Act-labs USB "GPL-Shifter" mini-review.

It's been a few weeks since I got my ACT-LABS "GPL" USB-Shirter now, so now thats I've been able to put some miles into the controller I thought I'd write up a little 'review' about how it stacks up... Still having the moment when the UPS delivery truck pulled up to my door fresh in mind, I can remember my first reaction when I unpacked this thing - it was bigger than I thought.. - which is good! Big means solid... - and considering who many times you shift during a lap around the 'Ring - solid is good :-) The shifter unit comes with what I call an L-beam, which is used to secure the shifter to the desk. Meaning you bolt the shifter to one end of the beam and stick the rest of the beam under you controller so it get held into place when you clamp you wheel to the desk. Installing the USB-shifter was just a matter of plugging it in - and off we go.. Well almost! For GPL and the other games that dont have native support for the Shiter you haveto download and install a small utility from ACT-LABS that allow you to use the Shifter in your favorite sim. With the software loaded the USB-Shifter can be used in so many games (50+)that it's probably easier to list those it wont work with! Once on track, I must say it was actually very "weird" and strange to use the shifter - at first! Thats really no big suprise though, I've been using a MSFF for well over a year now.. and the switch from "paddles" to a real stick again, is pretty big. Even though I drive a 'stick-shift' everyday - it felt stange... but in a cool way :-) It was like I had to plan each shift more - just like you do in real life. And that felt nice :-) Once I got used to the shifter tho, things took a different turn... now it's so quick and easy to use it. And at times also alot faster than the "paddles" on the MSFF. Perhaps not in a single-seter with 7 gears and a powerband streching for perhaps 2-3000 rpm. - but there's alot more to life than modern day F1 :-) Rally Thropy for instance feel very cool with the USB-shifter! Rally-sims is probably where the shifter comes into it's own right. The ability to jumb from 4th to 2nd or even 1st gear in one big wosh is so handy... and with all the hairpins and junctions in these stages - it will mean alot in terms of time. Nascar 4 is also a sim where the shifter is real handy.. more than a few times have I found myself loosing 1st or 2nd gear and ended up having to hit the shift-up paddle one or 2 extra times to get into the correct gear. I even remeber a race I did at Sears Point once... without 2nd or 3rd gear. - you can only imagine how frustrating that was! With the USB-shifter however- this is not a problem anymore.. Thank God! 1st to 3rd in one move. To me the shifter feels real good and at times I can swear that just like in a real car - when you shift at speed, the stick sort of find it's way into the correct gear! The only real hazzle I've found with the USB-Shifter are those [extra] plastic shifter-plates that enable you to "blank off" slots you dont use... The plates just keep on working loose each time I've tried them, so I usually end up using only the cast-metal plate. Fortunatly ACT-LABS have reacted to this problem and produced special die-cast plates for both GPL and N4 - making the plastice plates obsolete. Bottom line... ? This is a real cool controller, and one that I think lots would find it enjoyable.. especially with all these Rally-sims just around the corner. I do however, think the RS-Shifter (or GPL-Shifter if you like) is something that is more ejoyed by those who like sims because of the fun of it all instead of the those who's in it for the joy of winning every competition there is. In other word's this is a Gentleman's toy :) -- ed_ The GPLEA -------------------------------------- - My name is Elliott Forbes Robinson. Spell it, please. - E-F-R. No, no, spell your name. - E-F-R!!

