rec.autos.simulators

I have a Microsoft Sidewinder FF wheel, the old game port version. FF
works fine with this wheel in other games, from GPL to RBR.

I've spotted the note in the readme which mentioned that the force
effects must be set to Low on MS wheels, so I've made sure that's the
case.

On Sunday I was having problems with the wheel pulling the wrong way
(the more I'd steer to e.g. the left, the more the wheel would pull to
the left- a sort of anti-centering effect), but when I loaded it up
today, I set the slider on the FF page in rF from 100% to -100%, and
now I get no FF at all.  There's a centering force on the wheel, so
it's fine to drive, but lack of FF makes me sad :-(

Does anyone else have FF working with this wheel? If so, what's the
secret?  Any ideas for things I can try?

Thanks,
Dave.

  Well the negative numbers are only for Logitech wheels which include the
Momos.  But the MS needs positive numbers.  When you assign the axis for
steering, make sure the wheel is centered before doing the left/right
stuff.
  Also make sure you move the wheel fully left and fully right when
assigning the axis for steering.  Then in the Joy1 screen, place the slider
for your wheel,(usually X) to near 50%.  
   I've never used an MS, but with my Logitech, I always move the wheel
from side to side and depress both pedals several times so that I use all
the available travel in each BEFORE I leave the garage or starting line.
THis may not help you because Logitech has a self-centering function built
into it's software.  But give it a try.  
  In windows itself, play with the centering spring option.  I have mine
enabled, but set to zero.  You could try turning it off or adding some
centering spring forces and maybe one of these changes will liven up your
wheel.  good luck.
dh

If I just set the effects to "low", I get FF, but the wheel pulls the
wrong way. Moving the other slider to "-100%" gives FF in the right
direction.

However, if I hit Esc and return to the garage, then go back to the
car, I have no FF at all, not even a centering force (which makes the
car even harder to drive). The only way to restore the FF is to leave
the track and re-enter it.

Unfortunately that's not an option. I have the old gameport version of
the Sidewinder, and that leaves me stuck with XP's built-in driver
which offers no control at all over the FF.

With all this hassle I've yet to find out - is the FF in rF any good?
Am I missing out if I have it turned off?
I found that the FF made a huge difference to the feel of the car
in GPL - if it's that much difference here, I may have to investigate
a new wheel...

Cheers,
Dave.

But anyway... another new experience in sims.  Anyone notice how the
car will hop in the corners?  I've never found that in any other sim.
And it feels very realistic, both from watching it on-screen, and in
the feedback through the wheel.  It happens when you really plant the
car into the groove.  Pretty cool.

Pat Dotson

One thing though, I'd like to be able to see the bumps.  Mill's has that
sharp left hander and if ya go wide you get thrown around a bit but if you
nail the line you miss the bump, very cool but a visual cue would only make
it better.  I stopped and looked for it but I coulndt find it ;)

Mitch

I've had to retire my old Logitech Red cable driven wheel. Live for
Speed and rFactor didn't play nice with it. I hear it is due to the game
sending too much data to the wheel for the wheel to handle and things
get messed up.

I recommissioned a lent Logitech black from one of my cousins. Works
fine and all the forces are normal once again, but I dislike the
notchiness of the gears.

MRSisson
--
LOAD "GPL",8

SEARCHING FOR GPL
LOADING
READY.
RUN

Me too. That old Logi wheel has been going since sometime in '98.
I got a free spare one a year later, thinking that "surely it will
die on me sooner or later": it's still in the back of the closet.
Never had any problem with any game I've tried it with, including
an original demo of LFS and the latest version of rFactor.

--
  Darryl

What settings are you guys using for your wheel and what settings for FF?  I
have the same wheel and was playing rFactor on-line and just about got
myself kicked out of a race because my wheel was being very unresponsive and
I kept turning too late and ended up running into other players (honest!!!).
I was given a reprieve when I explained the latency and general sloppy
response from my Logitech FF; however, I was only able to get minimal help
because most of the other Logitech racers were using the Momo.

Thanks,

PJ

From memory, so be cautious!

FF set to FULL

Sensitivity set to 100% on the three axis that matter (X =
steering, and whatever the two are for brake and throttle)

Dead Zone set to smallest value (10% I think) for the three axis

In my setups, I find setting the braking pressure to about 80-90%
helps with brake "feel".

There's one other value I can't recall, something to do with
steering as well, I have it set to about 60%.

The wheel itself is set to 100% FF effects, centring spring is ON
and SPLIT AXIS is checked.

HTH,
--
  Darryl

-Larry

    Most of the stuff on the screen for the digital settings are for users
with digital gamepads or keyboard drivers.  About all you need on that page
is the speed sensitivity...<exact name is blank right now>  I turn that
off.  It is designed to help smooth out high speed driving..so OBVIOUSLY I
don't need it...  No really, it's like a filter that averages out your
inputs, and thus crops off some of your input.  
  You can mollify a nervous car in the setups with the steering lock
percentage.  Smaller steering lock % is a less twichy car.