Simple VR Zoom button/control

[dmwierz]

I'd like to add a simple VR Zoom button to the side of my throttle. IIRC, this is a switch, not an axis, correct? I don't want to spend a lot of time on this, so does anybody know of a premade single switch USB controller I can plug-and-play?

I've seen a number of pre-made foot pedals, but I plan on my feet being busy with the rudder controls.

Thanks in advance.

Edited September 8, 2021 by dmwierz

[ShaunX]

15 minutes ago, dmwierz said:

I'd like to add a simple VR Zoom button to the side of my throttle. IIRC, this is a switch, not an axis, correct? I don't want to spend a lot of time on this, so does anybody know of a premade single switch USB controller I can plug-and-play? Thanks in advance.

 

It's not an axis no. for Vr Zoom you really want a momentary switch/button which you hold while using it and then release to normal zoom. It's not something you'd want to leave switched on in VR.

 

There are actually 2 VR zooms, the second, Spyglass zoom is a much more powerful one.

 

Ideally, you want a 3-way momentary switch. Push forward for VR zoom, release to normal, pull back for spyglass zoom, release to normal.

 

..can't you use one of the 4-way hats on your TWCS throttle ?

 

Edited September 8, 2021 by ShaunX

[dmwierz]

Quote

..can't you use one of the 4-way hats on your TWCS throttle ?

@ShaunX, thanks for your response. I'm configuring a Spitfire cockpit using a 3D printed AuthentiKit stick and quadrant, and not my TWCS. 

 

Any suggestion for a prebuilt single hat switch? Like I said, I just want to buy something, attach it to my mounting scheme, plug it in, and configure.

Edited September 8, 2021 by dmwierz

[Lange_666]

I use the INCR / DECR axis on my Warthog throttle for that.

It works as a full zoom Axis in 2D and as a range "button" axis in VR. This way i can use the same function for both.

In VR when the axis has a value below 50 , there is no zoom, when it reaches 50% it activates VR Zoom and it stays there until it reaches between 90% and 100% axis range, then it goes Spyglass Zoom (and back offcourse), works nice.

 

[dmwierz]

52 minutes ago, Lange_666 said:

I use the INCR / DECR axis on my Warthog throttle for that.

It works as a full zoom Axis in 2D and as a range "button" axis in VR. This way i can use the same function for both.

In VR when the axis has a value below 50 , there is no zoom, when it reaches 50% it activates VR Zoom and it stays there until it reaches between 90% and 100% axis range, then it goes Spyglass Zoom (and back offcourse), works nice.

 

I understand. I used to use one of the hat switches on my VKB Gladiator, but I won't be using that stick for this application. Looking for a stand alone control.

 

Edited September 8, 2021 by dmwierz

[VR Flight Guy in PJ Pants]

As mentioned, the function maps only to a button, not an axis, If not mapped to a button on HOTAS, may be get something like a detached num keypad and map the function to a button.

Edited September 8, 2021 by VFGiPJP

[dmwierz]

1 hour ago, VFGiPJP said:

As mentioned, the function maps only to a button, not an axis, If not mapped to a button on HOTAS, may be get something like a detached num keypad and map the function to a button.

 

Yep, I understand. I have a wired num keypad, but that's a little large to plop onto my throttle quadrant. 

 

Surely somebody sells a simple switch with the appropriate electronics included, and a USB cable, no?

[VR Flight Guy in PJ Pants]

Sorry, I am not helpful in this regards.

[dmwierz]

Why wouldn't a USB mouse work for this purpose? Use the left button for VR Zoom and the right button for Spyglass?

[ShaunX]

 

7 hours ago, dmwierz said:

Yep, I understand. I have a wired num keypad, but that's a little large to plop onto my throttle quadrant. 

 

Surely somebody sells a simple switch with the appropriate electronics included, and a USB cable, no?

 

What about this ?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ecarke-Keyboard-Mechanical-Keyboards-Programming/dp/B096ZPPGGG?ref_=ast_sto_dp&th=1&psc=1

 

 

[dmwierz]

7 hours ago, ShaunX said:

 

 

What about this ?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ecarke-Keyboard-Mechanical-Keyboards-Programming/dp/B096ZPPGGG?ref_=ast_sto_dp&th=1&psc=1

 

 

Looks like that may be exactly what I'm looking for. Thanks.

Being keys, I assume those are momentary contact switches? 

Quote

The Chinese software needed to reprogram this was not driver-signed and needed to be pulled off a web server -by IP address, not a registered DNS name-, so I got everything reprogrammed as I needed in a sandboxed environment.

 

This is from one of the reviews. Doesn't exactly look to be plug-and-play. If I wanted to worry about this kinda stuff, I'd build my own. No bueno.

 

[ShaunX]

55 minutes ago, dmwierz said:

Looks like that may be exactly what I'm looking for. Thanks.

Being keys, I assume those are momentary contact switches? 

 

This is from one of the reviews. Doesn't exactly look to be plug-and-play. If I wanted to worry about this kinda stuff, I'd build my own. No bueno.

 

 

They look momentary to me yes.

 

I obviously can't say for sure as I'm not the manufacturer, but you wouldn't want to use their software to reprogram the keys anyway. Assuming it shows up as a keyboard or joystick in DCS controller options, that's where you'd assign it's functions, like any other joystick or keypad.

 

It does state that it is a "Gaming PC Keyboard" so I'd hope it would use the standard keyboard controller protocol and therefore be configurable in DCS, but again, I can't say for sure. I'm just making suggestions here.

 

Personally, I made my own custom button box with one of these ..

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Reyann-USB-PC-Joystick-Raspberry/dp/B01CFRYE16/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=Zero+Delay+Arcade+USB+Encoder&qid=1620923381&sr=8-3

 

which is a USB keybord controller, and a bunch of 3 way switches..

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01M0LXR0L/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

It appears in DCS controller options as a generic USB joystick and I can assign all it's functions there. It also appears in Voice Attack.

 

Takes a wee bit of soldering but worth the effort.

 

[dmwierz]

2 hours ago, ShaunX said:

 

They look momentary to me yes.

 

I obviously can't say for sure as I'm not the manufacturer, but you wouldn't want to use their software to reprogram the keys anyway. Assuming it shows up as a keyboard or joystick in DCS controller options, that's where you'd assign it's functions, like any other joystick or keypad.

 

It does state that it is a "Gaming PC Keyboard" so I'd hope it would use the standard keyboard controller protocol and therefore be configurable in DCS, but again, I can't say for sure. I'm just making suggestions here.

 

Personally, I made my own custom button box with one of these ..

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Reyann-USB-PC-Joystick-Raspberry/dp/B01CFRYE16/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=Zero+Delay+Arcade+USB+Encoder&qid=1620923381&sr=8-3

 

which is a USB keybord controller, and a bunch of 3 way switches..

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01M0LXR0L/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

It appears in DCS controller options as a generic USB joystick and I can assign all it's functions there. It also appears in Voice Attack.

 

Takes a wee bit of soldering but worth the effort.

 

Thanks. Makes sense.