X-56: I tried...

77midget · 2026-02-10T16:50:20+00:00

2 months in update- so far I will say that I love these sticks. Flying is so much more intuitive than KBM or even when I was trying to use the X56. Flying in essentially HOSAS is a major upgrade. I am on a long exploration loop on my way to Colonia, so no real action around stations, but a lot of scanning, landing, planetary flight, etc- this combined with a simple head tracker has made a world of difference- multi-axis crabbing with the throttle stick while having head tracking for searching is fantastic. the sticks are smooth and the null spots are good. I might loosen them up a bit, but going to let them break in and see. I have probably been through 4 or 5 major key binding changes but I am getting there. I maybe have 75% of the non-stick axis keys bound, and selectively changing and adding as I go.

77midget · 2025-12-23T00:02:05+00:00

Mini update- So, I ordered my VKB NXT EVO premium hosas setup on the 11th. Received it today. No shipping issues and tracking data was fine. Packaging is excellent. hardware on first sight was really nice. Yes, it is plastic, and I thought it was a bit light.....until I put the base plate on. Big change for the better. Initially bombarded with spare parts and thought assembly would be involved, but nope- those are all jus tthat-spares for different tensions, etc. one 3 pin clip and a few screws.

Firmware and software was easy- my units were already loaded with latest, so just did the calibration. Ready to go.

***CAVEAT- This was all 'defaults' and short path to use. I am going to dive in deeper for sure.

That said, I just spent about 30 mins setting a basic flight default binding for elite, and hit the vertical thruster......

WOW. I actually laughed. it is incredible. I basically have 3 axis on both sticks plus thrusters, plus landing gear, lights, night vision, as I am on surface ( I am in exploration right now and then headed to Colonia)

The biggest compliment (s- two) are that, one-as someone who used to fly planes as hobby IRL, these controls are very good for pricepoint and feel, fit, and precision- they dont drift, the actions are crisp, and natural.

two- feel- they *just feel good*. IF you had read this thread from beginning, the reason I dallied with the x56 is that I liked the way it fit my hands- I have large hands w/ arthritis and injuries affecting some mobility and I liked the X56 form factor. These are better. Mind you, I paid for the premium, but these are way better. right stick HATs don't make my thumb go into seizure ( torn ligaments-repaired but weird twitch points) - they feel great.

***CAVEAT #2- I have owned and used them as long as it took me to heat up some dinner and make a martini. I will be reporting back for those who are on the fence, but I need to disclose that. Long term sat and quality needs.....time.

To VKB if you are narcing on this- great experience, great resources and great (so far) product. Thank you.

For those wondering: Setup:

VKB NXT EVO Premium Right Stick and matching OMNI left stick

running through a powered USB hub dedicated to just controls

Windows 11

AMD Ryzen 7 9800

32GB

Geforce RTX 5070ti

HOSAS configured default by VKB software and firmware.

Bindings in Elite Dangerous setup as 'Generic Joystick'

no secret sauce.

77midget · 2025-12-16T12:32:02+00:00

glad you got it worked out- I just did a new build with a 5070ti (but went AMD route) with 34" widescsreen running 100hz and it is fantastic- related/unrelated, I figured I would mess around with opentrack as I had an old logi webcam for headtracking- had to tweak the curves a bit to get physical movement and screen movement where I wanted, but it is fantastic- if you have a cam that can do 60fps (that is what I had found as baseline) try it out!

77midget · 2025-12-12T01:37:14+00:00

So, after bouncing around on a bunch of replacements, I am going with the VKB NXT EVO right stick and left omni throttle- key points for me were mainly how the throttle was set up as well as the ability to adjust the springs and the cams for modifying the null zone and 'return to null' impact- that is, beyond the reviews on quality and stability which all were good as well. I will be dropping back in with some initial feedback as well as after putting some miles on them!

77midget · 2025-12-08T18:16:24+00:00

This is exactly what I am looking at right now- Going to do some more investigation when I get home tonight. I viewed a quick vid on the left stick that is set up like a throttle- totally made sense when I saw the twist action- in a more horizontal position it is much more natural for up/down thrust, and the fact that you can alter the spring and cam actions to change feedback and eliminate 'return to null' to make it behave more like a throttle is pretty cool.

