I have at least two, maybe three X-52s in the house. I bought two brand new for the boys last year…so I can borrow one of theirs. And I think I might have a 3rd X-52 up in the attic…so I definitely can be back in the air soon. I am thinking about ordering the Warthog Stick base from Office Depot and giving it a shot…if it doesn’t work I can return it…
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what about looking at the Winwing stuff ?
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Generally I’m inclined to agree completely with this, as it is an amazing base when used in concert with TM sticks, and frankly highlights how outdated the Warthog base is. But, if memory serves, I think @BeachAV8R is on a glass desk for simming, yes? Two reasons this gives me hesitation:
-I feel the Warbrd is a bit too tall when used with TM sticks to be comfortable to use on top of a desk
-The solve for this would be to get desk mounts (from Virpl, Monstertech, or fox Mount), but I’d not want to clamp to a glass table top.
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Good point about clamping a mount to a glass surface, and the WarBRD is a little taller than the Warthog base.
I had such a frustrating time juggling the height of the controller mounts for my desk height (Yoke sitting on/above the desk made it too high…vs using MonsterTech mounts for my HOTAS. I ended up buying a height adjustable desk. I raise or lower it as needed when I swap out controllers. It’s awesome, but not exactly a frugal solution.
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The Magnetic base is the same as the Warthog base,
They changed the name for marketing purposes since they sell multiple grips now.
Also, Stick PCB isnt 100% easy switch, there’s some wires that are soldered on the PCB.
Hi BeachAV8R, did you ever resolve your issue with the Hotas Warthog Stick? I’m having the exact same problem with mine at the moment. Did you look at the DIN connector by any chance?
Hi @skydaver and welcome to Mudspike.
@BeachAV8R is taking a break from the forums, but as a fellow Warthog owner maybe a solution to your problem is, as you said, with the DIN connector?
A few years ago my stick suddenly decided it wasn’t going to work - literally one second it was fine, next nothing. When I checked the properties, it wasn’t seeing the axes or POV hat, none of the buttons worked except for the trigger (Button 1) and when I pulled that all the buttons lit up - see below:
One of the wires from the connector in the base had come adrift. The soldering is quite weak and there was just enough flex in the wires that over time the solder ‘snapped’. I’m not very good at soldering so I fixed it with a ‘conductive glue’ - https://www.wireglue.us/ Then sealed it with a blob of hot glue so it wouldn’y come apart again. It is still working fine nearly four years later.
It isn’t hard to disassemble the base to get at the connector, I just followed a YouTube vid.
All that said it is apparently easy to fry the PCB, especially if you disconnect or reconnect the handle when it is powered up. I have heard that even flashing the frimware is frought with danger? But in any case it is worth the effort to check the DIN connector before you bin it.
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Thanks for the reply, that’s a pity @BeachAV8R is away, my snag is identical in every way to his. I read of another similar issue where the DIN was found pushed in slightly and when rectified cured the snag. Mine however looks fine (solders too) but maybe something is breaking down inside the connector or one of the pin receivers are pushed back? Going to try some conductive paste in the connector next to see if that helps.
No problem. But if it isn’t showing in ‘Game Controllers’ it isn’t looking good… At least these days there are other high end options if you don’t want to replace it with another Warthog stick.
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It’s likely in Safe/Recovery Mode…
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New controls were on my radar anyway, i was contemplating selling on the Warthog, typical it would have to act up now after all these years. I enjoy Heli flying so was leaning towards Virpil cm3 and collective, any ideas?
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I am contemplating a Virpil collective with a Constellation Alpha left hand grip for choppers… But I won’t be replacing joystick and throttle. If I was I would probably be leaning towards Winwing and getting the Orion 2 base with the Blackshark collective and F18 throttles
From what I have heard it isn’t worth the extra $120 for the Virpil ‘extra’ base with throttle twist grip. That was in the context of DCS modules, it might be a different story for MSFS?
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A lot of research ahead for sure, i love the look of the monstertech chair and the Virpil bits hanging off it… We can dream anyway😉
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I have the Virpil T-50CM2 base and stick with S-curve extension.
When I saw the T-50CM3 stick base announcement, with the dampers and the non-centering stick ability with a few screws, I almost wished I had flown with the T.16000M for another 3 years. Looks absolutely amazing for helicopter flying.
Do get the S-curve extension if you have any means of putting the stick’s base at chair level or slightly below, it makes a huge difference!
I agree with @Harry_Bumcrack : I don’t think Virpil’s collective unit is super special, and if you can get a similar collective for less, go for it. The Orion unit is very smart in the way it is modular and can be a collective and/or a throttle.
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I heard from one source that the cm3 isn’t as perfect as its made out in regards non centering. But not sure how fussy they were being? Still maybe one of the best. Only other issue i see with it is Virpil only mention one stick being compatible, the alpha prime. Can anyone confirm that?
Yeah the Orion looks very good too, very practical if I’m going to get rid of my Warthog throttle.
