rec.autos.simulators

by **Robin MacMaho** » Sat, 05 Feb 2000 04:00:00

Hi,
I have been using my original TSW (from before the TSW2 even existed) for
about 5 years now. It's as rock solid today as when I bought it and I've
only had to clean the pots a couple of times.
I recently read about the PDPI L4 digital game controller card and I was
wondering if anyone has used this card with the TSW wheel. If so, was it
worth the cost of the card in gained improvement over the game port built
into the sound card.

My current system is:
Aopen AX59Pro (with VIA MVP3 chipset)
K6-2 400
64mb PC-100
Creative Banshee 16mb AGP
AWE 64 (isa)

I am not expecting a big framerate jump due to taking the load off of the
cpu by using the PDPI L4. I am looking for superior control and touch using
the TSW in traffic with GPL and N3.

TIA,
Robin K. MacMahon
Jasper, AB.

by **Chris Cavi** » Sat, 05 Feb 2000 04:00:00

Here's my experience.

The analog port in my SoundBlaster Live! worked wonderfully while I was
using my T2. I replaced the T2 with a TSW and began having problems
calibrating it after a while. The signals from the TSW throttle and
brake axis were jumping all over the place which made it near
impossible to assign axis correctly in games. I don't know what was
causing this as I'm no electrician. Some suggested cross-talk in the
wiring. In any case, I upgraded the pots to the Spec pots and the
signal jumping improved, but did not go away. Also, the Spec pots are
only 50 ohm, which gives them an extremely small range for windows to
calibrate across. At this point I decided to get a PDPI-L4. Bought
it, installed it and after I got it configured I plugged in the TSW and
calibrated with no problem at all. The signal jitters were completely
gone. So, from that aspect, it was totally worth it. The flip side
(and it's not really bad, just not as desirable) is that my virtual
wheel in GPL moves in discrete increments now, not smoothly. Becuase
of its digital nature, the PDPI breaks your wheel axis up into a finite
number of steps (I think it breaks each axis up into 256 increments).
It's not capable of smoothly transmitting exactly what your wheel is
doing, it must break it up into progressively higher increments. So
far, I haven't noticed that it causes any loss of control. Just the
visual indication in GPL. You also get the added benifit of being able
to plug in more than one controller.

Hope this helps you some.

-Chris-

> Hi,
> I have been using my original TSW (from before the TSW2 even
> existed) for about 5 years now. It's as rock solid today as
> when I bought it and I've only had to clean the pots a couple
> of times. I recently read about the PDPI L4 digital game
> controller card and I was wondering if anyone has used this
> card with the TSW wheel. If so, was it worth the cost of the
> card in gained improvement over the game port built into the
> sound card.

> My current system is:
> Aopen AX59Pro (with VIA MVP3 chipset)
> K6-2 400
> 64mb PC-100
> Creative Banshee 16mb AGP
> AWE 64 (isa)

> I am not expecting a big framerate jump due to taking the load
> off of the cpu by using the PDPI L4. I am looking for superior
> control and touch using the TSW in traffic with GPL and N3.

> TIA,
> Robin K. MacMahon
> Jasper, AB.

Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
Before you buy.

by **bph..** » Sat, 05 Feb 2000 04:00:00

I have a tsw2 and a pdpi L4. I dont get the wheel movements in
increments. It is completely smooth. My wheel pot is a spec and the
pdpi switch is in the digital position. The pdpi was worth about 2 fps
on the grid.

> Here's my experience.

> The analog port in my SoundBlaster Live! worked wonderfully while I
was
> using my T2. I replaced the T2 with a TSW and began having problems
> calibrating it after a while. The signals from the TSW throttle and
> brake axis were jumping all over the place which made it near
> impossible to assign axis correctly in games. I don't know what was
> causing this as I'm no electrician. Some suggested cross-talk in the
> wiring. In any case, I upgraded the pots to the Spec pots and the
> signal jumping improved, but did not go away. Also, the Spec pots are
> only 50 ohm, which gives them an extremely small range for windows to
> calibrate across. At this point I decided to get a PDPI-L4. Bought
> it, installed it and after I got it configured I plugged in the TSW
and
> calibrated with no problem at all. The signal jitters were completely
> gone. So, from that aspect, it was totally worth it. The flip side
> (and it's not really bad, just not as desirable) is that my virtual
> wheel in GPL moves in discrete increments now, not smoothly. Becuase
> of its digital nature, the PDPI breaks your wheel axis up into a
finite
> number of steps (I think it breaks each axis up into 256 increments).
> It's not capable of smoothly transmitting exactly what your wheel is
> doing, it must break it up into progressively higher increments. So
> far, I haven't noticed that it causes any loss of control. Just the
> visual indication in GPL. You also get the added benifit of being
able
> to plug in more than one controller.

> Hope this helps you some.

