Fanatec CSR - Spring to Center on consoles

[phil-t]

Just after some 'is this normal' feedback.

I've just had a CSR delivered to replace a rapidly loosening PWTS wheel (Thanks to Fanatec support!).

It's got Firmware 706 pre-loaded, so I know I'm up to date...


The first thing that struck me was the wheel on the initial spin/calibrate startup didn't seem as 'eager' as my PWTS which spins back to centre very quickly and has a definite 'stop', the CSR kind of gets back a little slower and is much more gentle when stopping.

I fired up the PC and installed the PC drivers, and checked the 'Autocenter Spring' tickbox in the properties page and it seemed to have more 'spring' so I assume the wheel motors etc are OK. If I power the wheel on and enter PC mode, it now 'snaps' a bit more readily back to center.

So I next tried a console, and started with my usual PWTS settings for GT5,
SENS 270
FF 90
SHO 100
DRI OFF
SPR 0
DPR 0
LIN 20
DEA 10

The most noticeable thing is as soon as I put it in PS3 (or Xbox) mode, the return to center just disappears, if I move the wheel 30 degrees and let go, at best it meanders back to center in a really laboured/slow kind of way.

I've messed around with DRI (Setting it at 3-5) has a small effect, as does winding SPR to +3, but compared to the PWTS, which seems to have a component of "autocenter spring" always on, the CSR is feeling decidely 'limp'..

I get centering torque effects in the game once at speed (which seems correct), but the lack of forced 'spring return' seems to make it feel a bit 'hollow'.

Could someone with a CSR and 706 firmware just check the behaviour on a console , e.g.
PS3 - GT5 - Start a race, get up to speed so you are feeling some 'feedback', then hit the 'start' button to bring the in-game menu up, if you then move the wheel 30 degrees off center and let go, what does it do? Mine very very slowly returns to center..

I don't know if it's Fanatec's firmware, the notion of return to center when stationary (and in menu's) wouldn't be realistic, so perhaps they've removed this aspect of control (Although the PWTS has it in spades).

Rather then contact support, I know you lot are far more knowledgeable!

 

[thehawk05]

Mine snaps right back

CSR power up

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XUq4ZKdTzGQ&feature=youtube_gdata_player

CSR return rate on GT5

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qpEbJQT4_Yc&feature=youtube_gdata_player


My wheel settings are more or less the same except I'm using 900*

BTW your wheel won't handle FFB effects properly unless it's set at 900*. GT5 was designed around 900* wheels for calculating how it sends FFB effects. When you set it lower on the wheel you actually miss out on subtle FFB and onset of understeer.

EDITED

 

[phil-t]

Mine snaps right back

CSR power up

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XUq4ZKdTzGQ&feature=youtube_gdata_player

CSR return rate on GT5

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HBuFoWOQIYo&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Thanks for the speedy reply!

I notice in your GT5 video that the little blue dot isn't on the display, are you sure it was in PS3 mode?

When in PC mode, mine snaps back fine, just PS3/360 modes are lacking.



If you would be so kind, could you double check if yours was in PS3 mode, and just move the wheel 20-30 degrees off center, and see how it returns, that seems worse case for mine.

Thanks again!

 

[Stones]

Phil,

Just checked mine to be sure and it's exactly as you describe. Snaps right back in pc mode but, not in console. I believe the wheel, itself, is working properly. As you say, it may be that they just see no need for it whilst sitting idle (off track).

 

[thehawk05]

If you would be so kind, could you double check if yours was in PS3 mode, and just move the wheel 20-30 degrees off center, and see how it returns, that seems worse case for mine.

Messed up first vid......wheel lost PS3 mode when I started filming. Made a new one and updated original post.

Snappy return in PC mode......slow in PS3.

 

[Energizerrr]

Wow that's really slow.

 

[phil-t]

Messed up first vid......wheel lost PS3 mode when I started filming. Made a new one and updated original post.

Snappy return in PC mode......slow in PS3.

Cheers, that is snapping back reasonably OK in PS3 mode, what settings did you use?

[edit] I've just noticed the following

Power ON, Enter PC mode - Spring to center seems OKish

Enter PS3 Mode (PS3 is switched on) - Still spring to center is OKish

Play GT5, in-race bring up the in-race menu, the return to center is all but gone, moving the wheel only 20-30 degrees off-center and letting go and it crawls back..

This is all with DRI set to 'off'.. if I set it to '5' then you get much less resistance, and it snaps back much quicker, but I don't like having Drift mode on, it robs that nice 'weighty' feel..

I'll make some video's later, and show the PWTS as a comparison.

Phil,

Just checked mine to be sure and it's exactly as you describe. Snaps right back in pc mode but, not in console. I believe the wheel, itself, is working properly. As you say, it may be that they just see no need for it whilst sitting idle (off track).

Thanks, hopefully if I video it you can see if it's exactly the same as mine.

 

[phil-t]

A small update!

I've done some testing and video's!

The CSR definitely is very difference to the PWTS when it comes to spring centering on mine at least.

@theHawk05 - Was your GT5 video with DRI = 0? And defintely in-game? If so, mine is a lot weaker..


With DRI = Off, there is only a small amount on PC and barely anything whilst in-game on the consoles
With DRI = 3 (The default the wheel comes set to), the spring center is there, it's not as strong as the PWTS, but it is present.

I'd appreciate if people could confirm if there wheels behave the same, I've uploaded two videos, one showing the DRI modes on PS3 whilst in GT5 (At the XMB it behaves the same as PC Mode).




And also on PC, you can see the effects of DRI Off to 5, with it ranging from quite slow to OK..




If this is 'normal'?, the issue is that if you want the full damper resistance you have DRI = Off and I like that, but with no centering on consoles, it doesn't feel quite right as the game FFB isn't always that perfect and it feels much less natural then the PWTS..

I can upload PWTS video's, but the centering is massively quicker and more pronounced.

 

[thehawk05]

My wheel settings on my CSR

SENS 900
FF 100
SHO 100
DRI OFF
SPR 0
DPR 0
LIN 0
DEA 0

And yes...that was in game.