Two years ago, in October 2019, on our YouTube channel, a large comparative primary-class steering wheel test was released. During this time, exactly two things have changed in the segment: prices rose by 50%, and among models that now difficult to call “budget”, a wireless version has appeared Hori Racing Wheel Apex. It costs now terrible 10-13 thousand rubles, but I was extremely interesting to see what is a wireless steering wheel and how it works.
What is in the box
Well acquaintances with RWA or just watching the video above the link above, I invite you to go to the "Connection" head: neither externally, nor in mechanics, nor in capabilities of RWA without wires differs from RWA with wires. And for those who hear about RWA for the first time, I tell: formally this is one of the best rudders without Force Feedback, or Tactile feedback. That is, he does not give sensations from the highway and behavior of the wheels, he does not sheathe genuine leather, but this is not a consumer goods, which is sold at Avito for 1000 rubles.
It is supplied by Hori in a small box and is equipped with instructions, a set of suction cups, a clamp for attachment to the table and a block for two pedals. The latter is made of cheap look, but strong and not smelly smooth plastic, and eight rubber legs are clinging to the floor at once. The pedals themselves are plastic, but there are no complaints about them: the brake, as it is necessary, is tight and with a very short stroke, the gas is quite “long” and elastic, so as not to get lost in control, and the stiffness of the levers is selected so as not to turn the platform itself. The only thing you can find fault is the angle of inclination of the pedals themselves: they are too high, and the leg after long races begins to ache.
The steering wheel itself is assembled from exactly the same simple smooth plastic, but the seats are covered with high -quality, not sticky and not smelly rubber, from which you do not get tired even after a few hours of game. The sensation of "budgetness" is left only by secondary governing bodies: shifts of gear shifts behind the steering wheel and a cross under the left thumb. The former click too loudly and made of thin plastic, the second is just too inert. The keys themselves, by the way, completely copy the layout of the PlayStation 4 gamepad (with the exception of purely service buttons).
Two levers are above the hub: one for switching between PC and PS4, the other to simulate the steering wheel of the cross -line or right/left sticks. There are also keys for the approximate setting of dead zones and the sensitivity of the steering wheel and pedals. It is extremely rare to use them, only when everything went completely awkward, but in these situations, as a rule, nothing helps.
In diameter, the steering wheel is close to the picture: 28 cm. The angle of rotation is 270 degrees, which, again, is absolutely normal for systems tied to a resistor, and not on optical or magnetic sensors of the rotation angle. As I already said, Force Feedback The steering wheel is not equipped, which means https://tropical-wins-casino.co.uk/ that there are no real effects. They are replaced by the vibration spacing, as on the usual Sony gamepads: I ran into a bump – the wheel in my hands trembled, drove into the chipper – trembled a little stronger. If you aim at serious results, all this, of course, will be not enough. But in order to go to the "gold" the entire academy GT Sport , The functionality is more than enough.
And in general, RWA feels not much less pleasure than adult steering wheel with Force Feedback. And in races it is certainly much cooler and interesting than a standard gamepad. At the same time, like two years ago with the basic version, during driving on RWA there is no feeling that you are sitting with some kind of “basic” steering wheel of cheap plastic.
Connection
Now we will talk about what for which we generally dug up RWA already tested once: about connecting. It has the whole savory of this model, because RWA is the first and only, let's say, a “decent” steering wheel in the market that does not need a bunch of wires for work.
For those in the tank, I will explain: the steering wheel is probably the most uncomfortable gaming device for the console and computer. Not only does it occupy a bunch of places in the workspace, so it also blocks this workspace. Played-unscrewed the clamp, take off the steering column from the table, remove it somewhere under the table. If you want to play again? Get out from under the table "Stuff", screw back. Someone wrote to you there in Telegram and you want to answer? Swat through the steering wheel and try to print something on the keyboard that has left for the monitor.
A huge number of wires exacerbate these inconvenience: the steering wheel needs at least three thick cables. One in a PC or console, the second – to pedals, the third – to the outlet for 220 V. Another wire to the gearbox or handbrake can be optionally drawn. Naturally, all these cables are spit on the appearance and beauty of all these cables, and even on steering wheel for 30,000 rubles, wires look like they were cut off from mouse from AliExpress.
So, returning to Hori. Of course, the problems with installation and huge for the workplace, of course, did not solve the dimensions, but the wire here is only one to the pedals – and this has already greatly simplified the task. Not only did the cables themselves become smaller, but this whole set of a novice racer can now be thrown into a closet in one movement and just get it back.
We solved this problem very simply: the steering wheel is eaten from its own battery and is charged by Micro USB from any telephone charge. And with consoles/computer, he communicates with Bluetooth. Officially (as written on the box and in the instructions) RWA works only with PlayStation 4. But, as practice has shown, the steering wheel is friends no worse with PlayStation 5.
Everything is set up simple. You clamp on the steering wheel of the SHARE and PS key, the built-in Bluetooth module goes into the mating mode, and Hori RWA appears on the console in the list of available devices. Once you choose it, and then everything is like with an ordinary gamepad: turned on – everything is picked up and working, turned off – it does not work.
Unofficially RWA can communicate with PC. You can connect to it by cable and USB, but the work with Hori is established on the principle of "imitating the Xbox gamepad". In other words, everything works out of hand, and no sensations from the car are obtained.
As for Xbox, because of a completely stupid policy Sony And Microsoft The version of RWA for PS does not work on Xbox – and vice versa. Want in Forza Horizon 5 , and in Gran Turismo 7 Play? Buy two steers for different consoles. Your problems.
I will summarize. If you do not pay attention to the wild price increase, then Hori RWA is still one of the best rudders without Force Feedback (with FF, if that, is twice as expensive) for the PlayStation. As for the wireless version, the idea itself and its implementation are amazing. The refusal of only two wires at times facilitates the work with the entire structure.
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