Saitek R4/GPL problems

Anyone else experienced any problems with a Saitek R4 & GPL? I can't seem to get it to calibrate properly I seem to always get at least one of the following no matter which driver I use & how I calibrate Left drift Left Drift under braking Ineffectve brakes (only "half woking") "The shakes" The occoasional *** twitch on the steering (not good at 160mph down a straight!) I have tried the drivers that came with the wheel, the newer drivers from the Web site, Calibrating for Direct input & Calibrating for Generic or whateverits called. Using DirectX6 & a SB PCI128. I also have a Quickjoy splitter box but that seems to have no effect whether its in the loop or not, yours, pissed off, bored & unable to drive! I.

Saitek R4 is a piece of junk, cheaply made controller, PERIOD. Why would you spend that kind of money on junk when they could buy a quality wheel like the Microsoft Sidewinder Wheel?

>Saitek R4 is a piece of junk, cheaply made controller, PERIOD. Why >would you spend that kind of money on junk when they could buy a >quality wheel like the Microsoft Sidewinder Wheel? Electrically, it's EXACTLY the same as the MS Sidewinder wheel -- and mine's holding up nicely. Apparently there is some spotty quality, but I've experienced NONE of the problems I've heard others complaining about here. -- JB

I bought a Refurb R4FF for $99 and love it, best quality I have seen in a wheel for under $250. just my .02 :) Rick

Quoted text (10 lines)

>>Saitek R4 is a piece of junk, cheaply made controller, PERIOD. Why >>would you spend that kind of money on junk when they could buy a >>quality wheel like the Microsoft Sidewinder Wheel? >Electrically, it's EXACTLY the same as the MS Sidewinder wheel -- and >mine's holding up nicely. Apparently there is some spotty quality, >but I've experienced NONE of the problems I've heard others >complaining about here. >-- JB

JB, And you are happy with the stroke and control with the brake pedal??? You can actually control the brakes and apply just a little bit of braking going into a GPL turn? Not using brake control, are you? Tom

Quoted text (10 lines)

>>Saitek R4 is a piece of junk, cheaply made controller, PERIOD. Why >>would you spend that kind of money on junk when they could buy a >>quality wheel like the Microsoft Sidewinder Wheel? >Electrically, it's EXACTLY the same as the MS Sidewinder wheel -- and >mine's holding up nicely. Apparently there is some spotty quality, >but I've experienced NONE of the problems I've heard others >complaining about here. >-- JB

Yeah, with one big difference, it's not built by Microsoft. Microsoft did allow Saitek to use their design, but other than that, it's a cheap knockoff. Cosmetically, it uses cheap plastic. The pedal base is much too small and slides around all over the place. The buttons on the front are difficult to get to in the heat of a race. The fact that you have to assemble this toy is absurd. Believe me, I waited patiently for the R4 to hit store shelves, wanting to buy one based on what Saitek's website showed the public. But, when I walked into Best Buy and saw this thing on display all I could do was laugh.

True confession time, Tom -- first off, all I have is the GPL demo; Viper Racing has been my sim of choice since December, and I don't have enough time to split between several sims with different styles. As I've said elsewhere, call me a heretic and flame me now. <G> Second, I do find the R4's pedal travel to tend a bit towards short and touchy (I refuse to use any braking aids in Viper Racing, to answer your GPL-related question from above). Using my TSW pedals as a primary frame of reference, though, virtually EVERYTHING else comes up short. From a more realistic viewpoint, when using my NASCAR Pro pedals as a reference source, I find the Saitek pedals to be a vast improvement over Thrustmaster's product -- Saitek's pedals stay put better than the Thrustmaster pedals, and for me, when it comes right down to it, I can live with a shorter pedal throw more easily than I can live with elusive, escapee pedals that refuse to stay put underfoot. As I said in my review of the Saitek wheel: "The pedals may not be quite as nice as the TSW2's pedals, but they're probably the best plastic pedals you'll find on the market. "The Saitek's pedals feature a fair amount of travel, and the brake pedal sits higher than the accellerator. The pedal size easily accomodates editorial size 8 Reeboks, and the pedal placement helps keep the base unit stable, without the need to hold it in place with your free foot. "The pedals also feature adjustable springs, but even at max tension, the pedals' return response was a bit slow for my taste; the pedal travel is also a bit shorter than what I'm used to with my TSW2 pedals, but overall, the Saitek's pedals will delight most users. Fans of high-precision racing simulations like Grand Prix 2 and Grand Prix Legends will also be glad to know that the Saitek pedals can be set up for either dual-axis or single-axis operation." Basically, I think users who are playing NFSIII and Viper Racing and really want a Force Feedback wheel but are hesitant to pay the $$$ for the Microsoft wheel will be very pleased with the Saitek R4 Force wheel. *** racers may be less satisfied with many aspects of the Saitek wheel (and you have to admit that most people who are really getting into GPL pretty much qualify as "***"), but while it may not be the best wheel for GPL, it is still a very decent piece of work. Having a TSW2 on-hand to set the high-water mark means that anything made primarily from plastic is somewhat disappointing in comparison. The Saitek wheel was certainly much less of a disappointment for me than the NASCAR Pro wheel was when I first purchased it. The NASCAR Pro wheel was nice in that it was immediately much more enjoyable to drive with a wheel and pedals than with a keyboard, gamepad, or joystick, but the level of satisfaction ultimately didn't seem to match up with the money I had to spend on the NASCAR Pro wheel. The Saitek wheel, in comparison, is much more satisfying for the money in my book. Admittedly, a lot of that may have to do with the implementation of Force Feedback effects -- the Saitek wheel really leaves me flat in sims that don't feature Force Feedback, so in those instances, maybe it is about on a par with the NASCAR Pro wheel. All in all, though, I think there are wheel and pedal combos on the market that are far inferior to the Saitek wheel. Again, it probably isn't a worthy weapon of choice for GPL, but in games that feature Force Feedback effects, it can be a really rewarding and enjoyable wheel. -- John Bodin Publisher, The IRL Insider Magazine http://irlinsider.adnetweb.com/

I went through 3 of them and eventually got my money back. When I have the cash I intend to get the MS wheel. -- Robin. http://www.oppositelock.freeserve.co.uk Nurburgring and Grand Prix Legends Remove nospam from e-mail address to reply >Anyone else experienced any problems with a Saitek R4 & GPL? >I can't seem to get it to calibrate properly >I seem to always get at least one of the following no matter which driver I >use & how I calibrate >Left drift >Left Drift under braking >Ineffectve brakes (only "half woking") >"The shakes" >The occoasional *** twitch on the steering (not good at 160mph down a >straight!) >I have tried the drivers that came with the wheel, the newer drivers from >the Web site, Calibrating for Direct input & Calibrating for Generic or >whateverits called. >Using DirectX6 & a SB PCI128. I also have a Quickjoy splitter box but that >seems to have no effect whether its in the loop or not, >yours, >pissed off, bored & unable to drive! >I.