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Archived from The Control Center, 2000. Hardware, prices and links are historical.

Saitek ST110 Dynamic PC Stick and Throttle

Originally published on joy-stick.net, 8 January 20004/5 sticks

ST110 Dynamic PC Stick and Throttle

Manufactured By: Saitek

Retail Price: $19.95

Review Date:01-08-00

Price and quality are not always proportionate. Take the Saitek ST110 Dynamic PC Stick and Throttle for example. For just under $20 you get a stick that offers basic joystick function but in a way that offers the user some additional options. With most sticks if you want to adjust the tension you need to disassemble the stick and replace the springs with new ones of appropriate strength. Not only is this a pain but its not an exact science and it voids your warranty. The ST110 sticks tension is adjusted with a few simple twists of a screw collar at the base of the stick.

I addition to the adjustable tension the stick offers a throttle with a nice sized paddle wheel for control. The throttle was a bit tight at first but loosened to my liking after a bit of use. The stick has a recess in the base that allows you to coil the cable into the base when you don't need the entire length. To top off the features the stick offers a nice contoured handle that seems to accommodate large and small hands equally well.

The ST110 offers 4 buttons but no hat switch. However, since it is an analog device you can easily add external devices at a later time. The ST110 is a great entry level stick.

Features 89%-

  • Styled to suit a wide range of hand sizes
  • 3 fire buttons & trigger
  • Lever throttle
  • Adjustable spring tension to suit personal preference
  • Self-contained cable storage

Appropriate For-

  • Racing Games (Need For Speed, Powerslide, Midtown Madness, Re-Volt, Star Wars: Racer, etc.)
  • Flight Sims (MS FlightSim 98, CombatSim, Fly, etc.)
  • Space Sims (Descent Freespace, Forsaken, Mechwarrior III, Incoming, etc.)

System Requirements-

Standard 15 pin gameport

Price-

The MSRP of $19.95 is an incredibly great price for this introductory level stick that can later be expanded upon as you develop your gaming skills and needs.

Warranty-

1 year limited.

Performance 89%-

The ST110 was put through the paces with a variety of games. It was also used with different tension settings depending on the type of game I was playing. Due to the unique spring tension mechanism Saitek uses the tension on the stick is equal in any position (something you may not notice but is apparent if you are used to using another stick that does not have this feature).

Calibration holds solid. Even after extended play the stick stayed on center and I experienced no flutter usually common with sticks in this price range. The throttle wheel offers precise control thanks to the throttle wheel's long throw and control paddle instead of a simple wheel.

The only area where the ST110 shows its price is when it comes to buttons. The ST110 only has 4 buttons and no hat switch. The stick works great fro flightsims but is limited because it has no view hat and advanced actions can't be set to more than 4 buttons. I was required to use the keyboard for some of the games I played with the ST110. Any time you are required to access the keyboard and unhand the stick you run the risk of reduced control.

I also used the stick with external rudder pedals. I chose the Hoffman SIMPED-vario pedals because of their accuracy. The combo showcased the expansion possibilities of the stick. I did not pair the stick with an external throttle but this would solve the issues I ran into with having too many game actions and not enough buttons.

Setup 100% -

Setup takes but a few easy steps. After unpacking the stick plug it into your gameport and start the system. From the Game Controller applet select add other and choose a 3 axis 4 button controller. Run a calibration of the stick and your done.

The ST110 just wouldn't be a Saitek stick if it didn't have a few adjustments you could make. The ST110 allows you to shorten the cord by wrapping it in the recess on the base underside. It was convenient to do so since I have an extension cable that brings my gameport to the front of my desk. Only a few inches of the cable extended from the base making the system more tidy.

The other adjustment feature is the adjustable stick tension. Using a simple turn screw at the base of the stick you can loosen or tighten the stick tension to your liking. Its easy to use and very convenient for switching on the fly.

** Software NA-

**No software is provided or necessary.

Documentation 90%-

The 5 language users manual describes the ST110's features, describes setup and calibration , offers basic troubleshooting tips and offers support information. Setup of the stick is easy and the manual does a great job describing it without making it more difficult than necessary.

The Saitek website offers product details, an on line store, news and many other features. There are not many details on the ST110 posted but since it doesn't use special drivers or utilize profiles and is easy to setup not much supplemental information is needed.

Overall Rating 90.5%-

The Saitek ST110 Dynamic Stick and Throttle is a great stick for only $20. It has features missing on sticks even 2-3 times more expensive. It is also missing a few features that would have been helpful in complex games such a flightsims. However, as an entry level stick you just can't beat the price, comfort and general performance of the ST110.

The Control Center recommends the ST110 as an entry level joystick.

Pros-

  • Adjustable stick tension
  • Adjustable cable length
  • Great price

Cons-

  • No hat switch

Similar to-**

Review date as printed on the original page. Images from the original page are not reproduced.