Virpil Constallation Alpha

[JohnRoberts]

I'll keep this short: I need yet another new HOTAS, I'm not interested in buying more that won't last. After some research, top of my list is Virpil Constellation Alpha + their CM3 throttle, but it's quite a lot of money.

So I'm looking for feedback, good and bad, from any owners, or suggestions for other devices at the "quality" end of the market.

(No Thrustmaster Warthog - I vastly prefer Z-axis for rudder).

Thanks,
JR.

 

[Marko S Ramius]

Hi,

I don't own either but I thought these may be useful by Down to Earth Astronomy . Sorry if you have already seen them.

Source: https://youtu.be/kjfAZ8oZ4QA

Source: https://youtu.be/NL93YQx5aLo

 

[Greybeard Seawolf]

I have the same Virpil gear and all I can say is that the build quality is incredible. Yes it's expensive but I am beyond happy with it. One thing to remember is the Windows 32 button limit so if you want to use all the buttons on the throttle you will need to use something like Joystick Gremlin and V-Joy to make a virtual device for the buttons beyond 32

 

[JohnRoberts]

I don't own either but I thought these may be useful by Down to Earth Astronomy . Sorry if you have already seen them.

Indeed, it was from the D2EA that I found out about these. The review seems in-depth, informative and independent, but I'd still like some other opinions, 'cos these things cost too much to be impulse purchases for me!

.Yes it's expensive but I am beyond happy with it.

Thanks for the feedback. The controls I've had in the past were, well, "tolerable", so I'm wanting to move up a step.

you will need to use something like Joystick Gremlin and V-Joy to make a virtual device for the buttons beyond 32

Please correct me if I'm wrong, but these additional tools basically solve the problem, so its basically a one time investment in time to get things set up.

 

[Ashnak]

Dual Alphas here. Unless you want to use your kit for other 2.5-D FS-like games, I'd tend to suggest to replace the throttle with a second stick. With the 6 dof you can have in ED, the second stick works better. There are also mods (3rd party or 3-D printed) that will permit you to mount a stick at an angle, so you can use it like a bike throttle (not using one of those - yet).

I have the right stick for rotation, the left stick for translation (throttle on twist). I also have the bound the fixed throttle increments (12.5%) to the right stick's thumbwheel, so I don't need to keep the left stick twisted all the time when I don't want to jog the throttle around (i.e. essentially all the time in SC).

One more thing: if oyu decide to get the Virpils, think about getting the space sim cams and weak springs, too. The stuff is reasonably priced if you order it together with the stick; if you order them on their own, the shipping cost will floor you.

 

[Greybeard Seawolf]

Please correct me if I'm wrong, but these additional tools basically solve the problem, so its basically a one time investment in time to get things set up.

They are both free so no additional expense, they just allow you to map buttons that are beyond the Windows 32 button per device limit to a virtual device.

 

[JohnRoberts]

Dual Alphas here.

That's under some serious consideration too, but I was thinking more about remaining HOTAS now, and adding the second stick later, assuming I'm getting on well with everything.

here are also mods (3rd party or 3-D printed) that will permit you to mount a stick at an angle

FYI, Zirpil make an sanely priced Z-extender for that, although I guess your point about the shipping costs would apply here. And thanks for the tip about the space sim cams.

 

[Zak Gordon]

Just for your giggles i got one of these:

https://bbpcdn.pstatic.gr/P/bpimg59/3iyCv/1M8EId_SX500Y500/2155957504/logic3-star-fighter-js256u.jpg

A Logic3 Star Fighter, and it is kind of awesome and near indestructible. I've had it about 7 years and it was second hand (£10 iirc) when i picked it up off the dusty shelf of a small local computer hardware store. I would not even look at a HOTAS due to the costs and fairly usual reliability issues, but i'm cheap sometimes! (and practical?)

 

[Rock Hunter]

I replaced my X-56 joystick with the Constellation Alpha and the only thing I wish I’d done differently was buying the throttle as well.

My Saitek throttle is still going strong but the difference in feel between the two sticks, and that between my left hand on the Saitek throttle and right hand in the Alpha stick, is incredible.

The price difference may be a shock but the quality is immediately recognisable. Although between Elite, Star Citizen, iL-Sturmovich and using it for some aircraft in FS2020 I’m certainly getting value from it.
Initially there was a long waiting list but I assume this has improved.

P.S I identified the Alpha specifically for the twist yaw. Later I bought some pedals (for MSFS2020) and with a quick tightening of one small bolt was able to lock that facility. It’s very versatile.

 

[GonzTheMalificent]

Gladiator NXT is full-on dreamy, by the way.

