rec.autos.simulators

by **Sid Chappl** » Wed, 19 Aug 1998 04:00:00

Any one got a Digital Edge F1 Sim wheel and pedals?I am looking to get a new
wheel and pedal unit,up to $500 Aus,can't afford a Hyperstimulator, the old
T2's getting old and tired.
The F1 Sim looks ok but i was hoping someone might have one and let me know
what they think of it.Can it be switched to two axis for acceleration and
braking?
Sid.

by **Pete** » Wed, 19 Aug 1998 04:00:00

> Any one got a Digital Edge F1 Sim wheel and pedals?I am looking to get a new
> wheel and pedal unit,up to $500 Aus,can't afford a Hyperstimulator, the old
> T2's getting old and tired.
> The F1 Sim looks ok but i was hoping someone might have one and let me know
> what they think of it.Can it be switched to two axis for acceleration and
> braking?
> Sid.

I've been using one for almost 2 years now - all I can say is it has
stood up to the punishment extremely well. The mounting is great, none
of the messing about clamping and unclamping, 2 thumbscrew things and
the wheel's off the desk. I would say however that I do clamp the fron
to the baseboard to the desk permenantly with the monitor sitting on the
back.

Make sure you go for the full version though, the compact, whilst the
blue wheel looks cool has plastic pedals which aren't as strong as the
steel ones in the full version.

When it comes to adjustment the setup is superb, switching between one
and two axes for the pedals is done using a switch in the pedal box. It
means opening the box but it is designed for this and the instructions
step you through it well. The pedals themselves can be adjusted for
travel and "foot off" position. Another suggestion - place something
between the pedal box and the wall or something solid to stop it sliding
away from you when you hit the brake. I found that whilst the pedal box
didn't slide too badly on the carpet it was enough to be annoying.

All in all I would say that it was a good investment, to the point where
I would probably replace it with another if that was ever necessary.

by **Paul Jone** » Wed, 19 Aug 1998 04:00:00

Sid,
The Digital Edge F1 Sim is a well built wheel which is extremely steady across
the axes - they must use top quality pots. They do a cheap model which is
nowhere near as good - don't get get confused - they look pretty similar. I
don't like the steering very much - I don't know how they do the springs but
it's all done in a thin tube and doesn't centre nearly as well as a Thrustmaster
F1 or even a GP1. Also the table mounting is odd - it basically attaches to a
board which goes under the monitor. This makes 2 player races tricky and also
moves a bit when you turn hard. They heavier your monitor - the better - if you
got a 14 or 15 inch one you'll have to think of another method of attachment.
The pedals are deep and smooth but there's not enough room on the platform for
your heels so you have to pad in up with books or something which inevitably
shift about a bit as you drive. There is no apparent separate/combined switch on
the F1 Sim - there is on the Thrustmaster F1. Having said that on the ACM game
card's utility the Y2 axes does show some activity - quite whether this means
that installation of separate Y1/Y2 axes is easy, I'm not at all sure.
I prefer a Thrustmaster F1 for actual racing but a Digital Edge will outlive it.

Having said all this my TSW Sport has just arrived and that has quite
superlative steering. I've one or two other problems that need to be resolved
with Thomas Enterprises before I can give that the definitive thumbs up. I'll
post to the group once these are sorted (or not!!).
What is a Hyperstimulator?
Paul

> Any one got a Digital Edge F1 Sim wheel and pedals?I am looking to get a new
> wheel and pedal unit,up to $500 Aus,can't afford a Hyperstimulator, the old
> T2's getting old and tired.
> The F1 Sim looks ok but i was hoping someone might have one and let me know
> what they think of it.Can it be switched to two axis for acceleration and
> braking?
> Sid.

by **Sid Chappl** » Wed, 19 Aug 1998 04:00:00

Thanks for the information,it seems the F1 Sim is a good wheel,I think i
will end up getting one of them.As for the Hyperstimulator go here and
drool. http://www.hyperstim.com/
Sid.

>Sid,
>The Digital Edge F1 Sim is a well built wheel which is extremely steady
across
>the axes - they must use top quality pots. They do a cheap model which is
>nowhere near as good - don't get get confused - they look pretty similar. I
>don't like the steering very much - I don't know how they do the springs
but
>it's all done in a thin tube and doesn't centre nearly as well as a
Thrustmaster
>F1 or even a GP1. Also the table mounting is odd - it basically attaches to
a
>board which goes under the monitor. This makes 2 player races tricky and
also
>moves a bit when you turn hard. They heavier your monitor - the better - if
you
>got a 14 or 15 inch one you'll have to think of another method of
attachment.
>The pedals are deep and smooth but there's not enough room on the platform
for
>your heels so you have to pad in up with books or something which
inevitably
>shift about a bit as you drive. There is no apparent separate/combined
switch on
>the F1 Sim - there is on the Thrustmaster F1. Having said that on the ACM
game
>card's utility the Y2 axes does show some activity - quite whether this
means
>that installation of separate Y1/Y2 axes is easy, I'm not at all sure.
>I prefer a Thrustmaster F1 for actual racing but a Digital Edge will
outlive it.

