Saitek PS28 X52 Flight Control System

First, a short plug for AMAZON: They've provided the SAITEK X52 at a terrific Christmas price, delivering it with flawless service!!! Kudos to all of you at Amazon.com! Happy New Year!I own and operate the Thrustmaster Cougar and now have the Saitek X52 to compare. First of all, they are similar and different but you can't fully appreciate one without knowing the other. This is a terrific opportunity to do a head to head comparison.The X52 is simply a delightful work of art. It is beautiful sitting on my desk in the dark with it's illuminated buttons, switches and most of all the throttle's blue, backlit LCD. I wouldn't have believed I could own such technology for approximately one Ben Franklin but it's true and I'm in a little bliss over this new, superb flight control system.THE GOOD X52There's so much to say about this pair of controllers and almost all of it is positive. The aesthetics are unpretentiously modern star wars motif. The textured black on silver puts one to mind of a new stereo outfit. The little rubber inset grippers on the rotaries, dials and POVs are very appealing but the configurable intensity blue LEDs and LCD are so peerless that a smile is invoked every time I look the controls over. You can move the hand rest for the flight stick to five positions. This should accommodate a range of large to small hands nicely as the POVs, buttons and mode switch are put in effortless reach of thumb, index and pinky fingers. The stick has a short rotational throw with "relatively" strong spring resistance for rudder control. This is one 3D stick that doesn't seem to produce an affect on the X and Y axes when the rudder twist is engaged. There's a lock at the base of the stick to eliminate the rudder function but isn't especially necessary if you don't wish to use the stick's rudder feature. It really doesn't seem to interfere at any time.The SST programming software can be optionally installed. In other words, you can keep things bare bone simple by allowing the buttons to be assigned to basic tasks within a game. You lose a great deal of potential function by not programming the X52 but you will still have a very powerful controller even in its most basic form. The SST isn't exactly intuitive but with a few hours of reading the installed Profile Editor's manual, under the HELP tab, and some experimentation, you will be amazed and pleased by a powerful and well thought out programming interface. You can really open up the interface by switching from a 3D display to a tabled "Data View". It seems as though there is no limit to the variation and combination of switch settings with 3 Modes and six base toggle positions. Like the Cougar, you can continue to multiply function by invoking the pinky button while selecting what a button, slider or POV will do. You have a micro stick on the throttle that will most likely be used as a mouse control. There's a hat on the throttle as well as a thumbwheel that operates very much like the thumbwheel mouse button combination on modern pc mice. The fore mentioned Slider and Thumbwheel are not on the Cougar's throttle but the X52 lacks the dogfight and Speed Brake switches. All else has comparable counter parts. The Cougar and X52 flight sticks are also close in features. The X52 lacks two POVs but has a 3 position rotary and six toggles on the base. The flip-up cover for the primary pickle button on the X52 stick is an Easter egg to me. Some might consider it a nuisance or waste but it can be left in the up position and poses no restrictions for critics. I find it an appealing item that shows a playful and generous attitude on the part of Saitek's engineering team. Another nice item is the small green power LEDs on the X52 controls. Again, it may be unnecessary but why not? There's a space for them and if you should choose to turn the LEDs and LCD backlighting to the off option, you'll still know your units are powered up.THE BAD X52Hardly worth mentioning when considering the incredible price! The units are very light weight; less than a pound for the throttle and perhaps a little more than that for the stick. Unless fastened down or minimum resistance is set for the throttle, you will be tipping and sliding it around when throwing the handle forward or back. I haven't wanted / bothered to install the supplied suction cups so that may be the way to go for many users. Suction cups aren't for me though. The action of the flight stick's axes is so light that you will require some practice getting used to a feather touch for control. It can be readily done but may not be immediately what you want for confidence inducing sensory resistance. I am happy with the action now but initially it didn't feel right. You might wish the flight stick handle to sit an inch lower as the zero contact design seems to have elevated the stick a bit more than it would be otherwise. If you can mount the stick a little lower than desk top level you might like the stick height a little bit more. Also, there is no solid detent for the idle and afterburner on the throttle. The resistance at least doubles when these boundaries are engaged and I do know that I have reached them but the familiar snick into a detent is what I'm used to and thus it doesn't feel quite right at this stage of my introduction to the X52. It's not a disaster without the detents and the lack of them may prove to be an absent point of wear that won't become an issue one day.The SST programmer interface lacks the availability of a REMark statement but a comment can be made to momentarily appear on the throttle's LCD when a button press or macro is engaged. This quieted that lacking REMark complaint to a barely audible murmur from me. To see a short definition of a key press on the LCD adds to a sense of total technology coolery.The multi language hardcopy manual looks loaded and promising but once opened you will be disappointed in the 30 pages of pertinent information that in part is a warrantee disclaimer and Saitek contact information. The manual that gets installed with the SST software doesn't mention the X52 at all but refers to the X36 and X45. One reference to setting milisecond timing for keypresses isn't correct with this version of the SST. There's still enough help available to understand the X52 adequately and it's a good guess that an update help system is in the making. By contrast the Cougar has an excellent hardcopy manual but in just a few hours I feel I know as much about the X52 as I do of the Cougar after two years of intermittent exposure. Sometimes less can be more.The SST programming software lacks a literal KEYTEST applet, as well as many other FOXY like application and programming aids. Any of the FOXY like applets would be a terrific addition to an otherwise great programming interface. I might add that within the X52's control panel is a TEST tab. When testing each button, POV, mode switch and rotary, there's has been an ever so slight jittering in one or the other rotaries. Right now, I'm seeing nothing so I won't know how that will fair in the future but for now, it is not a problem to me and at present, doesn't even exist.THE FINAL CONSENSUSQuality, at least in part, is in the eye of the beholder. The Saitek X52 is light weight plastic. The Thrustmaster is heavy duty aluminum. You can never compare the two on a price level. The Cougar's FOXY programming language interface with all it's tutorials, keytest applications and interactive graphical interface is without comparison. The X52 simply is no match for these two features. But the Cougar is more than twice the price and doesn't have the LEDs and informational mode LCD with three time zones, button engagement information and timer. But, in the end neither really performs any greater or less than the other. One is a Honda and the other is a Hummer. They're both terrific and will get you reliably to your destination. I wouldn't want to choose between them and I'd rather own them both if possible. If you want the most expensive and robust feel that performs extensively and well, then you need the Cougar. If want the coolest looking, feature laden outfit available, go for the X52. I love the X52. I won't know how it will work in two years like I know of the Cougar but for the moment, I'm a coon in a cabbage patch.

