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Depends. It works in principle, but I couldn't find the app mentioned anymore. If you use the phone just as a camera, it's probably better to buy a webcam instead. It's easier to position and can be used for other things (calls with parents ;-)). There are many options and I tried three: 1. Phone app doing the recognition and then just sending the results to opentrack. Opentrack then works with DCS to provide tracking, but otherwise the hard work is on the phone. It often gets hot and is not easy to place it well. 2. Webcam (this includes also phone working as a webcam, but this is less convenient) - hard work is done in opentrack using "neuralnet tracker" input. 3. Webcam and opentrack using "aruco" input - for this I needed a paper marker - 10x10 cm works just fine. I pasted it on a cardboard construction of my own and headband made from a kids tights. ;-) This works best for me. More here: th-cam.com/video/YQ2asSSeGho/w-d-xo.html The reason why camera alone didn't work for me is unclear to me, but it was unstable and even blinking shook the view. This happened for both option 1 and 2, so perhaps the app used the same neural network for tracking, not sure.

Any problems with this one besides the plastic? Have you tried it?

You're welcome. STECS is narrower - and if you use one of the smaller versions, it has definitely smaller footprint. But in every other way it's more massive and much taller.

@@dcsunscripted Thanks. Was more concerned with the length as it's going to have a bit of overhang and I was worried about resting the weight of my arm on the back might tip it over. I have two VKB Gladiators and with the weight I'm sure it has it shouldn't be a problem. :)

@@RabidOtaku It's a hefty unit, especially with the Standard (longer) base, this is not the problem if the unit is fully on some support. What is your mounting situation when you mention the "overhang"? Do you mount it with screwes? (Should be no problem.) Would it overhang from a desk? (That might be a problem, because some pads would not provide friction, perhaps.)

@@dcsunscripted Basically I took some wood and made an extension to my desk that sits on top of the keyboard tray so my sticks would sit lower and be a bit more comfortable. I put a large rubberized mouse pad over it which prevents any unwanted movement. That being said, I can only move the throttle unit so far forward and it's going to hang over a bit. It should be OK as I initially failed to take into account how heavy it's going to be. Can also bump the arm rests up a notch so it shouldn't be an issue. Thanks for taking to time to help me out. Really appreciate it.

I agree completely! It has a gamification factor (scoring) included, but it's till pretty hardcore. And the version for fast jets... that's another level. I'm still not there yet, because I don't fly this mission nearly as much as I should. But every time I do, I enjoy the challenge.

Exactly, webcam is better and doesn't get so hot in the process. 🙂 At the time of this video I didn't have a webcam though. Later I bought it and hoped for better results, but something in my environment caused that video alone made the tracking unreliable - anytime I blinked the view jumped (and no, I'm not moving my head when I blink). So I'm using Aruco marker on a headband - it's passive, easy to use and good enough. So it's opentrack+Aruco tracking+webcam. Described here: th-cam.com/video/YQ2asSSeGho/w-d-xo.html

I went for the cheapest webcam on Amazon, worked a treat, until I had issues with it jumping around, discovered it was picking up my wife's makeup mirror in the background and thought it was a face!! She's not happy I threw her make up mirror in the cupboard 🤣🤣🤣🤣👍👍

That is the unfortunate reality of vkbs stuff, although it is still worth it.

They are definitely versatile if you don't mind they are generic and not civilian style.

Sorry about this emotional damage. 🙂Normally it's at least 20cm away, this time it was moved closer during the video production. Plus, that radiator is never very hot anyway. But goot point!

Ďakujem. 🙂Hej, ten program je trochu chaotický (kopa tabov hore/dole, flow podobne), ale dá sa. Najlepšie je začať podľa nejakého príkladu (ako z videa) a spraviť niečo konkrétne. Našťastie príkladov je na internete kopa. Ani ja to inak nepúšťam denne, často ani neviem, čo som si tam nastavil. A potom uložiť profil nie len do joysticku, ale aj na disk, to sa môže zísť.

@@dcsunscripted Snad sa k tomu niekedy dokopem. Len keby bolo viac casu. Ak mam obcas nejaku hodinku tak si radsej zalietam ako sa babrat s tymto 🙂

If there is no big need for change it's mostly smart not to - so your hasitation is good. Horrid pedals - I assume you've got TFRP? I had those and that was a mistake. I've risked one more Thrustmaster product and bought their pendulum pedals TPR, I'm happy with those, but there are cheaper alternatives for sure.

@@dcsunscripted Yeah, It's been a great stick. Thems the ones, TFRP. I've tried a few things to improve the action on them to no avail. I purposely forgot how much I paid for them xD. I'll have a look at them Pendulum ones, cheers.

