Whats a good usb shifter

max attack · 12 June 12, 09:59

What choices of usb shifters are there out there and can any one recommend a good one please.

hwangm · 12 June 12, 13:39

H-Patern or Sequential?
for Sequential. I really love my Frex ( wish I had the handbrake like yours) for h-Patern there are none out there that is really good. maybe the Cannon Shifter when it came out, but again, FRex h- Patern might be the best out in terms of feeling out there.

yetisaj · 12 June 12, 15:27

For a budget, there's the Thrustmaster TH8 RS shifter. Seems to get good reviews and Thrustmaster have really upped their build quality as of late.

http://www.virtualr.net/thrustmaster...shifter-review

"For 149.99€ sim racers get a highly durable, flawlessly-made unit that couldn’t possibly be any easier to use or more adjustable. Apart from the limited PS3 compatibility, it’s extremely hard to find any kind of flaw here as the shifter doesn’t really have any obvious weak spots."

Petrolmania · 12 June 12, 17:48

What's the longterm on the TH8 now it's been out a while? Anyone have a report?

MrTulip · 12 June 12, 18:38

This is still a very good 8 gear H-shifter (Lightning SST):

http://www.sim-gear.com/794354.html

It has a micro switch per gear layout inside which makes it very durable and simple design from inside. They also send you replacement micro switches if they break, and there seems to be lifetime warranty too these days for it too.

Very easy to disassemble if you decide to repair it yourself if it breaks (compared to G25 shifter for instance, which broke in under a year and was practically irrepairable).

For the reference mine broke after two years of violently banging in the first gear in iRacing Skip Barber grid. After that I just had to turn the micro switch base around to get the first gear working again, while losing the 8th gear. I got the replacement micro switches and the base part from Sim-Gear very shortly, but haven't bothered to replace them yet as gear 8 is not needed anywhere since I don't do trucking sims.

Built quality is also extremely good; it is heavy and pretty much everything is solid steel. It has solid screw and wide clamp mechanism for attaching it to the table.

max attack · 12 June 12, 23:51

Thanks guys.
I like the look of the trustmaster and the lightning SST. I also love the look lf the Frex Unit but is very expensive.
I have the CSR-E shifter set and don't like the feel of the gated shifter anywhere as much as my old g25, the sequential one feels good but stick is a bit short.. I might have to pull the gated apart and do a mod.

Hitman_M3 · 13 June 12, 13:35

There's also the TSW shifter, both in sequential and H pattern, and also Derek Spear's sequential shifter ...

max attack · 20 June 12, 05:48

I looked at all of those links, Thanks Guys.

So what is the BEST shifter. I have a customer that wants the best. I might buy the Frex Hshift+ but first have to find out if it ticks all the right boxes.
Any one here have the Hshift+ ??? I need to know what you think of it.

max attack · 20 June 12, 05:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by hwangm

H-Patern or Sequential?
for Sequential. I really love my Frex ( wish I had the handbrake like yours) for h-Patern there are none out there that is really good. maybe the Cannon Shifter when it came out, but again, FRex h- Patern might be the best out in terms of feeling out there.

I can't help but agree with you.

Petrolmania · 20 June 12, 15:03

There really is no "best" as like most things, it's subjective. One could say the SST is the "best". It's certainly got the quality. I had one, loved it but it's not what I want in the end as it's not realistic. It's designed for people that treat simracing as an arcade game, that want to shave every second off. The same people who left foot brake and have small rotations on their wheels and use flappy paddles to shift even when the car didn't have them in real life. Me? I want to build a "simulator" eventually so not MY "best". lol.

"Best" to some people is bang for the buck. Maybe the Thrustmaster. Myself, I'm on a budget and am thinking eventually the ACT Labs shifter.

"Best" to me would be a shifter that replicates driving a real car and also one that is built strong and I would say the winner there would be the new Todd Cannon shifter. it IS around $500 and you may have to wait a while to get it built but from what I see it definitely would hit the "best" button for a lot of us! And with Todd's trademark quality, it would be the last shifter you'd ever have to buy!!

Den.

Raikku · 20 June 12, 18:14

I like my Frex Shift+ seq. I use it connected to my CSR Elite so I can use it with consoles too.

MINIMM · 20 June 12, 19:24

I got to try Todd's shifter at an event in the Dallas area.

It is by far the most realistic H pattern shifter I have ever used.

I have a 6 speed manual in the car I drive and it feels like a real car.

I can't recommend it enough.

BTW, everyone else that I talked to that tried it that weekend felt the same way.

If you have the money, that's the one to get.

Mahjik · 28 June 12, 17:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by Petrolmania

"Best" to some people is bang for the buck. Maybe the Thrustmaster. Myself, I'm on a budget and am thinking eventually the ACT Labs shifter.

