rec.autos.simulators

Actlabs Force RS: first impression

Tim Vanhe

Actlabs Force RS: first impression

by Tim Vanhe » Wed, 17 May 2000 04:00:00

I ordered my Actlabs Friday and I already got it today. So the service is
good.

But why is the feedback so shaky? It's not feeling natural to me. It doesn't
give a fluid feedback and the subtile forces are hardly felt.
The pedals are way to insensitive. You can't modulate the throttle or brake.
They are not smooth, it's like they're grinding somewhere.
And that's not the worts part. Why does my framerate in gpl drop from a rock
solid 36fps in the middle of a race with my home made wheel to 24fps in
practice with the Actlabs???? (I didn't even dare to start a race yet.) Come
on! Is this normal for FF? I have a Celeron 550 with a TNT2. The wheel is
connected via the USB port. HELP!! I find 36fps way more important than FF.

My previous wheels where a T2 (totally worn out) and my home made***pit,
there was always something that broke down but the steering was great and
the pedals where made of wood but where feeling great. You had to put weight
on the brake pedal and the throttle was looong and very sensitive. I don't
know what Actlabs mean with 'everything else is just a toy'. Is the rest so
bad? If I can make an entire***pit  for less than 150$, why can't big
manufacturers make realistic feeling wheels for 270$??

I hope these are just my first impressions and I'll grow into it.
Please help me out of my trouble!

Scott B. Huste

Actlabs Force RS: first impression

by Scott B. Huste » Wed, 17 May 2000 04:00:00

Tim,

I use the ACT-LABS RS and RS Shifter as my primary wheel.  I have a Celeron 450
and can maintain 36fps with a Voodoo3 card and 128mb of SDRAM.   You shouldn't
see that kind of framerate drop due to FF effects.  I am also using the USB
connection.

The pedals are 'notchy' but they do smooth out as you use them.  Also someone,
please forgive me for forgetting his name, has an excellent article(s) on
slightly modifying and/or lubricating the ACT-LABs pedal units.  I haven't
performed any of them, but the instructions are well done and seem easy to do.
You may want to check them out if he sees this and posts the link.

As far as FF effects, the RS wheel has one of the strongest and best effects of
any of the FF wheels on the market, so you probably need to mess with your
settings in the .ini file until you get them set to your preferences.  Also make
sure you have the wheel FF settings in the properties set up correctly.  GPL FF
effects are some of the best out there and the ACT-LAB wheel works extremely
well with it.

$270 for an Act-Labs RS wheel?  I hope that isn't US Dollars as I believe you
can get the RS and RS shifter combo for like $189 at the AL website.

Im at work and don't have my GPL FF settings available, but Im sure some racers
can post their settings for you.

Good luck!

Scott
PA-Scott
PowerSims.com

--
Scott B. Husted
ICQ# 4395450

Tim Vanhe

Actlabs Force RS: first impression

by Tim Vanhe » Wed, 17 May 2000 04:00:00



Well It does, so...    :(       Would using my serial port help?

I know, it's GTX slotcar. www.slottweak.com
I'm planning on modifying them.

You're right: 189$ is the price on the site but ad another 40$ for shipping
and 40.25$ taxes.
I live in Belgium and it has been shipped from Germany, only a few 100 km
away.Long live the european union!

Tim Vanhe

Actlabs Force RS: first impression

by Tim Vanhe » Wed, 17 May 2000 04:00:00

Frame rate problem solved!
I changed my core.ini, but in core.ini.sample my mirror refresh rates are
still the original ones. I got the original core.ini back and added the FF
lines.





> > Tim,

> > I use the ACT-LABS RS and RS Shifter as my primary wheel.  I have a
> Celeron 450
> > and can maintain 36fps with a Voodoo3 card and 128mb of SDRAM.   You
> shouldn't
> > see that kind of framerate drop due to FF effects.  I am also using the
> USB
> > connection.

> Well It does, so...    :(       Would using my serial port help?

