SimNet’s new SSQ-1 doesn’t lock you into one shift feel. It ships with five different types of shift balls, so you can change how every shift feels and sounds, all for $159. In this SimNet SSQ-1 review, Darin Gangi tests every ball option, sets it up on PC and covers console use, and takes it into iRacing and Assetto Corsa Rally.
The short version: it’s a solid, well-built sequential with a good shift feel and more adjustability than its price suggests. It makes the most sense for rally and drift drivers who want a dedicated sequential, and for console racers on a Fanatec or Thrustmaster base. Watch the full review below, or read on for the breakdown.
Watch: This $159 Shifter Surprised Me… Here’s What SimNet Did
SimNet SSQ-1 Review: Specs and Build Quality
The SSQ-1 is built from stainless steel and CNC-machined aluminum. A Hall effect sensor handles the shift inputs, and a separate switch in the handle gives you an extra input you can program in game.
| Spec | SimNet SSQ-1 |
|---|---|
| Type | Sequential |
| Construction | Stainless steel and CNC-machined aluminum |
| Shift sensor | Hall effect |
| Detent system | 5 interchangeable shift ball types |
| Handle height adjustment | 25mm |
| Extra input | Programmable switch in the handle |
| Connectivity | USB (A to B cable included), plus a port for supported third-party wheelbases |
| Net weight | 1.5kg |
| Approximate size | 295mm tall, 145mm wide, 62mm deep |
| Price | $159 |
Specs from the SimNet SSQ-1 product page(opens in new tab) at Sim Motion.
The handle is easy to adjust and swappable. It works with SimNet’s soft grip, and SimNet’s handbrake lever extension also fits if you want the shifter to sit taller.
SimNet SSQ-1 Review: Mounting, PC, and Console Setup
Mounting
You can bolt the SSQ-1 to a shifter plate from the bottom, or mount it straight to a piece of aluminum profile, which is how Darin prefers to mount his shifters. The bolts, T-nuts, and hex wrenches you need are in the box.
If you’re building a rally or drift setup, SimNet also offers an optional A-PHS mounting plate that holds the SSQ-1 and a SimNet handbrake together as one unit. According to SimNet’s authorized US retailer Apex Sim Racing(opens in new tab), the plate flips for right-hand or left-hand drive layouts.
PC Setup
On PC, the SSQ-1 connects with the included USB A to B cable. Darin found it close to plug and play. In SimNet’s software, you can adjust the shift activation point and swap which direction is upshift and which is downshift.
Console Setup
For console, the SSQ-1 plugs into a supported third-party wheelbase, like Fanatec or Thrustmaster, using an RJ12 cable sold separately. Your wheelbase then handles the connection to the console. Apex Sim Racing describes this port as letting the shifter show up as a native device on select third-party wheelbases. Darin tested on PC for this review, and he offered to try it on PlayStation with a Fanatec base in a follow-up.
SimNet SSQ-1 Review: Price and Accessories
The SSQ-1 is $159 on its own. Here’s what the full setup from the video costs with every optional accessory:
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| SimNet SSQ-1 Sequential Shifter | $159.00 |
| SimNet Soft Grip | $9.99 |
| SimNet Lever Extension | $19.99 |
| SimNet RJ12 cable for Fanatec (console use) | $5.00 |
| Total with all accessories | $193.98 |
You only need the RJ12 cable for console use through a Fanatec or Thrustmaster base. SimNet makes a separate RJ12 cable for each brand.
How It Compares
Sim Motion’s SSQ-1 launch post(opens in new tab) lays out where it sits among other shifters:
- SimNet Push-Pull Rally Sequential Shifter: SimNet’s original sequential, built around a completely different mechanism.
- Simagic Q1: a more feature-loaded sequential with a planetary gear mechanism, a built-in gear display, and four customizable buttons.
- Simagic DS-8X and VNM Simulation H Pattern and Sequential Shifter: both switch between H-pattern and sequential in one unit, which the SSQ-1 doesn’t do.
If you only need a sequential, the SSQ-1 costs less than the Simagic and VNM options. Check current pricing before you buy, since it changes with sales.
SimNet SSQ-1 Review: The Five Shift Balls Tested
The interchangeable shift balls are what set the SSQ-1 apart. Each type changes how notchy the shift feels and how loud the click is. Darin tested all five in the video, with sound, so you can hear the difference for yourself.
| Ball type | Size | Included | Feel and sound |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nylon PA66 (pre-installed) | 7.5mm | 8 total (2 installed + 6 spares) | Notchier than POM; rated for 50,000 to 60,000 cycles |
| POM (polyoxymethylene) | 8mm | 6 | Similar to nylon but less notchy; rated for 70,000 to 80,000 cycles |
| Zirconia ceramic | 8mm | 2 | Louder than nylon, quieter than steel; self-lubricating, no extra grease needed |
| Steel | 7.5mm | 2 | The most notchy feel and the most audible click |
| Steel | 7.9mm | 2 | A balanced notchy feel with a clear click |
Darin started on the nylon balls, moved to steel, then tried the ceramic, and that’s where he ended up. He’s upfront that he didn’t race extensively on every option, so treat the table as a starting point and expect to experiment.
