NZFF

Hi there. My searches for HOTAS setups in NZ have lead me here, hopefully nobody minds my first post being a request for knowledge?

I currently have a basic x52 setup, however thanks to an over ambitious relative of the smaller variety it is no longer functional, nor is it recoverable.

I am looking into replacing it with the x52 PRO HOTAS, however seeing as the basic x52 is my only experience i am wondering if it is worth the extra money to step up to the x55. My main use is currently FSX, Rise of flight and i have just bought Elite Dangerous (my first foray into space "Sims")

Also, avaliability of Hotas setups in NZ seems pretty slim unless i want a Warthog, and i am not prepared to part with that kind of money at this point in time, i would prefer to spend the extra on some steel tubing to create a more specialized "cockpit". I have been looking on amazon where x52 pros seem to be readily avaliable, and was wondering if anybody here has tried importing one from amazon before??

Any ideas, information, opinions or abuse will be readily and gratefully accepted! (not sure about the abuse however!)

Many thanks, and best of the season to you all,

Sam.

samk115 wrote:

QUOTE (samk115 @ Dec 26 2014,4:34 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I have been looking on amazon where x52 pros seem to be readily avaliable, and was wondering if anybody here has tried importing one from amazon before??

Hi ya Sam, Welcome to NZFF, ton's off help people here, I don't use Joysticks anymore, I went the Saitek direction and for Yoke/rudder/throttle combination but if I was to return to the Joystick it would have to be the x52 PRO HOTAS or along those lines.

One thing I can say tho is Amazon is Brilliant, I've brought hundreds off books from them, many I recommend but the Amazon company's service is Brilliant ! and very reasonable prices.

Ian Warren wrote:

QUOTE (Ian Warren @ Dec 26 2014,4:43 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Hi ya Sam, Welcome to NZFF, ton's off help people here, I don't use Joysticks anymore, I went the Saitek direction and for Yoke/rudder/throttle combination but if I was to return to the Joystick it would have to be the x52 PRO HOTAS or along those lines.

One thing I can say tho is Amazon is Brilliant, I've brought hundreds off books from them, many I recommend but the Amazon company's service is Brilliant ! and very reasonable prices.

Thanks for the reply. My first thought was to head for a yoke based setup for FSX, but then i figured i do still enjoy the combat flight sims and if i end up playing Elite as much as i think i am going to then it would not be "ideal" so i feel the joystick is the best compromise, plus i really did love using my first x52!!

Do amazon have any qualms with global shipping? I have personally never used them before so not 100% sure what the go is! I definitly agree on the reasonable prices, the x52 pro is around the $150 us mark, although i guess shipping might bump that up a lot!

samk115 wrote:

QUOTE (samk115 @ Dec 26 2014,4:53 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Do amazon have any qualms with global shipping? I have personally never used them before so not 100% sure what the go is! I definitly agree on the reasonable prices, the x52 pro is around the $150 us mark, although i guess shipping might bump that up a lot!

I was a combat shoot em up person 15/20 years back then got the build bug.

The pricing with Amazon has three price range .. Super quick .. then down to the wait for the knock on the door style wait .. You may find a NZ based FS stockist that hopefully could be cheaper or some of our regulars here may have something for you or leads to the specific store.

Amazon are iffy with shipping electronics internationally. Solution: Sign up for a Youshop account with NZ post and do it that way.

Be wary of being over the GST threshold also.

...as a sideways....

..I was given (free) a Saitek Yoke, Pedals, and Throttle controls, a little while ago...

http://www.saitek.com/uk/prod/yoke.html....

...and I'll tell you what, after zillions of years of getting used to various Joysticks for flight sims, and just about everything else....

I very quickly dumped the cumbersome Saitek Yoke, Pedals, etc, system, for my trusty, simple, Saiteck FLY 5, Twist Joystick! for everything!

http://www.saitek.com/uk/prod/fly5.html

It does the job, is practical, and takes up no room on my table for doing other things!

I just point the Joystick to where I want to go......and it does it...Woo-Hoo!

I quite like Joysticks...since the old 1970's 1980's games!

Paul...with a Stick of Joy!....(Its not a criminal offence to expose it, in public, in England,...trust me!).... ...!

Fozzer wrote:

QUOTE (Fozzer @ Dec 27 2014,12:43 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

...as a sideways....
It does the job, is practical, and takes up no room on my table for doing other things!
I just point the Joystick to where I want to go......and it does it...Woo-Hoo!

Sideways .. when Mars sat in front off the PC's, that's all I did slide him Sideways, I have had yoke/throttle and rudders for well over fifteen years now and still with all the I do whether its scenery or artwork its never been needed to be moved sideways ... I guess its a multitasking PC table that dose the WOO-HOOs !

I'm currently using my Logitech extreme 3d pro regular stick. It's not bad for a cheap interim measure but I sure do miss having a seperate throttle!

I'm also not sure what about it makes it extreme or pro, but it will suffice until I source a replacement.

I think I will go for the x55 rhino, the dual throttles and multitude of toggle switches will make it more versatile for different sim types.

samk115 wrote:

QUOTE (samk115 @ Dec 27 2014,1:06 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I think I will go for the x55 rhino, the dual throttles and multitude of toggle switches will make it more versatile for different sim types.

