HOTAS recommendation?

[Loriath]

I started on the T-Flight HOTAS X and when I broke it (dropped it) I went X52Pro. Love the stick, hate the software, but it works out of the box if you want simple.

I use the programming software for a few tweaks, but could live without it.

[TorTorden]

If you want another a slightly different route you can go with CH gear.
These are quite pricy, at least as expensive as the Thrustmaster warthog, if not slightly more put together.
I have only had my setup for a few months but from what I can tell these sticks would probably survive me
The software just works, although I only use it for calibrating the stick, it's powerfull in that you could program all kinds of functions or macros or stick behaviour.

Absolutely. When I started in Elite last October I bought a Thrustmaster Tflight X as my first HOTAS and it has unfailingly proved its worth, but I was hankering after something a little more sophisticated. Like everybody else, I spent hours reading and re-reading reviews and comments until I finally settled for CH kit last week. Like the Tflight, there are no driver problems - there are no drivers and Windows recognises the devices immediately - you can simply plug them in to USB 2 or 3 and set your bindings. The accompanying CM Manager software can be used to supplement the ED built-in bindings table to produce a control system that the Tflight can never match.

True, it's taken four or five days of frustration and graft to work out the best options and to create a setup that suits me. The lack of a twist yaw on the stick has meant that I'm back in the Training section re-learning how to outfly Solar Fluke and how to dock at a station. I'm getting there, but the Anaconda may have to spend some time in the hangar while I learn new skills, and I'll be keeping out of RESs for a little while.

There are a number of users who choose to use the CH Pro Throttle with the T16000, so that's a route you might want to consider.

I found so many reports of software mismatches and parts failures from other manufacturers that it was a pleasant surprise to discover flight simmers who have been using their CH kit for more than ten years without problems. That convinced me and I think I might have to write the Pro Throttle and Fighterstick into my will to be passed on when I have no further use for them.

It takes a little getting used to sure (as with any HOTAS). I don't have any shortage of buttons for accessing rudder. But I figured I could treat myself so I have I also gotten the Pro pedals dedicated for rudder control ☺ I was thinking I also might get into fligtsims but I'm even after 700 hours still having to much fun with ED.

The only drawback is they do cost more, but I keep hearing about people having bought these sticks in the early 90's and modded them to use USB, and they are still going strong.

I set mine up with a blank custom scheme and spent probably a week tweaking it, but now it's completely instinctual to control any ship with it and I now REALLY need to build me a pit..

[Xebeth]

I've had the X-55 for several month and am very happy with it. The throttle was a bit stiff to start with, but freed up after a week, the only issue I've had was the stick acquired an annoying squeak but some WD40 sorted that out.

As others have said it has more buttons than you need, I now only have to touch the keyboard to type.

[Jeffers2112]

I'm convinced....
The X-52 it is then, seems a good compromise between cost and performance.
I'll let you now how I get on when it arrives tomorrow!

[Mattwood]

...So, who uses what, and how good are they?

I'm using a wireless xbox360 controller and very happy with its ease of use, as I play in our living room.

Looked at HOTUS for a while, settled with exactly this, XBOX 360 controllers are really easy to use once you get used to them, maybe a few adjustments for things such as Flight assist but they're good.

The way i'm set up (no desk! ) means using this is convenient, wouldn't mind upgrading though

[Flip]

I really like the X55's features and all, but unfortunately it's built like shit. On my first one, the rudder's spring broke after a few months, so it no longer centered automatically. Bit of a PITA but I could still use it. Then a couple of months later, all the buttons on the throttle stopped working. Turns out the wires inside are positioned in such a way that each time you move the throttle, you bend those wires at the same exact place. So after a while they fatigue and break. It's only a matter of time.

It was still under warranty, so back it went. And rather than waiting 3 weeks before I could play ED again, I ordered another brand new one. That was six months ago or so. And since then, both have started developing faults of their own, so now I'm using parts from one to fix the other each time it's necessary (a HAT broke on one, another button broke on the other, now the wheel at the left of the throttle of the one I'm using only registers in one direction, the rudder of the other has developed a lot of friction so it no longer centers correctly, etc.). That really sucks, but as always with that level of products, all the parts are made with the cheapest possible stuff, so unless you play once a week, don't expect it to last for more than six or height months.

It's either that or buying an expensive one that has only a few features.

[Cmdr Kharma]

Warthog working just fine here........

[Flip]

Yeah, as I said, buy an expensive one that only has a few features.

No rudders is a no-no, for me. I don't want to use pedals.

[Mouse]

I've had the X-55 for several month and am very happy with it. The throttle was a bit stiff to start with, but freed up after a week, the only issue I've had was the stick acquired an annoying squeak but some WD40 sorted that out.

As others have said it has more buttons than you need, I now only have to touch the keyboard to type.

I would love to see your set up with the X55.. is it possible to make it so that if you turn PTY 3 your landing gear goes down and if you turn it the opposite way they go up, instead of having to turn then turn back then turn it again to trigger the action?

[Mouse]

I really like the X55's features and all, but unfortunately it's built like shit. On my first one, the rudder's spring broke after a few months, so it no longer centered automatically. Bit of a PITA but I could still use it. Then a couple of months later, all the buttons on the throttle stopped working. Turns out the wires inside are positioned in such a way that each time you move the throttle, you bend those wires at the same exact place. So after a while they fatigue and break. It's only a matter of time.

It was still under warranty, so back it went. And rather than waiting 3 weeks before I could play ED again, I ordered another brand new one. That was six months ago or so. And since then, both have started developing faults of their own, so now I'm using parts from one to fix the other each time it's necessary (a HAT broke on one, another button broke on the other, now the wheel at the left of the throttle of the one I'm using only registers in one direction, the rudder of the other has developed a lot of friction so it no longer centers correctly, etc.). That really sucks, but as always with that level of products, all the parts are made with the cheapest possible stuff, so unless you play once a week, don't expect it to last for more than six or height months.

It's either that or buying an expensive one that has only a few features.

I hope that doesn't happen to me.. but if it does I'm going back to the original X52.. the one I had before lasted years before I started to have issues.