I would like help with a dilemma that I can’t solve.
It concerns the most functional way to connect a VIRPIL Control Panel #3 (SharKa-50)…
Installing it as:
Option 1 - configurable as a separate device?
or
Option 2 - to be configured as “Slave”, connected to a Throttle CM3 device?
Option 1 has the advantage that you have 128 x 2 = 256 buttons.
A disadvantage could be that one must have sufficient connection points on the computer, but that can perhaps be overcome with a good Hub?
Does anyone have experiences using these two devices and what are their preferences over time?
I would be grateful if they would share their experiences.
Sincerely,
El.
P.s. I hope to ask this question in the right way and in the right section. Sorry if it’s wrong…
I have the Virpil throttle, joystick and helicopter controls.
Each is connected with it‘s own cable to it‘s own USB port. I tried once with an USB hub and got strange results. So I prefer each controller device on it‘s own USB port.
Modern mainboards habe plenty of USB ports, so you should be fine. If they are not enough, you can always use one of the USB headers on the mainboard. There are cheap slot mounts that connect to the mainboard headers. They usually give you two additional USB ports per slot.
I stayed away from PCIe card USB controllers. These often give you 4 (or up to 6) additional USB ports, but I decided not to use them, since they use PCIe lanes. I wanted to be sure that my graphics card gets 16 lanes, and my NVMe M.2 SSD the remaining 4 lanes - even the mighty i9 13900 has only 20 of those lanes!.
I did a lot of reading what PCI slot shares lanes with which other slot, but in the end decided no to install any other PCIe card - I might of course be completely wrong here, but my PC now handles MSFS like a charm, so I‘m not touching it anymore:-)
Back to your question: best is one USB port per controller! Plus, I really doubt that you will be able to memorize and use 2 x 128 buttons…
Thank you for explaining the setup for some of your devices.
I read and reread what you write: “I plug them in via seperate USB ports on a hub,…”.
No problem with the connection in a hub?
Because you do read strange situations about that!
No, never had an issue. Its a pretty standart USB Hub. (A powered one and I think thats important).
I use my desk for normal computer stuff so whenever I want to fly I need to set up my peripherals. So I plug in my two Virpil Control Panels, two Logitech panels, Velocity One yoke and the Honeycomb Bravo… oh yeah, and a keypad for komms.
A large number of devices to operate…
The condition for operating them properly is undoubtedly to be on edge and to remain there!
Wishing you a lot of focus!
And also this wish: Happy New Year, to you and to the people who are important to you.