>Having said all this my TSW Sport has just arrived and that has quite
>superlative steering. I've one or two other problems that need to be
resolved
>with Thomas Enterprises before I can give that the definitive thumbs up.
I'll
>post to the group once these are sorted (or not!!).
>What is a Hyperstimulator?
>Paul

by **Remco Moe** » Wed, 19 Aug 1998 04:00:00

Hi Paul, Sid,

I've got a F1 Sim. I'll add some comments.

Remco

>Sid,
>The Digital Edge F1 Sim is a well built wheel which is extremely steady across
>the axes - they must use top quality pots. They do a cheap model which is
>nowhere near as good - don't get get confused - they look pretty similar. I
>don't like the steering very much - I don't know how they do the springs but
>it's all done in a thin tube and doesn't centre nearly as well as a Thrustmaster
>F1 or even a GP1.

I agree so far. There is now a new version, which seems to center
better. Also available as an upgrade. I've not played with it, though.

Well, I like this base board. It's a bit annoying to install, compared
to a clamp system, but it works really well. Much better than the TM
T1 I used.

I agree.

Well, I got one switch. You 've to open the pedal unit to reach it.
There seems to be some models without one. Be warned, the separate
axis mode doesn't work well in Windows95/98 DirectX 5.x. (I don't know
about DirectX 6.0) It does work very well in GP2 and GPL(demo).

Thrustmaster has good support, so I don't think that's an isue. I
prefer the DE F1, I like the pedals, which are adjustable, and the
paddles for changing gears. Futher more, it's possible to grow with
DE. Look at: http://www.interactiveracing.com/

Great! Keep us posted about your TSW. I'm interested in the
differences between the TWS and the DE F1.

The ultimate controler, and also priced like that. (cheapest model >
American $1000 )

Look at: http://www.hyperstim.com/

>Paul

>> Any one got a Digital Edge F1 Sim wheel and pedals?I am looking to get a new
>> wheel and pedal unit,up to $500 Aus,can't afford a Hyperstimulator, the old
>> T2's getting old and tired.
>> The F1 Sim looks ok but i was hoping someone might have one and let me know
>> what they think of it.Can it be switched to two axis for acceleration and
>> braking?
>> Sid.

by **Paul Moone** » Wed, 19 Aug 1998 04:00:00

I took a sim compact to bits to fix it. Inside, the construction quality is
very rough. Centering is by a thick *** "sock" which is fixed at each
end. At one end it is fixed to the case, at the other end to the steering
shaft.

As far as the pedals are concerned, I mounted my sim compact ones on a wood
frame which raised the angle of the pedals up to about 45 degs relative to
the floor. They doesn't scoot away so much now (Nailing the whole thing to
the floor helped too!

I don't use the base board. I just screwed the thing to the table thro' the
three holes in the flange at the end of the steering tube

by **Lawrence Edward** » Wed, 19 Aug 1998 04:00:00

Hi Remco

>>What is a Hyperstimulator?

Have you seen the ECCI CDS4000 Monza at US$ 1,299 plus shipping? <g>

Check out http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/extreme/

I'm using a GP500 by the way, which was the predecessor to the F1 SIM. It's
still going strong after some fairly intensive use and limited maintenance.
I'm also hoping to upgrade to the new centering system when available.

Lawrence

by **Nathan Wo** » Thu, 20 Aug 1998 04:00:00

On Tue, 18 Aug 1998 11:36:24 +0100, Paul Jones

>What is a Hyperstimulator?
>Paul

www.hyperstim.com
careful not to drool on your keyboard when you see them
--
Nathan Wong http://www.nectar.com.au/~alfacors
- Super Touring - Alfa Romeo -

- V8Supercars - CART -

by **Dave** » Fri, 21 Aug 1998 04:00:00

Sid...
You could always fit your T2 to the bath tub and make believe you have a
Hyperstimulator!!!

Alternatively.. you could take a serious look at supporting a great Aussie
product-- the Advantage1: Competition Driving System --highly recommended by
NASS'98 BGN points leader Greg Colgan.

Go! Greg Go! - the home page of a simulator racer
http://www.alphalink.com.au/~colgan

Advantage1 - Competition Driving Systems
http://www.ferrarodesign.com.au

---------------------------------------------------------

>Any one got a Digital Edge F1 Sim wheel and pedals?I am looking to get a
new
>wheel and pedal unit,up to $500 Aus,can't afford a Hyperstimulator, the old
>T2's getting old and tired.
>The F1 Sim looks ok but i was hoping someone might have one and let me know
>what they think of it.Can it be switched to two axis for acceleration and
>braking?
>Sid.

by **TAD S** » Sat, 22 Aug 1998 04:00:00

I've had my F1 Sim for a couple of weeks now. Seems well constructed, I love
the mounting system for the wheel, my 19" monitor hold's it down great! The
pedal box seems sturdy but oddly designed.
The steering doesn't center very well either.
The steering and pedals seem to have great feel.
With all that said, I feel I got my money's worth and I would purchase another.

Tad