Saitek X52 PRO

[alexAlexovercozumel]

 Hi ppl,

 

   I just installed IL2 1946 and was looking for a HOTAS system. My current stick is the Logitech 3d Force. I love force feedback but mostly use it without it because of the noise, I?

[AX2]

Saitek X52 or X52 PRO is a good pick  !

 

[alexAlexovercozumel]

Saitek X52 or X52 PRO is a good pick  !

 

 

  Thanks for replying Mustang!

 

  Check your six! Alex

[kestrel79]

I have the pro. It's a pretty good stick for the price. Lots of programmable buttons too. I really like all the trim wheels it has. Very good for prop sims.

[alexAlexovercozumel]

I have the pro. It's a pretty good stick for the price. Lots of programmable buttons too. I really like all the trim wheels it has. Very good for prop sims.

 

   Any advice on programimg?   I?

[JG4_Continuo]

Hey

 

Just heard that the PRO-version is not worth the money, the normal x52 is enough. I have got the normal x52 and I am happy with it.

Programming shouldn`t be a problem, the software is self-explaining...

[alexAlexovercozumel]

 

Hey

 

Just heard that the PRO-version is not worth the money, the normal x52 is enough. I have got the normal x52 and I am happy with it.

Programming shouldn`t be a problem, the software is self-explaining...

 

 I ve heard both, they say the spring is better in the pro, and maybe id gone for the x52, but can?

[ISIDA]

For two years I use this joystick. Very good choice for me.

[Bearcat]

Well if you ever get to the point where your stick starts to go south and you might consider some CH gear or some other stick other than Saitek or just a different Saitek and you don't want to loose your HOTAS consider doing something like this.. My Modded X-52. Especially if your throttle is still working good.

[alexAlexovercozumel]

Well if you ever get to the point where your stick starts to go south and you might consider some CH gear or some other stick other than Saitek or just a different Saitek and you don't want to loose your HOTAS consider doing something like this.. My Modded X-52. Especially if your throttle is still working good.

 

  My friend, hats off to you.

 

   I can barely change a flat tire, let alone mess around with electronics as you can

 

       Have youused the Saitek x52pro, or anyone you know?

 

  Watch your six!

[Bearcat]

I know a few folks.. The ones that have it have liked it. Personally I think Saitek is the best bang for the buck going if you are on a tight budget.

[CPSWolff]

I use both the Razer Nostromo and the Saitek X52 with IL2. It really makes the game easy to play.

[rush-158rush158]

I've just recently brought the X52 pro and I do like it - I'm still trying to get a setup that suits most of my flight sims  - ROF, COD, IL1946, First Eagles 2, Falcon 4, DCSWorld.

If anyone has any profiles I could try would be much appreciated.

[FuriousMeow]

I've used the $15 sticks in the game shop ~20 years ago, the CH Fighterstick, and a few other sticks, and finally settled on Saitek. I used the Saitek X36 (twice, had to purchase a used one from someone else because after 6 years the first one finally died) and loved them both, and last year purchased the X52Pro. Turned off the LEDs through the device manager but also did the magnet mod (applies to both X52 and the pro model) that greatly improved dead center responsiveness. You can google it, but here's a video to start you off:

 

The programming software I've always had problems with, and with the X52 I had problems when I upgraded to the newest i7 - USB3.0 will cause terrible system issues from boot up to shut down when the X52 is plugged into it. So best to disable USB3.0, even when I had it plugged into a USB 2.0 port with USB3.0 enabled it still crashed and caused problems. Saitek's programming suite has never worked well with me, constantly crashes and general instability.

 

I would personally never go back to CH, I did't like their sticks but their programming suite always worked well. I wouldn't do the Saitek X65 due to it's current gen fighter stick design or the Warthog either because $400+ for a joystick is not within my interests.

Edited August 30, 2013 by FuriousMeow

[Little_Finger]

i had a terrible experience with x-52 pro. It last 4 months.

Its a vey good looking hardware, nice touch, nice ergonomics but internals are low quality and poor assembled.

Switched to CH. Ergonomics could be better but internals are very well made.

