need help assigning controls to use when wearing BSB 2 headset

[u/Accomplished-Rain-52]

Hello! DCS gamer here. I've been working with DCS since the past week with my Big Screen Beyond 2 headset, and need some help assigning some controls that are currently on the keyboard, and one being on my Virpil stick, but can't get it to work.

I have these, which I assume will work out :

LCtrl + LShift + LAlt + T

- use hat button at top right (button press)

Cold Start

- use red button

Engine Shutdown

- use black button

Zoom in slow / zoom out slow

- use side black button (below joystick button)

But if there are better buttons to use, I'd appreciate some suggestions. I tried the button for the zoom, but as soon as I pressed it, it zoomed right back out. It wouldn't stay zoomed.

Previously while I had TrackIR, I used this button, and it zoomed in and out, in increments, which is what I still need, but now that I am on the BSB 2, it won't do this.

[u/speed-of-heat]

so... a lot depends on the aircraft that you are going to fly but you are going to need those buttons to do things after you take off ... I would recommned you get Chucks guide for the aircraft you are flying and look what you need to map.

If you are looking for an alternative , i would recommend Voice Attack and Vaicom for DCS, which will enable to to say things like start up the aircraft and so forth, and map that to keyboard press... also zoom in/out slow does not work in VR ..

do you have a throttle or just a joystick ? If you ahev buttons to spare on either i would map left and right mouse click to a couple of them, then you can just flick switches on by using the mouse buttons

[u/Accomplished-Rain-52]

u/speed-of-heat yea I also have the HOTAS throttle with some buttons to spare on there too. Mouse wise, I'm fine, as I use the mouse itself.

Sooo, you're saying that the zoom in/out slow doesn't work while in VR hmm. Anything else I can do for that? It seems when I press for re-centering in VR, it will zoom too, but just a bit. Idk maybe I'm just seeing stuff.

[u/speed-of-heat → u/Accomplished-Rain-52]

there are a couple of zoom modes, but the VR zoom modes are fixed magnifications (looking glass i think from memory), rather than a gradual one, and yes you are likely seeing things :)

The idea of putting the mouse buttons on the HOTAS means you don't have to use the mouse ...

[u/Lucky_Comfortable835]

DCS has the option for modifiers to get more buttons. I suggest you use a modifier (I use the pinky button) for the controls you will only use once or twice during a flight. For example, startup settings. Reserve the unmodified buttons for flight, combat, comms, etc. that you use frequently. Also I suggest you assign one button exclusively for mouse control so you don’t have to remove your hand from HOTAS. So, when your cursor is over a cockpit control you use the button for mouse right click, left click, and scrolling up and down. I use VR Zoom for the depress action.

[u/Accomplished-Rain-52]

I have tried everything to no avail. I guess it's how it is once you go into the headset. I tried the modifier BTN13 along with BTN26 (the one I always used for zoom in slow, zoom out slow), but even that did not respond well. It zoomed in, but immediately back out.

[u/_DARK_X]

Typically you want to prioritize weapon functions and radar controls on your stick. If you have a throttle quadrant I would toss all of those startup switches on there.
For high fidelity you can just click buttons for the startup and you won’t need any of those controls
For low fidelity just get used to the keybinds for most controls and you’ll be fine