FFBeast malarkey.

January 21

It finally turned up. Spent over an hour thinking it was DOA until I realised the PSU was set to 220v instead of 110v. Lol (not).

Anyway, flashed the firmware successfully. Oh, the joys of boutique hardware. 🙃

So, getting it setup in IL2. Or not. I've been at it for hours (including carpentry).

The instructions on the FFBeast site are very clear, to put the following in the startupconfig:

[KEY = telemetrydevice]
addr = "127.0.0.1"
addr1 = "127.0.0.1:29777"
decimation = 2
enable = true
port = 29373
[END]

SimHaptic, after a reinstall, also continues to work with that, even though the instructions for it are:

[KEY = telemetrydevice]
addr = "127.0.0.1"
decimation = 1
enable = true
port = 29373
[END]

Go figure but jolly good.

However, FFB (stick forces ONLY, no gunfire stick shake etc) works only if "DirectX FFB" is set as an effect in the FFBeast Commander Software app. Furthermore, selecting telemetry effects does nothing and the app clearly doesn't auto-see the plane I'm flying, confirming that the FFBeast software is reading the square root of SFA, even though the entry in the startupconfig is correct.

All port numbers match.

I know it's a long shot but there it is and if anyone has a clue why this shizzle ain't working I'll be eternally grateful. TIA.

Edited January 22 by Panzerlang

January 21

1 hour ago, Panzerlang said:

I know it's a long shot but there it is and if anyone has a clue why this shizzle ain't working I'll be eternally grateful. TIA.

I am really sorry after your patience to get the Beast to Japan. I personally know the "joys" of trying to get all of this working together and unfortunately don't have the technical expertise to help you.

However, in working with trial/error with the combination of Rhino/SRS/SimShaker telemetry, I found that "port forwarding" ultimately was an answer for me (and actually solved a long running problem I had been having with what I assume was a conflict when using the startupconfig method that I assume was causing an occasional jolt in the motion rig that went away when I used the port forwarding in SimShaker). So, below is that thread FWIW, and I hope maybe SimHaptic offers something similar and the FFBeast crew will reach out to help you. Good luck!!

January 21

1 hour ago, Panzerlang said:

It finally turned up. Spent over an hour thinking it was DOA until I realised the PSU was set to 220v instead of 110v. Lol (not).

Anyway, flashed the firmware successfully. Oh, the joys of boutique hardware. 🙃

So, getting it setup in IL2. Or not. I've been at it for hours (including carpentry).

The instructions on the FFBeast site are very clear, to put the following in the startupconfig:

[KEY = telemetrydevice]
addr = "127.0.0.1"
addr1 = "127.0.0.1:29777"
decimation = 2
enable = true
port = 29373
[END]

SimHaptic, after a reinstall, also continues to work with that, even though the instructions for it are:

[KEY = telemetrydevice]
addr = "127.0.0.1"
decimation = 1
enable = true
port = 29373
[END]

Go figure but jolly good.

However, FFB (stick forces ONLY, no gunfire stick shake etc) works only if "DirectX FFB" is set as an effect in the FFBeast Commander Software app. Furthermore, selecting telemetry effects does nothing and the app clearly doesn't auto-see the plane I'm flying, confirming that the FFBeast software is reading the square root of SFA, even though the entry in the startupconfig is correct.

All port numbers match.

I know it's a long shot but there it is and if anyone has a clue why this shizzle ain't working I'll be eternally grateful. TIA.

I had exactly the same issue as you ( only stick forces and no effects ) and finally it was due to wrong telemetry path and settings. So I changed the telemetry settings in il2 config file and finally it worked!!

28 minutes ago, Varibraun said:

I am really sorry after your patience to get the Beast to Japan. I personally know the "joys" of trying to get all of this working together and unfortunately don't have the technical expertise to help you.

However, in working with trial/error with the combination of Rhino/SRS/SimShaker telemetry, I found that "port forwarding" ultimately was an answer for me (and actually solved a long running problem I had been having with what I assume was a conflict when using the startupconfig method that I assume was causing an occasional jolt in the motion rig that went away when I used the port forwarding in SimShaker). So, below is that thread FWIW, and I hope maybe SimHaptic offers something similar and the FFBeast crew will reach out to help you. Good luck!!

January 21

look here my relevant config settings, port 34385 is my rhino ffb base stick and rudder port ( so i guess the same place here as your ffb beast port ) .....

