rec.autos.simulators

Saitek R440 FF Wheel

Bob Mallet

Saitek R440 FF Wheel

by Bob Mallet » Thu, 15 Nov 2001 04:04:09

Hi,

Just to let you know that I have been using my R440 for about 2 weeks now so
it is time for a few thoughts on it.

Construction
The wheel feels very nice, but the finishing on mine is not perfect.  The
system for holding it on the desk is by way of a separate piece that has the
clam on it.  You put the wheel on the table, the clamp over the top and
tighten the nut.  This pinches the wheel unit very nicely to my desk.  For
people who have desks with a non flat underside then this gets round that
problem.  The pedals are again two piece and feel solid enough.

Design
The pedals are the unique part of the combo.  They are top down pivots and
feel just wonderful.  They are reasonably light to use and have an excellent
action, the best I have tried so far.  The base is quite thin so your feet
are close the floor which I like.  On the wheel the new shifters behind the
wheel feel very good.  The wheel mounted buttons are ok, not in my favourite
position but they don't get in they way as I thought they would.

Force Feedback and Feel
Fine.  No problems.  FF is a very subjective and adjustable thing to comment
on but for me it is fine.  On GP3 you can feel the car, which is nice.

Software
Don't ask.  The provided drivers did not work at all on XP, so I downloaded
the beta test ones, these are good.  The extra control software they supply
I cannot get to work, which is a pain since I would like to be able to
re-map some more of the keys in GP3.

Other bits
There is no button to turn off the FF effects like there was on the old R4.
I used to like this as when I had trashed my car in CM2 I could quickly turn
off FF so I could at least get back to the start with my wrists intact.
Silly blue light at the front and sides.  The side ones glow brighter when
you are turning more - Why???

Any other questions please ask,

Bob

Rafe McAulif

Saitek R440 FF Wheel

by Rafe McAulif » Fri, 16 Nov 2001 11:42:46

Good to hear that you've gotten it to work reasonably in WinXP. My R4
(non FF) was useless, Saitek refuse to put drivers up for it, and so
I've had to ditch back to Win 98SE. No good, but I needed my wheel :)

I've never been that impressed with Saitek stuff (especailly with the
lack of win2000/XP drivers) and so I won't be getting another one when
I eventually go to FF.

Rafe Mc

On Tue, 13 Nov 2001 19:04:09 -0000, "Bob Mallett"


>Hi,

>Just to let you know that I have been using my R440 for about 2 weeks now so
>it is time for a few thoughts on it.

>Construction
>The wheel feels very nice, but the finishing on mine is not perfect.  The
>system for holding it on the desk is by way of a separate piece that has the
>clam on it.  You put the wheel on the table, the clamp over the top and
>tighten the nut.  This pinches the wheel unit very nicely to my desk.  For
>people who have desks with a non flat underside then this gets round that
>problem.  The pedals are again two piece and feel solid enough.

>Design
>The pedals are the unique part of the combo.  They are top down pivots and
>feel just wonderful.  They are reasonably light to use and have an excellent
>action, the best I have tried so far.  The base is quite thin so your feet
>are close the floor which I like.  On the wheel the new shifters behind the
>wheel feel very good.  The wheel mounted buttons are ok, not in my favourite
>position but they don't get in they way as I thought they would.

>Force Feedback and Feel
>Fine.  No problems.  FF is a very subjective and adjustable thing to comment
>on but for me it is fine.  On GP3 you can feel the car, which is nice.

>Software
>Don't ask.  The provided drivers did not work at all on XP, so I downloaded
>the beta test ones, these are good.  The extra control software they supply
>I cannot get to work, which is a pain since I would like to be able to
>re-map some more of the keys in GP3.

>Other bits
>There is no button to turn off the FF effects like there was on the old R4.
>I used to like this as when I had trashed my car in CM2 I could quickly turn
>off FF so I could at least get back to the start with my wrists intact.
>Silly blue light at the front and sides.  The side ones glow brighter when
>you are turning more - Why???

>Any other questions please ask,

>Bob

Steve Blankenshi

Saitek R440 FF Wheel

by Steve Blankenshi » Fri, 16 Nov 2001 23:44:42

Thanks for sharing, Bob - always helps to get the info on new goodies.  And I do have a few questions!

1. Do Saitek still use MS optical sensors in the wheel like they used to, or have they reverted to pots?  Their original FF wheel
had MS guts inside.

2. What's the left-right rotational range of the wheel?

3. Is there lateral slop or friction in the rotation, or is it tight and smooth?  Gears or belt or....?

4. How much travel do the pedals have, is the resistance different between the brake and throttle, and how stiff are they relative
to other pedals you've tried?

5. Lastly, do the shift paddles click firmly, and do they feel robust?  Some out there are pretty flimsy.

TIA,

SB


> Hi,

> Just to let you know that I have been using my R440 for about 2 weeks now so
> it is time for a few thoughts on it.

> Construction
> The wheel feels very nice, but the finishing on mine is not perfect.  The
> system for holding it on the desk is by way of a separate piece that has the
> clam on it.  You put the wheel on the table, the clamp over the top and
> tighten the nut.  This pinches the wheel unit very nicely to my desk.  For
> people who have desks with a non flat underside then this gets round that
> problem.  The pedals are again two piece and feel solid enough.

> Design
> The pedals are the unique part of the combo.  They are top down pivots and
> feel just wonderful.  They are reasonably light to use and have an excellent
> action, the best I have tried so far.  The base is quite thin so your feet
> are close the floor which I like.  On the wheel the new shifters behind the
> wheel feel very good.  The wheel mounted buttons are ok, not in my favourite
> position but they don't get in they way as I thought they would.

> Force Feedback and Feel
> Fine.  No problems.  FF is a very subjective and adjustable thing to comment
> on but for me it is fine.  On GP3 you can feel the car, which is nice.

> Software
> Don't ask.  The provided drivers did not work at all on XP, so I downloaded
> the beta test ones, these are good.  The extra control software they supply
> I cannot get to work, which is a pain since I would like to be able to
> re-map some more of the keys in GP3.

> Other bits
> There is no button to turn off the FF effects like there was on the old R4.
> I used to like this as when I had trashed my car in CM2 I could quickly turn
> off FF so I could at least get back to the start with my wrists intact.
> Silly blue light at the front and sides.  The side ones glow brighter when
> you are turning more - Why???

> Any other questions please ask,

> Bob

Bob Mallet

Saitek R440 FF Wheel

by Bob Mallet » Sun, 18 Nov 2001 19:29:53


And I do have a few questions!
or have they reverted to pots?  Their original FF wheel

Don't know and don't want to pull it apart.  However, that being said it no
longer has the "Powered by Microsoft Force Feedback Technology" written on
it, the manual now talks about about "Powered by Immersion TouchSense
Technology"

Approx  95 - 100 degrees from centre each way.

smooth?  Gears or belt or....?

No idea, there is some friction, but without taking it to bits....

the brake and throttle, and how stiff are they relative
Break is stiffer than the accellerator.  They are not very stiff, but due to
their position this is not a problem.  I find it much closer to my road car
than the old pedals.

Some out there are pretty flimsy.

There is no click when on the gear paddles get to their end of travel, but
they have a nice flex them.  The wheel mounted central buttons click ok,
nothing special.

No probs.

Bob


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