 

[Riverside]

A VKB gunfighter (metal) gimbal or Gladiator (plastic) gimbal with a spacesim grip is a solid alternative to consider to virpil.

I've had a gladiator for a few years now & although I've had the occasional issue it's designed to be disassembled & repairable, and spares are available too. And buying the plastic, lower end gimbal I've not felt I've got a cheap or toy-like version, it's been excellent.

For the throttle I use the relatively cheap Thrustmaster TWCS, I get problems with the analogue axies getting sticky and flutterly after several months but the ergonomic design is excellent so I just keep buying them.

 

[gorankar]

I have that setup, and it is really the best kit I have ever used.
The software is very involved, but also quite flexible.
ED still has a 32 button limit, despite pretty much every other flight sim not having an issue Windows, but if you use the Virpil software to change all of your hat switches on the CM3 from button presses to hats, you only lose access to buttons T7, E1, and E2 on the throttle.

 

[sovapid]

They are both free so no additional expense, they just allow you to map buttons that are beyond the Windows 32 button per device limit to a virtual device.

32 button limit is not a Windows limitation (unless you are using an old version). Windows supports 128 buttons.

 

[WeComeInPeace]

I have the same Virpil gear and all I can say is that the build quality is incredible. Yes it's expensive but I am beyond happy with it. One thing to remember is the Windows 32 button limit so if you want to use all the buttons on the throttle you will need to use something like Joystick Gremlin and V-Joy to make a virtual device for the buttons beyond 32

“640 KB ought to be enough for anybody”. They will never learn.

 

[BigBANGtheory [VR]]

I own Virpil Ace pedals and their v3 desk mounts with my Warthog, Virpil stuff is decent

 

[sovapid]

I have VKB's and they are also worth looking into.

VKB North America

We sell VKB Flight & Space Simulation Controllers for customers in the United States and Canada.

vkbcontrollers.com

 

[Brother Sabathius]

I have twin VKB Gladiator NXTs and VKB T-rudder pedals. The sticks are by far the best I have ever used, super-smooth and precise, and I will probably be buried with the pedals, as I don't see them wearing out in my lifetime. Fantastic quality.

 

[Mark Zero]

Another proud Virpil owner here. My setup is dual Constellation Alphas on the WarBRD gimbals (Right for Pitch/Roll, left for 6DOF Thrusters), a CM-2 Throttle (functionally the same as the CM-3 but no Detents), and Ace Rudder Pedals for Yaw/Toe Axes.

The setup is prohibitively expensive and slightly redundant, so no actual need to go that hard. But man is it fun. Everything Virpil puts out is excessively well made, easy to work with/swap parts, and provides tons of control surfaces for binding options. I actually kind of want more things to control just so that I can use more bindings with these things, which is ridiculous.

If you are considering a Constellation Alpha/CM-3 Hotas setup, all I can say is that I'd recommend the hell out of it. It's an insane amount of money and it's actually worth it. Very few other products are going to measure up to the build quality and options that a Virpil setup will give you (VKB is a strong contender).

That said, if you buy a CM-3, or any of the supplemental panel controllers, keep in mind what folks have said here about vJoy/Joystick Gremlin. Elite unfortunately is hampered by the 32 button per controller limit, which I believe is the fault of it interfacing through the Windows joystick configuration utility. You will need to split the CM-3 virtually into three different devices to use all the buttons. I believe @ubermick has also found some success in using Virpil's configuration software to convert some/all of the throttle's hat switches from individual buttons into hat switch inputs to free up logical space (I've no idea how that actually works).

But yeah, TL;DR, if you have the cash and the patience, buy Virpil all day long mate.

 

[PatentlyObvious]

I'm flying with HOSAS dual left-right VKB SCG Kosmosima on Gunfighter bases. Left stick is up, down, left, right thrust (nothing on twist). Right stick is pitch, yaw, bank. Left stick has a hat configured 0%, 25%, 50%, 75%,100% throttle and a thumb ministick configured for forward-backward thrust axis as a throttle override. In combat, the throttle is set-and-forget in the blue zone and everything on top of that is done with the sticks.

 

[Ashnak]

convert some/all of the throttle's hat switches from individual buttons into hat switch inputs to free up logical space (I've no idea how that actually works)

If that works the same as a lot of the Arduino HID libraries, then the limit is 32 individual buttons, 4 16-bit axes, 2 8-bit axes and 2 D-pads. By assigning 5 physical buttons to one logical D-pad, you can remove them from the 32 button space. At the price of being unable to press (or rather, detect) them simultaneously.