[KEY = motiondevice]
   addr = "127.0.0.1"
   addr1 = "127.255.255.255:34385"
   decimation = 1
   enable = true
   port = 29373

[KEY = telemetrydevice]
   addr = "127.0.0.1"
   addr1 = "127.255.255.255:34385"
   decimation = 1
   enable = true
   port = 29373

If my memory is OK, I think port 29373 is my simshaker wings port so the same as your simhaptic I guess?

January 21

All the other devices as dof 3p motion platform and simtools pneumatic g-seat receive telemetry data due to port forwarding from simshaker , first from simshaker to dof and from dof to simtools...

January 21

I guess the FFBeast app is reading the IL2 telemetry but it's fubar. The plane has to be running (not paused) for the app to see values but all I get is stick forces. No vibes, shudders, shakes etc. Sees the Fw190 as a "generic warbird". Puh.

Thanks guys.

January 21

And yes, that 'combined' startup config entry allows both SimHaptic and FFBeast to receive telemetry. I've PM'd Prop over on the DCS forum (he writes the FFBeast software), hopefully he'll have a fix.

January 22

Oh well, I've worked it out myself. I enabled every effect available, set them all to 100%. Some do stuff, some don't. Gunfire shake, nada. Gear and flaps are decent. But, most effects are anaemic or completely absent and they're the same for all planes (canned). It's a nice enough addition to the overall haptic experience but the stick-force is where it's at vs a standard spring stick.

Next, DCS (where it's supposed to be "remarkable").

January 22

Where am I at...

The hardware is seriously impressive. It has sufficient power to seriously knacker one's arm in quite short order, so the spring force has to be used judiciously.

The software, not so much. If it was free there'd be little to say but at 50 Euros, not impressed. Especially when I see the 200 page manual for VP Force.
Every possible effect setting is present regardless of the sim selected and what they do or don't have in telemetry. This means one has to go through every setting, individually, to see what does or doesn't have an effect on a plane in the sim of choice. And there's no bloody documentation to tell you (I searched, hard). No profiles come with the software (for which DCS would benefit, IL2 not at all). I searched for some of those too and found just three for DCS.

IL2's FFB effects, woefully basic but the important ones are good. I understand that "Engine" can't be a proper effect, a constant vibration would knacker an FFB base pretty quick. But the 'half a propellor blade missing' abomination, lol. But that's what base-shakers are for.

Airspeed and prop-wash springs are the 'game changers' and the force varies accordingly. That alone is worth the price of entry. I do wish, though, that the guns shook the stick at least a little.

I'm still working my way through all the effects, very laborious. When I'm done I'll post them in a separate thread, so any future purchasers of the FFBeast will have a leg-up.

January 22

3 часа назад, Panzerlang сказал:

Where am I at...

The hardware is seriously impressive. It has sufficient power to seriously knacker one's arm in quite short order, so the spring force has to be used judiciously.

Panzerlang, hello.
I'll also write in your topic so that it's available to others.

Roman, the author of the development, has his own Discord channel, where there is a lot of information, a lot of questions and answers from Roman.
https://discord.gg/ajYzmHmX

The site of the FFBeast project from Roman https://ffbeast.github.io

There is also a channel of a real pilot Maxim, who specializes in DKS and participates in setting up the software of the FFBeast project.
https://discord.gg/RPVQzXGG
https://www.youtube.com/@justflyit7569

Both Roman and Maxim are fluent in both Russian and English!

My observations on the work of FFBeast with Il-2:
- the shaking when shooting works for me, but with a long burst the shaking is not always there throughout the entire shooting time...
- The Il-2 itself gives very few effects, so not everything you want can be done on FFBeast...
- there is no automatic selection of a profile by the name of the aircraft, since the Il-2 game does not provide data on which module is used... therefore, the FFBeast software cannot know which profile to turn on. But this is implemented in DKS.

In my opinion, the main "shaking" should still be handled not by the joystick with pedals, but by a subwoofer (batkicker) attached to the seat
And the joystick with pedals should change the loading force depending on the flight speed, overloads and damage, and shake in critical flight modes...

Panzerlang, by the way, I will soon have questions for you about using SimHaptic. I've already bought myself two subwoofers and an amplifier for them I'll install one subwoofer under the chair, and the second one in the pedal area.
Photo of what I bought:
When I convert it to aluminum profiles, I plan to turn the pedal base with the motor toward the joystick base, and move the subwoofer behind the pedal base.

