Wheel suggestions?

My wife tried getting me a wheel/pedal combo for Christmas. Ive been using a joystick for GPL for the past two years. Anyway, the salesman talked her into the most expensive one they had - the Microsoft Sidewinder FF. I hooked it up and installed the software, but the damn thing wouldnt show up in the Control Panel no matter what I tried to do. All it would show is my joystick, but when I rebooted the computer the wheel would move and all the test functions seemed to work. Windows just refused to acknowledge it (so much for compatiblity with their own freakin' OS and their own wheel... After an hour of pissing around with it, I boxed it up and back to CompUSA it went. I looked at a couple others (Logitech mostly), but they seemed to be very cheap as far as materials and build quality. I looked on the web at the Act-Labs site and theirs looks okay but its tough to tell just by a photo. Anyone have any other suggestions? Any good ideas would be appriciated.. Its too bad though.. bless my wife's intentions, but this is the third time she's tried getting me something hardware related without my input and the third time whatever she bought was returned.. ugh.

suggest she look here---> www.thomas-superwheel.com can't made a bad choice there, LOL On Sun, 24 Dec 2000 15:13:40 -0600, Randy <[email hidden]> wrote:

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>My wife tried getting me a wheel/pedal combo for Christmas. Ive been >using a joystick for GPL for the past two years. Anyway, the salesman >talked her into the most expensive one they had - the Microsoft >Sidewinder FF. I hooked it up and installed the software, but the >damn thing wouldnt show up in the Control Panel no matter what I tried >to do. All it would show is my joystick, but when I rebooted the >computer the wheel would move and all the test functions seemed to >work. Windows just refused to acknowledge it (so much for >compatiblity with their own freakin' OS and their own wheel... > >After an hour of pissing around with it, I boxed it up and back to >CompUSA it went. I looked at a couple others (Logitech mostly), but >they seemed to be very cheap as far as materials and build quality. I >looked on the web at the Act-Labs site and theirs looks okay but its >tough to tell just by a photo. Anyone have any other suggestions? >Any good ideas would be appriciated.. > >Its too bad though.. bless my wife's intentions, but this is the third >time she's tried getting me something hardware related without my >input and the third time whatever she bought was returned.. ugh.

In article <[email hidden]>, Randy <[email hidden]> wrote:

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> My wife tried getting me a wheel/pedal combo for Christmas. Ive been > using a joystick for GPL for the past two years. Anyway, the salesman > talked her into the most expensive one they had - the Microsoft > Sidewinder FF. I hooked it up and installed the software, but the > damn thing wouldnt show up in the Control Panel no matter what I tried > to do. All it would show is my joystick, but when I rebooted the > computer the wheel would move and all the test functions seemed to > work. Windows just refused to acknowledge it (so much for > compatiblity with their own freakin' OS and their own wheel... > > After an hour of pissing around with it, I boxed it up and back to > CompUSA it went. I looked at a couple others (Logitech mostly), but > they seemed to be very cheap as far as materials and build quality. I > looked on the web at the Act-Labs site and theirs looks okay but its > tough to tell just by a photo. Anyone have any other suggestions? > Any good ideas would be appriciated.. > > Its too bad though.. bless my wife's intentions, but this is the third > time she's tried getting me something hardware related without my > input and the third time whatever she bought was returned.. ugh. >

The TSW has been bullet proof for me so far. Their website is http://www.thomas-superwheel.com Mark Oliver http://autoracingtimes.listbot.com Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/

I think what you needed to do was delete the joystick in the control panel and try again, it prolly would have shown up. Anyway why not try that thrustmaster prodigital2, I'd like to see more reviews of it. rms [email hidden]

Randy <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...

