Joystick preferences ?

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I recently bought ELITE DANGEROUS and im kind of tired of using keyboard and mouse to control my ships. I want to buy a joystick but im not really sure what I want.
do I need a joystick and separate speed controller, or would it be fine with a joystick and keyboard? I have been looking at the peripherals on the sales part of the site and like the look of the Saitek X52.
has anyone got or used one of these, what are your thoughts?

also , does anyone have any suggestions for good flight games?
 
I have a X52 I bought from a well known PC store last year and only used a few times then had to move so it's boxed up sat doing nothing,if you're interested?
 
I've yet to purchase ED but I've used many joysticks over the years. I currently have two sticks, a Logitech Extreme 3D Pro for the simpler games like Wings Remastered, and a Thrustmaster Cougar + pedals full HOTAS for the big stuff. The latter has been in a box for many months.
 
Thrustmaster T Flight HOTAS X PC good deal for £31.99 ?

cant mention the place as i think they are a competitor of ocuk
 
Are hints allowed?

very first or 2nd entry on google shopping ;)

found 2 places that have it in stock. £30.45 inc del on one and £35.98 inc del on the other.

Never used either of them before though!

edit: ordered the one at £30.45 if i get an email saying its not in stock (even tho website said it was) then ill cancel
 
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For entry level into the game the Thrustmaster T Flight is OK. But if you get involved with Elite you will find the lack of buttons frustrating.

Although some have been concerned about build quality, the Saitek X52 or X55 are the way to go. The X55 is the more modern product and seems to have better compatibility especially if you have USB3.0.

There is the much more expensive Thrustmaster Hotas but, the joystick doesn't twist so you can't do roll / yaw manoeuvres that easily
 
still havent received my Thrustmaster i ordered from clubprivate. They are based in Germany and are supposed to have a base/warehouse in UK but their London number nobody ever answers. So 2 weeks since i ordered...will wait a couple more days if it doesnt turn up then ill raise a paypal dispute. Just a warning to other folk who might think about ordering from them.
 
I got myself one of those X52 pro Joysticks ...and I wish I had not bothered , the joystick itself seems dead in the water even though the power LED on its base unit lights up , and the leads that come with it are stupidly short .....in fact I have never been able to get a joystick that actually works as it should
 
I also have an X52 Pro. I find it fine. I don't have a problem with cable length as I have a 3 metre usb extension cable. Works fine for me. Get the odd occasion where the LED's on the throttle don't light up properly at boot. Still works ok though. I took out the throttle detent as its annoying in Elite Dangerous.
 
My X52Pro is doing just fine too, it's a good few years old now and still going strong, no problems at all with cable length whatsoever.
 
Cheap:

Thrustmaster T.16000M
+ Incredibly accurate due to hall effect sensor and comfortable to use
+ Ambidextrous, suitable for paired dual-stick use
- Limited base buttons, which aren't visibly numbered.
- Base throttle is as basic as it gets.

Thrustmaster T-Flight HOTAS-X
+ Has a functional throttle unlike most in this price range.
+ Value for money
- Some complain the cable connecting throttle/stick is too short.

Mid range

X52 or X52 Pro (Get the pro if you can - it's not just a cosmetic upgrade)
+ Proper stick and throttle combination with tons of functionality.
+ Proven build quality.
+ Can be bought very cheaply second hand as people upgrade to the X55/Warthog.
- Stick is far from the best, however if it's your first HOTAS you probably won't realise how poor it is. (I owned one for 7 years before realising..)

Upper

X55 (note early models had quality control issues)

+ Ludicrous amounts of functionality.
+ Stick is improved on the X52/X52 Pro
- Worth the cash over an X52 Pro? (I'd say yes)

Warthog

+ Everything
- Now you can't eat for a month
- You forgot you need pedals as the stick doesn't have a twist axis



For reference I use a combination of the peripherals I found best personally. T.16000M stick, CH Pro throttle and Saitek Cessna Pro pedals. I did previously own an X52 and have several flight sim friends and family members. The only stick I haven't personally used on this list is the T-flight. If I was pushed and asked to pick a set from the above list it'd be the X55, I did really like it but I'd still pair it with pedals. I'd mention CH products but frankly getting them in the UK is a pain, I had to import my throttle from the US (only cost £75 at the time).
 
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