In the market for a new joystick (under$100), any recommendations?

[=KG76=flyus747]

Title says it.  This past week, my Logitech 3D Extreme has been real buggy.  It constantly veers to the right slightly so when I'm flying my FW190, the plane just keeps heaving to the right and I know this has nothing to do with the prop torque or whatever.  Also, my in game throttle now hits 100% even though I've only pushed halfway up the throttle on my joystick.  As sad as I am to say this, I think the lifetime of my 3D pro is coming to its end.

 

I've had the 3D pro for about 2 years now, absolutely loved it and despite my efforts to identify and fix the problem, I'm thinking maybe now it's time I go for a joystick , one that'll last longer.  I know other joysticks talk about accuracy and whatever but my 3D here is the old and the reliable.  I've always heard that the 3D pro was great for getting your foot in the door but that it would not last long.  I guess they were right.

 

Any long lasting joysticks you guys recommend preferably under $100? Or if any of you guys know how to fix a Logitech I'd be more than happy to see your input.

 

Thanks,

flyus747 

[Cybermat47]

I'm rather happy with my Logitech Attack 3. Been using mine for years.

[Dakpilot]

Thrustmaster T16000 is probably your best bet, better than your previous one, and about 130 dollars for the version with included hotas throttle

http://mobile.thrustmaster.com/node/7247

 

Cheers, Dakpilot 

 

[LLv24_SukkaVR]

Years ago i started to have the very same problems with my Logitech 3D Extreme and i bought x52. If i were you i would buy the T16000 like Dakpilot suggested above, it seems like really nice stick with HALL sensors.

[F/JG300_Gruber]

So much good memories with the 3D extreme. Sometimes I miss that joystick. 

 

Having gone through a few options by the years (TM HotasX, Saitek X55, TM T16000, VKB GF and a couple yokes) I would also suggest going for the T16000.

Feels pretty well made and durable despite it's relatively low price tag. The hotas bundle may well be superior to the Saitek/logitech one (I'm yet to see a Saitek product I'm NOT having issues with after a few months)

[Sokol1]

Under $100 only two options for consider:

 

Thurstmaster T.16000M ~$60

 

VKB Gladiator (if find available, VKB say that will return this model production until finished the "NG") - $ 99

 

Both use contactless sensor in main axes (X, Y) - Gladiator use in "twist" rudder axis too.

 

Low cost Saitek's, Logitech, Thrustmaster (X) use (low cost/quality) potentiometer in all axes, that wear out with use and cause spikes. No reason for buy these unless limited money available.

 

 

Edited July 21, 2018 by Sokol1

[Banshee]

Same as others, for this range of price go for Thursmaster T1600... 

[=IRFC=NakedSquirrel]

CH Fighterstick is also a very good joystick.  (But it does not have twist, you would need rudder pedals)

 

CH products last a very long time, have great sensors, and are made of sturdy material.  My equipment is well over 8 years old and the sensors are still smooth.

 

They also have great customer service.  They are helpful on the forums answering questions.  I recently broke a couple of pieces on my throttle quadrant and when I asked how much it would be to replace, they replied by saying they already sent the replacement parts.  Pretty neat!

 

In my experience, the sensors on Saitek and Logitec joysticks degrad quickly, but you could try buying contact cleaner.  Open up the joystick and spray the pots, you might be able to get some more life out of them.  Make sure the cleaner is safe for electronics (don't use generic WD-40 as I beleive it leaves a teflon residue).  But you should be able to find a can for around 5$

Edited July 30, 2018 by NakedSquirrel

[F/JG300_Gruber]

2 hours ago, NakedSquirrel said:

CH Fighterstick is also a very good joystick.  (But it does not have twist, you would need rudder pedals)

 

CH products last a very long time, have great sensors, and are made of sturdy material.  My equipment is well over 8 years old and the sensors are still smooth.

 

They also have great customer service.  They are helpful on the forums answering questions.  I recently broke a couple of pieces on my throttle quadrant and when I asked how much it would be to replace, they replied by saying they already sent the replacement parts.  Pretty neat!

 

In my experience, the sensors on Saitek and Logitec joysticks degrad quickly, but you could try buying contact cleaner.  Open up the joystick and spray the pots, you might be able to get some more life out of them.  Make sure the cleaner is safe for electronics (don't use generic WD-40 as I beleive it leaves a teflon residue).  But you should be able to find a can for around 5$

 

CH products are outdated technology with low resolution potentiometers. No product have been changed for 10+ years and are quite overpriced in that regard in my opinion.

