Enjoy the performance of a corded joystick... without the cord. With the strength of the 2.4GHz cordless technology found in today's best cordless phones, you can stop being limited and start stretching out. We've also added a wealth of buttons and features on the Logitech Freedom 2.4 to give you all the control you need for flight sims, racers, and mech games. Plus, its cool design—featuring brushed aluminum and metal highlights—makes winning look oh so good.
Enjoy the performance of a corded joystick, without the cord. Using the strength of the 2.4 GHz cordless technology found in today's cordless phones, you can stop being limited and start stretching out. Logitech also has added a wealth of buttons and features to the Freedom 2.4 to give you all the control you need for flight sims, racers, and mech games. Plus, its cool design, featuring brushed aluminum and metal highlights, makes winning look oh, so good.
The Freedom 2.4 is compatible with computers running Windows 98, 2000, Me, or XP, or Macintosh OS 8.6 and Input Sprockets 1.7 (not included) or later. An available USB port is also required. The Logitech Freedom 2.4 comes with a one-year warranty.
1 Worked great .. for 2 Days
Man I was So excited to get this , Took it out pluged it up Worked nicely.. had a slight leftwards pull that seemd to go away after i used the Clear clabrations utility I got from Logitec, however on day 3 it stoped working, would not connect to its reciever just sat there and Blinked ... So I said ok no problem ill go and look up the supprt information at logitec.. no help there , closest thing I could find for an answer was the batteries were going bad.. nope .. new batteries and still not working.. Ive since sent it back to amazon to get a refund and am now in search of a different model. I guess I should of red these reviews more closely.. ive found a few that said theirs went out soon after plugging in also .... Logitec ,, bad
2 Not for a Mac!
This joystick is advertised as compatible with Mac systems, specifically OS 8.6 or later. In reality, it is incompatible with System 10 and barely compatible with system 9 since it has no applicable software for Mac. The advertising is wrong and should be changed to "Not for Mac, PC only". Very frustrating.
3 Wireless, without the hassle. No setup needed in WinXP
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.
4 STUPID BATTERY'S!
Slick exspensive joystick. By the way you have to make sure the scencor reads the joystick for it to work. anyways I had the battery's go out on me in the middle of a flight. so my tip to you is either have back up key board keys for flying or get a new joystick.
Good pc games:halflife
C-strike
Battle field 1942 (the ultimate war game)
You can drive tanks boats, jeeps, motorcycles, planes carriers etc. helocopters too.
5 Lack of quality craftmanship
I have had no problems with any of the Logitech products (including their joysticks). This Logitech Freedom has given me nothing but problems. After using two defective joysticks, I lost my patience.
The joystick wouldn't respond to movement right after I took it out of the box and installed the software. I liked the idea of having a cordless joystick, so I got a replacement. After 1 month with the new one (and not having used it in 2 weeks) one of the buttons stopped functioning. I have never had a problem with Logitech joysticks in the past--but this one has been a hassle! Save yourself trouble and money--don't buy the cordless!
The joystick is flimsy and button placement is terrible. The only thing nice about the cordless is that beam range is excellent and it's a USB. Don't waste your money on this! (Unless you want to have a 'new' joystick every month).
6 Wears out quickly
Just as the other Logitech joysticks I've owned, the Freedom 2.4 cordless joystick lost calibration. Maybe not as quickly as the Attack 2 or the Extreme 3D Pro did, but the result is the same. I did get a couple of months out of the Freedom 2.4 before the controller stopped working properly. And I'm not even a serious gamer! Oh, and don't bother trying to contact Logitech about the quality of their products. They won't respond. I've tried 3 of their controllers because they've been all I've been able to find on the shelves here. Let the consumer beware!!!
7 Perfect joystick -- until..
..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 !
(...)
8 BAD NEWS BATT SAVER
THIS IS A FANTASTIC STICK UNLESS YOU ARE ON AUTOPILOT FOR MORE THAN 2MINS WITHOUT MOVING THE STICK.IT WILL GO INTO BATT SAVE AND THE PLANE WILL FULL THROTTLE.THIS IS ALSO ANNOYING WHEN YOU ARE TRYING TO SET THE RADIOS WHILE SITTING INLINE TO TAXI FOR TAKEOFF AND IT FULL THROTTLES AND CRASHES INTO A JUMBO JET.OTHERWISE WHEN USING IT ITS GREAT.
9 Great Joystick Durable Wireless works well!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The Logitech Freedom 2.4 is a great Joystick stays where you placed it. I play with Flight Simulator 2004. Works like a charm. Go to ebay and buy a Factory Refirbushed one for around 20 thats what I did. http://store.yahoo.com/justdeals/ it works great!
i suggest it to all Flight Sim people.
10 We can't break this thing!!!
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.
11 Durability?
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
12 Good Idea, but poor quality.
Logitech gets an A for effort and a D for execution for the 2.4 Freedom cordless joystick. I really like the cordless idea and the communications with the PC works well. It is a little overly anxious to shut down to save power, but push any button and it wakes up again.
It is the buttons and potentiometers that are the problem. I am on my second joystick now because the first one lost two buttons to failure and the twist jumped around all over the place making my jet fighter fly really poorly. I have had the second one installed for about a month now and the twist is starting to go again.
