Introducing the Knobster!

[@joebloggs8785]

$119? Michael you've got to be joking. You could put this together yourself with parts from Aliexpress for less than $10.

[@davidjd123]

Joe Bloggs then do it. This is from a small group of people who I imagine have less than likable overhead. This is why Small business don’t make it.

[@drewfliesbikes]

Hi, could you send me a message. I have no idea how to begin to make one of these and it sounds like you might be in the know? I've been waiting months for one and I don't think they're coming back in stock. If you can make one for me I'd be willing to pay you $250.

[@joebloggs8785]

@@drewfliesbikes Buy a Rotary encoder and Arduino nano. Sodder the encoder to two pins on the nano, plug the arduino in to your computer via USB, upload the example script to it from the following page, and that's it, you're done. playground.arduino.cc/Main/RotaryEncoders/

[@drewfliesbikes]

@@joebloggs8785 OK. Thank you! I ordered an arduino nano and a dual rotary encoder with push button that comes with an encoder board. Hopefully I can figure out how to connect them together.

[@joebloggs8785]

@@drewfliesbikes Great to hear! There is lots of information on that arduino.cc site; you might run into some small challenges, but building your own electronics is a lot more fun and more affordable than buying ready made products!

[@tomklein3718]

Got my knobster today. It is GREAT!!! I have an XForce PC, a touch screen and now a knobster. This will be so easy to use the Garmin GPS. Very realistic. Practice IFR will be closer to the real thing.That's what a simulator is all about. Thanks for the videos and for the great products.

[@simplecrusader7799]

119$ is half the price of the Honeycomb Yoke, just for a plastic knob !

[@tomklein3718]

Compare the price to the hours in an airplane practicing using a GPS.

[@JuliusG73]

Replaces the Saitek Radio stack, standalone GPS and other external switch boxes.

Was just about to say $100 for two knobs and a button seems very expensive but noticed I wasn't alone thinking the same thing 😉

[@GamingNinjaSheep]

Holy shit that's an expensive knob. And I need to get a touchscreen and the air manager software on top of that also?

[@RPSchonherr]

Would Knobster work directly with X-plane if you just want to assign it to the GPS knobs?

[@xforcepc]

Just Air Manager

[@SimPilot-dl8zy]

If the price was more reasonable I would use it. 140.00 can. I don’t think so Tim. Not for an Encoder.

[@scooter2329]

His Saitek yoke is a lot cleaner than mine. Mine has pepperoni grease and dust bunnies.

[@lynnsatterthwaite5038]

I want to do DYI Knobster. Most the information for DIYers has disappeared from the web.Can you help here? need sources for 3d prints and sources for hardware

[@simplecrusader7799]

Who will pay 119$ for this...

[@simplecrusader7799]

@@kenklak maybe but come on... 119$ for a piece of plastic that costs 10 bucks maximum to make is outrageous !

[@simplecrusader7799]

@vortex generator that's crazy

[@wingman3604]

You also have to buy the Airmanager 65 Euro and a touch screen monitor

[@activex7327]

@I F S Rich people will buy cockpit panels not this crap, so to answer your question no one will buy this.

[@falconrks99]

@I F S I agree with you completely. You worded this quite well.

[@pilotcruize9355]

Who's hearing in their head right now: "Hi, this..is..Michael..from...fly..this..sim!"

[@xforcepc]

This makes no sense. I have no relationship with Fly this Sim. What are you talking about here?

[@joebloggs8785]

@@xforcepc I think the comparison is obvious: you are trying to rip people off!

[@xforcepc]

@@joebloggs8785 I am simply reselling a product that I think is cool and showing you how it works. And, I actually plan to deliver the product. I find your comments distasteful and defamatory. You should probably unsubscribe and go troll someone else. It is fine for you to think it is too expensive and express that thought, but don't compare my company to a company like Fly This Sim.

[@activex7327]

@@xforcepc Single knob is cool? You should get out more. A sim pit is cool, this is nothing. Next time a switch will be cool that costs $1000.

[@FordEntertainmentGroupFEG]

Great product. I don’t mind the price at all. Adds realism.

[@michaelw2108]

Could I use the air manager on my hp laptop and add a monitor in the back like yours

[@ralphrietveld]

For those who think it is too expensive and want to make it themselves, check out this page: siminnovations.com/wiki/index.php?title=Knobster_DIY It is certainly not cheap, we are fully aware of that. First of all there's a very expensive ($30) rotary encoder inside. Then there's a custom circuitboard, housing (required a custom mold), putting it together, flashing the microcontroller, software and hardware development costs (time), etc, etc... It is produced in low quantities, it is not a mass production product, that also affects the price.

