846: My Stream Deck XL Profiles

Last June in my Post 774, when I talked about the Elgato Stream Deck XL in my DIY cockpit,  I mentioned that I would share my profiles when they are properly-tuned.  Pardon me, I completely forgot about it until a friend, Nick, who recently asked me for a copy of it.
So, here is what this Post is all about and the download link is included for those who are interested to play mine.

806: Stream Deck Non-Responding Fix

Like many friends, my system has an Elgato Stream Deck so that I can minimize the needs of using keyboard and memorizing hotkeys.  The device had been working pretty well until recently I found it behaving erratic with intermittent non-responding errors when switching profiles.

I tried reinstalling the app and restoring from previous profile backups.  I took various ideas and suggestions from the Internet, too.  All attempts were futile.

After many weeks of trying, I decided to reinstall everything and create all profiles from scratch again, hoping that would solve the issue.

During re-creating the first few profiles, I eventually found out the real cause behind the non-responding errors that was troubling me.

774: My New Gear – Elgato Stream Deck XL

Elgato Stream Deck may not be a stranger to you.  The first time I heard about it was from Philippe AKA 1L2P in his Cockpit story last June.  Frankly, I didn’t pay attention to it at all until I saw a demo in a shopping arcade a few months ago.  I was amazed.  Now it has become one of the indispensable accessories in my computer system, not just for flight simulation.

770: RedBird Alloy RD1 Review Cont’d

After received my second RD1 unit, I immediately swapped it with the first one being used in my main system.  Assuming it could run directly straight out from the box.  Sadly, no, it didn’t.–

NO TWO RD1 ARE THE SAME

Truly, the joystick axes for the rudders and brakes are the same.  But the new RD1 performed far from normal using the calibration from the first RD1.

The Rudder Axis wasn’t centered at rest.  And the left and right Brake Axes were jumping up and down and didn’t return to zero when released, meaning that the toe brakes were somehow pressed all the time.

Obviously, the two RD1s are two individual equipment and they couldn’t be treated as the same unit.  Initial calibration for each individual RD1, therefore, was mandatory and inescapable.

769: My RD1 Rudder Now Fly in pairS

Truly, the Thrustmaster Pendular Rudder (TPR) performs nicely in my second system.  But I found it more and more alienated when the Redbird Alloy RD1 has become my primary rudder and be used everyday in the last six months.

Consequently, I couldn’t help having two RD1s flying in pairs.

Thanks goodness!

763: RedBird Alloy RD1 Review Part 2

…continued from Part 1

–

SettingS in MSFS

Since Redbird isn’t an affliated partner with Asobo, users have to configure the Alloy RD1 in MSFS by themselves.  The assignment process can’t be said complicated.  But it was not straightforward either.

Also, the MSFS setting information provided by the company is NOT fully CORRECT.   For example, in the mapping suggestion, Redbird states that the Right Brake Axis doesn’t need to be Reversed.

But it is incorrect as I have to enable the REVERSE to use the Right Brake properly.

762: RedBird Alloy RD1 Review Part 1

Before the story, I would like to say that the Redbird Alloy RD1 is the best in the six rudder pedals* (see the list at the end of the story) I’ve ever used in my two decades’ flight simulation experience.

To be honest, the purchase of this Alloy RD1 rudder pedals was unintended.  My original plan was to get another Thrustmaster Pendular Rudder TPR to replace my over 10-years old Saitek Cessna Pedals.

But unfortunately or fortunately, there were no stock from all vendors at that time (July 2021) and none of them could confirm whether new stock would arrive by end of the year.

Since I had already decided to take a bold step to get the Alloy TH1 at that time, I persuaded myself to go further to get the Alloy RD1 as well.

Frankly, its price tag, $549 (now $599) plus over $100 shipping, wasn’t attractive, nor does its appearance (the retro-looking isn’t my favorite).  I really was a bit hesitated when I placed my order.

Thank goodness, since I started using the rudders six months ago, I am fully impressed by its performance.  And in my opinion, it even out-performs the Thrustmaster TPR I am having on my other setup and the VirtualFly Ruddo I used before.

Following is my review :

749: CubeSim TPR Damper Kit REVIEW

I’ve been a bit lazy doing anything these days except playing MSFS occasionally.  Yesterday, I got some excitments — the damper kit for my Thrustmaster TPR Rudders finally arrived after nearly a month’s misplaced shipment.

The $65 damper kit from Cubesim in China includes one (1) damper stabilizer unit and four (4) 3D-printed clamping parts, along with necessary bolts & nuts to attach the unit to the TPR rudders.  The kit is non-destructive to the rudders.  The way how it implements is different from other similar products I’ve seen on the web.

739: My NEW GEAR – Bravo Throttle Quadrant

Another throttle quadrant?  Haha…Yes!

Frankly speaking, although I got two HoneyComb Alpha Yokes in my systems, I had never thought of getting the Bravo Throttle Quadrant because it isn’t something fitting my light aircraft setups.

Nothing is absolute.  When I saw a friend who was selling his nearly brandnew Bravo with $100 less than the market price, I couldn’t help getting it without much hesitation.  I gave myself an excuse — “It’s a good chance to have my hands on it.”
After getting the quadrant this morning, I immediately had a quick test with it for an hour or so.  I would say it’s not bad at all