I purchased the Saitek X52 for use with Flight Simulator X (FSX) on PC about 4 months prior to this review. For the price point and the quality that I expected, this is a fantastic control system. This set worked right out of the box without any software installation on Windows 8.1 and Windows 10, and FSX detected the X52 without any configuration within the program, other than assigning buttons to the desired function.The Saitek X52 is decently constructed, I would rate the quality of materials 7/10, which at first glance may not sound too appealing, but for me to go above a 7, this equipment would have to feel like real flight controls on a real aircraft, which--they don't. But they come close. For those looking at this set for FSX, it is a fantastic choice. Intuitive, easy to set up and use, and feels great controlling aircraft both small and large.Pros: * Works out of the box with Windows 8.1 and Windows 10 and is immediately detected for use in FSX * Decently constructed, materials don't feel like real flight controls, but don't feel cheap * Intuitive and comfortable * Blue lighted buttons are a great touch and add to the realism * Great control set not just for FSX but also for Star Wars Battlefront II * The number of buttons, levers, sliders and knobs provides great flexibilityCons: * Never quite figured out what the Multi Function Display panel is for?? On the Saitek X52Pro, you can control FSX radio/navigation systems with the MFD, but not this unit (the X52) * While the joystick has great mobility, it can be a little stiff. Still worlds better than the $35 Logitech/Microsoft joysticks.. I know with some Saitek controllers, you can actually apply lubrication to the joystick bearings, but I've never looked into that for this unit. * Not so much related to this unit only, but if you're buying this for FSX, something to keep in mind: Setting certain buttons or sliders to some flight controls have to be done by editing the controls XML file, not through the GUI -- can be a bit cumbersome, but once its done, works great * This control set is NOT compatible with the latest release of Star Wars Battlefront (2015)Overall, I'm very happy with this purchase.

Lo dicho no es un producto de calidad premium.Se nota por los materiales, pero cumple perfectamente por poco dinero.Lo compraría de nuevo con los ojos cerrados.

It is a great joystick for HOTAS I've liked it for DCS world all those controls you ever need. It is not like thrustmaster warthog but its bang for the buck for guys who have a decent budget for this kinda stuff.

EDIT - Now 5 months down the line and it's still working perfectly. I'm still not overjoyed with the spring tension, but I've seen a few mods that I'm going to try out. Other than that it's a great joystick though, despite that 1 flaw I don't regret buying it at allEDIT 2 - Now 1 year later and still no problems, still very happy with it.EDIT 3 (and probably the last unless it finally breaks before I end up replacing it) - now almost 3 years of fairly heavy use, I don't use it every day but it does get used regularly, and it still performs just as well as the day I bought it. Very much recommended (although for some reason there are 2 listings on amazon now, and this one is more expensive)Edit Sept 2020 - after 4 and a half years, the stick has finally given out, when centred it is detected as being slightly to the left, meaning that you always have to hold the stick to the right to stop it from rolling constantly. This happens with jets too, and looking at the input when the stick is centred it is clearly being read as being off-centre, so no it's not p-factor or torque making the plane roll. The throttle still works perfectly so I'll probably just buy a cheaper stick and use that along with the throttle from this as most sims allow you to use multiple input devices---This is a great joystick, I bought this to replace my Saitek Fly V1 and it's a huge improvement over it, it feels much more responsive, it has loads of buttons and the separate throttle is great too, it's also nice and responsive and has detents at the 10% and 90% marks for idle and afterburner settings.My only problem with it is that the spring in the joystick feels a bit soft, which can sometimes make very small movements feel a little imprecise, but I'm already getting used to it so it isn't too much of a problem.Drivers and software worked fine on win10 first try, I didn't bother installing from the disc though, go to Saitek's website and you can download the latest versions, this is probably why people were finding that they weren't working.Also, I've seen several people saying theirs broke straight away, the lights would come on and then just shut off again. I can't stress this enough - YOUR JOYSTICK ISN'T BROKEN, DON'T RETURN IT. You just don't have the software running, it needs to always be running in the background for the joystick to work, if you get that problem just go to C:\Program Files\SmartTechnology\Software and run the program "ProfilerU" and hey presto, your joystick works again. Just make a shortcut to it on your desktop in case it ever happens again. (Edit - This doesn't seem to be a problem anymore with the new Logitech drivers, but I'll leave it up just in case)All in all, I would definitely recommend this joystick if you can stretch to the price, it is pretty expensive but it's worth it if you're really into flight sims

