wich one? saitek x52 or x52pro

[MD_Titus]

using the sst means you can get a lot more controls in there. i have modes set up for landing/take off, ground attack and dogfighting. some functions are repeated, such as prop pitch, flaps and view controls, but it varies in terms of ordinance/weapon control and functions specific to those tasks. i occasionally throw my landing gear at targets rather than bombs, but that's my carelessness. i only use the keyboard to spam chat

[SEE]

I carried out the 'slide by' magnets mod on my X52 (as shown earlier in this thread), I have to say it has made a huge difference to the sensitivity and no dead zone - what a transformation!

Centering the hall effect IC is critical for optimum results though and this is extremely time consuming to do by just trying to locate the magnets precisely. I also noted that if the magnets were mounted incorrectly regards their 'polarity' the Axis direction becomes reversed and this needs to be checked before permanently fixing them.

If anyone is contemplating doing this I snipped off the small plastic nipples and the lips of the plastic flange on the rear which locate the small Hall effect PCB in a fixed position. I then enlarged the securing screw hole by a mm or so (there is no track to damage and this can be done by hand using a twist drill or a needle file). Firing up the windows properties panel, I was then be able to easily adjust the Hall sensor PCB over the relocated magnets for the optimum position that gave the best sensitivity to light deflection of the yoke in both Y and X axis. The Hall Effect PCB securing screw was then fully tightened to hold it in the optimum position.

I also changed the spring but that is another story..............

[albx]

The relocation of magnets, yes, this is the first thing I will do when I'll receive the joystick. About the commands assigned in IL2, I just wanted someone give me a simple list of how he mapped (ex. : ROCKETS=FIRE 2, GUNS=FIRE 1, GEARS=TOGGLE 4 etc.).

Alberto

[SEE]

I didn't mod my X52 Pro Albx, quite happy with that one as standard because it has 2 hall effect IC's and there is no deadzone - leave it as is would be my advice given that yours is new and under warranty.

The X52's have dual action triggers so you can map cannons and machine guns to it but I also have cannons on a seperate button for on line where ammo is usually limited. I think The reason you will not get many suggestions is that there are so many variables, e.g, I have headtracking and thus do not need to map any views to my POV's and I also tend to fly mainly fighters and only in pit view so mapping is specifically geared for my needs. For me the following are essential for both on line and single player and if I were to use the stick without any modes programmed it would have to have at least the following accesssible from the stick;-

Brakes
Flaps on lower rotary (throttle)
Prop Pitch (Throttle slider)
Elevator Trim (top rotary
WEP/Boost (throttle Dpad)
Radiator (Throttle Dpad)
Supercharger (Throttle Dpad)
Map (D button)
Mouse Button (Gunner/pilot position)
Toggle Gear E button

If you use external views ( I don't....) then you could assign the throttle scroll wheel as follows...

Scroll Down = Next friendly
Scroll Up = Next enemy
Scroll press button = return to your prefferred view (open or Cockpit, etc)

How you programme the POV/Dpad and various buttons available on the Yoke depends on how many views you want, ordinance, etc and you will just have to list those and assign them according to your needs.

You will also have 3 two way toggle switches offering you a further six commands.

[crucislancer]

Originally Posted by albx

The relocation of magnets, yes, this is the first thing I will do when I'll receive the joystick. About the commands assigned in IL2, I just wanted someone give me a simple list of how he mapped (ex. : ROCKETS=FIRE 2, GUNS=FIRE 1, GEARS=TOGGLE 4 etc.).

Alberto

When you get your stick, head over to mission4today.com, I uploaded a IL-2 profile for the X52 a couple of years ago:

http://www.mission4today.com/index.p...etails&id=3492

I don't know if it will work with the X52Pro, but it's worth a shot. It puts the elevator trim on the top rotary, rudder trim on the small rotary, prop pitch on the slider, flaps on the mouse wheel. It's got everything you need on the stick except for view options (I don't use them).

