rec.autos.simulators

by **Tim Vanhe** » Fri, 21 Apr 2000 04:00:00

I just might buy the Act Labs FF wheel + RS shifter combo. But before I
place an order I have a few questions.

Should I go for it or is there a better system in the same price range and
is there a new wheel coming out in the next months?
Are the pedals good?
Do pots wear out easely or is it a digital wheel?
Is there a hit in framerate?
Is FF still in the development stage and should I wait till there is an
ultimate affordable FF wheel available, or is it as good as it gets?
The only time I tested FF was with the Trustmaster FF wheel on CMR. It was
crap. The wheel was shaking when the car stood still and the camera kept
going up and down. Has FF improved a lot since CMR?
Is it hard to configure, install, calibrate,...?
Does it center automatically when I play a non FF game?
Is there a better wheel (in the same price class)?
... Lets see, what more should I know?...
How's Act Labs' service?
Does it wear fast and did anyone manage to break someting on it? (not that
I'm planning to do so)
Are the peds and wheel stable?
Is it single or double axis? (if single, is it hard to change to double)
Can I add other pedals to it with clutch? (dreaming of redline pedals...)
Are there bugs in some games I need to know of?
Is it as good (strong - subtile) as an arcade system?
Is there GPL and N3 support yet for the RS shifter and what sims does -
doesn't it support?
What is legacy mode?
Can I place the shifter where I want or does it have to be stuck to the
wheel?
Will my room (or at least desk) shake and will my neighbours think there's
an earthquake going on, or is the FF strenght adjustable (easely)??
Did I ask too much at once?

by **Andrew Turne** » Fri, 21 Apr 2000 04:00:00

Tim,

Yes, it does.

Good luck,
Andrew

> I just might buy the Act Labs FF wheel + RS shifter combo. But before I
> place an order I have a few questions.

> Should I go for it or is there a better system in the same price range and
> is there a new wheel coming out in the next months?
> Are the pedals good?
> Do pots wear out easely or is it a digital wheel?
> Is there a hit in framerate?
> Is FF still in the development stage and should I wait till there is an
> ultimate affordable FF wheel available, or is it as good as it gets?
> The only time I tested FF was with the Trustmaster FF wheel on CMR. It was
> crap. The wheel was shaking when the car stood still and the camera kept
> going up and down. Has FF improved a lot since CMR?
> Is it hard to configure, install, calibrate,...?
> Does it center automatically when I play a non FF game?
> Is there a better wheel (in the same price class)?
> ... Lets see, what more should I know?...
> How's Act Labs' service?
> Does it wear fast and did anyone manage to break someting on it? (not that
> I'm planning to do so)
> Are the peds and wheel stable?
> Is it single or double axis? (if single, is it hard to change to double)
> Can I add other pedals to it with clutch? (dreaming of redline pedals...)
> Are there bugs in some games I need to know of?
> Is it as good (strong - subtile) as an arcade system?
> Is there GPL and N3 support yet for the RS shifter and what sims does -
> doesn't it support?
> What is legacy mode?
> Can I place the shifter where I want or does it have to be stuck to the
> wheel?
> Will my room (or at least desk) shake and will my neighbours think there's
> an earthquake going on, or is the FF strenght adjustable (easely)??
> Did I ask too much at once?

by **Andrew Turne** » Fri, 21 Apr 2000 04:00:00

Sorry, couldn't resist.

Actually, I'm looking at the same wheel too - to find lots of info I went to
www.google.com and
searched for "act labs force feedback wheel comparison" and some other things
like that and I found
a whole bunch of reviews & comparisons.

It is usually the favorite.

Andrew

> I just might buy the Act Labs FF wheel + RS shifter combo. But before I
> place an order I have a few questions.

> Should I go for it or is there a better system in the same price range and
> is there a new wheel coming out in the next months?
> Are the pedals good?
> Do pots wear out easely or is it a digital wheel?
> Is there a hit in framerate?
> Is FF still in the development stage and should I wait till there is an
> ultimate affordable FF wheel available, or is it as good as it gets?
> The only time I tested FF was with the Trustmaster FF wheel on CMR. It was
> crap. The wheel was shaking when the car stood still and the camera kept
> going up and down. Has FF improved a lot since CMR?
> Is it hard to configure, install, calibrate,...?
> Does it center automatically when I play a non FF game?
> Is there a better wheel (in the same price class)?
> ... Lets see, what more should I know?...
> How's Act Labs' service?
> Does it wear fast and did anyone manage to break someting on it? (not that
> I'm planning to do so)
> Are the peds and wheel stable?
> Is it single or double axis? (if single, is it hard to change to double)
> Can I add other pedals to it with clutch? (dreaming of redline pedals...)
> Are there bugs in some games I need to know of?
> Is it as good (strong - subtile) as an arcade system?
> Is there GPL and N3 support yet for the RS shifter and what sims does -
> doesn't it support?
> What is legacy mode?
> Can I place the shifter where I want or does it have to be stuck to the
> wheel?
> Will my room (or at least desk) shake and will my neighbours think there's
> an earthquake going on, or is the FF strenght adjustable (easely)??
> Did I ask too much at once?

by **GTX_SlotCa** » Fri, 21 Apr 2000 04:00:00

I'll try taking these one at a time.

