CH Fighterstick

[Camaero]

Just curious, if I buy a CH Fighterstick and the CH Throttle, but I can't also afford the rudder pedals, what can I use? Will I lose the great rudder control I have with my X45 if I get this new stick without the pedals?
Thanks.

[Chock]

Depends on which sim you use it with I guess. Some sims will support multiple joysticks at the same time (FS for example), others won't like it at all, although a splitter might be able to get it working in other sims. Whenever I've tried doing stuff like that, sometimes it's worked, sometimes not, so I think it's a case of 'suck it and see' which isn't ideal given the cost of stuff like that.
But even if that was the case and it worled (which I think is likely), presumably what your're talking about is having throttle on one stick, control surfaces on another (apart from rudder), and rudder on yet another stick, for a total of three sticks. Which sounds a bit cumbersome to me, but if you could put up with it, then I suppose that'd be okay.
I imagine you could put up with having 'automatic rudder' selected, which many sims will let you use, but that makes sideslipping impossible.

Chock

[Camaero]

Well my main sim is IL2. I always fly on online servers that are full switch so I definitely need a rudder to taxi and also sometimes to set up quick shots.

I guess I can probably use the throttle lever that is on the Fighterstick as a rudder, but I don't know how easily I can reach it. I guess I would have to take my hand off of the throttle and move it to the stick to kick the rudder.

I don't know if that combination would overall make me a better pilot or a worse pilot.

My x45 stick was always so jerky from the super stiff spring that I always used the rudder to help kick the plane back to where I wanted it to be for a shot. Maybe I won't need the rudder so often if the Fighterstick is as smooth as most people say it is?

I always use it to ease the plane around while flying formation too though.... Ugh... I don't know.

[Chock]

I'd ask on AVSIM or SIMHQ in one of the relevant forums if I were you, there's a better chance that someone would have tried what you are considering will see such a post.

www.avsim.com

www.simhq.com

Chock

[NeonSamurai]

Well as im sure you know the ch stick doesnt have a twist rudder, nor does the throttle have any kind of purpose built rudder support. Trying to use a second stick with the first stick would be a waste of time realy, and you will likely run into problems as most games to my knowledge do not happily support twin joysticks and a throttle. And multiple joysticks can sometimes be tempermental about working together, especialy if they are different models. You could bind 2 buttons to be full right and full left rudder. One thing the throttle does have like the X-52 is a mini joystick which you might be able to set up as a rudder controler (though i belive its intended to simulate a mouse for cockpit control) Also another thing the CH throttle lacks is trim controls (the 2 wheels), though they do exist on the base of the flightstick. One thing is for sure, dont even think about trying to use the throttle wheel on the stick for a rudder as you will completely defeat the point of having a HOTAS setup, plus they dont center on release, so you would end up keeping your hand off the throttle most of the time. If your hand is off the throttle most of the time, why would you be spending 150$ USD on it?

Another option if you wana go with saitek again which might be within your budget is the x-52 pro and their new rudder pedals. Which runs about 320$ USD together, thats 20 dollars more then just the ch fighterstick and pro throttle. The x52 pro has more buttons, etc, and its alot more precice in the low range close to center position then the original x52, though it is not quite so sharp as the CH stick but it is very close to it's performance. According to my research the x52 and x52 pro are far superior to the old X45, the pots are much more reliable and smoother, particularly in the x52 pro.

[Camaero]

The advice from both of you is much appreciated.

Neon, maybe a better deal can be found for the x52 pro + rudder pedals as well, but from Provantage I can get the CH Fighterstick and Pro Throttle for $220 shipped. $320.00 is a bit out of my price range right now.

Both of them sound like a big plus on being better than my X45 though. The whole reason I am getting a new stick is 1: My throttle pot is off its rocker and 2: I have never been too happy with the X45 stick. I even cut springs out to where it is very loose and it still doesn't feel right to me.

[Heibges]

I would go with the Fighterstick and the Rudder Pedals from CH.

The throttle controls are easily mapped to the keyboard, and you never really mess with them in a critical situation.

But I'm a boom and zoomer, I like Corsairs and Fw-190's, so in combat my engine is always balls to the wall.

[Skybird]

You can set up the ministick on the ProThrottle to work as rudders. Just give it a wider zero-centre zone, and do not expect to be precise with that small movement space of the ministick.