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> My wife tried getting me a wheel/pedal combo for Christmas. Ive been > using a joystick for GPL for the past two years. Anyway, the salesman > talked her into the most expensive one they had - the Microsoft > Sidewinder FF. I hooked it up and installed the software, but the > damn thing wouldnt show up in the Control Panel no matter what I tried > to do. All it would show is my joystick, but when I rebooted the > computer the wheel would move and all the test functions seemed to > work. Windows just refused to acknowledge it (so much for > compatiblity with their own freakin' OS and their own wheel... > > After an hour of pissing around with it, I boxed it up and back to > CompUSA it went. I looked at a couple others (Logitech mostly), but > they seemed to be very cheap as far as materials and build quality. I > looked on the web at the Act-Labs site and theirs looks okay but its > tough to tell just by a photo. Anyone have any other suggestions? > Any good ideas would be appriciated.. > > Its too bad though.. bless my wife's intentions, but this is the third > time she's tried getting me something hardware related without my > input and the third time whatever she bought was returned.. ugh.

Hmm.... I find that I need to "un-install" other joypads/sticks especially analog ones in the control panel then add the wheel for it to work. Maybe you haven't tried this as you mentioned you had another joystick installed. All may not be lost if this is the case, the MSFF is a damn good wheel. I have a Logitech and is great, pedals are weak for some but I like them. They seem to have a good survival rating, i.e. they don't fall apart to easily despite a somewhat fragile appearance. The new Ferrari wheels have got good reviews (but the earlier versions had some problems) Act labs are also great but I've heard of a lot of paddle breakage's and stuff. They'd be the top 4 on the list IMO. 1. LWFF = MSFF 3. Ferrari wheel 4. Act Labs, my choice others will vary of course. Shame you won't have it for Christmas. Your just lucky you already have taken it back, spending your entire Christmas holiday trying to get some hardware working is a pain in the arse, I know, I've done it enough times... --- "The world is Gods BETA version of something quite nice"

Rich is correct. I just purchased a Thomas wheel and well I love it. Its a very tough wheel in fact I know let my kids play with it, I would never had done that with the other wheels I had before the Thomas wheel. Mine was just the TSW2 stock with the Dual axis setup with it. Its been awesome for GPL, giving just fantastic feel. I really feel stupid that I waited this long to actaully buy one of these wheels, since I would have saved me money actaully. Dave Rich#8 <[email hidden]> wrote in article <[email hidden]>...

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> suggest she look here---> www.thomas-superwheel.com > > can't made a bad choice there, LOL > > > > On Sun, 24 Dec 2000 15:13:40 -0600, Randy > <[email hidden]> wrote: > > >My wife tried getting me a wheel/pedal combo for Christmas. Ive been > >using a joystick for GPL for the past two years. Anyway, the salesman > >talked her into the most expensive one they had - the Microsoft > >Sidewinder FF. I hooked it up and installed the software, but the > >damn thing wouldnt show up in the Control Panel no matter what I tried > >to do. All it would show is my joystick, but when I rebooted the > >computer the wheel would move and all the test functions seemed to > >work. Windows just refused to acknowledge it (so much for > >compatiblity with their own freakin' OS and their own wheel... > > > >After an hour of pissing around with it, I boxed it up and back to > >CompUSA it went. I looked at a couple others (Logitech mostly), but > >they seemed to be very cheap as far as materials and build quality. I > >looked on the web at the Act-Labs site and theirs looks okay but its > >tough to tell just by a photo. Anyone have any other suggestions? > >Any good ideas would be appriciated.. > > > >Its too bad though.. bless my wife's intentions, but this is the third > >time she's tried getting me something hardware related without my > >input and the third time whatever she bought was returned.. ugh. > >

