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Rec.Autos.Simulators Archive

TSW 6 month review!

9 posts by 8 people · 19 Jan 1998 - 20 Jan 1998

Folks, I've had a TSW for six months now. As equipped, it would cost about $650.00 dollars today. Back then it was $440.00. The wiring was stretched drum tight, soldering was poor, cable to the PC is much too short, (less then 5 feet), and the steering tension has loosened to a degree that it is costing me 2-3 mph on the super speedways. (I wasn't sure if it was the TSW or the GNEP for N2 but put in a lot of laps this weekend to find out). I compared my TSW with a Thrustmaster GP wheel my buddy got for Christmas, and ran better laps because the GP wheel was much tighter and my lines were more precise. Now I know that the GP will eventually break and the TSW probably won't, but still I didn't expect to run better with the GP. Back to the TSW. I had to add washers to the paddle-shifter contact points to increase the contact area. I was blowing engines due to missed shifts when the contacts came out of alignment (which happened often). There were pieces of wire sticking out of the solder joints that were very close to shorting out with nearby neighbors. I trimmed them down and replaced one wire that was so tight it prevented the stick-shift from completing it's throw. Trevor is aware of the wiring problems and I suspect that that is no longer a problem. (The steering tension remains unresolved as no one from TSW has answered my numerous emails, perhaps my anti-spam bypass is being missed but the situation is beginning to irk me). Overall it's a good unit, but when I can get better lap times with a Thrustmaster (due to steering tension), why not buy two of them for 25% of the price of a TSW, or two of the Nascar Pro wheels? That way you have a spare when the inevitable breakdown occurs. (Note that the Thrustmaster I tested against did not have the pedals but only cost about $60.00). There were enough buttons, plus two paddles, which I opted to use for gas and brake to give me everything the TSW has. If you're in the market for a top-of-line wheel and pedal controller be sure and look at the ECCI units as well. They appear to be an equivalent or better option today. When I bought the TSW the ECCI was $300.00 more, but TSW has raised the prices (new factory?) to the point where I can't recommend the TSW as the superior alternative it was last July. He has a new model coming out to compete with the Thrustmasters that may be a better buy. We'll have to wait and see. TSW Web Site: http://soli.inav.net/~thomas/ ECCI Web Site: http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/extreme/ Trevor, if you read this please contact me, and watch the anti-spam. I need to figure out what happened to my TSW! Rich Koehler Anti-spam: (change rgko3hl3r to rgkoehler)
Folks, I've had a TSW for six months now. As equipped, it would cost about $650.00 dollars today. Back then it was $440.00. The wiring was stretched drum tight, soldering was poor, cable to the PC is much too short, (less then 5 feet), and the steering tension has loosened to a degree that it is costing me 2-3 mph on the super speedways. (I wasn't sure if it was the TSW or the GNEP for N2 but put in a lot of laps this weekend to find out). I compared my TSW with a Thrustmaster GP wheel my buddy got for Christmas, and ran better laps because the GP wheel was much tighter and my lines were more precise. Now I know that the GP will eventually break and the TSW probably won't, but still I didn't expect to run better with the GP. Back to the TSW. I had to add washers to the paddle-shifter contact points to increase the contact area. I was blowing engines due to missed shifts when the contacts came out of alignment (which happened often). There were pieces of wire sticking out of the solder joints that were very close to shorting out with nearby neighbors. I trimmed them down and replaced one wire that was so tight it prevented the stick-shift from completing it's throw. Trevor is aware of the wiring problems and I suspect that that is no longer a problem. (The steering tension remains unresolved as no one from TSW has answered my numerous emails, perhaps my anti-spam bypass is being missed but the situation is beginning to irk me). Overall it's a good unit, but when I can get better lap times with a Thrustmaster (due to steering tension), why not buy two of them for 25% of the price of a TSW, or two of the Nascar Pro wheels? That way you have a spare when the inevitable breakdown occurs. (Note that the Thrustmaster I tested against did not have the pedals but only cost about $60.00). There were enough buttons, plus two paddles, which I opted to use for gas and brake to give me everything the TSW has. If you're in the market for a top-of-line wheel and pedal controller be sure and look at the ECCI units as well. They appear to be an equivalent or better option today. When I bought the TSW the ECCI was $300.00 more, but TSW has raised the prices (new factory?) to the point where I can't recommend the TSW as the superior alternative it was last July. He has a new model coming out to compete with the Thrustmasters that may be a better buy. We'll have to wait and see. TSW Web Site: http://soli.inav.net/~thomas/ ECCI Web Site: http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/extreme/ Trevor, if you read this please contact me, and watch the anti-spam. I need to figure out what happened to my TSW! Rich Koehler Anti-spam: (change rgko3hl3r to rgkoehler)
