| Saitek X52 HOTAS |
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The throttle unit of the Saitek X52 HOTAS is a progressive throttle input unit with detents that provide the "feeling" for the idle and afterburner states on the HOTAS. The throttle unit has 2 fire buttons lit up wit the blue LED's as well as a new scroll wheel on the back side with a built-in push button similar to the functionality of a scroll wheel mouse. Another new feature on the X52 is the addition of a precision slider switch located where the "aux." switch was on the previous units. The mouse controller switch with mouse push button is a nice return from the previous throttle units. The 8-position HAT switch on the backside of the throttle grip is nicely situated to allow for comfort and feel and there are two rotary switch function buttons which are nicely accented by center LED lit push-buttons. The throttle units look and feel are incredible as are the rubber palm rest areas that allow for the user to rest their left hand upon.
The throttle units base is as beautiful as the pictures provided here show. Along the left side of the base of the throttle is a rotational tension knob which allows the user to control the throttle's push tension on the fly without having to run for a screwdriver. The small tension added here allows the interface to feel even more immersive within their flight sim or game. At the heart of the the X52's throttle base is the beautiful new LCD display unit , better known as the MFD or Multi-Function Display. The MFD is a bright blue LED interface which allows the user to see which mode they are in, what profile they are presently using, the time ( 3 different times of which GMT is the first, the other two are set within the software by the user), date, and a reset-able stopwatch feature. Below the display are three buttons labeled FUNCTION, START/STOP and RESET. The function button toggles the display between the default settings available.
One nice thing we noticed
is that you can change your profile while in the game, provided you
have more than one profile. Simply press the clutch button labeled
(i), then the POV down button until the profile you want shows-up
in the blue MFD and then press the POV-right and its set. This allows
the user to have a profile for Air to Air, Air to Ground and
Navigation, if the user wishes to diversify their controls even
further. The clutch button initiates a form of ‘safe mode’ to
allow on-the-fly profile selection within games/sims, or to display
button functionality without activating the button in the games/sims
The clutch button (i) also allows you to recall what a button
does, in case you forget, by simply pressing the clutch and then
pressing the button in question, the MFD displays the function for the
selected button. The X52 is very easy to program using the Saitek
software interface. The user merely presses the button they want to
program on the 3D image in the SST software, then presses the program
field on the right and then presses the keyboard function that they
wish to assign to that button. Saitek has made it very simple to do.
The X52 comes comes with a software CD that has Saitek's Smart-Technology Software (SST) for programming the HOTAS to your liking. Also included is the Roger Wilco Chat software which is the the ideal accompaniment for on-line multiplayer gaming and makes a great addition to the software package. Saitek has also included a very detailed owners manual that has instructions in English, French, Dutch, Italian and Spanish with detailed pictures of the units and their functionality. The software manual, included on the CD is the place to start for learning to program the X52 HOTAS to perfection.
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