I’m looking at getting an Xbox controller to control the drone camera, looking on Amazon they have aftermarket controllers (not an Xbox labelled controller, but looks exactly the same) does anyone have an aftermarket controller? and does it work properly (there are some decent cost savings by going this route)  

All I can say is I have been using a Logitech controller for several years and works fine for the Drone.  I'm sure I didn't spend more than $15 bucks for it.

I bought this for the same purpose on Amazon for nineteen bucks US. Seems to work as intended
Wireless Controller for Xbox 360, Oussirro 2.4GHZ Remote Joystick Gamepad for PC Windows 7,8,10 with Receiver Adapter, No Audio Jack, Black

 

I have a beat up old XBox controller and a SteelSeries dual-mode wireless controller that I bought for use with a tablet but have also tried on my PC.   The XBox controller is more comfortable and feels more solid in my hands and pleasing to use, but I'm sure that will vary from person to person.   They both seem to work equally well for drone control.

I'm using the wired Logitech F310 game controller and it works the same as my previous Xbox 360 did. 

$15 at Target

11 hours ago, btacon said:

I bought this for the same purpose on Amazon for nineteen bucks US. Seems to work as intended
Wireless Controller for Xbox 360, Oussirro 2.4GHZ Remote Joystick Gamepad for PC Windows 7,8,10 with Receiver Adapter, No Audio Jack, Black

 

https://www.amazon.com/Wireless-Controller-Oussirro-Joystick-Receiver/dp/B08CN9Q3MN

This is what I use : https://www.amazon.com/Controller-Gamepad-Joystick-Windows-Dual-Vibration/dp/B07WYWT4H8/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?dchild=1&keywords=xbox+controller&qid=1630205669&refinements=p_72%3A1248885011%2Cp_76%3A1249140011&rnid=1249138011&rps=1&s=videogames&sr=1-1-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEyWFQ3Qzc2UDZFNjlGJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwMzI5NzcyU01PUDg1VFQ5V045JmVuY3J5cHRlZEFkSWQ9QTAxOTQyODlBQjZPRjkxT0YxUlcmd2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGYmYWN0aW9uPWNsaWNrUmVkaXJlY3QmZG9Ob3RMb2dDbGljaz10cnVl

Edited August 29, 20214 yr by johnbow72

I use Warthog stick and throttle and foot rudder pedals for slewing mode (it moves at proportional speeds to how far you move the stick or pedals). But as this guy shows you can also use the xbox for the same sort of proportional precise control of slewing. Not just for flying the drone. MSFS automatically sets up the xBox controller for drone (showcase) and also for slewing.

MSFS automatically sets up the xbox controller for you, for drone and for slewing. And then you add a couple more clever slewing commands in addition to those that are already on the Xbox controller.

There are commands already programmed to slew up and down, but 2 other commands are available and waiting to be assigned: to slew up fast and slew down fast.

I don't think MSFS puts those slew up fast and slew down fast on the xbox controller for you (because MSFS assigns slew up and slew down to buttons (the Xbox triggers) instead of assigned to axis). Axis are proportional, buttons are not. So you can slew in out right left and yaw and roll proportionally because they have been put onto axis for you, but not a proportional speed up or down. Just a single speed slewing up and down.

(Lets say you slew back fast a couple miles from being parked on the runway threshold. Now you want to slew up fast to 2000 feet. And then exit slew mode and fly straight in to practice landing with that particular plane).

MSFS automatically sets up slew up and slew down on the 2 triggers. Left trigger up, right trigger down. So I think you could just use MSFS controller screen to add two more commands, such as: Xbox controller joystick forward + left trigger for slew down fast. And xBox joystick forward +right trigger for slew up fast. Now you can instantly choose to slew up or slew down either slowly or fast (depending on whether you hold the joystick forward or not when you pull the triggers to slew up or down).

 

 

I use 8Bit Do Pro 2 and it is absolutely amazing for MSFS as it has 4 additional buttons that can be mapped:

https://flightsimpics.com/flightsimulatorkeyboardcontrollermaps/

I ended up buying a Microsoft knockoff xbox controller for about 15$ Off of Amazon, works great for what I need it for, it’s only used for the drone camera as I don’t do any other pc gaming other than msfs. 

For slewing around, a joystick (or yoke) + pedals will slew just as fast or just as slow as you want, depending on how far you throw the stick (forward, backward, left right) or how far you depress the pedals (yaw). It is a hundred times easier and more precise than using keyboard keys. Use a button + stick (yoke) direction to slew up and down instead of forwards and backwards. The further you move the stick (yoke), the faster you warp upwards or downwards.

You can instantly for instance slew 1/2 a foot right or left or turn the nose 1/2 a degree (yaw) on the runway. Or you can move the stick or pedals further and you will slew faster, directly proportional to how far you haved moved the stick (yoke) or pedals.

Just assign all your slew commands to your flight controllers (stick and pedals, or yoke and pedals). And never use the keyboard to slew again.

=> You can't control the slew speeds like this with the keyboard! You always slew at the same speed with a keyboard keypress (MSFS does not know how far you press a keyboard key, but it does know how far you have turned the yoke or mashed down a pedal).

You could not do this sort of thing in FSX. But these new proportional slew commands were introduced in MSFS, and ready for you to assign if you want to do that. Slewing was never this easy or precise in previous editions of FS.

 

I started using a mouse, keyboard, and stream deck, along with the controller -- but by far the controller is a joy to use with the cameras while flying.