Ken 19 Jan 1998#393074
I hope the one I have on order is of higher quality! You are the first one I've heard of who has had complaints about the TSW products. Hopefully yours is just a lemon. Don't they come with a lifetime warranty though? Seems like you could call TSW and get it repaired. I can only speak for myself, but I've not had any difficulty reaching them by phone. These probs don't sound like normal wear and tear so they would most likely take care of it for you. Good luck, and let us know how it turns out. Ken The Game Pad http://gamepad.org/
Quoted text (58 lines)> Folks, > I've had a TSW for six months now. As equipped, > it would cost about $650.00 dollars today. Back then > it was $440.00. > The wiring was stretched drum tight, soldering > was poor, cable to the PC is much too short, (less > then 5 feet), and the steering tension has loosened > to a degree that it is costing me 2-3 mph on the > super speedways. (I wasn't sure if it was the TSW or > the GNEP for N2 but put in a lot of laps this weekend > to find out). I compared my TSW with a Thrustmaster GP > wheel my buddy got for Christmas, and ran better laps > because the GP wheel was much tighter and my lines were > more precise. Now I know that the GP will eventually > break and the TSW probably won't, but still I didn't > expect to run better with the GP. > Back to the TSW. I had to add washers to the > paddle-shifter contact points to increase the contact > area. I was blowing engines due to missed shifts when > the contacts came out of alignment (which happened often). > There were pieces of wire sticking out of the solder > joints that were very close to shorting out with nearby > neighbors. I trimmed them down and replaced one wire that > was so tight it prevented the stick-shift from completing > it's throw. Trevor is aware of the wiring problems and I > suspect that that is no longer a problem. (The steering > tension remains unresolved as no one from TSW has answered > my numerous emails, perhaps my anti-spam bypass is being > missed but the situation is beginning to irk me). > Overall it's a good unit, but when I can get > better lap times with a Thrustmaster (due to steering > tension), why not buy two of them for 25% of the price > of a TSW, or two of the Nascar Pro wheels? That way you > have a spare when the inevitable breakdown occurs. (Note > that the Thrustmaster I tested against did not have the > pedals but only cost about $60.00). There were enough > buttons, plus two paddles, which I opted to use for gas > and brake to give me everything the TSW has. > If you're in the market for a top-of-line wheel > and pedal controller be sure and look at the ECCI units as > well. They appear to be an equivalent or better option today. > When I bought the TSW the ECCI was $300.00 more, but TSW > has raised the prices (new factory?) to the point where I > can't recommend the TSW as the superior alternative it was > last July. He has a new model coming out to compete with > the Thrustmasters that may be a better buy. We'll have to > wait and see. > TSW Web Site: http://soli.inav.net/~thomas/ > ECCI Web Site: http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/extreme/ > Trevor, if you read this please contact me, and watch the > anti-spam. I need to figure out what happened to my TSW! > Rich Koehler > Anti-spam: (change rgko3hl3r to rgkoehler)
Steven Jone 19 Jan 1998#393075
Quoted text (58 lines)> Folks, > I've had a TSW for six months now. As equipped, > it would cost about $650.00 dollars today. Back then > it was $440.00. > The wiring was stretched drum tight, soldering > was poor, cable to the PC is much too short, (less > then 5 feet), and the steering tension has loosened > to a degree that it is costing me 2-3 mph on the > super speedways. (I wasn't sure if it was the TSW or > the GNEP for N2 but put in a lot of laps this weekend > to find out). I compared my TSW with a Thrustmaster GP > wheel my buddy got for Christmas, and ran better laps > because the GP wheel was much tighter and my lines were > more precise. Now I know that the GP will eventually > break and the TSW probably won't, but still I didn't > expect to run better with the GP. > Back to the TSW. I had to add washers to the > paddle-shifter contact points to increase the contact > area. I was blowing engines due to missed shifts when > the contacts came out of alignment (which happened often). > There were pieces of wire sticking out of the solder > joints that were very close to shorting out with nearby > neighbors. I