Logitech (Saitek) Flight Panels | Don't buy until you watch this video! | MSFS | X-Plane
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- čas přidán 21. 08. 2024
- Logitech (Saitek) Flight Panels have been around for years. Thousands of people, including me, use them, and they can really add to the "Wow!" factor of your setup, but they may not be the most cost effective way to go if you are on a budget and want to expand your home simulator build. With that in mind, I don't recommend them as the next step from a basic build.
Note: The Air Manager Cessna 172 panel demonstrated in the video was 10 dollars euro which is marginal considering the overall expense.
"The Pit" is a series of videos where I give my opinion on gear or aviation/simulation subjects.
I have a Logitech setup and don't regret it at all. It's totally immersive and I love turning dials and pushing buttons. Yes, it was expensive but I wanted the experience. If trying to save money, then definitely go Air Manager and Knobster. Also, I agree that the FIP's have bad graphics that come with them; however, you can buy great graphics from a 3rd party. Again, dollars, but I really enjoy my setup.
I did try third party gauges for the FIPs. Some were really cool. But those FIPs add up cost-wise if get more than one, plus each requires its own USB connection. I will say this about the Logitech radio panels though: If you are a VATSIM or PilotEdge user they are awesome because of the frequent frequency changes. Glad you enjoy your setup! I bet it's pretty cool!
They offer discounts constantly. Never pay full price! Your message is confusing. You compare a screen app (Air Manager) to the tactile models (Logitech). Apples to oranges comparison. The whole point of the Logitech radio stack is to get away from using mouse manipulation on the screen.
Maybe it's more like green apples to red apples. I do understand getting away from using mouse manipulation. AM with touch screen and knobster helps get there, is far more versatile, and potentially cheaper. Having said that, the Logitech panels are nice to have and mine have gotten there use, but if I was watching my budget and could only one initially, it would be Air Manager all the way.
I have all the panels and six fips. I just put them back in their boxes and have gone with air manager, knobster and a touch screen. Way more versatile and I have my desk back.
It opens things up. I have my Logitech panels so I still use them except for the fips. Actually thinking about building a pedestal which would be a cool spot for the logitech panels and joystick.
I have all but the BIP information panel. I would love it if you have any leads of where I can find one. I sold mine a long time ago not knowing Saitek would end up tanking and not making more. Desperately searching so I can finish this full build!
Dear Ivan!! I completely support your opinion and approach . Thanks for sharing pls keep it up❤
Thanks!
I love Air Manager... Been using it for years... Plus building your own gauges and panels is great fun...
I would love to get into building instruments. Will be interviewing one of the folks at Simstrumentation to discuss that.
@@IvanSkyFlight you can also modify pre-built gauges by altering the code to fit the new a/c...
They're expensive new, but you can find them used for a bargain. I got the autopilot panel, the com/nav panel, the switch panel, and three gauge panels for $500 total. Not bad. I know all about Air Manager, but there is no comparison to having actual physical switches to operate. I tend to fly smaller, CRF type aircraft so there fit the bill quite nicely. Using them with an airliner would be possible, but a bit odd, I guess. The least useful piece of this setup is the FIP, of course, and I am thinking of selling mine. For gauges an Air Manager setup is quite nice.
Man, you got a great deal! Strong work!
Thank you for the informative video. I want to get a sim in the next 6 months and I didn’t know where to start. I have a 20 year old sim that was ok for me but it’s outdated now. Thanks again.
You are welcome! Good luck!
my favourite plane to fly is the 747 in msfs, but the radio is automated, all freqencies are automaticly filled in, so for me buying a panel while everything is auto tuned would be a waste?
I rarely fly the big planes so I am no expert, but I wasn't aware they radios are automatically dialed in. I am pretty sure for Vatsim and Pilotedge networks, you have to enter your own frequencies.
Old video but new to me. I'm relatively new to flight simming. I have the Honeycomb Alpha/Bravo setup. The radio panel is the only Saitech panel I have because the Honeycomb apparatus include all the other function switches and buttons. But...the Air Manager/knobster combo is it!
I do like the radio panels, especially when using PilotEdge.
