Optical Disc Rather than Potentiometer ?

I have built my own wheel and pedals. Initially it worked great. However, over time I have noticed its performance dwindling. A quick check indicates that the potentiometer is worn. ( cheaper than camshaft bearings ) Before replacing this item I need some info, if available. Here are my questions. 1. Can anyone or has anyone successfully replaced the pot with an optical disc? 2. If yes to 1, can you tell me where I can get information on the subject. 3. If yes to 1, is it possible to calibrate the wheel for less or more reaction when turning the wheel lock to lock. 4. If no to 1, what seems to be the best resistance value for this application. I was using 100K prior and it seemed a bit to touchy for a Stock Car simulation Thanks in advance. P.S. Now that we see the four door Taurus I want to see the Intrepid compete.

I wish one of the big wheel makers would make a proper optical-encoder based wheel, instead of the cheap potentiometer system. It's the only way top fully solve Win95 calibration headaches.

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>I have built my own wheel and pedals. Initially it worked great. However, >over time I have noticed its performance dwindling. A quick check indicates >that the potentiometer is worn. ( cheaper than camshaft bearings ) >Before replacing this item I need some info, if available. Here are my >questions. >1. Can anyone or has anyone successfully replaced the pot with an optical >disc? >2. If yes to 1, can you tell me where I can get information on the subject. >3. If yes to 1, is it possible to calibrate the wheel for less or more >reaction when turning the wheel lock to lock. >4. If no to 1, what seems to be the best resistance value for this >application. I was using 100K prior and it seemed a bit to touchy for a >Stock Car simulation >Thanks in advance. >P.S. Now that we see the four door Taurus I want to see the Intrepid >compete.

Joe

Maybe this is it, http://www.microsoft.com/products/hardware/sidewinder/News/default.htm Look at the bottom of the page. There is a checkered flag. That could indicate that the new product is a steering wheel. Since there are optical sensors in the sidewinder this steering wheel probably has the same encoder. Maybe it is something else, who knows? /Jesper vcard.vcf < 1K Download

Move your pointer over the checkered flag/gold cup and you'll hear some race car engines going around a track (at least with IE4). Based on the other Sidewinder products, it could be a promising product, if they can manage to do it right. On Mon, 27 Apr 1998 10:30:35 +0200, Jesper Adolfsson

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>Maybe this is it, >http://www.microsoft.com/products/hardware/sidewinder/News/default.htm >Look at the bottom of the page. There is a checkered flag. That could >indicate that the new product is a steering wheel. Since there are >optical sensors in the sidewinder this steering wheel probably has the >same encoder. >Maybe it is something else, who knows? >/Jesper

% I wish one of the big wheel makers would make a proper optical-encoder % based wheel, instead of the cheap potentiometer system. It's the only % way top fully solve Win95 calibration headaches. The only way?! This seems like a pretty costly method to fix Microsoft's poor programming. If DOS can handle cheap potentiomenters why can't an advanced system like Win95 read a game port correctly? -- **************************** Michael E. Carver ************************* Upside out, or inside down...False alarm the only game in town. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=<[ /./. [- < ]>=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

On Mon, 27 Apr 1998 16:01:00, "Michael E. Carver" Because M$ *SELLS* optical/digital joysticks. I really think the fiasco with DirectInput and analog joysticks and controllers (dead zone, calibration problems,etc.)was done on purpose. Whether to force people to buy the only controllers that work (made by M$) or to drive the technology away from analog. I am using Win95 to log into NROS and for GPL...sure is nice to boot back to OS/2 when I am done and not have to mess with crashing and lock ups and general WTF's. Have an alpha copy of a converter...Win95 ->>OS/2....The converted TEN software almost runs... maybe the next release will get the API's that TEN's software uses. They already have the Glide version of Quake II converting fine to OS/2 native. OS/2 has had both digital and analog joystick drivers built in for 5-6 years now, even before anyone invented digital joysticks. Oh, another thing, the 3DFX version of N2 runs fine under OS/2. Interesting news about M$'s software and the Year 2000 last Friday. Hmmm....OS/2 is Year 2000 Compliant...what are you folks gonna do for the millennium? Guess Playstations will still work. Hehehe. Our office will still be running....I have trouble loading a spreadsheet on a Playstation. Have Fun! Ralph Williams <snip>

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> The only way?! This seems like a pretty costly method to fix > Microsoft's poor programming. If DOS can handle cheap potentiomenters > why can't an advanced system like Win95 read a game port correctly? > -- > **************************** Michael E. Carver ************************* > Upside out, or inside down...False alarm the only game in town. > =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=<[ /./. [- < ]>=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

I agree with your point, but it seems the odds of getting Microsoft to fix DirectInput so it reads POT joysticks correctly are aproximately nil. Also, I suspect it may actually be a very difficult fix, the problem possibly being caused by Windows95 "pseudo multitasking" which does not allow the implementation of real-time services (which it seems the joystick reader would need to sample to stick accurately). I agree completely it's a regular SNAFU, that Microsoft should be utterly ashamed of (i.e., their so-called *** platform being incapable of accurately reading *** devices) It's a bad joke really, it's no wonder Microsoft gets so little respect. Joe

> Interesting news about M$'s software and the Year 2000 > last Friday. Hmmm....OS/2 is Year 2000 Compliant...what > are you folks gonna do for the millennium? Windows 00 no doubt. At least the name will be appropriate. "Windows 00... Twice nothing is still nothing." Trips

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>On Mon, 27 Apr 1998 16:01:00, "Michael E. Carver" >Because M$ *SELLS* optical/digital joysticks. I really >think the fiasco with DirectInput and analog joysticks >and controllers (dead zone, calibration >problems,etc.)was done on purpose. >Whether to force people to buy the only controllers >that work (made by M$) or to drive the technology away >from analog.

Sadly it's very difficult to argue with this position, given how long Microsoft has refused to fix such a basic part of their *** APIs. Joe

I've also built my own wheel and pedals. $1.49 pots from Radio Shack have worked well for me. But....optical sounds interesting. If you come across any info, please let me know. I'll do likewise. John Boles says...

I hope I haven't missed the start of this thread, but... I don't know where you can get "optical pots" but it sounds like a good idea. The Microsoft Precision joystick series is optical and you get a very smooth, accurate action, and never it needs to be calibrated, because there's never any drift Paul M PS Sorry to endorse a Microsoft product :)

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> I've also built my own wheel and pedals. $1.49 pots from Radio Shack > have worked well for me. But....optical sounds interesting. If you come > across any info, please let me know. I'll do likewise. > John Boles > says... > >I have built my own wheel and pedals. Initially it worked great. > However, > >over time I have noticed its performance dwindling. A quick check > indicates > >that the potentiometer is worn. ( cheaper than camshaft bearings ) > >Before replacing this item I need some info, if available. Here are my > >questions. > >1. Can anyone or has anyone successfully replaced the pot with an > optical > >disc? > >2. If yes to 1, can you tell me where I can get information on the > subject. > >3. If yes to 1, is it possible to calibrate the wheel for less or more > >reaction when turning the wheel lock to lock. > >4. If no to 1, what seems to be the best resistance value for this > >application. I was using 100K prior and it seemed a bit to touchy for > a > >Stock Car simulation > >Thanks in advance. > >P.S. Now that we see the four door Taurus I want to see the Intrepid > >compete.