January 22

Heya Vitaly. Yes, I agree, stick is primarily for force, shakers for feel. Lol.

Regarding your haptics gear. I have four of those Dayton shakers, they break very easily. The big magnet inside is suspended on a plastic ring. Never mind drop one from a couple of inches, other ones broke just from use. In IL2 they also became VERY hot, almost enough to burn skin. It also makes them shut down.
The mini-amp is the same, becomes VERY hot and then dies (I had four, none lasted longer than two months). If you turn down the power enough that nothing gets too hot, you can't feel shit. Waste of money.

Therefore, I strongly suggest x2 Butt Kicker LFE and a 700w amp. I hope you can return the other stuff for a refund.

You would need a sound-card or USB DACS box with RCA outputs.

January 22

35 минут назад, Panzerlang сказал:

Heya Vitaly. Yes, I agree, stick is primarily for force, shakers for feel. Lol.

Wow!
this is too cool and... expensive... And the neighbors will throw me out
For now I'll try to assemble my shaker on what I already bought, when it breaks I'll think about what to replace it with

January 22

Ok, but you know what they say...buy cheap, buy twice. Lol. When you test them, CHECK WITH YOUR FINGERS THE TEMPERATURE! Lol.

What sound output will you have from the PC? I made a diagram a long time ago...

I think if you try to run two shakers from one mini-amp, your neighbours will complain more about fire than noise. Or both, if the amp blows up first. 😁

moar

I think I see now why my mini-amps died. 😄

January 22

2 hours ago, GVL224 said:

- there is no automatic selection of a profile by the name of the aircraft, since the Il-2 game does not provide data on which module is used... therefore, the FFBeast software cannot know which profile to turn on. But this is implemented in DKS.

I don't think that this is true, since Simhaptic does detect the correct aircraft.

1 hour ago, Panzerlang said:

Regarding your haptics gear. I have four of those Dayton shakers, they break very easily. The big magnet inside is suspended on a plastic ring. Never mind drop one from a couple of inches, other ones broke just from use. In IL2 they also became VERY hot, almost enough to burn skin. It also makes them shut down.
The mini-amp is the same, becomes VERY hot and then dies (I had four, none lasted longer than two months). If you turn down the power enough that nothing gets too hot, you can't feel shit. Waste of money.

This depends greatly on how/where you mount the shakers and how much of the vibration leaks away. Given your images, I think that you probably have a lot of leakage.

January 22

1 час назад, Panzerlang сказал:

Ok, but you know what they say...buy cheap, buy twice. Lol. When you test them, CHECK WITH YOUR FINGERS THE TEMPERATURE! Lol.

I still can't fully understand how shakers will work from a sound card when at the same time I need sound on VR...

1 час назад, Aapje сказал:

I don't think that this is true, since Simhaptic does detect the correct aircraft.

I wrote what I read in the discussions about why aircraft profiles are automatically selected in DСS, but not in Il-2...

January 22

11 minutes ago, GVL224 said:

I still can't fully understand how shakers will work from a sound card when at the same time I need sound on VR...

You can have multiple sound cards, where the sound goes to one, and the bass shaker output goes to the other. Windows supports multiple sound outputs, where different signals can go to each output.

There are a bunch of options for how to do this. It depends on part on how many bass shakers you want to use. But the basic options are an extra PCIe sound card, an USB sound card, or directly plugging the amp into USB (this works for the Nobsound with Simhaptic, but not all software supports this).

In principle you can even connect the bass shakers to the motherboard speaker audio, if you don't use speakers for the PC, but only output sound to your headset and/or through a separate headset port.

11 minutes ago, GVL224 said:

I wrote what I read in the discussions about why aircraft profiles are automatically selected in DСS, but not in Il-2...

Simhaptic proves that it can be done for IL-2. I don't know how they do it. I'm fairly sure that the Simhaptic developer would be willing to tell Roman if he were to ask.

January 22

1 hour ago, Aapje said:

I don't think that this is true, since Simhaptic does detect the correct aircraft.

That's not true for sure, since Rhino ffb and Srs dof 3p motion platform automatically detect each different plane in Il2. On the other hand, I don't think that simtools and simshaker wings can do that..

Edited January 22 by dgiatr

January 22

4 hours ago, GVL224 said:

- there is no automatic selection of a profile by the name of the aircraft, since the Il-2 game does not provide data on which module is used... therefore, the FFBeast software cannot know which profile to turn on. But this is implemented in DKS.

