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Button Boxes - What do people usually map to the buttons?

Discussion in 'DIY Motion Simulator Building Q&A / FAQ' started by Archie, Mar 30, 2015.

  1. Archie

    Archie Eternal tinkerer

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    My Motion Simulator:
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    As my Sim evolves a Button box seems to be one of those "must haves"...

    What are the most common functions that people map to these?
    What purpose do they serve?

    (Apart from looking cool :) )
    • Funny Funny x 1
    Archie, Mar 30, 2015
    #1
  2. kanuk

    kanuk If it ain't moving, it ain't simulating...

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    quick access to functions I suppose. Without needing to use a keyboard. Plus increasing the realism factor. not to mention the cool cool factor..... ;)

    But really I would prefer to have button boxes on my sim rather than a keyboard. I need to make a couple for Elite and then let it double up for GRID. Anyone got any ideas for an Elite button box?

    the functions I wold use it for in a Race Sim would be specific to my views, traction aid, brake aid, steering aid, "Help I cant drive! CAll Schumacher!" button......
    And a myriad of others :D
    kanuk, Mar 30, 2015
    #2
  3. Archie

    Archie Eternal tinkerer

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    Yeah, see that's where I guess I question my need for one... I start the game and then never really mess with anything else other than the views (that my G27 buttons are mapped to anyway)

    Not sure what I would use one for..... (hence my question :) )
    Archie, Mar 30, 2015
    #3
  4. noorbeast

    noorbeast VR Tassie Devil Staff Member Moderator Race Director

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    I think it depends on your focus/passion, a racing or flight panel are cool for further immersion.

    :thumbs I thought your own JRK reset and monitoring button box is one very cool generic use @Archie: http://www.xsimulator.net/community/faq/jrk-reset-switch.57/

    On the functionality rather than game side I am currently kicking around switch box ideas that encompass your JRK reset, a kill switch and sound/haptic controls.
    • Like Like x 1
    noorbeast, Mar 30, 2015
    #4
  5. GIB SimRacing

    GIB SimRacing Active Member

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    When I was using rFactor, I had buttons set up for all sorts of things. Brake bias, lights, launch control, driving aids, pit request,.....but I never really got to use them as much as I thought. The ignition and engine start buttons are the ones I used a lot, just for immersion and that cool factor.:cool:

    The most useful thing I found was having buttons assigned to things like ENTER, ESC, ALT, TAB plus the UP, DOWN, LEFT and RIGHT arrows which I use for in car seat adjustment.
    Plus if you think about online racing, you could assign one button to "push-to-talk" for a headset.
    • Like Like x 1
    GIB SimRacing, Mar 30, 2015
    #5
  6. Nick Moxley

    Nick Moxley Well-Known Member

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    My Motion Simulator:
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    My button box's, With Included Handbrake and LED revcounter

    [​IMG]
    • Like Like x 3
    Nick Moxley, Mar 30, 2015
    #6
  7. Daguru

    Daguru Rally drivers do it in the Dirt

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    • Like Like x 1
    • Agree Agree x 1
    Daguru, Mar 30, 2015
    #7
  8. Nick Moxley

    Nick Moxley Well-Known Member

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    My Motion Simulator:
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    Had 2-3 of them kicking around, Why not use em. :grin The Hand brake was an after thought, (HEY there's a Pot in here i can use as a HandBrake) Promptly pulls out the parts bag and re installed the Throttle Paddle. Whamo Hand brake.
    • Like Like x 2
    Nick Moxley, Mar 30, 2015
    #8
  9. Daguru

    Daguru Rally drivers do it in the Dirt

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    One stop shop lol
    • Like Like x 1
    Daguru, Mar 30, 2015
    #9
  10. Nick Moxley

    Nick Moxley Well-Known Member

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    Also for guys with Tablet's, Look into Roccat Power Grid, Has customization Grids to download or you can make your own, as seen on my tablet.

    Bailey made a Real nice one for AC i have yet to get up and running,

    http://power-grid.roccat.org/en/Home/
    • Useful Useful x 1
    Nick Moxley, Mar 30, 2015
    #10
  11. Nick Moxley

    Nick Moxley Well-Known Member

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    Nick Moxley, Mar 30, 2015
    #11
  12. Archie

    Archie Eternal tinkerer

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    OMG - Just Googled the Simraceway wheel. What a complete heap of crap that thing is! A Wii wheel for the PC.

    Best Idea to use the buttons though, that HAS to be the only benefit of that wheel :)
    Archie, Mar 31, 2015
    #12
  13. bsft

    bsft

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    I map mine to some commands in the game itself.
    Camera view mostly with what I play. and some quick chat buttons when I play Race07 , sry (sorry) when I bump someone off , nprob (no problem when someone bumps me off track and says sorry), WTF? self explanatory towards wreckers in game , go past ( to tell a car faster than me to go around me as I am making room for them)
    I have a switch for headlights, but never use it.
    20150331_102301[1].jpg
    bsft, Mar 31, 2015
    #13
  14. Nick Moxley

    Nick Moxley Well-Known Member

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    I rocked it for a while hard mounted to a G27, It did it's duties but at the same time was never designed for FFB therefor is a little on the weak side for the hand grips. I re-enforced mine and never had a problem, but knew it was only a matter of time until that "one correction" would snap the hand grip off as soo many have discovered when u mount it to a wheel base.

    [​IMG]

    Simple plate mod, wasn't going to waste 100$+ on a Simulaje or w/e its called quick mount, I also ran the wire down the center to avoid any hanging wires.

    [​IMG]
    • Useful Useful x 1
    Nick Moxley, Mar 31, 2015
    #14