Fanatec App and UDP (Dirt Rally 2 / Codemaster)

I've got Simtools running my 2DoF and Simhub running my haptic basshaker.
This has been working fine for a long time, but then I updated Fanatec to the latest driver and app (app replaces Fanalab for gameprofiles and tweaks)
That broke everything, leaving me with no motion or haptics.

The new Fanatec App use the UDP stream from games (at least Dirt Rally 2 / Codemaster) and basicly does a hostile take-over of the configuration file, and re-writes the file everytime either the driver is loaded, the app is loaded or the game. So basicly, every change done to the configuration file, either by Simtools or Simhub is overwritten by Fanatec.

This was a long introduction, but necessary to explain the problem.

My solution to be able to use Fanatec App and telemetry + Simhub and Simtools:

(step-by-step, sequence is important)

1. Close Fanatec App completely
– End all Fanatec/FanaLab processes in Task Manager.

2. Get SimTools working first and adjust all graphics setting (turn off TAA? )
– Patch the DiRT Rally 2.0 plugin normally.
– Verify motion is working with the following line in Documents\My Games\DiRT Rally 2.0\hardwaresettings\hardware_settings_config.xml:

<udp enabled="true" extradata="3" ip="127.0.0.1" port="4123" delay="1" />

3. Set up SimHub as the telemetry host:
- In SimHub, enable the game, Simhub then overwrites the config file with its own UDP port.
Enable UDP Forwarding and add two targets:

127.0.0.1:4123 (→ SimTools)
127.0.0.1:20888 (→ Fanatec App)

This makes SimHub the only program actually receive from the game.
It relays the same telemetry to both SimTools and Fanatec.

4. Verify motion + SimHub telemetry
– Start the game, confirm that SimTools (motion) and SimHub (dash/vibe) both work.

5. Make a backup of your working XML file
– Copy hardware_settings_config.xml somewhere safe.

6. Re-enable Fanatec App
– Start the Fanatec App and enable “Fanatec App Support”.
– Select port 20888 in both fields so that it doesnt try to forward
– Start the game, confirm that Fanatec LEDs/vibration work (Simtools and Simhub will stop for now).
– Exit game

7. Overwrite the XML with your backup and set it to Read-Only
– Replace the file with your working version.
– Right-click → Properties → check Read-only.

This prevents Fanatec from ever rewriting the file again.
Now Fanatec App believe it has configured the config file, eventhough it is actually sending to Simhub. Making it Read-Only stops Fanatec app from altering the config file.