Do I still need SPAD to use Logitech/Saitek panels in FSX on Windows 10?

Britney,

FSX itself never really “grew into” native support for the Saitek/Logitech panels (Switch / Multi / Radio). Those panels have historically relied on either Logitech’s old “Flight Panels” driver/plugin (which talks to FSX via SimConnect) or a third‑party interface like SPAD / SPAD.neXt.

So in practical terms on Windows 10: yes, you can often get them working without SPAD — but only if you install the correct Logitech/Saitek panel software for FSX. Logitech didn’t add anything magical to Windows that makes FSX see those panels natively. If the Logitech panel driver/plugin is missing or flaky, SPAD is still the common workaround.

What I’d do (clean, step-by-step)

1. Install FSX and run it once (so it builds configs, registers SimConnect components, etc.).
2. Plug in one panel at a time (don’t start with a hub), and let Windows finish installing the base USB device.
3. Install the Logitech/Saitek “Flight Panels” software (the one intended for FSX). Then reboot.
4. Start FSX, load a default aircraft at a default airport, and confirm the panel(s) respond.
5. Only then reintroduce your USB hub. If it’s a powered hub, use that (those panels can be picky about power).

Common gotchas I still see on Win10

• USB power management cutting devices off mid-flight or at sim start. In Device Manager, for the relevant USB Root Hub entries, uncheck “Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power.”
• Hubs: some hubs behave fine with storage devices but not with multiple HID devices + panels. If the panels randomly drop out, test direct-to-PC first.
• FSX flavor matters: boxed FSX vs Steam Edition can change which SimConnect bits are present and which panel plugins behave nicely.

Where SPAD still helps
If you want reliable operation, custom assignments, aircraft-specific behavior, or you’re mixing in a lot of other hardware, SPAD/SPAD.neXt is often still the “least pain” option. But if you just want basic stock behavior on Win10, the Logitech panel plugin can still be enough for many setups.

A couple quick questions so I don’t steer you wrong:

• Are you on FSX boxed or FSX: Steam Edition?
• Which exact panels (just Switch/Multi/Radio, or also BIP/Instrument panels)?
• Are you planning to run them through a powered USB hub, and if so, what model (or at least is it powered)?
• When you last had it working on Win10, were you using the Logitech panel software as well, or only SPAD?