PC Ts World Raildriver And Joystick Interface

JUst a quick to question to see if anyone else is having V2.0.1.3 stop responding during a TSW session. I have just started having this problem recently where in some sessions the driver just stops responding - I have to go into Task manager to kill the instance then restart the app and it picks-up where it left off and I can restart call back and all will be well. Prior to this it worked as expected with no problems

 

Re-listed these now as 1 off items.
Single axis joystick potentiometer - - Diy train controller/flight sim.. x1 | eBay

Dr Iver: Please note:
The pot can be pulled out after undoing a small locking screw and undoing the mounting nut. However the replacement pot shaft needs to be 6mm dia x 20mm long, including thread length.
HOWEVER:
The pot body thread/nut is 7mm dia. 3D printing is such that you cannot simply drill a bigger hole. That will leave the hole with no walls and fragile.

 

Hi Jannie. OK, it would be a 'nice to do' not a 'must do'. If it isn't possible to swap other switches it will still be very useful to have 2 pots.
(That was me who bought 2, as you've probably guessed ;-) )
Cheers, John

 

Thanks John. Will post first thing in the morning.
Best Regards
Jannie

 

I highly recommend this device. It allows you to easily control traction and all types of brakes, as well as a lot of commands. Personally, I use it as a brake control unit, in combination with the VPC MongoosT-50CM3 Throttle, which controls traction, reverse, and AFB.

 

Well Jannie, I received my controllers safely - and I like them very much. They're very subtle and nicely sized compared with my Saitek.
I'm not tempted to alter them, they do just fine as they are.

 

Thanks John. Glad you like them and trust they will serve you well.
Jannie

 

Surprised nobody has responded to this yet, but I've been having the same issues as well for the past few months. The program would freeze up and I would have to use task manager to exit out of it completely. Only issue is that most of the time, I'm unable to pick up where I left off as the program would say that it is "waiting for TSW" when I do in fact have it open. I would have to restart TSW completely for it to work again.

Hopefully someone has a solution, or a fix, for this!

 

Does anyone have a suggestion for the class 350?
I’m using the Thrustmaster Hotas, when I centre the throttle in the centre notch the 350 puts in a break application? Can’t seem to fix it….

 

Not intending to hijack this thread, but there is a new alternative to this software. Please check out this thread. It has true analog axis support. I've been using it for a couple weeks now...It's really powerful.

I've been able to do all sorts of things with my VPC Control Panel 3, same controller that SJAY_ONE mentioned above.

 

LeadCatcher

PrimeMoverSimulator

I have tried my best to recreate your problems but to no avail.
Can you both try running the program as an Administrator and see if that helps.

Chris

 

I have the program automatically set up so when it launches it runs "as administrator."

Once I encounter the issue again, I'll send some screenshots of it. Doesn't happen often, though when it happens once, normally it'll happen multiple times.

 

As it is not happening all the time, it would indicate maybe something else is conflicting with my program.
Do you recall installing or running any software prior to the problem occurring?

 

Suddenly today I am getting "Unable to connect to TSW." Could DTG have borked it with today's update?

 

I just finished a service on K _ A with the new tt and used my rd without problems.

 

Restarted and it works. False alarm. Thank you!

 

After the wooden proof of concept controller I built some time ago, I have now finally rebuilt that controller to a more "professional" standard. (I hope)
Box is made of polycarbonate (Lexan) and covered with automotive vinyl.
Aptly named "Cobra Cab Controller".
Toggle and any further switches to be added as game play dictates.

 

Hello jannie#6483

This controller looks really great !
You have done a really good job.

Would you build and sell such a controller for others ?

 

Hi Emmy, thanks for the kind words! As for building these to sell on, I don't think is a proposition. Too old and too slow now-adays
And thanks to all for the likes..
Jannie

 

Just gave this another try and got it working. Happy to use the raildriver again without the twitching. However, I'm having problems with the Class 350. The idle position of the throttle feels almost impossible to position. Not sure why that train in particular has so many problems, because I seem to recall it having this problem even without the program opened.

