VKB STECS Review: The Only Throttle With Swappable Control Modules! 

Additions to the review I noticed after longer use or other helpful stuff: - The side mini stick is not very intuitive to use for lateral thrust in space games - The mini stick is also difficult to push without moving one of its axes (thanks to sthompson3) - Since the throttle grip is on the frontmost part of the base, your hand is far away from the buttons on the STEM while in full afterburner (thanks to sthompson3) - I sometimes happen to push the "C1" marking in VR because I mistake it for the A2 button. - Regarding ergonomics: My thumb is 6.5cm long measured from the center of the first joint until the tip(thanks to Spelljammer1 for asking) - The missing back light sometimes makes buttons hard to find / read (Thanks @ ILruffian)

What is STECS stands for? Seem like "Sold out simulator" to me

I own the STECS Standard for a bit over a month, the air-shipped EU unit that was a bit more pricey - but let's not talk about that. ;-) I like it a lot and after a while I got used to some of its idiosyncrasies. Let's just make it into (hopefully) short points: - Build quality is great. No problem with plastics. - Standard has the throttle a bit away from you, when on the desk. Awkward at first, but I got used to it after a while. - Yes, it is tilted forward and many thumb buttons (and ministick especially) are harder to operate in the full forward position. That's a fact. - I was puzzled about triggers at first, but found good usages for them eventually. E.g. back triggers are for countermeasures, and front for lock/unlock. - Ministick is good, I also got used to its orientation faster than I expected (in spite of the rotation of the throttle). But the press is not very friendly - so I use it just to center the TDC. Hence the lock/unlock on the front triggers. - I managed to use the left throttle encoders as axes, but I find it suboptimal - it has steps, it's slower and/or less precises. I'd love to see REAL axes there, one of them spring-loaded as suggested in the video. Would be tons better. - I like the palette of buttons on the STEM module, I even like the tough metal switch - jettison for me. ;-) - Encoders on the STEM are great and much more useful than the ones on the left throttle. - K-switches have tougher middle press, strange, but usable. - The rest of the buttons are OK, but all the same, no pointy/touchy markings, that's a shame. "Me too" mistake the C1 label for a button quite often... that shows a tad poorer design of this part. Not touch friendly. Button action is otherwise OK. - Detent desing, on the other hand, is pure genius! Including the programmable options of generated button presses for the detents. Well done here! - Also, the modularity of the five buttons/hats is great. Just make up your mind before you start assigning the buttons, because they renumber after the module changes. Great flexibility! In general, I like it a lot. Would my dream throttle be a bit different? Yes. But this one is pretty close.

Here are a few comments from someone who paid full price for the same unit and has been using it for about a month. (While I appreciate reviews of this sort, I can't help think that getting a free unit induces at least some unconscious bias in favor of the unit, even if the manufacturer did not put any restrictions on the review.) I have some problems with the ergonomics, even though my hands are not especially small. First, (1) The lowest button/hat on the right hand grip requires a significant amount of hand movement away from the natural placement. It is difficult to operate that while also operating other grip functions. It's also at an awkward angle which makes it hard to distinguish which way to push for up/down vs. forward/back. This is a problem for all of the RHS hats, but especially for this one. This was never a problem on my old throttle, which moved linearly instead of in an arc. (2) The arc of the throttle is biased towards the forward direction. That is, the arc is not symmetric with respect to the vertical direction with far more movement away from the user (relative to vertical) than towards the user. Furthermore, on the standard version, with its large STEM module in front of the grip, the throttle grips are actually quite a long way from you if you position the unit at the edge of a desk. These features together mean that it is a long reach to the grips when they are all the way forward, and they are at an awkward angle also at that point. As a consequence, it is difficult to find and operate the buttons and other controls on the back side of the grips (i.e. the side away from you) when in full afterburner. (3) The chrome plated "flip switch" is very stiff and hard to operate. It makes a very loud click when operated. The white one is much better. Some of the buttons on the STEM module also require a lot of force. (4) Two of the buttons on the back side of the grip (labeled ENT and RST) are almost flush and thus hard to find by feel. One of the encoder wheels is also hard to find since it is almost flush. (5) The press operation of the ministick requires quite a bit of force and the cap on the stick is very pointy. As a result it is essentially impossible to depress it without also moving the ministick along its axes. This means it is not really possible to use it as a TDC with associated TDC depress function since pressing the stick almost always moves it at the same time. (6) I bought this to supplement my VKB joystick. However, while the two units share a common configuration program, they do not communicate with each other in any way. My old CH hardware had an integrated app that let you program functions that used inputs from both CH units together. This is not possible with the VKB software, since all settings are in the hardware rather than in a common driver running on the PC. I don't want to sound too negative since the throttle has a lot of good points. The build quality seems excellent, and the programming functions are excellent apart from the one issue I raised above.

