LWFF Info Req'd

OK Guys, here's the deal.... I've got the opportunity to pick up a LWFF for around 50-60 (normal price 99.99 over here in the UK), the reason being that it comes without the software or Power supply unit. My questions therefore are:- 1) Can any psu be used with it (for instance the one that came with my MSFF wheel or the one from my printer)? 2) Is the software fully downloadable from Logitech? Hope someone can give me some advice regarding this asap as I want to go to pick it up tomorrow morning (before it goes) if my questions are answered in the affirmative. Cheers Peter Hooper

1) Dunno, sorry 2) Yes, you can download the full software (about 6 MB) from Logitech, at http://www.wingmanteam.com/Latest_Software/latest_software.htm But, seems like that's a steep price for something that isn't complete. Do you trust the seller? How do you know it will even work if you do get a power supply for it?

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> OK Guys, here's the deal.... > I've got the opportunity to pick up a LWFF for around 50-60 (normal price > 99.99 over here in the UK), the reason being that it comes without the > software or Power supply unit. My questions therefore are:- > 1) Can any psu be used with it (for instance the one that came with my MSFF > wheel or the one from my printer)? > 2) Is the software fully downloadable from Logitech? > Hope someone can give me some advice regarding this asap as I want to go to > pick it up tomorrow morning (before it goes) if my questions are answered in > the affirmative. > Cheers > Peter Hooper

-- Rob Adams Information Management Group Ministry of Health 2st Floor, 727 Fisgard St. Victoria BC V8W 9R1 Phone: (250) 952-2447 Fax: (250) 952-2072

Well, i've got a guaranteed refund if after getting a psu for it still doesn't. Regarding the price I don't think it's too bad as it will be more or less half-price and if the psu isn't going to be a problem I would be quite happy with that. Thanks for the info Peter Hooper > 1) Dunno, sorry > 2) Yes, you can download the full software (about 6 MB) from Logitech, at > http://www.wingmanteam.com/Latest_Software/latest_software.htm > But, seems like that's a steep price for something that isn't complete. Do you > trust the seller? How do you know it will even work if you do get a power supply

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> for it? > > OK Guys, here's the deal.... > > I've got the opportunity to pick up a LWFF for around 50-60 (normal

price > > 99.99 over here in the UK), the reason being that it comes without the > > software or Power supply unit. My questions therefore are:- > > 1) Can any psu be used with it (for instance the one that came with my MSFF > > wheel or the one from my printer)? > > 2) Is the software fully downloadable from Logitech? > > Hope someone can give me some advice regarding this asap as I want to go to > > pick it up tomorrow morning (before it goes) if my questions are answered in

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> > the affirmative. > > Cheers > > Peter Hooper > -- > Rob Adams > Information Management Group > Ministry of Health > 2st Floor, 727 Fisgard St. > Victoria BC V8W 9R1 > Phone: (250) 952-2447 > Fax: (250) 952-2072

Power supply output is 20VDC, 1.5A Connector is 5.5mm O.D. x 2.1mm I.D. with + to the center contact. Lutrell

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>OK Guys, here's the deal.... >I've got the opportunity to pick up a LWFF for around 50-60 (normal price >99.99 over here in the UK), the reason being that it comes without the >software or Power supply unit. My questions therefore are:- >1) Can any psu be used with it (for instance the one that came with my MSFF >wheel or the one from my printer)? >2) Is the software fully downloadable from Logitech? >Hope someone can give me some advice regarding this asap as I want to go to >pick it up tomorrow morning (before it goes) if my questions are answered in >the affirmative. >Cheers >Peter Hooper

Make sure the power supply tips are polorized the right way or you could burn out the wheel. I doubt that any of your power supplies will work for it. It would be a one an a hundred chance. If a power supply is rated higher than 1.5 amps, its okay. It also may work at 18 volts, but don't go over 20 (thanks to Lutrell for the right specs) The ratings should be on your other power supplies, if not, test them with a volt meter. To buy a power supply or make one yourself from Radio Shack parts will cost about $20 - $25 US (35 pounds UK ??). So it may not be worth it. If you can't find one, email me and I'll check through my pile of junk. I may have a 20 volt supply *** around that I used for slotcars. The tip may be wrong, but you could change that easily. If you need it, just cover shipping and a couple bucks. Slot

On Wed, 5 Jan 2000 19:14:23 -0000, "Peter Hooper" >OK Guys, here's the deal.... >I've got the opportunity to pick up a LWFF for around 50-60 (normal price >99.99 over here in the UK), the reason being that it comes without the >software or Power supply unit. My questions therefore are:- >1) Can any psu be used with it (for instance the one that came with my MSFF >wheel or the one from my printer)? The psu for my LWFF is (output) 20Vdc/1.5 amps. Check and see what the MS wheel is rated at. If not you'll need to find one that supports the same voltage/current output. Andy

