BDH H2SQ

Our rating : 9.4/10

There are many brands active in sim-racing. Some are world-famous, while others are not. Names like Simagic, Fanatec, Simucube or encotre Asetek cover several segments of the sim-racing market, with the last two at the top.

But there are also other brands that operate in the same, or even higher, segment as Simucube, but whose operations fly under the radar. BavarianSimTec is one of them, alongside BDH, a small British family business that manufactures sim-racing equipment used in British training cars.

One of the brand’s products is the H2SQ shifter, a uniquely designed device whose performance knows no bounds. It’s a hybrid shifter, allowing both H Pattern and sequential shifting, with superb build quality and a unique design. Let’s put this shifter to the test on our sim-racing setup to see what it has to offer.

Main and technical features of the shift

• Premium all-metal construction
• Weighs 4 kg on the scale
• H Pattern and sequential operation
• Works with two rails to provide the best possible feedback
• Windows PC compatible
• Fits most sim-racing chassis
• Available in two colors: black and silver
• Entire structure in aluminum from the aeronautics industry
• Hall sensors and bearings from automotive suppliers
• Made by hand, not on a production line

Design

Usually, shifters are square or rectangular in shape, with the occasional curve. The H2SQ is entirely cylindrical, literally. The shifter’s design is unique, and won’t go unnoticed on sim-racing setups.

It is available in 2 main colors (black and silver), with a variant featuring red elements on a black dress. Its shape closely resembles that of a Load Cell pedalboard mechanism, with a cylinder as the main structure and a neck that extends upwards from it at the rear.

The H2SQ is a device that might seem visually odd given what we’re used to seeing in sim-racing, but here, function trumps design.

Customized assembly

To mount the H2SQ on a chassis, you have several slots on a plate that acts as a support for the device. With this, you have numerous mounting options on most cockpits available on the sim-racing market.

What’s more, the shifter’s main cylinder is raised, giving you enough space to fit a bolt or nut, allowing the device to be mounted on a chassis.

Manufacturing and finishing

BDH uses aluminum from the aeronautics industry for the structure of the H2SQ. It’s premium, hand-made and hand-assembled in England by a family brand that’s borderline artisanal.

The build quality screams premium, and from every angle. You won’t find a flaw on the H2SQ, whether it’s paintwork, assembly, choice of screws, finish, or anything else remotely related to the device.

As for the finish, this is an expensive shifter, very expensive indeed, and that goes hand in hand with the product’s premium appearance. We’ll talk about the price later, don’t worry. It’s carefully assembled by hand, each unit is individually produced, not mass-produced. It’s practically, as far as I’m concerned, on a par with Bentley and Rolls-Royce: it’s ultra-premium, British and very refined.

Getting to grips with the shifter

A shifter’s grip is generally limited to its handle, and the H2SQ has a nice one. Of course, you can swap the knob of the handle for more or less any available on the automotive market, and the one supplied is frankly very well suited to the job.

It’s derived from those found in rallying, and in fact a shifter will be used most on WRC special stages, as the other sim-racing disciplines are much more pallet-based.

Apart from that, there’s an adjustment knob on the shifter’s main cylinder, used to change the resistance of the mechanism. If you tighten it, the stick will become hard, with very mechanical and sonorous gear changes. You’ll hear the famous “klank” at every gear change, and frankly, it’s fun.

Sensations during play

Let’s look at the feel of the H2SQ shifter. First of all, there’s a knob, or screw, on the top of the device that lets you adjust the hardness of gearshifts, whether in H Pattern or sequential mode. Tighten the knob, and the gears shift with difficulty, each time emitting a “klank” sound, the result of contact between two metal parts.

Honestly, it’s a pleasure to hear this sound, as it narrows the gap between simulation and reality. You get this sound in both sequential and H Pattern modes, further enhancing the immersion produced by this shifter.

In H Pattern mode, you have 7 gears and a reverse gear, i.e. 8 speeds. They shift superbly well, with an almost instantaneous return to neutral as soon as a gear is disengaged. Unlike other shifters on the market, there’s no H-grid to speak of, just an H-grid function.

The sequential mode is just as immersive, except that the gears are shifted before the movement is completed if you opt for smooth driving. It’s literally the opposite of the paddles found on everyday cars: the paddle clicks and half a second later, or even a second, the gear changes.

Also, and this concerns the H Pattern mode, I’ve noticed that reverse gear requires force to pass. This is by design to avoid accidental shifting, but it requires a little too much force as far as I’m concerned. Not restrictive, but it does take some getting used to.

Compatibility

The H2SQ is only compatible with Windows PCs, and that’s only to be expected as this is a premium device, aimed at a specific niche of runners.

You have a USB-C cable on one side, and USB-A on the other, to connect this device to your PC.

Value for money

I hope you’ve got your seatbelts fastened, because the price of the H2SQ is likely to shake things up a bit, if not a lot. For a bit of context, the H2SQ is effectively the H1’s replacement, and it’s sold for less than its predecessor.

At a price of almost €1,180, this is an expensive peripheral, very expensive indeed. At this price, you can afford a complete sim-racing setup with entry-level products(CSL from Fanatec, for example), including base, steering wheel and pedals.

Nevertheless, the build quality is exceptional, it’s handmade, and it’s aimed at riders who don’t count their setup budget. So, I say to myself, for the right person, the H2SQ’s value for money is very good indeed.

My verdict

Shifter fans are spoilt for choice on the sim-racing market. Offerings range from simple products that are used to shift gears, to the H2SQ which is there to make you feel the gears clicking together.

We’re talking here about a tool that’s borderline removed from a real racing car to be installed on your setup. This is not a “toy” trying to pass itself off as a racing device. It’s a racing device that you can use in your living room.

If you have the means, whether for drift racing, WRC or just want an exceptional shifter, then the H2SQ is for you.