rec.autos.simulators

by **Paul Harringto** » Thu, 04 Feb 1999 04:00:00

I am thinking of buying a new wheel and pedals to use mainly for GPL. This
is to replace a digital edge F1 sim wheel. My requirements are :

- Digital control, not potentiometers (which drift and get dirty).
- separate axes for brake and accelerator.
- Good pedal feel.
- Force feedback would be nice (I know GPL doesn't support it).
- Robust

I am unsure whether a FF wheel would be a good idea, as I don't know whether
you get any self centering on a non FF game such as GPL.

I have heard that the Microsoft Sidewinder FF wheel is good. Another
alternative is the Saitek R4, either with or without FF.

Any opinions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Paul Harrington

by **G. Patric** » Thu, 04 Feb 1999 04:00:00

On Wed, 3 Feb 1999 11:31:37 -0000, "Paul Harrington"

>:I am thinking of buying a new wheel and pedals to use mainly for GPL. This
>:is to replace a digital edge F1 sim wheel. My requirements are :
>:
>:- Digital control, not potentiometers (which drift and get dirty).
MS FF Wheel
>:- separate axes for brake and accelerator.
MS FF Wheel
>:- Good pedal feel.
MS FF Wheel
>:- Force feedback would be nice (I know GPL doesn't support it).
MS FF Wheel
>:- Robust

If by Robust you mean well built, then MS FF Wheel
Yes, you do. You have several (motorized) resistance settings and all
have RTC force. You can also turn off resistance by simply hitting the
"Force" button, but your RTC goes also.
I have 2 MS Wheels and know nothing of Saitek, except their flight
controllers, which I have a low opinion of... (of course, I don't
think much of MS flight controls either!)

I am happy with my MS Wheels.

by **Ben Summer** » Thu, 04 Feb 1999 04:00:00

I Purchased the Saitek R4 without force feedback on Monday from PC World for
80.

I like it !!! I refused however to pay an extra 50 pounds for the FF.

It gets my vote, (GP2 heaven)

Ben Summers

by **Iain Mille** » Thu, 04 Feb 1999 04:00:00

As far as I remember the Saitek is based on teh same FF mechanisms as the MS
wheel....

>On Wed, 3 Feb 1999 11:31:37 -0000, "Paul Harrington"

>>:I am thinking of buying a new wheel and pedals to use mainly for GPL.
This
>>:is to replace a digital edge F1 sim wheel. My requirements are :
>>:
>>:- Digital control, not potentiometers (which drift and get dirty).
>MS FF Wheel
>>:- separate axes for brake and accelerator.
>MS FF Wheel
>>:- Good pedal feel.
>MS FF Wheel
>>:- Force feedback would be nice (I know GPL doesn't support it).
>MS FF Wheel
>>:- Robust
>If by Robust you mean well built, then MS FF Wheel
>>:
>>:I am unsure whether a FF wheel would be a good idea, as I don't know
whether
>>:you get any self centering on a non FF game such as GPL.
>Yes, you do. You have several (motorized) resistance settings and all
>have RTC force. You can also turn off resistance by simply hitting the
>"Force" button, but your RTC goes also.
>>:
>>:I have heard that the Microsoft Sidewinder FF wheel is good. Another
>>:alternative is the Saitek R4, either with or without FF.
>I have 2 MS Wheels and know nothing of Saitek, except their flight
>controllers, which I have a low opinion of... (of course, I don't
>think much of MS flight controls either!)
>>:
>>:Any opinions would be greatly appreciated.

>I am happy with my MS Wheels.

>>:Thanks
>>:
>>:Paul Harrington
>>:

by **John Bradl** » Fri, 05 Feb 1999 04:00:00

> As far as I remember the Saitek is based on teh same FF mechanisms as the MS
> wheel....

> >On Wed, 3 Feb 1999 11:31:37 -0000, "Paul Harrington"

> >>:I am thinking of buying a new wheel and pedals to use mainly for GPL.
> This
> >>:is to replace a digital edge F1 sim wheel. My requirements are :
> >>:
> >>:- Digital control, not potentiometers (which drift and get dirty).
> >MS FF Wheel
> >>:- separate axes for brake and accelerator.
> >MS FF Wheel
> >>:- Good pedal feel.
> >MS FF Wheel
> >>:- Force feedback would be nice (I know GPL doesn't support it).
> >MS FF Wheel
> >>:- Robust
> >If by Robust you mean well built, then MS FF Wheel
> >>:
> >>:I am unsure whether a FF wheel would be a good idea, as I don't know
> whether
> >>:you get any self centering on a non FF game such as GPL.
> >Yes, you do. You have several (motorized) resistance settings and all
> >have RTC force. You can also turn off resistance by simply hitting the
> >"Force" button, but your RTC goes also.
> >>:
> >>:I have heard that the Microsoft Sidewinder FF wheel is good. Another
> >>:alternative is the Saitek R4, either with or without FF.
> >I have 2 MS Wheels and know nothing of Saitek, except their flight
> >controllers, which I have a low opinion of... (of course, I don't
> >think much of MS flight controls either!)
> >>:
> >>:Any opinions would be greatly appreciated.