Cheers Slot, I actually picked the wheel up this morning and am now in the process of trying to see if I can find a suitable power supply. If not I may take you up on your offer..Thanks. One question regarding the unit... it has 2 LED's on the wheel, what exactly are they for?? I tried one power supply unit which was of a lower voltage than that required and the left hand LED lit up but not the other one... what does that signify? Thanks again. Peter Hooper > Make sure the power supply tips are polorized the right way or you could > burn out the wheel. I doubt that any of your power supplies will work for > it. It would be a one an a hundred chance. If a power supply is rated higher > than 1.5 amps, its okay. It also may work at 18 volts, but don't go over 20 > (thanks to Lutrell for the right specs) The ratings should be on your other > power supplies, if not, test them with a volt meter. To buy a power supply > or make one yourself from Radio Shack parts will cost about $20 - $25 US > (35 pounds UK ??). So it may not be worth it. If you can't find one, email > me and I'll check through my pile of junk. I may have a 20 volt supply >*** around that I used for slotcars. The tip may be wrong, but you could > change that easily. If you need it, just cover shipping and a couple bucks.

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> Slot > > OK Guys, here's the deal.... > > I've got the opportunity to pick up a LWFF for around 50-60 (normal > price > > 99.99 over here in the UK), the reason being that it comes without the > > software or Power supply unit. My questions therefore are:- > > 1) Can any psu be used with it (for instance the one that came with my > MSFF > > wheel or the one from my printer)? > > 2) Is the software fully downloadable from Logitech? > > Hope someone can give me some advice regarding this asap as I want to go > to > > pick it up tomorrow morning (before it goes) if my questions are

answered > in > > the affirmative. > > Cheers > > Peter Hooper

The led on the left indicates that your wheel has power top it, the led on the right tells you that the wheel is calibrated. With the logitech software, the wheel calibrates itself automaticaly. Kind of took me by suprise the***time I saw my wheel going full right the full left and the centering itself. On Thu, 6 Jan 2000 14:49:49 -0000, "Peter Hooper"

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>Cheers Slot, >I actually picked the wheel up this morning and am now in the process of >trying to see if I can find a suitable power supply. If not I may take you >up on your offer..Thanks. >One question regarding the unit... it has 2 LED's on the wheel, what exactly >are they for?? I tried one power supply unit which was of a lower voltage >than that required and the left hand LED lit up but not the other one... >what does that signify? >Thanks again. >Peter Hooper

Hey Peter, I hope you're remembering to make sure the + is the center contact (according to Lutrell) on any power supplies you're trying! Most of them are these days, but some manufacturers use proprietory parts and could switch the polarity just so you have to buy replacements from them. And make sure it's rated for at least 1.5 amps. (not much considering it has to power a motor, and even a little 10D slotcar motor draws 1.5A at start up). Did the wheel work with the power supply you tried? I don't own a LWFF wheel and its been a while since I tried one briefly, so I don't remember what the LEDs are for. I assume one is for power-on. I don't know about the other. Maybe Lutrell has an answer for that. In the mean time I'll try to figure out the cheapest way for you to get one. Do they have Radio Shack or Tandy Electronics stores in the UK? I buy a lot of slotcars from the UK and as I recall, shipping is quite expensive. I wonder is its cheaper to send you mine (at least I think I have one) or for you to build a simple one (its easy). We don't want it to add so much cost to the wheel that you'll be bringing the price up to a new complete wheel. Slot "Never trust your dog to guard your sandwich." (Jen) >Cheers Slot, >I actually picked the wheel up this morning and am now in the process of >trying to see if I can find a suitable power supply. If not I may take you >up on your offer..Thanks. >One question regarding the unit... it has 2 LED's on the wheel, what exactly

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>are they for?? I tried one power supply unit which was of a lower voltage >than that required and the left hand LED lit up but not the other one... >what does that signify? >Thanks again. >Peter Hooper >> Make sure the power supply tips are polorized the right way or you could >> burn out the wheel. I doubt that any of your power supplies will work for >> it. It would be a one an a hundred chance. If a power supply is rated >higher >> than 1.5 amps, its okay. It also may work at 18 volts, but don't go over >20 >> (thanks to Lutrell for the right specs) The ratings should be on your >other >> power supplies, if not, test them with a volt meter. To buy a power

supply >> or make one yourself from Radio Shack parts will cost about $20 - $25 US >> (35 pounds UK ??). So it may not be worth it. If you can't find one, email

