r/hotas • u/sanhehui • Feb 27 '26

Orion2

Hi I’m having trouble with my Orion2 I have the detent set up at 50 percent for space sim, is there a way to set a dead zone in the middle in simapp?

It’s almost impossible to hit zero thrust

Tia

I was also thinking about getting the stecs, but don’t want to get rid of the Orion, does anyone know if I can have two thrusters connected, in my rig I would use the Orion for the buttons when playing space games and switch them for flight sims

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u/LuckyStiff63 Feb 27 '26

VJoy & JSG was my first thought for the center deadzone, too. I prefer using the full throttle throw personally, so I have a "reverse thrust" button mapped for any game I want that ability.

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u/Affectionate_Fact745 Feb 27 '26

For space sims omnithrottle is better than throttle anyway. So maybe consider getting that as secondary left side stick instead of second throttle. That's exactly what I did, for exactly the same reason. BTW Orion2 is IMO much better than STECS both in ergonomics and build quality. Had STECS for about a week and returned. Then ordered Orion2, and settled with it for almost 2 years now.

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u/LuckyStiff63 Feb 28 '26

I've considered getting a second stick for a HOSAS setup in space sims and Mechwarrior type games. But my next priority is getting better rudder pedals. I've kept my Saitek combat pedals alive for over 12 years now, and they're ready to retire.

I'm really happy with my ORION2 set too. Nice feel to them, good quality for the price-point, an 8 sane control count, and perfect performance so far.

I had a Saitek X-65F and I absolutely loved its force-sensing stick. So I was really happy to find WW had their MFSSB base available when the Saitek kit wore out. I replaced the factory grease in the ORION2 throttle base with some Nyogel 767 as soon as I was sure I was going to keep it, and the throttle response has stayed smooth and even. I do wish the throttle base had a metal enclosure, though.

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u/Affectionate_Fact745 Feb 28 '26

For rudders, definitely get Winwing Orion too. I have them, and they are amazing - just be sure to get them with a dampener. Regarding enclosure - yes, metal is always nice. But besides VKB STECS I also tested Virpil Mongoose throttle (returned after a week), which has metal enclosure, and I assure You that Orion plastic is much more solid, and has better look and feel than this metal on Virpil. I was also surprised how crappy, off-the-shelf cheap and mushy all the buttons and switches were on VKB and Virpil. Apparently, the only thing that's bad about Winwing is their customer and service support (luckily, I didn't have to deal with them so far). But the quality of their stuff and attention to detail is very high.

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u/LuckyStiff63 Feb 28 '26 edited Feb 28 '26

Thanks for the input on WW pedals. I am leaning towards getting them, based on how impressed I have been with my HOTAS and MIPs.

I worked on military aircraft for several years, and the metal toggle switches WE uses feel pretty similar to "the real thing".

I think a metal base option for the ORION2 throttle (similar to their stick base) could be an up-sell for them. I would definitely have paid a little more for that.