I had the Logitech switch panel and autopilot / multi-panel a while back. Once I got Air Manager and a Knobster, I realized they had become obsolete. Especially after getting the Honeycomb Alpha and Bravo, which duplicated all the controls anyway. Since then, I've gotten rid of my Logitech gear. I don't even use the hardware switches on my Honeycomb peripherals. I use Air Manager for everything.
I use the hardware switches on the Alpha, but not the Bravo with the exception of the trim wheel and flaps switch. I also have the Winwing throttle base, and it has a tone of switches, but I only use a few. I do like having momentary switches, but most of the Logitech stuff is latch.
Interesting views! I’ve initially been feeling like the tactile option might work better for me as someone who feels I might be flying real planes one day. Particularly the trim wheel and radio dials. However I think the touchpad with the six pack and other indicators is a far better option than the buy-one-at-a-time Logitech instrument panels. I can’t understand why Logitech haven’t developed an all in one comparable product..
It would be nice if they updated their hardware. Good luck on your pilot studies. The flight sim world is what motivated me to get my PPL.
Love the large radio and autopilot pannel, but agree 100% on the small logi lcd panels - such a waste of money compared to the setup you've described (which I also use). Air Manager and Spad are great - though Spad has a steep learning curve.
I used Spad for awhile when MSFS 2020 was not really working with the Logitech gear. It does add some great flexibility.
Hi. Great video I enjoyed watching it and it was very informative 😁
Glad you liked it!
Bought mine years ago for use in FSX and P3D but I don't use them as much since I got the Honeycomb Alpha and Bravo, and use those for MSFS with my Saitek X56 Rhino. These will also work with DCS and I have used them there as well. The only part from this set that I don't have is the Saitek TPM because they no longer make it.
They do hold up. People have used theirs for years just as you said.
If you have the honeycomb alpha/bravo the switch and AP panels are redundant. I only have the radio still connected. The rest are dust collectors.
Similar setup here. I have the MFP installed, but hardly use it. The radio panels are still used quite a bit.
The radio panel is totally worth, it is still better than Air Manager just for the knobs.
However, for everything mainly consisting in just screen and gauge, Air Manager is obviously better for the flexibility and price.
So I think it is a mistake to put the radio panel at the same level as the other panels, VR or not VR.
The radio panels are great, particularly if you use VATSIM or PilotEdge.
I only purchased the radio panels since they have the tactile feel of a “real” radio panel. But you need to purchase spad to run them, which is yet another software to add to the mix.
If you are on Vatsim or PilotEdge, the panels help you to be quick with the radios, that's for sure. Interesting. I have had no problems with current Logitech drivers for both MSFS 2020 and XP 11-12. I did use SpadNext in the early days of MSFS 2020. It's a great piece of software.
I think the panels are fine if you ignore the cost. The biggest problem however is that Logitech's software support for them is terrible. It was painful to set them up with MSFS2020 because the SW is a house built out of a deck of cards. But 8bxe it's figured out, they work OK and the realism feel is pretty decent. However, I suspect that if you have that kind of cash you could get better quality modules from other companies who specialise in this type of hardware.
If money is no object or you are building your sim up over time, they are useful for sure.
Great video!! I have Air manager the desktop version an the tablet version and it's great. Instead of using two monitors I use two tablets to not maxout my video card and drag the panels to the tablets and sometimes I use a combo of the tablet version with the desktop version. Air manager it's very versatile 👌. I might buy a knobster to combine it with the tablets. Nice setup you have there👍
Thanks! The Knobster adds a lot. Flight Velocity also has a knobster like encoder, but I can't vouch for just yet. It's priced about the same as the Knobster. I have used iPads as well in my setups. For a while I was using Remote Flight instruments which is an IOS app, and I have also used Duet which I still use on occasion.
If you're at all handy with soldering, building a Knobster is really easy and takes minimal skill. You need a dual encoder (about $15), a project box to house it (like $10 for a 5 pack on Amazon), and an Arduino Nano, which costs about $5. That's the route I took. I have 4 touch screens and a dedicated Knobster for each screen. The cost of the 4 DIY Knobsters was less than 1 real one.
@@ottopilot6536 Thank you for the info and the idea!! Interesting data!!
For the radio, I can hardly build it for that price myself...10bucks for the knobs, 50 for all lcd screens plus casing and wires..... heck, knowing I tend to USUALLY underestimate the cost of diy it might even turn out to be more expensive. For the instruments I agree, build your own or get airmanager and the yoke is crap.
There are some cool DIY solutions out there, but I agree, if you want the hardware experience, it's often cheaper, cleaner, and easier just to buy something premade. I still use my radio panels quite a bit.
To be honest, this video is about the prices of those devices and - all in all - the kind of only reason why not to buy them, instead of some functionality analysis or something and therefore somewhat clickbaity ... something about the devices itself, whether they work, how they work, what the limits are with xplane or whatever simulator would have been a much more helpful content. Nevertheless, thanks for the time and effort making this video.
Honestly not shooting for clickbait. I do appreciate the feedback. Thanks for watching and commenting.
New viewer here. Great video. Very informative and honest. Thank you. I suspect I will subscribe to your channel. Gonna poke around a little more :) Have a great day Ivan and all!
Thanks!
I do this, touchscreen monitors make it so I can swap stuff for different setups, I use it for MSFS, Star Citizen, Elite, DCS, all kinds of sims
It's nice not being restricted to one type of aircraft.
@@IvanSkyFlight or even for driving and space sims. Truck Simulator is kinda cool when you get all the dash going on too, and having spaceship controls and mdfs is great too
You could also just extract the panels out of MSFS into window panels and it would do a similar job. Not sure why you would go with Air Manager just to get virtual panels on the pc screens. I guess for tablets its good.
Air manager give you more flexibility for your "panels". Plus, MSFS is very limited to what you can pop out. As of now, it's only the screens/displays such as the G1000 or the like. For example, you can't pop out a "six pack" on MSFS. Would be awesome if you could.
Love your channel Ivan! Totally agree with your perspective. I went with 2 13.3” eBay touch monitors, a Knobster, the honeycomb controls and a Slavx panel to tie it all together. Love how flexible it is since I like to switch between G1000, Steam Gauge and the Icon A5. Only Logitech thing I have are the pedals, and I wish I had better ones :)
Thanks! Lot's of variety! I need to try out the A5! Is it cool?
@@IvanSkyFlight Yeah it’s so fun! Mostly to go around and explore scenic locations, but landing on the water is pretty fantastic!
Thanks for the info you saved me a lot of money with this video
You are welcome!
Can't beat Leo Bodnar usb module (£38 $45)and create your own switch panels. Been using now several years.
One i used now £49. Buy a bunch of cheap switches, mount on ply wood, use you imagination. Liked the idea of getting one of those engravers and engrave some black coated sheets, fit with rear illumination.
Just checked out the website. Looks like some cool stuff!
I like your idea, thanks.
You're welcome!
Much cheaper than a real plane, but the closest to reality. Get the Logitech panels. It's definitely worth it.
I still use my Logitech panels. If you are on PilotEdge or VATSIM, I think the radio panel and multifunction panel are useful for non-glass cockpits. Plus, they are popping up used on ebay now for a reasonable price.
Trying to build a flight sim for my son who is very into flying. But I am so overwhelmed as I am not a tech guy and most of this seems complex. I feel the logitech seems like the easiest but pricey, or the alternative save money and learn about hardware and software and spend many frustrating hours putting it together and trying to make it work. Wish it was much simpler to understand so that could I buy it, set it, and forget it. *sigh* First world problems--i suppose.
There are a lot of options, but I do have some suggestions in terms of ease and future upgrades. I would start out with Honeycomb Alpha Yoke and Bravo Throttle. There are many sets of pedals out there, but I do recommend pedals as opposed to twist grip throttles. After those three things, I would pause on gear assuming you have a gaming PC ready to go. This setup will get you very far and you can decide on upgrades at a later time. This by far not the cheapest option, but I feel it will give you and your son a great start where you can start to develop the motor skills. Let me know if you have any questions.
Hi there. Enjoy you videos learned a lot. Can u please make a video showing how to download and use simstrumentation instruments to air manager.
It would mean a lot. Thank you.
Sure! Here you go: czcams.com/video/Bpv__BdiEiU/video.html
Thanks brother i am your new subscriber daily learn from Mark chanel hope to learn more in here 2. lot of people they spend a lot of money in flight sim part after short time they put an Community web for sale with losing lot of $$$$$$ This is good informasion you just talking about in you chanel again thanks 👏👏👏
You are welcome! Yeah, you gotta be smart with your cash, that's for sure.
DIY button boxes are more expensive. So this kind of stuff has a price.
Haven’t looked at the DIY button boxes. It seems like there are some decent premade ones on eBay, though.
Hi, can I use the Logitech yoke and throttle quadrant on x plane 12
I don't have a Logitech yoke, but I do have one of their quadrants. It worked well on XP11 so I would assume it works with XP12. Those are both pretty common pieces of hardware.
Hey Ivan, I have an Alpha Yolk and Bravo Throttle, I was wondering how you got those mounted underneath your desk?
I use a metal piece that uses the Alpha/Bravo cover screws to be attached to the top of unit, and then I use the clamps that came with the yoke/throttle to mount under the desk. I am currently using a commercial version for that that I picked up from Flight Sim Builder, but I also have a video where I made my piece from parts from Home Depot: czcams.com/video/U_L58Q43q-A/video.htmlsi=ufJeOJpib0iViyzo
Excellent video again, Ivan. Just to add to the conversation…have you watched Russ Barlow’s video entitled “OCTAVI: Worlds Smallest Cockpit…For Real?” I’m betting this will be a very cost efficient tool…
I have, and it looks to be a cool piece of gear. Just picked up a new yoke and throttle setup. Hope to have a video up soon.
Great video...but what is the difference of touch screen vs the X Plane screen?? And How do you coordinate operating this screen and the the X Plane screen??
Overall, the touch screen experience is similar when using Air Manager. For X-Plane one big difference can be the G1000 bezels. Having said that, there is new functionality that currently only works for X-Plane where the screen can be "streamed" to a display. I have not tried this yet.
I have a lot of equipment in my collection, in the full collection I have more trouble with my Logitech stuff than anything else. I would not recommend them. Too many problems with drivers.
I feel like my issues with drivers have settled down a bit. I will say that I frequently have to power the multipanel off/on to get it to work. They work well with SPAD.neXt but that is overkill for me.
Enjoyed your video. Was considering buying 2 radios, 1 multi, and the switch panels. I already have Air Manager and the Cessna 172 gauges from Altimeter Motives so I assume I can add a touch screen on the right and a Knobster to get radios and autopilot and even switches, and trim. The cost would be the Knobster and the touch screen and maybe a pay panel or two. Certainly cheaper then the Saitek panels and would look more prototypical. Do you agree?
I do. There are some great C172 panels with Air Manager!
I want to add another monitor for air manager but my pc has only one hdmi port what should I do ?
There are USB to HDMI adapters out there, but I have not used them. I don't know if they require additional software or not. You can also use iPads with software such as Duet. I have used that in the past, and it works great.
I second Ivan's recommendation. USB to HDMI adapters work great for this purpose. I wouldn't try to run the main sim on that screen, but for Air Manager, it's fantastic. I used to use a pair of USB to dual HDMI in my cockpit until I switched up to using a second cheap GPU to save USB connections.
@@IvanSkyFlight I’ve had a little go at using Spacedesk and it seems to have better quality and less performance hit than Duet, can be used over the network with any device that can run its app like on android tablets including Amazons own cheap Fire tablets. Might be worth a look.
Wow US retails prices are crazy. I’ve been buying panels second hand here in the uk. Was a toss up between these any honeycomb quadrant but the honeycomb look unit looks too big for my desk.
Prices these days are better than pandemic pricing, but can still vary widely. That's tough. The Honeycomb Bravo is super versatile. Tough decision!
9:04 if you touch the center of the com/vloc button on (radio) panel with your finger does both the knobster knobs work for each radio knob or do you specifically have to touch the inner and/or outer screen knobs first?
Also, Can you set up the main large viewing monitor to exclude the instrument panel so you only see out the window
Thanks
If you have a Knobster hooked up and enabled and then touch a knob on the screen that control will become highlighted. At that point the knobster will control the inner ring, outer ring, and the push button. For your second question, in MSFS there is no option to specifically have window only view without the panels/gauges, but you can adjust the view manually to obtain that view. X-Plane does an option to have a window view only mode (I think, it's been a bit since I tried that). Let me know if I didn't answer your question.
@@IvanSkyFlight thanks. I am getting ready to order AM and the knobster but want to mount the yoke under the desk to keep the AM panel on the desk. I saw you did that in a previous video but I guess that’s not necessary with your fancy new yoke. Thanks again
@@pgreenx Lol. Now I am wanting a force feedback yoke! I do prefer the under desk route because you can reclaim some desktop space.
Bonjour.
J'ai dernierement apliqué la nouvelle mise a jour 1.37 et des brouettes de msfs et depuis, mes saitek flight panel ne demarrent plus quand je lance msfs.
Avant cette mise a jour, tous fonctionnais parfaitement, je n'était meme plus obliger de faire la manipulation du registre, de passer de 1 a 0.
Aurais tu aussi le meme probleme ou suis je le seul a avoir ce disfonctionnement.
J'ai meme fais la derniere mise a jour de fsuipc7 puisque c'est a partir du lancement de ce logiciel lors de la mise en route du msfs, que les saitek s'allumaient mais rien n'y fait, ils ne s'allument plus.
J'ai meme essayé le logiciel Spad Next mais rien non plus.
Voilà.
Aurrais tu une solution a me proposer.
Toi ou celuis ou celle qui liront ce message.
Merci.
Pascal...
I have noticed that my panels are not starting like they used to. I sometimes have to turn them off/on from my USB hub. Sometimes I have to run the Logitech plugin. I will try to troubleshoot this.
Now is it less expensive but stil its not worth it
Need to update myself on the prices.
I agree that the Air Manager panel is superior in every way ...compared to MSFS & DCS. I have 3 huge displays @ 43 inches each & a fourth above the center display for a menu screen. I use head tracking & have a Butt Kicker for realism. HOTAS is an X-56 & pedals ...the throttle buttons added a bit of realistic involvement that mouse clicking did not. However, on my second cockpit build I included 6 MFD's (2 are on a side panel to my right) while 4 are in my front panel ...I've programmed them to replicate every button accurately that the F-16 ...F-18 & AH64 uses in DCS & for me Sir ...that was IT. I still use the mouse of course ...but it only removes the involvement actual button presses do for me. So, my obvious next addition is these panels (or Winwing). Because a mouse click will never replace the immersion of using a panel with physical buttons. And of course ...replacing keyboard strokes that take BOTH hands while in a dogfight has no comparison. I don't know how I actually flew that way for years ...but I'm never going back.
I honestly think, (in my humble opinion) that an actual panel with operational buttons was the second-best addition to my system ...
oh ...& it looks so good with all the physical buttons lit up ...no touch panel is going to do that.
No. 1 was adding triple screens & head tracking. Thanks for all the great videos my friend.
I will say this about the fighter pilot stuff: Winwing has some really awesome looking panels, and they seem fairly reasonable. I have some Winwing stuff and I love it.
Does your multi panel turn off with the alternator/battery? Mine doesn't and it's annoying.
Hi Ivan ,I have both including knobster but have trouble sometimes when trying to use both. ie flight manager and the Saitek panels , interference i think.
There shouldn't be. These items should work together just fine. Do they each well by themselves?
yes they do Ivan,prob just me and lack of knowledge lol@@IvanSkyFlight ,i have a 21 inch touch screen, Logitech radio panel switch panels ect but was thinking of doing away with the 21 inch screen and getting two say 14/15 inch touch screens,,one for the PFD and one for the MFD not sure about where to put the audio one ,maybe include it in the MFD screen ? would i need two Knobsters one for each screen ? i see you have two larger screens, look forward to hearing from you, i could send you picture of it at the mo but not sure how to send it on this site
Expensive ... blah, blah... In UK only buy 2nd hand market. on ebay shop around 35% (average) of retail. No regrets. Have radio, switch panel , throttle module , AP and Rudder. Not a single item has let me down.
I hear you. Here in the states the second hand market for these devices is limited. In one of the ebay examples I showed the seller was asking more for the FIP than it cost new. I think pandemic pricing is still slightly in effect. Thanks for chiming in!