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>> me and I'll check through my pile of junk. I may have a 20 volt supply >>*** around that I used for slotcars. The tip may be wrong, but you >could >> change that easily. If you need it, just cover shipping and a couple >bucks. >> Slot >> > OK Guys, here's the deal.... >> > I've got the opportunity to pick up a LWFF for around 50-60 (normal >> price >> > 99.99 over here in the UK), the reason being that it comes without the >> > software or Power supply unit. My questions therefore are:- >> > 1) Can any psu be used with it (for instance the one that came with my >> MSFF >> > wheel or the one from my printer)? >> > 2) Is the software fully downloadable from Logitech? >> > Hope someone can give me some advice regarding this asap as I want to

go

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>> to >> > pick it up tomorrow morning (before it goes) if my questions are >answered >> in >> > the affirmative. >> > Cheers >> > Peter Hooper

Hi there, Many thanks once again for all your help. I have made sure the polarity is set correctly, but I have my doubts as to whether this psu is going to work as it is probably too low a voltage. We don't have a radio shack over here but there is a fairly local Tandy's and also Maplins is not too far away, so I would really appreciate your help on exactly what I need to build one of these. I have just downloaded the Logitech software and will get it all set up in the morning to try it with the psu I already have, i'll let you know how it goes. Many thanks once again. Peter Hooper > Hey Peter, > I hope you're remembering to make sure the + is the center contact > (according to Lutrell) on any power supplies you're trying! Most of them are > these days, but some manufacturers use proprietory parts and could switch > the polarity just so you have to buy replacements from them. And make sure > it's rated for at least 1.5 amps. (not much considering it has to power a > motor, and even a little 10D slotcar motor draws 1.5A at start up). > Did the wheel work with the power supply you tried? I don't own a LWFF wheel > and its been a while since I tried one briefly, so I don't remember what the

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> LEDs are for. I assume one is for power-on. I don't know about the other. > Maybe Lutrell has an answer for that. In the mean time I'll try to figure > out the cheapest way for you to get one. Do they have Radio Shack or Tandy > Electronics stores in the UK? I buy a lot of slotcars from the UK and as I > recall, shipping is quite expensive. I wonder is its cheaper to send you > mine (at least I think I have one) or for you to build a simple one (its > easy). We don't want it to add so much cost to the wheel that you'll be > bringing the price up to a new complete wheel. > Slot > "Never trust your dog to guard your sandwich." > (Jen) > >Cheers Slot, > >I actually picked the wheel up this morning and am now in the process of > >trying to see if I can find a suitable power supply. If not I may take

you

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> >up on your offer..Thanks. > >One question regarding the unit... it has 2 LED's on the wheel, what > exactly > >are they for?? I tried one power supply unit which was of a lower voltage > >than that required and the left hand LED lit up but not the other one... > >what does that signify? > >Thanks again. > >Peter Hooper > >> Make sure the power supply tips are polorized the right way or you

could > >> burn out the wheel. I doubt that any of your power supplies will work for > >> it. It would be a one an a hundred chance. If a power supply is rated > >higher > >> than 1.5 amps, its okay. It also may work at 18 volts, but don't go over > >20 > >> (thanks to Lutrell for the right specs) The ratings should be on your > >other > >> power supplies, if not, test them with a volt meter. To buy a power > supply > >> or make one yourself from Radio Shack parts will cost about $20 - $25 US

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> >> (35 pounds UK ??). So it may not be worth it. If you can't find one, > email > >> me and I'll check through my pile of junk. I may have a 20 volt supply > >>*** around that I used for slotcars. The tip may be wrong, but you > >could > >> change that easily. If you need it, just cover shipping and a couple > >bucks. > >> Slot > >> > OK Guys, here's the deal.... > >> > I've got the opportunity to pick up a LWFF for around 50-60 (normal > >> price > >> > 99.99 over here in the UK), the reason being that it comes without

the > >> > software or Power supply unit. My questions therefore are:- > >> > 1) Can any psu be used with it (for instance the one that came with my

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> >> MSFF > >> > wheel or the one from my printer)? > >> > 2) Is the software fully downloadable from Logitech? > >> > Hope someone can give me some advice regarding this asap as I want to > go > >> to > >> > pick it up tomorrow morning (before it goes) if my questions are > >answered > >> in > >> > the affirmative. > >> > Cheers > >> > Peter Hooper