 

Hi jannie#6483 your controller’s looking good, I particularly like your lever controllers, are they 3D printed? How deep are they below the panel top?
I’m working on doing a version of my controller with similar units - my current one being more 60s/70s based with rotary control levers:


Don’t forget CobraOne's interface allows the use of 2 shift buttons so, if need be, you can almost triple the amount of push button inputs over and above what your hardware has!

 

That's a really nice looking desktop controller setup. How does it feel? Clunks and notches on those levers?

I took a good look at the 3D printed SimHogger – WirelessBilly vertical control stand kit of EMD locomotive design, but decided it was not only prohibitively expensive to deliver overseas as a kit unit. It is also full size vertical panel which takes up a lot of space and needs a semi-permanent mount, almost half a locomotive cab. And I doubt those 3D printed plastic controls 'feel' like in those industrial rotary switches you seem to use?

Apart from sourcing parts, either new, or refurbished, or even reconditioned scrap original pieces, any hardware controller still requires some woodworking/mechanic/electric/electronic/programming skills unless you can afford the $$$$ to buy a readymade.

There are different train sims, MSTS, OR, TSC, TSW, Run8, DV, Trainz, RailRoader and probably more, so a hardware controller should be compatible with all the sims on your PC.

 

Thanks 21c164fightercommand.

I didn't do notches on the levers as it's a 'jack-of-all-trades' set-up really, though I did consider it, but in the end the hubs have flat rubber washes underneath to give some limited friction so that they stay where they are set. They feel very intuitive after a bit of use, its worth taking time with mocking up positions to check clearances and not fouling other postions of switches etc.

The hardware interface I use is a Leo Bodnar BU0836X USB interface (8 analog inputs with12-bit resolution, 32 buttons/16 rotary encoder inputs, 1 x 8 position input), so no programming needed and wire connections are push-fit; it is seen by Windows as a standard analog game controller, just follow the info on their site for connection, potentiometer and encoder specs required and set-up of the analog ranges, etc. I can use this controller with TSC too, using CobraOne's other interface software he did for TSC, I can't praise him enough!

Yeah, the SiimHogger set up is rather large and too specific, too big for most I guess. My controller is 400x200x50mm (WxDxH), it uses 2mm aluminium sheet for the bottom and sides and a 3mm aluminium/composite sheet for the top (which is far easier to drill!), the corners are 3D printed and hold top/bottom via metal M3 standoffs within the corner and the sides strips are held in place by slots in the corner units. The lever hubs are 3D printed including the base cup that limits their rotation, the metal lever handles I got online after a lot of hunting around. My advice if you build your own is to buy decent quality potentiometers; switches too - cheap stuff fails. Toggle switches seem to be good whatever make I've bought. With the joystick type units used for the horn (with the rubber surround sleeve), be aware of their depth, some versions are ridiculously deep!

The 3D printed stuff was created by my son from my old git hand drawn sketches! We're currently working on a shallow flush modern style lever control that will sit in a 50mm deep unit as I want to do a version of the controller with a more modern power/brake/reverser control layout. Even making your own controller, I'm guessing it's working out, for something like mine, at £200 in parts, but its good fun and very immersive once you get there!

 

For the 350, try these notch settings:
0.000:0.109:0.000, 0.111:0.243:0.220, 0.245:0.290:0.267, 0.292:0.336:0.314, 0.338:0.379:0.360, 0.381:0.514:0.400, 0.516:0.644:0.630, 0.646:0.709:0.659, 0.710:0.799:0.760, 0.801:0.919:0.840, 0.921:1.000:1.000

Simply edit the lever map and copy these settings into the standard notch values.
You may have to play around with the values slightly, but they should not be far off if at all.

If you need to edit them, then I would suggest holding down the shift key and right clicking on the notch values, this will bring up the advanced notches window which you can use to change a setting and then see if it works by clicking the send button.

