Curiosity regarding FS flight controllers

[doylebob]

Hi All (and Happy New Year)!

I was wondering what flight controllers people here are using for FS and what their feedback is on their device.

I currently use a MS Sidewinder Precision Pro (no feedback)Joystick in FS9. It's okay but I'm thinking of trying something new and was wondering what the good people on here might recommend!

Thanks

Bob

[Tom/CalClassic]

CH Products Flight Sim (Pro?) USB yoke and pedals.

Hope this helps,

[sunny9850]

CH Products pedals (left over from a combination with their yoke.
Saitek ProFlight Yoke and 2 3-lever quadrants.

The Saitek Yoke is a big step up over the CH yoke in my experience. It has a much more solid feel and I have no issues with any of the axis flutter I had with the CH-yoke (admittedly after years of use)

However some people had apparently trouble with the elevator axis actually being manufactured with too tight a tolerance and not always returning to center.

Stefan

[northstar]

Saitek yoke, quadrant, and rudder pedals. The extra quadrant allows me 4 throttle control for propliners and I use the last 2 for props and mixture. My only quible with it is that the spring on the yoke is a little too strong IMHO.

Cheers,

Gary

[Tom McEnteer]

CH products all the way. Yoke, pedals and throttle quad.

[jesse]

Same as Gizmoe....CH all the way; Yoke, Pedals and Throttle Quad.

Jesse

[canuck]

I was CH yoke and pedals and I am now Saitek proflight yoke [including lever quadrant].. I moved to Saitek as my CH was getting worn out and binding.. The Saitek is on roller bearings and I agree that it has a more solid feel to it.. BUT I really like the separate lever quadrant, makes for easier and more accurate setting of power.. Does take a little to get used to it but in the end it is more realistic as you are not reaching around the yoke to manipulate throttle while flying the approach..

Glenn

[doylebob]

Hello and thanks to all for your feedback.

I have also done some research on-line (reading reviews) and it seems to me that CH vs Saitek yoke comes down to a matter of personal preference or perhaps luck-of-the-draw?? Some people love one over the other and vice versa. Just when I think I have enough information to choose between the two, I read something to sway me back. Quite frankly, results from all of the reviews I've read have really only confused me! And price is really a non-issue as they're both close enough to make no difference.

I was hoping to use the feedback from here as a kind of tie-breaker but as the six responses are evenly split, I find myself no further along! I do have one further question if I may. I don't intend to purchase pedals, at least initially. Do either or both of these yokes require pedals?

Thanks for your help.

Bob

[sunny9850]

Neither of them requires them...but of course you do need to come up with another way to deflect that control surface.....unless you fly only jets......then you don't need them

I figured this would be another high-wing vs low-wing or Ford vs Chevy debate (Audi vs BMW for my german friends) as to which controller is better.

Like I said before my CH-yoke was great until I laid hands on the Saitek Yoke and then compared it's feel to the real yoke in my Saratoga......and then there was no more competition.

Stefan

[doylebob]

Thanks Stefan.

I was leaning towards Saitek but now I'm leaning more towards CH for a couple of reasons.

I've read that
1). Saitek has an issue with a center detent on yoke making fine control difficult.
2). CH is plug and play for easy setup but the Saitek setup can be difficult. (I'm not very techie!)

I think my decision now is whether to go with CH Yoke USB or CH ECLIPSE Yoke. Still not very sure though. I'd welcome a good firm push from someone!

Bob

[Johan Dees]

CH is smoother, Saitek combo is cheeper.. but yoke is a bit sturdy.. need grease.
haha, with a Saitek your fit for propliners.. I lubricate the think often with vaseline.. never needed with the old CH.

[sunny9850]

Actually lubricating is not at all recommended for either one of them but specifically Saitek has advised against that.
IF you have one of the early "stiff" elevators that I had already mentioned can either contact them for a replacement or open the thing up and increase the bore of the nylon bushing a fraction.

Of course the latter only if the warranty is over.

That also fixes any issue there may be with centering of that axis.

Stefan

[dc6tryer]

Hi,

I used to use a Logitech battery Freedom 2.4,but it would keep disconnecting itself just when I was in the middle of something very serious, like trying to land and so I now use a Saitek P880.
I still can't land.
Andy.

[pung]

Amazing, I've been using a Logitech 2.4 wireless with an XP computer & now a VISTA OS on a quad-core Athlon Processor. The only problem I've had is batteries, because I fly so much. You might have had an issue with your USB receiver, but mine is on my desk, and it has a clear path just in case.

[emfrat]

Jan 13, 2010 1:54:39 GMT -5 sunny9850 said:

Actually lubricating is not at all recommended

Stefan

Hi Stefan -
After a dust storm last year, my CH yoke was noticeably stiff. I did not want to put any petroleum-based 'wet' lubricant near it, in case it reacted with the plastic. So I went down to the hardware store and bought a little puffer bottle of powdered graphite, which is a 'dry' lubricant, and that did the trick.

ATB
MikeW