[SOLIDKREATE]

I have the X-52 Pro it is a great stick. The only issue that I personally have is the trim knobs on the throttle. I can never do a 1 degree correction with them because the have a slip lock that tells you by feel when they are centered. It is like a 'snap to point' function. It really gets on my nerves at time when I'm bombing with my Stuka D5. I wish Saitek would make them digital with LED indicators that line up with a reference mark so you can look at them.

Edited October 6, 2013 by Erg./JG54_SPEKTRE

[kestrel79]

I use the mousewheel on the throttle for elevator trim. Trim up, down, and click the wheel button in for reset elevator trim. Works great. I use the two rotory trim knobs for rudder and aileron trim.

[II./JG1Krupinski]

While I do like my Saitek X52 Pro - the trim wheels are pretty offensive. First, the detents make small adjustments from center difficult at best. Next, they are crappy non-linear potentiometers. Being designed for more of a stereo application than a rotary switch, they adjust on a logarithmic scale. That isn't too bad and usable. However, as they age they will begin to 'bounce.' For example, as you adjust to bring the nose down with trim, it will first try to nose up.

 

Over the many years I've learned to use the toggle switches on the stick to trim and adjust mixtures/prop. Any more, I find this more fitting anyway.

[VBF-12_Snake9]

Had this stick for going on three years.  Haven't had any problems yet.  The greatest plus is the programmable buttons, functions.  You can even program all the hats and rotaries to hit keystrokes.  I use it or at least the throttle side with every game I play, il2, arma3, skyrim, MechWarrior, RoF.  The profile mode makes it super easy to switch between games.  I have the normal stick.  My friend had the pro version and there is hardly any real difference.  By the way his broke and mine didn't. 

[VeryOldMan]

I just got a x52 pro to replace my X45   .. mainly because i could not get my hands on a x65F in brazil.  Wel i am a bit disapointed.

 

The ergonomics are worse than x45, specially the rotaries are much more difficult to  spin with 1 finger and the positioning of buttons is worse.  The  slider int he  throttle  seems a bit easy to break, making me worried.

 

 

The precision altough is quite good. The  spring forces is  constant, altough VERY VERY weak.  THe  AB detent on the throtle is  basically  HORRIBLE. You cannot adjust  it and  on most  game sit does not mathc the  thrashold for the  WEP.

 

THe mouse controls cannot be used as extra buttons as I could in the X45.

 

In general a precise stick but with bad ergonomics.

[Matt]

You sum my experience with the X52 Pro.

I only bought it for the throttle, because i was still using my MS FFB2. The stick just felt wrong, weird proportions, very comfortable for me and just too blocky.

 

You can get rid of the (useless) afterburner detent by opening the throttle and getting rid of the rubber piece in the baseplate. Very easy to do. Not sure how they got the idea for using that rubber thing for that detent, hardly a precise method. I didn't like the rotaries either, but the slider is quite good, as long as you don't bind it to an axis that needs to be very precise (i used it for radiator mostly).

[VeryOldMan]

You sum my experience with the X52 Pro.

I only bought it for the throttle, because i was still using my MS FFB2. The stick just felt wrong, weird proportions, very comfortable for me and just too blocky.

 

You can get rid of the (useless) afterburner detent by opening the throttle and getting rid of the rubber piece in the baseplate. Very easy to do. Not sure how they got the idea for using that rubber thing for that detent, hardly a precise method. I didn't like the rotaries either, but the slider is quite good, as long as you don't bind it to an axis that needs to be very precise (i used it for radiator mostly).

 

 

I wil wait  until the 30 days warranty  expires before opening it. OThrwise i cannot return it in case of a failure. But  probably will remove that detend if its easy. I use the slider for zoom 

 

I kind  of ok with the stick. I am a ratter big guy and the size fits me, but still miss the small button on the back of the stick that the x45 had.

Edited October 9, 2013 by VeryOldMan

[Matt]

You just need to unscrew the base and pull out the rubber thing. It's not glued or anything, so you can even do it during the warranty without worrying about it and put it back in later.

[Sokol1]

The precision altough is quite good. The  spring forces is  constant, altough VERY VERY weak.  THe  AB detent on the throtle is  basically  HORRIBLE. You cannot adjust  it and  on most  game sit does not mathc the  thrashold for the  WEP.

