Thrustmaster TQS

[Flow32]

New thrustmaster product, available in preorder as of today (in France at least) :
https://www.thrustmaster.com/en-us/products/viper-tqs-mission-pack/

Quite expensive, but looks like good quality. 64 buttons, 6 axis.

Some reviews :

Here is a summary I made, that might contain mistakes, but it is what I gathered from the last video :

[Icarus]

I wish they stuck to the real grip and didn’t put the zoom dial. Kinda ruins it for my liking.

[Flow32]

@Icarus Really ? I like it personally. My desk has less buttons than a cockpit, so I’ll take anything
Also, it has the HOBO switch, which is not on the other F-16 throttles

[Icarus]

@Flow32 Ya I really would have prefered a realistic copy

[airtex2019]

@Icarus what does zoom-left/right even mean? (what is it supposed to be?)

[Flow32]

@airtex2019 Nothing special, I just called it like that. I made that picture

[airtex2019]

@Flow32 looks like the physical device label says “SPD BRK” for that? but then there’s an additional thing (buttons 9, 10, 21)

[Flow32]

@airtex2019 No speedbrakes is the 3 way switch next to it.
What I labeled “zoom” is not on the real throttle and there is no label for it. It’s a three way switch left / right / push.

[Icarus]

@airtex2019 Its a fake button thats not real. Thats why I dont like it. My personal taste is all.

[Stevie]

@Icarus said in Thrustmaster TQS:

I wish they stuck to the real grip and didn’t put the zoom dial. Kinda ruins it for my liking.

Ditto. I figure I’lll find a way to remove that, and possibly 3D print a replacement upper shell without the hole. Otherwise, I can already think of a few ways to fill that hole in.

[Kavelenko]

I’m wondering how that Viper panel will look alongside my Warthog Throttle.

[Snake122]

Honestly, the lack of extra switches is what is keeping from upgrading out of my X65F. I’ve learned that having some flight sim life things like view controls on the throttle are very convenient. Maybe if I go 100% VR and that slider can send a traditional mapped commands on bands for a look closer toggle on one end and VR recenter on the other, I could make it just work and sacrifice a few other commands.

[Flow32]

@Snake122 Agreed.

[Jumpstart5179]

I was torn between this and the WinWing Orion. Went with the Orion since it has lots of buttons and switches and was cheaper. For me it is a nice blend of the x56 throttle, Warthog and thew Cougar TQS.

[scubapics]

I’ve always been a Thrustmaster fanboy. I’ve had all of the Thrustmaster flight sticks since the early 90s. I still have two Cougar throttles that I have converted to USB, hall-effect throttle, adjusted the angles of the speed brake and dog fight switch, added low friction tape to the throttle shaft and added high viscosity grease to make the throttle uber slick and smooth. My original Cougar throttle I still use every day and has never let me down.

So I was quite interested to see that Thrustmaster was releasing a new F-16 throttle. Especially as it has the idle cut-off lever and afterburner detents. It’s the one thing I really wish the Cougar had.

However, comparing it to WinWing’s offering I am torn. The Winwing is cheaper and has a lot more functionality in terms of buttons on the grip itself. As a VR simmer, I am not so bothered about buttons on the base.

My main concern with Winnwing though is warranty support. Has anyone tried to get spares from Winwing? Has anyone tried to return for warranty repair? I can imagine the cost of return would be quite expensive as they do not have a UK distributor.

Maybe my concerns are unfounded. Maybe the Winwing won’t need to be repaired. Thrustmaster held spares for the Cougar for an exceptionally long time. Only in the last couple of years did they run out of the thumbstick.

Cheapness and versatility vs customer support. These are not cheap items so it’s a tough one.

[Archer]

@JUmpstart5179 Winwing is better. This is little too late to the party.

[Icarus]

@Archer winwing might be better quality but they muffed the the throttle grip too IMO. Either do a replica or make a button rich HOTAS. Don’t go half measures and make a replica and spoil it with adding a couple of fake things. Just my personal taste.

[Jumpstart5179]

@Archer I have only had my Orion for a couple of months and sadly due to family commitments, I haven’t been able to fly with it much but so far I am happy with it. I like the button and switches on the Orion and it has been super smooth and responsive. I was excited to see this offering from Thrustmaster but after comparing the two the Orion struck me as the better deal.

[Archer]

@JUmpstart5179 Yeah for the money it is a better deal. I personally think Thrustmaster is little too late to the party. They had all these years to put out a good Hotas but they I guess they were sleep on the wheel.

There was a rumor back in the day that Thrustmaster is gonna release a updated F-16 Hotas when DCS releases the F-16 back in 2016. But we all know that didn’t happen.

Thrustmaster is trying to capture the market which is not gonna happen.

[Jumpstart5179]

@Archer they have the capability and the base do to so especially considering the success they had with the Cougar. Really all they had to do was take the Cougar, replace the pots with sensors, and add some switches and buttons and they could have easily grabbed the market. I do have a Cougar but don’t fly much with it since it is temperamental. I flew with a Warthog for the longest time but I liked the ergonomics of the Cougar better. Orion win win…