I hope Logitech takes the good cordless approach and adds a little quality to the switches on their next attempt at a high quality cordless joystick. They just got too cheap this time.
13 More Thoughts Regarding "Smooth"
I agree with the above review: this joystick feels very smooth. As that review caught my attention and was eventually the proverbial straw that convinced me to pony up the extra twenty-five bucks for a wireless joystick, I thought I might help to further describe how this stick feels "smooth."
Out of the box, two characteristics define this joystick: smooth and fast. Both traits can be easily altered via Logitech's very good software package.
The smoothness of the joystick stems from the fact that it has absolutely no palpable mechanical resistance within its mechanism. As soon as you start moving the stick, it immediately reacts--there is no mechanical "dead zone" in the middle of the stick. As a result, the stick feels very "fast." It reacts quickly and without a trace of jumpiness between light, moderate, and strong inputs. This makes the stick feel very linear, "smooth," and "fast."
Out of the box, the stick was too smooth and too fast for my taste. Logitech's excellent software, however, allowed me to painlessly tune the stick to match how I play each of my joystick games. Better still, the software knows which games you have installed and allows you to customize each game independently. Consequently, you don't have to rummage around your C: drive assigning games to the software; so, once you assign a setup to a game, the software will load that setup when you load the game. The software is fantastic.
As for the buttons: it has many.
And finally, the wireless aspect works flawlessly. In fact, you forget that it's wireless after an hour.
14 Freedom to play!
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?!)
15 Perfect for Microsoft Flight Sim.
What more can I say. If you like Microsoft's flight sims then get this. It really makes all the difference in the experience. Granted you can use it for other flight sims too but for me this is why I use it. I love it to bits. Great joystick!
16 A great Joystick.
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.
17 WIRELESS DREAM!
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!!
18 Really a pleasant surprise.
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.
19 Maybe just bad luck....but
I recieved the joystick. It's really amazing....it feels great in my hands. LOOKS AMAZING. Installs very easily....doesn't work. For some reason the joystick did not recognize the reciever. It is currently on its way back to amazon. (great great customer service...really appreciate it :) )
20 Excellent Joystick, better than I expected for Logitech
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)...
21 If your in the market for one buy this one!
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!!
22 Sturdy, Agile, Cordless - it's simply the best!
I purchased the •À?Microsoft Sidewinder Force Feedback 2•À? joystick, and it is not as great as it seems. I was very interested in purchasing the •À?Logitech Freedom 2.4 Cordless Joystick•À? because of the way it looked, and the fact that it is cordless!
There were no reviews on Amazon.com, so I was a bit uncertain about this joystick, and went with Microsoft•À?s joystick. I came across a review on the •À?Logitech Freedom 2.4 Cordless Joystick•À? in Maximum PC magazine. The only drawback for this joystick was the fact that it relied on AA batteries (because it is cordless), which do not provide enough juice for the force feedback effects. So if you•À?re not into that much force feedback, then this is the joystick for you. I thought that I•À?d post a review for this joystick for people to decide whether or not to get this joystick over some of the other ones. Here is the review from the magazine:
•À?Logitech Freedom 2.4 Cordless Joystick: Sturdy, agile, cordless •À? it•À?s simply the best. Odds are that every Maximum PC reader has the same problem: thanks to all the gamepads, mice, keyboards, digital cameras, speakers, MP3 players, and networking equipment you•À?ve got hooked up, there•À?s a rat•À?s nest of wires behind your PC. Wireless peripherals are the obvious solution, but no hardcore gamer would trust his online reputation to a flaky wireless joystick, would he?
But what if the stick wasn•À?t flaky? We•À?ve been using the Logitech Freedom 2.4 Cordless Joystick for about a month now, and from a reliability standpoint, it•À?s virtually indistinguishable from a weird joystick. Its 2.4GHz wireless connection to your PC is every bit as responsive and sensitive as the cable that gets wrapped around your chair and trips you when you stand up.
Because it•À?s wireless, the Freedom 2.4 relies on three AA batteries for power •À? and they don•À?t provide enough juice for force feedback effects, so you can cross that feature off your list (a non-issue for the many people who just don•À?t care for force feedback). The good news is that the batteries provide a sturdy ballast for the base and prevent it from sliding around on most desks.
We were especially impressed with the three-axis stick itself. It sports six buttons, including the trigger and an eight-way hat switch. All the buttons are easily accessible, even for a gamer with unusual hands (large, small, it doesn•À?t matter). Along with an analog throttle, there are four more buttons on the stick•À?s base.
This is the perfect stick for the casual joystick gamer. Anyone who likes to hop into a Spitfire in •À?Battlefield 1942•À?, play an occasional round of •À?Crimson Skies•À?, or enjoy space-based slaughter in •À?Independence War•À? will find this stick to be perfectly suitable. That said, Flight-Sim fanatics will be better served by picking up a more •À?realistic•À? controller with more buttons and hat switches.•À?
Pros: A great wireless joystick with more than enough options for any arcade-style flyer.
Cons: Wireless design precludes force feedback. Not optimal for hardcore flight sims.
