VKB STECS Throttle System (Vid 1 of 3) 

Just got my STEC standard. First time DCS player as of a little over a week ago and immediately ordered the STECs seeing it released and being very happy with my 2x VKB Glad NXT Evo hosas setup I use for Star citizen. The lack of a throttle was the only thing that kept me from playing DCS let alone any non space flight sims. The moment I got this learning everything in DCS and gaining muscle memory came extremely fast and I attribute a lot of it to how I've been able to customize the STECs for my binds. Again my 3 year old gladiator nxt gets credit too, it's still in perfect shape. The software is confusing but insanely powerful. I never thought when I first tried to figure out how to even start my F14 that in less than 2 weeks id have the majority of functions figured out and binded with good enough muscle memory to already go from my monitor/eyetracker to effectively playing in VR dogfighting/dropping precision bombs/carrier landing/refueling. The control the STECs gives you is amazing for the price vs the competition. Plus VKB as a company is just easy to support for me.

Great job Grump! I absolutely LOVE my STECS Max. I moved there from a TM Warthog throttle, and I would unreservedly recommend it. The VKB-dev software is worth diving in to, its not that complex, but allows you to do any kind of button action you want, on any input. Plus, you may mention this later, but most of the buttons on the throttle grip are swapable, i.e., you can change buttons for hats, hats for two-ways, etc etc. That is the best feature after the custom detents IMO FYI EU shipping times are a couple of days max. They ship from their warehouse in NL.

I’ve had my STECS standard for about 3 weeks upgrading from a x56. Well worth it especially paired with a Gunfighter pro stick. I love it for its versatility and quality.

Great job Grump!! Thanks for the info. 👍

This is an awesome review. I especially love the AC7 music. I need one

Great video Grump! I also like how you left the Simba kill till the end 🤣

13:30, i wonder if you had a pre release version. my buttons arnt sloppy like youre are

Great review Grump!

When that ace combat music kicks in tho

I've come from X52pro to currently twin VKB Gladiator Evo premium one omni and will definitely be buying one of these throttles, Mini+ most likely.

Well done review Grump, thanks! Nice touch on leaving in the Simba kill at the end. I wish this had existed a year ago when I was shopping for a new HOTAS setup. I went with a Winwing kit (which I bought based on Skil & Kelso's review, plus Cap's video on it, and I've been very happy with - only gripe is the vaporware z-twist module that I don't think ever actually existed...) On that note, the price tag for the WinWing is a little misleading - yes, if you want to buy just the throttle it's probably about that price, but if you're shopping for full HOTAS, the Orion 2 combo is $535 + shipping, which while still more expensive than a VKB combo, it's a much more comparable price, with the caveat that features are a mixed bag - the buttons on the WinWing are much better and very snappy however it's not as physically customizable as the VKB Either way, more options in the space are good for everyone and this does look like a great mid-range option, looking forward to the rest of the videos.

+GrimReapersAtomic *Thanks for the preview.* The Virtual Engineering Bureau MPO produced a system that trumps VIRPILⓇ Controls w/r/t certain Models in Eagle Dynamics DCS: World in the ST⚞ECSᵀᴹ Engine Quadrant. Personally, I'd go for the Mini Plus package, as Virpil has a superior panel in Control Panel #2 (VirPil P/N VPC-402). The ST⚞ECS triggers can be used for RIO Action and Next-Launch buttons in the USN-USMC / Northrop Grumman F/A-14E and USAF F/A-14F, in case the flight officer gets taken out.

Grump! The video was really well done! I have one of these too and I love it

Yes, yessss, let the Ace Combat flow through you

I love my STECS Standard - but not unconditionally. 🙂 I fully agree that the module switches could be more precise. It's easy to press it only to find out that you actuated one of the side actions - even with the sound that is normally associated with the (middle) press. As these are modules, perhaps there is still hope we will get some super serious premium precise modules in the future? 🙂 Backlight is an interesting idea, but as I didn't have it before, it didn't even occured to me.

Grrrrumptastic! I made detents in my 15 year old xbox hotas, work perfectly. I'm soo down with the kids 🤣🤣🇬🇧

Thanks for the review. I've had my eyes set on this one for a while, and hopefully one day i won't have to sell a kidney to get one standard. The price is OK-ish, however, being in Europe and not in EU, the VAT will not make my life easier, nor will the travel costs.

STECS Standard Owner about backlighting - FWIW all buttons have a very specific feel. This makes it easy to find them without backlighting. Given that I tend to play in VR, Backlighting is moot. I moved my "Radio" 3 way to the front of the throttle in place of the single button there. instead of moving the button to the radio button's former spot, I opted to throw another Hat switch in it's place. (which was included in the Kit!) My only gripe is I cannot figure out what to do with the two big palm paddle switches on the rear of each throttle lever. They are awkward to activate each one individually, and I cant fathom what they should be used for. (anyone reading this, what do you use them for?)