Here's the latest on the LWFF saga... The psu I tried failed to work properly, it powered the wheel up but in the Wingman software it wasn't registering the turning of the wheel and application of the brake and accellerator pedals properly so I assume this was because the voltage was too low. I contacted Logitech and they told me that they could supply me with the required psu but it would take 3 weeks + :O(( not what I was hoping to hear. Anyway, Iafter phoning around a few electrical stores without any luck I was tidying things up around my bedroom and came across the psu for my old Compaq laptop which I had set up on New Years eve to see how it handled the year 2000 rollover. Checked the specification and it was rated at 18.5 volts, 2.2a which is by far the closest I have come to matching the LWFF requirements. Unfortunately the connector was the wrong size but with a little bit of tin foil to make the contacts I plugged it in and VIOILA (or however you spell it....) the light's came on and the wheel began turning around in a frenzy. Basically it now seems to be working fine (at least in GPL, I haven't tried anything else yet). The problem now is that I need to play around with the settings to get the right amount of force feedback as the settings I use for my MSFF don't seem to give me much effect with the LWFF, any tips on these would be greatly appreciated (both for the Wingman software settings and the ini settings for GPL). Also, when I remove the tick from the 'Report Combined Pedals' option GPL doesn't seem to recognise the accellerator and brake any longer, anybody else find this problem. Strangely, with a tick in that option box they seem to work as seperate axis anyway. Regards Peter Hooper

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> Hi there, > Many thanks once again for all your help. > I have made sure the polarity is set correctly, but I have my doubts as to > whether this psu is going to work as it is probably too low a voltage. > We don't have a radio shack over here but there is a fairly local Tandy's > and also Maplins is not too far away, so I would really appreciate your

help

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> on exactly what I need to build one of these. I have just downloaded the > Logitech software and will get it all set up in the morning to try it with > the psu I already have, i'll let you know how it goes. > Many thanks once again. > Peter Hooper > > Hey Peter, > > I hope you're remembering to make sure the + is the center contact > > (according to Lutrell) on any power supplies you're trying! Most of them > are > > these days, but some manufacturers use proprietory parts and could

switch > > the polarity just so you have to buy replacements from them. And make sure > > it's rated for at least 1.5 amps. (not much considering it has to power a

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> > motor, and even a little 10D slotcar motor draws 1.5A at start up). > > Did the wheel work with the power supply you tried? I don't own a LWFF > wheel > > and its been a while since I tried one briefly, so I don't remember what > the > > LEDs are for. I assume one is for power-on. I don't know about the

other. > > Maybe Lutrell has an answer for that. In the mean time I'll try to figure > > out the cheapest way for you to get one. Do they have Radio Shack or Tandy > > Electronics stores in the UK? I buy a lot of slotcars from the UK and as I

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> > recall, shipping is quite expensive. I wonder is its cheaper to send you > > mine (at least I think I have one) or for you to build a simple one (its > > easy). We don't want it to add so much cost to the wheel that you'll be > > bringing the price up to a new complete wheel. > > Slot > > "Never trust your dog to guard your sandwich." > > (Jen) > > >Cheers Slot, > > >I actually picked the wheel up this morning and am now in the process

of

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> > >trying to see if I can find a suitable power supply. If not I may take > you > > >up on your offer..Thanks. > > >One question regarding the unit... it has 2 LED's on the wheel, what > > exactly > > >are they for?? I tried one power supply unit which was of a lower

voltage > > >than that required and the left hand LED lit up but not the other one...

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> > >what does that signify? > > >Thanks again. > > >Peter Hooper > > >> Make sure the power supply tips are polorized the right way or you > could > > >> burn out the wheel. I doubt that any of your power supplies will work > for > > >> it. It would be a one an a hundred chance. If a power supply is rated > > >higher > > >> than 1.5 amps, its okay. It also may work at 18 volts, but don't go > over > > >20 > > >> (thanks to Lutrell for the right specs) The ratings should be on your > > >other > > >> power supplies, if not, test them with a volt meter. To buy a power > > supply > > >> or make one yourself from Radio Shack parts will cost about $20 -

$25 > US > > >> (35 pounds UK ??). So it may not be worth it. If you can't find one, > > email > > >> me and I'll check through my pile of junk. I may have a 20 volt supply > > >>*** around that I used for slotcars. The tip may be wrong, but you > > >could > > >> change that easily. If you need it, just cover shipping and a couple > > >bucks. > > >> Slot message > > >> > OK Guys, here's the deal.... > > >> > I've got the opportunity to pick up a LWFF for around 50-60 (normal

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> > >> price > > >> > 99.99 over here in the UK), the reason being that it comes without > the > > >> > software or Power supply unit. My questions therefore are:- > > >> > 1) Can any psu be used with it (for instance the one that came with > my > > >> MSFF > > >> > wheel or the one from my printer)? > > >> > 2) Is the software fully downloadable from Logitech? > > >> > Hope someone can give me some advice regarding this asap as I want

to

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> > go > > >> to > > >> > pick it up tomorrow morning (before it goes) if my questions are > > >answered > > >> in > > >> > the affirmative. > > >> > Cheers > > >> > Peter Hooper