Podium DD's VS Simucube 2's

[Darren Byrne]

Hi guys, the past while I was trying to find good comparisons between these two models of dd's. Has anyone tested both ? I understand that the software for these aren't complete yet but is there any clear winner here ? thanks.

 

[RobertR1]

Your complexity is your choice.

- Turn on OSW box
- Turn on Pimax
- Start race

The first 2 are optional and if I'm in the mood to do more racing, I'll leave them on which just means step 3.

 

[RCHeliguy]

Does the SC2 adapter plate have holes for a regular rim?

For example a 6 hole Rally rim?

 

[EsxPaul]

Does the SC2 adapter plate have holes for a regular rim?

For example a 6 hole Rally rim?

Yes, the adapter plate has a 6 hole, 70mm pattern so as long as the rim follows that standard you should be good.

I'll add a link to show the revised setup you'll receive just in case you hadn't seen it yet:
https://www.simucu.be/post/upgraded-simucube-steering-wheel-adapters-are-here

 

[RCHeliguy]

That should work well. The PSE rim with 50.8mm bolt holes should bolt right up and a 70mm rim should also bolt right up.

I'm making a clean break and will not bother converting any of my wheels over.

 

[EsxPaul]

I think a clean break is the way to go. I wish I had done the same myself.

By the time you've paid for a conversion kit and some decent feeling shifters, you aren't too far away from the cost of a far higher quality custom rim that's really built for the job.

 

[RCHeliguy]

So I assume you SC2 owners just remember to hit the cut off button as 2nd nature whenever you need to pause for a while.

 

[EsxPaul]

I never do. For me, a very short "beep" once every 4 minutes or so doesn't bother me in the slightest but yes, you can just hit the emergency stop or go back into low torque mode via True Drive if it does.

 

[RobertR1]

So I assume you SC2 owners just remember to hit the cut off button as 2nd nature whenever you need to pause for a while.

While you're waiting for the unit, I'd head over to the simucube forums and get reading up.

I'd recommend "exact-performance" user settings as they're the closest I've come to getting a realistic feeling in AC. I was even able to backport his settings to my SC1 and they work great.

 

[RCHeliguy]

Thanks! I joined the forum a little while ago. I'll check it out more when I get a little closer to seeing something. @EsxPaul had given me similar advice.

I've been spending most of my time in iRacing lately, but maybe I'll reinstall AC at some point.

 

[Lokpes]

That beeping and having to remember to arm the wheelbase every time really do seem like something they should fix. The Fanatec key in the back seems like a good solution by comparison.

The number of steps to get ready to drive just keeps growing.
This is what I do now.

Assuming my rig is configured for what I want to do, otherwise I need to convert from flight to driving or between 2 and 3 pedal layouts

1. Flip switch to provide power to ( computer & front base station & transducer amp )
2. Press computer on button
3. Turn on TV, switch to input 1
4. Flip dedicated switch to turn on 2nd base station
5. Plug Rig outlet into the wall. NLRv3 powers up, cooling fan for me powers up.
6. Press on button for the USB hub
7. Turn on the wheel hub
8. Startup SteamVR and make sure it's set to 120fps.
9. Verify the Audio is using the Index Headphones which don't show up as an option until SteamVR is started.

Woot!!!
The NLRv3 and SimHub software come up automatically and autoswitch between titles automatically !!!!!

10. Start up CrewChief, then click Activate.

*11. Then check SimHub to makes sure it is still activated because sometimes Crew Chief inactivates it.

*It seems like this hasn't been happening as much lately, so maybe this is fixed since the last update.

Now I'll need to turn on High torque setting for the SC2 and deal with beeping on top of that.

<sigh>

That is one of the reasons why i choose fanatec. i have look around for like 2 months now.
And i think that fanatec is the easy way to go.
maybe i'm wrong.
But seems like fanatec have a more plug and play solution.

 

[RCHeliguy]

That is one of the reasons why i choose fanatec. i have look around for like 2 months now.
And i think that fanatec is the easy way to go.
maybe i'm wrong.
But seems like fanatec have a more plug and play solution.

Fanatec absolutely does have features the SimuCube lacks.
1. Physical full torque enabling key, vs having another step every time before you play.
2. Cordless wireless solution that doesn't require batteries and also powers a wheel, so you have no USB cords dangling around, or have to deal with batteries and recharging.
3. Easy one USB plug connectivity if you are using Fanatec controls.
4. Compatible with a large number of Fanatec wheels.

Those are all useful features that are obvious.

The SimuCube has a few features as well, and they are all indicative of quality, but are less tangible.
1. Absolutely rigid wheel mount with no flex. Whether that matters to you or not is going to vary.
2. Higher quality power supply(s).
3. Does not require a cooling fan.
4. Compatible with a large number of high end wheels without requiring a $200 adapter to make them work. ( Although a $50 quick release plate set for each wheel )

Basically if the Fanatec PS never fails that it is sort of a don't care. I never noticed the flex in my Fanatec wheel mount until I tried to wiggle my wheel around. I already have a fan blowing on me generating noise, so the wheelbase fan wouldn't bother me.

The thing that pushed me over the edge was that I wanted high end wheels that cost nearly as much or more than the wheelbase does. If I was perfectly happy with my existing Fanatec wheels, I think I would have gotten a DD2.

