Slugmouse - a mouse button emulator for hand-tracked cockpit clicking.

[Rocho]

I have already managed to get them to work. Maybe it was because I had misunderstood the instructions and had skipped some necessary step. The thing is that, after connecting the rings physically by USB cable to the PC, it recognized them and they emulate the mouse perfectly.

[slughead]

7 hours ago, Rocho said:

I have already managed to get them to work. Maybe it was because I had misunderstood the instructions and had skipped some necessary step. The thing is that, after connecting the rings physically by USB cable to the PC, it recognized them and they emulate the mouse perfectly.

Excellent! Enjoy!

[Wostg]

I told @slughead I'd do a more detailed guide but haven't had the time to test things as thoroughly as I'd like, so just to say:

The Pico 4 works with HTCC (and thus with slugmouse) using its native handtracking via OpenXR if you:

• Use the ALVR server app to stream from your pc, instead of Virtualdesktop or Pico Connect. The UI is less friendly but plays and configures for DCS just fine. Remember to not have the bitrate set to 150 in order to be playable.
• Use the ALXR pico client apk on your headset. It can be copied across folder to folder (or via adb tools), then installed and run as an untrusted app. Its barebones but sees your hands well enough.
• Its using OpenXR although SteamVR is the active runtime in SteamVR.
• Here's a screenshot of rough settings that work, having followed the HTCC guides.

Interesting to see that a 4th option is apparently coming I think via native steamlink support? which might hopefully allow for handtracking, passthrough, whatever else in one place.

Edited January 14 by Wostg

[Kirk66]

I've been using my new Slugmice for a few days now and they are everything promised: well made, fairly easy to set up, and pretty easy to use.

My only problem is the need to hold my head perfectly still while aiming the cursor with my hand; not the easiest coordination exercise for a "person of a certain age". But it does get easier with practice, and finding the exact rotation of the Slugmouse on one's finger for easy use of the hat.

I added some Lizard Skins Mouse Grip to the inner surfaces of my Slugmice, both to make them fit better, and to add some anti-rotation friction so they stay in place without being too tight - works well, so if anyone has issues with their Slugmice moving on their fingers give it a try, takes a few minutes with a pair of scissors and the Mouse Grip goes right on, and is easy to remove if needed (I also use it on my stick grips and throttle grips for the same reason - awesome stuff!).

Now for a question: is there any way to momentarily freeze the view of the cockpit in VR (I use a Quest Pro) but not freezing the hand tracking (and Slugmouse cursor)? A momentary on/off toggle of head tracked motion while switches are being set would make it so much easier to use. I realize this may already have been attempted by you smart guys and may be impossible, but had to ask. And I understand it would result in some sort of jump in viewpoint when switching back to a tracked head pose (damped, perhaps?) but assuming you didn't move your head much, that shouldn't be a big issue. Again, not a complaint, just a question.

Along the same lines (and this would probably be more of an ED thing) could the cockpit controls be made momentarily "sticky" when a mouse cursor touched it? If the mouse cursor "latched" to the control for a few seconds, within a small radius, it would allow easier operation of the controls. Perhaps keep it latched as long as a mouse button is depressed/scrolled (which already happens for scrolling). Unlatch after 2 seconds or so, or if cursor is moved away from the control a certain distance. Again, I have no idea if this is possible, and it could make it hare to select a particular switch unless you had a momentary override you could hold until over the switch you want to activate.  So it rapidly becomes not so simple....

Anyway, loving my Slugmice, 10/10!

Vulture

 

[slughead]

Hey Vulture!

Thanks for the feedback, it is very much appreciated. The Lizard Skins mouse grip tip sounds great.

3 minutes ago, Kirk66 said:

is there any way to momentarily freeze the view of the cockpit in VR

I've not heard of a way to achieve this. Maybe someone else has a solution.

5 minutes ago, Kirk66 said:

could the cockpit controls be made momentarily "sticky"

That would be useful. A magnetic type effect, as you say, where it sticks to controls, and a "push" would nudge it off the control. I think that this would be for ED to consider. But it may also make it difficult to stick to the control that you want, such as buttons on MFDs. I can see that becoming a new source of frustration. @NineLine

 

[slughead]

There are only 10 days left until the sale ends and prices go back up!

Place your order now to avoid disappointment, even if you don't have your ring sizes to hand!

[Precog]

Anyone get this to work in msfs?  It works in DCS but I don't see anything in MSFS.  The htcc website states that nothing needs to be configured for MSFS.

[slughead]

5 hours ago, Precog said:

Anyone get this to work in msfs?  It works in DCS but I don't see anything in MSFS.  The htcc website states that nothing needs to be configured for MSFS.

Go to the HTCC discord. There’s a registry hack for MSFS 2024 if that’s the version you are using.

[Precog]

This works pretty well in DCS... takes a little to get use to but worth the money i think.

Only problem is the right slugmouse is not working (it did work intermittently initially but now not at all).  I removed the right slugmouse as a bluetooth devie and re-added it again.  It says Slugmouse Right connected 81% battery.  I can confirm a green light comes on when I move the hat switch.  Unable to scroll a browser window outside of DCS as well.  Left slugmouse works fine.

