Saitek X45 Joystick and Throttle

Hi. Does anyone have the Saitek X45 Joystick and Throttle combination. Got
it at Best Buy recently. Are you happy with it. Can you suggest
assignments for it's numerous buttons and controls? Should I keep it or
return it?

--
Dave Schwartz
Commack, NY

"Dave Schwartz" wrote in message
et...
Hi. Does anyone have the Saitek X45 Joystick and Throttle combination.

Yes

it at Best Buy recently. Are you happy with it. Can you suggest
assignments for it's numerous buttons and controls? Should I keep it or
return it?


Why would you want to return a perfectly good working joystick ? Why buy it
if you didnt want it ?

For what its worth im very happy with mine althoug hi preferred the X36
(nicely colour, less annoying LEDs). I dont use many of the button
combinations, the only really useful ones i set are the thumbwheel rotary
for elevator trim and the forefinger 4 way had on the throttle for rudder
trim.

On that subject a rant, WHEN will MS enable me to set the rudder trim to a
rotary wheel ! The elevator is great, surely they should give us rudder
too.

"Richard Whitcombe" wrote in message
:
: "Dave Schwartz" wrote in message
:
: Hi. Does anyone have the Saitek X45 Joystick and Throttle combination.
:
: Yes
:
: it at Best Buy recently. Are you happy with it. Can you suggest
: assignments for it's numerous buttons and controls? Should I keep it or
: return it?
:
:
: Why would you want to return a perfectly good working joystick ? Why buy
it
: if you didnt want it ?
:
: For what its worth im very happy with mine althoug hi preferred the X36
: (nicely colour, less annoying LEDs). I dont use many of the button
: combinations, the only really useful ones i set are the thumbwheel rotary
: for elevator trim and the forefinger 4 way had on the throttle for rudder
: trim.
:
: On that subject a rant, WHEN will MS enable me to set the rudder trim to a
: rotary wheel ! The elevator is great, surely they should give us rudder
: too.
:

I'm with Richard on this one, Dave. I can see no reason to return an X45
system if you've already got a fully functioning one. I used to own the
first series Microsoft Force Feedback joystick - which was fine - but this
Christmas I went for the Saitek X45 because of the separate throttle. I did
have some concerns about the lack FF but when you get playing, you never
notice the absence of FF (or the presence of it either - it's 'just there',
in the background).

The configuration isn't quite as straight forward as it should be (drag and
drop is needed) and it isn't a flexible as it should be either (as Richard
notes). But these 'limitations' affect all controllers, not just the X45.

All in all, I'm very happy with mine. (The lack of FF also means there's not
another, annoying, power supply to plug in.) Full marks for Saitek!

Cheers,

Chris

I'm with Richard on this one, Dave. I can see no reason to return an X45
system if you've already got a fully functioning one. I used to own the
first series Microsoft Force Feedback joystick - which was fine - but this
Christmas I went for the Saitek X45 because of the separate throttle. I
did
have some concerns about the lack FF but when you get playing, you never
notice the absence of FF (or the presence of it either - it's 'just
there',
in the background).

I had a FFB stick as well, from my experience no game, including flight sim
modelled feedback properly - even in FS2002 (i havent tried 2004 with it)
was grotty and felt like a poorly tested addon after thought - it didnt help
my flying at all.


The configuration isn't quite as straight forward as it should be (drag
and
drop is needed) and it isn't a flexible as it should be either (as Richard
notes). But these 'limitations' affect all controllers, not just the X45.

I tend not to use the saitek config software as the MS in game assignments
thing works well - the inability to bind rudder trim as an analogue axis is
a MS problem with the game itself and not the joystick - you wont bind it on
any controller for that reason.

Hmmm, I assigned the rudder axis to the thumb rotary on the throttle and
all is well. Even works on the helicopters.

John H.

Richard Whitcombe wrote:
I'm with Richard on this one, Dave. I can see no reason to return an X45
system if you've already got a fully functioning one. I used to own the
first series Microsoft Force Feedback joystick - which was fine - but this
Christmas I went for the Saitek X45 because of the separate throttle. I

did

have some concerns about the lack FF but when you get playing, you never
notice the absence of FF (or the presence of it either - it's 'just

there',

in the background).


I had a FFB stick as well, from my experience no game, including flight sim
modelled feedback properly - even in FS2002 (i havent tried 2004 with it)
was grotty and felt like a poorly tested addon after thought - it didnt help
my flying at all.



The configuration isn't quite as straight forward as it should be (drag

and

drop is needed) and it isn't a flexible as it should be either (as Richard
notes). But these 'limitations' affect all controllers, not just the X45.


I tend not to use the saitek config software as the MS in game assignments
thing works well - the inability to bind rudder trim as an analogue axis is
a MS problem with the game itself and not the joystick - you wont bind it on
any controller for that reason.

"John Hogan" wrote in message
...
Hmmm, I assigned the rudder axis to the thumb rotary on the throttle and
all is well. Even works on the helicopters.


Sorry i mean rudder trim not rudder.

I couldn't assign the rotaries to anything.
Dave


"John Hogan" wrote in message
...
Hmmm, I assigned the rudder axis to the thumb rotary on the throttle and
all is well. Even works on the helicopters.