J'ai longtemps hésité entre 4 et 5 étoiles, le produit présente des défauts, mais pas suffisament pour n'avoir que 4 étoiles.Au niveau érgonomique, les finitions sont bien faites, les boutons bien disposés, et on peux aisément régler la hauteur du joystick. La prise en main est agréable, les mains ne glissent pas sur le joystick et le thottle. Le throttle est fait de sorte que vous puissiez placer vos doigts de différentes manières en fonction des boutons qui vous intéreseent sur le moment.Au niveau technique, le produit à un bon répondant et est très précis, le joystick n'est pas très résistant mais suffisament malgrés tout. La résistance du throttle peut être réglée sur le côté. L'ajout d'une seconde gachette "Pinkie" atteignable avec l'auriculaire est très pratique.Au niveau informatique, le produit est très facile à installer et même à programmer si vous souhaitez ajouter des macros.Cependant, malgrés tout, il y à un petit peu de négatif, à commencer par l'écran qui malheureusement n'est pas assez utile, il permet d'afficher heure, date, chrono, votre profil et votre mode indiquant quels macros seront actifs (Le profil est changé informatiquement, et vous pouvez défnir quel macros seront actifs dans quels mode, mode changeable par un bouton sur le joystick).Personnellement je n'ai pas rencontré de problèmes particuliers avec le joystick, à l'exception d'un problème pour détecter la molette derrière le throttle dans certains jeux, j'ai donc simplement assigné une macro à ce bouton (On programme dans le logiciel du produit l'appuis sur une touche du clavier quand on fait tourner la molette, et on assigne cette même touche à une fonction dans un jeu par la suite).Dernier point positif, mais que je n'ai pas pris en compte dans la notation : La configuration de touches par défaut sur les jeux pour lequelle je l'utilise était de très bonne qualité, je n'ai pas eu beaucoup de choses à changer (Simple question de goût personnel)

Controller semiprofessionale per un'esperienza di volo molto suggestiva e piacevole.Cloche molto sensibile ai minimi spostamenti ( non esiste metodo di aumentare la resistenza della molla per il movimento).Altezza della manopola (appoggio mano cloche) variabile tramite pomello posto posteriormente alla stessa (con il cambiamento di altezza dell' appoggio il pulsante preimpostato del carrello si sposta a sua volta essendo tuttuno con l'appoggio).Possibilità di bloccaggio dell'imbardata (cioè del movimento rotativo destro e sinistro della cloche) per predisposizione di utilizzo pedaliera comprabile separatamente.Comandi numerosi e disposti con molta cura per l'utilizzo veloce e molto intuitivo.Comando di lancio missile con sportellino di sicurezza come nei velivoli d'attacco reali.Manetta con durezza regolabile, funzione mouse (senza che stacchiate le mani dalla cloche per selezionare quel che vi serve basta pigiare il bottoncino e attraverso il minijoystick potete utilizzare il vostro mouse)In dotazione sono presenti le ventose, a mio avviso, abbastanza potenti nel senso di stabilità perchè se avete un tavolo liscio in vetro non ci sono problemi prima che il joystick si tolga potreste alzare il tavolo, appena provate ad appiccicarlo su un tavolo di legno magari un po vissuto con graffi ecc allora li cominciano a sorgere dei problemi del tipo movimenti del joystick mentre si fa una virata, comunque risolvibili con un po di ingegno.Sono presenti sia nella base della cloche sia in quella della manetta 2 fori per chi volesse attaccare il joystick e la manetta con le viti su di un tavolo.Programma su cd per computer per installazione driver.Possibilità di cambiare graduazione di illuminazione del joystick fino a spegnere completamente la luce blu.Pecca che purtroppo dovrebbero risolvere è quella del cavo di trasmissione dati da manetta a cloche perchè appena riceve una piccola pressione si potrebbe malmformare e quindi rischiare di interferire con i comandi trasmessi ( personalmente accaduto)5 stelle perchè è un sogno divenuto realtà e comunque buona la marca buona la fattura e soprattutto giusto rapporto qualità prezzo.