Quality seems on a mild down curve, we are a couple to have bought defective products (spiky pots out of the box) in the past 2 years.

 

The T16000 has Hall effect sensors, nothing to go wrong and can potentially outlast any pot based product. 

[=IRFC=NakedSquirrel]

I agree hal type sensors are better.  But after 8 years of regular use I still find my CH stick flawless.  

 

 If you have spikey sensors out of the box you should be able to send it in for a replacement. I had a circuit board fail early on with one of my CH sticks and they immediately sent a replacement.  TM was a little more difficult to get parts from but they do work with you.

 

CH is a backup for me at this point as I moved on to a TM Warthog (which broke) and then VIRPIL base with TM grip. 

 

I was able to fix the TM stick but Virpil had a sale so I went for it.  Virpil is very expensive but also worth the money ?

 

Regardless I find the CH sensors to be smooth.  They don’t wear out like my Logitech and Saitek sticks did.  I really don’t notice any jitter.  Compared to the TM Warthog I don’t find much difference in accuracy if any.  I just liked the feel of the Warthog, which was the main reason I bought it.

 

I agree that the Hal sensors will outlast the traditional pot sensor, but I don’t know how the stick itself would hold up.  I have read about the buttons failing on the T16000.

 

I’m not knocking the T16000.  It looks like a really good stick for the price.  I probably would have bought one if it were available to me at the time. 

 

 I just don’t have any experience with the T16000.  

 

I do have experience with CH and really like their pedals and stick.  I have no regrets buying a 100 dollar product that works good as new after 8+ years ?.

 

[Algy-Lacey]

I'll add my voice to those suggesting the Thrustmaster T.16000m.

 

That's the stick I use and because of the HALL sensors which don't wear out over time it's very good value for money. It has good buttons on the top of the stick and 12 more buttons on the base, plus the trigger. Throttle slider is ok. Spring tension is average, just right for precision, but there aren't separate springs for roll (lateral) and pitch (vertical) so it's more likely for you to put some elevator input when rolling, aileron input when pitching up or down. It has a twist function for rudder, but it's not as precise as you'd get with rudder pedals.

 

Many years ago I had the CH Products Flightstick. It was a good stick that lasted a long time before the potentiometers wore out and the input signal started spiking. I think that the above mentioned CH Fighterstick is very similar in it's construction. There is a lot of control throw - you could move the stick a long way from side to side, up and down. The spring tension is light and there are separate springs for each axis. I was pleased with my CH Flightstick until it wore out and eventually one of the springs broke.

 

Ya pays ya money, ya makes yer choice.

 

Algy 'Ginger' Lacey

 

 

[Macross]

On 7/30/2018 at 12:22 PM, F/JG300_Gruber said:

 

CH products are outdated technology with low resolution potentiometers. No product have been changed for 10+ years and are quite overpriced in that regard in my opinion.

Quality seems on a mild down curve, we are a couple to have bought defective products (spiky pots out of the box) in the past 2 years.

 

The T16000 has Hall effect sensors, nothing to go wrong and can potentially outlast any pot based product. 

May be old tech, but works like a workhorse, for many many years. And even with low res pots, i doubt most of guys would even see difference in flying against new ones. Still have my ch hotas in closet, dont dare to sell it

[Sokol1]

More than use potentiometers - that in case last more than in Logitech/Saitek and low cost Thrustmaster, the issue of CH is the low resolution of USB controller, only 8 bits (256 steps on axis course), an standard of end of 1990's. Durability is one thing, precision is another, things evolve over time ... even joysticks.

 

In any case CH's don't meet OP needs - replace a 3D PRO with twist rudder - he don't mention that have dedicated rudder pedals. A CH Combatstick - more affordable + pedals will cost almost $200. 

 

 

 

 

Edited August 3, 2018 by Sokol1

[=IRFC=NakedSquirrel]

As Macross said, it's hard to notice any difference with 256 steps.

 

The only difference I noticed between the TM Warthog (which has hall sensors) and my CH Fighterstick was the deadzone.  The CH stick has a mechanical dead-zone, which you can eliminate by opening up the stick and doing a little bit of jerry-rigging.

 

Still, for a joystick the T16000 is a really good choice.  It is only 50-60$.  It's ambidextrous, and it has amazing hall sensors.  

 

You can buy it with a throttle for 100, it looks to me like a great budget stick.

 

Edited August 6, 2018 by NakedSquirrel