John H.

Richard Whitcombe wrote:
I'm with Richard on this one, Dave. I can see no reason to return an X45
system if you've already got a fully functioning one. I used to own the
first series Microsoft Force Feedback joystick - which was fine - but
this
Christmas I went for the Saitek X45 because of the separate throttle. I

did

have some concerns about the lack FF but when you get playing, you never
notice the absence of FF (or the presence of it either - it's 'just

there',

in the background).


I had a FFB stick as well, from my experience no game, including flight
sim
modelled feedback properly - even in FS2002 (i havent tried 2004 with
it)
was grotty and felt like a poorly tested addon after thought - it didnt
help
my flying at all.



The configuration isn't quite as straight forward as it should be (drag

and

drop is needed) and it isn't a flexible as it should be either (as
Richard
notes). But these 'limitations' affect all controllers, not just the
X45.


I tend not to use the saitek config software as the MS in game
assignments
thing works well - the inability to bind rudder trim as an analogue axis
is
a MS problem with the game itself and not the joystick - you wont bind
it on
any controller for that reason.

What do you mean, drag and drop configuration?
Dave


"Chris Burson" wrote in message
...

"Richard Whitcombe" wrote in message
:
: "Dave Schwartz" wrote in message
:
: Hi. Does anyone have the Saitek X45 Joystick and Throttle
combination.
:
: Yes
:
: it at Best Buy recently. Are you happy with it. Can you suggest
: assignments for it's numerous buttons and controls? Should I keep it
or
: return it?
:
:
: Why would you want to return a perfectly good working joystick ? Why
buy
it
: if you didnt want it ?
:
: For what its worth im very happy with mine althoug hi preferred the X36
: (nicely colour, less annoying LEDs). I dont use many of the button
: combinations, the only really useful ones i set are the thumbwheel
rotary
: for elevator trim and the forefinger 4 way had on the throttle for
rudder
: trim.
:
: On that subject a rant, WHEN will MS enable me to set the rudder trim to
a
: rotary wheel ! The elevator is great, surely they should give us rudder
: too.
:

I'm with Richard on this one, Dave. I can see no reason to return an X45
system if you've already got a fully functioning one. I used to own the
first series Microsoft Force Feedback joystick - which was fine - but this
Christmas I went for the Saitek X45 because of the separate throttle. I
did
have some concerns about the lack FF but when you get playing, you never
notice the absence of FF (or the presence of it either - it's 'just
there',
in the background).

The configuration isn't quite as straight forward as it should be (drag
and
drop is needed) and it isn't a flexible as it should be either (as Richard
notes). But these 'limitations' affect all controllers, not just the X45.

All in all, I'm very happy with mine. (The lack of FF also means there's
not
another, annoying, power supply to plug in.) Full marks for Saitek!

Cheers,

Chris

I use the x-45 and I love it. I can post a rundown of my assignment
settings if anyone is interested. I do not use any "profiles" when playing
flight sim. (I do use profiles for other games though) I just leave the
joystick's direct x assignments alone and assign functions from within
FS2004 itself. I also use ch usb pedals


"Richard Whitcombe" wrote in message
...

"Dave Schwartz" wrote in message
et...
Hi. Does anyone have the Saitek X45 Joystick and Throttle combination.

Yes

it at Best Buy recently. Are you happy with it. Can you suggest
assignments for it's numerous buttons and controls? Should I keep it or
return it?


Why would you want to return a perfectly good working joystick ? Why buy
it
if you didnt want it ?

For what its worth im very happy with mine althoug hi preferred the X36
(nicely colour, less annoying LEDs). I dont use many of the button
combinations, the only really useful ones i set are the thumbwheel rotary
for elevator trim and the forefinger 4 way had on the throttle for rudder
trim.

On that subject a rant, WHEN will MS enable me to set the rudder trim to a
rotary wheel ! The elevator is great, surely they should give us rudder
too.

I would love to see your assignment settings if you have the time. thanx
Dave Schwartz
Commack, NY



"Roy" wrote in message
nk.net...
I use the x-45 and I love it. I can post a rundown of my assignment
settings if anyone is interested. I do not use any "profiles" when
playing
flight sim. (I do use profiles for other games though) I just leave the
joystick's direct x assignments alone and assign functions from within
FS2004 itself. I also use ch usb pedals


"Richard Whitcombe" wrote in message
...

"Dave Schwartz" wrote in message
et...
Hi. Does anyone have the Saitek X45 Joystick and Throttle
combination.

Yes

it at Best Buy recently. Are you happy with it. Can you suggest
assignments for it's numerous buttons and controls? Should I keep it
or
return it?


Why would you want to return a perfectly good working joystick ? Why
buy
it
if you didnt want it ?

For what its worth im very happy with mine althoug hi preferred the X36
(nicely colour, less annoying LEDs). I dont use many of the button
combinations, the only really useful ones i set are the thumbwheel
rotary
for elevator trim and the forefinger 4 way had on the throttle for
rudder
trim.

On that subject a rant, WHEN will MS enable me to set the rudder trim to
a
rotary wheel ! The elevator is great, surely they should give us rudder
too.