Saitek X-55 Rhino HOTAS...My Experience

[JohnHardtack]

When I purchased BoS, I knew that if I wanted the "Full Monty" in immersion experience, I needed a new HOTAS system. My budget allowed the X-55 at half the price of the TM Warthog. Coupled with ProFlight Rudder Pedals and TrackIR 5, I envisioned a sweet experience. I spent a full day (I'm retired and have the time), learning the convoluted software with the help of Frugalsim

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hr9Oi1jc4wg (Great vid, plenty of tips)

 

After having TrackIR 3 -> TrackIR 4 -> TrackIR 5, I finally spent the time to really learn the software and tweaked that baby to make my head simply amazing in the cockpit! Some great help here, from Gary Abbott

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TASEXUd4Oto (another great vid! Gotta love the internet.)

 

Now I'm ready, I fire things up and off I go! I hit "gear up" on the throttle controller and "bail out" instead. This phenomenum hits over and over, pull the throttle back and the flaps come down. Off to the internet. After several hours, I discover dozens of cranky, upset people who have been hit by GHOSTING!

 

So here's the deal:

 

1. It seems to afflict AMD machines more than Intel.
2. The fix is simple. To put the problem in lay terms, both controllers need more juice than the existing USB controllers/ hubs on the motherboard can supply. Undervoltages cause the erratic ghosting behaviour. Solution: Purchase and install a dedicated 3.0 USB PCI-e controller card with a separate molex or sata power source. Install the latest drivers. Plug in the controllers.
3. Experience smooth as silk performance.

Well, to be honest, I had one more issue with the throttle. It seemed like it was set in gum! No matter how much I adjusted the throttle tension it was sticky and hard to move.

 

On disassembly, I discovered that the "lubricant" for the arced races was a thick gluey gum. Completely unsuitable. I suspect that a disgruntled assembler was having a bad day.

 

It took a quantity of Go-Jo, elbow grease and patience to clean the works and apply a silicone grease instead. It now works as it should.

 

I hope my experience will help others with an otherwise great HOTAS.

 

(For the life of me, I do not understand Saitek Mad Catz philosophy here. I read of story after story of unhappy people RMI'ing the units. I feel their pain. It wouldn't take much for Saitek to add some additional support with each unit, explaining the problem and outlining the fix. Hardly good customer support.)

 

 

[RedeyeStorm]

Well here is another tipmregarding ghosting. I suffered from it too. My solution was to switch the usports were I plugged in the joystick. Problem gone.

 

RedeyeStorm.

[SCG_Space_Ghost]

I pre-ordered my X-55 literally within a week or two of the product announcement. It was due to arrive in April of last year but it arrived two months early in February of last year.

 

It is definitely a 1st-round production batch X-55 and I haven't had so much as a hickup... It has taken my ham-fisted-ness in stride. It has laughed at every bit of abuse I have been able to throw at it... And I will REALLY throw that stick forward when I'm about to collide with my target (Hartmann techniques or poor gunnery... you decide...  )

 

It seems like the product on a whole can be hit or miss judging by the different experiences I've read - aside from the normal sticktion early on this thing has been absolutely golden for me and I see it lasting till I can put my hands on a VKB, BRD or homemade KG-13 device.

Setup: TrackIR 5, Saitek X-55, CH Pro Pedals (Detente Mod)

[No_85_Gramps]

My experience with the x55 has been very favorable. I do find the throttle hard to move even with the tension at the lowest spot, may have to take a look at it based on the original post. My only quibble, at this point, is the twist axis is very tight, and I know a set of pedals would cure that. Have to see what else I can find out about the twist.

[39bn_pavig]

The throttle does take some time to wear in before the sluggishness from that thick grease goes away.

[Wildbill]

All:

I have been using my X55 along with Pro Pedals with no problem till last month, lots was happening new updates new monitors and (I accidently pulled some of my USB ports loose) so I plugged them back but probably not in right spot, so here is what happened to me, delay in guns after trigger press, then excess shooting after trigger release. This causes friendly shooting or death by gun delay, difficult to to enjoy the game now.

Also I noticed something running in the back ground on my PC, so I am going to start over on my USB connections first ( I am using a separate powered USB hub) that worked great for months, this may substitute for not adding a USB card?

I'll let you know my results.

Bill

[71st_AH_Mastiff]

I have this same issue; is it a faulty throttle controller? I stopped using it because of this issue it just a paper weight now. 

[SFF_Esso]

 

 

Solution: Purchase and install a dedicated 3.0 USB PCI-e controller card with a separate molex or sata power source. Install the latest drivers

 

This worked for me.