Cougar Warthog Review?
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You do not mention budget. I have been a virtual combat pilot for 20 years and believe that the best HOTAS, and the most expensive, is a Cougar SSC with force sensing mod and Warthog throttle. Versatile, durable and sensitive.
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a Cougar SSC with force sensing mod and Warthog throttle. Versatile, durable and sensitive.
Er, did you mean Warthog SSC with force sensing mod and a Cougar throttle??
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No.
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Interesting. Why? The Warthog stick is an improvement over the Cougar stick… unfortunately, the Cougar throttle (with the appropriate mods) is the only replica throttle and needs some love. So why use the Cougar stick (unless you already have a Cougar force sensing upgrade) over the WH stick?
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Just like Ice I have been using the TM WH setup for 6ish years/a few thousand flight hours and it has never caused me any issues.
1.) The stock WH controls are definitely good enough for close in formation work or AAR so no worries there at all.
2.) Prior to 4.33 and it’s improved handling of USB device order setting up the WH as DX was a PITA as it could just flip the script on you on a Windows whim. I have had mine set up as just straight keyboard emulation for all of that time and even though it does bring a limitation of not being able to do multiple key inputs at the exact same time that has never caused me any issues. For that reason and for the 32 button DX limit I still run mine on keyboard emulation through TARGET scripting.
Either keyboard or DX inputs work great on BMS. TARGET does come with a learning curve but it is time well spent to improve your control.
P.S. You realize you put Cougar Warthog review in the title versus Thrustmaster Warthog?
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1.Smooth, Precise, but has a strong catch while transiting from pitch up to down, left to right or any opposite direction.
2.Currently using a very first version of TARGET and has no problem. You need TARGET to use coolie hat switch as BMS does not recognize 2nd or later DX device’s POV.
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Personally, I could never get on with the Warthog throttle. Perhaps its just a little bit too big for my smaller hand, but I never felt “connected” with it in the same way I do with the Cougar throttle. The Warthog stick is excellent straight out of the box. It’s the only “stock” stick I’ve used that will happily run zero null zones. My recommendation, assuming budgets and availability, is the Warthog stick and Cougar throttle connected via TUSBA.
All that said, money is currently being stashed for an FSSB3 conversion. I had a Cougar with FSSB1, but like a fool I sold it when I fell out of love with flight sims (big mistake, should have boxed and stored it).
Rudders… always worth having a set too. Even the 25 year old TM RCS is better than none, although these are “Triggers Broom” to be fair… been repaired and modified (now USB) more times than I care to remember.
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Stripped my Warthog down sanded down the sticky points, these were generally where the plastic gimbles had been moulded. regreased then assembled warthog now very smooth although the centre on device analyser now seems to be slightly off in target. I believe thrustmaster support has a calibration utility to sort this. I will try this today.If I centre in game there are no problems. Now small inputs are smooth which has made AAR so much easier, I can now refuel with realistic mode which I had major problems with before. There are many Good U tube Vids on how to do this. I Have had my Hog 5 years now so thought a bit of preventative maintenance wouldn’t hurt. Just got the cal facility works a treat every centre now is 0
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Interesting. Why? The Warthog stick is an improvement over the Cougar stick… unfortunately, the Cougar throttle (with the appropriate mods) is the only replica throttle and needs some love. So why use the Cougar stick (unless you already have a Cougar force sensing upgrade) over the WH stick?
I do have Cougar SSC with FSSB force sensing mod. The Warthog throttle quadrant, being 16 bit, is more precise than the stock Cougar throttle, the handle throw is longer, making precise movements easier, and I like the idea of dual engine control for dual engine aircraft (although in reality I rarely use the feature). The Warthog throttle also has lots of handy switches. The one disadvantage, as compared to the Cougar throttle, is the cursor control switch that I find more difficult to maneuver precisely. One virtual pilot’s opinion. And in my opinion it is the correct opinion.
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I have been a user of the TM Warthog setup for several years. I have had zero issues with either the stick or the throttle. Both provide a solid “feel” and accuracy. I use the TARGET software and haven’t had any issues with command input. As someone who worked on the F-16 Avionics for many years, it definitely took some getting used to the throttle, but now that I have, I wouldn’t be able to go back to the F-16 throttle. Having all the extra switches available at my finger tips is very welcome. No searching the keyboard to hit a key, it’s flip a switch and press on. AAR is a matter of practice…. lots of practice, and the warthog works just fine for AAR as mentioned above.
As with all things, it boils down to personal preference. Do you want to match the aircraft exactly, or do you want something that gives you more for about the same money?
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I keep going back and forth on whether to keep trying to get a cougar, or to get the warthog. I thought I bought a cougar last week on ebay, ended up getting a piece of garbage, and F-22 stick and f-16 tqs throttle missing buttons. I’m working on getting that refunded and returned. So now I just don’t know if I should try to get another cougar on ebay, or get a warthog. While I love my x52, I do want something more realistic.
Is there anywhere else besides ebay to get a usb cougar that is lightly used at $400 or less? Or should I just go with the warthog?
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Talk about price inflation… they go for €150 here.
Maybe use EU connections?
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Tried Amazon? They have them occasionally and offer more buyer protection than EBay, I think. Cougar HOTAS for sale comes up on this forum every few weeks. I do think you would be as happy with new Warthog as with a stock Cougar, especially since you have no experience with either. After acquisition start saving for SSC force sensing mod.
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IMHO, after having owned every combination of Cougar mods (Stock, Uber, Cubby, Miles, FCC, FSSB) and Stock WartHog…
For BMS: static stick
- force modded Cougar SSC (either FFSB or FCC) with WHog grip
- TUSBA-R2 and Miles HS modded Cougar TQS.
- closest to F-16 FBW setup. Works well for other jets too
For DCS and IL2: positional stick
- stock WartHog
- helicopters, positional jet a/c, WW2 a/c
Best rudders, IMHO are the SLAW F-16