Actually, I use a head tracker th-cam.com/video/YQ2asSSeGho/w-d-xo.html and I really got used to it (unlike during making the linked video). I still didn't go for more serious head tracking, but after many months of playing with and without it as I felt at the moment, I virtually 100% play with it - except for rudimentary experiments or, as in this video, for video capture where it's not necessary. Without headtracking the video is much smaller (a lot of the scene is static or moves more smooth) and often easier to look at. And yes, it was a game changer for me. It just took a long time to get really used to it fully.

@@dcsunscripted Understood. The referencing of the analog hat switch as a POV hat switch got me thinking that way. It is perfect as a sensor cursor control for the Hornet, Viper and others I imagine. Thank you. Great work.

@@Czar66 It is a ministick and has axes and it is quite precise technically, less so tactile. I mentioned, that the cap is quite tall and the ministick is quite soft as well. I assume it's better than no TDC but as I use the one on the STECS (which seems technologically the same, but has a different hat), I don't need to use this one. But yes, it's there and is free to use when you don't need POV. 👍

I'd need to check the action, but those bases use cams, often swappable, and this may make the feeling quite different, especially around the center. Also they often support longer extensions. Now, FFB, that's another level, I'll probably want somthing like that eventually, but I'd have to shuffle more stuff around it - because the desk standing FFB is not practical. ;-) But then we're going to serious numers, when just the base is ~800 bucks today. I'd probably first think about dedicated simpit. But until then, Gladiator must suffice.

@@dcsunscripted The Moza FFB base is 600 euro, so that is about twice as much as a high-end base, but it seems way more than twice as good.

@@aapje Right, I didn't check these latest prices, Rhino FFB was around 800 bucks... but Moza offers base+very interesting grip just under 800... hmmm, inetersting, indeed.

@@aapje Depends what you fly. Helicopter? Nope. They have no force feedback. Fly-by-wire planes with a side stick? Nope. They don't have force feedback either. Where it does make sense is for military aircraft, both WW2 and modern. For people focused on military aircraft, particularly if they play in DCS, then I think it's a great idea. For those who do MSFS, and actually want something that replicates the real flying experience rather than just want force feedback for the sake of it, I'm not at all convinced. In both cases a VR headset is probably more impactful though.

@@a5cent Helicopter pilots love FFB, because of force trim. Otherwise they have a choice between constantly fighting the spring force, or taking out the springs, which is not realistic either. And if they take out the springs, then they need to do a lot of work to put the spring back for regular planes. But with FFB, they can change the stick behavior on the fly. And some FBW planes have force sensing, and a FFB stick can mimic that, and even mimic the differences between force sensing planes. Also, force feedback effects that are transmitted through the stick can work for any plane. Of course, this is not realistic, but a real pilot would feel a lot through G-forces and such that you won't feel when simming. Finally, I already have VR as do many others.

I still like the hat more than a button. 🙂I'm just more cautious about the bindings there. I want those 5 functions. Do you have the Kosmosima grip? Wouldn't it be great if that hat had the same press feeling/resistance as the hats on the face?

@@dcsunscripted Hmm.. Perhaps you can move the taller A1 “saddle”-hat cap to the C1 position, moving the grey C1 hat to the middle A3 position. This might allow the A3 “dish”-hat to work on the A1 ministick, whilst the A1 “pyramid”-hat sits on the A4 hat (like you already have done). Is it perhaps also possible to use spare hat caps from the VKB STECS Standard on the Gladiator hat stems?.. That could allow for more mix and match options between both devices.

@@tver Intriguing ideas... not all working though. C1 has a smaller one-way mounting rod, like STECS 5-way hats, so you can't put anything from A1/3/4 there. STECS buttons actually have the same big 2-way mouning rod, but that rubberized button hat has too wide waist for the A1 ministick... and it's probably too low - although it feels good thanks to its rubberized top. Like it's more under control. I believe I acutally tried to mess with the cap for that C1 and tried caps from the STECS, but these are too wide and I can't move it right, it's physically blocked. So, C1 has the same mounting style as 5-way hats from STECS (narrow one-way), but STECS caps are too wide for it. A1/3/4 has the same mounting style (wider two-way) as STECS buttons from modules, or the red pinkie one. But these are not that good for hat controls. Perhaps a ministick - but then there is the problem with their wide waist.

@@dcsunscripted Ah that’s too bad and a slight missed opportunity in terms of modularity on VKB’s part. Even though it is much more expensive than the WinWing Ursa Minor (and has less inputs), I might still consider it, for its compact base, as a simpit sidestick. ;) However, the Winwing Orion 2 with F-16EX grip would be an enticing alternative, like you said.

@@tver I still dream about better stick eventually, but I have zero buyer's remorse with this one. Or close to it. ;-) It's a really good solid stick.

Not sure what you mean by buttons, but if you meant encoders, I talk about it from 7:41.

