CH FlightSim Yoke USB LE

FlightSim Yoke USB LE

Manufactured By: CH Products

Retail Price: $109.00

Review Date: 06-13-99

The CH FlighSim Yoke USB LE is the second release in a series of three flight yokes from CH Products. The previously released CH FlightSim Yoke PC is a gameport device with an otherwise identical list of specifications as the FlightSim Yoke USB LE. The last yoke in the group, due for release later this summer, adds two more levers next to the throttle for propeller and fuel mixture adjustments. I've said it before but here it is again- I anticipated the release of these controllers more than any other game controller out there. I am a huge sim buff and like my gear. Finding out there was going to be a USB version influenced my decision to ditch my AT motherboard and case so I could start taking advantage of USB.

"Why USB?" you may ask. First, USB offers a true plug-and-play connection. Simply plug in the device and your system recognizes it (usually after you install necessary drivers and identify it once). Want to remove it? Unplug it and its gone. There are no IRQ wars, port compatibility issues or related problems with using a gameport. You can even daisy-chain devices together (via pass-through connectors or a USB hub) and have them active at the same time without conflict.

Second, USB generally offers a faster interface than a standard gameport. Remember, most gameports still use the same technology from nearly 15 years ago! A faster communication method means higher frame rate, better control and more kills (or faster laps, higher scores, etc.). Set-up is faster, control is better and its easy to use- hail USB (well, sort of). The one outstanding issue with USB is connecting multiple devices together to act as one unit. With your gameport you can easily plug in a yoke, throttle and rudder pedals and identify them as one unit with 4 axis. With USB this is not a possibility yet. However, CH will be releasing USB versions of their Pedals, Pro Pedal and Pro Throttle but site the prerequisite of Direct X7 being released first.

This leads me to the only drawback to owning the CH FlightSim Yoke USB LE.. for right now anyway. With the PC (gameport) version of the yoke you can easily add external throttle and rudder devices by simply plugging them into the yoke. With the USB LE Yoke you can add gameport rudder controls but be prepared for a performance hit. Your system has the ability to create a single controller from both the USB and gameport connection it just doesn't do it efficiently. The USB Yoke is not capable of using an external gameport throttle. CH has both an external USB throttle and 2 versions op pedals in the works (due Q3 99). Its just best to use the yoke as a stand-alone device for the time being and await the release of the USB throttle and rudder controls if you desire external add-on controls.

The hardware itself is put together well. The desk clamping mechanism consists of 2 screw down clamps that make setup and removal easy. My desk is rather thin and I had to mount a strip of finished wood to the edge to accommodate a previous controller. The yoke would not have otherwise accommodated the thin desktop. It secures to the desk exceptionally well and the clamps do not take up too much valuable leg-space.

The yoke has a nice contour and your hands nicely fit the handles. Button placement on the yoke is very convenient and thought out. On the base of the yoke the two switches, trim control and throttle are situated in a way that makes them somewhat obscured by the yoke. A wider base would have brought these features out from behind the yoke but also have taken much more of your desktop space. The design (external) and layout of the USB yoke is identical to the gameport version.

Features 98%-

• Pitch, roll and throttle axis controls
• 4 way hat switch
• 3 push buttons
• 2- 2 way rocker switches
• pitch trim wheel
• gear switch (1 position)
• flap switch (2 positions)

Appropriate For-

• Flight Sims (MS FlightSim 95/98, CombatSim, WWII Fighters, Flight Unlimited II, European Air Warrior, etc.)
• Racing Games (Need For Speed III, Star Wars Racer)
• Space Sims (Descent Freespace)

System Requirements-

Windows 98/2000, USB Port

Price -

The MSRP for the FlightSim Yoke PC is $109. The CH yoke is the only affordable, realistic PC yoke available. A few independent manufacturers offer yokes but they bare a pricetag with a few more numbers included.

Warranty-

Warranted to the original purchaser for 3 years from the date of purchase against defects of material and workmanship.

Performance 95%-

The CH Products FlightSim Yoke USB LE had to live up to much anticipation and it delivered. I completed the evaluation using it as a stand-alone controller (without using gameport rudder pedals). I either used it with a coordinated rudder or set the right rocker switch as the rudder control. It played well but I can't wait for the USB rudder pedals and throttle to become available.