Chris

 

Thanks Zappatime. My lever sticks are all home designed and home 3d printed. They are approx 40mm deep into the box.
I like your controller as well and see you have taken a different approach to me. Got me thinking......
Best regards.
Jan

 

Recently I've encountered a problem where upon decreasing the throttle to idle, it hits a brief spot of min brake application before it reaches idle. This behavior doesn't happen with vanilla TSW using an unmodified piehd dll. I've tried recalibrating within the joystick interface, but no luck. I'm wondering if anyone else ran into this issue, and figured out a way to solve it.

 

Can you post a copy of the Raildriver.ini file located in Documents\My Games\TrainSimWorld5\Saved\Config\WindowsNoEditor.
Also a copy of the "Raildriver (210) ID (0)_Calibration.txt" file located it in the Settings folder of my program and I will use these settings with my Raildriver to see if I can recreate and hopefully fix the problem.
Chris.

 

Hi! I acquired that new metal controller ( https://forums.dovetailgames.com/th...ontrol-console-with-mechanical-damping.91277/ ), and was trying to get it set up for HST (as a start).
I noted 2 issues,
1: I cannot get the software detect the two switch as[Wiper] and [Light] control, probably because they indeed are not "Lever" as they automatically return to center, is there anyway to get it recognized as lever correctly?
2: I tried to use the "Advanced Notch" setting---well now I figured out the notch values, but theres quite a big deadzone at start and end, is there anyway to make it more "even"?

The values are:

<ControlGroup>Throttle</ControlGroup>
<AssignedTo>ThrottleAndBrake</AssignedTo>
<Enabled>Yes</Enabled>
<Direction>Reversed</Direction>
<NotchValues>0.000:0.300:0.000, 0.330:0.430:0.380, 0.450:0.530:0.490, 0.550:0.650:0.600, 0.670:0.750:0.710, 0.770:1.000:1.000</NotchValues>

and

<TrainControls>
<ControlGroup>TrainBrake</ControlGroup>
<AssignedTo>TrainBrake</AssignedTo>
<Enabled>Yes</Enabled>
<Direction>Reversed</Direction>
<NotchValues>0.000:0.005:0.003, 0.050:0.100:0.075, 0.200:0.300:0.250, 0.340:0.500:0.420, 0.550:0.630:0.585, 0.650:0.750:0.700, 0.800:0.850:0.825, 0.900:1.000:1.000</NotchValues>



Btw the Class 150/153 from Cardiff doesn't work at all, any value send the throttle to P6 and anything more than 0.1 send it straight to P7.

Appreciate any help.

 

This is why both my programs clearly state, Not for commercial use, ie a company selling hardware should not be reliant on my software to work because I then become their technical support for free. They make the money, I do the work.
They didn't even have the courtesy to ask my permission. They also state my sofware is open source, it isn't.

I am sorry to have to do this but, as this is not the first time this has happened, I am now temporarily pulling both programs and withdrawing support until I have a talk with the company.

Chris

 

Hardly surprising, unfortunately. The concept of intellectual property doesn't really exist in China. I'd be more surprised if they did pay to license something instead of just stealing it.
Most likely they'll just continue to distribute their stolen version themselves. After all, what you going to do? Hire a Chinese law firm and expect a Chinese judge to rule in your favour?

 

Shame that it only takes one person (or in this case, entity) to completely ruin something for others that enjoy it, especially when it comes to monetization. Hope you get these issues resolved.

 

KCRCRailway
As you purchased the controller in good faith, I don't think it is fair for me to penalise you for what the company has done.

