Analog pedal calibration

[Minwah]

I've recently wired up my pedals using this method: http://www.gunpowder.freeserve.co.uk/wheels/wiring.htm

I have it set on single axis atm, and it seemed to be working fine...but I realised I couldn't get top end in Pole Position 2.  After re-calibrating it seemed much better, but using Pole Position's test screen revealed that I still wasn't getting full throttle (the throttle value goes up to 90 with a digital button, I'm getting 80-odd).

One other kindof related thing I have noticed is that in the game controller test screen, the crosshair is a bit jittery (this seems to be the case with many gameport devices I've seen).

So I am wondering if I would be better off interfacing the pedals using Dave's AKI (I have one I could use), possibly swapping the pots back for 5k arcade ones?  I would have thought in theory once connected & calibrated I shouldn't have to ever re-calibrate?

Any thoughts?

[pocketbikez]

i hacked some analog controls with a dual strike controller. i also had the no top speed in pole position problem with my happcontrols flat pedal. at first i thought it was because the pedal turns the pot less than it needs. adjusting in-mame settings didnt help much. but then i found that the dual strike software has a setting for range of motion for each axis. i lowered the range of motion and all is good. im not sure if this will help you out on your setup tho

[Aceldamor]

I'm going to throw another hitch into the mix.

When I used to manage an arcade, we had a pole postition machine that wouldn't go top speed with the pedal pushed to the floor, if you let it up just a little bit the speed would increase and you'd get the full speed action.    

I know that it's quite possible the pot wasn't exactly in great shape or wasn't mounted correctly or something, but the tech we had said it was actually an in game thing....have you tried that?

[Minwah]

I'm going to throw another hitch into the mix.

When I used to manage an arcade, we had a pole postition machine that wouldn't go top speed with the pedal pushed to the floor, if you let it up just a little bit the speed would increase and you'd get the full speed action.    

I know that it's quite possible the pot wasn't exactly in great shape or wasn't mounted correctly or something, but the tech we had said it was actually an in game thing....have you tried that?

I gave it a shot and it didn't seem to work.  I don't think it is PolePos specific, rather a general problem.  I have a Gameport > USB adaptor, I think I will try that to see if it makes any difference...

[pocketbikez]

the problem i had was with all the driving games, my pedal would turn the pot about 20 degrees from idle to full throttle. i removed the pot and with it still wired to the interface, i rotated it by hand and noticed it needed to turn about 40 degrees for full throttle in mame. lowering the range of motion in the dual strike software fixed the problem. my only other solution was to find a pedal that turns the pot more.

try removing your gas pedal pot and turning it by hand to see if you can get full top speed.

[Tiger-Heli]

One other kindof related thing I have noticed is that in the game controller test screen, the crosshair is a bit jittery (this seems to be the case with many gameport devices I've seen).

I've used lots of gameport joysticks, and this "jitteriness" is common.  Some are worse than others, but almost all do it.

So I am wondering if I would be better off interfacing the pedals using Dave's AKI (I have one I could use), possibly swapping the pots back for 5k arcade ones?

From what I've read of the AKI, it will automatically adjust to the pots so you don't need to swap them out.

I would have thought in theory once connected & calibrated I shouldn't have to ever re-calibrate?

"In Theory" - two very dangerous words - gameport devices are notorious for losing calibration, even if continuously plugged in.  I don't know if USB or gameport device through a USB adapter is any better, but I haven't heard of the problem as much.