Programming software for CH gear can combine several peices of CH gear into one virtual unit, so that older sims recognioze them as only one piece of hardware attached. Nevertheless, you have all there functionality.

I have both things, but use foreign pedals. If you think about pedals later, do not go for CH pedals - there are better quality pedals in that price range. Try the Simped Vario instead.

I have all that stuff myself, and am happy with it. And you are right, it does not compare to X-45 - the drivers back then screwed my system, and with CH I am more variable, imo. you may find the spring too light, maybe.

CH gear over here since 8 years - and still no wear or tear.

[Camaero]

Originally Posted by Skybird

You can set up the ministick on the ProThrottle to work as rudders. Just give it a wider zero-centre zone, and do not expect to be precise with that small movement space of the ministick.

Programming software for CH gear can combine several peices of CH gear into one virtual unit, so that older sims recognioze them as only one piece of hardware attached. Nevertheless, you have all there functionality.

I have both things, but use foreign pedals. If you think about pedals later, do not go for CH pedals - there are better quality pedals in that price range. Try the Simped Vario instead.

I have all that stuff myself, and am happy with it. And you are right, it does not compare to X-45 - the drivers back then screwed my system, and with CH I am more variable, imo. you may find the spring too light, maybe.

CH gear over here since 8 years - and still no wear or tear.

That sounds good to me. I am tired of buying a new stick every year or so. I have never heard of those Simped Vario pedals though... They didn't have any on amazon or Provantage or anything. Where do you buy them? Why did you like them better than the CH pedals? Just curious.

[Skybird]

http://shop.strato.de/epages/Store6.sf/en_GB/?ViewObjectID=2587934&Locale=en_GB

The things have Hal-sensors, and are manufactured in a very solid quality. You can really trust the old slogan "quality made in Germany" here (it's not in general true anymore these days...). If (a very big IF) the spring would eventually brake, you can very easily exchange it: it is mounted on the outside. And most important: the spacing between both feet is wider than with the usual game pedals, giving your legs a more comfortable and ergonomic sitting position.

Wear and tear is zero.

As I said, the CH HOTAS is very well-done, too. Plus: programming it is extremely easy, but still offer huge variety. The only complaint one might have with it is that the stick's spring is a bit too light, for my taste. It neverthelss works perfectly precise.

In use since 8 years: no problems ever, no wear and tear. Just use some silicon spray on the moving parts once a year.

[NeonSamurai]

Originally Posted by Camaero

The advice from both of you is much appreciated.

Neon, maybe a better deal can be found for the x52 pro + rudder pedals as well, but from Provantage I can get the CH Fighterstick and Pro Throttle for $220 shipped. $320.00 is a bit out of my price range right now.

Both of them sound like a big plus on being better than my X45 though. The whole reason I am getting a new stick is 1: My throttle pot is off its rocker and 2: I have never been too happy with the X45 stick. I even cut springs out to where it is very loose and it still doesn't feel right to me.

Hmm realy? As CH was quoting the price for the flightstick and pro throttle as being 150$ each. Which is why i mentioned the other idea. At the price your saying your getting it is slightly more then what just the x-52 pro goes for. Also the pro version boasts heavier springs then the original x-52 since alot of people found the action to be too light. I know what you meen about being in your pricerange as im just looking at getting the standard x-52. 200$ is out of my price range, but i can swing 120$

Anyhow im not knocking the CH line, their product definatly is top notch, though im not personaly a fan of the throttle design they use (the stick is good though), i also prefer the single centering spring design of the X-52 over the axial springs of the CH and Thrustmaster sticks, as you dont get the double spring tension in the corners. Just gotta weigh your options and decide what you think gives you the best bang for the buck. The CH sticks definatly can last for years, even their cheaper ones do (had one over a decade ago, was good for about 4 years till the trigger button failed). The X-52 is so far very reliable too, especialy in the last revisions, and Saitek is said to have improved on it with the pro model, though this remains to be proved in the case of the pro, also i find it hard to justify the extra 100$ between the standard and pro version.

[FIREWALL]

At Saitek site you can get reconditioned X-52 for $69.95 and pedals at $79.95 with 30 day refund, replacement or frefund warrenty.

I bought the X-52 when it first came out for $150.00 and haven't had any trouble. Got the pedals 5 mo's ago reconed and no probs and now i'm really flying .

The reconditioned approach is a sweet deal even if you have all the money in the world to spend.

More money to spend on flight sims.