HOW TO videos for HAT switch config would be AWESOME!

A shame it doesn't have a paddle in the front that can be programmed for the Rudder...... like the TWCS Thrustmaster.

It looks amazing in overall. We just hope in the next version that "5 position rotary switch" includes 5 different modes to multiply the functions by 5, like its virpil equivalent. Also some the "white plasticky" switches, buttons, and encoders could be substituted with more professional-looking components.

Great review, I have a question: can I use the white selector button on the right of the throttle as a Modifier in DCS? Thank you

This is the best video I have seen about this, thanks for covering it.

Just needs to get available in the EU. I'll then immediately, in the words of former Speaker of the House of Commons Jorn Bercow: "Order! Order! Order!"

Watching this as I'm excitedly waiting for my STECS Standard to arrive. It's in my city already so I should be getting it today.

Great video! Hope you make one soon about the Virpil VPC CDT-VMAX Throttle (though it is small and has way less buttons... maybe comparable to the STECS Mini)

I wish the company was closer for less shiping cost

Thanks for the good ergonomics overview. The sound test sounds bad in my opinion, more like the SCG grip buttons then the MCG-U buttons from the same manufacturer (i.e. less premium). However, those swapable detents totally have me won over. How long is your thumb? It would help us assess the ergonomics in individual cases when we cannot test the product in our hand.

this seems like a great unit in general 👍

if Winwing had this modularity, especially for the burner, it would be perfect... or if this had the Orion's buttons

How did you activate the new HATs? I putt 5 way HAT in to Radio position and 3 way in to OP EXEC, but they don't work correctly. What i need to do to make them work.

Seeing as you have the Winwing and the STECS, can you say which one is your preferred daily driver? I want to but a throttle and stick but would prefer to be within the one ecosystem as much as possible. Although I am pretty sold on the Winwing pedals too…

Excellent review, thanks for taking the time to share your insight. One thing I would add to the cons section is the lack of backlight on the buttons. Not necessarily a dealbreaker, but close.

Will this fit on an Amazon Hotas desk mount?? I’m trying to figure this out before I buy it

top vid + greetz

Is there a way of getting that keypad shown in the thumbnail

Being that it features Siberian build quality, I can't honestly see those panels lasting more than 3 years of heavy use.

STECS Mini Plus will be my choice.

What's a good throttle out there to use with the right hand??

Do the The triggers in the back work like a button making them no good for rudder control like my t1600 throttle

if i buy throttle from virpila ,and the whole stick with the base from VKB, will it work together?

Good tip on the double sided tape

What are the dimensions of the box?

5:37, dam your racist. 😂

What are the size dimensions? The size dimensions doc on the product page has numbers but doesn't bother to denote the unit of measure. :(

Is it he same with the mini plus

отличный обзор, спасибо! с нетерпением жду, когда РУД, после окончания всех сертификаций появится на складе в России, и можно будет заказать его курьерской доставкой в Беларусь. VKB Sim делает достойные продукты, очень продуманные с инженерной точки зрения. В наличии уже имеются РУС Gladiator MkII и педали T-Rudder MkIV + BlackBox, для полноценной сборки остался только РУД :)_