Unfortunately, I can't use this profile anymore as the top rotary on my throttle isn't working right anymore. Not sure if I just need to clean the pots or replace them, but I think I might just get a new HOTAS in the future. Regardless, the X52 is a good stick for the price, but I did have an issue with the first one I purchased, it wouldn't stay centered at all so I had to exchange it for a different one, and it worked fine for a little over two years until the rotary failed.

And, just a personal preference, I set the sensitivity on the pitch and roll axis to 100 across the board, and the rudder from 0 to 100 on a slight curve to start with that gradually gets taller the closer to the end I get.

[klem]

My X52 Pro doesn't have centring or deadzone problems. It's been good bang for the buck, as was the X36 and X45, and is even better with it's Hall sensors.

What it does have after a couple of years use is some worn Rotary pots and switches.

Anyone know where I can get replacements? Especially those small flat rotary pots and the diaphragm type button switches. MadCatz (Saitek's support compeny in UK) won't sell them.

[SEE]

What are the symptoms regards the throttle potentiometers? Mouse creep, Rotary pots and Slider not going full scale, large deadzone on the Rotary's are symptoms of a low reference voltage and can only be cured with a hardware mod to the X52 Regulator circuit.

The small potentiometers are used in most of the later Saitek/Madcatz flightsticks and can be dissasembled for claening with 'switch or contact cleaner. You can also apply a ltlle bit more tension to the wipers. Stripping down these sticks is not easy unfortunately but can be done with care and attention. You must map out the wire colour codes to the various pints on the PCB's as these will fall off as soon a you start to remove the various components

The Small 'Press To Make' microswitches are available from most Electronic Component stores but there are two sizes used in the Saitek.

Unfortunately, these sticks are hand soldered and I found a number of connections that were not soldered correctly. Mine had intermittent switches, Rotary and slider problems, dreadful mouse cursor creep and a large deadzone (cured with the magnets mod). I got it for £5-00...........and following a complete strip down, mod to the regulator circuit and re-locating the magnets it is as good as my X52 pro.

[TheGrunch]

I found this guide very useful for deciding upon my joystick bindings.

[klem]

Originally Posted by SEE

What are the symptoms regards the throttle potentiometers? Mouse creep, Rotary pots and Slider not going full scale, large deadzone on the Rotary's are symptoms of a low reference voltage and can only be cured with a hardware mod to the X52 Regulator circuit.

The small potentiometers are used in most of the later Saitek/Madcatz flightsticks and can be dissasembled for claening with 'switch or contact cleaner. You can also apply a ltlle bit more tension to the wipers. Stripping down these sticks is not easy unfortunately but can be done with care and attention. You must map out the wire colour codes to the various pints on the PCB's as these will fall off as soon a you start to remove the various components

The Small 'Press To Make' microswitches are available from most Electronic Component stores but there are two sizes used in the Saitek.

Unfortunately, these sticks are hand soldered and I found a number of connections that were not soldered correctly. Mine had intermittent switches, Rotary and slider problems, dreadful mouse cursor creep and a large deadzone (cured with the magnets mod). I got it for £5-00...........and following a complete strip down, mod to the regulator circuit and re-locating the magnets it is as good as my X52 pro.

Mine is the X52 Pro. The Throttle Rotary 2 is giving intermittent signals around the centre position, where I was always adjusting my elevator trim. I guess the track is worn away. These are not normal round pots but flat, rectangular, with a centre spindle.

I found switches that would almost do the job, I might have to trim a little off the push-stud. But I can't find those pots anywhere. They look very delicate for disassembly.

[Sokol1]

ken,

Look these P260 pot sold by Leo Bodnar, if fit inside your throttle, are better than original ones. http://www.leobodnar.com/products/BU0836/

Or buy generic USB stick in your local market, they use the same square pot's used by Saitek.

Some guy replace these pots for HALL sensor + magnets:

http://www.escuadron69.net/v20/foro/...r-sensor-hall/

Sokol1