New HOTAS advice

[Skoshi Tiger]

Originally Posted by Lucas_From_Hell

Fighterstick is always referred to as reliable, precise and etc. I don't recall reading anything negative about it. If anyone knows about some flawn (even if minor) on it (besides the lack of FFB), please tell me.

I'm not sure this is a flaw or just my personal preference.

For years I'ld been using a CH-Combat stick. The top part of the combat stick three push buttons and two coolie hats that you access through your thumb.

The Fighter stick has one push button, a two-way switch and three coolie hats that you access with your thumb.

Even though in modern fighter sims you need the functions, in a WWII fighter sims it just seams more natural for me to use the push buttons rather than the two way and coolie hats. Some times less is moore, but that could just be me!

Right from the start I was even considering trying to swap the combat stick buttons onto my fighter stick but I'm not brave enough to try.

Cheers!

[nearmiss]

My setup is CHPRODUCTS. Fighterstick, ProPedals, ProThrottle, and MFP.

I have two powered USB hubs to drive all the USB devices. The non-powered hubs gave me all kinds of little glitchy issues.

Now when I CFS my desk is arrayed in all it's glory with

Fighterstick,ProThrottle,MFP,Mouse,Keyboard... webcam on monitor,headset with headtracker for Freetrack.

Am I missing something, when I started Il2 I used my mouse with my left hand and it moved around freely to see all the sim world, my MSFT FF2 stick and keyboard.

Things were simpler that is sure. I don't know, but I often wonder if I've not gone too far for enjoyment of the IL2. LOL

I would highly recommend my setup, especially the CHPRODUCTS no bad surprises there of any kind. Logitech came out with their hotas recently, and it looks pretty good... but alas my setup will probably serve me very well for years to come. I don't feel bad about that, because I recall trying to remove Logitech mouse drivers from my computer in the past and finally gave up. So, I don't think of Logitech or Thrustmaster (Cougar) as a professional company compared to CHPRODUCTS. Chproducts actually makes professional joysticks and controls for commercial usage. It is probably a huge benefit that we can even buy such quality at anywhere near a competitive consumer price.

[Robert]

I get a bit of wanderlust when I see these new sticks coming out. They're sexy with all the right buttons to twitch. They're more stylish. Then I look at my trusty CH and wonder if those other sticks will serve me as well as my CH.

Us CH folks are loyal to our purchase because CH has made a product that's been loyal to us. I've had no issues with mine, and with VERY VERY few incidents in my forum parusals from other owners. We love it cuz it works.

Chivas hit upon the only negative with CH and it's a personal thing. The movement across the X/Y axis is different than other manufacturer's sticks. It took me a short while to get used to it, but it wasn't anything that affected me once I did. If you are moving diagnally and cross the center there is a clunk (for lack of better word). As I said it didn't take me long to get used to it and I don't even notice it. It's hardly worth noting for me, but Chivas is right to bring it up because, IMO, a stick is something that you should be comfortable with. While I love CH and think they are the best sticks, I'd hate to highly recommend something and not tell someone of a caveat that may really bother them. At least it's a fully informed decision.

I've had 2 Logitecs and three Saiteks over the years. I started PC simming in 2002. I've flown CH ONLY for four years. So for the first 3 years I went through five sticks (either didn't like or wore out) and the last 4 I've been issue free and happy.


CH is the shiznet. Believe it.