Yes, I had to try it - Logitech G940 re-review

[TX-Gunslinger]

My Cougar is in need of a complete overhaul.  I have no life or time for it now.  Fortunately, I have a spare U2NXT modded - brand new Cougar (Bevo's), which I'll use until I either:

1) Pick up a Warthog in November (AFTER I read someone else's review of the Joystick action).

2) Take my trusty Cougar down to small parts.

In any event, in a moment of weakness I stopped at Fry's and picked up a brand new G940 - just so I could see for myself (Yes I know Eco, you told me).  I figured - hey, maybe since Eco's a real pilot and much taller than me - I could get by with the rudder pedals and since I'd never experienced Force Feedback, I'd see what that was like.

So how's the 940 compared to a U2NXT Cougar?

- Like a Porsche compared to a Chevy

I found the rudder pedals to be ok - my feet are smaller - not near as bad as I thought.

However, after 4 hours of setup and 4 hours of flying - here's my conclusions

1. The software is better than Saitek - but not near as controllable, flexible nor versatile as Foxy.  Must use three buttons in some cases where complex functions allow me to use one for the Cougar.  If your interested, I can elaborate - but I don't want to waste words.

2. The "feel" of the joystick is best described as "GRINDEY", like big gears with sand in them.  Yes, I tried all manner of Force Feedback settings - still, feels rough.  The U2NXT is so smooth and precise around center.  I can get over the precision - got quite a few kills with the G940 - but still have much better control and far less FATIGUE with the Mod Cougar.  Logitech needs better gears and stepping motors I'd think.

3. Force Feedback is a frickin gimmick (think Eco said this too).  I feel with my eyes - and don't really need the stick's feedback in that manner.  Maybe it's just that I have so many hours in Il2 and ROF that it's what I'm used to.  I liked the gun shake, though, more than I thought.

There are many nice things about this system, but you can tell that it's not really been developed by high-end flight simmers.  I liked the idea of all the rotaries, and I could get used to them, however you don't really need all the rotaries.  Flaps are best deployed in stages, and reaching down for trim wheels at the base of the stick, is just far less efficient.

Maybe this would be a good system for jet simmers, as it has many gadgets that might be cool for radar and "jet gadget" control.

So, it's going back tommorow.  At least I can say I tried something new, AND gave it a fair shot.

Eco's write up is the best on the web, and the most accurate - as far as High-End Prop-simmers go.  Again, the biggest downer is the rough feel of the joystick.  It's the plastic gears, which are too coarse.

S!

Gunny

[GOZR]

+1

[TX-Thunderbolt]

Well, as I said before (many months ago) I had higher hopes for the G940. I doubted it would unseat any of the reigning kings, but was really hoping it would be a step above the standard journeyman junk sold across the counter in retail stores.

Even after a year, these things still aren't any better. Maybe they aren't worse either, but I would have thought after a few months of public use and feedback, they would have made some modifications/changes to their product to at least refine it a little.

Oh well. I'm not changing sticks anytime soon either way. It would be nice to be able to recommend something to newcomers that didn't have the sticker shock a full CH HOTAS+TrackIR (~$425.00!) setup brings. At this point, my recommendation is still for a Fighterstick+ Rudder pedals for starters and adding a TrackIR and then a Pro Throttle afterwards, in that order.

[TX-TOAD]

I'm still getting by with my old ass x-45 throttle, MFFB2, Ch Pedals, and Tir3pro

X-45   $70 new 8 years old now I think
MFFB2 $35 used Every bit of 8 or more
CHPedals $115 new bought them within a month of the X-45
Tir3pro $130 new not sure 5 years maybe

Still $350 investment through the years

[TX-Gunslinger]

Well, I just saw that G940 thread over at ROF forums (older thread).

All I can say is that there are a lot of people who really don't have experience across a lot of joysticks, so they just don't know what others feel like.  Sort of like women I guess 

So, although I've wasted a lot of money - I've had a

- Early Saitek - can't remember the name or number - 30 dollar cheepie with little throttle stuck in its side
- Cougar
- U2NxtCougar
- Saitek X52 - thought it might be a good travel stick.  I'd rather have G940 that than POS.  I gave it to my brother and it broke within 6 months
- G940 recently

So, I have at least tried many.  Not the CH though.  No opinion - except what TB tells me.  I believe that the CH must have far better programming software than all the rest )save Cougar.


Innocent public

S!

Gunny

[GOZR]

All I can say is that there are a lot of people who really don't have experience

Agreed, same with everything and it's very hard for many to understand differences on better and why