Hi Ed Ed Solheim wrote: > I do however, think the RS-Shifter (or GPL-Shifter if you like) is something > that is more ejoyed by those who like sims because of the fun of it all > instead of the those who's in it for the joy of winning every competition > there is. In other word's this is a Gentleman's toy :) Hehe, well put. BTW, I can't get mine to work with N4. What controller ID is yours on? Gerry

mine works at id 2 in Me/98SE ... "Gerry Aitken" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]... > Hi Ed > > Ed Solheim wrote: > > > I do however, think the RS-Shifter (or GPL-Shifter if you like) issomething > > that is more ejoyed by those who like sims because of the fun of it all > > instead of the those who's in it for the joy of winning everycompetition

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> > there is. In other word's this is a Gentleman's toy :) > > Hehe, well put. > > BTW, I can't get mine to work with N4. What controller ID is yours on? > > Gerry

Make sure you pick "Direct Driver" inside your Nascar 4 "Options" "Controller" screen.. The USB shifter wont work with the "optimized" driver.. Gerry Aitken wrote: > BTW, I can't get mine to work with N4. What controller ID is yours on? > > Gerry

Hi Mick Mick wrote: > > Make sure you pick "Direct Driver" inside your Nascar 4 "Options" > "Controller" screen.. The USB shifter wont work with the "optimized" > driver.. Yep, I've done that. The odd thing is that after countless attempts to get n4 to recognize it, today it just work for some reason. I haven't a clue why, I've not changed a thing. Gerry

ACT Labs unofficial fix for the moving shifter plates is masking tape. SLG "Ed Solheim" <[email hidden]> wrote: Deleted text -

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>The only real hazzle I've found with the USB-Shifter are those [extra] >plastic shifter-plates that enable you to "blank off" slots you dont use... >The plates just keep on working loose each time I've tried them, so I >usually end up using only the cast-metal plate. Fortunatly ACT-LABS have >reacted to this problem and produced special die-cast plates for both GPL >and N4 - making the plastice plates obsolete. >

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>-- >ed_ >The GPLEA >-------------------------------------- >- My name is Elliott Forbes Robinson. >Spell it, please. >- E-F-R. >No, no, spell your name. >- E-F-R!! > >

(All spelling errors are intentional and are there to show new and improved ways of spelling old words. Grammatical errors are due to too many English classes/teachers)

Count yourself lucky. I'm still working on getting mine to work with N4. According to Act-Labs, you need papy's latest patch, which I'm downloading now...... Gerry Aitken wrote:

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> Hi Mick > > Mick wrote: > > > > Make sure you pick "Direct Driver" inside your Nascar 4 "Options" > > "Controller" screen.. The USB shifter wont work with the "optimized" > > driver.. > > Yep, I've done that. The odd thing is that after countless attempts to > get n4 to recognize it, today it just work for some reason. I haven't a > clue why, I've not changed a thing. > > Gerry

-- Bert

I received my GPL Shifter last week and did not receive any plastic shifter plates. Came with a 7 speed metal plate and teh 5 speed plate that I ordered, both are screwed into the shifter base. Ned Steve Garrotto wrote:

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> ACT Labs unofficial fix for the moving shifter plates is masking tape. > > SLG > > "Ed Solheim" <[email hidden]> wrote: > > Deleted text - > >The only real hazzle I've found with the USB-Shifter are those [extra] > >plastic shifter-plates that enable you to "blank off" slots you dont use... > >The plates just keep on working loose each time I've tried them, so I > >usually end up using only the cast-metal plate. Fortunatly ACT-LABS have > >reacted to this problem and produced special die-cast plates for both GPL > >and N4 - making the plastice plates obsolete. > > > Deleted text - > >-- > >ed_ > >The GPLEA > >-------------------------------------- > >- My name is Elliott Forbes Robinson. > >Spell it, please. > >- E-F-R. > >No, no, spell your name. > >- E-F-R!! > > > > > > (All spelling errors are intentional and are there to show new > and improved ways of spelling old words. Grammatical errors are > due to too many English classes/teachers)

-- Sincerely, Ned Cullen ---------- http://www.tokairegistry.com http://www.cullenracing.com

Same here, The box says they come with 2 plates. The 7 speed and a "Hi/Lo" plate, but mine only had the 7 speed plate. I called Act Labs to see about the other one and the guy said they no longer ship with the Hi/Lo, just the 7 speed.. Ned wrote: > > I received my GPL Shifter last week and did not receive any plastic shifter > plates.