___HOTAS COUGAR IS JUST NOT GOOD ENOUGH.____

[AnaalNathrakh]

Im on my second broken HOTAS cougar and getting really sick and tired. The first time the throttle-pot broke and the center of the joystick just got all loose. This time around the center has gotten really loose and the roll-axel is really messed up. I was even more gentle with it this time. Is this what a product of this insanely high price-rage is supposed to be like?
Just pissed..
Z.

[AnaalNathrakh]

Im on my second broken HOTAS cougar and getting really sick and tired. The first time the throttle-pot broke and the center of the joystick just got all loose. This time around the center has gotten really loose and the roll-axel is really messed up. I was even more gentle with it this time. Is this what a product of this insanely high price-rage is supposed to be like?
Just pissed..
Z.

[eXtra_Corrosiv]

ch products are really good. i think the x-45 is even better, and a crapload cheaper.

=-=-My SiG OwNz You-=-=

[FreakziIIa]

I could never justify spending that much money on a game controller.

Get ya an X45 http://ubbxforums.ubi.com/images/smiley/16x16_smiley-wink.gif

AMD Athlon XP 2000 @ 1.67 Ghz
Asus A7N8X Rev 2.0 BIOS C1007
K-BYTE 512MB DDR333
ATI RADEON 9600XT

[Morrdaz]

Spend more time with lomac and less in the fitness studio ^^

[jenikovtaw]

Good point : "can not justify spending that much on a game controller"

I wholeheartedly agree. I have MSFF2 .. yes.

[XyZspineZyX]

Ch gear is awesome.

and as for price - with CH you actually get what you pay for - fully functional and reliable and a LONG lifespan.

http://www3.telus.net/ice51/taipans/tpn_bard.jpg (http://taipans.dyndns.org/)

[kob27]

I had X45 HOTAS but now i'm flying with CH fighterstick+pro throttle+pro pedals and it feels like the real thing . Plus i have TrackIR2 and i have to tell u that it's perfect http://ubbxforums.ubi.com/images/smiley/16x16_smiley-wink.gif

[Capt.LoneRanger]

Tested several TM joysticks. A lot of money for some fency stuff and some extra money for the name.

I'm still stuck with my CH-Products HOTAS, here.


greets
Capt.LoneRanger

http://www.cptloneranger.privat.t-online.de/SIG2.jpg

[bobc1]

If your joystick axes (potentiometers) are screwing up or "spiking" remove the bottom plate (4 screws) and then remove the pots (2 screws each) and a small plug. Then spray them with electronics cleaner (I used WD-40) as you pull, push and twist them to work the cleaner inside. Put them back in and you should be good to go for awhile. I tried spraying my throttle pot but it's a slightly different design and it had no effect. Maybe it was just totally burnt out. So I called Thrustmaster and they sent me a new one which has worked fine for the past few months. But they just send you the pot and not the connecting plug so you have to solder the old wires onto the new tiny prongs which I found difficult to do. There are a few things that you can do to get the sloppiness out of your Cougar and they talk about it at the below links. I have about a half an inch of play on my joystick (at the top) but it doesn't effect the way my Cougar performs.

But to fix this mess of spiking pots once and for all you need to upgrade to CubPilot's Hall Effect Sensors. You can read about them at Cougar World. I have them in my joystick and they are just great. They track like a laser beam and never need maintenance. But the pair cost me $140.00 USD and if you're gonna buy the pair for the joystick you may as well buy the total kit which also includes the pot for the throttle too. I imagine this would run around $200.00 but I'm not sure.

Check out Cougar World for everything Cougar.

http://cougar.frugalsworld.com/

Here's a link to a picture of a dirty stock pot disassembled.

http://forums.frugalsworld.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=59213

Here's the Hardware Mod forum to see everything that you can buy to upgrade the inferior stuff in the Cougar. It ain't cheap. And how to perform basic maintenance on the Cougar.

http://cougar.frugalsworld.com/mods.php

Here's a picture of a Hall Effect Sensor and a stock Cougar potentiometer.

http://bcee1.home.comcast.net/TM_Pots.JPG

[eXtra_Corrosiv]

use electronics cleaner NOT WD-40 it's mildly solvent

<img src="http://www.evolvefish.com/fish/media/S-306.jpg">

[Cali_169th]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Morrdaz:
Spend more time with lomac and less in the fitness studio ^^<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

http://ubbxforums.ubi.com/images/smiley/16x16_smiley-very-happy.gif

http://202.173.131.219/sigs/sigpic169_1.jpg (http://169thpanthers.net/main/index.php)
Play Hard - Play Fair
Pilot Oficer "Cali"
169th Panthers

Cali
Eielson AFB
F-16's & A-10's
AMD Athlon 64-bit 3200+ 1600mhz HyperTransport Tech
1 gig DDR 3200
ATI 9200se cats 4.1
X45
Logitech Z-640 5.1 speakers

[VMF-Blaze_UG]

Yes I really love my Cougar...
Like I posted yesterday I'm not going to get in a flame war about this, its really about personal prefference.

I have read several posts about pot issues and not just refering to Cougars but other controllers.... I think there was even 1 or 2 about rudder peddals as well.

