CH Products Throttle Quadrant USB (300-133) Reviews

• Flight sim nut? Real-pilot too? BUY IT!

  
  By A3KMUHGAZME8VN on 2004-12-07
  I bought these in preparation for my multi-engine pilots license. Of course, I have been flying planes on Microsoft ( and Sublogic) well before I could get into a real cockpit. This is probably one of the best items from CH Products, especially if you like flying multi-engine aircraft or will be upgrading to flying a REAL multi-engine aircraft soon.
  
  Microsoft and CH products have helped keep me sharper in the cockpit by allowing me to practice on the days when I can't go up for real. This product cannot be beat for customizability. I can go from a Beech Baron set-up to a Boeing 747 set-up just by playing with some settings. And if you have the CH Yoke and Rudder pedals, you have a relatively real flying experience without leaving your home.
  
  If you are into military sims, this probably isn't for you. If you have Microsoft flight sim, X-plane, Fly or any other civilian sim and you value realism, you must get these.
  
  $150 isn't cheap, but thats the cost of one hour of flight time in the Multi-engine plane I will be learning in. One hour of flight time versus hours of honing my skills at home? A worthy investment indeed!
  
  The only downside, as there is on all CH products, are the clamps to hold it to the desk. They are really designed to fit desks that are thick and flat. If your PC desk has a curve to the front or is relatively thin, you have to find a better way to secure them to your desk. Wedging books or papers usually helps.
  
  

• BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK!

  
  By A1AJ1Z2AVV5U3T on 2004-12-09
  Great product! Takes a little playing with the Sensitivity and Assignments settings in MS Flight Simulator 2004 in order to fine-tune it, but no problem. I am no gaming nut or PC guru just private pilot, who will most likely never fly a craft with a 4-engine throttle quadrant! Also, the technical support is very responsive to a technical question.
  
  

• Its the only thing going :(

  
  By AENULRBQ2IE5I on 2006-02-24
  The levers are actually pretty small. Not very realistic at all. It was VERY difficult to calibrate. I had to resort to google to find out why some of the assignments (reverse thrust) didnt work properly until I adjusted the factory default settings. I guess I was lucky to run across a thread with someone else having the same problem.
  I use it for FS9. Its the only thing going at a reasonable price so what can you do? I reccommend it, but its not really that great. I'm not going to rave about it.
  
  

• Great for 747 freaks.

  
  By A1N2D7LLBAY25B on 2004-11-03
  This is the control console in most major jet airliners. It provides throttle(of course) as well as air/fuel and individual engine control. Can be useful in Piston and Turbo Props too. But is mainly used in Flight Sim 04 and the passenger jets. After watching that turbine spin up on that pilot episode of Lost how could you not want one. Turn that darn thing off already!
  
  

• Throttle Quadrant

  
  By A1D86Y7AQ2NZSK on 2005-09-06
  I ordered this item and it has been all I expected it to be. The service is outstanding. I was told I would get it a certain day and giving a tracking number. I didn't really have time to keep up with where it was because it came 2 days ahead of time.
  Everything, product, service, price great, so good in fact that today I received another product from you that I ordered and it too came 3 days ahead of the time I was suppose to get it. Voice Buddy and headphones. Keep up the good work.
  Don
  
  
• Pretty Good Product
  By A24NN70EK8XFZH on 2005-08-30
  I own the CH Products Flight Yoke, Rudder Pedals, and Throttle Quadrant. When I opened the package, I wasn't that thrilled. The throttle quadrant is pretty small and a little hard to control. However, everything is fully functional and programable. I use it for thrust levers, flaps, and spoiler levers. The levers are also set up for reverse thrust! I also programmed the flipper switches as fuel cuttoff switches and engine starters. It is also easy to store. The CH Products Throttle Quadrant adds more than enough realism to flight simulator.
  
