1. #21
    Can the CH fan boys tell my why the CH combat stick and throttle is better then:

    1) Hotas cougar
    2) Saitek X52 pro

    I have held CH combat stick and throttle in my hand a few times and i think it feels like a toy.

    i realy would like to know because i am planning to buy a cougar or x52pro or combat stick and throttle
    Share this post

  2. #22
    They all feel like toys,as that is what they are.
    Share this post

  3. #23
    CH is a company that makes and sells industrial-grade components for myriad applications that include wheelchair controls amongst others. They use the same internal components and as a result, their products are more precise and the durability is unmatched.

    Yes they are still toys, and expensive ones at that but I don't buy controllers everytime I build a new pc. Their customer support is unparalleled and many of their employees, including Debby (Director of Marketing) and Bob Church (creator of the powerful Control Manager software) are both personable and accessible in the CH-Hangar http://www.ch-hangar.com .

    So, to answer your question:

    1. Durability
    2. Precision
    3. Customer support

    The controllers you're looking at will do the job just fine and certainly have their own proponents. The Cougar has the potential to be a true top-notch controller, but usually only after considerable expense from aftermarket mods and the Saitek X52 is probably one of the best for the money with vast functionality and good software...they just don't 'typically' last very long. But as a simmer for over 15 years and having tried sticks from most all manufacturers, CH gets my money. Period.
    Share this post

  4. #24
    is there alot of tweaking involved with the CH sticks or is it a plug and go type of setup (simple calibration)?
    Share this post

  5. #25
    All of the above points are good. Really, you cant go wrong with any of the CH, Saitek, or Cougar gear. They are all excellent, they just have some areas they are better in than others.

    Out of the box, CH has the better stick from a precision and durability standpoint. The Saitek has a few more buttons and twist capability, but that same twist feature can lead to "slop" under heavy maneuvering.

    The Saitek throttle however is excellent, and IMO much better than the CH. The CH is still and excellent product, but the Saitek uses and arced travel path for the throttle, while the Saitek is linear. Both are good, but the Saitek has a better feel to it. Just my opinion, but there are a fair number of folks that would agree.

    Now, if you have the time and money, and some mechanical/electrical skills, the top dog is the Thrustmaster Cougar. A fully modded Cougar is probably the most precise HOTAS controller available, but it comes at a hefty price tag.

    Now, as far as rudder pedals, CH and Saitek are both excellent. I have had both, and they are both solid. CH has better durability, but the Saiteks arent bad. The Saiteks are more widely spaced, which makes them a bit more comfortable if you fly a lot.

    The Cougar has no matching pedals, most folks used one of the above, or if money is no object, they buy Simped's, which are great, but very expensive.

    Now, as far as accessory hardware, there are a couple of items to look at.

    If your already ordering TrackIR, your in great shape. The other thing I would recommend looking at is a CH MFD panel. That is awesome piece of kit, that lets you map keystroke commands from in game to a single button on the MFD panel. Makes a HUGE difference when you can map all your secondary commands to something other than keyboard keys!
    Share this post

  6. #26
    Originally posted by biggs222:
    is there alot of tweaking involved with the CH sticks or is it a plug and go type of setup (simple calibration)?
    All of the top end sticks come with programming software to map keyboard functions to the various buttons and switches.

    You CAN use the sticks out of the box with basic functionality, but to get the best use out of them you will need to setup a profile for them in the management software.

    The good news is that there are a lot of easily downloadable profiles out there for IL2 on any of the associated vendor forums. Those profiles are pre-mapped for IL2, and you just drop them right in and you can use them.
    Share this post

  7. #27
    WOLFMondo's Avatar Senior Member
    Join Date
    Dec 2003
    Posts
    4,906
    Originally posted by Black_Ops7:
    Can the CH fan boys tell my why the CH combat stick and throttle is better then:

    1) Hotas cougar
    2) Saitek X52 pro

    I have held CH combat stick and throttle in my hand a few times and i think it feels like a toy.

    i realy would like to know because i am planning to buy a cougar or x52pro or combat stick and throttle
    I've only heard good things about Cougar HOTAS but Saitek, I've owned countless Saitek sticks and they've all broken one way or another and I had 3 X52's all broken out of the box and had to be sent back. After that I gave up on Saitek. Its a shame they don't sell the X52 throttle seperately because that is a nice throttle, shame about the stick, which was also very very loose.

    I've had my CH gear for 4 years now and no problems ever, they still work exactly like the day I got them out the box. In the 4 years previous I went through countless Saitek sticks and one M$ Sidewinder.
    Share this post

  8. #28
    The AV8R is very nice. Simple, good feel and good number of realistic switches (you DO need buttons) plus 2 separte throttle controls (again use as you need but one day you`ll love them).

    It`s cheap for what it does too.
    Share this post

  9. #29
    Well i am not planning on buying expensive mods to make my joystick awesome like:
    http://www.realsimulator.com/html/fssb.html

    So i should stay away from buying a Hotas Cougar?

    So the only fight left is

    Saitek X52-pro + Pro Flight Rudder Pedals
    (Was also planning to add Pro Flight Throttle Quadrant for fuel mix and pitch etc but i read that having multiple "throttle's" are not supported by default in Il2? http://forums.ubi.com/eve/forums/a/t...2741045185/p/9 )

    vs

    CH combat stick
    CH throttle
    CH pedals

    I think i am going for they saitek stuff.
    unless the CH fan boys can fire off more propaganda my way that will make me think otherwise.


    By the way i don't understand that IL2 don't support Pro Flight Throttle Quadrant.
    The throttle's are actually just analog axis's ain't they? Why cant you bind a "axis" to a function like fuel mix?
    Share this post

  10. #30
    Originally posted by Black_Ops7:
    Well i am not planning on buying expensive mods to make my joystick awesome like:
    http://www.realsimulator.com/html/fssb.html

    So i should stay away from buying a Hotas Cougar?
    in a nutshell...yes.

    Originally posted by Black_Ops7:...
    I think i am going for they saitek stuff.
    unless the CH fan boys can fire off more propaganda my way that will make me think otherwise.
    lmao...dude, spend it the way you want, you earned it.

    All I can say is, I've tried them all and can only tell you what I've learned. I don't work for any of those companies so propaganda certainly isn't necessary.

    Good luck.

    Here's a quick list of the ones I can remember over the last 12 years or so:

    CH flightstick (2 button)
    Microsoft Sidewinder
    Microsoft Sidewinder force feedback pro
    Microsoft sidewinder force feedback pro 2
    Logitech Freedom Force wireless
    Thrustmaster Cougar (no mods)
    Saitek X-45 (took one back because it broke)
    CH Flightstick Pro
    CH Fighterstick

    The last two are the ones I've used exclusively for the past 5 years.
    Share this post