Honeycomb Aeronautical Alpha One Year Later Review
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 15 ก.ค. 2024
- This video is to discus and review the Honeycomb Aeronautical Alpha Yoke one year after my initial review. The Alpha is still my go to yoke! I have had one little hiccup with the Alpha but it proved to not be the fault of the Alpha.
I would highly recommend the Alpha Yoke or the Alpha XPC to anyone looking for flight sim components that are reliable, realistic, and functional.
As a heads up, this video like 90% of my other videos is shot in one long take. There are minor mistakes here and there, but the points are made the way I wanted. While one take videos have their drawbacks, I believe they offer the most honest and in-depth perspective I can give.
0:00 Time Stamps
2:16 Overall Impression
3:41 Design
6:13 Durability
10:26 Functionality
12:28 Value
14:12 Final Thoughts
Sorry about the distracting mic clip, a replacement clip is on the way.
All screenshots are images from the honeycomb website - วิทยาศาสตร์และเทคโนโลยี
Thank you for sharing this great return of experience. Really helpful and better than normal reviews 👌🙏
Thank you!
Love all your videos joe, I'm a total novide, My father and his father before him were commercial pilots, I'm in the software sector, looking to go for my PPL, your videos on simulation are an awesome place to start
Thank you! Good luck with your ppl!
Thank you sir! now I'm sure I made the right choice.
I 100% agree Joe! The Hall effect sensors on the XPC would be nice, but my "Regular" Alpha is just fine. The only thing I'm jealous of right now, is the spring loaded mag/starter switch.. LOL
I think the only other thing I'd stress, is that IF you are an XBox simmer, you have NO choice but to use the XPC. Do not buy the original. It won't work.
You eluded to that Joe, but not sure it was clear..
Anyways,
Great video as always!!
You looked a bit tired my friend. Get some good rest, and we'll see you in the next vid! 😎
Aces
Thank you! In all honesty, that spring loaded switch is looking more and more worth it. Every time I have my kids start a GA aircraft, I have that slight worry I am going to have to retrain them later to do it correctly.
Sleep is needed, yes. I will try and get some.
@@JoeNDBAVIATION You rock man!!
I hear ya.. If you're a simmer only, then the original is probably MORE than worth it.
If you want better "IRL" experience, then maybe get the XPC..
It all boils down to that danged spring loaded switch.. 😂
Keep doing what you do Joe!
I don't comment on all the vids, but I sure watch them!!
keep up the good work! 😎
Aces
For me it's the opposite way around. Instead of bugging on the Xbox users not being able to use the original Alpha, I'm bugging that the upgraded NEW PRO model is completely setup for Xbox users. I would like to have been able to buy the PRO version WITHOUT all the Xbox buttons all over it. I freaking HATE MS, and don't want a device dominated by their input or their thinking. A lot of money was most likely spent to force Honeycomb to make certain decisions on the PRO model, and they are all swayed towards MS and Xbox users. Screw that. They should have a separate unit for PC users and Xbox users.
My biggest "CONS" are (one for the Bravo, and two for the Alpha) the fact that INSTEAD of including it as a stock part, this GREEDY company wants to charge us $50 dollars for a little silicon cover for the trim wheel on the BRAVO throttle quadrant. That REALLY pisses me off!!! Second, the ignition switch not being spring-loaded, as you stated. And lastly, the LACK OF RESISTANCE ON THE LATERAL ROLL AXIS, and it being so very different from the resistance on the pitch axis. The roll axis is way too light, compared to a real aircraft, while the pitch axis is just a little bit lighter, but not nearly as fake feeling as the roll axis.
I can see what you mean by the resistance in the roll portion of the yoke. There is slight lower amount of resistance but not enough that I would be annoyed. I honestly had not even noticed when using the yokes.
The cover is something new to me, I've never had one and still don't. In the past, none of the companies even made them, so it is not a surprise to me that it is extra.
Even back when I worked for Saitek, if there was something new, you had to pay for it. This is nothing new, especially in aviation. You should see what Garmin used to charge just for a replacement SD card for gps updates!
Got the first model as well. I love it. Envious of the spring-loaded starter switch though. 1 wish would be to have backlit switches on the lettering or the switch itself so at a glance from color or illumination you would know the position. I feel that about the Bravo with the Selector knob (left) ALT/HDG/ etc. to see at a glance where the position is before tuning the lettering should be backlit. But again I love the products. As far as dust I noticed they sell the covers for them now when not in use. Great vid Joe.
Thank you!
The dust covers are a good idea.