  
• a good product
  By A272BA8W2E6I32 on 2006-03-01
  I have several CH product pieces and love them all. The only down side I have found is the software that comes with them for calibration isn't very user friendly. I fly MSFS2004 and had to use a 3rd party software to be able to do what I wanted with the throttles (set beta and reverse ranges, feather detents and fuel c/o) but other than that it's very easy to set up, just plug it in and my computer did the rest. Couldn't imagine flying my Aeroworx King Air with out it!
  
  
• Nicely Done package/ great value
  By AODZ8NPVU0YUN on 2005-04-30
  After reading the Dec. '04 review in Computer Pilot I ordered it. Fine tuning is a bit involved but repetition makes the curve easier. Configuring from one a/c type throttle to another is easy with the downloadable manager from CH prod. Compared to the GoFlight modular system this is great value. Unless $$ is no object and you're not interested in building a home cockpit, the CH line of av-sim controls is well suited to the aspiring and advaced flt. simmer.
  
  
• Great add-on
  By A1AO304VECPFEO on 2006-02-24
  Adds a new dimension to Flight Simulator. Construction is as to be expected from CH Products: solid and strong.
  
  Take the time to install the drivers and use the Control Manager that CH provides since it expands the possibilities 10-fold.
  
  
• This throttle works great!
  By A2DAPK56YO2UTG on 2007-03-30
  We originally ordered the "I-Pro" Throttle from Amazon for my son's Christmas gift. He's a big flight sim nut, and he was happy with the throttle, but he really wanted this one instead. It had more capabilities and had a more realistic feel. When we made the exchange, he said this was exactly right for him and he's been happily flying ever since! I would definitely recommend this product!
  
  
• a fun enhancement for cyber-flying
  By A26AZ371EZ8KEF on 2007-07-17
  First, the negative, like a lot of products of this type it comes with poor documentation. I figured it out with an advanced knowledge of FS and some logic. However, once you're hooked up it's a fun enhancement to FS. It is probably more useful for twin engines with pitch and mixture control. It allows you to control these facets with your hand and not by having to mouse onto the screen and hope up subscreens. With one hand on stick or yoke and the other over the quadrant you can control your aircraft during the busy times, takeoff and landing, without having to reach for a mouse. The quadrant buttons allow you to set up common switch functions which eliminates keyboard strokes or mouse clicks.
  
  
• configuration troubles
  By A19KMETOBVSSUY on 2007-03-06
  Not such a good adquisition, i own the ch pro pedals and the ch flight yoke and both are great, the thing is that since i bought the quadrant my flight sim has gone mad, it never saves the settings for trims, buttons or axes, no response has been received from the ch tech support department and the ch configuration manager software only got my troubles worst.
  
  
• A great compliment to your flight set up!
  By A2PUMUZ7V9B0J5 on 2007-01-09
  I was given this as a gift for Christmas, and coupled with my rudder pedals and yoke, it is an awesome way to make your flying even more realistic. The heads are interchangable to sub as throttles, prop controls, or mixture levers, and there is a detent at about 30% of max on each one, simulating the 30% throttle setting jets need to be advanced to for stabilization before full power on takeoff. There are a tremendous amount of buttons (two settings on each one, up and down) to program. Also, the yoke from CH has been the source of much ire due to the fact that the clamps do not clamp down on especially skinny tables. That is true with my yoke, but on the same table, THIS quadrant was able to attach just fine. It seems they must have fixed that problem. Another thing, and my only complaint is there is no reverse thrust position. The throttles just go from zero to max, and unlike on a jetliner, there is no reverse position. Oh well. Still a great product.
  
  
• Works Just Fine
  By AS98Y2HLGFR42 on 2007-05-06
  This throttle works just fine. You can program the levers and buttons to do different aircraft functions as you desire. The USB setup is automatic. You'll have to do a manual setup in the Flight Sim Program to reprogram the buttons to do different functions which was not too difficult. The way it has to be mounted could be more versatile, like having the suction-cups on the bottom. The table edge clamps do not fit well with all table and desks.
  