Appreciate the honesty with this review. I’ll be honest, I looked at this system with a slight bit of envy from CM3 mostly for the rotary dials being able to act as axes which would make the CM3 perfect. However your downside is a huge one for me as a DCS player. I really disliked using my first WinWing F-16EX because TMS down didn’t actuate reliably. It’s a sim which I invest hours into learning, and enjoy immersion of mission planning, set up, and execution- I don’t want a missed button input to be the reason one of the bombs won’t come off the rack, or I can’t set up my jet in time and determine mission failure versus success. CM3, for as many buttons as it has, all are clearly and comfortably actuated even if one of them feels “mushy” to some.

i like to say that, for anyone looking for the last HOTAS they'll ever need, the STECS/GLADIATOR combo is the least expensive option. and the button ASMR is a real thing haha. i've had my stecs for a month, haven't even plugged it in yet, but i love to just fondle it and push all the buttons cuz click click.

Since seeing this, I want to add it to my setup when playing Elite Dangerous or Star Citizen. Gives me a few more buttons to work with and a dedicated throttle to use. It would go great with my 2 VKB Flight sticks, which I already use for the game, but I need a cockpit frame to mount it to instead of my desk.

Grumpy Wimpy. Great video my boy except for the very end but I digress. Really well done. I look forward to the other parts of this series .

iv got the mini and its great, i love the modularity and the quality. the ONLY downside i see so far is the throttles arnt counterweighted so you have to set the friction quite high or they will move on their own. also the detents are great but id like a taller 1, i foound it easy to accidentally skip ove rthe throttle stop and shut down my engines lol. i 3d printed my own 1mm taller and its done the trick nicely

Couldn't afford something like that, so I got a pair of Arduinos and bought a bunch of industrial grade and varied switches, lots of CA Glue, and got to wiring up my X52-Frankenstick... Now, what was that you said about "Plug and Play"? What a novel concept. Is it new?

Excellent video. Thanks. The backlighting missing is a "WTF?" moment for me. They need to upgrade that. Also, the tightness and accuracy of some of the controls definitely need to be looked at if they want to compete with WinWing. I like and have always been a hardliner on, *options.* And it seems this device has them in spades! Of course, along with options often comes a steeper learning curve. The versatility versus a couple of misses would make this a difficult decision for me. Fortunately, I have already spent my money and am satisfied with my current hardware, so I do not have to make a decision. I'm too poor to afford a "care".

I'd bought it off it would have been available 1.5 years ago. Now I have the win wing f16 set. So many buttons. More than enough. But I'm a bit jealous about the configuration software... Damn, I wish winwing had something like that. Is the throttle metal or plastic? Didn't get that in your review.

The only thing I don't like about my Winwing is that the amount of opinions is overwhelming. But if you take each section in little bits, the opinions become " how did I make it without them?"

This is my next purchase this month. Will there be a stick review also.

It’s a keybind orgyi love it

Something that I do not understand in most of the reviews I've seen is that people say they do not recommend it as a entry throttle. So I need to waist $100-150 on a shitty throttle, use it for a year or two, try to sell it, and only then upgrade to this? Nice.

Im a huge huge fan of winwing only. My winwing f15ex is wow and f16ex stick. But this looks pretty nice

what is that other button box on the right side of the throttle at 2:59

Ace Combat 7 music?

Great review (which is very likely to cost me money!). How many detents can you fit? I'd need a minimum of three for airliners.

Love my steps max

Are the levers/grips reversable to use the throttle with the opposite hand?

Great video! The cons are pretty bad IMO, but for the price point its not as bad as it could have been. My problem with this unit is when its compared to WinWings Orian 2, yes it is higher priced but the quality of buttons/backlighting/true plug and play/number of sliders axis/adjustable detents and last but not least the way it looks in a sim pit setup.... its worth the extra money... Just dont buy beer and burgers for a week or two, save the extra money and you wont be unhappy with you're decision. That being said, if your not into the idea of spending nearly $1,000 for a full HOTAS, then i don't think there are any better options on the market then the VKB STECS. Its great to see more and more competition in the high end HOTAS market, especially more affordable ones. I was really putt off by the price of any HOTAS that i felt was actually worth investing into. All the mid grade HOTAS are still a bit pricey and have alot of problems that arise for someone just trying to fly and have fun. Especially for the dedicated sim players. Last thing you want is to get improper inputs in BVR or a dogfight after spending nearly $200+ on a HOTAS.

Thanks for the recipe. Ima gone head and substitute a can of tuna for the raw 😂😂

voice too high

What is with VKB and those HIDEOUS white buttons and knobs...🤮

Waiting on my STECS MAX and NXT EVO, coming from a X56. I'm expecting great things!

VERY 3d printed.................................. yuk

Can you make video: 48 polish f16 vs Luftwaffe 1939 ????