I know of no FF wheel better in any price range. I know of no other wheel
coming out soon, in that price range.

Yes, for most games. Easily made excellent in all games.

It's digital and it uses pots. The pots are high quality and don't wear out
easily.

Not anything you would notice if there is one at all.

It's here now. Games are implementing it very well.

What's CMR?

No.

Yes, and you can adjust how strong the spring is.

Better, no.

They are the new standard all manufacturers should emulate.

For better or worse, it's built like a tank. There are none built more
rugged.

Yes.

Both, software selectable.

Yes.

Has nothing to do with the wheel. But many games have bugs. Not FF bugs in
particular though.

I'm not sure I understand the question. Is it as strong as the wheels you
find in arcades? I'd doubt it.

All games support the Shifter in legacy mode (sequential shifting). Many
support it in gated mode, like N3, NL, SCGT, and a whole lot more. More are
updated for it all the time and many new titles will also support it in
gated mode.

Regular shifting. Click back every time you want to go to a higher gear,
click forward to go to each lower gear. Gated shifting is the ability to
shift in a pattern, like an H pattern and go from 2nd to 4th gear for
example. Like a real shifter.

It's cord is about 30" I think. You can put it on the left or right. If
mounts with a metal plate that slides under the wheel. You can easily move
it a few inches from the wheel with the stock plate.

You select the FF strength in the softeware. At full on some games your desk
will definately shake.

This last question put you over the limit ;)

Slot
http://home.maine.rr.com/deroy/howto.htm

by **Tim Vanhe** » Fri, 21 Apr 2000 04:00:00

Take your time, I'll be on this NG for quite some time :)

by **Kevin Anderso** » Fri, 21 Apr 2000 04:00:00

Put simply, If FF is what you want then this is the wheel for you. I relized
after I bought this wheel, that I rather not have a FF wheel. And will be
shopping for a new wheel. I have my Act Labs with shifter used maybe 4
times, for sale. If you live on Long Island you could pick it up.

--
Kevin Anderson

---------------------------------------------------
DK-Racing
#15 K_Anderson
-------------------------------------------------
http://www.awtech.net/

by **GTX_SlotCa** » Fri, 21 Apr 2000 04:00:00

It's between the lines, Tim.

Slot

> > I'll try taking these one at a time.

> Take your time, I'll be on this NG for quite some time :)

by **Juan Vizos** » Sat, 22 Apr 2000 04:00:00

HeHeeey!...nobody mention the pedals!!!.......... love the mods by the way
slotman!!

jv!!

> Put simply, If FF is what you want then this is the wheel for you. I
relized
> after I bought this wheel, that I rather not have a FF wheel. And will be
> shopping for a new wheel. I have my Act Labs with shifter used maybe 4
> times, for sale. If you live on Long Island you could pick it up.

> --
> Kevin Anderson

> ---------------------------------------------------
> DK-Racing
> #15 K_Anderson
> -------------------------------------------------
> http://www.awtech.net/

> > I just might buy the Act Labs FF wheel + RS shifter combo. But before I
> > place an order I have a few questions.

> > Should I go for it or is there a better system in the same price range
and
> > is there a new wheel coming out in the next months?
> > Are the pedals good?
> > Do pots wear out easely or is it a digital wheel?
> > Is there a hit in framerate?
> > Is FF still in the development stage and should I wait till there is an
> > ultimate affordable FF wheel available, or is it as good as it gets?
> > The only time I tested FF was with the Trustmaster FF wheel on CMR. It
was
> > crap. The wheel was shaking when the car stood still and the camera kept
> > going up and down. Has FF improved a lot since CMR?
> > Is it hard to configure, install, calibrate,...?
> > Does it center automatically when I play a non FF game?
> > Is there a better wheel (in the same price class)?
> > ... Lets see, what more should I know?...
> > How's Act Labs' service?
> > Does it wear fast and did anyone manage to break someting on it? (not
that
> > I'm planning to do so)
> > Are the peds and wheel stable?
> > Is it single or double axis? (if single, is it hard to change to double)
> > Can I add other pedals to it with clutch? (dreaming of redline
pedals...)
> > Are there bugs in some games I need to know of?
> > Is it as good (strong - subtile) as an arcade system?
> > Is there GPL and N3 support yet for the RS shifter and what sims does -
> > doesn't it support?
> > What is legacy mode?
> > Can I place the shifter where I want or does it have to be stuck to the
> > wheel?
> > Will my room (or at least desk) shake and will my neighbours think
there's
> > an earthquake going on, or is the FF strenght adjustable (easely)??
> > Did I ask too much at once?

by **Tim Vanhe** » Sat, 22 Apr 2000 04:00:00

Oooops errrr, I knew that :-/

> It's between the lines, Tim.

> Slot

> > > I'll try taking these one at a time.

> > Take your time, I'll be on this NG for quite some time :)

rec.autos.simulators

Act Labs wheel questions (lots of them)

Act Labs wheel questions (lots of them)

Act Labs wheel questions (lots of them)

Act Labs wheel questions (lots of them)

Act Labs wheel questions (lots of them)

Act Labs wheel questions (lots of them)

Act Labs wheel questions (lots of them)

Act Labs wheel questions (lots of them)

Act Labs wheel questions (lots of them)

Act Labs wheel questions (lots of them)