micro racing wheel

[qubix]

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

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.

[nikimere]

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.

[sgt.flippy]

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.

[sidig]

Qubix I signed up to give you a reply, what you were after was exactly the same as me, so checked out the link Nikimere gave...thanx for that Nik...check out the vrc link and click on the quick start on the left hand side of the home page then scroll down to step 8, it talks about a VRC USB controller that is available thru its distributers, I checked my local distributer and it is exactly what you and I want, even phoned em, as luck would have it shop is close to me, it is a usb controller (not the USB adapter that the sarge was referring to) that is plug and play your comp sees it as a generic steering wheel, and it is based on the design of an rc controller, also reasonably priced at 40£, unfortunately non in stock at the mo but next week will be getting one for the kids comp.
hope this helps
Sid

[sgt.flippy]

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!

[josepmaria]

:D

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 !!!

[josepmaria]

Here is the pic of the real thing ...

[anbiddulph]

Here is the pic of the real thing ...

next time think outside the box :thumb: