Customer Reviews

Logitech Freedom 2.4 GHz Cordless Joystick

5 star:		(30)
4 star:		(15)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(9)
1 star:		(9)

 

 

I am a big fan of all things cordless, and so I thought I might try a cordless joystick. My reference point has been 5 faithful years of service from a Microsoft Sidewinder Pro.
The Logitech installed easily in WinXP. I ran the included CD, plugged the tiny USB transmitter into an open USB (2.0) port on the back of my PC, and then installed the batteries (3 AAs) into the stick itself. Synchronization took 5 seconds; I pressed the button on the front of the transmitter box and then a (any) button on the stick, and it was done. I used the software to calibrate in 2 minutes and was ready to fly.
Flying in MS FS2002 was very good with this stick. The 10 buttons on the stick are a snap to program with the software.
In my other flight sim, Fighter Ace 3.5, it wasn't as smooth a result. The kinds of ACMs required by a combat sim are necessarily more precise and I've just had a difficult time getting the right amount of damping. Maybe I'll get the hang of it as time passes, but for now my kill ratio has crashed.
The stick itself is well built and quite nicely layed out (i.e. good ergonomics). It sits comfortably on my lap, is light weight without being flimsy and its base is very easy to grasp. I have every confidence it will not break easily.
Overall, I'm encouraged. I hate clutter and the lack of one more cable on my desktop makes me happy. Of course, if I keep getting lit up, it'll be back to the Sidewinder, but for now I'm working on it.

This product is one of the first well made wireless joysticks i have ever used. The actual joystick uses a great blend of comfort and abilities. Most good joysticks now days tend to have lots of buttons but lack in there general comfort. This stick is capable of almost all of the great features of some of the other $100-$200 sticks and still is able to make long term gaming a breeze and greatly improve not only the stick but the game its self. Now you can't forget the fact that the logitec wingman is cordless this means that when it is time to put it away for other games that don't use the joystick you are able to move it quickly with out making your clean computer area look cluttered and not having to unplug any cords.

Pros/Cons:

Pro's
-5 star Comfort
-Good stick options (including side2side turning and throttle)
-It's WIRELESS

Con's
-Bad set up program
-5th button weirdly placed

GREAT JOB LOGITEC!!

I was really pleasantly surprised by the Logitech Freedom cordless joystick. The first thing I noticed--it fits your hand really well. The second thing was that it is very, very smooth. This is hard to describe, but on some sticks you have a hard time making a clean circle... it always feels like you are fighting the stick a little... or more accurately, like the resistance isn't perfectly even at all positions. Not so with the Freedom. It has a great feel, very even, and just the right amount of resistance. It takes some getting used to if you are coming from a force feedback joystick, though.

It has a load of buttons, and for the most part they are placed very well. My only quibble is with the throttle. Mine isn't loose or anything, but I don't like the position very much. I think I would have preferred having it on the side, more like a Sidewinder, but to be fair it certainly works where it is. I would have really liked two hats too, but that's more of a sim junkie feature so I am not surprised there is only one. (The one hat it is equipped with does have a great feel, it is easy to hit the diagonals.)

As to the cordless feature, well, it works perfectly. I haven't gotten interference from my Logitech MX700 mouse or my cordless phone (though it is 5.8GHz so not in the same band). To start using the stick, you just click a button. A green LED will light up on the stick for a few seconds to show it has syned up with the base. It will go to sleep after a few minutes of disuse.

If you are looking for a precise and comfortable non-force-feedback joystick, or if you just want to cut the cord, I recommend the Freedom very highly.

(Now, when will Logitech make a complete flight controller suite, with an external throttle, collective and all that good stuff?!)

To get it out of the way I will start out by listing my ONLY greavance with it. The throttle is very small, poorly placed, and to loose. That out of the way I am proud to say I am very happy with it. The handle is very ergonomic. Movement of the stick is smooth and just the right amount of resistance. It has two more buttons then any joystick Ive had before and they are all will placed and useful. The rubber hat switch works great and stays under your thumb and the rubber base holds it very secure on the surface, It never slides! These atributes alone make it well worth the money So the fact that its wireless is almost like a bonus. Its amazing how conveniant it is not to be on a cord. I am very happy with it and will probly purchase from logitech again.

I replaced my Microsoft Sidewinder Precision pro with this controller. This controller simply ROCKS! It well constructed and has a great feel. I love the way the stick feels when moving it. It has just the right tension. I found myself scoring better with this joystick when playing Battlefield 1942 than with the Microsoft stick. Pluse the good part.... ITS WIRELESS. I notice 0 delay. The only nitpick I have is the connection between the stick and the receiver is only good for 2 minutes. If you don't use it for 2 minutes it loses sync. It takes about 1 to 2 seconds to resync the devices. At first I found myself rolling off the back of the carrier until I could get the connection back up. Now that I know about it, its not a problem. It is still an awesome stick and well deserves 5 stars!!

..the microswitches of the POV switch loose contact (bad solder points) or the X/R-axis potentiometers wear out (after 1-6 weeks). The latter just happened to my 5th (!) Freedom 2.4 after 3 weeks (the former doesn't happen if you resolder them switches after you unpacked the stick..) I'm done w/ Logitech until they change back to non-mechanical pickups for the X/Y/R axis (like the Interceptor.) I'd recommend the Logitech WingMan Extreme Digital 3D or (if you can get your hands on one..) the Microsoft Force Feedback 2 (red skin edition). Stay away from the Logitech Extreme 3D Pro Joystick -- the pot problem is worse w/ that one !

(...)

I regularly play IL 2 Sturmovik, and have been with a Logitech Wingman Force for about a year. I was really disapointed with the contruction of the Wingman ForceFeedback stick, sloppy centering, hesitant responce.

Anyway, I purchased the Logitech Cordless Freedom 2.4 Cordless and have to say, this is a VERY well contructed joystick, excellent centering, seamless movement response even though it's wireless and ergonomically well set up ( if your right handed)...

This joystick has an awesome grip and feeling. For like 2 months. After those two months its unusable. Same thing happend to a friend of mine. Though he bought the none cordless one.. The thing that happens is that when I try to pull up the joystick acts like Im pulling the stick forward and the airplane starts to dive, I have to pull the stick all the way to the back to be able to lift, so everytime I try to pull up, I automaticly dive before pulling up, which has led to many many unnecessary crashes and some humiliation.
I do hope that this only happend to me and my friend, because if this stuff didnt happen this would be the greatest joystick of all time

I like the fact that I can put the batteries in, connect the usb, push a button, and be using the joystick in less than 90 seconds. I don't like installing manufacturer's software and I never register my product, why would you?

Batteries last as long as the 9v does in my smoke alarm. This takes 3 AA batteries, but my point is, it isn't top on my list of things to care about until it is time to change them, when the light turns orange it's time, and unless you bought 99Cent store batteries, you won't feel ripped off if you have to put fresh ones in.

I have used this joystick almost daily for the last year and there isn't one sign of a problem, actually there is really hardly any sign of use at all. It is tight, calibrated, and it works perfectly.

Don't believe people when they say this joystick is a cheap piece of garbage that won't last, it is just not true. It is just as good as similar products at much higher prices. Consider ch products, top of the line rudder pedals, well my toe brake in those went bad because the sliding motion snapped a wire inside, I paid something like $150 and it broke, why? you should have seen how thin that wire was.

My point here is that the quality is at least equal to the more expensive brands, and in my opinion the design is superior, though I would prefer more buttons and a twist lock. But I just disable it and it really doesn't get in the way or twist too easily.

Hey maybe that's the reason there can be two opposite experiences with the same product. I don't use the twist and it is perfect, I wonder if the twist messes something up or stretches a wire to become less functional,like the toe brake broke in my rudder. Check out www.toebrakebrokeinmyrudder.com for cool pics and me the webmaster and moderator. Just log on.

Wow this raises many questions, but one thing is certain, you won't be able to judge the quality by reading these reviews, you have to try it yourself.

This was on my son's Christmas list; so of course I blindly bought it. Since then it has been used daily and has worked perfectly. I know little about computers but I didn't have any trouble installing it's software, though the manual is terrible. I put some velcro on the receiver and hooked it to the monitor, so you can see the statis light. My kids have abused this thing without end and so far I think I got my moneys worth.