The axis still goes from 0 to 100%, detents are just "pauses" on the way. I assume the reverse thrust must be mapped somehow in the particular game to that 0-100% range - if the game supports it. I don't have an experience with it from DCS.

Put in the big pointy detent and then use the VKB configurator to map anything below it as minus% input. Or just put the detent at for example 50% and then map the game to use 49-0% as negative.

I'm glad the video helped even with unorthodox and unexpected scenarios!

I will, I will, although I'm not sure how many new things will be there. ;-) Perhaps some, as there are few setup tweaks I made well after a year.

It's DCS - Digital Combat Simulator.

Just ordered my stecs & gladiator as well..

@@adrianc3235 Enjoy it, of course there are better - and pricier 🙂 - options, but this gear combo is not a barrier for great performance. "When I grow old" I'll perhaps get to a dedicated simpit where I can use joystick extension, but for a desktop setup Gladiator is good in this price range. See, I have to kick myself to the Gladiator Kosmosima review at some time. 🙂

Man, so do I, it's such a shame that Linux supports the side keys, but Windows doesn't at all. But it has been working great for me for over 20 years and I hope it keeps doing that for next 20+ years. ;-)

I'm not familiar with Macro deck 2. I assume you could do anything what you can do with the keyboard shortcuts out of the box. I don't see any plugin/extension for DCS for Macro deck 2 so someone had to do this kind of integration first. DCS-COINS - which connects Touch Portal with existing DCS-BIOS support for cockpit makers - is the secret sauce here. It provides plane specific actions and events which makes the whole dashboard rich. Touch Portal 2 is not perfect, I wish it had more control options (e.g. hold and press, that is separate press and release actions, or even swipe gestures), but it is good enough and DCS-COINS makes the best of it.

Yeah, we need more axes, even on the base. I agree.

Thank you for your sentiment 🙂

Yeah, I'm not using camera based solutions anymore, because both this and PC camera straight into opentrack did funny thing when I blinked my eyes! 🙂 I went for ArUco marker on a headband, not perfect, but works better for me: th-cam.com/video/YQ2asSSeGho/w-d-xo.html

Thank you! With WinWing, the prices for combos are quite good and you can also mix and match to some degree. I have to say that STECS bases are least interesting from all the other bases. I wish it had more latched switches. But the throttle is not just the base, of course. 🙂 STECS works well for me.

There are two round buttons on the STECS base, these have short travel, but very obvious action with semi-loud higher-pitched click. Buttons on the STEM (A1-2, B1-5, C1) have a bit more play, probably a tad longer action than the buttons on the main base (but still quite short) and also clear action, this time with lower pitched softer click. K-switches, good action, but unnecessarily heavier for the middle click. All the buttons are good, you know when you pressed them, they give you enough resistence, so you don't press them accidentally. Not sure what "normal keyboard" means for you, but I hope I answered the question. They don't feel like keyboard.

@@dcsunscripted This is very helpful, you definitely answered my question :) I was hoping the case is how you described it, now I am definitely going for the STECS. Thank you for the videos and comments, you are brilliant at communicating!

It's a powerful tool for sure. It works for me with this basic-ish configuration. I use Touch Portal on Android tablet for more interactive needs and while not perfect it works great for me. th-cam.com/video/3rL1EsVrLeI/w-d-xo.html

Yes, I also agree. In EU, Mini is for 249€ and Standard for 346€. For around 100 euros you get STEM with quite a lot of new buttons, switches and encoders - and a lot of accessory (detents, modules with more 5-way hats). This makes a lot of sense. MAX adds the holder and ATEM module (6 buttons + 5-way hat/encoder combo) for additional 60 euros. So in terms of just controls, it doesn't make that much sense. But some people appreciate the holder as well and plan to use it. If you just buy the bigger base plate and the holder, you're on MAX price tag anyway. For me the STANDARD was the sweet spot, so I agree with your sentiment. ;-)

I had Gladiator Kosmosima Premium before buying this one, and I liked it quite a lot. With STECS, I didn't consider the options below STANDARD because the additional modules and detents are not included with MINI and MINI Plus, so STANDARD was the first natural option for me. The aft mounted STEM has its cons, but nothing serious, the additional switches, encoders and buttons are good value.