Just FYI, I have the ACT Labs shifter (with the various shifter plates). When it's working, it's great. However, the longevity of it is terrible. Since they started remaking them a few years ago, I've had 2 failures. The first failure caused me to purchase a new shifter. The second failure I was able to scavenge parts between the two now non-function shifters to create a working one again. However, I know I'm on borrowed time.

Petrolmania · 28 June 12, 18:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mahjik

Just FYI, I have the ACT Labs shifter (with the various shifter plates). When it's working, it's great. However, the longevity of it is terrible. Since they started remaking them a few years ago, I've had 2 failures. The first failure caused me to purchase a new shifter. The second failure I was able to scavenge parts between the two now non-function shifters to create a working one again. However, I know I'm on borrowed time.

That's good to know. Thank you. I guess I'll reconsider.

Den.

max attack · 30 June 12, 00:52

After talking with a lot of people, I picked the 2012 Frex Shift+.
When it arrives I will give it a good test and report back.

max attack · 9 July 12, 08:52

The Sexy Frexy arrived today. I spent a good part of the afternoon making a rock solid mount right where I wanted it to be. Plugged it in, started rf2 and calibrated the shift and a few buttons. Magic shifter. I have no doubt it is the best you can buy BUT the best is not as good as it should be IMHO.
The most important thing I wanted in a shift is for it to feel real and it does that well. When you change gears you get a sound that you would expect from one of those gearboxes that cost several hundred thousand dollars in a real life race car.
It gets the Max Attack shift of the year award

.

brabham67 · 12 July 12, 03:51

Very nice!!

max attack · 12 July 12, 05:22

Yes it is nice. The only bad thing I have come across so far is GTR2 won't let me use it and the CSR-E at the same time. Grrrrr

Any one know a fix?

Stef Bord · 12 July 12, 15:16

You can use "Glovepie" and simulate keyboard action with the Frex. Script exemple if the frex is Joystick 3 for exemple (use the good number) in windows controlers...

Key.q = Joystick3.Button1

Key.d = Joystick3.Button2

Key.a = Joystick3.Button3

Key.s = Joystick3.Button4

Key.z = Joystick3.Button5

Key.x = Joystick3.Button6

Run the script in Glovepie open GTR2. and in controller configuration give the keyboard letters for the h shifter...

SANTANA_DK · 16 September 12, 00:56

i just found out of another little but fairly easy program to use. It's called (Joytokey).
At the present time I am using 4 controlers in GTR2 and it works as a charm. A t500 wheel+ fanatec pedas+ SLIPRO w 22 buttons + a derek spear button box.
The program works in genereal just like the program explained above. Is simulates the controller key that you choose to as a keyborad key.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RyJtL...eature=related

12 June 12, 09:59	#1
max attack Donated Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Melbourne Age: 47	Whats a good usb shifter What choices of usb shifters are there out there and can any one recommend a good one please.

12 June 12, 15:27	#3
yetisaj Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: UK http://yetisaj.blogspot.com/ Age: 30	For a budget, there's the Thrustmaster TH8 RS shifter. Seems to get good reviews and Thrustmaster have really upped their build quality as of late. http://www.virtualr.net/thrustmaster...shifter-review "For 149.99€ sim racers get a highly durable, flawlessly-made unit that couldn’t possibly be any easier to use or more adjustable. Apart from the limited PS3 compatibility, it’s extremely hard to find any kind of flaw here as the shifter doesn’t really have any obvious weak spots." Last edited by yetisaj; 12 June 12 at 15:38.

12 June 12, 13:39	#2
hwangm Join Date: Jul 2011	H-Patern or Sequential? for Sequential. I really love my Frex ( wish I had the handbrake like yours) for h-Patern there are none out there that is really good. maybe the Cannon Shifter when it came out, but again, FRex h- Patern might be the best out in terms of feeling out there.

12 June 12, 17:48	#4
Petrolmania Easily Distracted Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Anarkist Garage, Cyberspace. Age: 49	What's the longterm on the TH8 now it's been out a while? Anyone have a report?

12 June 12, 18:38	#5
MrTulip Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Finland	This is still a very good 8 gear H-shifter (Lightning SST): http://www.sim-gear.com/794354.html It has a micro switch per gear layout inside which makes it very durable and simple design from inside. They also send you replacement micro switches if they break, and there seems to be lifetime warranty too these days for it too. Very easy to disassemble if you decide to repair it yourself if it breaks (compared to G25 shifter for instance, which broke in under a year and was practically irrepairable). For the reference mine broke after two years of violently banging in the first gear in iRacing Skip Barber grid. After that I just had to turn the micro switch base around to get the first gear working again, while losing the 8th gear. I got the replacement micro switches and the base part from Sim-Gear very shortly, but haven't bothered to replace them yet as gear 8 is not needed anywhere since I don't do trucking sims. Built quality is also extremely good; it is heavy and pretty much everything is solid steel. It has solid screw and wide clamp mechanism for attaching it to the table.