29 minutes ago, Aapje said:

Simhaptic proves that it can be done for IL-2. I don't know how they do it.

Yes, just another observation that VPforce TelemFFB software also has individual IL-2 aircraft profiles that are automatically detected, and that SRS (motion software) just added individual profiles for IL-2 in their latest stable release in December.

*Edit - @dgiatr confirms above, he beat my post by 3 minutes :salute:

Edited January 22 by Varibraun

January 22

1 minute ago, Varibraun said:

Yes, just another observation that VPforce TelemFFB software also has individual IL-2 aircraft profiles that are automatically detected, and that SRS (motion software) just added individual profiles for IL-2 in their latest stable release in December.

Come on Varibraun!!! you have just stolen my words only by a few minutes earlier!!😄😄😄

January 22

1 minute ago, dgiatr said:

Come on Varibraun!!! you have just stolen my words only by a few minutes earlier!!😄😄😄

See my edit - "great minds" lol!

January 22

January 22

1 час назад, Aapje сказал:

You can have multiple sound cards, where the sound goes to one, and the bass shaker output goes to the other. Windows supports multiple sound outputs, where different signals can go to each output.

There are a bunch of options for how to do this. It depends on part on how many bass shakers you want to use. But the basic options are an extra PCIe sound card, an USB sound card, or directly plugging the amp into USB (this works for the Nobsound with Simhaptic, but not all software supports this).

In principle you can even connect the bass shakers to the motherboard speaker audio, if you don't use speakers for the PC, but only output sound to your headset and/or through a separate headset port.

I have an integrated sound card on the motherboard and a separate Asus XONAR DX_XD_A sound card.
I don't use the integrated sound card at all yet, and I use the Asus XONAR with an external audio system to watch videos and listen to music...
I plan to use two shakers as in the photo in the previous message.
If I understood correctly, I can continue using the Asus XONAR for video and music, and connect the shaker amplifier to the stereo output of the motherboard?

1 час назад, Aapje сказал:

Simhaptic proves that it can be done for IL-2. I don't know how they do it. I'm fairly sure that the Simhaptic developer would be willing to tell Roman if he were to ask.

I just wrote to Roman about this. Let's see what he answers.

January 22

11 часов назад, Panzerlang сказал:

If it was free there'd be little to say but at 50 Euros

Software is free! You do not pay for software as the end user. License fee is only for builders, and it is only for firmware.

11 часов назад, Panzerlang сказал:

Especially when I see the 200 page manual for VP Force... This means one has to go through every setting, individually, to see what does or doesn't have an effect on a plane in the sim of choice. And there's no bloody documentation to tell you

Have you checked official FFBeast project page https://ffbeast.github.io/docs/en/ffbeast_commander.html ?

11 часов назад, Panzerlang сказал:

I searched for some of those too and found just three for DCS

I'm building library of effects there https://ffbeast.github.io/docs/en/downloads_effect_profiles.html

11 часов назад, Panzerlang сказал:

Every possible effect setting is present regardless of the sim selected and what they do or don't have in telemetry

It is just not true. If game do not provide some data in telemetry - effect can not be present. It is just not possible.

In FFBeast Commander at the moment not all effects and logic are implemented for all games. Some of features are still in development. Project constantly evolves and has a roadmap https://ffbeast.github.io/docs/en/ffbeast_commander_roadmap.html. If something is missing you can always add it to "wish-list" topic in Discord and it will be added to the roadmap if valuable feature.

3 часа назад, Aapje сказал:

I'm fairly sure that the Simhaptic developer would be willing to tell Roman if he were to ask

I think you overestimate their kindness a bit

In case I will find how to get module from Il-2 I will definitely add it

Edited January 22 by propeler

January 22

Not very encouraging if I would need to purchase additional hardware to supplement an already expensive/limited production joystick base.🤨

January 22

4 hours ago, propeler said:

In case I will find how to get module from Il-2 I will definitely add it

The aircraft name is in the Event data structure (ID=0). In the documented telemetry format they call it "SET_FOCUS", but it is encoded ascii that is the aircraft name.

It's common for telemetry to be flowing for several seconds after loading into an aircraft before an event frame containing the aircraft name is received.

Hope that helps

Edited January 22 by Number481

January 22

1 час назад, Dagwoodyt сказал:

Not very encouraging if I would need to purchase additional hardware to supplement an already expensive/limited production joystick base.🤨

What are you talking about?