How to Swap the Shift Balls
Swapping is easy once you know the steps, but Darin learned one thing the hard way: the instructions he read first weren’t clear that you need to change the balls on both sides. A note elsewhere in the instructions clarifies it.
- Take the shifter off your rig. Darin found it nearly impossible to swap the balls while mounted, because the grease holds them to the springs.
- Remove the 5mm screws on both sides of the body.
- Pull out the small spring on each side. The ball sits inside the spring housing, resting in the mechanism.
- Swap in the new balls on both sides and reinstall the springs and screws.
The balls sit in a little grease. Darin didn’t add any during testing, but expects you might want to add a bit over time, except with the self-lubricating ceramic balls.
Adjusting Shift Tension
The ball type sets the character of the shift, and the tension sets how much effort it takes. To adjust it, tighten or loosen the same 5mm screws on both sides of the body.
Darin’s advice: make small adjustments. Go too far and the shifter can stick in either shift position. A bit of trial and error gets you to a tension you like.
SimNet SSQ-1 Review: Driving Impressions
Darin tested the SSQ-1 in iRacing and Assetto Corsa Rally(opens in new tab). Mapping it in both games was close to plug and play, and he was on track quickly.
Overall, it delivers a solid, positive shift feel. It’s also not so loud that you’d wake the whole house at night, even with the steel balls. One Sim Motion customer review had a different take, saying the click was still pretty loud even on the quietest option, so if noise matters in your space, watch the sound test in the video before you buy.
The one weak spot Darin found is the small lever on the handle, which feels a bit flimsy. He wasn’t sure what he’d use it for anyway, and it doesn’t take anything away from the shifting itself.
Who the SSQ-1 Is For
Darin gave a straight answer on whether he’d put the SSQ-1 on his personal rig: probably not. Most of his shifting is done with paddles, and he already has a Simagic DS-8X that does both H-pattern and sequential, which he rarely switches into sequential mode.
If he mostly drove rally or drifted and wanted maximum realism, though, he said he’d go for a sequential like this one.
| If you… | The SSQ-1… |
|---|---|
| Mostly race rally or drift | Is a strong, affordable dedicated sequential |
| Race on console with a Fanatec or Thrustmaster base | Connects through your base with an RJ12 cable |
| Want to tune how your shifts feel and sound | Gives you five ball types plus tension adjustment |
| Already run SimNet gear | Fits right into the SimNet ecosystem |
| Mostly use paddle shifters | Probably isn’t a must-have, by Darin’s own take |
| Need H-pattern too | Isn’t the right pick, since it’s sequential only |
If you’re putting together a rally setup, pairing it with a SimNet handbrake makes sense. Our SimNet SHB-100 review(opens in new tab) tests the Hydro-Link Pro Kit upgrade for SimNet’s SHB handbrake. And if you’re still building your rig around a wheelbase on a budget, our MOZA R5 Pro Bundle article(opens in new tab) looks at whether it’s the new benchmark for budget direct drive.
What the Community Is Saying
The comments turned up a reply from SimNet itself and a few questions worth answering:
- H-pattern is on SimNet’s list. The most common request was a SimNet H-pattern shifter. SimNet’s own account replied in the comments to confirm it’s on their list.
- Console racers are interested. Several viewers on Fanatec bases see the SSQ-1 as a strong console option, and some plan to pair it with SimNet’s pedals. One asked to see it running Gran Turismo 7 on a PS5 through a Fanatec base, and another wondered whether SimNet’s handbrake works the same way.
- Fanatec software recognition. A viewer asked whether the SSQ-1 shows up as a Fanatec device in Fanatec’s software when connected through the RJ cable, since they wanted to avoid running another program. We haven’t confirmed that, so if it matters to your setup, check with SimNet before buying. If you’re mixing in Simagic hardware too, our Simagic Zeus compatibility guide(opens in new tab) covers how the Zeus works across Simagic’s EVO, Alpha, and AiRLink lineups.
- The sound test helped. One viewer called the sound and ball test very useful. Another asked reviewers to include shift sounds, which is exactly what the ball test covers.
- SimNet fans showed up. Owners of SimNet’s pedals and handbrake were quick to vouch for the brand. We’ve covered SimNet’s pedals before too: bsimracing has a write-up of our SP Pro load cell pedal review(opens in new tab) with Darin and Mike Caminiti.
Final Thoughts: SimNet SSQ-1 Review Verdict
The SSQ-1 does what a sequential shifter is supposed to do, and does it well: solid, positive shifts from a stainless steel and aluminum build. The five shift ball types and tension adjustment give you real control over how it feels and sounds, and that adjustability is the biggest reason it stands out at $159. The flimsy handle lever and the hands-on ball swap are minor trade-offs.
It’s not a must-have if you live on paddle shifters. But if you mostly race rally or drift, or you’re on console with a Fanatec or Thrustmaster base and want a dedicated sequential, it’s an easy one to recommend.
Would you like to see Darin run the SSQ-1 on PlayStation through a Fanatec base? Let us know in the video comments(opens in new tab) or on the ISR Discord(opens in new tab), and tell us whether you run a sequential shifter now.
Shop the SimNet SSQ-1 Sequential Shifter at Sim Motion(opens in new tab).
Disclosure: SimNet provided the SSQ-1 featured in this review. We also sell SimNet products through Sim Motion. All opinions are our own.