Force Feedback on Linux with a Logitech momo wheel

Force feedback doesn’t appear to be supported out of the box on Ubuntu 8.10 (with kernel 2.6.27) with the Logitech momo wheel.

By default the /dev/input/eventX devices are not readable by ordinary users. A temporary fix (until the device is removed and added) is to run chgrp plugdev /dev/input/event*.

The force-feedback package (libff/ffutils) has some test commands. To find the right device use evtest /dev/input/eventX. I found the event2 was the correct device:

bash> ./evtest /dev/input/event2
Input driver version is 1.0.0
Input device ID: bus 0x3 vendor 0x46d product 0xca03 version 0x100
Input device name: "Logitech  Logitech MOMO Racing "
Supported events:
  Event type 0 (Reset)
    Event code 0 (Reset)
    Event code 1 (Key)
    Event code 3 (Absolute)
    Event code 4 (?)
  Event type 1 (Key)
    Event code 288 (Trigger)
    Event code 289 (ThumbBtn)
    Event code 290 (ThumbBtn2)
    Event code 291 (TopBtn)
    Event code 292 (TopBtn2)
    Event code 293 (PinkieBtn)
    Event code 294 (BaseBtn)
    Event code 295 (BaseBtn2)
    Event code 296 (BaseBtn3)
    Event code 297 (BaseBtn4)
  Event type 3 (Absolute)
    Event code 0 (X)
      Value    512
      Min        0
      Max     1023
      Fuzz       3
      Flat      63
    Event code 1 (Y)
      Value    127
      Min        0
      Max      255
      Flat      15
  Event type 4 (?)
    Event code 4 (?)
Testing ... (interrupt to exit)
Event: time 1230869143.661631, type 3 (Absolute), code 0 (X), value 512
Event: time 1230869143.661639, type 0 (Reset), code 0 (Reset), value 0
Event: time 1230869143.669637, type 3 (Absolute), code 0 (X), value 501
Event: time 1230869143.669659, type 0 (Reset), code 0 (Reset), value 0
... lots more Events printed if the wheel is moved, or buttons presed.

In theory fftest should test force feedback. This didn’t work for me. Here’s the output:

bash> ./fftest /dev/input/event2
Force feedback test program.
HOLD FIRMLY YOUR WHEEL OR JOYSTICK TO PREVENT DAMAGES

Device /dev/input/event2 opened
Axes query:
Effects:
Number of simultaneous effects: 0
Upload effects[0]: Function not implemented
Upload effects[1]: Function not implemented
Upload effects[2]: Function not implemented
Upload effects[3]: Function not implemented
Upload effects[4]: Function not implemented
Upload effects[5]: Function not implemented
Enter effect number, -1 to exit

There are some changes in the 2.6.28 kernel relating to force feedback and the momo wheel – maybe that will get it working.

Next step: repeat these tests with a 2.6.28 kernel.