HOTAS
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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.
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…we can only wish. Ooooh, where are the interchangable grips we were promised so long ago?
Yes I remember that dream back about 10 years ago. Maybe more… One thing about this community, we certainly know how to wait for stuff.
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TM is really quiet about the what and the when of their development just like BMS I was only wishful thinking but looking at this hobby and the price of these toys you would think that a variety of mods would boost sales and help the brand but I am looking at this from the outside in.
if nothing else I think TH and other developers should ask by way of forum or other means what they want because I think they would be surprised ( Build it and they will play / pay ) -
One thing I did discover in doing research for my pit project is that TM’s primary customer(s) are US DoD and (probably?) other Services - and the gaming offered stuff is a sideline. So we don’t get as much attention or responsiveness as we might wish for because we likely don’t amount to much of their total revenue stream. I know I have one Cougar TQS that I got off E-bay as genuine USAF NOS surplus…I can only wonder that Cougars aren’t being slowly replaced by Warthog controllers…though I’d certainly like to see TM also do an updated F-16 TQS to match the quality of the Warthog stick…if I had to make a bet, I wouldn’t bet against something like this as a future offering, now that the stick is available on it’s own. Then…maybe…we might see some interchangable F-16/F-35 grips…oh, to hope and dream…!
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Until they make a move I guess I’m looking for another stick the throttle seems to be ok but the stick is selling for $300 / where the Hotas set is $400 and I just cant do it.
its either 3 times a charm or 3 strikes you’re out and this would be my third. -
I think they are soon to release the TWCS:
http://simhq.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/4247551/4/Thrustmaster_invite
But since it seems not to be a dual throttle, I think the Warthog will be as close as you get to F-18 as far as Thrustmaster goes. In regard to the F-16 the Cougar is still the #1 in my opinion. If its getting old and starts acting wierd, there’s always the possibillity of modding and/or replacing some of the inner parts.
Best regards
ZoomOut;) -
I’m already contemplating ways to convert a Warthog throttle to Hornet grips…there are enough switch inputs on the Warthog grips to have several left over, and using a 3D printer (which I hope to have for a Christmas present to myself this year) I should be able to come up with something. The only head-scratcher I have is what to do with all the left over switch inputs and the ones on the throttle base…I suppose I could build a left aux panel and use those inputs…but I think even if I did that I’d have a few leftovers. Anyway, that’s a long-term thought…I still have a Viper pit to complete.
The Cougar TQS holds up way better than the stick, and the TUSBA R2 gives me everything I’d want in converting it to USB. Warthog stick/Cougar TQS is my go-to for a Viper setup. And the CMS->down action on the Warthog stick makes for an excellent shift key.