rec.autos.simulators

Act Labs RS wheel

Allstarn

Act Labs RS wheel

by Allstarn » Mon, 25 Aug 2003 19:18:38

Has anyone tried this??? I can get this for NZ$50 (about US$25) 2nd hand
from a local pawn shop (Cash Convertors).  It seems to be in good nick , and
the reviews of it on the net seem quite good.

Does anyone know how this runs on XP too??   I saw something about it not
working with a com port connection, but i'm pretty sure the one that I saw
used the game port.

I'm not sure whether it's the 'force feedback' model or not though.

Thanks
Allstarnz

Peter Thorwaldsso

Act Labs RS wheel

by Peter Thorwaldsso » Mon, 25 Aug 2003 19:37:44



I have an Act-labs Formula Force RS, and like it a lot. Even though i know
some people think they are "knotchy".. My wheel have the choice of using USB
or Com-port, and XP only support USB, other than that a very good steering
wheel imho, so i say go for it...

Peter

Aide

Act Labs RS wheel

by Aide » Mon, 25 Aug 2003 19:54:23

Go for it,and you can get an adaptor for it too.

So you can use it with USB.

Win XP is fine with it,please ask if you need any help

AD

Ken Macka

Act Labs RS wheel

by Ken Macka » Tue, 26 Aug 2003 03:09:50

If it has connection for USB go for it.  The older wheels only had a
serial port connection and are not supported under XP.  A USB cartridge
for it goes for US$50 + shipping so it's not a cheap upgrade to USB
 (though there have been some on ebay recently for $30). Plus the newer
USB cartridges don't perform as well as the older serial or serial+USB
cartridges (see the thread from few days ago on the wheel axis
resolution).   Also look for 3 small screws between the spokes on the
hub.  These are reinforcing screws, they had some problems with the
wheel breaking off the hub before these screws were added.

Not trying to scare you off, just wanted to point out some things to
look for.  It's a great wheel with the right cartridge, solid, and very
strong FF effects (probably  why they had to add he reinforcement ;-),
and you can get parts for them if something does break.

Ken


>Go for it,and you can get an adaptor for it too.

>So you can use it with USB.

>Win XP is fine with it,please ask if you need any help

>AD

Ken Macka

Act Labs RS wheel

by Ken Macka » Tue, 26 Aug 2003 06:24:30

Just read this again. If it' the non-FF gameport vesion it still a good
wheel, but definitely not FF with the gameport. AFAIK it uses the same
components as FF version, except the motor  and belts are repaced with a
bungee.  Have both a non-FF and ForceRS here and they are solid wheels.
The gameport version can use a USB cartridge but you need a power supply
as well, but this will of course not give it FF.  Not sure about the
gameport version compatability with XP. There is also the option of
using a gameport->USB adpater.

Ken


>Has anyone tried this??? I can get this for NZ$50 (about US$25) 2nd hand
>from a local pawn shop (Cash Convertors).  It seems to be in good nick , and
>the reviews of it on the net seem quite good.

>Does anyone know how this runs on XP too??   I saw something about it not
>working with a com port connection, but i'm pretty sure the one that I saw
>used the game port.

>I'm not sure whether it's the 'force feedback' model or not though.

>Thanks
>Allstarnz

Allstarn

Act Labs RS wheel

by Allstarn » Tue, 26 Aug 2003 13:21:29

HELP!!!  I got the gameport version of it today.  My hunch is that it won't
work with XP, as I have had trouble with it saying that the controller
wasn't connected.  I used the type of controller that the site told me to
use, but it still won't work.  Any ideas??

I guess I will have to return it :-(

Regards
Allstarnz


Ken MacKa

Act Labs RS wheel

by Ken MacKa » Tue, 26 Aug 2003 20:31:01

Can you get a gameport to USB adapter for a reasonable price at a local
computer/electronics store?  That should allow you to connect it as a USB device
(although some of these adapters give a stepped output). Can you try in on
another system (non XP) to make sure it's working ok?  Sorry, don't have any
experience with XP and gameport connections.

Oh, and try emailing techsupport at actlabs.com, they are usually very helpful,
even with older gear.

Good luck
Ken


> HELP!!!  I got the gameport version of it today.  My hunch is that it won't
> work with XP, as I have had trouble with it saying that the controller
> wasn't connected.  I used the type of controller that the site told me to
> use, but it still won't work.  Any ideas??

> I guess I will have to return it :-(

> Regards
> Allstarnz



>>Has anyone tried this??? I can get this for NZ$50 (about US$25) 2nd hand
>>from a local pawn shop (Cash Convertors).  It seems to be in good nick ,

> and

>>the reviews of it on the net seem quite good.