Any ideas what the issue might be?

[slughead]

5 hours ago, Precog said:

This works pretty well in DCS... takes a little to get use to but worth the money i think.

Only problem is the right slugmouse is not working (it did work intermittently initially but now not at all).  I removed the right slugmouse as a bluetooth devie and re-added it again.  It says Slugmouse Right connected 81% battery.  I can confirm a green light comes on when I move the hat switch.  Unable to scroll a browser window outside of DCS as well.  Left slugmouse works fine.

Any ideas what the issue might be?

Are you using a motherboard with Bluetooth built into it or a Bluetooth dongle?

Edited February 1 by slughead

[Precog]

Bluetooth dongle.  Don't have issues with any other Bluetooth peripherals 

[slughead]

Is your PC on your left or right side? Dongle plugged into top or back or into a hub?

If you put the right Slugmouse on your left hand is it any better?

Edited February 1 by slughead

[Precog]

PC is on the right... Dongle in the back.  Plutting the right slug mouse in the left hand doesn't make any difference 

[slughead]

6 minutes ago, Precog said:

PC is on the right... Dongle in the back.  Plutting the right slug mouse in the left hand doesn't make any difference 

Let's take this to email please.

[Rocho]

On 2/1/2025 at 3:45 AM, Precog said:

This works pretty well in DCS... takes a little to get use to but worth the money i think.

Only problem is the right slugmouse is not working (it did work intermittently initially but now not at all).  I removed the right slugmouse as a bluetooth devie and re-added it again.  It says Slugmouse Right connected 81% battery.  I can confirm a green light comes on when I move the hat switch.  Unable to scroll a browser window outside of DCS as well.  Left slugmouse works fine.

Any ideas what the issue might be?

That's pretty much what happens to me. The right slugmouse has worked intermittently the last few days, with the Bluetooth connection alternately going from “paired” to “connected”. Now it no longer works at all, the light stays steady green and pressing the center button has no effect. Now the Bluetooth connection does not detect it and neither does the PC when I connect it via USB cable.

[slughead]

53 minutes ago, Rocho said:

That's pretty much what happens to me. The right slugmouse has worked intermittently the last few days, with the Bluetooth connection alternately going from “paired” to “connected”. Now it no longer works at all, the light stays steady green and pressing the center button has no effect. Now the Bluetooth connection does not detect it and neither does the PC when I connect it via USB cable.

That doesn't sound right at all. Please get in touch with me via email and we'll sort this out.

[Rocho]

16 hours ago, slughead said:

That doesn't sound right at all. Please get in touch with me via email and we'll sort this out.

Please don't ask me how, but after leaving it on all night with the green light on steady, today it was off and it is working properly again. ???

[slughead]

30 minutes ago, Rocho said:

Please don't ask me how, but after leaving it on all night with the green light on steady, today it was off and it is working properly again. ???

Hmm. That sounds as though it wasn’t charged. Either way, it’s great that it’s working again for you. Please get in touch via email if you have further problems.

[Precog]

Yeah mine has worked properly since I moved my Bluetooth to the front of the pc

[slughead]

12 hours ago, Precog said:

Yeah mine has worked properly since I moved my Bluetooth to the front of the pc

Glad you got this solved. I have never been able to get a reliable connection between wireless keyboard/mice with the dongle at the back of a PC. There’s just too much metal for the signal to penetrate and create a reliable connection.

[javelina1]

my bad I missed the sale.  but the next time it comes around, I'll definitely buy! Keep it going slughead!

[Tom28]

Not really in your hands, but maybe you have an idea / suggestion. 

The F-14 Tomcat module doesn’t let me edit any mouse buttons.

For the Viper, I set the middle button to call up the communications menu, which works a treat. In the Tomcat, I still have to use the keyboard (blindfoldedly) to call up the menu. 

[slughead]

1 minute ago, Tom28 said:

Not really in your hands, but maybe you have an idea / suggestion. 

The F-14 Tomcat module doesn’t let me edit any mouse buttons.

For the Viper, I set the middle button to call up the communications menu, which works a treat. In the Tomcat, I still have to use the keyboard (blindfoldedly) to call up the menu. 

I don't recall when you bought your Slugmouse, so I can't tell what firmware version yours would have. Anyway, the latest firmware, sold from 20th October 2024, allows you to set the Slugmouse to be a mouse or joystick/gamepad. If you set it to be a joystick/gamepad, the buttons become additional joystick buttons. Then, you should be able to map them to anything you want, including mouse buttons (I think).

If you have an earlier version, I can provide the firmware and uploader to upgrade your Slugmice.

[Tom28]

They come with the latest firmware (bought during your Christmas special offer). I’ll have a look at the gamepad setting . 
Thank you

[Tom28]

Finally found the time to test this out.

Reprogramming to Slugpad with the instructions supplied was straight forward - in some way.

Windows 11 23H2 / Bluetooth & Devices calls them now Slugpad Left and Right with a Nintendo-style gamepad as icon.

However, no new game controller in Game Controllers (Joy.cpl) or DCS, so unable to use in any way.