Now if only MS would get off their a** and produce a USB version of their
wheel - I'd buy one in an instant. The Logitech would be fine if A) the
pedals didn't suck, and B) it used optical sensors instead of pots.

--John Bradley

by **Tom Witma** » Fri, 05 Feb 1999 04:00:00

The pedals on the R4(brake in particular) are too short of a stroke and make
GPL difficult. Basically, they suck!!

>As far as I remember the Saitek is based on teh same FF mechanisms as the
MS
>wheel....

>>On Wed, 3 Feb 1999 11:31:37 -0000, "Paul Harrington"

>>>:I am thinking of buying a new wheel and pedals to use mainly for GPL.
>This
>>>:is to replace a digital edge F1 sim wheel. My requirements are :
>>>:
>>>:- Digital control, not potentiometers (which drift and get dirty).
>>MS FF Wheel
>>>:- separate axes for brake and accelerator.
>>MS FF Wheel
>>>:- Good pedal feel.
>>MS FF Wheel
>>>:- Force feedback would be nice (I know GPL doesn't support it).
>>MS FF Wheel
>>>:- Robust
>>If by Robust you mean well built, then MS FF Wheel
>>>:
>>>:I am unsure whether a FF wheel would be a good idea, as I don't know
>whether
>>>:you get any self centering on a non FF game such as GPL.
>>Yes, you do. You have several (motorized) resistance settings and all
>>have RTC force. You can also turn off resistance by simply hitting the
>>"Force" button, but your RTC goes also.
>>>:
>>>:I have heard that the Microsoft Sidewinder FF wheel is good. Another
>>>:alternative is the Saitek R4, either with or without FF.
>>I have 2 MS Wheels and know nothing of Saitek, except their flight
>>controllers, which I have a low opinion of... (of course, I don't
>>think much of MS flight controls either!)
>>>:
>>>:Any opinions would be greatly appreciated.

>>I am happy with my MS Wheels.

>>>:Thanks
>>>:
>>>:Paul Harrington
>>>:

by **Paul Harringto** » Fri, 05 Feb 1999 04:00:00

Thanks for all the advice - It looks like the Microsoft Wheel may be the
best. I now have 2 more questions though :

- Does the Microsoft wheel support separate pedal axes?
- Why is a USB wheel better?

Thanks

Paul Harrington

by **Jack** » Fri, 05 Feb 1999 04:00:00

Yes, using a profile. You'll find the "Separate" option on the Settings page
of the Profile Editor.

by **DTrager1** » Sat, 06 Feb 1999 04:00:00

Check this out, if you want a wheel that will out last your sim career<G>
http://www.mindspring.com/~srcwheel/

Dave Trager
Team XTREME
1998 NROS Pro Division Finalist

by **David Kar** » Sat, 06 Feb 1999 04:00:00

That's a dead link ( http://www.mindspring.com/~srcwheel/ ) for me--it was
dead last time it was posted here as well . . .

by **alan** » Sat, 06 Feb 1999 04:00:00

On Thu, 4 Feb 1999 21:35:53 -0000, "Paul Harrington"

>Thanks for all the advice - It looks like the Microsoft Wheel may be the
>best. I now have 2 more questions though :

>- Does the Microsoft wheel support separate pedal axes?
>- Why is a USB wheel better?

>Thanks

>Paul Harrington

A USB wheel *should* mean that your system can read the controller
inputs more accurately and quickly.
Apparently it can remove GPL Parkinsons - the effect where the
driver's arms shake and twitch constantly.
But it also seems some soundcards/gameports can do the same - though
everyone seems to have different experiences with this.
The Parkinson's is impossible to fix on my system: a Sonic Impact
sound card and Interact V3 wheel. A USB wheel would take the soundcard
out of the equation, and should give more accurate inputs with less of
a CPU drain. Or so I gather from what I've read - but I don't know
whether the theory is supported by empirical evidence or not.

Cheers

Alan

by **David Ewin** » Sat, 06 Feb 1999 04:00:00

> That's a dead link ( http://www.mindspring.com/~srcwheel/ ) for me--it was
> dead last time it was posted here as well . . .

The link worked fine for me.

Dave Ewing

by **Paul Jone** » Sat, 06 Feb 1999 04:00:00

And me,
Cheers,
Paul

> > That's a dead link ( http://www.mindspring.com/~srcwheel/ ) for me--it was
> > dead last time it was posted here as well . . .

> The link worked fine for me.

> Dave Ewing

rec.autos.simulators

Steering Wheels for GPL

Steering Wheels for GPL

Steering Wheels for GPL

Steering Wheels for GPL

Steering Wheels for GPL

Steering Wheels for GPL

Steering Wheels for GPL

Steering Wheels for GPL

Steering Wheels for GPL

Steering Wheels for GPL

Steering Wheels for GPL

Steering Wheels for GPL

Steering Wheels for GPL

Steering Wheels for GPL