S80 S100 stick controller how helpful?

[[email protected]]

Just got the S100 and am considering the stick controller. Those of you that have been able to fly with the stick controller, what do you think?

How helpful do you see it, and can you do everything, or just about everything with the stick controller?

Would be putting it in a DG400 so I would need the one with the toggle switch which I would wire to raise and lower the motor to replace the switch on the original stick.

Thanks

Kevin
92

[Kevin Neave[_2_]]

I've had the stick controller for the LX8000 in my D2c for about a year &
wouldn't bother.

My biggest issue is the Cruise / Climb is a tiny push button toggle on the
front of the stick & it's way to easy to change between the two
unintentionally

I'm thinking of changing to a simple Cruise / climb & PTT

Regards

KN

At 15:44 11 February 2017, wrote:
>Just got the S100 and am considering the stick controller. Those of you
>that have been able to fly with the stick controller, what do you think?

>
>How helpful do you see it, and can you do everything, or just about
>everything with the stick controller?
>
>Would be putting it in a DG400 so I would need the one with the toggle
>switch which I would wire to raise and lower the motor to replace the
>switch on the original stick.
>
>Thanks
>
>Kevin
> 92
>

[Dan Marotta]

I've used the ClearNav both with the stick grip buttons (someone else's
glider) and with the standard wired remote (my glider). My take is
that, once you set up your device, you don't use the buttons often
enough to warrant the expense or hassle of installing a stick grip with
a bunch of tiny buttons and switches.

On 2/11/2017 8:53 AM, Kevin Neave wrote:
> I've had the stick controller for the LX8000 in my D2c for about a year &
> wouldn't bother.
>
> My biggest issue is the Cruise / Climb is a tiny push button toggle on the
> front of the stick & it's way to easy to change between the two
> unintentionally
>
> I'm thinking of changing to a simple Cruise / climb & PTT
>
> Regards
>
> KN
>
> At 15:44 11 February 2017, wrote:
>> Just got the S100 and am considering the stick controller. Those of you
>> that have been able to fly with the stick controller, what do you think?
>> How helpful do you see it, and can you do everything, or just about
>> everything with the stick controller?
>>
>> Would be putting it in a DG400 so I would need the one with the toggle
>> switch which I would wire to raise and lower the motor to replace the
>> switch on the original stick.
>>
>> Thanks
>>
>> Kevin
>> 92
>>

--
Dan, 5J

[[email protected]]

I have to disagree with the previous comments. I have an S80, and using the knobs and buttons on the instrument face is a pain. You have to fly with your left hand and use your right to make setting changes. If you try to adjust the S80 with your left hand, the screen is obscured. In turbulence, you can easily bounce the display between pages, or inadvertently change a setting. I flip back and forth between screens quite a bit, and being able to do so with the stick controller is MUCH easier. It also keeps my eyes up and out of the cockpit much more. I am not familiar with the ClearNav remote, but that isn't what Kevin is asking about. The Cruise/Climb switch is sensitive, but can be disabled if you want. I don't find it to be a problem, but I generally do not keep a death grip on the stick either.

[[email protected]]

I have the exact configuration - except a DG-202. The main benefit of the stick is reach. When reclined in the DG cockpit with the straps snug up tight, the stick becomes invaluable. Unless you have monkey arms, you won't be able to reach the instrument without loosening the straps. I love it.

I always thermal with some flaps, usually the 1st setting (+4), so I wired the "vario priority" switch to the +4 flap setting. This causes the vario to go to thermal mode as soon as the flap hits +4 (or higher). Once I move the flap handle to 0 or negative values, the vario returns to the previous setting - glide mode if that is what it was before. The momentary switch on the stick to change between glide and climb modes is very convenient.

BTW, I have a general rule that if your instrument has the ability to utilize remote switches, use them. The reason is that switches will wear out over time. I'd much prefer to wear out a remote switch that can be replaced easily and cheaply, than to wear out a switch/dial on the vario head unit itself.

[[email protected]]

Thanks everyone for the great replies. Very helpful.

Kevin
92

[Rich Owen[_2_]]

Kevin,

As a military pilot, I've flown several fighter aircraft and a common attribute is they all have stick grips with controls for instruments. In my 29 I have an LX-9000 with remote stick grip. Would not fly without it. Like typing, when you are proficient with the device you can look out the window and bring up information without even looking. Guess I must be lazy.

[[email protected]]

Thanks Rich,

Look forward to seeing you at Perry.

Kevin
92

[Bruce Hoult]

On Sunday, February 12, 2017 at 4:37:54 PM UTC+3, Rich Owen wrote:
> Kevin,
>
> As a military pilot, I've flown several fighter aircraft and a common attribute is they all have stick grips with controls for instruments. In my 29 I have an LX-9000 with remote stick grip. Would not fly without it. Like typing, when you are proficient with the device you can look out the window and bring up information without even looking. Guess I must be lazy.

"HOTAS without the gas"

[KEN]

On Sunday, February 12, 2017 at 8:37:54 AM UTC-5, Rich Owen wrote:
> Kevin,
>
> As a military pilot, I've flown several fighter aircraft and a common attribute is they all have stick grips with controls for instruments. In my 29 I have an LX-9000 with remote stick grip. Would not fly without it. Like typing, when you are proficient with the device you can look out the window and bring up information without even looking. Guess I must be lazy.

Goose, I'm switching to guns. Now where is that switch?

[[email protected]]

On Sunday, February 12, 2017 at 9:21:26 AM UTC-5, wrote:
> Thanks Rich,
>
> Look forward to seeing you at Perry.
>
> Kevin
> 92

I love the S100 vario, but it is painful to scroll from page to page - seems like too many pages to go trough to get to the one you want, if a remote makes it more direct to get to specific pages it would be a huge improvement.
Chris

[ZP]

Yeah, I agree about the pages, which is another reason for having a remote stick. I ended up turning off the task page and the thermal assistant page so I don't have to scroll through the pages I don't use. That really simplified the unit. They can be turned back on easy enough.