rec.autos.simulators

my impressions of it (in case you were wondering) is i like it....
yes alot of plastic, but isn't everything? :)

its USB or serial
installation was easy,
i-force technology so its not a bungee driven wheel!

the wheel itself is VERY attractive,
it has paddel shifters AND a stick (it has a nice feel, but i find i
have to reach for it a bit)
it also has paddles at the wheel if you would prefer to
accelerate/brake with your hands.

on the wheel face, there are 4 conviniently located buttons. 2 ( a
left & right) are mini 'hats' - that is 4 directional. very nice to
look left/right.

the other 2 buttons are smaller but again make fora nice 'clutch' and
arm raiser.

the foot peddles are comfortable- not much resistance and no
difference beteween gas - brake resistance, but i'm ok with them.

my experience with other devices include
T1-T2-nascar Pro and the AVBtech FF wheels.

with time -trial & error, i'm close to the dampening-torque-latency
settings, but i wanted to compare with someone-

thanks

% the foot peddles are comfortable- not much resistance and no
% difference beteween gas - brake resistance, but i'm ok with them.

There is alot of travel in the gas pedal which can lead to finer control
of the throttle once one gets the feel for it.

% with time -trial & error, i'm close to the dampening-torque-latency
% settings, but i wanted to compare with someone-

Everyone seems to have a different preferred setting.  I also have set
the deadzones for the axis to 0.  I don't recall which of the two pedals
actually has a default deadzone in the middle of it's travel.  

All gains set to 100% and spring centering set to 0%

core.ini settings:
force_feedback_latency = 0.001000
force_feedback_damping = 150.000000
max_steering_torque = 330.000000  

Your initial settings maybe way off from the ones you eventually settle
for as the wheel breaks in, you will probably need to tweak your
settings a little.

--
**************************** Michael E. Carver *************************
     Upside out, or inside down...False alarm the only game in town.

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=<[ /./.  [-  < ]>=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Then, you have to decide whether you want to go for realism in your settings
or not.  Some people prefer the lots of feedback approach even if it isn't
programmed into the game....you can get that by cranking up the core.ini
settings.

Latency is machine specific.  USB is way faster than serial and both need to
be calibrated to the speed of your CPU.

Lastly, you have to deal with a major flaw in the wheel (which may affect
all IForce wheels, I am not sure) which is that the subtle forces (the ones
GPL does so well comparatively) can only be felt when you turn the wheel.
If you drive straight, say across a stretch of grass, it will feel like you
are driving on glass.  Turn the wheel while driving on the grass and you get
the small vibration effect that owners of MS wheels and other wheels get
even when they don't turn their wheels.

For your info. my settings are as follows:

damping - 210
latency - .02
torque - 275

Hope this helps,

Marc.