VOGONS


Saitek Ace Master 18

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First post, by deanodley

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Hi all, I recently picked up one of these for almost nothing.
It has a 15-pin connector so most likely comes from the mid-90s.
It has a throttle that doesn't seem to get recognised in Windows 98, buttons and axes seem OK.
Does any one have a driver/utility disk for this joystick - google came up short and the vogonsdrivers site doesn't have anything.
Thank You.

Reply 1 of 6, by RetroGamer4Ever

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There likely won't be anything available for that, as it's from the Windows 3.1/DOS days or the early days of Windows 95. Everyone shifted to USB after Windows 95 came out, so that's what you really should be using. If the OS won't recognize the throttle, it likely means the control is borked or the hardware is too old to be properly recognized. Some gamepads have switches for Analog/Digital modes, because older software doesn't recognize the digital input mode used by newer hardware.

Reply 2 of 6, by Horun

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Is this your joystick? The Ace Master 18 - X830 ?
What sound card are you using ?
What version of DirectX are you running ?

From their 1998 archive: "Q: Do I need to update my Windows Drivers?
A: Windows95 is continually being updated, this means that some drivers may need up dating. End users should periodically contact the manufacturers of their hardware for updated drivers. This generally applies to all hardware that requires software support, what this means is that if you need a disc or CD to run your hardware, there's generally an update available from the manufacturers. "
From their 2000 archive: "Please note that a new version of Direct X (7.0a), which provides improved compatibility with game controllers, is available for download from the Microsoft site."
🤣 and no drivers for any analog JS in their DL section........

To be honest have one Saitek and found it works OK but is a very basic one with 4 buttons. In general their US and UK website have always sucked for older products...not like Logitech or MS but that is just my opinion.........

added some links:
X series joysticks: http://web.archive.org/web/19990505050750fw_/ … /joysticks.html
files: http://web.archive.org/web/19990224013359fw_/ … /downloads.html

Note: I did not search very deep but found one link to some drivers that actually linked to "mega-downloads.com" on one of their webpages which is useless....

Hate posting a reply and then have to edit it because it made no sense 😁 First computer was an IBM 3270 workstation with CGA monitor. Stuff: https://archive.org/details/@horun

Reply 3 of 6, by PC Hoarder Patrol

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That seems to be the right one - the Acemaster 18 (X8-30)... http://web.archive.org/web/20010423044156/htt … m:80/mx-830.htm

The attachment mx-830.jpg is no longer available

Problem is I can't find any drivers for it, unlike the Acemaster 17 (X8-31) & the Acemaster 19 (X8-38), which are available from the Saitek partner site (filter results for zip file extension)

http://web.archive.org/web/*/http://mega-world.com/*

There was one listed on the Bay, but it only seemed to come with a diagnostics disk (could it work without the need for additional drivers???)

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Acemaster-18-MX-83 … =p2047675.l2557

Reply 4 of 6, by Horun

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Good find ! On back of box it lists the 3 bottom switches, one is for throttle... maybe it is dirty or in wrong position ?

Added: I wonder if the X838 driver would work ? It is also Analog, has similar switches, throttle, hat but 8 buttons....

Hate posting a reply and then have to edit it because it made no sense 😁 First computer was an IBM 3270 workstation with CGA monitor. Stuff: https://archive.org/details/@horun

Reply 5 of 6, by Horun

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PC Hoarder Patrol wrote on 2021-07-31, 07:01:

Problem is I can't find any drivers for it, unlike the Acemaster 17 (X8-31) & the Acemaster 19 (X8-38), which are available from the Saitek partner site (filter results for zip file extension)

http://web.archive.org/web/*/http://mega-world.com/*

Hey Thanks ! I grabbed all those files off "mega" and will post them to Vogon Drivers with brief description so we have them....

Hate posting a reply and then have to edit it because it made no sense 😁 First computer was an IBM 3270 workstation with CGA monitor. Stuff: https://archive.org/details/@horun

Reply 6 of 6, by deanodley

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Revisiting this after some time, refer to this thread - https://forum.egosoft.com/viewtopic.php?t=30120, you will see that Saitek UK Support confirmed at one point that there is no driver for the Ace Master 18, but you can configure it as a CH Flightstick Pro. I have tried this and it seems to work OK. Hope this helps someone in the future.