Button Boxes | Useful Or An Unnecessary Indulgence?

Paul Jeffrey · Apr 7, 2021

Sim hardware comes in all different shapes and sizes, and nowadays, we have ever more diverse ways to add functionality to a rig... does this spell the end of traditional button boxes in sim racing?

A lot of our community here at RaceDepartment probably rock a button box or two on their sim racing rigs, or at the very least are aware of some options available to purchase in the growing sim racing hardware marketplace - however, unlike in recent memory, more and more alternatives to the traditional physical button boxes are becoming available - from smartphones and tablets with loaded up with Simhub overlays, to the powerful Stream Deck boxes on offer today.

With this in mind, is it still useful to have a more traditional button box, or are they quickly becoming more of an indulgence than practical improvement to your sim racing setup?

Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below!

(Editors note: For the record, I love button boxes - especially replica real world dash setups and / or ones that look like they come from a race car).

Filip Carlén · Apr 7, 2021

Not only useful, fun both to build and use, as well as immersive!

Chris Down · Apr 7, 2021

They can be useful if your wheel doesn't have a lot of knobs and you race in a series with a lot of tunables (eg. modern GT, LMP, or Formula cars). That said, you don't have to get anything too fancy, I just use a detachable numpad:

Keybindings:

	Brake bias	TC	ABS	Map	TC trim	Wiper	Lights	Ignition
Toggle						3	.	*
+1	7	8	2	9	-
+0.2	4
-0.2	1
-1	0	5	00	6	+

Jeremy Ford · Apr 7, 2021

I started out with a Derek Speares button box a few years back, then added a Stream Deck into the mix much later. I ended up preferring the versatility of the Stream Deck and dropped the button box. Which then turned into this project.

hobsey · Apr 7, 2021

Extremely useful, especially if they also have turn knobs on them.

Just this past few days I've taught myself to change brake bias on the fly making braking easier on the tighter turns.

Jan Larsen · Apr 7, 2021

They're great, but obsolete. A smartphone/tablet and an infinitely adjustable app is much cheaper and more customizable. That said, button boxes are more immersive.

Terje Helle · Apr 7, 2021

Button boxes are very useful, especially in VR!
And a button box is more immersive! And that’s even more importantl.

Jugulador · Apr 7, 2021

Its better than use only the keyboard (that is what I use)... not essential in simrace, but very useful. Some sims are unplayable only with wheel buttons or gamepad.

homieffm · Apr 7, 2021

#Streamdeckgang

Fabian Balle · Apr 7, 2021

I cant have enough buttons etc on my wheel. But I dont have a button box or stream deck either as my G29 is mounted on my now fully covered desk

DC WOLF · Apr 7, 2021

Jan Larsen said:
They're great, but obsolete. A smartphone/tablet and an infinitely adjustable app is much cheaper and more customizable. That said, button boxes are more immersive.

in VR, touchscreens are obsolete.
As long as you have no eyes in your fingers

Slapped · Apr 7, 2021

It really depends on how far you want to go.

For me a button box could easily be a keypad (as @Chris Down demonstrates above) with some labels, and personally I wouldn't feel a loss in immersion.

Sure, if you want to simulate the environment of your favourite car then there's no other option than a custom built button box.

But for me I just stick with the buttons on my wheel - hell I just drive a Playseat Challenge with a TS-PC and a couple of buttkickers - need something that can be stuffed away quickly when needed - and I don't feel I'm lacking on the immersion front.

alexSchmurtz · Apr 7, 2021

I'm afraid most forgot the most important: it looks cool!

First I need to get enough room to have a proper rig (Playseat Challenge gang here too) but I'll probably consider a button box once the rest is sorted...

stenovitz · Apr 7, 2021

After my "downgrade" of number of buttons from my G27-buttons + H-shifter-buttons to T300RS GT-buttons and TH8A-nobutton stick, I've just bought a handy Logitech K480 Bluetooth device with ability of 3 Bluetooth devices and programming up on that for all different sims and within each sim different buttons depending on the excact car I drive. Suiting my Next Level F-GT Lite rig quite well.
A very cheap solution, though maybe too cheap since no led lights with the K480.
So I have had the consideration of a button box with "the most analogue" classic buttons suiting my passion for driving classic AC car mods, but haven't found about the right one yet.

Badwheels · Apr 7, 2021

I have never used one. Due space limitations, it was easier for me to buy the Fanatec F1 2018 Clubsport wheel. For most functions I use, it has more than enough buttons for me. Plus I got the 2019 version for free because Fanatec was late on delivery of the Podium DD2.

Jan Larsen · Apr 7, 2021

DC WOLF said:
in VR, touchscreens are obsolete.
As long as you have no eyes in your fingers

VR needs what its destined for - finger tracking for pressing buttons on the dash in game. But yeah, touchscreen in VR is pretty much useless

Jonny Austin · Apr 7, 2021

Gotta say I would never use one.If you race a real car then you dont have one because all on the move adjustments are made on the steering wheel in a sophisticated car or otherwise it is a basic car like a MX5 which nobody makes adjustments whilst racing.What is it simulating?The deck of an aircraft?Its not like it does away with the keyboard.

Kurvz · Apr 7, 2021

I also have my stream deck in my button box, I do have way more buttons and encoders than I need, but I may one day play a space shuttle simulator, and then I will need more, back in the day with my Logitech G27 a button box with encoders was invaluable and really needed.

But now as most wheels have a decent amount of turners and pushers, the button box is less valuable, but I still love flipping a switch for ignition and then press that start button.

Could leave without them but I choose not too.

G-Slev · Apr 7, 2021

I have three. A usb keypad and 2x homemade button boxes that I made with zero delay joystick encoders, a plastic box and a stack of buttons and switches off ebay. Total cost for the lot was less than £20. And they are essential once you get used to them - I use them for my flight sims too.