Need joystick/HOTAS and pedal recommendations

[Noxos]

I just bought BOS, quite excited, and since my old Sturmovik days I have a bit more money to spend so I was thinking of upgrading my stick/HOTAS and buying rudder pedals for the first time. My current HOTAS is this:

 

https://www.amazon.com/Thrustmaster-T-Flight-Hotas-X-Flight-Stick/dp/B001CXYMFS/ref=sr_1_2?s=videogames&ie=UTF8&qid=1480402068&sr=1-2&keywords=hotas

 

I'll be using whatever I get exclusively for BoS and CLOD though I might dip into the DCS series as well at some point. Also -- everything needs to work in Windows 10 and with TrackIR (which I haven't bought yet so I'm still deciding what version to get - feel free to throw in your 2c there as well). I have no issue with buying the stick, throttle, and pedal all separately also if that is the best option, it doesn't have to all come in one package. 

Edited November 29, 2016 by Noxos

[Sketch]

That joystick setup was designed for Playstation 3. A better option would be this ->

 

https://www.amazon.com/Thrustmaster-T-16000M-FCS-HOTAS-Controller/dp/B01KCHPRXA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1480422603&sr=8-1&keywords=tm16000

 

Or this ->

 

 

https://www.amazon.com/Gladiator-Joystick-Flight-Simulator-Controller-Stick/dp/B01G6GT49O/ref=pd_sim_147_8?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B01G6GT49O&pd_rd_r=73GE90PS4967CHJXY75G&pd_rd_w=2KzvI&pd_rd_wg=Ud9tw&psc=1&refRID=73GE90PS4967CHJXY75G

 

 

Either is a great entry point into the sim (and both sticks can act as rudders because they twist).

 

If you want to get pricey...

 

Joystick and throttle ->

https://www.amazon.com/ThrustMaster-2960720-Thrustmaster-Warthog-Joystick/dp/B00371R8P4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1480423061&sr=8-1&keywords=thrustmaster+warthog

 

and rudder pedals ->

http://mfg.simundza.com/products

Edited November 29, 2016 by [TWB]Sketch

[Sokol1]

Option in throttle "entry-level':

 

https://www.amazon.com/Thrustmaster-TWCS-Throttle-Controller-2960754/dp/B01L28LVUG/ref=sr_1_1?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1480428547&sr=1-1&keywords=thrustmaster+twcs

 

+ t.16000m stick:

 

https://www.amazon.com/Thrustmaster-T-16000M-FCS-HOTAS-Controller/dp/B01KCHPRXA/ref=sr_1_3?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1480428547&sr=1-3&keywords=thrustmaster+twcs

 

Good option in pedals:  https://www.amazon.com/T-Rudder-Mk-IV-Flight-Simulator-Pedals-Linux/dp/B01G6GT4A8/ref=sr_1_1?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1480428600&sr=1-1&keywords=t-rudder

[Noxos]

That joystick setup was designed for Playstation 3. A better option would be this ->

 

https://www.amazon.com/Thrustmaster-T-16000M-FCS-HOTAS-Controller/dp/B01KCHPRXA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1480422603&sr=8-1&keywords=tm16000

 

Or this ->

 

 

https://www.amazon.com/Gladiator-Joystick-Flight-Simulator-Controller-Stick/dp/B01G6GT49O/ref=pd_sim_147_8?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B01G6GT49O&pd_rd_r=73GE90PS4967CHJXY75G&pd_rd_w=2KzvI&pd_rd_wg=Ud9tw&psc=1&refRID=73GE90PS4967CHJXY75G

 

 

Either is a great entry point into the sim (and both sticks can act as rudders because they twist).

 

If you want to get pricey...

 

Joystick and throttle ->

https://www.amazon.com/ThrustMaster-2960720-Thrustmaster-Warthog-Joystick/dp/B00371R8P4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1480423061&sr=8-1&keywords=thrustmaster+warthog

 

and rudder pedals ->

http://mfg.simundza.com/products

I'm seeing the Gladiator Pro get mentioned a lot versus the Gladiator... looks like the price difference is $99 vs 237 Euros -- is it really that big a difference in quality?

 

Would a separate throttle be needed as well? I see a throttle on the left side of the stick itself but in the reviews I was reading people were talking about using separate throttles with it...