@@dcsunscripted yes I thought about the MINI but once you buy the extra bits like detents or switches, it’s better just getting the standard one. The cool thing is that if one day I want more buttons, I can just get the front bracket from the MAX and put whatever module on it I’m curious to see the Thrustmaster Ava reviews later this month Also, maybe some surprises at FSExpo this June

@@falmatrix2r I wanted some additional panels because there is never enough switches and axes. I didn't like what VKB has to offere, the NXT modules do not impress me. Virpil panels look much better, but are also more expensive, and I'd one max one of them because I don't want so many pieces on my desk (I don't have dedicated simpit). And no panel is great for everything. In the end I decided to postpone any additinal hardware (beyond stick+throttle+pedals I have) and use tablet with Touch Portal and DCS-COINS plugin instead - short demo in this video: th-cam.com/video/3rL1EsVrLeI/w-d-xo.htmlsi=gS3uJL1EWv3OqzEa There are other tablet based options, MATRIC, and many others. Similarly you can use Streamdeck and similar devices. It's not perfect, sure, but it's cost-effective when you have a device like that already - and very flexible, although it requires some customization. I like it and like playing with it. But - the additional devices don't make me a better pilot. 🙂

@@dcsunscripted yeah Virpil has nice stuff but it’s expensive Would be nice if they make more STECS modules in the future I’m sure they’ll make a V2 in the future, more refined The way I did to have more buttons on my x52 was using modifiers or using the 3 modes I could configure in the Saitek app I think Streamdeck is nice because you can label everything

Thank you very much, sir! Be sure to watch the other two parts as well. 🙂

​@@dcsunscripted Still watching the end of this one; will do. Depending on the other two parts, I'll be getting this or the VPC Mongoose as an upgrade to my own TWCS. I'm interested to see if the stiction improves over time; re-greasing the Thrustmaster was a huge improvement.

@@literate-aside Stiction for STECS is a minor problem, I just "exercise" it when I start the session and it's gone. Stiction when it's stationary for a minute or so is really quite minor, more or less nitpicking. Second part of the review may give you some ideas about this vs VPC. But if you like switchable detents idea and can stand (or get used to) thumb TDC (ministick) then STECS may be for you.

Díky a taky zdravím! STECS je super, ale nějaká osa by se hodila, tady má Virpil navrch. Ale když jste viděli i předchozí díly, víte všechno podstatné.

My exp with VKB today "I guess the proper name for the switch in question is a "Trigger switch" yes? now all I need is how to replace the switch i can find nothing on youtue on our VKB's forum. I'm not too pleased on how VKB expects me to change the trigger without instructions is that too much to expect??? how about you take all my VKB products in trade for a WINWING or VPRILE ...,.. ARE YOU GOING TO STAND BEHIND YOUR youtube WHAT!...   AT 74 I THINK I CAN HANDLE REMOVING A BUNCH OF SCREWS IF THAT WHAT YOU WANT ME TO DO PROBABLY CROSS-THREAD THEM AND RUIN THE THROTTLE" coulden type I so pissed VKB wrong choice

Thanks man, this video was like delivering a baby... I'd probably got used to the castle hat on the front as well eventually, but the switches there are each under a different finger so I didn't need that. As for the mapping, I'm still barely through half of my planes after seven months! 😀

You have to lower the multiplier actually. But then you'll have to twist the encoder much more. There is no way to make the "axis step" smaller than the encoder click. That's why encoder to axis is not good for precision-critical axes. Elevation may be ok-ish, especially on the pinkie encoder which is easier to rotate. See this video how to do it: th-cam.com/video/GB-pf6dEICM/w-d-xo.html

I got used to a bit tighter throttle - of course, not too much so it doesn't move around the desk 🙂 - and I always change the tightness when switching to split setup for propeller. If you hold the throttle there for a few secs, it should help as the damping/stiction appears quite quickly if the throttle doesn't move. But I don't know how variable this is between the units. As for the "triggers", I decided to use the back ones for countermeasures (either with a thumb or simply by moving the hand and pressing it with other fingers) and the ones on the front for target unlock and lock (the right one), because I don't like the press action of the TDC (OTS). With a modifier I use the front ones consistently for flight clock and stopwatch (where available), but that's probably too much information. ;-)

I'm not sure how it works on various devices, on PC desktop I can still see it. It is there more for information, you should find it with Play Store.

@@dcsunscriptedyeah i had a gander and have found a different one Smoothtrack, just need to figure out how to stop my head shaling in game.

@@dcsunscripted it is gone doesnt show up on the play store and the link is not working

@@amerhusejnovic29 I fixed the Description - that's all I can do without removing the video. I'd recommend using PC camera instead of the mobile phone now anyway - and if it still doesn't work good enough (as it didn't for me, it was way too twitchy), use ArUco marker which is passive and makes the tracking much better.

I also have VKB Gladiator Kosmosima Premium - and that's an incredible value for its price, I'd say. And yes, it covers the rudder with its twist (not perfect, especially for warbirds or helos, but usable). I have the stick since the last April and I plan to review it some time later, so it will be kinda long-term review already. 🙂Especially the thumb side hat (the one which is button in non-premium model) is a bit imprecise, but the rest of the buttons and hats are great. I still couldn't find proper use for the ministick, so it's used more as a POV anyway. I don't like how it's tougher to push it than to pull it (also the spring/return action is different from push and pull)... but in overall, I like it a lot. But more on that some time later. ;-)