  
• Another great CH flight controller
  By AHJ0U4V74OVIP on 2008-05-09
  Some random observations:
  
  1) CH product support (specific questions answered) is outstanding if you know exactly where to look for it. Google your way to the 'CH Hangar' forum. All questions will be answered completely (probably by the author of CH Control Manager himself, Bob [Sticky]Church). Response times vary from several minutes to several hours. Not days, not weeks. For proof, take a peek in the forum before purchase!
  
  
  2) Microsoft's Flight Simulator doesn't recognize what type of controllers you are trying to use and might automatically assign alierons rudders etc. onto the quad! It would be necessary to reassign the axes and buttons withing MSFS's menus itself. But first calibrate the controller. Second look in MSFS sensitivity settings (the fifth throttle axis will have sensitivity = 0 which is nonsense), just pull the six axes' sensitivity sliders to full.
  
  3) Using CH's control manager you could set sensitivities, dead zones, centering, response curve which a few easy mouse clicks. This is usually not necessary but it's there to help if needed.
  
  4) Works perfectly with Win XP or Vista.
  
  5) Control manager gives setups for reverse thrust using CMS script, or its otherwise covered in a faq at the ch hangar forum (the forum also has a 'for dummies' introduction to control manager programming).
  
  6) There are ridges (is that the right word) on the bottom of the controller which prevent it lying flat on the desktop, clamping to the front edge of the desk is the designed method for securing.
  
  However there is a workaround to mount anywhere on top of the desktop. Buy a small attractive 1/2 thick shelving board at Home Depot, Lowes, .etc. Place parallel velcro strips along the bottom of the quad, and on the board's top. (Orient them 90 degrees out of phase- if strips are side to side on the quad, then front to back on the board).
  
  Then do the same on the board bottom and desktop and you have a secure mount with the disadvantage of being left with strips glued to your desktop!
  
  6) A few users mount the thing vertical (with clamps or velcro) instead of horizontal - levers move up and down instead of forward backward. This orientation is more natural for using the big levers to control main flaps, cowl flaps, landing gear, dive brakes, elevator trim.
  
  But heck the 6 vertical fipper buttons can do that when its mounted in the usual horizontal position. Leaving the levers for use as 4 throttles, fuel mixture, and blade angle pitch.
  
  
• CH Products Throttle Quadrant a winner
  By A123KTWL2L837R on 2007-01-10
  This is the third CH Products item I have acquired to use with Laminar Research's X-Plane and it has proven to be as easy to set up and use, and has as many hours of satisfaction as their FlightSim Yoke and Rudder Pedals. The throttles move easily and smoothly, have a single detent at one-sixth the way from the rear position to the forward position. Two sets of caps are provided that allow me to switch between twin-prop and twin-jet configuration (as well as the necessary software settings in X-Plane). The box mounts firmly even to a rather precarious table edge. If I would change anything, it would be to add a couple more detents in each arc, but other than that, I have the found the product meets all expectations for use and quality.
  
  Although I have not had any problems with the throttle quadrant, when I had an issue with their other products, CH Products customer support responded quickly and with very fair consideration.
  
  
• Functional Interface
  By A4IVIRBBV4Q7M on 2007-01-16
  This item lives up to the description indicated. It's very easy to use and adequately simulates real aircraft control.
  
  
• My son likes this unit.,
  By A27K44YH7EB6OF on 2007-05-06
  My son is a avid Flight Simulator user - likes this unit but wished it worked with all versions of the actual software.
  
  
• Suspends Unbelievability
  By A2V1UWS6P5S6YU on 2007-12-14
  An essential to the serious simmer for multi engine A/C! Quality and ease of installation is tops! CH Products has done GOOD!
  
  
• Awsome CH Product
  By A249RWLG03TMLS on 2007-12-30
  This is a great product, and a nice add on to my system, I bought this awhile back, and have used it alot. I can set the trims in my IL2 games and Microsoft Flight X and Microsoft Flight 2004. A very nice addition. All programable buttons and levers. I would high recommend this product, if you are into some serious gaming. Because of the product I am getting more kills on IL2. So credit to the maker, nice job CH.
  
  Johnny5 (Crazyblazey) Blaze
  
  

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