Hi, After reading your Email and the replies offered I decided to write you before you jumped into anything. First I must say TSW puts out a very high quality product. I mean the things are all metal and are built like they beling in an actual car. However before you buy any wheel it is important to look at what applications you intend to utilize the wheel. I word it this way because I can't help but notice that were looking at the MS wheel... is having a FF wheel important? If it is I suggest that you save your cash and look at a wheel that incorporates it into their package as the TSW wheels which range in price from $380 all the way up to $1,055. Did I mention they have no force feedback??? I think I did, but allow me to say it again they do not have FF and cost as much as $1,055. Anyway having gotten that out of the way I personally use a FF wheel.. it's all personal preference but I like to take advantage GPL's advanced physics engine by using a FF wheel to know when the car is loading and eventually loosing adhesion with the road. A non-FF wheel no matter how good it is simply can only give you constant or compound spring tension. GPL takes full advantage of FF wheels incorporating what is widely know to be the best, most advanced physics engine available today and transmitting what the suspension is doing into the wheel through Direct X. The Act Labs Force RS (similar price point as the MS wheel your wife got) has what Road and Track magazine called the largest motors in the market outputting 20 watts at one full amp of power! The manufacturer even utilizes kevlar belting rather than steel so the the feedback is transmitted smoothly to the wheel without the feeling that you are turning gears every time you move the wheel. As far as feel goes, GPL has a file that over sees all of the seetings within the game called the core.ini. This file can be adjusted so that yuo can dial in the desired amount of force gain and even damping until you get the wheel perfectly set up to your liking. I have mine set so that when I am in the pits at a stand still the wheel is very hard to move.. give it a little throttle, roll the car, and feel the wheel tension give as I accelerate down the straight only to load the suspension as I start my turn. That's racing.. that's what GPL is all about getting the physics model as accurate as possible and you simply cannot achieve that with a spring loaded wheel. Act Labs sells their wheels directly so there is no middle man or other costs to raise their overhead and jack up the price.. The wheel and pedals go for around $140 which is a far cry from TSW's most stripped down wheel which costs $380. So if FF is important to you and you want a high quality, reliable wheel and pedal setup for GPL check out the Act Labs Force RS. I recommend this system as I have to 6 of my closest friends without reservation. But if FF is not important to you, the offerings from TSW cannot be beaten even if their prices are a bit steep. I hope I was able to help... if I can be of further assistance, just drop me a line. Best regards, -Norman In article <[email hidden]>, Randy <[email hidden]> wrote:

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> My wife tried getting me a wheel/pedal combo for Christmas. Ive been > using a joystick for GPL for the past two years. Anyway, the salesman > talked her into the most expensive one they had - the Microsoft > Sidewinder FF. I hooked it up and installed the software, but the > damn thing wouldnt show up in the Control Panel no matter what I tried > to do. All it would show is my joystick, but when I rebooted the > computer the wheel would move and all the test functions seemed to > work. Windows just refused to acknowledge it (so much for > compatiblity with their own freakin' OS and their own wheel... > > After an hour of pissing around with it, I boxed it up and back to > CompUSA it went. I looked at a couple others (Logitech mostly), but > they seemed to be very cheap as far as materials and build quality. I > looked on the web at the Act-Labs site and theirs looks okay but its > tough to tell just by a photo. Anyone have any other suggestions? > Any good ideas would be appriciated.. > > Its too bad though.. bless my wife's intentions, but this is the third > time she's tried getting me something hardware related without my > input and the third time whatever she bought was returned.. ugh. >

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Some people like the MS wheel, but not so many. The best value for your bucks you get with an old LWFF (non GP), if you still can find one. The ActLabs is excellent, but comparatively expensive ITM People are talking positive about that Guillemot <sp?> wheel If you don't need Force Feedback (biiiiig mistake IMO) go for the TSW. JensSchumi On Sun, 24 Dec 2000 15:13:40 -0600, Randy <[email hidden]> wrote: >My wife tried getting me a wheel/pedal combo for Christmas. Ive been >using a joystick for GPL for the past two years. Anyway, the salesman >talked her into the most expensive one they had - the Microsoft<snip> --------------------------------------------- LWFF Ball Bearing conversion at: http://members.nbci.com/JensSchu/ GPLRank: -8.3