Testing an X56
The X56 H.O.T.A.S. is two USB devices: the stick (0738:2221) and the throttle (0738:a221). Between them they have 13 axes, 5 hat switches and 30 buttons, by Logitech’s count (Logitech support). The tester lists both devices, picks the stick for the stick plot, and gives each device its own button grid.
Those 5 hats don’t all look alike to a computer. Only the stick’s POV hat is a true HID hat switch, which Chrome turns into one axis and the tester into a direction rose. The other hats report each direction as a separate button, so Windows and games see them as four buttons each (Frontier forums): push each of those hats round and watch four neighbouring buttons light up in the grid. With the hats counted that way the throttle reports a lot of buttons; if a device reaches the 32 buttons Chrome and Edge pass on, the tester says so, and Firefox shows the rest.
The stick’s X and Y use 16-bit Hall-effect sensors, so it should rest very close to centre with almost no jitter. The throttle’s levers and rotaries are the axes to test for spikes: choose each one in the axis smoothness test and move it slowly from end to end. Press Find next to Throttle and move a lever to use it for the throttle bar under the stick plot.
Known X56 behaviour
- A button that is always on. The throttle’s mode switch reports itself as a held button, which Logitech says is intended (Logitech support). Expect one lit button in the throttle’s grid; which one depends on the mode.
- Ghost inputs. Buttons that fire by themselves are a known X56 complaint and are usually power related: the fix is a port on the computer itself or a powered USB hub, and less lighting. Leave the page open while you fly or wait a few minutes: every button that registers gets a mark, so a ghost press can’t hide.
- Recalibration. Logitech documents a firmware calibration using the stick’s and throttle’s own controls (Logitech support). Run the centre check and range test before and after.
USB ids the tester recognises: 0738:2221 (X56 H.O.T.A.S. Stick), 0738:a221 (X56 H.O.T.A.S. Throttle), from the Linux kernel's device list and SDL.