I've been thinking of getting a used joystick for the purpose of hacking and making a control box but was curious if anyone had any suggestions on what joystick I should use.

I have an X-52 HOTAS and Rudder pedals (All saitek), will I need a specific controller to work alongside these devices and not screw things up? I was thinking of getting something like an X-36/X45 or any stick that will work that has a lot of buttons. If I were to get an X36/45 would I be able to use programming software?

I've been wanting to build a custom control setup for a while but money issues have kept me from the more expensive USB controller modules. I'm looking to build something with trim wheels and all the extra buttons I can get for engine start, gear & etc............

Thanks
Chris

Chris,

If you want extra buttons, and you want really amazing ability to program them, then you might want to think about a touchscreen. I got one, and I love it (like you I also have an X-52 and Saitek pedals - but it doesn't matter what you have).

Go here, check this out.

http://www.touch-buddy.com/forums/index.php

Software is free, and the hardware should run you about $200 or so. I got mine for about $150 plus $20 shipping.

Ripcord

EDIT: Actually this FAQ thread is really a lot better.

http://www.touch-buddy.com/forums/faq/18-master-faq.html

You can try the software without having a touchscreen, by the way, just using a second screen (or connecting a laptop) and using your mouse to click on it. That way you can try some of the cool profiles that have already been created. But you will want a touchscreen before you are done.

Thats something for the future, I thinking a little cheaper here. But you are right, I've read some stuff about TouchBuddys applications in flight simming. I think I looked at one guy who used his for gauges but could change it to button commands by pressing arrows at the bottom of the screen.

I'd like to do that but if had that cash I'd buy a USB Keyboard enocoder. Eventually I want to build a simpit that has working pushbuttons and trim wheels for about everything imaginable. For now due to saving for a home and paying back taxes along with other bills I think a used HOTAS joystick will be cheaper and easier. Thanks for the suggestions!

Chris

the best(easiest) joystick to hack is the Saitek AV8R. It has plenty of buttons and trim wheels and they are easy to connect to because they all have two wires leading to them - not printed circuit boards like the X-52 or X-45.

its fully programmable, but I don't know if it would interfere with your X-52. I think if you just assigned commands through the sim and not use the Saitek programming it would work fine.

Well, for programability these are pretty "hackable" , plenty of buttons, plenty of axis. Altho, may be out of the price range.

The AV8R sounds good if the electronics really are that simple inside. Really any joystick will work, though. Lots of people hack up various Logitech products. Don't hack up a CH controller - you don't need to spend that much money for this sort of project.

Any joystick that is programmable before you hack it up will retain that programmability once you have taken it to pieces and re-wired it. The only important part of that equation is the PCB that gives you the USB connection to your computer.

You do not need any special controller to work alongside your existing X-52.

Don't hack up a CH controller? OOPS!

Yeah I guess an X36/45 would work then. I really dont need it to work with SST software, just an added bonus. But if I were to hack one of the above controllers I'm wondering if I can program the axis as trim wheels in the HOTAS section of the IL2 controls. All the other buttons would be fine just assigned through the IL2 control scheme but for trim I know you dont get that accurate control unless programmed in the HOTAS section.

Thanks for all the help everyone, and as always more suggestions are always welcome!

Chris

My next project is going to be one of Leo's USB Controllers to convert a gameport TQS/F-16/Rudder to USB.


http://www.lbodnar.dsl.pipex.com/joystick/

Yes, you should be able to. The hacked-up axes should just appear as any other axis to IL-2.