driving games what would I need hardware?

[vartech]

I have a pole position wheel, shifter and pedal from a arcade cab.  I want to be able to play the most games possible.  I know I need a 270 wheel also.  I was told a pc wheel is way to go for a 270 wheel.  can I get apc shifter and pedals and just use the PP wheel along with the 270 wheel?  any suggestions for what brand to get?

[daywane]

for your Pole position you will need a opti pack get it here
http://www.ultimarc.com/optipac1.html
shifter and pedals will need a interface such as the I pac or keywiz
http://www.ultimarc.com/ipac1.html
or
http://groovygamegear.com/webstore/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=76_80&products_id=199

Yes you could go with the pedals from the 270 wheel
I have 2 microsoft wheels these work fine
but the 270 wheel must be hooked up
see here
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=17666.0
some were in this board is instructions on how to mod a microsoft wheel into a 360 . I shall take a quick look.
I can not find it yet 
there is always the mouse hack and Microsoft Dual Strike USB  hacks for you Pole Position wheel also

[vartech]

I have the ipac and optipac  on my arcade machine.  I guess I need to know about  Potentiometer vs encoders vs microswitches as they pertain to pedals shifters and wheels. This is what I know so far.

Wheels are encoder(360) and potentiometer (270) need two wheels since there is no all in one.

shifters are microswitches-  most games are high low, 4 speed and some have a turbo button.  I did not see a six speed shifter at happ so I think that a four speed would cover most games.  Please let me know if I am wrong and if a six speed would be better and where to find one.

Pedals (gas, brake, clutch)are potentiometer or microswitches no all in one so does this mean I need two sets?  can someone provide more info on this and how do potentiometers connect to a pc
 
My ultimate goal is to have a set up that I would cover the most games with limited switching. 

[severdhed]

i dont have alot of experience with driving controls, but for your pedals...you go with pedals that have a potentiometer, so you get analog control, and you install a switch so that it activates when the pedal is depressed the whole way..that way it will work with both types of games.

[mytymaus007]

When you mean install a switch are you talking about adding a switch pedal or put a switch in with the potentiometer pedal

[vidmouse]

I know I need a 270 wheel also.

I'm in a similar boat right now and am intending to do a mouse hack on
my sci 360 wheel.  What I don't quite get is what games require 360
and why some require 270.  Seems if you can get 360 you can do it all??
Or is it just a matter of amount of control you have, like trying to use an 8-way joystick to play pacman (do-able, but harder, less enjoyable)??

[Minwah]

i dont have alot of experience with driving controls, but for your pedals...you go with pedals that have a potentiometer, so you get analog control, and you install a switch so that it activates when the pedal is depressed the whole way..that way it will work with both types of games.

No need!!

Go with potentiometer pedals yes, but do not add a microswitch. There is no need, Mame can map an analog input to a digital game input. Even if you want to use an emulator/game which doesn't have this functionality, you could just use JoyToKey.

[Minwah]

What I don't quite get is what games require 360
and why some require 270.  Seems if you can get 360 you can do it all??

Yes but...

Or is it just a matter of amount of control you have, like trying to use an 8-way joystick to play pacman (do-able, but harder, less enjoyable)??

Exactly. Playing eg OutRun with a 360deg wheel is possible and I suppose fairly ok, but not a patch on using the proper controller. Things like straightening up are not so easy with a 360deg wheel as it is not clear by the position / feel of the wheel where 'straight' is.

Get an arcade 270deg wheel...much better than creaky plasticky PC ones