How to install a gaming wheel on a PC. Ways to connect a gaming steering wheel with pedals to a laptop or computer. Still, let’s not offend the steering wheel, this is not a flash drive

This article is primarily dedicated to those who love racing computer games. We'll talk about how to connect a gaming wheel to a computer.

For those who cannot imagine their life without virtual racing, the steering wheel is a tool that helps them immerse themselves more deeply in the gaming universe. And control with it becomes much more realistic. This is especially noticeable in simulators. There are a huge number of such devices on sale now. From simple steering wheels with pedals to high-tech devices with feedback, shock sensors, and a realistic gearbox. Steering wheels combined with a built-in gamepad also appeared on sale. So how do you connect it all?

As a rule, the connection occurs through a regular USB port. Just connect the device. A message will appear on the screen indicating that a game controller has been detected. After that, insert the driver disk, it should be included in the package, and wait for the installation to complete. Then you connect the rest of the peripherals, these are pedals and other equipment. The connection sockets are located on the back of the steering wheel. When everything is installed, open the control panel in the operating system and select the gaming devices tab. A window will open, and at the top there will be a “Device Calibration” tab. Calibration is done to ensure that the steering wheel accurately follows the movement of the car in the game. If you do not do this, then, for example, when you turn the steering wheel, the car will not turn in the game. But that is not all. Now we have made the basic settings. Now go to your favorite races and open the “Management” menu item. There the keyboard will be selected by default. You need to reassign it to the steering wheel buttons. Is everything done? Then you can play. Now let's look at some interesting models.

Steering wheel LogitechG27. Quite an expensive toy, but of very high quality. This model has very high realism. For example, if in a game your car skids to the left, the steering wheel will turn to the right with force, almost like in life. There is recoil when you hit it in the game. There is also a full-fledged 6-speed gearbox and metal pedals, which also have a certain force when pressed. By the way, there is a clutch here too. Full paddle shifters will create the feeling of a sports car. Many buttons and switches will allow you to customize the controls as convenient for you. You will be satisfied with this model. After it, you most likely won’t want anything else.

We liked the second model for its reference to the most famous car model. This is the ThrustMaster Ferrari Red Legend. This is a budget model and looks very stylish. There is nothing superfluous in the kit, only the steering wheel and pedals. There are many additional buttons. This steering wheel is suitable for those who do not want to spend a lot, but at the same time buy quality equipment.

Now you know how to connect a gaming wheel to your computer. As you can see, this is not difficult. You will get a lot of emotions from racing games.

Choosing a steering wheel model for games is not difficult, if you consider what computer game it will be used for, because for a simulator where there is not a lot of functionality, a steering wheel with complex settings and additional control devices will still not be suitable. Instructions for connecting the device to the computer are always included, but even without it it’s not difficult to figure out how to do it. Depending on what is included in the kit, you will need to figure out whether you will have to connect any parts of all the controls together in order for them to work together correctly. In this case, do not confuse the wires and connect the gear shift lever to the platform with the gas, brake and clutch pedals.

To figure out how to connect the steering wheel to a Windows 7 computer, you need to check whether any installation disk with utilities is included with the set of steering wheel elements. If there is one, then you need to run this disc and follow the suggested instructions that appear on the monitor screen. The program will install all the necessary drivers that are necessary for the correct operation of the steering wheel and for synchronizing signals. All updates will be available in Windows Device Manager in the connected game consoles section. There is also a recommendation that offers options in case the steering wheel is not working properly. It is possible to diagnose system errors and compatibility of installed drivers with the system.

Typically, the steering wheel is connected to the computer via USB connectors. Windows always notifies you in the taskbar notification field that a new device has been detected, and advises you to install software for the device if suitable drivers are not available in the OS itself. Since you need to connect the steering wheel so that all controls respond to the settings of the computer games themselves, you need to synchronize. The racing simulator program must support the ability to control the car using gaming devices. In the game settings there should be a control section and switching the mode selection from the keyboard to the gaming device. Then, after pressing the control button in the settings, you need to perform an action with the steering wheel that corresponds to the game settings. For example, to set the “Gas” setting, you need to press the gas pedal once for the change to be saved and take effect. The same needs to be done with all other settings.