[@bartoszskowronski]

so I made cheap version with 2 single encoders lot cheaper than one dual encoder. and works with cheap arduino nano clone.

[@ItWasAllADream66]

@@bartoszskowronski Hi would you mind helping me? I have built an encoder hooked to an arduino... then what do you do? Do you just go to air manager and then select "flash as Knobster" and then it automatically programs it for you? OR does it require custom programming? I appreciate any help!

[@bartoszskowronski]

@@ItWasAllADream66 as you say select "flash as Knobster" that's all and follow pinout instructions. that working for me.

[@BrendanGrainger]

Michael, out of interest, what touch screen are you using?

[@xforcepc]

Planar 22

[@adolfomendonca]

Can't I use a midi controller keyboard that has a lot of knobs to replace knobster? I mean, my keyboard has like at least 10 knobs, and I wonder if I could link each of those to each of the functions...

[@marceloskyrioca]

Hey Michael great video. Does the air manager works with MSFS2020?

[@allen-nl5id]

How about two small 7" or 10" touchscreens and two knobsters to act as a G1000 suite on X plane 12? Has anyone tried this? Seems like it would be ideal with Air Manager and some kind of aluminum frame to mount the displays.

[@BogdanSerban]

A double shaft rotary encoder is about $10-15. Add a few dollars MCU for USB connectivity and you're done.

[@drewfliesbikes]

Hi, could you send a message with which parts I would need to build my own? I can pay you for your assistance.

[@AnthonyDigi1205]

What size is the touch screen that the Panay is on

[@casq882]

Bad price and only work with air manager. It should work with any simulator without air manager. Price should be $50.

[@techtician2726]

Price should be $25 IF it can work with any sim...

[@harpoon_bakery162]

@@techtician2726 -- everyone needs to get their piece of the pie. this is not a mass produced item, it's made for a very select piece of software for a very select application in a very limited flight sim aviation market. they are only produced in limited quantities and thus it feels as though you are being gouged when that is really not the case IMO.

[@Tee-zt4wr]

does it work with x-plane 11 VR ?

[@xforcepc]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/sF6bgn5smrx_itE

[@Tee-zt4wr]

@@xforcepc so the Knobster only works with Air Manager in VR x-plane? which air manager should I get? to bad the knobster wont work without it

[@xforcepc]

I hear that many of you think it is too expensive. That's cool. I get it. But, these guys are producing them in very low numbers (a few hundred), so the cost per unit is fairly high when compared to something produced by the thousands. I still think it is a must-have if you use Air Manager Desktop with a touchscreen.

[@thessentialnetwork]

Do you need a touch screen monitor for Knobster to work. I hooked up Knobster to my pc but nothing happens when I touch the screen. Help please.

[@ellonysman]

Is Austin or yourself going to comment on the up and coming MICROSOFT FLIGHT SIMULATOR 2020???🙈😱🤷🏻‍♂️🤯🛸

[@activex7327]

Probably not since they know they don't stand a chance with current outdated sim, so there's not too much to talk about but just admit we're behind.

[@willowuwu]

@@activex7327 They are actually only behind in scenery, they're developing vulkan technology right now so they'll have raytracing support before fsx 2020 comes out.

[@activex7327]

@@willowuwu LOL, Hmmm, They just ported everything to Vulkan, took them only 2 years, and still no 60 FPS as promised on that release, maybe 10-15 fps increase. Ray-tracing? Really, you assume too much that they will add this after ... Btw, ray tracing is relatively new ... there's no point wasting time on it, there's bigger fish to fry ... Only behind scenery only? Nope, they are behind not only scenery but also weather and weather related effects. Let me put it this way, what did XPlane do in the past 10 years?

[@willowuwu]

@@activex7327 Why wouldn't they add Ray tracing, they are really pushing their game to the limit without it. they have a ton of mods that although they didn't make, adds a ton of stuff to make it better than FSX, there are scenery mods, planes such as the zibo 737, weather mods, and a ton of others.

