Uber II NXT construction

[TX-Kingsnake]

The saga. Anyway since they don;t sell them cougars new what is the next best stick. Shot answers please, I need a new stick.TX-Kingsnake

[TX-EcoDragon]

Actually it looks like you can still get the cougar at Hunter82's store (he's the Moderater at UBI and one of our IL-2FB community members) for 244.00http://www.magnum-pc.com/it looks like Amazon.com has them too. (New&Used it says)I would give serious thoguht to the CH gear though. . .I'd LOVE a cougar, and in a way, I'm tempted to just get one. . . but I don't think I could do this mod that gunslinger did if I remember the cost, and from what I've heard the stock Cougar is usually only good for a year before the pots go, and centerplay gets bad. . . CH sticks don't ever seem to do that. The ergonomics of the CH aren't my favorite, and the springs are so light it's like there isn't anyhting there, which I don't like, though it does make precise flying a bit easier, and the CH stuff is as smooth as can be, so don't scoff at it. You can get the CH stuff in components, so if you don't need the throttle yet, just get the stick. . . it's sorta like financing.  The CH Fighterstick USB can be found for 105.00, the throttle can be found as low as 99.00. (Those happen to be the prices hunters has on them.) The CH stuff is either the next best thing, or perhaps better in some regards as out of the box it's smoother, and perhaps more long lasting. S!TX-EcoDragonBlack 1TX-Squadron XO

[TX-Gunslinger]

So,

It's been over four years since I recieved by U2NXT mod - serial number #037.  How's it been.  Hands down the best -obtainable- apparatus for controlling a combat flight sim imho and very experienced opinion. 

Recently however, my Y axis has been giving me fits - occasionally deciding (and lately there's no occasionally) that the Y axis is actually 10 point more negative.  It's fun to suddenly just dive.  It's worse when you trim it out!

As a testament to what I've always found with the Cougar and with IJ's U2NXT mod - is that when I've had an issue - there was a solution.  Tonight I took apart and put my U2Nxt back together to tighten a grub screw which contacts the Y axis Hall Sensor shaft - which did the trick!  Flys like a champ!

http://forums.frugalsworld.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=137235

Since I never posted completed pics of my U2NXT mod here - we'll here's my FOUR YEAR OLD U2NXT - just the same elegantly engineered solution as it was when I first got it.






Can't say enough good things about the U2NXT and Cougar.  I've had the Cougar for Five years now and the original two slider pots and throttle pots have never been replaced, or even cleaned.  I've taken these guys on airplanes, in luggage and through carry-on.

S~ I.J. and thanks

Gunny

[TX-Gunslinger]

Note to self: Oct 2009,

There is another Grubscrew under the 1st Grubscrew in the pictures.  The shaft must be taken out.  2nd problem during the last two days with same symptoms as months ago - this time I secured the 2nd Grubscrew.  The 1st Grubscrew holds the shaft - remove it - then the shaft.  The second grubscrew is on the bottom of the shaft - it mates with the hall sensor shafts - flat input end (rotational input).

S~ to self - fixed now

Gunny

[TX-Gunslinger]

Well, the grubscrew did not fix the issue.

Current issue is extreme spiking in the X axis - while Y will occasionally get reset.  Upon close inspection I found a loose connection at the "solderless' connectors which come with the Halls on my Y Hall.

Decided to restrip, and solder the wires together.  Unfortunately, I got the 0 reference DC and +5 DC crossed and blew my Hall.  Another note to self:  Refer to the other Hall in the Cougar for wiring reference, not memory.

I've sent an email to Cubby asking for two more Halls (who knows).... Hopefully I'll hear back from him soon because I"m without a joystick right now.

S~

Gunny

[GOZR]

Woo! Sorry for that and it can be very frustrating but if you wish to fly the Camel there is no need of a joystick you know that the Camel has been optimized for Keyboards users... Hehehe!

Kidding apart, it would be good to have a used Joystick in case of a problem   I feel your pain!!

[TX-Gunslinger]

That Hall has lasted me 4 or 5 years, until I killed it.

This thing is built so well and fly's so smooth.  That axis grubscrew never required tightening.


A precision ball bearing set on all four X and Y mounting points makes this stick unlike anything else.  Those will last longer than me probably.


Well, this has been what my day's turned out to be...

S~

Gunny

[TX-Thunderbolt]

Damn dude. That straight up sucks.  

Is Cubby the only one you can get those Halls from?

On a completely different note, do you plan on waiting it out, or is there a possible alternative? I know you've looked at the G940, but I've got an extra CH Pro Throttle and a Flightstick Pro (not a Fighterstick, but more than you'd need for RoF and both still right handed)). You'd need some pedals though. They're all USB, so install the Control Manager (DL from CH), calibrate and you're done. You can use them as direct controller by assigning everything in the game, or you can use the CM software and make a map.

Just let me know if you're interested.

[TX-Gunslinger]

Thanks TB!

I might just take you up on that if I don't hear from Cubby in the next 24 hours.  I have CH gameport and Saitek USB rudder pedals so that would work out well for me.

Yes, unfortunatley Cubby is the only source that I know of - these units are not stamped with manufacturer or #.  Maybe on the inside...hmmmm...

They don't break - but I'm going to get two anyway.

Thanks for the offer - I'd just need the temporarily and we could hold on to them as "squad emergency equippage" and I could some pedals to the set maybe.

All the best,

Gunny

[TX-Gunslinger]

F * I *X*E*D

Problem was a bad connector to old Hall - which I made worse by wiring error which blew the Hall.  Warning - Hall's are destroyed if cross wired.

Ordered new stuff from Cubby - but fortunately - for Beta testing anyway..  My local "Cougar" club had a Spare Hall.  Good to have a club like this in your area....

I'm up no spikes - ...

Back to testing..

Gunny

[GOZR]

Wo good job! Gunny what kind of flight Sim are they flying at the club ?

[TX-Gunslinger]

Wings over Europe - Wings over Vietnam - etc... etc....

They have ROF - but one can't fly it because he's remodeling his house.  I have his U2NXT to install in his Cougar when I get time over the next several weeks.

S~

Gunny

[TX-Gunslinger]

By the way - about that review I never quite got to - Gremlin_WoH posted a link to this great review he wrote over at the Wing of Honor web site.....

http://www.wingsofhonour.com/hardware/thrustmasterhotascougar/review_modding-u2nxt-hs2-hs1_20090718/html_woh_hardware_review_cougar-u2nxt-hs_20090718.en.html

S~

Gunny