HOTAS
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Why TM discontinued the Cougar instead of improving it. It’s a shame really.
Gam Zeh Ya’avor - King Salomon
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I bought a used warthog, which helped mitigate the financial outlay.
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I bought a TM Warthog and I’m really happy with it.
Programming it is just as fun like playing with it!The price is high, but calculate like this, if you play the game for example for 400hrs in the next few years, you pay ±1€/hr.
Watching a movie in the cinema costs you around 6€/hr.
Party a saturday with Beer and taxi and more beer and moviecuts (don’t know what it’s called in english, in german you call it Filmriss) - you spend around 100€/night.I don’t want to say that that due to the price of a movie ticket you can feel free to buy everything (because if you calculate like this you can buy almost anything without feeling bad^^) - but if you want to spend a lot of time in FlightSims - a good HOTAS is worth the Investment.
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I actually got rid of my Warthog throttle and paired the Warthog stick up with my Cougar TQS. I just found the warthog stick better and more realistic shaped than the Cougar Stick. Along with an RS FSSB3, TUSBA, RUSBA and Slaw Device F-16 pedals, makes for a beautiful setup!
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But in the other hand, Cougar TQS is very innacurate and jumpy
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I wouldn’t consider a Cougar unless you found one which has been modified. Modded Cougars are far superior to a stock version and they will last a lot longer. The only challenge you have is fixing it if something goes wrong. I don’t think Ian is doing them anymore and finding parts is even harder. So to add my 2 pennies. Go with a Warthog you won’t regret it.
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I wouldn’t consider a Cougar unless you found one which has been modified. Modded Cougars are far superior to a stock version and they will last a lot longer. The only challenge you have is fixing it if something goes wrong. I don’t think Ian is doing them anymore and finding parts is even harder. So to add my 2 pennies. Go with a Warthog you won’t regret it.
I’m still running the same Cougar throttle since 2004 and never had a single issue with it and still use it today. There is barely any paint left on the grip it has been used so much.
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But in the other hand, Cougar TQS is very innacurate and jumpy
“Very inaccurate”??? What’s very inaccurate with it? And contact cleaner does wonders… I spray mine every couple years and its almost 12 years old and still kicking.
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Check out CH gear as well. They are what I would say is a middle ground option. Good quality, moderate price but might be lacking in the number of switches. Take a look.
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Jeremy,
If you’re considering Saitek only, then the -65 is best for a number of reasons, if you can find one.
While a lot of people love their Cougars, I just recently tried to “resurrect” mine.I could never get it to function properly and consistently. If you do go with Cougar, get a force sensing modded one, as someone else mentioned. -
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I wouldn’t consider a Cougar unless you found one which has been modified. Modded Cougars are far superior to a stock version and they will last a lot longer. The only challenge you have is fixing it if something goes wrong. I don’t think Ian is doing them anymore and finding parts is even harder. So to add my 2 pennies. Go with a Warthog you won’t regret it.
Parts is the issue, not sourcing mods. FSSB R2 or FCC3 are still being made. On the other han, Guillemot are starting to run out of some parts, that cannot be replaced by stockalike stuff - like the PCBs for the throttle IIRC.
The good thing is, you really just need the physical hardware. You can buy or make your own interface for it with enough effort. Connecting the wires up to a unit like PoKeys56 or an arduino is not a hassle. Then you just have the issue that the hardware is not MIL spec, and much of it cant be easily changed out for it either.
On that topic, Cougars to me come off as moderate intensity maintenance. I bought mine second hand, and have had to crack open both stick and throttle on multiple occasions, to replace dead switches and wires.
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I’m still running the same Cougar throttle since 2004 and never had a single issue with it and still use it today. There is barely any paint left on the grip it has been used so much.
I still have my Evenstrain modded cougar and works perfectly. The problem with Stock Cougars was in the stick. The Gimbals were made of a softer metal and they would wear out and cause all kinds of problems with the Pots. Hence why all the mods used new Gimbals and Hall Sensors.
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I still have my Evenstrain modded cougar and works perfectly. The problem with Stock Cougars was in the stick. The Gimbals were made of a softer metal and they would wear out and cause all kinds of problems with the Pots. Hence why all the mods used new Gimbals and Hall Sensors.
Yeah that makes sense. I must be lucky, or perhaps spraying them with contact cleaner has prolonged its service life? Either way a few years ago when Cougars were a dime a dozen on eBay I purchased several on Ebay as spares. So I am certain I will be running my setup for a long as I am simming.
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I’m waiting for TM’s next Hotas F-18 / F-35 ive had the cougar and the warthog and the same problem with both that’s build quality.
after a period of time the buttons stick and the switches go bad and it’s done.
I would love a Hotas that was a combo something like the Saitek x-65 where the stick didn’t move but still had the programmability of TH with MODULAR plug in replicable buttons / Switches ( Mod able )
Since we only get a new toy every 10 years or so it would be nice to have one that could be improved with the speed of the computers that it gets plugged into. it’s an expensive hobby and should be worth every penny that’s my rant for today. Thank you -
Long time owner of the x52 (until recenty…donated it to a wingie). However, the x52 sensitivity is can be modded to have extremely precise movement. Quite easy to mod as well. Just do a search on YouTube for the mod. I had mine to the level where any fine/precise movement was only a thought and the jet reacted with such fine movement.
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Long time owner of the x52 (until recenty…donated it to a wingie). However, the x52 sensitivity is can be modded to have extremely precise movement. Quite easy to mod as well. Just do a search on YouTube for the mod. I had mine to the level where any fine/precise movement was only a thought and the jet reacted with such fine movement.
Definatly an option. I just cant fly to save my … in certain situations-such as air refueling. The deadzones are so bad that i cant keep the jet stable long enought to connect longer than a couple seconds. Fine adjustments just dont happen. Ill take a look at the mods.
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I’m waiting for TM’s next Hotas F-18 / F-35 ive had the cougar and the warthog and the same problem with both that’s build quality.
after a period of time the buttons stick and the switches go bad and it’s done.
I would love a Hotas that was a combo something like the Saitek x-65 where the stick didn’t move but still had the programmability of TH with MODULAR plug in replicable buttons / Switches ( Mod able )
Since we only get a new toy every 10 years or so it would be nice to have one that could be improved with the speed of the computers that it gets plugged into. it’s an expensive hobby and should be worth every penny that’s my rant for today. Thank youIs TM doing an F-18?
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Is TM doing an F-18?
…we can only wish. Ooooh, where are the interchangable grips we were promised so long ago?
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Definatly an option. I just cant fly to save my … in certain situations-such as air refueling. The deadzones are so bad that i cant keep the jet stable long enought to connect longer than a couple seconds. Fine adjustments just dont happen. Ill take a look at the mods.
The mag mod pretty much eliminates any deadzones in the stick, even the small slop on the stick will register movement.