 

THe mouse controls cannot be used as extra buttons as I could in the X45.

 

In general a precise stick but with bad ergonomics.

 

X-52/PRO work without X-52 throttle (brainless) connected.

 

Unless you X-45 are "fried", you can use X-45 throttle instead  - need connect in X-45 joystick (that contain the "brain), that you can use for less important functions, e.g. landing gear... or hidden under desk.

 

Actual games recognizes several controllers (joystick, pedal, etc) - il-2 1946 is limited to four.

 

Sokol1

Edited October 9, 2013 by Sokol1

[VeryOldMan]

But the  USB connector   come sout of the Throttle in the X52 PRO (somethign that infuriated me as well , since the positioning of my PC was so that the X45 woudl  reach it and i needed to change it).

 

My problem on the X45 is that under  Win7 64 bit I cannot use the  saitek profiles with it. As soon as i put a single command the   USB drives goes blue screen . With  the x52 pro , until now it works.

[II./JG1_StOtto]

I use both the Razer Nostromo and the Saitek X52 with IL2. It really makes the game easy to play.

I have a Razer nostromo, never thought about using it with my X52 pro. The nostromo doesn't conflict with the mouse wheel on the X52 pro? 

[Bearcat]

i had a terrible experience with x-52 pro. It last 4 months.

Its a vey good looking hardware, nice touch, nice ergonomics but internals are low quality and poor assembled.

Switched to CH. Ergonomics could be better but internals are very well made.

 

 

I disagree.... as someone who has taken more than one apart the build is not bad.. but the earlier ones were on the chintzy side.. but the newer ones are not bad.. the thing that a lot of people do with those sticks is get ham fisted .. they aren't as sturdy as the CH stuff.. but my CH pedals went south after 3 years..  That was how I got on the Saitek bit..

 

 

 

X-52/PRO work without X-52 throttle (brainless) connected.

Unless you X-45 are "fried", you can use X-45 throttle instead  - need connect in X-45 joystick (that contain the "brain), that you can use for less important functions, e.g. landing gear... or hidden under desk.

Actual games recognizes several controllers (joystick, pedal, etc) - il-2 1946 is limited to four.

 

Sokol1

 

 

I don't know if I ever told you this but you were the inspiration for my first modded X-45..

.. and my subsequent foray into changing my sticks..

 

I think I still have some pictures from some of your earlier stick mods some where. It was that and the fact that I still use a MSFFB2 as my main stick and did not want to give it up. Before I saw a post you made at UBI I was using the stick as a button bay just sitting in the corner.. Then I saw a post from you and decided to give it a go. The X-45 was very challenging but the X-52 was much easier because the stick is so modular..

 

 

I just got a x52 pro to replace my X45   .. mainly because i could not get my hands on a x65F in brazil.  Wel i am a bit disapointed.

 

The ergonomics are worse than x45, specially the rotaries are much more difficult to  spin with 1 finger and the positioning of buttons is worse.  The  slider int he  throttle  seems a bit easy to break, making me worried.

 

 

The precision altough is quite good. The  spring forces is  constant, altough VERY VERY weak.  THe  AB detent on the throtle is  basically  HORRIBLE. You cannot adjust  it and  on most  game sit does not mathc the  thrashold for the  WEP.

 

THe mouse controls cannot be used as extra buttons as I could in the X45.

 

In general a precise stick but with bad ergonomics.

 

Yeah I pretty much agree with this.. the X-45 throttle was great and I really liked the rudder rocker.. I had that banded as a switch for my flaps.. What do you mean about the mouse controls.. ? Before I got TIR I used the mouse as a hat switch.. but since then I habve been using it as a 4 way hat switch in the 12-3-6-9 oclock positions.. I have my zoom on there.. and I used the SST software to set the 3 & 9 positions as incremental zoom in and out with settings of  .060  press of .005 repeat and a  .010 release.

[VeryOldMan]

At least here the mouse doe snothing unless i install the HID drivers. But those make  my machine unstable. In The X45   i did not need  those drivers to use the mouse control as a mini hatch .

