The rapid development of high technology in the gaming world has led to the fact that air simulator games have returned to the market, which will make anyone plunge into the virtual world of high speeds, beautiful and endless landscapes with magnificent dynamic development of events for a long time. Definitely for such purposes, you will need a convenient manipulator that can quickly fulfill the user's wishes in the process of controlling the game.
The focus of this article is on a wonderful device - a complete analogue of the helm of a combat fighter armed with the Russian army, Defender Cobra M5. Description, configuration, review and reviews of owners will help a potential buyer decide before buying, because the issue has already been resolved with the price - this is the most affordable device on the computer market among analogues (we are talking about manipulators within three thousand rubles).
First meeting
It has long been known that any user experience about a brand develops upon first acquaintance with products. Therefore, the manufacturer did everything possible to please the future owner. A massive box in the form of a huge suitcase with a plastic handle immediately attracts attention. They didn’t save on printing - graphic images and a detailed description of the device will definitely tell the user about all the functionality that interests him.
Having printed the box, the user will find that there is nothing in the configuration except the joystick, instructions and warranty card. And where is the driver for the Defender Cobra M5 device? As it turned out, the manipulator works according to the Plug & Play standard - plug and play. Not bad, but still, many players are used to customizing joysticks for themselves using proprietary utilities. The defect is corrected by downloading special software from the manufacturer’s website, but as the device owners note in their reviews, the user will not find anything interesting there.
About modifications
The main problem that a user may encounter when reading reviews in the media and player recommendations is the discrepancy between the descriptions in the reviews to the device itself. The fact is that there are three versions of the Defender Cobra M5 joystick on the market, each of which is an improved version for the previous model.
- A device with non-upgradeable firmware (HID: from 1.08 to 1.13) and the Atmel controller.
- An updated WKB controller was installed and it became possible to update the firmware (HID: 1.27). Two MaRS sensors with round magnets are added. In the kit there was a game for Defender Cobra M5 - War Thunder, which the manufacturer attached as a golden collection.
- A more advanced controller from the manufacturer Defender itself is combined with MAGREZ sensors with rectangular magnets (HID: 1.01).
It is clear that the latest revision is the best purchase, because it is equipped with the latest technology, but the lack of a popular game in the kit (and even in the gold version) somehow looks ugly in relation to customers.
It's time to get acquainted
Opinions of the owners regarding the appearance of the joystick are divided. Some argue that for the device of the 21st century it looks somehow clumsy, while for others, functionality rather than the beauty of the gadget is more important. However, in all reviews, it is noted that the joystick Defender Cobra M5 is made of very high quality plastic, it is nice to touch it, the shape of the handle is comfortable, and all the buttons are next to the fingers.
Of course, there are questions to the buttons themselves, the softness of their pressing confuses many owners. Yes, on the one hand, it’s very convenient to shoot - you don’t have to make much effort. However, the buttons tend to wear out, and what will happen after 100-200 thousand shots, sticking? Many owners are not happy with the joystick platform too high. Its physical dimensions do not allow placing the forearm on it, and accordingly, the hand may leak during the game. Although, on the other hand, from such an angle, management does not require any effort. The joint between the base of the lever and the plastic base is covered with corrugated rubber, which adds a joystick similarity to the original steering wheel. The joystick weighs 1.6 kg and the base is made of metal, so the user does not need to worry about the stability of the device.
Great button functionality
Physically, the Defender Cobra M5 USB joystick has seven buttons, but taking into account three control modes, the number of options increases to twenty-one. On the top of the handle is a hat (eight-way switch reviews). There is also a four-position programmable joystick under the finger and two buttons for activating the trigger (trigger). In the middle, the user will find a button mode switch that has three positions.
On the front of the joystick, the owner will find two triggers that can be used both together and alternately. The system is worthy of praise, judging by the numerous reviews of the players, as it works according to the ClusterFire system: a volley from all barrels. At the base of the handle there is a small lever, which can also be customized for you (many put wheel brakes on it). In flight, in order not to accidentally press the lever, it can be folded forward - a proprietary lock.
Axial control
Joystick Defender Cobra M5 USB supports four-axis control:
- base axes X and Y are responsible for pitch and roll;
- turning the handle around its axis controls the course;
- on the left plane of the handle there is a wheel that controls the engine speed.
At first glance, everything looks comfortable and has sufficient ergonomics, but users are very confused by the wheel to control engine power, because the lever would be much more interesting. Firstly, the wheel is located on the left side - under the left hand, which is inconvenient for many users. Secondly, it does not have any fixations - turn in any direction as much as you like (many agreed to a step lock). Thirdly, the rotation of the wheel “on my own” reduces the engine speed, and “on myself” "adds power. This is the worst nightmare for any fan of flight simulations, because inversion is not provided. There is only one solution to the problem - disassemble, re-solder the sensors and assemble.