 

Thanks for all the help much appreciated. I'll probably go with one of these more mid-range sticks initially and then plop down a lot more money in a couple years or so. Trying to save up for a big move at the moment so I don't want to blow everything on a flight sim set up tempting as that may be .

Edited November 29, 2016 by Noxos

[Sokol1]

I'm seeing the Gladiator Pro get mentioned a lot versus the Gladiator... looks like the price difference is $99 vs 237 Euros -- is it really that big a difference in quality?

 

The difference is this "thing", done with steel, aluminum, ball bearings. 

 

 

 

The joystick gimbal.

 

 

Would a separate throttle be needed as well? I see a throttle on the left side of the stick itself but in the reviews I was reading people were talking about using separate throttles with it...

 

Not really, the throttle "wheel" in Gladiator base is OK for this game planes.

Notice that due KG12 grip ergonomics, tilted and twisted to left, this joystick require a center position, what make more easy use their throttle.

 

Of course a dedicated throttle add more buttons/HAT, exception of Saitek Quadrant that add more levers (axis) what can be more useful, depends of plane preference, if is the "90%" - Bf 109/Fw 190 will be less.

 

A good compromise in throttle, not too expensive is Tm TWCS, two useful axis - their other three is less, more suitable for "Jets", "Kosmosimov".

Edited November 29, 2016 by Sokol1

[Noxos]

 

The difference is this "thing", done with steel, aluminum, ball bearings.

 

 

 

The joystick gimbal.

 

 

 

 

Not really, the throttle "wheel" in Gladiator base is OK for this game planes.

Notice that due KG12 grip ergonomics, tilted and twisted to left, this joystick require a center position, what make more easy use their throttle.

 

Of course a dedicated throttle add more buttons/HAT, exception of Saitek Quadrant that add more levers (axis) what can be more useful, depends of plane preference, if is the "90%" - Bf 109/Fw 190 will be less.

 

<span style="color:rgb(40,40,40);font-family:helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">A good compromise in throttle, not too expensive is Tm TWCS, two useful axis - their other three is less, more suitable for "Jets", "Kosmosimov".

So what does the difference in gimbal mean in real terms? Just trying to get a feel for where this falls on the diminishing returns spectrum.

[Sokol1]

The joystick gimbal is what translate your hands movements in game flight commands commands through the sensors (potentiometer, contactless sensor like HALL, magnet resistance).

 

Then you need a precise mechanism there, and all available commercial joystick fail in one or other aspects, from my answer for you in Reddit:

 

"WW II sim main goal - put the gunsight piper over the bandit - needs a joystick with a fine control around center.

 

Warthog, Saitek's X-5x's "piston" gimbal require more force for leave/cross center position, so is not the best solution for the above problem.

Add a extension (10-15 cm) to Warthog improves this control.

 

CH gimbal has a noticeable center "stop" in movements across the center... the "clunck", and thus hamper the fine control.

 

Tm T.16000M use a kind of "Saturn Ring" oscillatory gimbal (similar to old Suncom's) what can  give a good compromise for "soft" center position. But material quality and construction tolerances add play in the mechanism (like in other joysticks), and the result is not "stellar".

 

VKB Gladiator use a system based on CH gimbal, but with "damper" grease to have a "soft" center, see:

The Cobra M5 in the video use gimbal "clone" of CH, without damper.

 

Until now the best solution for joystick gimbal seems the CAM mechanism, only available in VKB Gladiator PRO (but this stick is not properly available at moment...), Baur BRD gimbals (under by order), but are expensive."

 

Since this cAM system is relatively new (in Western), few people use, is difficult find solid feedback about, but think this is one:

 

https://www.reddit.com/r/hotas/comments/4rk70n/mini_joystick_roundup_warning_long_post/

 

Maybe serves as example, MFG Crosswind, Slaw Viper,  Baur BRD, VKB T-rudder pedals is undoubted a improvement over previous models of pedals from Saitek, CH, Thrustmaster, Logitech. No one contest this.

 

They follow the same recipe of the above joystick CAM gimbal: use CAM on a solid structure, ball bearings on axis, contact less sensors, and some allow change spring and CAM profile to achieve different "feel". 

Edited November 29, 2016 by Sokol1