[Sokol1]

OldMan

 

X-45 "porcupine":

 

http://img-fotki.yandex.ru/get/4903/16109922.2/0_acd2c_ca335819_L.jpg

 

 

Sokol1

[LordNeuro*Srb*]

I have a qvestion about using old joystick and making a trottle like thise

I have logitech attack 3 jostick ( http://www.egyrl.com/image/cache/data/logitech/50-156x156.jpg)

using it for flying and i have a genius F31U vibration jostick(http://static.productreview.com.au/pr.products/94101_genius_maxfighter_f31u_vibration_joystick.jpg)

So is there any option to make a somthing like the above picture for trotle controle or no. And i have logitech driving wheel and pedals theat i use for ruder.

[Sokol1]

Neuro,

 

You can convert you F31U in throttle... depends on your D.I.Y. skill.

Basically is need know how solder and have appropriated tools, basic on electricity, or that + and - dont mix.

For Windows/Games dont matter if a device is a stick or throttle, depends on how are set.

 

Example, this: http://img392.imageshack.us/img392/5065/swdstrikesc6as9.jpg

Are turned in this: http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/5150/tg04ab7.jpg

Dont win a design contest but is better to accelerate than a keyboard or the small lever on joystick base.

 

Anothers "transformer": http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/1584/logitrekowe2.jpg

http://img60.exs.cx/img60/3407/cimg03902ij.jpg

 

Contrary to what some people seem to believe, there is no alien technology inside  joysticks, only common and cheap components.

 

Sokol1

 

 

[LordNeuro*Srb*]

Thx for replay and guides Sokol1. Unfortenelty my skill in twekeng thise things is none but i will tray to make somthing out of it. Thx u wery much for replay and help.

[[JG2]Surf]

I've been using the X52 Pro for years. I recommend doing the detent mod on the throttle.

 

 

[[JG2]Fenderalac]

Nice spaceship Surf!

[CreepiJim]

I hope you guys can help with with an issue...

 

I am using the X52 for some month now and wanted to set it up for BoS. However, I can't bind more than one keypress to any button on the stick with the Saitek software.

 

As an easy example: F for flaps down and Shift + F for flaps up. Flaps down works like a charm, but flaps up does not. Hitting shift on the keyboard and the T1 switch moves the flaps up.

 

In the profile test shift is pressed until the switch is back into neutral, so something seems to hinder the stick from repeating (or holding) the key modifier. Also true for two letters. Instead of A+B, only A is repeated and not B.

I tried macros, delays, reverse order and even some other games and profiles. Always the same: Only one key press is recognized and repeated.

 

I hope some can help me out, otherwise I use this POS joystick as my next shotgun target.

 

Thanks in advance!

[[JG2]Surf]

I do most of the mapping for BoS within the BoS interface. Flaps up and down are mapped to my Pro's throttle hat up/down. Works great for me.

Nice spaceship Surf!

 

Thanks Fen! BTW, My MFD's are now in the 'up' position.

[CreepiJim]

I figured it out now...but I do have to program advanced commands with 0.02ms delay for the second key, which most do not have to do (looking at other profiles). Pretty strange.

 

But the inverted axis mapping in IL2 caused my first take-off attempts to be quite painful. That made the first successful take-off with the config very satisfying.

[=TM=Jgsup]

I use the mousewheel on the throttle for elevator trim. Trim up, down, and click the wheel button in for reset elevator trim. Works great. I use the two rotory trim knobs for rudder and aileron trim.

If I may ask, how did you get the two rotary knobs to work?? I've tried everything and I can't get them to function in game.  I can map them for the appropriate trim but, in-game they do not function.  HELP!

Edited December 8, 2013 by =TM=Jgsup

[Bearcat]

I thought trim was still not working yet.

[beepee]

I thought trim was still not working yet.

From everything I have seen this is the case. No trim yet.

 

I'm still having throttle mapping issues.

 

I'm using an X52, and even when I follow instructions from other threads in the forum I am getting reversed mapping.

 

Anyway, I have had my X52 for quite over 5 years now, and the only problem has been the 'mushy' spring on the stick. I fixed it by inserting plastic disks (from the top of a DVD spindle) in between the base of the stick and the spring.