Best Joystick ?

[Greg McCoy]

Happ Controls sells joysticks designed for old Atari arcade systems. The TechnoKats used this model* to implement the arm controls. We started out using the new kit joystick, but it was difficult to use to say the least. It is very strong, has an all-metal stick shaft, good bearings, and solid-feeling controls. This joystick was clearly designed with kids banging it around in an arcade in mind. Unfortunately, the prices on some models are somewhat salty, but these sticks will certainly last several seasons. The stick operation is so seamless that after about 8-10 minutes of match time with it I forgot it was there! That's something I can't say about other joysticks I've used, and makes it a winner in my book.

If you decide to order one, be sure to order an analog 100K ohm potentiometer model, and be prepared to solder the buttons to the appropriate pins. Also, the joystick we used didn't travel to the extreme stops of the pots (not 0-254), nor center at 127 counts. You'll have to adjust the stick in software (or calibrate the Victors if you're using the default code). Feel free to PM me if you need more details on this.

* The B-8 handle was used in the F-4 Phantom II jet fighter, which gives it a really high cool factor

[Alan Anderson]

Originally Posted by Greg McCoy

Happ Controls sells joysticks designed for old Atari arcade systems. The TechnoKats used this model* to implement the arm controls....
If you decide to order one, be sure to order an analog 100K ohm potentiometer model, and be prepared to solder the buttons to the appropriate pins...

Be prepared as well to completely redo the way the "hat" works. That particular joystick closes the switches to ground, and there doesn't seem to be any way (short of sawing the handle apart and splicing wires around) to make it close them to +5 instead. We derived a usable collection of pullup and pulldown resistors, but there's no way to match the "wheel" input values of the white joystick's hat.

[spears312]

I also agree that the classic CH joysticks are the best. Other than the fact that they may not have all the buttons as the newer sticks, they can't be beat. As far as the newer joysticks go, we tried to improve one of them this past year, but even our numerous modifications didn't make any noticeable difference, accept for fixing most of the slop in the movement.

[Meyerman]

even tho i really want our driver to use the steering wheel,if hes not using the wheel you will find nothing but the old flight sticks on our board they work fine never a problem with them as far as i know, we use the for the driver and operator.

[Billfred]

Just because I got bored, I hunted down a slew of eBay auctions for CH Flightsticks, and their bigger brother, the Flightstick Pro. (Note that I have no interest in any of these auctions. Buy at your own risk, blah blah blah.)

Flightstick:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...sPageName=WDVW
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...3328 945&rd=1

Flightstick Pro:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...9517 690&rd=1
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...90809 55&rd=1
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...8685 919&rd=1
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...9323 560&rd=1
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...sPageName=WDVW

[Billfred]

I've got a question for the teams that have experience with both the Flightstick and Flightstick Pro. I figure the Flightstick Pro is geared more for the operator types, but will it do for a driver?

(Yes, I know that they're functionally similar--I'm more concerned with the feel of things.)

[Cory]

Originally Posted by Billfred

I've got a question for the teams that have experience with both the Flightstick and Flightstick Pro. I figure the Flightstick Pro is geared more for the operator types, but will it do for a driver?

(Yes, I know that they're functionally similar--I'm more concerned with the feel of things.)

I've never used one in competition, but they feel similar, and I know other teams have used them successfully for drivers.

[Liz C]

Originally Posted by Billfred

I've got a question for the teams that have experience with both the Flightstick and Flightstick Pro. I figure the Flightstick Pro is geared more for the operator types, but will it do for a driver?

(Yes, I know that they're functionally similar--I'm more concerned with the feel of things.)

If you hold them using the bottom parts of it, versus the top (since they're both right handed), it's less awkward, but I still feel like I have more control over things when using the old ones (we've even changed the springs and such a bunch of times but still no luck for me at least. Our arm driver took the actual plastic handle part off of the flightstick pro off for her controls). Hope that makes sense!

Originally Posted by Swampdude

This is a good issue to push with FIRST and the 2006 kit.

I agree. I think its safe to say that the majority is not satisfied with the current ones offered.

[Andrew Blair]

Oh baby, if FIRST would only invest in some of these for our kits.....

http://novint.com/

[dubious elise]

Originally Posted by Andrew Blair

Oh baby, if FIRST would only invest in some of these for our kits.....

http://novint.com/

:sigh: Aaaah, if only robots were as easy to drive as swords and golf clubs...

Those are very nifty joysticks and I am positive that FIRST could come up with some pretty interesting uses for something of that caliber and construction!