Multiple Controllers on One Computer

I know that this is off topic, but the majority of you have steering wheels, and probably also have a joystick of some sort also hooked up at the same time. The point is not to play with both of them at the same time, but rather use the wheel for racing games, and the joystick for other games. I'm trying to figure out how to hook them both up so that I don't have to continually keep going to the back of the computer and change the hookups, then recalibrate. I purchased a device called a Joystick switch box from Radio Shack, but I can only get one or the other (wheel or joystick) to register, and the other returns with an error message. Surely someone out there must have some way of hooking it up....any help would be greatly appreciated... Dave

Dave, I bought a switchbox at a local computer show made by a company named J-Link. The switchbox allows up to four controllers and it also has one setting where controller 1&2 can be used simultaneously. It cost $19 and as I said it was bought at a show so I can't point you in any kind of direction to find one. Maybe somebody else can pick up the ball from here.

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> I know that this is off topic, but the majority of you have steering wheels, > and probably also have a joystick of some sort also hooked up at the same > time. The point is not to play with both of them at the same time, but > rather use the wheel for racing games, and the joystick for other games. > I'm trying to figure out how to hook them both up so that I don't have to > continually keep going to the back of the computer and change the hookups, > then recalibrate. I purchased a device called a Joystick switch box from > Radio Shack, but I can only get one or the other (wheel or joystick) to > register, and the other returns with an error message. > Surely someone out there must have some way of hooking it up....any help > would be greatly appreciated... > Dave

-- Bob Curtin Worcester Area Strategy & Tactics Exchange http://www.tiac.net/users/ten10ths/ "If God had intended men to join the Army he would have given us green, baggy skin"

I too use the "joyswitch" brand box. It allows me to have my wheel on one port, a joystick on another and my pedals on yet another, I just have to move the two sets of switches around. But then still, you have to go into the joystick controller control panel and remove the wheel and add the stick if you are switching from one to another. A fact of life in Win9x. But once you connect the various input devices, you don't have to do that again. Only add/remove whatever you had hot to what you want, and then, remember to recalibrate. dave henrie

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> I know that this is off topic, but the majority of you have steering wheels, > and probably also have a joystick of some sort also hooked up at the same > time. The point is not to play with both of them at the same time, but > rather use the wheel for racing games, and the joystick for other games. > I'm trying to figure out how to hook them both up so that I don't have to > continually keep going to the back of the computer and change the hookups, > then recalibrate. I purchased a device called a Joystick switch box from > Radio Shack, but I can only get one or the other (wheel or joystick) to > register, and the other returns with an error message. > Surely someone out there must have some way of hooking it up....any help > would be greatly appreciated... > Dave

I had a multi piece 4 analog axis flight sim setup and TM T2 wheel & pedal set and that worked for awhile through an (early) joyswitch. Although with a new computer the voltage through the gamecard was apparently not quite enough and to make that combined setup work I had to try various configurations of the flight gear. I believe I had to separate the rudder pedals and the rest to get the rudders to read high enough. Of course I now have a force feedback wheel that requires additional inputs that the joyswitch wasn't designed to send (at least at that time, don't know about newer models.) I have yet another switch thing that is supposed to pass MIDI also. Couldn't get it working. I'm saving my pennies for USB gear. It's the greatest thing since sliced bread. At work, it's just incredibly convenient to leave two controllers with a combined 7 or 8 axes plugged in (and usable) all at once. With two of them USB I could probably make 3 with 12 axes work, but only our input programmer is that brave ;) If only the flight sim gear people would get their USB programmable throttles out... -- Matthew V. Jessick Motorsims Vehicle Dynamics Engineer (972)910-8866 Ext.125, Fax: (972)910-8216

>Dave, I use a device called a JOYSWITCH that plugs to my game >port on my soundcard. Is there any such device that's compatible with digital devices like the MS Sidewinder Precision Pro? I know the CH box isn't. Joe McGinn ========================================== Staff Writer for the Sports *** Network [link lost in import: /***.com/] ==========================================

I have the Joyswitch as well. I used to have a SideWinder 3D Pro (it was one of the first in the SideWinder lineup) and a SideWinder Gamepad. They both worked well with the Joyswitch.

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> >Dave, I use a device called a JOYSWITCH that plugs to my game > >port on my soundcard. > Is there any such device that's compatible with digital devices like > the MS Sidewinder Precision Pro? I know the CH box isn't. > Joe McGinn > ========================================== > Staff Writer for the Sports *** Network > [link lost in import: /***.com/] > ==========================================