Docking computer malfunction

[Gorion]

You might have managed to buy one from the old saitek stock sneaky.  The common consensus is that saitek products pre madcatz were good.

In fact the current X52/pro batches also have issues.

[Ranualf]

Ok all refunds have been completed..

The 2nd one i returned  was marked as refund completed, until i contacted them a few days ago (Box limited on Amazon) and they were very surprised to hear from me. After looking into my claim, it appears that it was marked as complete but no transaction had occurred, as in the tried to rip me off...

While this was going on the wife got me a 3rd x55, and it was ok until the yaw sensors went on a trip..

So this now left me with a hard choice..

What HOTAS to buy..

Having looked, looked and looked more.. i came down to a few choices, remember i`m disabled and cant use foot pedals.. so anything without twist yaw was a no.

CT stuff- yep, good reviews, fairly solid built kit, and pretty much utilitarian in appearance - no twist yaw :/
Thrust master- off basic entry kit (which broke) and i didn't want to go back to, as the cheapo plastic made my hand really hot - NO buy.
Or the Warthog- she who must be obeyed said no to this, and i agreed with her on this matter.. weird, but you know keep the peace and all that

Saitek.. yes.... they offer the x52, x52 pro, x55 Rhino...
Several of the team have the x52 pro and love it and it was really tough choice as if i was going to buy one of them or (yet) another x55 Rhino. What clinched it for me is the thruster set up, as the X52 Pro has a few buttons, the x55 has a LOT.. and i already have them mind mapped and can use them without really thinking about it...

So the choice was made... i bought my 4th X55 Rhino- lets hope this effing thing work or i swear i`ll boot it out of the window!

See you in the void in a few days... and lets hope i don't get a dud one again...
Oh, i bought this one directly from Amazon, so there is a no hassle guarantee refund

[Gorion]

I bought a T16000m.  No complaints so far.

Its stick only and comes with twist.  It's a bit stiff at first but then you get the hang of it, plus its comfy and supports left/right hands (you can move around some of the stuff attached to it).  Last time I used a joystick was back in 1995, so it was pretty weird at first.  Now it feels good.  

Add a CH Throttle to it and you're done.

Another idea would be to go with CH stick, and use a head tracking thing to yaw (if that is even possible).

[albert]

There are 3 buttons that lie perfectly under the 3rd, 4th and 5th finger of the left hand of the CH Products Throttle. I basically gave up on my pedals, they were uncomfortable and aggravated a bad ankle I have. I've back using the buttons which I have to say are by miles the easiest Yaw I've used excluding the X.45 Saitek which had an analogue rocker switch where my buttons are located. You don't need a twister on a CH Throttle or stick.

[Ranualf]

I`ll admit i looked at the CH range, but there`s only a few downsides to the CH products range.

1. They are a US based company, and thus getting a hold of one in the UK is tougher, and vastly more expensive if you use their vetted provider.
2. 20% import duty on anything outside the EU making anything from the USA Very expensive
3. There's not much price difference in ordering separate products.

As the shopping list stands:
CT Thruster controller is £124.99 from their vendor here in the UK! I can source if from Amazon.com for £78 ish, but the tax beefs it up to £94 ish.
Thrustmaster T.16000M Joystick is £36.60 here in the uk.

This means the overall cheapest cost is going to be roughly £130.20  and i bought the X55 Rhino for £140. With a lot less hassle and delays in shipping, delivered to my door.
You do know that the post office intercept your international parcel(s), and send you a letter stating that you have 28 days to pay x amount of tax, or your parcel will be returned to country of origin.
Additionally they usually do not deliver direct to your house (unless you pay), and you have to go to one of their distribution centers to collect it, I personally know this having orders stuff from the USA before and the nearest one to is is about 12 miles out of the front door, which is a chew on as it is in one of the busiest areas for traffic.

So i`m goinna suck it and see, if this one fails i`ll try the above shopping list and see where we go from there..

[albert]

Yeah I hear you mate. I only got the CH gear because I got various people to mule the parts over about at 6 month period from the states. Came to about the same price as the X55 plus another £60 for the pedals which as I already said I don't use in Elite due to the discomfort.

[Gorion]

You can always use amazon.co.uk, or .de, or .it mate.  You do not pay added tax when buying from EU stores even if the product origin is outside of the EU.

.de are selling it for 120 eur, that's around 99 pounds since the euro is a mess right now.  You wait till next week and it might go even worse.

.de also have the T16000m for ~28 pounds.  Perhaps some extra monies for shipping.

So you're looking at 150 pounds, without extra tax.  There might not be a lot of price difference, and the X-55 does look great.  But you have to ask yourself, 3 brand new x-55s where defective.  You're getting a 4th, and even if it arrives right do you really think it will serve you properly for a year or two?  Cause the reviews and people uncovering manufacturing defects out there are considerable.  You're going to have to void your warranty to fix issues so that your equipment won't break down.

What I'm saying is: You perhaps pay a bit more, and it doesn't look as good.  But you're not getting sub-standard rubbish.