12 June 12, 23:51	#6
max attack Donated Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Melbourne Age: 47	Thanks guys. I like the look of the trustmaster and the lightning SST. I also love the look lf the Frex Unit but is very expensive. I have the CSR-E shifter set and don't like the feel of the gated shifter anywhere as much as my old g25, the sequential one feels good but stick is a bit short.. I might have to pull the gated apart and do a mod.

13 June 12, 13:35	#7
Hitman_M3 Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Valencia, Spain	There's also the TSW shifter, both in sequential and H pattern, and also Derek Spear's sequential shifter ...

20 June 12, 05:48	#8
max attack Donated Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Melbourne Age: 47	I looked at all of those links, Thanks Guys. So what is the BEST shifter. I have a customer that wants the best. I might buy the Frex Hshift+ but first have to find out if it ticks all the right boxes. Any one here have the Hshift+ ??? I need to know what you think of it.

20 June 12, 15:03	#10
Petrolmania Easily Distracted Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Anarkist Garage, Cyberspace. Age: 49	There really is no "best" as like most things, it's subjective. One could say the SST is the "best". It's certainly got the quality. I had one, loved it but it's not what I want in the end as it's not realistic. It's designed for people that treat simracing as an arcade game, that want to shave every second off. The same people who left foot brake and have small rotations on their wheels and use flappy paddles to shift even when the car didn't have them in real life. Me? I want to build a "simulator" eventually so not MY "best". lol. "Best" to some people is bang for the buck. Maybe the Thrustmaster. Myself, I'm on a budget and am thinking eventually the ACT Labs shifter. "Best" to me would be a shifter that replicates driving a real car and also one that is built strong and I would say the winner there would be the new Todd Cannon shifter. it IS around $500 and you may have to wait a while to get it built but from what I see it definitely would hit the "best" button for a lot of us! And with Todd's trademark quality, it would be the last shifter you'd ever have to buy!! Den.

20 June 12, 18:14	#11
Raikku Donated Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Finland	I like my Frex Shift+ seq. I use it connected to my CSR Elite so I can use it with consoles too.

20 June 12, 19:24	#12
MINIMM Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Texas Age: 62	I got to try Todd's shifter at an event in the Dallas area. It is by far the most realistic H pattern shifter I have ever used. I have a 6 speed manual in the car I drive and it feels like a real car. I can't recommend it enough. BTW, everyone else that I talked to that tried it that weekend felt the same way. If you have the money, that's the one to get.

30 June 12, 00:52	#15
max attack Donated Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Melbourne Age: 47	After talking with a lot of people, I picked the 2012 Frex Shift+. When it arrives I will give it a good test and report back.

9 July 12, 08:52	#16
max attack Donated Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Melbourne Age: 47	The Sexy Frexy arrived today. I spent a good part of the afternoon making a rock solid mount right where I wanted it to be. Plugged it in, started rf2 and calibrated the shift and a few buttons. Magic shifter. I have no doubt it is the best you can buy BUT the best is not as good as it should be IMHO. The most important thing I wanted in a shift is for it to feel real and it does that well. When you change gears you get a sound that you would expect from one of those gearboxes that cost several hundred thousand dollars in a real life race car. It gets the Max Attack shift of the year award .

12 July 12, 03:51	#17
brabham67 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Kent, Washington, USA Age: 37	Very nice!!

12 July 12, 05:22	#18
max attack Donated Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Melbourne Age: 47	Yes it is nice. The only bad thing I have come across so far is GTR2 won't let me use it and the CSR-E at the same time. Grrrrr Any one know a fix?

12 July 12, 15:16	#19
Stef Bord Join Date: Oct 2006	You can use "Glovepie" and simulate keyboard action with the Frex. Script exemple if the frex is Joystick 3 for exemple (use the good number) in windows controlers... Key.q = Joystick3.Button1 Key.d = Joystick3.Button2 Key.a = Joystick3.Button3 Key.s = Joystick3.Button4 Key.z = Joystick3.Button5 Key.x = Joystick3.Button6 Run the script in Glovepie open GTR2. and in controller configuration give the keyboard letters for the h shifter...

16 September 12, 00:56	#20
SANTANA_DK Join Date: Oct 2006 Age: 29	i just found out of another little but fairly easy program to use. It's called (Joytokey). At the present time I am using 4 controlers in GTR2 and it works as a charm. A t500 wheel+ fanatec pedas+ SLIPRO w 22 buttons + a derek spear button box. The program works in genereal just like the program explained above. Is simulates the controller key that you choose to as a keyborad key. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RyJtL...eature=related