You need to take into account that the angle of rotation of different models of steering wheels is different, and this difference is sometimes simply huge. For some, the rotation angle is 120 degrees, for others - 900. This affects itself already during the game process, and the sensitivity of the steering wheel in some computer games cannot be adjusted. Therefore, from the very beginning you need to choose a steering wheel that is compatible with the latest developments from companies that create racing simulators. The steering wheel set also includes various additional controls. The platform with gas and brake pedals may additionally include a clutch pedal. The gear shift lever can be made separately from the steering wheel, or be built into the housing where the steering wheel itself is located.

How to play computer games with a steering wheel?

Master's answer:

To make it more convenient to control the gameplay, there are many additional devices: various joysticks, additional keyboards, etc. In order to increase convenience in racing simulators, they came up with special steering wheels that are very similar to car ones. It may come with pedals and a gearbox, but this depends on the model of the device.

We will need to have - a computer; - steering wheel; - software for it.

Connect the steering wheel to the computer using a USB cable. After this, we will connect other additional devices to it, if they are included in the package. Let's wait until the device is detected on the computer. If it functions properly, we don’t have to install the driver, but it’s still better to do this, since some files may be required when controlling games.

Let's move on to installing the software on our computer. Let's insert the CD with drivers that comes with the device into the drive of our computer, and then install it from autorun. In a situation where the drive is disabled, we will install the device using the Add Hardware Wizard in the control panel of our computer. Let's launch it and select the list of connected devices, and then mark the necessary ones and click “Next”.

Let’s start the installation from the specified location by selecting our driver disk through the “Browse” menu, then wait until the installation is completed and, if necessary, reboot the computer. If we do not have a device driver, we will connect to the Internet so that the hardware installation wizard can download it and install it on its own.

Let's launch the game and go to its menu and go to the control options settings. Let's make the steering wheel the main device, after which we will configure the system parts. Please also note that most games may not have a special settings menu for such devices; in this case, you will need to specify the parameters intuitively. In addition, control settings may be available from one of the configuration files in the program folder.

When using special joysticks for games, we will also make the settings in the game menu. If problems arise with such devices, open “Settings” in the control panel and check their operation.

Computer games captivate us so much in their virtual world that it merges with the real one. But sometimes this is not enough. Special devices are required that should completely immerse the gamer in gaming reality. If you love virtual racing, then it’s hard to do without pedals. And so the devices were purchased. Here the gamer faces the following task: how to connect the steering wheel and pedals to them? To answer the question, we will provide some effective instructions from experienced gamers. After these recommendations, the process will seem easy and fast to you.

Selecting the required devices

Turning a modern PC into a gaming center today couldn't be easier. But how to connect the steering wheel and pedals to the computer? Let's start analyzing the procedure from the very beginning. Namely, from the acquisition of the necessary equipment.

Making your own steering wheel

So, we make a steering wheel and pedals for the computer. The diagram and description will be presented below. Let's look at the algorithm step by step:

The steering wheel can be cut out of wood, glued together from several plates of plywood. The first thing you need to do is use a ruler and compass to make a detailed drawing of it on paper.
Next, a hub is made from it, which is attached to the back of the steering wheel using screws or furniture glue.
A hole is sawed through the steering shaft. A bolt with the head cut off is inserted there. Its ends are ground off with a file. Holes are drilled in the resulting areas. Springs are installed in these places.
To fix the nuts, the steering shaft is also ground off on both sides.
The bolt is screwed into the drilled hole on the axle. It is tightened on both sides with nuts. The second side of the spring is attached to the L-bracket.
Another important step is to implement the table mounting system. Bend a U-shaped bracket from the metal plate. It has 4 holes for self-tapping screws.
The next step is making the presser foot. A hole is drilled in the middle for a 5 mm bolt.
The foot is connected to the bracket with self-tapping screws so that it can move freely.
There should be a distance from the base of the module to the foot equal to the thickness of the table.
The technician then drills a hole through the base of the steering module. A threaded T-sleeve is inserted here.
The U-bracket is screwed to the wooden base of the module with self-tapping screws.
A bolt with a turning handle is passed through the hole in the tab, after which it is screwed into the T-sleeve.

Then you need to take care of the electronic “stuffing”.

This is roughly how we make the pedals and steering wheel to the computer. Another homemade option in the video below.