I believe they are using a 3 position switch and not a potentiometer like the Raildriver. To get the wipers to work, you will need to do the following:
1. Edit your button map using the menu KeyMaps\Button Map\Edit Button Map and then say Yes to continue editing the Default_Buttonmapper.
2. Scroll down to the entry in the Control column that says Wipers Decrease.
3. Left click on that entry to highlight it.
4. Right click on the highlighted entry and from the menu that pops up, select "Copy Command".
5. In the next window, change the Control Name to "Wipers Increase", Click in the Extended 1 box to highlight the text and then press the Backspace key to delete the text. You should be left with just Wipers Increase and KEY_V, the other boxes should all be empty.
6. Click th OK button.
7. Now assign the Wiper decrease to the Wiper switch left and the Wipers Increase to the Wiper switch right.
8. Now assign the light switch to Headlights Front Increase/Decrease.

With regards the deadzones at the start and end of the travel of your lever, If the controllers internal code is set up right, there should be no deadzones. Can you try calibrating the unit in windows by typing Joy.cpl into the windows search bar.

Let me know how you get on.

Chris

 

Hi CobraOne,

I'm a team member from Sim Workshop, and I'm reaching out to see if you'd be willing to share your email address—I’d love to connect with you directly to introduce our new product, the TSC-X train simulator controller, and explore potential collaboration.

The TSC-X is compatible with most joystick mapping software—including yours—such as JoyToKey, DS4Windows, reWASD, etc. Functionally, it behaves like a keyboard or mouse, and users are free to choose whichever mapping software they prefer. We do not include or distribute your software, nor do we intend to infringe upon your work in any way.

Through our own experience, we found your software to be purpose-built for train simulation and extremely well-crafted. Your expertise and generosity in sharing it with the community are truly admirable.

That’s why we were saddened to see your recent post about pausing support. We realize this might have been caused by a misunderstanding on our part, and we sincerely apologize for any unfair impression this may have created toward you or other players.

We are genuinely interested in having an open conversation with you—not just for the benefit of our product, but for the broader train sim community. We hope to find a way to work together respectfully and constructively.

Looking forward to hearing from you!

Warm regards,
Spark Chen

 

*too lazy to edit the quotes' length on phone sorry for wall of text guys*
On the wiper/light issue, silly me, should realize there is indeed good reason why theres the [Copy Command] in the first place :p, will test later in June to see if I can get that running.
On the deadzone part will also try recalibrate in mid June, got some real life stuff to handle before that.
On the license issues, hope you guys reach some agreement (which, obviously, you as author of software has all the rights on control who got licenses to use, hopefully the result of potential negotiation come out as good news for us, but understandable for any decision you made).

All the best,
KC

 

CobraOne is such an awesome contributor to the train sim community — so many players (myself included) have benefited from his amazing work! We're truly thankful for everything he's done

We've reached out to him and sincerely apologized for any inconvenience caused. He was incredibly kind and shared a lot of helpful, constructive feedback — which we absolutely agree with and appreciate.

Really hoping we can work together in the future to make the train sim community even better and stronger!

June is looking like a great month — we’re super excited for what’s coming, and we truly hope CobraOne will enjoy our TSC-X!

Thanks again, CobraOne, for everything you’ve done for the community.

 

After a sucessful conversation with Spark Chen from SimWorkshop, he is sending me a TSC-X for testing and development purposes.
I have agreed to allow them to continue to direct their customers to my software and I will add native support for their hardware in both my programs.
I have now reinstated the download links

Chris

 

Thanks both, appreciate the communication came to great success of the community here.

 

Hi all. A builders question:
On your home built controller for TSW,
1:What (functions) would you use "rotary encoders" for ?
2: Where would you use them specifically on the GP38-2 and GP40-2 ?

Thank you all
Jan

 

You could use them anywhere that a control can be increased or decreased incrementally by the use of two identified keys. On steam locos, for example, I have front/rear dampers and small/large ejectors set by rotary encoders. Others could be, say, Destination display's Next/Previous; Most controls are switches, i.e. on or off. Loco brake, train brake, regulator (throttle), combined throttle and brake, reverser, headlight mode settings and wiper speed/on-off can be set via potentiometers - i.e analog axes.

 

Got it. Got a spare Leonardo and will have a play with that.
Thanks for the reply, much appreciated.
Jannie