HOTAS recommendation?

[Jeffers2112]

I had a scary moment in combat yesterday when my ship started behaving strangely when the throttle stopped working.
It turns out that the throttler slider on my T16000 has gone AWOL.
I've only had it 17 months so I'm not sure that I want another of their products.
I might put my tinkering hat on and try and repair it, but getting spare parts might be an issue.
Another alternative is top take the plunge and go HOTAS.
I've read a few conflicting reviews about the various alternatives so I thought I'd ask in here for people's experiences.
So, who uses what, and how good are they?

[Mouse]

Most of us are happy with X-52 or X-55

[GlobusDiablo]

...So, who uses what, and how good are they?

I'm using a wireless xbox360 controller and very happy with its ease of use, as I play in our living room.

I've looked long and hard at HOTAS, and my preference would be the Saitek x52pro. Twist stick for rudder control is nice, and a reasonable price point.

They look a lot like the in-game controls, so I'll be looking at them again when we get the retail version of the Oculus Rift. Immersion should be complete.

Fly safe

[bootsam]

X55 has more buttons than I can remember to bind. Its a bit squeaky and can hurt the side of your stick hand in a CZ after prolonged use but it works well enough and is priced reasonably. If I could afford a warthog I would but its a bit overkill for me. I really need a better chair for my pc desk more than anything else.

[de Carabas]

T.Flight Hotas X is good entry level. X52 is a good step up from the T.Flight. Not actually sure what the X52 Pro really offers over the standard X52 for the extra ££ (or $$ etc).

[TorTorden]

If you want another a slightly different route you can go with CH gear.
http://www.amazon.com/CH-Products-200-5 ... 8JVD73C0S8
http://www.amazon.com/CH-Products-Pro-T ... 214%2C320_
These are quite pricy, at least as expensive as the Thrustmaster warthog, if not slightly more put together.
I have only had my setup for a few months but from what I can tell these sticks would probably survive me
The software just works, although I only use it for calibrating the stick, it's powerfull in that you could program all kinds of functions or macros or stick behaviour.

As for value for money I would say the x52, it's a full hotas for the price of just one half of the CH gear and has a twist axis on the stick.
Warthog and the CH fighterstick does not have a "twist stick".

[Early Bird]

I bought a Saitek X52 especially for Elite: Dangerous and like it very much. In my opinion the x52pro has no features I would like to pay for the extra money. A comparison-video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Npra9M_yqpg

After some hours of using the flightstick might start to squeak. The reason is only dust. It is recommended to use some microfibre cloth (for cleaning screens and lenses) around the shaft of the flightstick regularly. I don't recommend to grease it. There are reports that this might be not good for the stick.

The X52 is preconfigured in Elite: Dangerous. This scheme might be of help: 

Saitek X52 Einstellungen Elite Dangerous 2.jpg (250.03 KiB) Viewed 4403 times

Fly safe and see you one of these days!

[Digga]

I have an X52-pro. It is well built and gives a fine resolution of control. but drivers have been an issue for me, specifically the addition profiling software that comes with unsigned drivers, meaning windows will not enable the drivers unless you turns windows into test mode.

I have had this issue with Windows 7 and Windows 10, so I simply dont use the extra software that would allow me for example to program the mode dial to switch between docking mode/flight mode/combat mode...

If anyone knows where to get the software containing signed drivers, please share.
I did ticket this with Saitek/MadCats and was pointed to install the 2006 versions of the software and drivers, which for me only made things worse.
I have read that they are updating drivers and software for Windows 10, so maybe everything will be signed next time round!

Note: the software comes with additional drivers for controlling the device. The standard drivers for the device do install correctly

[Walter]

If you want another a slightly different route you can go with CH gear.
These are quite pricy, at least as expensive as the Thrustmaster warthog, if not slightly more put together.
I have only had my setup for a few months but from what I can tell these sticks would probably survive me
The software just works, although I only use it for calibrating the stick, it's powerfull in that you could program all kinds of functions or macros or stick behaviour.

Absolutely. When I started in Elite last October I bought a Thrustmaster Tflight X as my first HOTAS and it has unfailingly proved its worth, but I was hankering after something a little more sophisticated. Like everybody else, I spent hours reading and re-reading reviews and comments until I finally settled for CH kit last week. Like the Tflight, there are no driver problems - there are no drivers and Windows recognises the devices immediately - you can simply plug them in to USB 2 or 3 and set your bindings. The accompanying CM Manager software can be used to supplement the ED built-in bindings table to produce a control system that the Tflight can never match.

True, it's taken four or five days of frustration and graft to work out the best options and to create a setup that suits me. The lack of a twist yaw on the stick has meant that I'm back in the Training section re-learning how to outfly Solar Fluke and how to dock at a station. I'm getting there, but the Anaconda may have to spend some time in the hangar while I learn new skills, and I'll be keeping out of RESs for a little while.

There are a number of users who choose to use the CH Pro Throttle with the T16000, so that's a route you might want to consider.

I found so many reports of software mismatches and parts failures from other manufacturers that it was a pleasant surprise to discover flight simmers who have been using their CH kit for more than ten years without problems. That convinced me and I think I might have to write the Pro Throttle and Fighterstick into my will to be passed on when I have no further use for them.

[Schmobius]

I got an X55 last week, after using a PS4 controller for a while, and I love it. The stick especially seems to be designed for Andre the Giant's hands, but it's useable. The throttle is glorious. I also used some cheap shelves from Ikea to mount it to my couch, since my gaming PC is in the living room. The only ghosting I had was on keyboard keys mapped to buttons, but a powered USB hub seems to have fixed it.