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  Title: ECCI Trackstar 6000 GTS System
User's Article Rating: 6.41
Number of views: 47820
Users's Comments / Reviews: 22 		Article Author: Jacob Butner
Date posted: 16-08-2004
Pages: 4 / 4
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Total: 41 Screenshots

 
ECCI Trackstar 6000 GTS System


Hi-Definition USB

Anyone who has kept up with the controller world knows how the quality of pots can affect the precision of wheel movement. ECCI has cut no corners in this department and employs custom military grade pots to do the job. Joined with the new Hi-Definition USB hardware that ECCI is offering you get the smoothest control possible. I was amazed at the lack of jitter this produced. I've tested about ever wheel made and I have to say this combination is by far and away the most accurate I have ever driven. If you plan on purchasing a new ECCI or currently own an older model you MUST purchase this upgrade. It will make a difference! The only downside is you will need to purchase replacement pots from ECCI but this is a small price to pay for the absolute best! Repeat after me: Goodbye Gameport!

Expandability

Not satisfied with two paddle shifters and two buttons? How about adding up to eight more buttons? With the extra DB-9 connector on the side of the wheel unit you can add eight more buttons. Rumor has it ECCI may be working on a shifter unit that will use these extra buttons. In the meantime, the electrical engineering savvy could easily wire up additional buttons or controls for that added bit of realism! Did I mention these guys thought about everything?

Compatibility

The ECCI wheel installs as a USB HID (Human Interface Device) with all the necessary driver software contained on the actual integrated circuits of the wheel unit. I experienced no compatibility problems with Windows 2000 or Windows XP. Today's latest games all accepted the wheel without hesitation and setup was a breeze!

Performance

Well this is the part many of you have been waiting for! Will this thousand dollar wheel lower my lap times? Absolutely! Just as driving a high performance car, it forces you to rise to a higher level. It gives you the confidence to push harder and brake harder thus decreasing your lap times. This wheel is so much different than the rest of the crowd that once you try it out you will never go back. The fluid dampening steering system creates precise, smooth cornering while preventing dramatic overcorrected after severe oversteer. The pressure modulated braking unit allows gradual and accurate braking preventing lockup and allowing for taking that next hairpin a few yards deeper with confidence to overtake your oppenent.

Conclusion

Is the ECCI Trackstar 6000 GTS system worth the $1100? Is a Ferrari worth the money? Of course! The Trackstar is a work of art that will provide you with years upon years of enjoyment without failure. If you are serious about simulated racing and must have the best, this is it folks. It doesn't get any better than this.