Making your own pedals

Even the gamer himself can build the steering wheel and pedals with his own hands. These attributes will help you immerse yourself in sports and transport simulators, virtual racing. The devices fully represent the atmosphere of the race track. Of course, they can be purchased in many electronics stores. But if you have certain knowledge in the field of mechanics and electronics, it is possible to design a steering wheel and pedals for a computer with your own hands.

Let's present the instructions:

Connecting the steering wheel and pedals: instructions No. 1

Let's now move on to the process. Let's present instructions on how to set up a gaming steering wheel. The connection is made according to the following diagram:

Unpack the game wheel package. The USB cable must come from the device. Connect it to a convenient USB port on your computer.
If the kit comes with pedals, then connect these attributes to the steering wheel.
Plug the gaming device's power supply into an electrical outlet. So we figured out how to connect the steering wheel to the computer. How to setup?
Enter any PC game that supports steering wheel controls. Go to the settings menu.
You need to stop at the “Control Settings” section (or a similar name).
The mouse and keyboard settings may be listed. We don't need them. You go to the section called “Alternative Control” (or a similar name).
Here you can set the necessary parameters for each of the steering wheel buttons: stick to the standard option or set your own values that are convenient for you.
In conclusion, all that remains is to save the settings made and check the functionality of the connected attributes in the process.

Now you know how to connect the steering wheel to any game. However, sometimes the PC does not “see” the connected device. What's the matter? There are two common reasons:

The computer did not detect the device.
For the steering wheel to work, you need to install the included driver.

You can detect the last problem already when making control settings: when you try to change the purpose of the keys, the attribute buttons do not respond and are not active. The driver is usually supplied on a disk included with the device. Install it, then enter the game and repeat all the steps starting from the 4th step of the instructions again.

Second option for connecting the steering wheel and pedals: instructions

And we are looking at the second instructions on how to connect a gaming wheel and pedals to a computer. By the way, using a similar algorithm, you can also connect a steering wheel for “sea” games. The problem in both cases most often arises the same: the lack of software in the PC operating system that is responsible for the functionality of game attributes.

How to connect a steering wheel for games along with pedals:

Connecting the steering wheel and pedals: instructions No. 3

We continue to look at ways to connect a gaming steering wheel. We present the reader with the following instructions:

The process of connecting the steering wheel and pedals: instructions No. 4

Another instruction on how to connect a gaming steering wheel with pedals. Let's present this algorithm:

Connecting a gamepad

We figured out how to connect the steering wheel and pedals to the computer. But if you decide to play on the popular Xbox game console? It comes with a wireless game controller (gamepad, in other words). How to connect it to a game console?

Click on the Guide button on the gamepad itself. You need to hold down the key until both the controller and the game console are activated.
Now press the power button on the console itself once. But now in 20 seconds you need to have time to press and release the power key on the gamepad.
Now you need to wait until the indicator lights near the power button on the console stop blinking. This will mean that the gamepad has successfully connected to the device.
If this does not happen, check the batteries in the controller. If the AA elements are unusable, replace them with new identical ones.
Please note that special devices are also supplied to power the gamepad: Xbox 360 Play & Charge Kit or Xbox 360 Quick Charge Kit.
The gaming console is designed not only for solo but also for team play. Therefore, up to four gamepads can be connected to the device at the same time. Each of the controllers is connected according to the diagram presented above. Devices should be connected one by one.
Be careful: each of the gamepads on the console panel will be assigned a specific quadrant near the power button. How to define it? The indicator will light up when the gamepad is connected to the console.

We know how to connect a Logitech steering wheel and pedals to a computer, and a gamepad to a game console. And now another important instruction - how to disable the controller:

Hold down the Guide button on your controller for about three seconds.
Then turn off the gamepad itself. The last thing to turn off is the console.
This deactivation is convenient because the next time you turn on the controller, it will automatically connect to the game console.

One gamepad can only be connected to one console! To use it for another, you need to disconnect from the first one.

There are frequent cases when a gamer cannot connect a controller to the console. Experts advise troubleshooting this way: replace the batteries in the gamepad, and also remove all foreign objects between the controller and the console that may interfere with the connection. Pay special attention to the following:

TVs;
smartphones and cordless home phones;
microwaves;
chrome and metal stands, chairs, tables, stands, etc.