I have cleaned my pots allready. its really quite easy but you should use contact cleaner.

Anyway I worked in the Areospace industry for a while and I'm pretty much awear of what can go wrong and how to deal with these issues, besides I like maintaning my equipment(any one greased any springs latlely?) http://ubbxforums.ubi.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

Well for me I haven't had any problems with the way the stick performs, and also I like the finish and the feel of cold steel in my hands. My problem is the way some people overreact about various products...and the way they try to force their opionion on you,look at the car industry. http://ubbxforums.ubi.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif So as I said before everyone should have the right to choose what they prefere!

Over and Out
Blaze

http://home.comcast.net/~h.walther/blazesig.gif

[bobc1]

I agree that you should use electronic contact cleaner for best results but in a pinch WD-40 works. At least it did for me. I bought a $12.00 can of Radio Shack electronics cleaner and used it once for the pots in my Klipsch Pro-Media speakers. I then put it in a closet and forgot about it. When I went to retrieve it to use in my Cougar someone had "borrowed" it or walked away with it or in plain English stole it from me. After searching everywhere in my house/garage for over an hour and getting aggravated at the world and not wanting to drive to the store again for something I already bought I just grabbed the WD-40 and used it and all was fine. Years ago it used to say on the WD-40 can that it was good for electronics but it no longer does.

At the Cougar forum they recommend "DeOxit" to clean and somewhat repair the damaged resistive surface of the pot and provide a little lubrication. Then "Cailube" to lubricate and protect the pot for the long run.

But no matter what you use it's probably just a matter of time before you'll need to spray the pots again, or get stock replacement pots from TM (Guillemot) which at some time will need spraying/cleaning too or invest the money in the expensive Hall Effect sensors. I've owned half a dozen other joysticks over the years and wouldn't sim with any other joystick/throttle combo than the Cougar but it sure needs a lot of work to keep it running right. You need to be a tinkerer who has the time to spend on it and doesn't mind turning a screwdriver and wielding a soldering iron every once in awhile.

I can relate to the "feel of cold steel in my hands." And the Cougar weighs a ton so don't drop it on your foot.

It would be nice if it was easier to find in the stores so people could try it before they buy it. And it should come with a little toolkit consisting of replacement parts, wire cutters, soldering iron, philips head screwdriver and electronics cleaner. And with a warning that says "Only patient tinkerers should purchase this imperfect product."

A year ago I dropped my Cougar and broke the H4 button and got a replacement but just haven't fixed it yet. I've learned to adjust. But my Speed Brake button, like they so often do, just died last month so I gotta order that and I guess I'll fix them both at the same time. Not really looking forward to doing it though.

Oh well, it's part of the price I pay for (combat) flight simming with a Cougar.

[baseinten]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by eXtra_Corrosiv:
ch products are really good. i think the x-45 is even better, and a crapload cheaper.

=-=-My SiG OwNz You-=-=<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Hi, I just got an X45 combo and love it. I am having a hard time programming it and was wondering if you have any profil;es for the X45 for Lomac?

Thanks
Joe
jnkroe@fuse.net

[baseinten]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by eXtra_Corrosiv:
ch products are really good. i think the x-45 is even better, and a crapload cheaper.

=-=-Hi, I just got an X45 combo and love it. I am having a hard time programming it and was wondering if you have any profil;es for the X45 for Lomac?

Thanks
Joe
jnkroe@fuse.

[Wemic]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by VMF-Blaze_UG:
Yes I really love my Cougar...
Like I posted yesterday I'm not going to get in a flame war about this, its really about personal prefference.

I have read several posts about pot issues and not just refering to Cougars but other controllers.... I think there was even 1 or 2 about rudder peddals as well.

I have cleaned my pots allready. its really quite easy but you should use contact cleaner.

Anyway I worked in the Areospace industry for a while and I'm pretty much awear of what can go wrong and how to deal with these issues, besides I like maintaning my equipment(any one greased any springs latlely?) http://ubbxforums.ubi.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

Well for me I haven't had any problems with the way the stick performs, and also I like the finish and the feel of cold steel in my hands. My problem is the way some people overreact about various products...and the way they try to force their opionion on you,look at the car industry. http://ubbxforums.ubi.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif So as I said before everyone should have the right to choose what they prefere!

Over and Out
Blaze

http://home.comcast.net/~h.walther/blazesig.gif <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

No major problems with mine. Love the weight. Lighter controllers tend to slide around my desk when the action gets heavy.

Wemic

Politicians are like diapers...they have to be changed frequently and always for the same reason.
http://home.nycap.rr.com/wemic/Wemicsig.jpg

[FreakziIIa]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by baseinten:
[QUOTE]Originally posted by eXtra_Corrosiv:
ch products are really good. i think the x-45 is even better, and a crapload cheaper.

=-=-Hi, I just got an X45 combo and love it. I am having a hard time programming it and was wondering if you have any profil;es for the X45 for Lomac?

Thanks
Joe
jnkroe@fuse.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Check out the stickies. I've been using Precog's profile. It's damned good, a great place to start.

AMD Athlon XP 2000 @ 1.67 Ghz
Asus A7N8X Rev 2.0 BIOS C1007
K-BYTE 512MB DDR333
ATI RADEON 9600XT