[@activex7327]

@@willowuwu Ray tracing is only supported on the brand new cards from Nivida, I don't think ATI has a ray tracing card yet. There's no point of implementing it when majority don't have the new cards. In the future yes, now, no, especially when your product is a slide show with outdated scenery, crappy ATC, and weak weather engine with ugly looking clouds. The weather mods are weak, compared to what FS2020 has to offer and the reason for this is that XPlane rendering engine is just old/outdated when it comes to advanced rendering. Mods like XEnviro supposed to give you realistic environment and clouds but its terrible at performance and it doesn't simulate atmospheric layers; right now it is so slow it is unusable. If you like paying for mods, go and pay $$$ and when a new product comes out will be that much painful to switch.

[@stephengarrett3219]

My knobster is NOT working. Air Manager 4.14 sees it, but displays "searching on port". If you select a Panel and go to the Knobster section, it states "(no channel"). Has anyone seen this before and been able to resolve it?

[@stephengarrett3219]

I changed he USB port for the millionth time and it finally found the Knobster. I re-connected it and all is well. My issue is resolved.

[@iTrooperification]

Does the knobster and air manager works on Mac?

[@josvei4052]

Thanks for the video, the link to product page gets you a to non-existing page

[@brettsflyndad9945]

If I am using Xplane 11 NOT in VR, and would still like to use the Knobster, do I HAVE to use Air Manager? or can I just use the KnobXP plug in? (I am using an 8" tablet for the GNS 530 pop-out screen. I would like to simply tap the knob I wish to use, then grab the Knobster to make the changes. Does this function, considering my set-up, still require Air Manager? The documentation isn't clear on this. Thank you.

[@brettsflyndad9945]

Just as an added note: I CAN and AM currently using the tablet as a 3rd monitor. I have moved the 530 pop-out to it and I AM able to utilize all of the push buttons on the 530 pop-out. The touchscreen does indeed work without using ANY additional software OR plugin. Hence the original question,... if this functionality already works, then if I install the KnobXP plug in will I be able to tap the knob of the 530 and have the Knobster work? I would like to know the answer to this prior to purchasing the Knobster. Thanks again..

[@ruiferreira4052]

Doesnt even have pull function?!? Lol GL selling that!

[@VirtualAirTour]

I am using the Knobster in VR with KnobXP. The plugin is not saving my menu customizations per aircraft. Do I have to install Air Manager for the save feature to work?

[@magicnorm2036]

Looks nice. But not at that price.

[@VikingsFan27]

What type of touch screen monitor do you use?

[@Hoekstes]

Can you test the Saitek/Logitech radio panel and multi panel with different aircraft in X-Plane?

[@Dionm01]

For me the price point is too expense, for what you get. If it was less then $50.00 USD, then I would bite. Also X-pane 11 need to see it out of the box to configure to the Sim's G1000, Again then I would bite and would over time buy 4 of them 2 for each panel of the native G1000. But that's just me. Mike thank for the Video. Cheers Dion KZbin: Dionm01.

[@Dionm01]

Sorry for the quality of my comment above, my voice dictation software failed me and I didn't proofread it before I posted it. My bad, but hopefully my message was still understood. Cheers Dion

[@OrlandoemCasa]

The higher price for the knobster is what's behind the scene and I didn't see an explanation for it. This small piece of technology has many programming scripts in order to be able to do what it does. The other great feauture is its flexibility to change planes. No, it's not just a $ 10-15 encoder been sold for $100. My 5 cents. I wish it could cost less... but it's well worth it.

[@JamiKhan]

Great little Knobstar. Will it work on a RealityXP GTN 750?

[@pilotboy2612]

$100?? Lmao...

[@ecevansevans2566]

Michael, were the driver for the Honeycomb yoke. Company web site said you guys have it. I can’t find it.

[@ecevansevans2566]

Travis Lear I did plug it in and it show up in setup, I can calibrated,but it doesn’t work in flight. So I went to the honeycomb site and they said that, the drive for Xplane 11 is provided by xplane 11 . I have xplane 11 40. No joy.

[@theageingrocker]

Your thoughts on Air Manager, is it worth investing in particularly 737?

[@hierro0430]

I've been trying to get it but still cant purchase it thru airmanager

[@antonynaude3372]

Hi Michael. What make of touch monitor is that?

[@xforcepc]

Planar 2235

[@robertlworley]

Xplane is going to ride itself into the ground with stuff like this. WAY TOO EXPENSIVE for....really nothing. 4-5 of those silly knobs will buy a VR headset!!

[@activex7327]

But wait, it has the cool factor LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@JuliusG73]

Real life private pilot here. VR sucks because well you leave the real world behind. That's why I booted my Rift. Immersion? Sure. But a sim isn't a video game and that's why the FAA will never allow this as a loggable form of simulation. A touchscreen/knobster combo at least stands a chance of being a legal form of loggable simulator in time.