Connecting pedals separately from the steering wheel

Many users are interested in how to connect pedals to a computer without a steering wheel. We will disappoint readers: this cannot be done. Some people are doing it on their own, connecting pedals to an independent controller by soldering them together. But this is wasted work: the pedals will remain unconnected to each other.

There is only one way out (as users suggest in their reviews): you can purchase “aviation” pedals (especially for flight simulators) that can function independently.

Steering wheel calibration: option No. 1

Connecting and installing the steering wheel and pedals on the computer is only half the battle. It is important to set it up for the game. More precisely, calibrate. The developers of many races provide this opportunity in the menu of their game. As a rule, you should look for calibration in the settings.

Steering wheel calibration: option No. 2

Let us present for the reader another option for calibrating a gaming steering wheel.

Click on "Start".
Go to "Control Panel".
Then the "Hardware and Sound" section.
Here you need an item with gaming devices.
Select a steering wheel from the list. Call the context menu, go to "Properties".
The Settings menu will open. Here you will need the “Calibrate device” item.
Have you customized your steering wheel? Now you can go to the endless sea of games!

Instructions

Modern gaming computer steering wheels are connected via a USB interface. The USB connection feature is characterized by fully automatic installation of equipment, and the gaming wheel is no exception.

Place the steering wheel on the table, securing it with a clamp screw, place the pedals under the table in a place comfortable for your feet, and connect the USB cable to one of the corresponding ports on the computer. The operating system will automatically search for device drivers and report readiness for use.

Check your in-game settings and look for a configuration menu or option to configure your game controller. It's actually a lot easier than you think. Which is a shame because there are a lot of them that play better with the control panel. With one of these, all you have to do is plug it in and install it.

The bad news is it's a little more complicated. Once that's done, you should be good to go! If you have multiple consoles, you have a choice. But hey, if you want to try something else, at least you now know how! The problem with the gate is the "Propulsion Driver", or rather the lack thereof. Some of you may be thinking that this is ok because you will be using whipped paddles anyway, so why pay for something you didn't use?

If Windows does not find a suitable driver for your gaming wheel, enter Device Manager by right-clicking on the My Computer icon on your desktop. In the list of installed hardware, find the gaming wheel and right-click on it and select “Update drivers.”

Follow the prompts of the Add Hardware Wizard to search for the driver on your computer. Typically, a suitable driver can be found on the disk that came with the device. But if there is no such disk, you can download the required driver on the manufacturer’s official website by selecting the device model and version of your operating system.

On the opposite side there is a View button and a Left Button button, and although they are predefined, gamers can freely customize their function. Finally, behind the steering wheel are flat paddles that should be used to shift up and down the gears, although if you're a 'cheater' who plays with the automatic transmission then they may be assigned to some other function.

The wheel is wrapped in genuine leather and has black anodized metal that looks beautiful. This helps determine the direction of rotation of the wheel from the driver's peripheral vision. The dual motor system provides precise and precise force feedback that allows you to feel the car's tires on every turn and type of terrain, feel under or over drift speeds and more.

After the required driver is installed and Windows notifies you that the new hardware is ready to work, you can launch the game and select the game steering wheel as the control method.

How simple

What to do next?

Even though you can't feel the wind against your face at home, you can accurately simulate the driving experience with the right wheel setup. The extra cost usually comes in the form of build quality and fine details that make the gaming steering wheel more like the wheel in a real car. Essentially, the better a wheel imitates the real thing, the more expensive it will be.

A driver is a special program designed to ensure interaction between a device (video card, monitor, network card, etc.) and the operating system. You will need a computer connected to the Internet. Sponsored by P&G Articles on the topic "How to install

A modern computer allows you to connect quite a lot of different devices, some of which allow you to turn it into a gaming center. Of course, a lot of joysticks, gamepads and other gaming devices will make your computer a favorite vacation spot for children, and sometimes adults. Sponsor

This is because the input method, in this case your steering wheel, is very similar to the real thing. The controls make sense and help immerse you in the world of the game. For some games you need a good gamepad to feel immersed. For others, you need a good gaming mouse or the best gaming keyboard.

Choose the right tool and you will have much more fun than before. Of course, to play any racing games, you need a machine that can reproduce them. There are many to choose from. The most important thing is that your chosen platform has the games you want to play.

