I've also joined the Virpil club
Finally upgraded from my CH Throttle... My reasons for choosing Virpil CM3 throttle vs Winwing and VKB Steks:
1) Desktop ergonomics are equal to VKB and better than Winwing's - there are no buttons at the front of the base which would be difficult to reach.
2) Zoom slider axis on the throttle handle - missing from both Winwing and VKB. An axis is quicker and more intuitive than encoder dials.
3). Flaps axis on the base - missing on VKB (Winwing has 2 of them, which is great). This is essential for the Harrier nozzles control.
4) Universal nature - I've setup the controls so that there is big overalp between all modules. E.g. F16manrange-like encoder on the Virpil throttle controls radar zoom on both the F16 and F18, same chaff/flare buttons, and so on.
5) Virpil reputation with regards to customer service. Winiwing has lots of negative stories on the DCS forums vs zero (?) such stories in Virpil's section.
6) Software - while less user friendly than Winwing's, it's far more powerful. I've limited throttle axis travel for better desktop use, added buffer to encoder dials (so as not to spin them over and over only to register 5 deg rotation on a DCS module dial), set dual thorttle sync to 2% to make them a tiny bit "sticky" to each other, sleep mode deactivates LEDs after 10min inactivity, toggle switches are on/on and not on/off to make mapping easier - everything is now working EXACTLY how I want.
7) The split throttle lever is super easy to use with one hand.
Minuses so far:
1) Hat switches are way inferior to CH in terms of feel and ergonomics. Russian style hats are less inutuitive, I really wish the lowest of the two hats on the handle was a Western castle shape one, my thumb often confuses the two. The click and travel on CH hats also feels way better.
2) Red toggle switches on the base work great, but look cheap. Will probably get a mod for them from Etsy
Finally upgraded from my CH Throttle... My reasons for choosing Virpil CM3 throttle vs Winwing and VKB Steks:
1) Desktop ergonomics are equal to VKB and better than Winwing's - there are no buttons at the front of the base which would be difficult to reach.
2) Zoom slider axis on the throttle handle - missing from both Winwing and VKB. An axis is quicker and more intuitive than encoder dials.
3). Flaps axis on the base - missing on VKB (Winwing has 2 of them, which is great). This is essential for the Harrier nozzles control.
4) Universal nature - I've setup the controls so that there is big overalp between all modules. E.g. F16manrange-like encoder on the Virpil throttle controls radar zoom on both the F16 and F18, same chaff/flare buttons, and so on.
5) Virpil reputation with regards to customer service. Winiwing has lots of negative stories on the DCS forums vs zero (?) such stories in Virpil's section.
6) Software - while less user friendly than Winwing's, it's far more powerful. I've limited throttle axis travel for better desktop use, added buffer to encoder dials (so as not to spin them over and over only to register 5 deg rotation on a DCS module dial), set dual thorttle sync to 2% to make them a tiny bit "sticky" to each other, sleep mode deactivates LEDs after 10min inactivity, toggle switches are on/on and not on/off to make mapping easier - everything is now working EXACTLY how I want.
7) The split throttle lever is super easy to use with one hand.
Minuses so far:
1) Hat switches are way inferior to CH in terms of feel and ergonomics. Russian style hats are less inutuitive, I really wish the lowest of the two hats on the handle was a Western castle shape one, my thumb often confuses the two. The click and travel on CH hats also feels way better.
2) Red toggle switches on the base work great, but look cheap. Will probably get a mod for them from Etsy
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