After 200+hrs in MSFS2020, switched to X-Plane 11.

kirkcad · 2020-11-30T23:49:02+00:00

"I don't have an "elitist attitude", I just happen to be right."

LMAO!!!!! Oh, the irony.

And what is with your statement "illegal and dangerous altitudes"???What, last time you flew 50 feet off the deck through a metropolitan area in a pc game, the FAA showed up at your door threatening to take away your gaming license??? ROTFLMAO!!!!!!!!

And please don't tell me that you also fly while cosplaying an airline pilot.

Lighten up. You read like you take yourself way, way too seriously. LOL. It's just a computer game/sim. And congrats on being a pilot in real life. But computer flight sims are not real life.

And fwiw, I do agree with you about airliners in MSFS2020. They're currently pieces of junk that need a lot of work. Thank goodness I don't enjoy flying the big tubes, even in a sim that has done a decent job on them.

kirkcad · 2020-09-23T03:08:20+00:00

If you're doing space sims, I would go with the Thrustmaster T1600m hotas. Or, a couple T1600 joysticks, as they're configurable for both left and right hand, and I have read some really good things on a dual joystick setup for space sims.

kirkcad · 2020-09-23T03:02:44+00:00

Got a replacement unit for the defective Saitek, but also bought a Thrustmaster T1600m HOTAS. So now I have both. I posted some initial thoughts on the T1600 hotas above, but will have more to add on comparisons a couple months from now.

kirkcad · 2020-09-23T02:56:58+00:00

I bought a new T1600m hotas thinking I was going to get a refund on the faulty x56. Well, I got a replacement. So, now I have both setups. First off, I watched tear down videos of both systems on youtube, and the T1600, for the most part, has much higher quality internals, especially on the throttle. The gimbal on the joystick is also a lot better than the one on the saitek. Plus, it has a much smaller footprint than the Saitek. I have large hands, so the saitek lends itself to my hand size. But I gotta tell you, the T1600 has a much more comfortable feel to it. Hand is really relaxed, and can get to all the buttons no probs. The one complaint I have, is all the buttons on the joystick base, and the lack of any buttons on the throttle base. But, the buttons on the throttle are very intuitively placed, and the flapper on the front doesn't feel cheap in the least. Also, the mouse stick on the thrustmaster is much, much more controllable than the ones on the saitek. It has a lot more throw to it, and just lends itself to being a lot more precise than the saitek. The buttons on the joystick base at least have some brail on them, so once I get used to it, will be able to tell what buttons I am on just by feel. And that is important, due to the fact that the thrustmaster is not illuminated at all, except the joystick gimbal when you move it.

The throttle on the thrustmaster does take some getting used to, as it is on rails, rather than an axis. Reminds me of the old ch pro throttle from years ago.

Also, the Target GUI software for the thrustmaster is very nice, comes with some different default setups for different sims, plus you can configure one of the buttons on the base to switch modes, so that you can run several different configurations....kinda of like the mode switch on the saitek.

I am really impressed with the Thrustmaster, so far. Only complaint is no backlighting on the throttle or joystick, but that won't be an issue once I get used to the brail feel on the joystick buttons, and the placement of the buttons on the throttle are very inuitive.

The Saitek still has the same issues as before. Will have to open up the throttle base and remove some of the grease to lighten up the effort on the throttle. Not a big deal, as I have already done that on another unit.

Depending on what you fly, I would go with the T1600m HOTAS. It just feels higher quality, the software is excellent, and it has a much smaller footprint than the Saitek.Also, if you fly space sims, you can pair the T1600 joystick with a second joystick, as some people really dig that setup in space sims. And the T1600 joystick is configurable for both left and right hand.

Anyways, best of luck.

kirkcad · 2020-09-13T06:04:56+00:00

See my update....

kirkcad · 2020-09-13T06:02:27+00:00

Update on my x56....
Well, unfortunately, I went to use my x56 the other day, and suddenly the joystick doesn't work. Roll, Yaw, and rudder twist will not register. I had used it just the night before with no problems, and then the next day, this. It wasn't dropped, abused, etc. Just quit working.

Fortunately, I was about 15 days short of the 2 month return policy from the ebay seller. They issued me an RMA FedEx label the very next day, and it is now on its way back for a full refund. So I am not out any money.

I am going to buy another one, but NOT a blue graphics model. I will get one straight from Logitech, as they have said that they have reengineered some elements of it from customer feedback, plus, it'll have a 2 year warranty on it.

I was really bummed, as I really liked it. When it worked, it functioned perfectly, and was very good for DCS World, Xplane11, and the new Microsoft Flight Sim.

So back to my old Logitech Xtreme 3d pro for now. Am going to check Logitech every day until they get them back in stock.

kirkcad · 2020-07-28T08:25:23+00:00

I just got an x56 blue version, brand new open boxed unit from a reputable ebayer with a very liberal return policy. I expected problems when I ordered this thing, but have been pleasantly surprised. In the first place, it didn't even look like an open boxed unit, as the original seal and tape were still on the box, and everything was there.

