How long did it take to get used to a Steering Wheel ?

[Keyser Băsoze]

I got a Logitech G29, along with the shifter, but I can't drive at all (I don't drive IRL either). I did expect some time to get used to it, but it doesn't look like I'm making any kind of progress. Racing is out of the question, I literally can't drive. Things are *somewhat* simpler if I use auto-gears, but even then I can hardly keep the cars on track.

I did reduce the Operating Range which made a tiny difference (for the better), still can't drive. I'm thinking of returning the wheel since it doesn't seem to suit me at all (got it mainly because with a Keyboard I could not really handle any RWD cars or Rain situations, now with the wheel I can't do anything).

Since I've a few days left to decide, figured I'd ask this around: how long does it usually take to get used to a Racing Wheel ?

LATER EDIT: Now it seems I've also got some kind of input lag - if I quickly "shake" the wheel a few degrees left / right the animation on screen gets out of sync with the actual G29 movement. While the wheel turn degree on-screen does seem to match the actual wheel turn, there is a small delay in the animation.

I've got VSync turned off and Deadzone all set to 0. Any ideas ? Is this normal ?

LATER EDIT 2: Tried it also with Race 07 and GTR, no better feeling. Top of it all, I may have turned the FFB settings too high (I actually maxed them out heh) in Race 07 and the whole thing went berserk, could barely turn it and it became very noisy, rattle, pops, the works. Seemed like it was about to fall apart. That may well have been the settings turned up too high, but still... the wheel just feels very off now overall. Seems too loose around 0 degrees and has a clunky / pop noise around that area when moving it sligthtly a few degrees. Then the rest of the rotation doesn't feel smooth, probably because of the gear mechanism, but oh well... Now even with FFB turned off it still doesn't feel right. Doesn't look like it's going to last very long...

[EF_Neo1st]

Originally posted by Trolea Ciumac:

I got a Logitech G29, along with the shifter, but I can't drive at all (I don't drive IRL either). I did expect some time to get used to it, but it doesn't look like I'm making any kind of progress. Racing is out of the question, I literally can't drive. Things are *somewhat* simpler if I use auto-gears, but even then I can hardly keep the cars on track.

I did reduce the Operating Range which made a tiny difference (for the better), still can't drive. I'm thinking of returning the wheel since it doesn't seem to suit me at all (got it mainly because with a Keyboard I could not really handle any RWD cars or Rain situations, now with the wheel I can't do anything).

Since I've a few days left to decide, figured I'd ask this around: how long does it usually take to get used to a Racing Wheel ?

LATER EDIT: Now it seems I've also got some kind of input lag - if I quickly "shake" the wheel a few degrees left / right the animation on screen gets out of sync with the actual G29 movement. While the wheel turn degree on-screen does seem to match the actual wheel turn, there is a small delay in the animation.

I've got VSync turned off and Deadzone all set to 0. Any ideas ? Is this normal ?

LATER EDIT 2: Tried it also with Race 07 and GTR, no better feeling. Top of it all, I may have turned the FFB settings too high (I actually maxed them out heh) in Race 07 and the whole thing went berserk, could barely turn it and it became very noisy, rattle, pops, the works. Seemed like it was about to fall apart. That may well have been the settings turned up too high, but still... the wheel just feels very off now overall. Seems too loose around 0 degrees and has a clunky / pop noise around that area when moving it sligthtly a few degrees. Then the rest of the rotation doesn't feel smooth, probably because of the gear mechanism, but oh well... Now even with FFB turned off it still doesn't feel right. Doesn't look like it's going to last very long...

1 - Dont use auto-gear, it seem easier at first but you lose a lot of control of the car with it.
2 - Dont use TC neither ABS, learn how to control your car witout it, it is fairly and very possible to control cars at PC1 (and PC2) without any TC and ABS.
3 - Dont use racing line.
4 - Learn driving techniques:
- Trailbraking
- Threshold Braking
- Throttle and Brake Management (be progressive with both, it is not an on/off switch)
- Perceive and do the racing line
- Perceive and use the right angle of attack for each turn

It will take time for you to drive with a racing wheel, yes, but it will pay off and you wont ever go back to using controller or keyboard for simulators.

RWD cars or rain situations are harder conditions.
Try to learn FWD cars first as they are more "natural" to understand and drive.
Driving at rain you need to drive differently and work better if you already have some basics at driving.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvcuGoVhpxw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUdaWbr1KB4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X0WuN3poyVs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AA2AEffH-1k
And other videos, he explain a lot of things and do explain great.

[Keyser Băsoze]

Thanks for the replies, looks like this will take a while. So far pretty slow at making any progress, if any...

Ended-up taking the wheel down yesterday night and when I put it back on the throttle control was assigned differently, thought the pedals already went, almost opened the whole thing up before I realised I should check the mappings in-game (Race 07, FIA GT). Don't know why it does that, seems if you are removing it from the USB the next time you plug it back in some controls are re-mapped causing the throttle to register as permanently maxed (sorry this is mostly turning into a G29 rant).

[Nats]

PC1 is terrible with wheels. It drove me mad with my Logitech DFGT. PC2 sorted all that out.