that isn't to say that the X-52 isn't appalling in some categories. Firstly the stick's spring is ridiculously soft leading to lots of squishy and uncomfortable stick response. Secondly the hall sensors are also appallingly inaccurate leading to a kind of "Diamond" shaped detection grid. However, both are easily fixed with some very simple mods. I've done a mod to stiffen the spring and I can't imagine flying without it. Im getting set to make the absurdly simple magnet mod to the hall sensors to make them more accurate (hope thats as successful) and I hear there are ways to solve that annoying "sticktion" issue where the stick gets stuck and jerks away from the friction you get at higher deflection.

 

In any case, there are basically near $0 mods you can make to your X-52 to significantly improve its desirability. The fact that they're really brain dead easy and not likely to break your stick is also a plus.

 

This isn't to discourage you from buying a TM Warthog if you want to (which I plan to buy one day, economy willing) but just saying that the limitations of the X-52 are wildly exaggerated absent the proviso of the simple and effective community promoted modifications.

 

 

Now, if only someone could show me how to make the X-52 into a long throw stick. I'd be pretty thrilled if I could see a tut for that one. :thumbup:

 

 

Clearly the best bang for buck in your case is a TIR. After that, I'd even suggest rudder pedals first (remember you get NO rudder input from a TM Warthog whatsoever unlike with the X-52s twist rudder).