Moving from TM Hotas X to Warthog?

[TP_Silk]

Is there really a noticeable difference in control and play-ability when moving from a simpler joystick like the TM Hotas X T-Flight to the Warthog apart from the sheer number of available functions? If so how major a difference is it?

[Sokol1]

Warthog is about "feel" - fell the good look, fell the metal, fell "real thing"... fell "stiction ", feel robbed if throttle "brick", if the neck and gimbal broke.

 

But don't "feel"  that is the best toy... erh... tool for help in win virtual WWII dogfights. 

 

Await more useful opinions. 

Edited August 24, 2016 by Sokol1

[TP_Silk]

I read about the 'stiction' issue and that's one of the reasons that I'm asking the question. The stick I have at the moment does the job I ask it to fairly well, I just wonder whether it is worth upgrading.

[Matt]

Main advantages (apart from feel) between those two, are the separate throttle levers and the huge amount of (hat) switches. I'm currently using the Warthog throttle in combination with a FFB2 stick, but i'm thinking about moving back to the Warthog stick, because i feel limited by the lack of buttons on the FFB2 stick. Of course the Warthog stick has a much stronger spring force, which i think is a disadvantage in a prop (or helicopter) sim. Though it's possible to use a stick extension or a weaker spring to counter that somehow.

 

Only bad thing i really experienced with the Warthog is the gimbal system (stiction problem and it feels a bit lose around the center). Apart from that, i can't find anything wrong with it.

 

But if you want a perfect stick and don't want to have to fiddle around with it, i would not recommend the Warthog, at least not for BoS/M. But maybe you should consider buying the just the throttle instead.

[dburne]

I have been using my Warthog for a number of years now and love it. So far I have not seen anything come along that tempts me to replace it.

Maybe when VKB ever releases the Gunfighter I might consider giving  that a go, but mainly because I can use my current Warthog grip with it.

 

I did add a 7.5cm extension by Sahaj a few months ago and it really helped in the sticktion department.

[ST_Pirato]

If you plan to add an extension and are willing to eventually open the stick up to grease it properly ,I'd say go for it. If you don't want to spend extra cash and time to mod it a bit by yourself and want to use it rather out of the box,better look for something else if you intend to use it for WW1 or WW2 sims. Out of the box the center is very hard and noticable and some may like it that way, but it may prevent you from doing fine and precice movements.  I've used my Warthog for over 4 years ,with an extension added right from the beginning, and never had a problem with either Throttle or Stick except from the cheap grease and stiction issue. Where some others had issues with buttons stop working or gimbal breaking,I guess I was lucky in that regard. 

Atleast ,if you have the chance, try a Warthog stick at a store and see if you like it.

[Sokol1]

One "hidden" feature of Warthog gimbal is this work similar do Saitek's gimbal, blending the forces need to move X and Y axis.

 

Is a "piston" compressing a single spring  (in Warthog with 4 small additional compress spring).

 

This system make that when you move stick in X axis for, e.g. right and hold need a N amount of force.

Now holding X deflection and move the stick in Y axis back need 0 additional force, because the spring is always compressed.

 

 

screen shots

 

Some users say that this force mix lead to over control, as don't "feel"  additional "weight" on stick to move in other axis.

 

BTW - Your actual stick use simplified version of this system, the compress spring "piston" is bellow of gimbal.

Edited August 24, 2016 by Sokol1

[LLv34_Flanker]

S!

 

 I have not had problems with the Warthog. Just need the extension to make inputs smoother. Sticking has not been a problem either.

[TP_Silk]

Thanks for the comments everyone (and for those hopefully still to come).

[Sokol1]

Thing is that you don't have much options.

 

Saitek's - Quality issues.

 

CH - Obsolete electronics (8 bits).

 

VKB (HOTAS) - Still coming in "two weeks, be sure". (for the future).

Edited August 25, 2016 by Sokol1