[@activex7327]

@@JuliusG73 If you're going to throw money away, give it to me, I'll make a knobster in 10th of a price and still make money on it ahahahahah

[@JuliusG73]

ActiveX You can buy an arduino nano and dual encoder for $10? Nice!

[@activex7327]

@@JuliusG73 Who says I have to use audrino?

[@jaapaap6649]

Is this the same product as they sell from sim innovations ?

[@cayenne7792]

Over priced, made in china? = 5$ I did the same thing - Leonardo Arduino + proto board + dual axis rotary encoder < 35$

[@Jagdtiger74]

I think even an uno would do the trick. But hey someone wants to get rich i guess

[@redfisher5378]

Make me one for 35.00 then.

[@cayenne7792]

@@redfisher5378 If you want one for 35$ or even less if you use a trinket do it yourself! My point being if you have the PCBs printed up and buy the rotary encoder in bulk hardware cost is less than 5$ for these things....

[@joshuamarius]

There are very cheap USB Controller Cards from Desktop Aviator or even Leo Bodnar that will get this done at a way cheaper price. There is almost no configuration to be done as these cards are picked up as Joystick devices. On average a Dual rotary encoder can be purchased from $13-$18 depending where you get it. Now...a lot of people don't know how to do it. I don't think it is overpriced because of the convenience it introduces. I think it's a great product, but yes, you can build it for cheaper, just like you can buy a complete aircraft kit and build it yourself in instead of buying one ;)

[@cayenne7792]

@@joshuamarius what you say is true, but this is still over priced even for a "one off" custom made piece of hardware! Look what a hondo can get ya-----> www.amazon.com/Logitech-945-000030-Flight-Switch-Panel/dp/B01M1BNTZN/ref=sr_1_5?crid=QFUR55O1AHMR&keywords=logitech+flight&qid=1571922042&sprefix=logite%2Caps%2C176&sr=8-5

[@theVRpilot]

So disappointing. $119. I am grateful you don’t just shut down the comment thread, but you have to bring value for the price. This clearly does not.

[@FortJ21]

For people use air manager extensive this is worth it. I just sold all Saitek panels and made about over $1000. (Switch Panel, Radio Panel, Multi Panel, and two Instrument Panels) They were like 10 years old, and I was able to get more than new retail price for it. (Due to all new item sold out from MSFS2020) I think touch screen, (2 x 15.6 for $400 and Air Manager for $60 and Knobster works better) And you can use touch screen for something else too. (like additional screen with laptop or for Nintendo Switch) I am a real pilot and have 172N, I think it's worth it.

[@ShadowAlmighty]

What touch screens did you buy, and are they still working well?

[@HypnoticAbyss]

Jesus... the prices companies are charging for flight sim gear is rediculas. I just started getting into flight sims and I can easily make these panels with any switches, a pcb and an arduino

[@pvdgucht]

Works with g1000?

[@LTIFEX]

Absolutely ridiculously pricey

[@capturecanada5766]

Apparently, someone believes that flight simmers have had lobotomy’s or full pockets. What a joke for not even $10 worth of plastic. And no pul functionality? Bad investment decision to be sure for your company and brand.

[@ralphrietveld]

Wow, so the thing is made entirely from plastic?

[@capturecanada5766]

Obviously there’s a min of conductive material but my point stil stands , bad investment for company at that price point.

[@ralphrietveld]

I don't really see the issue. If you don't want to buy it, why bother.

[@capturecanada5766]

Just trying to help fellow simmers make good purchase decisions! Go ahead and buy 10 of them if it makes you happy, not all of us are as rich as you or have the time to keep up the internal justification. Have fun playing with your Knobs

[@TitaniumDruid]

Knobster? Buzzing Beaver? I'm sorry but I'm just not seeing what jokes could be made of this.

[@activex7327]

Haha, Austin Coding because of FS2020

[@jerrypiesch5607]

Thanks for the video micheal. What are you using for your touch screen?

[@xforcepc]

Planar 22"

[@EmesiS]

C'mon dude you're praying on the uneducated and going for a money grab. You can buy a USB I/O rotary encoder card and buy a lot of dual rotary encoders for cheap. Attach them to a little plastic or wood panel and have most of the functions you need for the sim. I did something like this over 15 years ago. It's simple. Sure maybe you did a little 3D printed holder but no way is this worth $100. You're trying to triple your money and anyone with common sense will know.

[@xforcepc]

I am not tripling my money. I am a reseller with a 25% markup here.

