Dsd buttonboxes opinions?

[A_radek]

Holding a button till all cowlflaps, mixtures and radiators are where I want them is starting to drive me mad so been searching for a buttonbox with some rotaries.

http://www.derekspearedesigns.com/dsd-black-max-ii.html

This caught my attention as the few evenings I have for flying won't multiply by spending them soldering my own board.

Is anyone using it? Opinion with BoX?

Their flight controller looks nice but has these weird on/off switches. Would those even work with say, gear up/down?

Any driver hassle in win 10?

Suggestions for alternative products greatly appreciated!

[Sokol1]

FLT1/2 is more suitable for flight games, but for Bo'X is necessary use keymapper - SVMapper, Joy2Key... for use their ON/OFF rocker switches since most controls offer only "toggle" option (press for ON, press again for OFF), this keymapper's allow send key press in ON and OFF state of switches.

 

The advantage of rocker switch is their visual/tactile feedback if the control are ON or OFF (e.g. external lights) - but require careful "checklist" before press FLY, for avoid spawn with buttons inverted.

Edited November 2, 2017 by Sokol1

[A_radek]

Thank you for the reply sokol. It's to avoid those rocker switches and all extra apps I was looking at the black Max instead.

 

Will ask them if it would work as I'm hoping it will.

[Sokol1]

Are other topics there about DSD "button box" relating that work OK in BOS, their encoders are useful for game commands that require press one key/button for up/next and another for down/previous, e.g. trim in most planes, radiators, flaps... Their momentary press buttons work like joystick buttons or keyboard keys.

 

This controllers use Windows native USB HID drivers, so their install is just "Plug-and-Play".

[kestrel79]

I have 2 of the Black Maxx boxes for racing and flight sims. Yeah 2 of them is pretty overkill for BoX but I hate using the keyboard way less immersion. For DCS I can fill up the 2 boxes with stuff to do.

 

For BoX off the top of my head I use the covered switches for my engine startup on 1 box, and use them on box 2 for feather props. I use the other various buttons for wingman/gunner commands, the manual water/oil/prop up/down on certain planes.

 

I use the dials for selecting bomb delay, rocket salvos, etc. In civilian sims the dials are great for radios.

 

Highly recommended I've had both mine for over 4 years now.

[spitfirejoe]

I am having a question here about buttonboxes!

 

Are the FLT-1 and 2 with IL-2 BoX plug and Play or do I need to run some 2nd party software to to be able to use all Switches?

 

http://derekspearedesigns.com/dsd-flight---flt1flt2.html

 

besides I also like THIS buttonbox from a German store.

 

https://virtualracingstore.com/buttonbox-bb1

 

thanks.

[Sokol1]

Yes and yes. :))

 

DSD button box use windows HID drivers, so is just "plug, go do game controls, assign buttons and play".

 

But games don't provide support for ON-OFF rocker switches of FLT (or toggle latch switches of Buttonbox BB1), only recognize their ON state - exception is DCS, that don't provide support other than A-10C but allow player edit LUA files for manually add support.

 

Then if you want use this ON-OFF rocker switches of FLT for, e.g. toggle lights, need use 3rd part software, like JoytoKey, SVMapper... for send command in OFF state of rocker switch.

[spitfirejoe]

Hello Sokol1 thank you for answering so quickly.

Very strange that rocker ON-OFF or toggle Switches are not supported by IL-2 BoX.

 

Cheers, Joe

[Sokol1]

To be proper supported, games (BoX, 1946, CloD, most of DCS planes, etc) should recognize when switch change from ON to OFF and this don't happen,

games only recognize when switch change from OFF to ON, then you need the 3rd part software that allow map commands when switch is pressed (OFF to ON)

and when in released (ON to OFF). Example in JoyToKey:

 

 

If soft is not used, in the example of lights, you will need do this:

Turn switch (rocker, toggle) ON for lights goes ON

Turn switch for OFF and then for ON for lights goes OFF.

Very awkward. 

 

This is because games is primarily set to be controlled with keyboard, wheres you hit L for turn lights ON and hit L again to turn OFF.

 

Could by set different? Yes, see this example (LUA files):

 

{combos = {{key = "JOY_BTN1"}, }, down = iCommandPowerGeneratorLeft, up = iCommandPowerGeneratorLeft, name = "AC generator power left", category = "Electrical power control panel"},

When you press the assigned button (BTN1)  - or move a rocker/toggle for ON, game receive command (down = ) and when move for OFF game too receive command (up = ).

 

Edited April 14, 2019 by Sokol1

[spitfirejoe]

Yes thanks very much for explaining.