Connecting the steering wheel and pedals to a gaming PC is done according to the usual scheme for all control devices - keyboard, mouse, joystick or gamepad. They are equipped with a USB port, thanks to which a “hot plug” occurs - the computer instantly recognizes the device and allows you to use it. Let's take a closer look at this process.

Steering Wheel Components

Wheel While it's obvious that the wheel is the most important part of any gaming steering wheel setup, what's less clear is that there is a wide range of quality in the wheels available. The best gaming steering wheels feel solid and dense. There is not much room for maneuver in their body. Wheels come in different sizes. Typically you need one 13 inches in diameter. It's a comfortable size and good for racing games. Another handy consideration: Some gaming wheels have leather linings, while others are just plastic.

If after plugging it into the USB port nothing happens, or the steering wheel does not work as we would like, we will need a set of drivers or special software. As a rule, you can find it on the manufacturer’s website or on a disc out of the box. It also doesn’t hurt to read the instructions for the device, which often provide comprehensive answers to all questions. We find the disk, insert it into the drive and run the installer. If after the previous step the steering wheel does not work, it may not be detected by the system. To check this guess, go to the “Start” menu, open the “Control Panel”, in it the “Hardware and Sound” item. In Windows 7, just below there is a sub-item “View devices and printers”, in which all connected gaming devices, including the steering wheel, will be marked.

If the steering wheel is not there, look for the “Add” button in the upper left corner, click it and give the system time to search for available devices. When the device is found, select it and click the “Next” button.

To calibrate the gaming wheel, go to “Start” -> “Accessories” -> “Run” again and enter the command “joy.cpl” in the appropriate line. A list of working devices will appear in the window that opens. To configure them, right-click on the desired name and select “Properties”. Similarly, the steering wheel is calibrated through “Control Panel” -> “Hardware and Sound”. In the section with gaming devices, select the appropriate one, click “Properties”, we get a dialog box with the “Settings” tab. There will be a “Calibrate” button, which we will use.

If you will be using the wheel frequently, then you will want it to be comfortable. Many don't even have the option to add a switch. However, if you have the opportunity to get one, you absolutely should. There's nothing like flipping gears with a real shifter in your hand, whether the car is on the real road or the digital equivalent.

Setting up the steering wheel on the computer

One of the main advantages is that you will always know what gear you are using and you won't have to constantly look at the game's UI for this information. Pedals Most gaming steering wheels have at least a brake pedal and a gas pedal. Some even allow you to adjust the height and resistance of the pedals. If you want a great digital racing experience, you shouldn't give up on pedals.

In calibration mode, the user specifies the normal position of the steering wheel (joystick, gamepad) and its maximum deviations along all axes, as well as special positions, the response of buttons and other control structures. Since the screen will display all the information about the testing process, make sure that the steering wheel responds as you need. Here is a small list of games using steering wheels and pedals:

Euro Truck Simulator 2;
Auto Club Revolution;
Race.Driver.GRID.;
Driver Parallel Lines;
Test Drive Unlimited;
rFactor (+ mods from different years);
Colin M'cray Rally Series;
Richard Burns Rally;
Live For Speed;
Toca race driver 3;
F1 challenge 99-02;
BMW M3 Challenge;
Truckers 2;
NFS Underground and Most Wanted;
GTR series.

Whether you know it or not, you receive a lot of tactile information through your car's steering wheel while driving. This information comes in the form of resistance and rumbling. What it tells you is the condition of the road you are driving on and helps you know what the car's tires are driving through. Great gaming steering wheels have force feedback that mimics the resistance you'd find on a real steering wheel. The force feedback can be good enough to allow you to split acceleration between road and road in your racing game.

If problems still occur, check the compatibility of the steering wheel with the game, its minimum and recommended requirements. It is also not recommended to store such control devices in direct sunlight, drop them on the floor, or twist their cable. The ingress of any liquid will negatively affect the performance of the steering wheel.

Retroactive levels if that's a concern for you. Their steering wheel is usually around 13 inches. Well, regular cars often have to make big turns, like a U-turn. The big wheel makes this easier. Race cars are built to be driven on race tracks and do not need to change direction as often or abruptly as regular cars. The small steering wheel allows you to make small steering adjustments and see big results. In short, the large steering wheel allows for fine movements, but you need to move your hands more than the small wheel, allowing you to make larger movements without moving your hands.

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