Another happy ClearView user here. For a controller I had tried a couple of work arounds and cable adapters, but when I got the Esky 0950A USB four channel controller I was set. It's USB so there are no connection issues. It doesn't use batteries for sim flight. Just for the record, take off the back and give a little squirt of contact cleaner or WD-40 to the pots so they work smoother. It really does help. Anyhow, the 0905A is about $30, so you'll have $40 in the sim and controller. I like having setup variables like Expo on the controls. And when you are just beginning you can adjust the real time to slow things down a bit. All in all, it's a pretty good deal. Yeah, I like the excellent look of the high priced sims, but at well under $100 the ClearView sim is fine.
It's 4 channel, but F1 through F4 control Idle Up and Throttle Hold so you can fly collective pitch helicopters correctly.
Now if the ClearView folks would just add retractable gear . . .