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Question Is possible to emulate a Thrustmaster TH8A?

Discussion in 'DIY peripherals' started by Gusi, Aug 25, 2019.

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  1. Gusi

    Gusi New Member

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    Hi all, i'm trying to build my own H shifter for my simulator.
    I want to build it from skratch but i also want a full compatibility with the majority of the existing games/simulator, and use a joystick simulator create a lot of problems.

    I have a thrustmaster t300rs gt edition wheel and it has a 6 pin mini din port (basically a ps2), for the th8a shifter or other accessory.

    My idea is to use an arduino to translate the signal of my DIY shifter into the right one for the T300 in order to make it think that i have connected the th8a, in this way i think that i can achive a full compatibility with every software compatible with thrustmaster hardware.

    The biggest challenge in this project is to understand the comunication protocol between the shifter and the wheel, because i have no TH8A to analyze...

    I'm writing this post for two purpouse:
    1. To ask if someone have looked into the protocol of a TH8A and can help me with that way
    2. To ask if someone have a better idea to make a DIY shifter with full compatibility.

    Thanks to everyone for your time, i'll wait for an answare!
    Gusi, Aug 25, 2019
    #1
  2. noorbeast

    noorbeast VR Tassie Devil Staff Member Moderator Race Director

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    • Like Like x 1
    noorbeast, Aug 26, 2019
    #2
  3. Gusi

    Gusi New Member

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    Thanks! I've looked into your link, and there are some really well made shifters.
    Probably my first step will be, like you suggest, a classic usb shifter with an arduino simulating a joystick, but still...
    In some games, like Forza Horizon 4 or every need for speed, if you connect the T300Rs and select it as controller, every other peripheral will be excluded, so use a shifter like that isn't an available option in those games...

    I see only 3 ways:

    1. Use only the original shifter
    2. Understand how the API of the thrustmaster driver works and write an interface program to use a usb shifter as a thrustmaster one, but i tried to contact them an the answare was that their API are closed and that they cannot give the documentation to no one.
    3. Like i said in the beginning emulate the protocol of the original shifter and plug it into the wheel, but without an analysis of the TH8A is impossible...

    So, i'll probably begin to build the hardware and use a normal usb comunication, but in the future i really hope to find a way to make it compatible with every game!
    Gusi, Aug 26, 2019
    #3