rec.autos.simulators

TSW2, you will not regret it.  Order with the split pedal option or go for the
gusto with a TSW2 modified or formula.  Look around, it's clearly the best wheel
for the money.  Here's the site:

 Thomas Super Wheels

a) When I hit the brake the car pulls to the left &often into the fence!
(can see it in the calibration screen in GPL & Win 98)
b) Using Direct input (which is the only way to get all 6 "buttons" to
work - Buttons for view left & right, Remote shift for gears & one of the F!
paddles for clutch) the steering response is very jerky with the drivers
arms flicking about uncontrollably all over the place with even small
steering input - visually very off putting)
c) The car has a tendency to "jump" to the left every so often on a
straight.
d) In the Win 98 calibration (& also GPL calibration screen the cross hair
is jumping about a good deal after I've calibrated it. Also the calibrations
for brakes is definitly a bit didgy - sometimes I get only 50% ish braking
power - not enough to slow the car down, never mind lock the front wheels!

I've tried the drivers that came with it, the newest drivers off the Saitek
web site & creating a "custom controller under Win 98 all to no avail.

I'm using DX6.0 - as far as I can see DX6.1 does not update the DIrect Input
& therefore I am loathe to try using it on the basis that a) it caused a
problem with my Viper 550 & b) once you have installed it you can't get rid
of it without re-installing windoze

Question is what to replace it with - specifically for GPL & GP2

So

Which wheels support split axis brake & Gas?
Do USB based wheels wok in GP2? if so which ones?
I believe the MS FF wheel self centres in GPL - do any other FF wheels do
this?
Have Logitech fixed their pedals yet?
Has anyone got a TM FF wheel to work properly in GPL & GP2?
Any views on which makes tend to last best (springs, pots etc..)

Anyone have any general recommendations? Not necessarily sold on the idea of
a FF wheel & besides neither of the sims I use support it anyway
!!.....(might be a nice to have for GP3 if it ever appears (assuming that
does support it!). All I really want is a wheel that will calibrate really
well and put up with resonable levels of use (not abuse!). Some good pedals
& the option to shift with either a stick or paddles would be nice in
addition to split axis pedals (which are the main reasons I bought the
Saitek in the first place)...

thanks for your help

Iain

thanks for your input.

I.

TSW2, you will not regret it.  Order with the split pedal option or go for
the gusto with a TSW2 modified or formula.  Look around, it's clearly the
best wheel for the money.  Here's the site:
 Thomas Super Wheels
Anyone have any general recommendations? Not necessarily sold on the idea of
a FF wheel & besides neither of the sims I use support it anyway
!!.....(might be a nice to have for GP3 if it ever appears (assuming that
does support it!). All I really want is a wheel that will calibrate really
well and put up with resonable levels of use (not abuse!). Some good pedals
& the option to shift with either a stick or paddles would be nice in
addition to split axis pedals (which are the main reasons I bought the
Saitek in the first place)...
thanks for your help
Iain

This can be fixed by NOT mapping the X-axis forces to the Y-axis.
It's recommended in the Saitek setup manual (and also in Viper Racing,
I think), but doing so is actually unrealistic.  Here's what's
happening:

You brake and the deceleration forces that you should feel in the
X-axis (the force that would force you forward in your seat as you
decelerate) is instead mapped to the Y-axis, which causes your wheel
to jerk to the left.  The opposite happens during acceleration.  I
mentioned this effect in my review of the Saitek R4 Force wheel -- it
seems like torque steer in a front wheel drive car, and I believe it
applies to any FF wheel that allows you to map the X-axis forces to
the Y-axis.  You get more "active" FF effects by doing it, but it does
detract from realism (and makes it harder to do straight-line braking
and acceleration, IMO).

So, if you have a FF wheel, you'll sacrifice a few effects if you
don't map the X-axis to the Y-axis, but you'll gain in terms of
realism and performance.

-- John Bodin
   Publisher, The IRL Insider Magazine
   http://irlinsider.adnetweb.com/

If you're in England, I would recommend checking out the F1 Sim --
it's the same price as the TSW2, and you won't have to pay overseas
shipping, which means you could have something MUCH better than a
Thrustmaster wheel for the price of a TSW product.  Check them out at:

http://www.interactiveracing.com/

Enjoy!

-- JB

rgds,

I

-- JB

Also check out the "NewF1Sim" myself and a m8 have one each, we are both
very happy with them.

--
Cheers Ginger.....( Bowt NetterToDo )