Mysterious Inner World
Having removed the bottom cover of the Defender Cobra M5 joystick, the owner will be surprised at the simplicity of the device: several plastic structures, microcircuits, and many cables. Customers who understand such mechanisms, in their reviews, note that the design of the Z axis (turning the handle around its axis) is very similar to the device of more expensive analogues - the axis of the resistor is located directly on the handle, and is not fixed statically. This solution allows you to more effectively monitor the actions of the player.
Users note that during the long life of the joystick, a decrease in controller performance was not observed. The movements are accurate, and setting a full zero is not difficult. The situation is rather strange - the affordable Defender device is superior in quality to its expensive competitors. There is nothing to say here, but this is definitely in the hands of the end consumer.
Symbiosis with additional equipment
In the media, a potential buyer can find reviews from many owners who share their impressions of the excellent combination of two devices in flight simulators - Gametrix ECS RUD & Defender Cobra M5. An additional joystick for the left hand is definitely more pleasant than keyboard control. The main axis on the contactless magnetic sensor, two additional axes and a pair of multi-position switches (these are approximately twenty additionally customizable buttons) will clearly be useful to any pilot.
The optional Gametrix ECS ORE device is connected to the computer via the USB interface and configured with its own utility. Gaming applications independently determine the device, and the user in the settings of your favorite flight simulator already performs fine tuning. However, it recently became clear that joysticks with VKB controllers have an additional control board, with which the throttle device can be connected directly to the base gadget. On the one hand, such a solution falls under the definition of “modding,” and on the other, it is an excellent reason to get rid of excess cables on the desktop.
The first steps of the buyer
After the purchase, all owners are advised to upgrade the device to the latest version, which is on the official website, for the Defender Cobra M5 joystick. Firmware is optional, but older software for the gadget microprocessor often leads to management problems. Naturally, before updating, you need to find out what kind of joystick modification is available. To do this, you need to connect the device to a computer, download the utility for joystick settings from the official website and, having run the program on your computer, familiarize yourself with the “About the device” section. After downloading the updated firmware in the archive from the manufacturer’s website, you need to connect the joystick to the computer and start the firmware (by the way, it works only in Windows). Then you can begin to configure the joystick in games.
Fine tuning
The first thing that a beginner definitely does not need to do is configure the joystick in the flight simulator. In the media there are a lot of reviews of experienced players who recommend going into the settings and rewriting all the commands and buttons that are assigned to them on a piece of paper. Next, several test flights are made, in which the newcomer, getting used to the control, begins to understand what and in what place he should improve the Defender Cobra M5 in control. The setting should be done in stages: changed the parameter - flew, checked. Naughty beginners will never be able to customize the joystick for themselves, and when they get tired of playing on an uncontrollable plane, they will leave negative reviews about the gadget and the toy, not realizing that the problem is in them.
In order not to waste time on self-tuning the joystick, the user can download ready-made parameters as a file from the Internet. Here you need to be careful not to get a virus or other malicious program as a present. You can trust the forums that require mandatory registration, and where participants very quickly answer questions in different branches.
Bringing the device to mind
Without this, there is nowhere to go, any computer device is not perfect, and during operation, shortcomings always manifest. Defender Cobra M5 has several such flaws:
- Very tight control of the three basic axes. In order to tilt or rotate the lever axis, you need to make a considerable effort. And if you recall that most of the owners of this wonderful device are children, then questions arise to the manufacturer. In fact, the problem is easily solved. You need to remove the cover on the back of the joystick, disconnect the stiff springs that create resistance to tilt or rotation, and replace them with less rigid ones prepared in advance. Many owners, judging by their reviews, use rubber bands instead of springs, which are used to tighten paper bills in banks.
- Too soft buttons Defender Cobra M5 tend to stick, because they are spring-loaded with rubber corrugations. There are several options: constantly flush the mechanism with alcohol from dirt or replace the buttons with metal-spring-loaded buttons.
Advantages and disadvantages
By far the most important advantage of the joystick is its price. It is available to any user. After all, it is unclear whether a beginner will be drawn into flight simulators or not when they first encounter games. The presence of magnetic sensors on expensive devices was rated positively by all owners of the Defender Cobra M5 joystick. User reviews also attributed the huge steering wheel functionality to the advantages, which allows you to customize a large number of buttons. Do not forget about the double trigger, with which the game becomes more interesting.
Not without negative reviews. Many players complain about the uneven distribution of the load between the user's hands, because the joystick is made under the right hand, and the left hand can only adjust the engine speed. There is logic, a separate RUD device will help here. A big mess with the modifications of the joysticks on the Russian market, and accordingly with the latest firmware - this is how serious manufacturers should not do with their customers.
Finally
It's time to take stock of the Defender Cobra M5 joystick. A review of the device itself and its functionality clearly makes it clear to the potential buyer that he is facing a helm that is capable of much in flight simulators. Affordable price clearly contributes to the purchase. And if you want to get as close as possible to the original helm of a combat aircraft, you should purchase a separate Gametrix ECS ORE device. However, some manufacturer mistakes and negative reviews of the owners can spoil the situation. It is up to the buyer to decide what to prefer, the main thing is to always remember that there are no ideal devices. Good luck with your purchase!