It was great to program the engine start and flaps to the 2 base switches and have a trim wheel to adjust the pitch like in a real aircraft. I only used the Gaming Center utility for Flight Unlimited II since it was the only sim that does not have in game button assignment. Others have reported problems running Flight Unlimited II from the Gaming Center but I experienced no problem on both test systems. As mentioned elsewhere, I removed the Gaming Center from my Startup group so I would not continually "pop up" when I started my system. To activate it I simply ran the program from the CH Products program group before starting the sim.

Although the yoke is sold as a flight sim controller I could not resist trying it with other types of games. I will always use a wheel for racing games but the yoke provided great control and offers more buttons than most typical wheels. Its a great solution for someone looking for a controller with some diversity. I played a few rounds of Need for Speed III using the yoke and faired well. I also used the yoke in a few space combat sims and did really well. The yoke shined in Star Wars Racer. The game lends itself to wheel controllers but the yoke fit the game perfectly with its 3 axis's and many buttons.

The performance of the FlightSim Yoke USB LE is great. It appears a bit more accurate than the FlightSim Yoke PC and is a bit easier to setup. The releases of USB add-ons that can be used with the yoke will only enhance its use.

Setup 95% -

Setup of USB devices is incredibly simple as long as the USB ports are properly configured on your system. The CH FlightSim Yoke USB LE is no exception. You can simply plug in the yoke, let Windows detect the device and direct it to the driver CD. You can also set it up using the Windows 98 CD as a HID Game Controller: 3 Axis 10 button with POV Hat but you will not be able to take advantage of the Gaming Center button programmability feature so be sure to use the enclosed CD.

There is a separate install procedure to setup the additional software tools for the yoke. None of the utilities are required for operation of the yoke and are not necessary to install.

**Software 85%-

** The FlightSim Yoke PC comes with a CD containing the Windows 95/98/2000 driver, and Gaming Center and JCenter utilities for a variety of CH Products. All are installed within a single shortcut folder along with an extensive Windows based help file. The Gaming Center utility is added to your startup group so it is executed every time you start your system. The Gaming Center utility allows you to assign keystrokes to buttons and switches on the yoke. This utility is helpful for sims like Flight Unlimited II where you do not have the option to program button actions in game. The JCenter utility is a simple DOS based axis test utility to assure you are getting a good read on the yokes actions. The CD I received with the yoke was cracked but I already had these utilities installed on my system from the FlightSim Yoke PC. I simply needed to request the inf file from CH so the USB yoke was properly identified.

One comment on the Gaming Center utility that uses may want to consider. The executable is placed in your startup group and run every time you start your system. If the yoke is not connected it displays a message telling you it was not found. When the yoke is connected the Gaming Center pops up at startup. You can pull the Gaming Center off your startup group to avoid this message and simply run the executable from the Start menu or a desktop icon. Its one less thing your system has to deal with upon startup.

Documentation 92% -

The yoke comes with a simple 4 page printed manual and fairly extensive on-line help file. The printed manual will guide you through all of the general installation, setup and troubleshooting steps to get up and running (or flying). The on-line help file goes into much greater detail on using the yoke than the printed manual, including setup procedures for specific sims. The manual also included information on using the yoke on a MAC. Since this is a USB device, setup is truly "Plug and Play" so instruction detail is not really necessary. I would have like to see more details on the Gaming Center usage in print but the one-line help allows you to print any details you would like to have in front of you while you are experimenting with the utility.

Currently the CH Products website does not have much additional information posted on the yoke. CH Products will eventually post Gaming Center Profiles provided by users. They also have detailed FAQ's for their other products and should be adding any questions that may come in on the yoke.

Overall Rating 94.3% -

The CH FlightSim Yoke USB LE is one of the best flight sim controllers available. It offers realistic control, has a quality feel to it and it will enhance you entire virtual flying experience. The Control Center recommends the yoke to anyone looking for an affordable, highly realistic flight controller.

Pros-

• Many programmable buttons and switches
• Realistic look and feel

Cons-

• Throttle, trim wheel and dash switches obscured by the yoke
• External gameport devices such as throttles and rudder pedals are essentially unusable without a performance hit

Similar to-

• CH Products Virtual Pilot Pro
• CH Products FlightSim Yoke PC