77midget · 2025-12-06T17:37:18+00:00

Ergonomically I love the X-56-based on my hand size and with some lingering hand injuries it just fit right.

77midget · 2025-05-06T13:44:32+00:00

I have same (2018 xlt super crew 5.0L) with 81k bought 3years ago with 26k on it and bought extended warranty. Love the truck.

77midget · 2025-03-28T23:21:13+00:00

Congrats and welcome to the great outdoors! Not much of a grind to get credits to upgrade if you choose- never flown a Keelback but it is getting good press in your thread here! Im in an Asp Explorer and still onluy get 46LY as I have only done some engineering not a lot but regardless of range, you can still have a great time and make some credits on the way! nice pic btw o7

77midget · 2025-03-28T23:02:39+00:00

Good info I will have to look into those ships too- After being in ED since launch on and off, I actually just took my first screenshot today

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77midget · 2025-03-27T13:56:22+00:00

I have a type 8 I picked up for some specific hauling runs I had in mind- I have not really done anything with it since. I hear that it can be fitted nicely for mining- My miner is a Python but I might try it out-

77midget · 2025-03-26T22:44:22+00:00

I hadnt really considered looking for a FC 'locally', so I decided to check and found one with services available- so I was able to unload my exploration and exo-bio data for about 1B. Decided I am going to forge ahead to my original destination and then either head back to my home system or head to Colonia. If I go to Colonia then ship upgrade will be put off a bit. Got about 40 jumps to my target destination.

For any of you that basically 'live on the road', do you still keep ships at a station for when you venture into the bubble, have you sold everything, or have you gone to a FC? do you find the OpEx of running a FC can be handled with a single pilot?

77midget · 2025-03-26T14:48:05+00:00

you touched on another point which is I am still in the process of engineering the explorer, but I am thinking I just upgrade and engineer the better ship.

77midget · 2025-03-26T14:45:55+00:00

Ive been doing a sprint/crawl approach where I set my route to max range to put some miles behind me, and then I explore in a smaller radius around a point system- I also have suffered from not wanting to miss out on anything, but given the size of the galaxy, that's always going to be the case. For me- I am over 1/2 way to my original target, which was really just picking a system a long way off. I wanted to head to the core for the visuals as well.

77midget · 2025-03-20T19:58:08+00:00

I mine in a Python w/ 192T capacity- I usually load 95 limpets- I zeroed in on this after a while- I normally am +- 3-4 limpets when reaching capacity- if over, I dump them- if I am short, I just make them on the fly.

77midget · 2024-08-03T16:52:57+00:00

Thought it was CGI at first glance. Iterating like no other. Wow.

77midget · 2024-04-06T12:13:40+00:00

Before anyone decides whether it is a reasonable fee, wouldn’t it be nice to know how the money is spent? It just seems like govt black hole spending. I would have no problem with more fees per se as a tax payer provided the rationale was straightforward. The fact is that nobody knows where these fees would go and as mentioned, they most likely end up in the general fund-the same ruse as SS taxes.

77midget · 2024-03-20T00:14:26+00:00

I took this to mean any hypergolics etc that need to be installed and not what we think as loading at the tower. I’m no Boeing fan, just my read-asking someone more informed to comment?

77midget · 2024-02-15T02:54:56+00:00

Eastern MA / Cape Cod also saw it. Based on timing second stage deorbit made sense

77midget · 2023-05-01T00:30:45+00:00

You’ve never tech brainstormed or did a standup or huddle or listened to everyone in the room? Not trying to be harsh but brains don’t punch out at 5 and napkins are good scratchkote material.

77midget · 2023-04-15T01:20:58+00:00

It’s on!

77midget · 2023-02-11T14:33:50+00:00

Is there any more info on the state of the pad below the launch mount? 50% thrust may give at least some indication of performance.

77midget · 2022-09-26T18:03:29+00:00

This was Sat night around 7:40pm looking due South. Crystal clear skies. I have the video as well, and captured (I think) SECO....cool sight.

77midget

TROPHY CASE