Peripherals forum: Best Joystick for pc

If not Logitech, then what?

by hypnoduck - 12/16/07 7:37 PM

In Reply to: Not Logitech by hokey

I too had a totally disastrous experience with Logitech joysticks. I have an Acer Aspire 5310 Notebook running Vista Home Basic, 1.6Mhz, 1.5Gb RAM, and I first tried an Attack 3 stick which just wouldn't work at all in my favourite sim, Microsoft Combat Flight Sim 1. It worked in Rowan's Battle of Britain and MSCFS 3, but I prefer MSCFS 1, so back to the store I went.

I then tried an Extreme 3D Pro; impressive name, less than impressive performance. Didn't work at all in MSCFS 1, and in Rowan's BoB some of the control assignments were screwed up and unchangeable.

So, my question is: Does anyone know of a stick that will function properly with my system?

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Saitek P2600 Manual with full programming Instructions

by nemo750 - 3/14/12 3:42 PM

In Reply to: If not Logitech, then what? by hypnoduck

Hi

Yes, this is a very old thread but people are still currently trying, and apparently often failing, to use the excellent Saitek Joy Pads, so it may still be of interest because they are so durable.

When recently I got out my Saitek P2600 (from 2005/2006?) I could find no proper instructions, just the leaflet which was no help - until I looked on the original disc!

The P2600 still works just fine and even does Oblivion with just the 'FPS' button, which sets up both of the analog sticks as well as the Dpad. In fact all but two buttons can work with this very popular game (and probably many others which use similar buttons) even if you don't add any programming. Then for 'FPS OFF' you can gradually add an alternative set, when you get the hang of programming it. Then progress to setting up a full profile from scratch.

Apart from confusion over the use of the FPS button, it is also tricky just to guess what version of the software and drivers might work, so I will follow up with a few more bits.

Meanwhile I could send a copy of the pdf from the disc where there is a 25 page manual in various languages which explains the programming of Profiles with the 'SST Software' in full detail. Includes mention of using the same methods for Saitek X36, X35, X45, P880, P2500, P3000, PC Dash 2/P8000 with the 'Saitek Smart Technology' (SST).

If you need the pdf just pm and say what language.

Regards
Chris

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Saitek P2600 Rumble Pad playable FPS games etc.

by nemo750 - 3/14/12 4:35 PM

In Reply to: Saitek P2600 Manual with full programming Instructions by nemo750

PS
Hi again. On the disc are profiles for the following games (again, pm if you need one of them)

Battlefield 1942 - P2600.dat
Boiling Point - P2600.dat
COD UO - P2600.dat
Doom 3 - P2600.dat
Far Cry - P2600.dat
Half Life 2 - P2600.dat
KOTOR II - P2600.dat
MOH PA - P2600.dat
UT2004 - P2600.dat

As already stated, the idea of the 'FPS' button is that many older games, e.g. Oblivion, which all use nearly the same controls, can be played without the need to program the P2600 or to rely upon ready made profiles like those above if you are not used to the profiler. It's not hard at all but reckon you may just need the detailed instructions to get anywhere much!

However, unlike the 'Xbox 360 controller for Xbox or PC', the latest games are not built for P2600 and of course the software needs to be able to match the latest PC OS, which I am not sure about. In any case you do need the right drivers for your system because Windows does not have them and, again, also the right software.

On the other hand Xbox 360 Controller cannot play the older games without support from Xpadder et al. and is sometimes difficult even then. For example Xbox 360 Controller is not, straight off, nearly as good as P2600 for PC Oblivion. Maybe someone with more experience could manage it but not me!

At least with Aspire 5920G PC and Vista 32bit...

the software which worked for Oblivion was :-
Saitek_P2600_Rumble_Pad_SD6_32

and and the drivers:-
Smart_Technology_7_0_2_7_32bit

Regards
Chris

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Ref needed for reply

by nemo750 - 3/14/12 4:52 PM

In Reply to: Saitek P2600 Manual with full programming Instructions by nemo750

Apologies, there does not seem to be a pm system here but if anyone should want to get a particular P2600 profile from the list above, or a pdf of the profiler manual, we can correspond if you you reply here to give a user name and reference to a site where you can receive pms.
Chris

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latest drivers

by nemo750 - 3/14/12 5:42 PM

In Reply to: Ref needed for reply by nemo750

I was advised that the number of the latest drivers to date is "ST_SD7_0_13_22_32Bit"

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Saitek P2600 etc. Programming User Guide

by nemo750 - 3/16/12 5:11 AM

In Reply to: latest drivers by nemo750

Ok, the programming manual is accessible from the Support tab when running the Profiler!

Chris

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