trimmed them down and replaced one wire that > was so tight it prevented the stick-shift from completing > it's throw. Trevor is aware of the wiring problems and I > suspect that that is no longer a problem. (The steering > tension remains unresolved as no one from TSW has answered > my numerous emails, perhaps my anti-spam bypass is being > missed but the situation is beginning to irk me). > Overall it's a good unit, but when I can get > better lap times with a Thrustmaster (due to steering > tension), why not buy two of them for 25% of the price > of a TSW, or two of the Nascar Pro wheels? That way you > have a spare when the inevitable breakdown occurs. (Note > that the Thrustmaster I tested against did not have the > pedals but only cost about $60.00). There were enough > buttons, plus two paddles, which I opted to use for gas > and brake to give me everything the TSW has. > If you're in the market for a top-of-line wheel > and pedal controller be sure and look at the ECCI units as > well. They appear to be an equivalent or better option today. > When I bought the TSW the ECCI was $300.00 more, but TSW > has raised the prices (new factory?) to the point where I > can't recommend the TSW as the superior alternative it was > last July. He has a new model coming out to compete with > the Thrustmasters that may be a better buy. We'll have to > wait and see. > TSW Web Site: http://soli.inav.net/~thomas/ > ECCI Web Site: http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/extreme/ > Trevor, if you read this please contact me, and watch the > anti-spam. I need to figure out what happened to my TSW! > Rich Koehler > Anti-spam: (change rgko3hl3r to rgkoehler)
All: Mine was the 99th TSW--never a problem in five yrs.
k.. 20 Jan 1998#393237
Mine's 1 year old with none of the previous mentioned problems. With the exception that I also feel that the cable to the PC is too short. Trevor has always promptly answered my email. -- - kc using OUI 1.8 Beta 8
Harley Pete 20 Jan 1998#393238
Well i have owned my tsw for over three months now and have had no problems what so ever. The wiring appears to be very good and the contacts on the paddle shifters work perfect every time. The cable to the computer is a little to short but i can live with that. The steering tension is the same as it was the day i got it in fact so is everything else i haven't noticed any degradation of any of the components. The price has just gone up i paid $345 for mine it would now cost $395 but i think this is the first price increase since they first starting making them. I would definitely give trevor a call i am sure he will be willing to fix the unit for you. Harley Peters
Jef 20 Jan 1998#393239
I can't believe that that guy had problems getting support from Trevor. I have a TSW from the second batch made (one of the first 20 or so) and it has worked great and except for pot replacements has been a joy to own. Trev always responds to me in less than 24 hours. The whole basis of their company is service so I am surprised at the other gentleman's experience. Jeff Haas
While I unfortanely am not the proud owner of a TSW -- yet -- I have to agree with Ken. I have emailed Trevor a few times, asking for info on the TSW, info on the TSW2, etc. He has always kindly replied to me very quickly, even on the weekends. Hard to get that kind of service anywhere these days. I'm very impressed with them, and my next wheel purchase will be from them. -- Don Burnette I-65 Racing Dburn on Ten > I can't believe that that guy had problems getting support from > Trevor. I have a TSW from the second batch made (one of the first 20 > or so) and it has worked great and except for pot replacements has > been a joy to own. Trev always responds to me in less than 24 hours. > The whole basis of their company is service so I am surprised at the > other gentleman's experience. > Jeff Haas
Over one year of daily use with my TSW and it's still as tight and fresh as the day it arrived. Patrick. -- PatrickO on TEN/NROS The #57 Sunny Delight Ford Thunderbird Shamrock Racing Enterprises ICQ# 3369494 (Remove the obvious from my return address) > While I unfortanely am not the proud owner of a TSW -- yet -- I have to > agree with Ken. I have emailed Trevor a few times, asking for info on the > TSW, info on the TSW2, etc. He has always kindly replied to me very > quickly, even on the weekends. Hard to get that kind of service anywhere > these days. I'm very impressed with them, and my next wheel purchase will > be from them. > -- > Don Burnette > I-65 Racing > Dburn on Ten > > I can't believe that that guy had problems getting support from > > Trevor. I have a TSW from the second batch made (one of the first 20 > > or so) and it has worked great and except for pot replacements has > > been a joy to own. Trev always responds to me in less than 24 hours. > > The whole basis of their company is service so I am surprised at the > > other gentleman's experience. > > Jeff Haas

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