10 years after - be sure to check the last post below https://www.lfs.net/forum/post/1889748#post1889748

Hi... im quite new in here, but like LFS sooooooo much

I've been making some research and want to buy a wheel finally (have been using analog joystick so far). All the wheels on the market are big and take a lot of space. I want something much smaller, that would allow me to control throttle, brakes, steering and gears.

Joysticks are rather out of the question as it's hard to manipulate the car's steering while doing braking and gas with the same stick.

Has anyone of you came across a device that would look like a RC-car remote that would have a small wheel to control car's steering wheel, two analog levers for fingers for throttle and brakes and 2-4 buttons (gears, looking left-right). USB, does not have to be extremely cheap.

10 years after - be sure to check the last post below https://www.lfs.net/forum/post/1889748#post1889748

There is a device made by the makers of Virtual RC http://www.virtualrc.com/
It's a USB device that can pick up RC Controller signals, so i presume that could be used...
Have a look on their website and see if you can find more info. If i recall correctly it costs about €30 for the USB adapter.

You have to have an RC controller for that, which aren't always cheap for a good one.
I suggest one from Thrustmaster, the Ferrari one, there is a real small one. I think it's for playstation, not sure, but it's cheap.

woops, ignore my post. I seem to forgot to read the last sentence. I thought you wanted a full steering wheel, but a small one. Sorry!

Quote from qubix :

Has anyone of you came across a device that would look like a RC-car remote that would have a small wheel to control car's steering wheel, two analog levers for fingers for throttle and brakes and 2-4 buttons (gears, looking left-right). USB, does not have to be extremely cheap.

I'm using often an Interact's ULTRARACER PC, discontinued, but you can still find them

for instance http://www.softwareandstuff.com/acc_ultracer.html

It's cheap, small, solid and precise enough to get fun with it.
You are not going to set WRs with it, but you can even win some online races in rallycross with it !!!
Ah, it works perfectly with every sim that I've tried !!!
Is perfectly simetric, so no problem if you are lefthanded as I am !!!.
Really I dont understand how something like this is not in production any more !!!
I like it so much that I bought a second one as spare ... but it never breaks !!!
Only little problem, if any, you need a gameport (or a converter).

One remark, dont buy the apparently most advanced FX ... it doesnt work under windows 2K or XP !!!

Here is the pic of the real thing ...

Quote from josepmaria :

Here is the pic of the real thing ...

next time think outside the box

I started this thread nearly 10 years ago. Now I've got 2 kids, third one is due in July, I've managed to solve this.

I've made a custom arduino leonardo based controler. Check it out!

http://jakkul.blogspot.com/201 ... e-controllers-part-2.html



Total cost was less than 100 pln (that's about 24 euro).

http://jakkul.blogspot.com/2015/06/my-first-arduino-racing-pad-video-and.html

https://youtu.be/wtTB-mlXP2c

I've posted a video of this baby working.

Over and out!

Interessting
But I must admit, I can not really imagine that it is comfortable to use or allows for fast driving.
In video it looks as if it takes up similiar space as normal wheel, with the arms rested on table.
But nice project nonetheless!

Well, it uses much less space than a wheel. I can assure you! After about 2 hours I got used to it so much, that I can do a sub 1:37 in a GTI on Blackwood track.

Comfort is something that I need to work on. What do you mean by fast driving? Why would it not be good in such application?

I think "comfort" and "fast driving" goes hand in hand, makes it easier.
You can concentrate on race instead of holding fingers in some special way etc.
The case looks bit too tall. Of course I have never tried it myself.
Some other things you mention on website already.
It also seems to slide around a bit, maybe fix to table with suction cup.

I just love this tread. 11 years....

I've updated the build to get more precision for accelerating and braking with TENSIOMETERS

http://jakkul.blogspot.com/2017/06/sim-racing-and-game-controllers-part-4.html

https://youtu.be/rAXuVRGbYnI

I'm using this once per week, for 1-2 hours playing sessions. It's not excellent, but my hands show no fatigue when using this.

coolest lunchbox i've ever seen

Song choice 10/10