I was very surprised at the next level up, almost double the price , the Rhino will do for starters , can't wait till we see some screens and thoughts on it ... the extra base/pad with throttles ... yip now all you need a rudder set.

Ian Warren wrote:

QUOTE (Ian Warren @ Dec 27 2014,1:19 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I was very surprised at the next level up, almost double the price , the Rhino will do for starters , can't wait till we see some screens and thoughts on it ... the extra base/pad with throttles ... yip now all you need a rudder set.

A rudder set would be fantastic, I have always put up with the twist action on the joystick, but perhaps I will investigate suitable rudder sets after I have the hotas.

I will try write a mini review on whatever I end up buying, 99 percent sure it will be the x55 at this point

EDIT: after all that, i found a replacement x52 for only US$130. It is currently on its way to my new Youshop address.

I think i will spend the difference on some steel tubing and look into knocking up a generic airframe cockpit, it will be a bit more immersive than just sitting at my desk.

Im also thinking about perhaps trying to sneak a saitek yoke setup in under my partners nose now that i have seen how cheap you can get some of the gear in from the good ol' USA, That along with a Switch panel or two would be absolutley brilliant for FSX i think!

samk115 wrote:

QUOTE (samk115 @ Dec 27 2014,2:02 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I think i will spend the difference on some steel tubing and look into knocking up a generic airframe cockpit, it will be a bit more immersive than just sitting at my desk.

For the first time out out .... You will be surprised what you can do with Cardboard and PVA , very durable - they throw the stuff away , easily modified and will cost you next to nothing other than time and imagination ... course the paint to seal it.

This looks pretty good.

http://www.pilotshop.co.nz/flight-sim-hard...x55-rhino-hotas

nzav8tor wrote:

QUOTE (nzav8tor @ Dec 29 2014,11:59 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

This looks pretty good.

That dose look a goodie .. One thing I must point out , primary reason I went to the Yoke setup was I'm seriously left handed.

Hi Sam! I'm an Elite Dangerous player too (in fact, pretty much given up flight sim for it - for the time being). Add me in Elite if you want, my player name is AJ CURNOW
I am using the X52 Pro and really like it. The Elite controls are a bit buggy, and there are buttons on the X52 that I can use some days, and not others, or it forgets my assignments etc. So while I do really like it, those little things do bother me a bit. I have to recheck all my controls are working when I leave the dock for a gaming session, and if not, try to fix it. Not sure of the problem, or the fix, just thought I would forewarn you. Might see you out in space!

Hi Alister.

I too seem to be converting to space sim flight for now. Since purchasing elite the day after release I've only fired up FSX twice, and have played no other sims!!

I have encountered a couple of bugs so far, none control related yet, but have had cargo disappear more than once, and I also seem to keep getting pesky system authority ships shooting at me even though I'm clean. Never the less it's been great fun so far, and a new genre for me to explore!

What situation are you in when the system authority start shooting you? I've been playing since middle Beta so I know the game very well. Will be glad to help you out. Are you on facebook? if you are feel free to join us here. Otherwise, send me a PM anytime

I have just applied to join the group.

It seems to be happening to me whilst I'm bounty hunting in nav beacons. Once I rack up a few bounties, the system authority ships (normally only one or two of them, even if there is more at the beacon) will start attacking me. I could understand if I had accidentally shot a clean ship or something, but I haven't, I have no bounty on me and my status is clean... (until I get annoyed and decide to remedy the situation with force!)

I can certainly help here! But hope you don't mind me hijacking your thread and pulling it off topic.

If you are bounty hunting in a controlled system you need to do it like this:

Confirm firstly in your right side user interface panel who/what faction is controlling the system. Let's say it's Empire Party, and they are at 55% control over the system. This faction is controlling the system authority ships. Here's the big thing. You need to check what faction the vessel belongs to that is wanted. If it belongs to the Empire Party faction, and it's wanted, you can't attack it. You are not the law, and you are attacking a vessel belonging to the controlling faction, and the controlling faction will defend it, wanted or not. You need to pick on vessels that belong to the tiny factions, that do not control the system. And I usually prefer to focus on the factions that are small/ and or/ obviously the criminal types. They will have things like "raiders" or "gang" in their titles. BUT, you must note you can only attack these factions when they are wanted. If you attack a ship from any faction that is "clean" you will have the system authority attack you. If anyone gets hit by your fire by accident, you'll have system authority onto you.

Other than that, you'll now be just fine. Word of warning that if you stir up a hornets nest with a particular faction, you might get them all ganging up on you anyway so take care out there! See you in the F.book group sometime

Ahhhh that makes perfect sense!

Ive gone away from bounty hunting now as i have managed to find myself a trade route earning approx 800k every half hour, so ill grind that out for a while! Im going to upgrade my cobras FSD to the max so i should be able to significantly cut the time required per run though.

My new Saitek X52 arrived today. Overall i am very impressed. I swear that the stick is lighter than my old one however, and it doesnt seem to sit on the table as firmly. Might have to screw this one down. Im not sure if they have changed the construction over the years or what???

One of the advantages of clamps on the yoke and throttles, the setup has not moved in years.