>>Does anyone know how this runs on XP too??   I saw something about it not
>>working with a com port connection, but i'm pretty sure the one that I saw
>>used the game port.

>>I'm not sure whether it's the 'force feedback' model or not though.

>>Thanks
>>Allstarnz

Aide

Act Labs RS wheel

by Aide » Tue, 26 Aug 2003 20:43:15

It is normal for it to show up as Not Connected with XP.

So dont worry.

What you have to do is the Act Labs Virtual install.

1-Install the drivers from the CD
2-Then plug in the wheel.
3-Check in Game Controllers that it is there but saying Not Connected.
4-Now whilst in Game Controllers click ADD
5-Highlight 2 axis 4 button joystick
6-Install it
7-Now mysteriously your Act Labs changes to OK
8-Now Remove the 2 axis 4 button joystick.

Please note that this routine has been known to work with other choices in
the default list.It is the 2 axis 4 button that is the most popular.Once
this has been done you wont have to do it again.

Ask if you need any further help.

AD

p.s Good place to read is the Act Labs main forum

http://www.act-labs.com/ubbcgi/ultimatebb.cgi?category=1

Allstarn

Act Labs RS wheel

by Allstarn » Wed, 27 Aug 2003 07:02:38


Thanks so much for that.  Does this also apply to the non-FF model, this is
the one I have.  It actually has no XP specific drivers, so I have installed
the 9x ones.  Will try what you said shortly.

Thanks
Allstarnz

Aide

Act Labs RS wheel

by Aide » Wed, 27 Aug 2003 07:17:04

With the non FF and the 9x drivers you do this.

1-Place CD in drive
2-Goto My Computer,select CD drive,choose Explore,highlight the exe,Right
click it and choose Properties,then choose Compatibility,then choose Win98
3-Install,ignoring the warnings

Then do as i said in the earlier post

AD

Allstarn

Act Labs RS wheel

by Allstarn » Wed, 27 Aug 2003 07:36:49


The ACT-Labs one never comes up.  After I have 'installed' the 'drivers'
from the CD the game controllers bit still comes up blank.

The drivers CD i have seems to install the profile manager but not a hell of
a lot else.  There is nothing like a file called 'actlabs.inf' or any sort
of driver file on there which is really confusing.

Perhaps the wheel is broken, but I don't think it should be.

Thanks
Allstarnz

Allstarn

Act Labs RS wheel

by Allstarn » Wed, 27 Aug 2003 07:45:39


I'm just getting the 'new' RS drivers from the ACT-Labs site now, so
hopefully that'll fix it.

Allstarn

Act Labs RS wheel

by Allstarn » Wed, 27 Aug 2003 07:57:35


AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!  It works!!!!!!!!!!  I'm so greatful for your help Aidee.

It says my 2 axis 4 button joystick is OK :-)

One final question.   Do I not need to enable  rudders and pedals??  when i
turn these on it still comes up not connected.

Allstarnz

Aide

Act Labs RS wheel

by Aide » Wed, 27 Aug 2003 09:47:41

NO..lol

Do not enable rudder/pedal :)

One final thing....calibrate them in Game Controllers fairly often.

It isnt too time consuming and makes a difference

Enjoy

Any problems you may have i can assure you there are cheap/quick/simple
fixes about.

Plus a few excellent websites

Just ask

AD

Allstarn

Act Labs RS wheel

by Allstarn » Wed, 27 Aug 2003 09:59:23


I've just been playing it in the following games:

F1 2k, IRL Indycar Series demo - runs great, no problems whatsoever

V8 Supecars (EA Sports). - I can't seem to calibrate this properly at all.
It seems to want to put the handbrake on constantly or drive in rear view.
I've tried using the Act-Labs RS force setup, the 4 button one, and a custom
one and they all seem to go a bit loopy in some way or another.

TOCA Race Driver - This seems to work ok, except that the accelerator seems
to be on the left rather than the right.  It seems to be quite difficult to
callibrate the controls for this too.  Have you got any tips/ have you
played this??

Maybe I should post this as another more general post now.  It seems to be
getting a bit buried down here :-)

Haven't tried other games yet.  Will be interested to see how the NASCAR
games run, especially since they ran like a pig using a keyboard.

Thanks for your help

Allstarnz

PS What's button 1, 2, 3 & 4 on the wheel.  There's lots of buttons that I
can see.  I haven't got around to figuring out that whole macro thing either
yet.  I'll do it when I get some more time.


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