Hi all,
I'm in the market for a new steering wheel. Unfortunally I'm don't know
what I want. I do, however, know what I don't want. Namely, I don't want a
wheel that uses potentiometers. I'm sick of cleaning and/or replacing them.
I suppose I'm after something that uses optical-mechanical sensors.
It seems that having the name 'digital' in the marketing spheel doesn't mean
that the wheel doesn't use potentiometers, it might just have a digital
output, which is only half the deal as far I I'm concerned.
The only wheel that I suspect (at the moment) to be true digital is the
Nascar Pro Digital II.
So, the question is... do you know of any 'true' digital steering wheels.
FF or non-FF.
Bob.
Bob....
The TM (Guillemot) NASCAR Pro Digital-2 controller, while being a fine
controller (I have and use several of them in our simulator rental business)
does use "pots" (potentiometers) to generate the internal signal which is
converted to a digital one by their on-board processor card. The TM NASCAR
Pro Digital-2 wheels use 25 K-ohm pots.....and they need cleaning as do all
analogue potentiometers. However, they are much better pots than those
found in other controllers in a similar price range.
What it seems to me you are really seeking.....is a top-quality race
controller (digital or analogue) that is manufactured more along the lines
of parts constructed for real-world race cars, i.e., high-quality and
high-durability. If that is an interest.....than I believe you'll find the
best values can be found at Ball Racing, LTD - England (website link below).
I have just returned from a week of travel in England, including a tour of
the BRD development facility south of London (not far from McLaren's F1 team
home base in Woking, England).....and I am so impressed with their products
I am taking them on here in the USA (as a USA-distributor of BRD race
controllers). All of their controllers, accessories and electronics are of
the same quality found on any F1 team steering system........some of the F1
teams have even pursued BRD for manufacturer of their race car steering
systems (peddles and wheel assemblies). It would definitely be worth adding
BRD controllers to your "search" efforts for a new racing sim wheel/peddle
system. Of specific interest to you, their "pots"....are closed ceramic
pots that **do not require cleaning** at any time.
By the way, if you are running N4 and or GPL - or planning on racing World
Sports Cars when released.........then you will find of interest that their
steering systems can have swappable steering wheels between the standard
F1-style, paddle-shifting racing wheels....and a new 14" NASCAR-style stock
car wheel (due out shortly). They also have plans for releasing a new style
peddle system that is "over-head" style just like those found in a real
Winston Cup race car. Nobody is doing that.......and as typical of BRD
products....their updates to controllers and peddles are always "backward
compatible" to their older controllers. BRD has been making sim racing
controllers since 1995.....they are not new to this business! They are only
now becoming internationally recognized.
Good luck in your search efforts for a new sim racing controller system.....
Regards,
Tom Pabst
Ball Racing, LTD - England (new) website: http://www.interactiveracing.com/