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Author: Dag's 16-08-2004
I own these pedals for my Red Momo, and the quality is like it came from the Hendrick Motorsports shop. Great words written here too. SD
Author: zook 16-08-2004
A good article, I could have it scored higher if only there would have been some pics attached. Or did I miss them?
Author: bokinatr 16-08-2004
Good review. But I'd really like to see more elaboration on performance. And post pictures!!!
Author: Ivan 16-08-2004
Pictures will be posted ASAP.
Author: Gadaga 16-08-2004
Looks good but if I get it right there is no Froce Feedback and for me that is not the way forward
Author: nojar 16-08-2004
Great review. This wheel is definitely worth the money if a person is serious about sim racing. One thing that was not mentioned is there are three different pulley sizes that can be used to change the resistance on the FLDS.
Author: Mazic 17-08-2004
Is there an option for a force feedback steering wheel?
Author: Zucar 23-08-2004
No FF? How sad. This is like a beautiful Ferrari boat that rides on water instead of tires where you can 'feel' the road. I was curious about how large the turning arc is and saving up the money someday but it makes no sense now. It would be like paying for a wedding but having to go back to condoms.
Author: Terry Harten 09-09-2004
I have the 6000 for about a month now and it is truly a work of art. You only get what you pay for and Eccl is the best. Thank You ECCI
Author: amos 10-12-2004
ty for the informative article! and the pictures were awesome!
Author: klaus 12-12-2004
Great Report
Author: Dave 17-12-2004
Did I miss something or was this a wheel and pedals? so where is the picture of the pedals? Is there FF? it appears not, which is really unacceptable today.
Author: wayada 25-12-2004
I was tossing back & forth between a new Thomas wheel and a ECCI Trackstar 6000 GTS, this review has me now leaning towards the ECCI for sure. Note: For those of you worried about the lack of FF, let me tell you that FF does not reduce lap times to any significant amount, except where it adds feel and confidence to the user but it is limited at best. I speak from experince here as I have driven with FF for awhile now and have begun to slowly eliminate it as I see those turning the fastest lap times are not using it. Also, most real world drivers use wheels that do not have FF. i.e. (Dale Jr., Harvick, Newman, Truex, Jon Wood, Carl Edwards to name a few). If your objective is not reducing your lap times, but you are instead only looking for gaming effects, by all means don't spend the money on this whell and go out and get yourself a MOMO or the like.
Author: jolueg 03-02-2005
Very good and detailed report. Thank you!
Author: billy j wade 23-03-2005
I purchased the ECCI setup in feb 05 and it is everything it was supposed to be and more.It wont make me be the best but its made me a whole lot better.Thanks Billy Wade
Author: FBR Motorsports 26-05-2005
We just purchased this unit. WOW! I see alot of comments about the lack of FF. Let me tell you this. With this wheel, you dont need it. You have the dampening system and it gives you the real experience of driving. FF only gives you a false feel of control that ECCI actually does give. It is totally the difference between driving a Pinto versus a Lincoln. One nice note, this was a gift to the admin of the site from one of the users. With the PMB2 system it is like anti lock brakes and gives you ultimate control in the corners. I was tooling around Talledega @ 170 something and slammed the breaks on. I stopped in turn 1 and never once slid. It was totally stuck to the track. The ONLY drawback to this set is there is not enough buttons for auto chat!
Author: rickjackson 07-06-2005
The article was great as far as it went. Since the wheel is USB it would have been nice to know if it works with a PS2 or xbox. Maybe someone else has used it for this purpose?
Author: Gabriel Diaz 22-09-2005
I am a graduate student researching in PandA Labs at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York. Our research into human braking behavior requires the utmost precision for accurate data collection as well as the most realistic interface as possible. While many labs feel the need to spend tens of thousands of dollars on realistic braking environments, using the Trackstar 6000 has offered a relatively economical approach to a virtual driving environment without compromising the generalizability of our reasearch to the real world. We at PandA Labs plan to reccomend this set of equipment to our peers, and highly reccomend it to those consumers that want the highest end equipment. I should say that I'm writing this review mostly because the product deserves it, as it really is a very rugged, adjustable, comfortable, and realistic set of equipment. I'm also writing this because, on numerous occasions, the tech support was so prompt that I can't help but feel that ECCI deserves the praise. Shortly after receiving the trackstar set we sent ECCI several questions via email ( nothing was wrong, we just needed some obscure information ). THe emails were returned promptly, even outside of standard work hours. They also went as far as to type up instructions specific to some of our needs, as well as to post photographs online specifically for us. In short, buy their equipment, it's worth the money. They gave me the impression that they're a small group of really hard-working engineers that not only built a great product, but who are willing to work hard to ensure that their customers are happy with what they bought. - gabe PS: Don't think I'll I use this stuff for is research.
Author: Bill Standen 09-02-2006
Damn these are tempting. Works out at nearly 2200 Aussie Pesos to get one out here but DAYUM would it rock. Does anyone know if they'll work on a PS2? If they do I'd be VERY tempted to empty the credit card on one.
Author: Phil 10-12-2006
This is Truly a work of art!!! The assembly is the worst part..Now in dec 2006..The full setup is 1500
Author: FITZUNI 24-04-2008
I CANT WAIT TO GET MINE SHIPMENT DATE 4.28.08
Author: Randy 07-07-2008
Great article. I am considering an upgrade. I have used 3 wheels in the past 5 years. Two of them were Logitech Momo wheels. I want a new wheel but would like to get one that lasts... I think I may have found it. Thanks for the excellent review.

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