rec.autos.simulators

Folks,

     I've had a TSW for six months now. As equipped,
it would cost about $650.00 dollars today. Back then
it was $440.00.
     The wiring was stretched drum tight, soldering
was poor, cable to the PC is much too short, (less
then 5 feet), and the steering tension has loosened
to a degree that it is costing me 2-3 mph on the
super speedways. (I wasn't sure if it was the TSW or
the GNEP for N2 but put in a lot of laps this weekend
to find out). I compared my TSW with a Thrustmaster GP
wheel my buddy got for Christmas, and ran better laps
because the GP wheel was much tighter and my lines were
more precise. Now I know that the GP will eventually
break and the TSW probably won't, but still I didn't
expect to run better with the GP.
          Back to the TSW. I had to add washers to the
paddle-shifter contact points to increase the contact
area. I was blowing engines due to missed shifts when
the contacts came out of alignment (which happened often).
There were pieces of wire sticking out of the solder
joints that were very close to shorting out with nearby
neighbors. I trimmed them down and replaced one wire that
was so tight it prevented the stick-shift from completing
it's throw. Trevor is aware of the wiring problems and I
suspect that that is no longer a problem. (The steering
tension remains unresolved as no one from TSW has answered
my numerous emails, perhaps my anti-spam bypass is being
missed but the situation is beginning to irk me).
          Overall it's a good unit, but when I can get
better lap times with a Thrustmaster (due to steering
tension), why not buy two of them for 25% of the price
of a TSW, or two of the Nascar Pro wheels? That way you
have a spare when the inevitable breakdown occurs. (Note
that the Thrustmaster I tested against did not have the
pedals but only cost about $60.00). There were enough
buttons, plus two paddles, which I opted to use for gas
and brake to give me everything the TSW has.
          If you're in the market for a top-of-line wheel
and pedal controller be sure and look at the ECCI units as
well. They appear to be an equivalent or better option today.
When I bought the TSW the ECCI was $300.00 more, but TSW
has raised the prices (new factory?) to the point where I
can't recommend the TSW as the superior alternative it was
last July. He has a new model coming out to compete with
the Thrustmasters that may be a better buy. We'll have to
wait and see.

TSW Web Site: http://www.racesimcentral.net/~thomas/
ECCI Web Site: http://www.racesimcentral.net/

Trevor, if you read this please contact me, and watch the
anti-spam. I need to figure out what happened to my TSW!

 Rich Koehler

 Anti-spam: (change rgko3hl3r to rgkoehler)

Folks,

     I've had a TSW for six months now. As equipped,
it would cost about $650.00 dollars today. Back then
it was $440.00.
     The wiring was stretched drum tight, soldering
was poor, cable to the PC is much too short, (less
then 5 feet), and the steering tension has loosened
to a degree that it is costing me 2-3 mph on the
super speedways. (I wasn't sure if it was the TSW or
the GNEP for N2 but put in a lot of laps this weekend
to find out). I compared my TSW with a Thrustmaster GP
wheel my buddy got for Christmas, and ran better laps
because the GP wheel was much tighter and my lines were
more precise. Now I know that the GP will eventually
break and the TSW probably won't, but still I didn't
expect to run better with the GP.
          Back to the TSW. I had to add washers to the
paddle-shifter contact points to increase the contact
area. I was blowing engines due to missed shifts when
the contacts came out of alignment (which happened often).
There were pieces of wire sticking out of the solder
joints that were very close to shorting out with nearby
neighbors. I trimmed them down and replaced one wire that
was so tight it prevented the stick-shift from completing
it's throw. Trevor is aware of the wiring problems and I
suspect that that is no longer a problem. (The steering
tension remains unresolved as no one from TSW has answered
my numerous emails, perhaps my anti-spam bypass is being
missed but the situation is beginning to irk me).
          Overall it's a good unit, but when I can get
better lap times with a Thrustmaster (due to steering
tension), why not buy two of them for 25% of the price
of a TSW, or two of the Nascar Pro wheels? That way you
have a spare when the inevitable breakdown occurs. (Note
that the Thrustmaster I tested against did not have the
pedals but only cost about $60.00). There were enough
buttons, plus two paddles, which I opted to use for gas
and brake to give me everything the TSW has.
          If you're in the market for a top-of-line wheel
and pedal controller be sure and look at the ECCI units as
well. They appear to be an equivalent or better option today.
When I bought the TSW the ECCI was $300.00 more, but TSW
has raised the prices (new factory?) to the point where I
can't recommend the TSW as the superior alternative it was
last July. He has a new model coming out to compete with
the Thrustmasters that may be a better buy. We'll have to
wait and see.

TSW Web Site: http://soli.inav.net/~thomas/
ECCI Web Site: http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/extreme/

Trevor, if you read this please contact me, and watch the
anti-spam. I need to figure out what happened to my TSW!

 Rich Koehler

 Anti-spam: (change rgko3hl3r to rgkoehler)

I hope the one I have on order is of higher quality! You are the first
one I've heard of who has had complaints about the TSW products.
Hopefully yours is just a lemon. Don't they come with a lifetime
warranty though? Seems like you could call TSW and get it repaired. I
can only speak for myself, but I've not had any difficulty reaching them
by phone. These probs don't sound like normal wear and tear so they
would most likely take care of it for you. Good luck, and let us know
how it turns out.
                                                     Ken
The Game Pad
http://gamepad.org/

Mine's 1 year old with none of the previous mentioned problems.  With
the exception that I also feel that the cable to the PC is too short.
Trevor has always promptly answered my email.

--
 - kc
using OUI 1.8 Beta 8

Well i have owned my tsw for over three months now and have had no
problems what so ever.
The wiring appears to be very good and the contacts on the paddle
shifters work perfect every time.
The cable to the computer is a little to short but i can live with
that.
The steering tension is the same as it was the day i got it in fact so
is everything else i haven't noticed any degradation of any of the
components.
The price has just gone up i paid $345 for mine it would now cost $395
but i think this is the first price increase since they first starting
making them.
I would definitely give trevor a call i am sure he will be willing to
fix the unit for you.

                                Harley Peters

I can't believe that that guy had problems getting support from
Trevor. I have a TSW from the second batch made (one of the first 20
or so) and it has worked great and except for pot replacements has
been a joy to own. Trev always responds to me in less than 24 hours.
The whole basis of their company is service so I am surprised at the
other gentleman's experience.

Jeff Haas

While I unfortanely am not the proud owner of a TSW -- yet -- I have to
agree with Ken. I have emailed Trevor a few times, asking for info on the
TSW, info on the TSW2, etc. He has always kindly replied to me very
quickly, even on the weekends. Hard to get that kind of service anywhere
these days. I'm very impressed with them, and my next wheel purchase will
be from them.
--
Don Burnette
I-65 Racing
Dburn on Ten

Over one year of daily use with my TSW and it's still as tight and fresh as
the day it arrived.

Patrick.
--
PatrickO on TEN/NROS
The #57 Sunny Delight Ford Thunderbird
Shamrock Racing Enterprises
ICQ# 3369494
(Remove the obvious from my return address)