[@EmesiS]

@@xforcepc Ok understandable. Then the original cost is too high from your distributor.

[@drewfliesbikes]

For me, an instrument rated pilot who needs to practice IFR approaches on a G1000, it's worth a lot more. If you can help me build one I'd be grateful.

[@bartoszskowronski]

You can make DIY knobster cost ~$15.

[@xforcepc]

Yep

[@fabiolondono4287]

I would say is kind of cool but for a switch $129dollars i will consider it too expensive

[@moes2168]

$119? lol. Plus, If it's me, I'm not buying any hardware till FS2020 is released and to a good start.

[@i7rooper]

This should be $49.99 at most and making a good profit. This product built in mass wouldn't cost more than $19 ($15 in hardware + $4 software integration value) and it would help AirManager+TouchScreen sales.

[@ZicajosProductions]

Some of y’all have to chill out in these comments. He’s sharing something he likes, and yes for some people it’s too expensive and for others it is not, which is like every other product out there.

[@EmesiS]

Sure some stuff in the flight sim world is expensive but not rotary encoders. Do a little research and you'll see the cost of something like this. I'm not against anyone making a buck, but it has to be reasonable.

[@royeb63]

I need one. When will it be available?

[@xforcepc]

In about 6 weeks.

[@Calebcalebcaleb]

I have a question, when I go to download something off the forums, i put it in the x plane 11 files, and i restart the game, it doesn't come up on the game. What do i do. Planes, plugins, scenery, nothing works

[@ronsmith378]

You have to make sure you are putting the files in the right folder in x-plane depending on whether plane, scenery, or plugin. Usually the forum page where you downloaded it or a text file that comes with the downloaded files will tell you the installation procedure including wheree to install . Also most downloaded files when extracted come with a main folder and a subfolder with the same name. The subfolder is what you need to install! I don't know if you can PM someone on youtube but if you can , I will give you me email address and walk you through it and/or answer any questions you have.

[@Calebcalebcaleb]

@@ronsmith378 ok. I will make sure I do that. Thx

[@mynameisprivate158]

So a 3rd party add on that requires another 3rd partysoftware solution to work with a first party game. Sounds like a reciepe for disaster with one 3rd party chasing uodates to the others to keep this operational! I mean if the software to use this was produced by qand came with the knobster maybe but as is sounds like a bad option.

[@pete9364]

It's similar to the knobsim

[@whitehedr]

Looks like a very handy device to have.

[@imachacker]

Pretty ridiculous on the pricing, but its your business so I understand why. Your PCs are overpriced as well, but I mean you're smart to take advantage of these pilots that don't know anything about computers. You're selling most of your PCs at about a 40% margin without wholesale pricing. I imagine about 85% on this product. Disagree with your greed, but everyone's gotta make a living. Good luck with your sales.

[@imachacker]

Ken Klak then the manufacturer in Netherlands is doing quite well for themselves. 85% to them.

[@bellofello1]

Do you bitch at McDonald's when you pay 90% mark up on a greasy shit burger lol? You must be a fun customer to deal with 🙄

[@imachacker]

DanOfTheNorth I don’t eat nasty ass McDonald’s burgers. I just do my research before purchasing something saving myself more money. There’s a certain trade off on everything you buy, how much you’re willing to research against the convenience of having something in front of you instantly. He’s just providing a service to people who don’t care to do their research. I shit on any company that pre-builds computers and over prices them. I shit on Apple for doing the same but they also provide great optimization and form factor. It’s a trade off and I have the right to call out whoever I want. Now go enjoy that grimy ass Big Mac of yours boy. Come back when you have a solid argument.

[@corjanhamer]

@@imachackerHi, Not sure where you do your research, but we don't make anything near a 85% markup on the Knobster. I wish it was ;) Like Michael said above, it is a completely different story when you are able to produce thousands of a product. Anyways, for people that don't want to pay 90 euro's for the Knobster, I can understand the reasoning. We also support people creating there own knobster with an Arduino Nano and there own rotary encoder. I would like to see you make a Knobster for 13.5 (85%) euro... And if you can, please tell me how :) Corjan

[@blackjack6259]

$100???

[@saeedalfahim8604]

👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

[@dklaroche]

Too expensive for a knob

[@chipilot]

$100 for a plastic knob HAHA

[@techtician2726]

Seriously over priced. Sorry, but truth is truth.

[@bournejsn]

lol 100 bucks!! cpl bucks worth of components, the greed is real