rec.autos.simulators

The UC has F1 type shifting.

Jack

: Greetings race fans,

: Certainly this question should qualify as a FAQ, but while I can find FAQs
: for both F1GP and ICR, I have not seen one for general
: rec.autos.simulators questions.

: I am contemplating the idea of buying a Steering Wheel/Pedal kit for my PC
: to use with both ICR and F1GP (and eventually NASCAR and F1GP 2, etc etc).
: I have heard simple "its good" type comments about the Thrustmaster T1 and
: the "Universal***pit" by Simulation Systems, but I have not seen details
: for either of these (or other) Wheel/Pedal controllers (I'm not counting
: the Virtual Pilot in this category).

: I am looking for the wheel that most closely resembles a F1 wheel,
: preferably complete with buttons for gear/traction control.  I am looking
: for pedals that are close together, and that offer some resistance
: (especially the brake). I'm willing to spend a little dough for high
: quality--I don't want Nintendo-quality controls. Does what I want exist?

: Could someone(s) take a few minutes to describe in as much detail as they
: can, their knowlege of the T1 and/or the***pit, and any experience you
: may have had with it. What do they have, what can they do, how do they
: feel/respond, what shortcomings or problems, etc and so on. If you could
: referene magazine reviews that would be fantastic.

: What is the cost of both these units?  Where can you get them (in the US),
: for no local dealer where I live carries them.

: I will take carefull notes, and collect the information for use in a FAQ
: for the group, if in fact one is ever created...at the least I will
: summarize everything here.

: Thanks in advance.

: James
--
** **   ** ***** **    ** *****    ***    *****   Jack Durbin
** **** ** **  ** **  **  **      ** **   **  **  Tallahassee, Florida

** **   ** *****    **    ***** **     ** **   **

Certainly this question should qualify as a FAQ, but while I can find FAQs
for both F1GP and ICR, I have not seen one for general
rec.autos.simulators questions.

I am contemplating the idea of buying a Steering Wheel/Pedal kit for my PC
to use with both ICR and F1GP (and eventually NASCAR and F1GP 2, etc etc).
I have heard simple "its good" type comments about the Thrustmaster T1 and
the "Universal***pit" by Simulation Systems, but I have not seen details
for either of these (or other) Wheel/Pedal controllers (I'm not counting
the Virtual Pilot in this category).

I am looking for the wheel that most closely resembles a F1 wheel,
preferably complete with buttons for gear/traction control.  I am looking
for pedals that are close together, and that offer some resistance
(especially the brake). I'm willing to spend a little dough for high
quality--I don't want Nintendo-quality controls. Does what I want exist?

Could someone(s) take a few minutes to describe in as much detail as they
can, their knowlege of the T1 and/or the***pit, and any experience you
may have had with it. What do they have, what can they do, how do they
feel/respond, what shortcomings or problems, etc and so on. If you could
referene magazine reviews that would be fantastic.

What is the cost of both these units?  Where can you get them (in the US),
for no local dealer where I live carries them.

I will take carefull notes, and collect the information for use in a FAQ
for the group, if in fact one is ever created...at the least I will
summarize everything here.

Thanks in advance.

James

: Could someone(s) take a few minutes to describe in as much detail as they
: can, their knowlege of the T1 and/or the***pit, and any experience you
: may have had with it. What do they have, what can they do, how do they
: feel/respond, what shortcomings or problems, etc and so on. If you could
: referene magazine reviews that would be fantastic.

I am using a Thrustmaster T1 that I recently purchased;  I have it hooked
up to my HP workstation, rather than a PC, so I can't comment about
PC simulator support for the thing, but I do have some favorable comments
about the unit itself.

The Wheel offers nice resistance, and turns rougly 180 degrees either
way.  The Gas/break pedals are really 'rollers'; freely turning rollers
attached to the 'arm' of the pedal.  This provides for nice, smooth
pedal action.  The pedals have a fair amount of resistance; they spring
back quickly when you remove your foot, but are not too hard to keep
pressed down.

The accuracy of the T1 is really quite good (at least so far).  They
seemed to have used fairly accurate pots, which are pretty good about
returning to center when you release the wheel/pedals.  My only complaint
here is that they used 256k ohm pots (2 of them in serial for the brake)
which caused a bit of difficulty for the application I was using, but
should be transparent to most PC games.

: What is the cost of both these units?  Where can you get them (in the US),
: for no local dealer where I live carries them.

I paid ~160.00 for the T1 at Baggage's (a PC/video game type store in our
local mall).   I don't know about getting these things mail order.  
The list price (on a flyer from Thrustmaster) was $175,  I think.

: I will take carefull notes, and collect the information for use in a FAQ
: for the group, if in fact one is ever created...at the least I will
: summarize everything here.

Norman Gee