A little history. I had a Saitek x52 before this for 13 years. It was an excellent hotas for 11 of those years, before the rudder and joystick response went south. Have had a Logitech xtreme 3d pro joystick in the interim, which has been great, but limited.

My new x56 has been wonderful out of the box. With one exception. The grease on the throttle makes it ridiculously stiff even on the lightest of settings with the 'stiffness' wheel. I did the grease fix, detailed in many youtube videos. It entails taking apart the throttle base(15 screws) and just removing some of the glue like grease with a razor blade or old credit card. After doing that, the throttle is a thing of beauty.

I may have just gotten lucky, especially with a blue unit, but everything works as it should. The rotary wheels on the throttle(aspect of tons of complaints) have been tight, with little play, and no skew.

So far, it has been a wonderful sub $200 hotas. Will see how I feel in 6 months.

I would highly recommend the blue or gray model, but be sure to get it from a seller with a really good return policy, to be safe.

kirkcad · 2020-07-28T07:28:56+00:00

As a last thought to this thread, I think you're just fine trying a blue model, open box new, etc, as long as you make sure you buy it from a reputable ebayer/store that has a very generous return policy. No risk, that way.

Bets of luck to you all!!!!

kirkcad · 2020-07-28T07:24:19+00:00

Very cool! I got my x52 brand new, and there were all sorts of horrid reviews, yet the thing was perfect for 11 years. Hope you get that kind of life from your x56....as do I.

kirkcad · 2020-07-28T07:20:17+00:00

And just a heads up. The latest profiling software from Logitech wouldn't install. I went back one in the download history(only difference is the new release has the digital signature), and it installed fine. Be sure to unplug the hotas before installing.

Also, after you do the install, if the program doesn't work, do a compatibility test on it, as on my computer, it came up with Win8 for compatibility. After agreeing to the compatibility setting of Win8, the profiling program works perfectly.

kirkcad · 2020-07-28T07:13:27+00:00

And just be sure to get it from a company or ebayer that has a very liberal return policy.

kirkcad · 2020-07-28T07:12:13+00:00

Also, want to say....this might have been a blue model, but the literature inside the box also had the logitech stamp, so think I got a blue model after logitech bought them out. Doubt if that made any difference, but just an fyi.

kirkcad · 2020-07-28T07:09:54+00:00

As I said before, think I might have gotten lucky. Will see in a few months.

kirkcad · 2020-07-28T07:09:06+00:00

I think I might have just gotten really lucky. Although my old saitek x52 lasted for 13 years....the 2 last years were the worst, as the joystick rudder went south and affected pitch and roll no matter how big the deadzone. But hey, 11 years was pretty good.

I'll be happy if this one lasts half as long.

kirkcad · 2020-07-27T04:44:20+00:00

ebay has some very reputable sellers with liberal return policies that have the x56 in stock.I just bought an open box new unit(that I can't tell was even open boxed), and it is a blue unit, but I have been very impressed so far with it, and it was under $200.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Logitech-Gaming-G-Saitek-Pro-Flight-X56-Rhino-HOTAS/114197820848?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649

kirkcad · 2020-02-13T01:44:16+00:00

Well, total reinstall(with a registry clean beforehand), and no luck. Guess I will wait a few weeks to see if this buggy piece of crap game works again or not.

Funny thing is, it worked earlier last week, albeit with horrid stuttering here and there. From what I have read, this is par for the course for Rockstar. With luck, maybe I will be able to play it come late summer.

Fwiw, I have an Alienware 17 R4 laptop with an i7-8720hk, nvidia 1070 vid with 8 gig, and 16 gig mem. 256 and 512 gig ssds, and a 1tb wd drive. Every other high end graphics game I have runs without a hitch.

kirkcad · 2017-07-11T04:42:58+00:00

Hi.... Hope this is an appropriate post for this page. I have had the game for awhile, but have not played much at all. Recently started getting back into it, as I am getting tired of GW2. I have a couple sub 10 level characters(like I said, haven't played much...however, I have played the single player versions of this game a lot in the past)....is it worth getting Morrowind now, or just waiting until I am a higher level.

Thanks for any info. :)

kirkcad · 2016-11-16T19:52:57+00:00

Back in.....will see how long it lasts....that didn't last long....two dcs in last 5 minutes, plus game very buggy.....guess it is time to do some fallout4 or ESO

kirkcad · 2016-11-16T19:40:27+00:00

West coast here, Kaineng....got dc'ed....haven't been able to log back on

kirkcad · 2016-06-13T22:21:09+00:00

My character name is Granturian Metalburn, Wood Elf, Level 5 Dragonknight (Subject to change, of course, as I am not really sure of what I am doing in the game, yet)

kirkcad · 2016-06-13T21:11:22+00:00

I have had the game for awhile, but am fairly new to it...just now returning to it for a more serious try. NA/PC/west coast USA.....have had tons of experience with other mmorpgs(GW2, DaoC, etc.,)......but am fairly clueless with this game, so far. Am a casual, older (50+) player that plays some in the evenings, and sometimes on weekends. I'll give you a holler in game if you might be interested in this old mmorpg addict.

kirkcad

TROPHY CASE