Box One Racing X1 Buttonbox
Box One Racing, a brand under the company ProfiPrints3D, specializes in producing peripherals, particularly sim race button boxes, and custom accessories for sim racers. Led by Luis Packeiser, the company has dedicated over a year to production and continuous improvement and distributing these products across various markets. Box One Racing’s mission is to enhance the accessibility of sim race accessories while increasing awareness and engagement within the sim racing community. The company takes pride in delivering quality products that enrich the overall sim racing experience.
When Luis recently approached us to review one of their button boxes, we gladly accepted the opportunity. We had the freedom to choose which button box we wanted, and we opted for the X1 model, which was delivered to us along with the necessary mounting materials. This model is available for €249.99 via the Box One Racing online store.
Packaging & Contents
We received a brown box which was delivered within 2 business days by DPD. Upon opening the box, we found the button box nestled inside, accompanied by a note featuring a QR code directing us to the online manual. Additionally, we discovered a quick-start guide and several sheets of stickers with icons representing the most common (sim race) functions. Also included in the box was a mounting plate along with the corresponding mounting accessories.
Technology & Quality
With the X1 button box, we have access to 26 assignable functions to operate various features on or around our simulator more quickly and easily. Additionally, this button box can serve as an interactive RGB LED display that shows important information while driving. This may include animations when starting the engine, motorsport flags (yellow, green, blue, black), status indicators like handbrake or pit limiter, and more. Moreover, the X1 button box offers over 100 unique sticker icons for racing games such as iRacing, Assetto Corsa, Assetto Corsa Competizione, and so on. The buttons can also act as programmable keys for combinations like ALT+TAB or ALT+F4, allowing you to customize the controls to your preferences.
At the heart of the X1 button box is an Arduino controller housed in a specially 3D-printed enclosure. This enclosure is manufactured using the Design for Manufacturing (DFM) process, which means there may be minor imperfections on the surfaces. The complete housing with its contents weighs approximately 450 grams and measures 160 mm x 106 mm x 45 mm.
To fully harness the potential of the button box, such as RGB LEDs and telemetry visualizations, the free Simhub software is required. Box One Racing then offers a ready-made profile that allows you to get started easily and immediately. Besides the downloaded profiles, we also have the option to create our own profiles and customize the X1 button box to our exact specifications! With Simhub, we can also control the RGB lighting and (re)program push buttons to execute keyboard commands.
Assembly & Use
We mounted the X1 button box on our Sim-Lab P1X Pro sim rig. Here, we quickly encountered the limitation of the included mounting plate. Due to the angled profiles of this sim rig, the button box ended up at an awkward angle. Additionally, our wheelbase mount got in the way. Fortunately, we could mount the mounting plate on the horizontal profile where our mouse tray is also mounted. Then, we placed the button box on the mounting plate, where we encountered the next problem. The mounting plate seems intended to be mounted at the end of a vertically standing profile; once you mount it differently, the button box no longer fits because the bottom of the button box rests on the profile. The solution is to install some spacers between the mounting plate and the button box, along with longer bolts, which you need to have on hand. After searching through our stock of materials, we luckily found some spacers and longer bolts. In our opinion, it’s not the most elegant solution, but it gets the job done. One caveat: we actually need a proper button box holder for our sim rig. At the time of writing, this is not yet available for our P1X Pro sim rig. Once Sim-Lab makes it available, we’ll install it.
Besides the mentioned hurdles, the installation of the button box is very simple. After plugging in the USB cable, the device is immediately recognized by Windows as an input device. As mentioned earlier, to use the LEDs and potentially visualize telemetry data, the SimHub software is necessary. We have already installed this software, and through the “Arduino” menu, we can import the downloaded profile under the “RGB LEDs” tab, which already includes some pre-defined telemetry visualizations. Of course, we have the freedom to play around with these settings and let our creative spirit run wild
Once the button box is fully operational, we apply the necessary stickers with (sim race) functions that we find useful. With 26 functions, including 20 push buttons, it’s still a bit tricky to assign them all to a function. For now, we’ve managed, but we suspect that our lay-out might change over time. The stickers are easy to apply and relatively easy to remove if you happen to stick one on crookedly. We can then assign the chosen functions in-game or in Windows, and we’re all set to go!
The Box One Racing X1 Buttonbox is a practical addition to our sim rig. During use, the button box functions as intended, namely as an input device. All 20 push buttons are individually easy to operate, and we don’t notice any differences in resistance. The two rotary encoders at the bottom of the button box have a pleasant resistance and are also equipped with a push-button function, providing a satisfying click when used. The button box itself feels very solid and is securely mounted on the provided bracket, so we don’t experience any flex.
The LED lighting on the button box is bright, with adjustable brightness, and the stickers allow the light to shine through effectively, making it a useful addition to clearly display the functions. We primarily configured the spotter function (to see if there is a car on your left or right) and the flag situations as telemetry visualizations. They work well on the button box, and while we prefer the LEDs on our sim flag and steering wheel, it’s definitely a lovely addition to the experience.
Conclusion
The button box is a convenient additional input device with 20 push buttons and two rotary encoders, providing a total of 26 extra inputs. The unit feels very sturdy, and the push buttons and rotary encoders respond smoothly and responsively to operation. The bright LED lighting and customizable stickers contribute to the clarity of the functions. The button box allows for good display of telemetry visualizations, and while we prefer the LEDs on our sim flag and steering wheel, it certainly adds to the experience.
Installing the X1 button box on our Sim-Lab P1X Pro sim rig presents some challenges, mainly due to the limitations of the included mounting plate and the configuration of our rig. The angled profiles of the sim rig result in an unusual angle for the button box, while the presence of the wheelbase mount complicates positioning. Thus, we can mount the button box on the horizontal profile where our mouse tray is also mounted. We then have to get creative with spacers and longer bolts to securely mount the button box, although this is still not the most elegant solution for us.
The installation of the button box in Windows and SimHub software goes smoothly. With simple plug-and-play functionality, the device is immediately recognized by Windows, allowing us to quickly get started with SimHub to configure the LEDs and visualize any telemetry data. The ability to play around with different telemetry visualizations offers an interesting level of customization to suit our needs and creativity.
If you’re excited after reading our review, the Box One Racing X1 button box is available for €249.99 via the Box One Racing online store.
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