When talking about value you say 'budget' is $50 - are there any yokes you can find for $50? The cheapest I've found is $120 for the Logitech (which includes the throttle), and I can't actually think of another option that's in your 'mid-range' tier of $100-$200.
the mid range is sadly just the Logitech pro flight system. Aside from that you could use the Extreme 3d pro (joystick) and then the logitech throttle quadrant.
It's the first week of February 2023 and X-Plane 12 is already several weeks out of "beta". Just yesterday I visited the Honeycomb website and noticed that the Alpha yoke driver specifically supports X-Plane 11 running on Windows 10. It appears that Honeycomb has bailed out on X-Plane 12 running on Windows 11.
They have not given up. I will test that later today if I don't get called out to fly. Sometimes the drivers carry over automatically without an issue. X11 and X12 are similar in some ways on how the plugins work. I will report back here and in my upcoming XPC review on compatibility.
Joe, it would be wonderful if you would put out a couple of videos on tweaking the settings of the Alpha One and Bravo Throttle in both MSFS and X-Plane 12 for those of us who don't have clue where to start.
Those are in the works. I've been fortunate to have a busy flying schedule and several family events occur. As those settle a bit, I will have more time for videos.
Any particular areas of settings you have interest in?
@@JoeNDBAVIATION I'm a long retired airline pilot, spent my career in DC-9's and MD-80's. While I've already bought MSFS 2020 and X-Plane 12, I haven't downloaded or installed either yet as my sim rig won't be delivered until the week after next. The sim package includes the Honeycomb package, but I opted for Thrustmaster TPR pedals. Perhaps you could just go through how you set up your sim and why, and that would be a really good jumping off point for us newbies. I really enjoy your videos because you have a working pilot's perspective.
@@mikeoreilly4020 Thank you! I will be adding new setup videos soon.
How are you liking simming?
@@JoeNDBAVIATION LOL, I'm still waiting for Flight Velocity to get it to me. Guess what the hold-up is. The Honeycomb Alpha and Bravo have yet to be delivered to them.
@@mikeoreilly4020 Say what? Who did you order through?
Can I have more than one configuration (refering to the alpha) in mfs for the differents aircarft in the game?
You definitely can, but at that point it comes down to you taking the time to make it.
I would like to ask for some help. I just got the Yoke for Christmas and it's been great until today 12/26. My aileron axis went out. I powered it down, powered it back up, changed profiles, uninstalled the drivers, reinstalled the drivers, went to game control as suggested by Honeycomb, recalibrated it and no change. Do you have any suggestions?
Sorry to hear you’re having a problem. You went to game controllers within windows itself? Are there any other axis or buttons that are not registering?
Have you tried a different usb cable and also a different USB port on your PC? Are you using a USB hub, if so, powered or non powered?
I'm just thinking of buying one of these however I have not found a yoke that will give real feedback. In a real aircraft you can feel the forces and trim them out normally with these things you do not get that normally just a spring. (harder to use than the real aircraft) Not sure if one is even made for the home market. If anyone knows better I would be gratefull for some info.
There are a few "force feedback" devices coming..... but I wouldn't hold my breath.
I have never liked the way they feel nor how they attempt to replicate the forces the real aircraft would incur.
Out of all the yokes on the market, these are closest you can get. At least for now.
I have bought honeycomb alpha XPC, Bravo TQ and hub for xbox (have not received it yet) for my xbox series x, charlie rudder pedals are not available, Since TFRP and Velocity one rudder pedals does not work separately with XBOX, what do you suggest?
I wish honeycomb alpha had LT RT buttons like xbox controller.
Is there a way to use honecomb alpha without rudder pedals!? I think all the keys and switches on the yoke are digital.
Or may be attaching xbox controller to alpha yoke woild be a good idea!
Has your hub arrived yet? You could potentially use the Alpha without the rudders, you would need to turn on the rudder assist in the sim.
It would have been nice if the Alpha did have the xbox buttons. I have not used the XPC on the Xbox yet, but I wonder if you could assign the buttons as desired.
I will further look into the limitations of the xbox integration. Sorry for not having a solid answer for you.
@@JoeNDBAVIATION thanks for your answer.
No, I haven't received it yet. I think all the buttons on Alpha XPC are digital (I mean they are pressed or not pressed) and it does not have analoge triggers like XBOX RT LT to act like rudder pedals.
AP disconnect on right side? Huh? Ignition on right side where one has to reach under yoke with left hand? Many start procedures require advancing mix with right hand and ignition with left. Awkward. Hangered my alpha after 2 years heavy use due to stickiness and low res in pitch. Noticed mainly on twitchy flair. Response curve tweaking. No help. Can't fix low res. Needed hal, sensors in pitch from get go. Fixed in newer alpha.
Which sim are you using?
The ergonomics are good, but there is no way to perfectly replicate every aircraft and their specific procedures.