rec.autos.simulators

HELP ME?
i am looking to get a new wheel/pedal.
i understand USB is important, that FF is the way to go, that TSW is
"THE"
wheel - if you can afford it.

here is where YOU come in-
what about the AVB-TopShot system?
what about Saitek R4?

have any of you tried or heard anything about either of these?
if so, what about compared to TSW?

all opinions welcome! the wordier the better...
thx
Bo Bruce

The Act Labs Force RS has my vote. Rated highly and with a strong
FF motor. The diameter is small but the grip is great,  have sweaty
palms when racing (wonder why?) and the grip stays secure. It will
work with USB or a serial port. Some difficulty now with WIN 95 and
DX7, but this will be solved soon as the company is VERY responsive
to our troubles. Great product, great price. $139 + $15 for U.S.
ground shipping. Pedals are awesome, too. Check it out at:
http://www.actlab.com/

Dave Rogers

Master of racing- faster than none! (Still fun...)

The following is copied from my post to a similar question on the GPL
mailing list:

I wouldn:t really recommend the Saitek R4 Force coming off a T1 or T2.  I
tried to make that switch but it failed miserably.  I was quite used to
having lots of pedal travel on my T2 and sadly, since its a TM product, lots
of pedal related problems.  So I bought a refurbished R4 Force for dirt
cheap and tried for about a month.  Now I am back driving the T2 now in GPL.
I could just not get accustomed to the miniscule amount pedal travel on the
R4 (actually a bit less than the travel on the MSFF even though they are
basically the same wheel on the inside).  However, I do race some other sims
on occasion and I toss the T2 aside and hock-up the R4 for ALL OTHER SIMS
(e.g. SCGT, N3, the bike sims and some lesser car sims).  I think the R4 is
a great wheel, very comfortable and stylish w/ buttons and paddles,
slit-axis pedals, FF, etc.  Nice package.  Just too damn hard to drive in
GPL--at least for me.  GPL is far more sensitive than other sims, it seems.
I suppose if it were your first wheel you could get used to it and wouldn't
know the difference.  I was still fast with the R4, just not comfortable
with the pedals.

Joe Rudynski

ICQ 3002944

"The point is, people who are threatened by jokes are the same people who
tend to refer to actors on soap operas by their character's name.  Listen,
there's the 'joke world' and there's the 'real world'. The 'joke world' can
get tough.  Wear a cup." -- Dennis Miller