Ivan, I enjoy your videos and your home cockpits 1.0 to 5.0 version, great! I have air manager, I fly mainly sim VFR and need this C172 classic panels, the same as this video showed of gns530, etc format, how can I get this settings? Thanks
I believe that's a premium panel from Siminnovations. At the end of this I'll put a link. The picture doesn't show the 530 but I think it comes with it. Don't quote me on that. I picked it up a long time ago. In my set up if go to add that panel, I see the picture without the 530, but after I add it, you get to pick from several panels. Hope that's right. siminnovations.com/panels/premium-panels
Thanks a lot and sorry for a late response.
Do the radio panel LED screens turn on and off corresponding to the master battery? Or is there a way to make it work that way if not?
With the stock Logitech driver the panels will turn of/on with avionics and/or power switch. Sometimes you have turn the switches off and on to get the panels to recognize the state of the aircraft.
@@IvanSkyFlight Great, that's what I was hoping! Thanks.
Man, I wish I know about this before I brought several panals and just last night I ordered the real sims GNS 430/530 for 800dollars
No regret! Your setup will be amazing!
i buy this switch panel and dont have support for Arma 3 or any other game only MSFS2020 and X Plane really sad.
Have you looked at the SPAD.neXt software? That may open some doors for you.
Where did you get the enclosure from?
From eBay: Montauk Systems. Not sure if they are still making them.
@@IvanSkyFlight Thnx, I'll have a look.
Do any of these panels work with the series s/x? I have the tca captains pack and rudders set up but now I would like to take my console simming to the next stage. I’m just curious if these are pc compatible only or if the Xbox allows them to work before buying. Thanks in advance..
My understanding is the Logitech/Saitek panels do not work with Xbox. I don't own an Xbox, and that may have changed, but there were some discussions about it a year or two ago.
I really want to take a gamble. I waited two years for the tca to become compatible for the Xbox and I’ve not stopped flying since getting it. Thank you for responding and thank you for your content too
So everything works with this on MSFS 2020 except for one thing. The elevator trim starts out at 13%, and only moves a couple of degrees either direction no matter how long you turn the trim knob, and then automatically resets itself to 13%. Is there a fix for this?
Which panel or device are you referring to? The Air Manager trim or Logitech panel trim?
@@IvanSkyFlight The Logitech multi-panel with the trim wheel. Even when I use alternate key commands to manipulate the elevator, with a multi-panel installed, it automatically returns to that roughly 13% setting. I installed the Logitech driver for the multi panel, but I'm wondering if there is a patch that fixes the elevator issue. I've seen some other internet posts where other people are complaining about this same issue. Of course those comments go back a couple or three years. I would have thought this problem would have been resolved by now.
@@BillSmith-rx9rm I will investigate this, because I might actually have this as an issue too. I use the MFP for autopilot stuff on PilotEdge. I will report back in a day or two.
I have all the panels you have discussed plus the pedals,yolk and throttle .
Brilliant stuff with 3 monitors.
Fly ga planes only.
I don’t experience the same problem with my multi panel trim wheel in msfs. I suggest search for trim in control settings. There’s probably something else affecting it. Also remember autopilot can also manage trim.
Hi, enjoyed watching your videos, sorry I am not a fan of air manager, although I do understand its potential and flexibility. I prefer to make devices, and aim to remove any mouse clicking within the virtual cockpit, checkout the Vision jet video on my yt page.
Just checked it out and subscribed! Cool stuff. I get the hardware and coolness of having more tactile gear for sure!
Is this compatible with xbox?
Air Manager is not available for xBox, and I am pretty sure the Logitech panels don't work either. Someone let me know if that is not correct.
I noticed on my Logitech radio panels an issue. Some of the digitally displayed numbers are garbled or missing display elements. For example, an 8 displays like a 3 etc. I don't know if this is a software/driver problem, or the panels themselves failing. I have a cheap digital clock beside my bed that has been running 24/7 for over 20 years. Still going strong.
Don't know if you have multiple flight sims, but if so, you could see if they work on one and not the other. I also think power can be an issue, and I occasionally have to reinstall my drivers.
Yep, make sure you use a powered usb hub.