rec.autos.simulators

Andrew.

In the game controllers applet in control panel try un/checking the "poll with
interrupts enabled" to see if that helps.

What controller are you using?  If it something you can modify, using smaller
value pots, good quality pots, good shielding on the cables, shorter cables and
routing cables away from sources of interference will help.  Also use the low
end of the resistance range of the pot (e.g. 0-50KOhm is better that 50-100KOhm).

Actlabs also sell a dedicated gameport card (LPDI?), but this is ISA only, so
not much use on modern motherboards.

There are gameport to USB converters, but from what I've heard the output is
stepped (only about a 100 points for each axis).

HTH
Ken

the gameport is an issue that is semi well known issue in WinXP and or
win2k, I do not think it matters what soundcard you have...

Now if you have 98 this is less of a problem, and after checking what Ken
says below (unchecking polls with interrupts in came controllers in control
panel) then the 3rd most common problem probably is that the electrical
component called a Potentiometer (pot for short) is dirty or worn.  Dirty
can be cleaned, with Electrical Contact Cleaner, I used to clean my
Thrustmaster once a month (or every 20-  hours of use?)

one other chance you can evade the erratic reading problem, assuming the
pots are fine, with a serial to USB adapter, but NOT the one from
Radioshack!!!

Im assuming your also talking about a wheel in your post, but really
shouldn't matter.

here is what is printed at the Thomas Superwheel website, I also read this
about this from Microsoft and their wheels & joysticks that use Gameport
only, are worthless in XP and 2k for most anyway.  BELOW sniplet, has to do
with if you try a gameport to USB adapter, I think you could relate their
findings to any wheel actually, and the fact that they point out that using
gameport is not very successful, for most users...  These wheels are of good
quality from everyone I know that has them, just fyi.

I personally love my MS FF wheel, USB version, no spikes (but the FF-SW does
have its quirks!)  they are cheap too, No pots they use optic sensors like
the mouse.  All MS controllers have been discontinued BTW.

Hope this helps ya

----- from http://www.thomas-superwheel.com/

We've made some changes to the information on this site regarding SPEC
potentiometers and compatibility with Windows XP and the USB Adapter. To
clarify the situation: The majority of Windows XP/2000 users have
experienced erratic behavior using the game port to connect their TSW or
TSW2. Some people have been lucky and have not needed the USB adapter, but
most will need to use the USB adapter to get stable behavior. For new
customers, we always highly recommend getting the USB adapter if you use
Windows XP/2000 since you don't want to get your new wheel and not be able
to use it. If you already have a TSW/TSW2, and upgrade to Windows XP/2000,
then it's worth trying your wheel with the gameport first, then buy the USB
adapter if needed.

Further complicating the USB/Windows XP issue is the fact that the USB
adapter is meant to work with 250k ohm potentiometers, and will exhibit
"stepped" behavior if you use a 50k or 100k potentiometer with it. To solve
this problem we make a converter that allows you to use the longer lasting
SPEC potentiometers, which are 50k ohms, with the USB adapter. The SPEC
Converter is available as an internal kit for the TSW2, or as an external
pass-through cable which works with both the TSW and TSW2. The external is
more expensive, but easier to install. Both internal and external function
exactly the same.

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