Hardware compatibility of wheels other than Logitech Wingman
We strive to provide a flexible and consistent operational platform for MuVIT. To that end, we have been testing additional wheels with MuVIT as the Logitech Wingman is a reasonably old product dating back to 2000. It is still functional and works well as a helm wheel. We also considered that there could be inventories of other wheels available due to upgrade programs and selected a couple of newer models to test.
The Logitech G27
Released in 2009 but still readily available this is a powered wheel that meets all the requirements for MuVIT and is self-calibrating so it doesn’t require you to center the wheel before operation. Testing found it was a plug-and-play replacement for the Logitech Wingman wheel, no muss, no fuss. Just be aware that when you power up the system the wheel will start a calibration cycle and spin to and fro while calibrating itself, best to have it securely mounted. Don’t ask how I know that :). If you have an old BSVT wheel, use it and save some money.
The Logitech G29
Released in 2015 it is essentially an updated G27 that uses a hall effect sensor instead of an optical sensor. It also has a lot of external ‘stuff’ mounted to the wheel which makes it cluttered and hard to use in my opinion other than that the assessment is essentially the same as the G27. Given my druthers, I’d stay with the G27.
The Logitech G920
Released in 2022. We don’t have one of these to test but I would expect it would work fine with MuVIT. It has a lot of buttons built into the wheel at strange locations and again a hall effect sensor. I’d still stick with the G27 with its cleaner uncluttered design and optical encoder.
Having said all that, if you have a Logitech Wingman Wheel in an existing MuVIT system, you don’t need to do a thing, the new software works fine with it and why mess with something if it isn’t broken? This was mostly for the benefit of the new users who are selecting their hardware and want to look at possible choices.
In all likelihood, we will be moving back to the Logitech Wingman wheel in the store in the near future for a couple of reasons. First is cost, you can buy these on the open market at very attractive prices which lowers the overall system cost by a not inconsequential amount. Second is the very simple uncluttered design. Honestly, you don’t need all those buttons. Rear paddles to pan your view left and right, a horn button, and a zoom button for the binoculars effect and you are good to go. Keep it simple and unconfusing.