> > The pedals are 'notchy' but they do smooth out as you use them.  Also
> someone,
> > please forgive me for forgetting his name, has an excellent article(s)
on
> > slightly modifying and/or lubricating the ACT-LABs pedal units.  I
haven't
> > performed any of them, but the instructions are well done and seem easy
to
> do.
> > You may want to check them out if he sees this and posts the link.

> I know, it's GTX slotcar. www.slottweak.com
> I'm planning on modifying them.

> > As far as FF effects, the RS wheel has one of the strongest and best
> effects of
> > any of the FF wheels on the market, so you probably need to mess with
your
> > settings in the .ini file until you get them set to your preferences.
> Also make
> > sure you have the wheel FF settings in the properties set up correctly.
> GPL FF
> > effects are some of the best out there and the ACT-LAB wheel works
> extremely
> > well with it.

> > $270 for an Act-Labs RS wheel?  I hope that isn't US Dollars as I
believe
> you
> > can get the RS and RS shifter combo for like $189 at the AL website.

> You're right: 189$ is the price on the site but ad another 40$ for
shipping
> and 40.25$ taxes.
> I live in Belgium and it has been shipped from Germany, only a few 100 km
> away.Long live the european union!

> > Im at work and don't have my GPL FF settings available, but Im sure some
> racers
> > can post their settings for you.

> > Good luck!

> > Scott
> > PA-Scott
> > PowerSims.com

> > --
> > Scott B. Husted
> > ICQ# 4395450

GTX_SlotCa

Actlabs Force RS: first impression

by GTX_SlotCa » Thu, 18 May 2000 04:00:00

Scott, I'm not a sensitive guy, but ouch  ;-)  If I send you a set of
modified pedals, do you think you'd remember me?

--

Slot
www.slottweak.com
Tweaks & Reviews



Scott B. Huste

Actlabs Force RS: first impression

by Scott B. Huste » Thu, 18 May 2000 04:00:00

Hey, its worth a shot!  <VBG> ;)

--
Scott B. Husted
ICQ #4395450

Editor in Chief
PowerSims.com

> Scott, I'm not a sensitive guy, but ouch  ;-)  If I send you a set of
> modified pedals, do you think you'd remember me?

> --

> Slot
> www.slottweak.com
> Tweaks & Reviews



> > Tim,

> > I use the ACT-LABS RS and RS Shifter as my primary wheel.  I have a
> Celeron 450
> > and can maintain 36fps with a Voodoo3 card and 128mb of SDRAM.   You
> shouldn't
> > see that kind of framerate drop due to FF effects.  I am also using the
> USB
> > connection.

> > The pedals are 'notchy' but they do smooth out as you use them.  Also
> someone,
> > please forgive me for forgetting his name, has an excellent article(s)
on
> > slightly modifying and/or lubricating the ACT-LABs pedal units.  I
haven't
> > performed any of them, but the instructions are well done and seem easy
to
> do.
> > You may want to check them out if he sees this and posts the link.

> > As far as FF effects, the RS wheel has one of the strongest and best
> effects of
> > any of the FF wheels on the market, so you probably need to mess with
your
> > settings in the .ini file until you get them set to your preferences.
> Also make
> > sure you have the wheel FF settings in the properties set up correctly.
> GPL FF
> > effects are some of the best out there and the ACT-LAB wheel works
> extremely
> > well with it.

> > $270 for an Act-Labs RS wheel?  I hope that isn't US Dollars as I
believe
> you
> > can get the RS and RS shifter combo for like $189 at the AL website.

> > Im at work and don't have my GPL FF settings available, but Im sure some
> racers
> > can post their settings for you.

> > Good luck!

> > Scott
> > PA-Scott
> > PowerSims.com

> > --
> > Scott B. Husted
> > ICQ# 4395450


1. ACTLABS Force RS & RS Shifter.

2. ActLabs Force RS Wheel

3. Actlab Force RS Wheel

4. Anyone try the Actlabs Force RS yet?

5. ACTLABS Force RS

6. Actlab Force RS in NL

7. ACTLABS Force RS wheel. Best in EVERY review.

8. GPL : Prob with direct input and ActLabs Force RS Wheel

9. FF Wheel Logitech or ACTLabs Force RS

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