> -Chris-

> > Hi,
> > I have been using my original TSW (from before the TSW2 even
> > existed) for about 5 years now. It's as rock solid today as
> > when I bought it and I've only had to clean the pots a couple
> > of times. I recently read about the PDPI L4 digital game
> > controller card and I was wondering if anyone has used this
> > card with the TSW wheel. If so, was it worth the cost of the
> > card in gained improvement over the game port built into the
> > sound card.

> > My current system is:
> > Aopen AX59Pro (with VIA MVP3 chipset)
> > K6-2 400
> > 64mb PC-100
> > Creative Banshee 16mb AGP
> > AWE 64 (isa)

> > I am not expecting a big framerate jump due to taking the load
> > off of the cpu by using the PDPI L4. I am looking for superior
> > control and touch using the TSW in traffic with GPL and N3.

> > TIA,
> > Robin K. MacMahon
> > Jasper, AB.

> Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
> Before you buy.

Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
Before you buy.

by **Chris Cavi** » Sat, 05 Feb 2000 04:00:00

Hmmm... I'll have to look at everything again and see if I've missed
anyting. Any suggestions?

-Chris-

> I have a tsw2 and a pdpi L4. I dont get the wheel movements in
> increments. It is completely smooth. My wheel pot is a spec
> and the pdpi switch is in the digital position. The pdpi was
> worth about 2 fps on the grid.

Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
Before you buy.

by **Kenny L** » Sat, 05 Feb 2000 04:00:00

while I don't have a TSW, I've had a PDPI L4 about a year now. The control
improvement is absolutely worth the cost. It did take some getting used to
the new precision, but I soon took about 2 seconds off most of my GPL lap
times, and those ultra fine line adjustments in N3 are routine now. :)
Gotta have it. Plus, it helps alot with the online connection.
--
Kenny L.
tynanken AT pacbell DOT net

by **jbo..** » Sat, 05 Feb 2000 04:00:00

I've been using one for over 2 years now with my TSW2 -- I can't type
capital letters large enough to convey how ROCK-SOLID it is with my AMD
K6-2 350 system. Check out the following link for a review of the PDPI
card combined with the TSW2:

http://irlinsider.adnetweb.com/sims/pdpi/

Enjoy!

-- JB

Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
Before you buy.

by **Trevor Thoma** » Sat, 05 Feb 2000 04:00:00

>Hi,
>I have been using my original TSW (from before the TSW2 even existed) for
>about 5 years now. It's as rock solid today as when I bought it and I've
>only had to clean the pots a couple of times.

Robin, we use the PDPI L4 at work and it is simply the best gameport
available, the only problem with it is you cant get one right now unless
PDPI has found a solution to their supply problem.

Trev

by **Robin MacMaho** » Sun, 06 Feb 2000 04:00:00

Hi Trev,
Long time since I've needed to converse with you but that just shows what a
great product you have. I sure hope you are wrong about the supply problem
'cause I emailed them about shipping costs to Canada and they didn't mention
any supply problem or possible wait time to me. I will email again and ask.
Thanks for the heads up.
Robin

> >Hi,
> >I have been using my original TSW (from before the TSW2 even existed) for
> >about 5 years now. It's as rock solid today as when I bought it and I've
> >only had to clean the pots a couple of times.

> Robin, we use the PDPI L4 at work and it is simply the best gameport
> available, the only problem with it is you cant get one right now unless
> PDPI has found a solution to their supply problem.

> Trev

by **Richard ZZ Busc** » Sun, 06 Feb 2000 04:00:00

Tell me about it! I've had one on order for 4 months!!! I still have not
gotten any reply from emails or calls. The only thing I've found out is
through this newsgroup.
I still want one though :)

--
Richard "ZZ" Busch

Official member:
Screamers Racing League
Sim Racing Mag Honda Challenge
NASROC
----------------
Busch Motorsports:
Remember racecar is racecar spelled backward
-----------------
Busch Carpentry:
Plans?, Oh, you mean that napkin sketch?

by **The Black Cat =^..^** » Sun, 06 Feb 2000 04:00:00

On Fri, 4 Feb 2000 07:47:06 -0600, "Trevor Thomas"

> you cant get one right now unless
>PDPI has found a solution to their supply problem.

Hello, Trev! Hope you're doing well...

I checked PDPI's website and they say there is a 60-day delay in
orders, and since it seems that delay is inevitable, I ordered it from
Chips and Bits since they were $10 cheaper.

After all I've read on here, I expect to be 2 seconds faster at least
on every track... :)

rec.autos.simulators

TSW + PDPI L4?

TSW + PDPI L4?

TSW + PDPI L4?

TSW + PDPI L4?

TSW + PDPI L4?

TSW + PDPI L4?

TSW + PDPI L4?

TSW + PDPI L4?

TSW + PDPI L4?

TSW + PDPI L4?

TSW + PDPI L4?