 

[RCHeliguy]

ruh roh... my wife just asked me, "How much more can you do to that rig?" That is a warning sign.

 

[Deleted member 197115]

 

[Lokpes]

Fanatec absolutely does have features the SimuCube lacks.
1. Physical full torque enabling key, vs having another step every time before you play.
2. Cordless wireless solution that doesn't require batteries and also powers a wheel, so you have no USB cords dangling around, or have to deal with batteries and recharging.
3. Easy one USB plug connectivity if you are using Fanatec controls.
4. Compatible with a large number of Fanatec wheels.

Those are all useful features that are obvious.

The SimuCube has a few features as well, and they are all indicative of quality, but are less tangible.
1. Absolutely rigid wheel mount with no flex. Whether that matters to you or not is going to vary.
2. Higher quality power supply(s).
3. Does not require a cooling fan.
4. Compatible with a large number of high end wheels without requiring a $200 adapter to make them work. ( Although a $50 quick release plate set for each wheel )

Basically if the Fanatec PS never fails that it is sort of a don't care. I never noticed the flex in my Fanatec wheel mount until I tried to wiggle my wheel around. I already have a fan blowing on me generating noise, so the wheelbase fan wouldn't bother me.

The thing that pushed me over the edge was that I wanted high end wheels that cost nearly as much or more than the wheelbase does. If I was perfectly happy with my existing Fanatec wheels, I think I would have gotten a DD2.

That is something that push me away from simucube2 pro.

Price for the wheels, and long delivery time because is "hand made" special.

So yeah, for me the fanatec make more sense. + that i dont want to expande the extra wheel base price in on wheel.

And i wanna sit, turn on the pc and play.

 

[Deleted member 197115]

And ladies and gentlemen, The Great Battle of Confirmation Biases begins.

 

[RCHeliguy]

I don't think that is confirmation bias. What you have are valid reasons to pick either of the wheelbases depending on your priorities.

There is nothing wrong with the Fanatec DD wheelbases and if I didn't want higher end wheels, I would have gotten one. I "was" perfectly happy with my Fanatec wheels. I upgraded the shifters and they worked well.

I was smitten by the quality and design of PSE GT3 rim and that pushed me over the edge. Built like a piece of rock comes to mind. Absolute quality.

You are a fan of the Ascher racing wheels, which also look to be very high quality and bought in to direct drive before the Fanatec DD was released. So given you were happy with your wheel and were already dealing with a coiled USB, it was pretty obvious what direction you would go in.

I think it's great that there is competition and that Fanatec brought GOOD ideas to the direct drive market place.

 

[Lokpes]

I don't think that is confirmation bias. What you have are valid reasons to pick either of the wheelbases depending on your priorities.

There is nothing wrong with the Fanatec DD wheelbases and if I didn't want higher end wheels, I would have gotten one. I "was" perfectly happy with my Fanatec wheels. I upgraded the shifters and they worked well.

I was smitten by the quality and design of PSE GT3 rim and that pushed me over the edge. Built like a piece of rock comes to mind. Absolute quality.

You are a fan of the Ascher racing wheels, which also look to be very high quality and bought in to direct drive before the Fanatec DD was released. So given you were happy with your wheel and were already dealing with a coiled USB, it was pretty obvious what direction you would go in.

I think it's great that there is competition and that Fanatec brought GOOD ideas to the direct drive market place.

I agree toltally with you. For something like one month i was like hell yeah, i will go with simucube 2 pro.
and buy cube controls wheels, the gt pro omp, and the formula pro.

It was all set.

i Have made an account in the granite devices.

But then i start to calculate. and think and over think.

****. this hobby is not the only thing I do i my life so.

yeah the extra money would not be wort in my reality.

So fanatec made much more sense.

 

[RaceNut]

I don't think that is confirmation bias. What you have are valid reasons to pick either of the wheelbases depending on your priorities.

There is nothing wrong with the Fanatec DD wheelbases and if I didn't want higher end wheels, I would have gotten one. I "was" perfectly happy with my Fanatec wheels. I upgraded the shifters and they worked well.

I was smitten by the quality and design of PSE GT3 rim and that pushed me over the edge. Built like a piece of rock comes to mind. Absolute quality.

You are a fan of the Ascher racing wheels, which also look to be very high quality and bought in to direct drive before the Fanatec DD was released. So given you were happy with your wheel and were already dealing with a coiled USB, it was pretty obvious what direction you would go in.

I think it's great that there is competition and that Fanatec brought GOOD ideas to the direct drive market place.

I'm still waiting to see how the Telemetry-FFB works out with both SimuCube and Fanatec. GD has always been very careful about making statements about what they believe they can accomplish in that area. Fanatec on the other hand, has made some bold statements about competing (or exceeding) directly with SimXperience, easier said than done though.

In the meantime, I'm content with my SimuCube1 system and am not likely to upgrade without very good telemetry support.

 

[Deleted member 197115]

@RaceNut, what is a good use of telemetry for steering wheels except some simcade titles with bad FFB that are probably not worth your time. Does AC need it, or rFactor2?
And what are the chances that with bad FFB they have good telemetry?

 

[Apelsin Elise]

And what are the chances that with bad FFB they have good telemetry?

This.