January 22

1 hour ago, GVL224 said:

What are you talking about?

OK, "limited production" is a stretch since ffBeasts are custom made and maybe only a few have identical specs.

January 23

I sent Prop screenies of my Setup tabs (Effects and Controller) and the max power was set to testing config, just 10%. Lol. Vitaly, I've gone ahead and assumed the PSU you supplied is ok for 75%, going by Prop's advice.

Prop, you need to document settings in more detail on the public site, so people (idiots like me) don't spend hours trying to get effects to work that are included in the list (eg, "Gunfire") but aren't actually present.
Ditto Vitaly, even just a note in the parcel would have spared me the snafu of running the base at only 10% power.

Weird how the Spring effects at 100% on only 10% PSU power were still strong enough to knacker my arm though. What the hell will they be like on 75% PSU? 🤪

35 minutes ago, Dagwoodyt said:

OK, "limited production" is a stretch since ffBeasts are custom made and maybe only a few have identical specs.

I think he meant the "additional hardware" bit. The only extra bit I had to buy was the square-plugged USB cable. And yeah, I bought two, the first one was the more common rectangular one. Duh.

7 hours ago, propeler said:

18 hours ago, Panzerlang said:

If it was free there'd be little to say but at 50 Euros

Software is free! You do not pay for software as the end user. License fee is only for builders, and it is only for firmware.

Ah, my apologies. 🫣

January 23

7 hours ago, propeler said:

18 hours ago, Panzerlang said:

Every possible effect setting is present regardless of the sim selected and what they do or don't have in telemetry

It is just not true. If game do not provide some data in telemetry - effect can not be present. It is just not possible.

To clarify...all possible effects are present to be selected from the drop-down list, regardless of which sim is selected at the top of the panel. There are a number I tried that did nothing at all in the plane, including "Gunfire" that just isn't yet coded by you. My assumption was that your software was somehow going to emulate non-native effects in IL2 (the native ones themselves being rather sub-par to begin with). I found this all out with hours of testing which would/could have been avoided if there had been clear documentation. I did already go over the Project page and also discovered there is more than one version of it with different bits of info...highly confusing. One implies that making settings in the software will automatically generate the required telemetry values in the IL2 Startup Config, the other says that must be done manually. Much is also written on the assumption that the reader already has half a clue about such stuff, rather than for cretins like me who have problems understanding the instructions on a Pot Noodle label.

Having said all that, I am hugely grateful that people like you endeavour with projects like this that are clearly not founded in a desire for great financial reward...it's passion. Curmudgeons like me are the feedback outlier...next to no tact or intelligence. But yeah, thanks to both of you for your forbearance.

January 23

7 часов назад, Dagwoodyt сказал:

OK, "limited production" is a stretch since ffBeasts are custom made and maybe only a few have identical specs.

Yes, it is not serial production, it is made to order, or rather assembly to order.
Parameters may differ by 10-15% in strength due to the parameters of the motors. Other differences depend on the percentage of "strength" in the settings and the length of the "lever" (extension) for installing the handle.

January 23

11 часов назад, Number481 сказал:

It's common for telemetry to be flowing for several seconds after loading into an aircraft before an event frame containing the aircraft name is received.

Definitely. Thanks!

January 23

8 часов назад, Panzerlang сказал:

My assumption was that your software was somehow going to emulate non-native effects in IL2 (the native ones themselves being rather sub-par to begin with)

That's how it is. You can use device in clear native FFB mode. Just close commander and turn on FFB inside the game. All you get - will be what game translates. Second way - mixing native game effects with effects generated from telemetry data values commander reads from game. For DCS it supports is a bit more complete then for il-2 but I'm working on it. At the moment only three effects from the list are not properly working in il-2: Gunfire, Weapon release, Damage received. All other effects from the list - works.

8 часов назад, Panzerlang сказал:

Prop, you need to document settings in more detail on the public site

I work on it. It just takes some time as I'm single man doing all

Edited January 23 by propeler

January 23

Thanks Prop. Just spent an hour testing the DCS F14 and wondering why the airspeed-spring did nothing. Shrugged and put it down to DCS (I was using the generic jet template). Then I spotted I hadn't switched telemetry from IL2 to DCS. Like I said, I'm a cretin. Tested again, FMG, it's superb! 😮

Then I found your DCS F14 profile. I'll test that after dinner.

January 23

And...bloody awesome.

FFBeast malarkey.

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