I picked up a Stream Deck XL with the primary intent to augment my DCS pit with UFC's for various aircraft.  However, seems it would be foolish to not use it with MSFS as well.  I see both spad.Next and Lorby AAO's will bridge between MSFS and Stream Deck. 

Any commentary for advantages and disadvantages to either? 

I have Lorby AAO, but never got very in to it, mostly not finding it completely intuitive.  I got it to interface the Honeycomb yoke and throttle with the Aerosoft CRJ, which has sat in the hangar (rave early reviews caught me, didn't really live up to expectations compared to FBW and WT).  Spad.Next seems even less intuitive, but I've seen it works with the Virtual Avionics MCP and EFIS, which I have for P3D and would love to use once the NG3 is out for MSFS. 

I'm sure there I'll hear "use what you have", but I'm trying to get started on the ground floor with the one that will serve me the best before investing time to learn one fully.  

Edited August 25, 20214 yr by ESzczesniak

Depending on what you want to use it for, have you checked out the free FlightTracker plugin? It's available from the Streamdeck app store or you can download from https://flightsim.to/file/3178/flight-tracker-streamdeck-plugin

1 minute ago, Donka said:

Depending on what you want to use it for, have you checked out the free FlightTracker plugin? It's available from the Streamdeck app store or you can download from https://flightsim.to/file/3178/flight-tracker-streamdeck-plugin

I have installed that plugin already.  It looks by far the easiest, but if I'm reading things correctly it only interfaces with default sim functions.  So things from FBW, the Aerosoft CRJ, PMDG, and others as they come out, won't access the aircraft specific stuff...unless I'm reading things wrong.

Custom elements would not be supported but I haven't had any issues for the stuff I have been using it for - granted I'm not one to go too far down into the weeds.

https://flightdeck.to/product/flightdeck/

 

?

Have a look at the available StreamDeck profiles for the AAO plugin:

Flightsim.to » Profile of Guenseli

 

As you have already AAO, you have nothing to loose and could try it out

Edited August 25, 20214 yr by guenseli

Spad.Next will allow you to run "Virtual" FIP gauges that replicate the function of Logitech's FIP,  which I find useful.

https://fipgauges.com/vfip.php

Radio Stack, https://fipgauges.com/product_info.php?products_id=83

Autopilot, https://fipgauges.com/product_info.php?products_id=120

Backlit Info Panel,  https://fipgauges.com/product_info.php?products_id=120

I use Spacedesk to create a virtual monitor on my phone,  and use Spad.Next to run two instances of the BIP on my Galaxy S20.   I display things like gear status, flap status,  parking brake,  overspeed, stall warning, engine warnings,  etc.

All you have to do is install something like the Spacedesk client on your phone or tablet,  and install the Spacedesk server on your pc.    Then you can use your phone and/or tablet to display anything you wish.   Just drag to the correct screen, drop, and resize to fit.  One default feature of the sim is that you can also break out windows from the sim, and drag them to a different monitor.

It can interface with the Streamdeck bidirectionally.

Edit:  Found a web page review with good photos of the FIP guages,  https://www.mutleyshangar.com/reviews/jg/bs-fip/bs-fip.htm

Edited August 25, 20214 yr by Waldo Pepper

15 minutes ago, Waldo Pepper said:

Spad.Next will allow you to run "Virtual" FIP gauges that replicate the function of Logitech's FIP,  which I find useful.

https://fipgauges.com/vfip.php

Radio Stack, https://fipgauges.com/product_info.php?products_id=83

Autopilot, https://fipgauges.com/product_info.php?products_id=120

Backlit Info Panel,  https://fipgauges.com/product_info.php?products_id=120

I use Spacedesk to create a virtual monitor on my phone,  and use Spad.Next to run two instances of the BIP on my Galaxy S20.   I display things like gear status, flap status,  parking brake,  overspeed, stall warning, engine warnings,  etc.

All you have to do is install something like the Spacedesk client on your phone or tablet,  and install the Spacedesk server on your pc.    Then you can use your phone and/or tablet to display anything you wish.   Just drag to the correct screen, drop, and resize to fit.  One default feature of the sim is that you can also break out windows from the sim, and drag them to a different monitor.

It can interface with the Streamdeck bidirectionally.

From what I've seen both AAO and spad.Next can do this, although I think the gauges can be a bit more complex in spad.Next.

7 minutes ago, ESzczesniak said:

From what I've seen both AAO and spad.Next can do this, although I think the gauges can be a bit more complex in spad.Next.

The gauges in AAO are in the old school FS XML format. You can make them as complex or simple as those were. And they can be streamed over your local Network, AAO has a web server built in.

Edited August 25, 20214 yr by Lorby_SI