My take on a 4-channel setup USB adaptor/docking station
added: 25.01.2014
First up... credit to Giovanni F. Di Berardino & Edward Stover for the idea for the basic concept and inspiration:
http://www.vrcworld.com/member/tip.aspx?member=274&topic=42752#detail
https://www.vrcworld.com/member/tip.aspx?member=31634&topic=44142#detail
Since upgrading my Tx/Rx to 4-channel, I've since invested in an extra VRC USB adaptor for mapping the keyboard to channels 3 and 4 for marshall, refuel & return to pit functions using JoytoKey.
Having done this I wanted to tidy up the small bundle of wires that were now strewn across my desk. Also, as a laptop user, USB ports are thin on the ground, and since I use my laptop for work I figured it would be nice to use a USB hub for both VRC adaptors so I only had one plug for my VRC setup.
Initially I was worried that a hub might not work, or might kill the Tx response in game, but the difference is negligible. Without the hub fps is around 125-130, with the hub it drops to around 120-125. I can live with that!
To house it all I thought it would be funky to use model car.
I've posted photos of the finished item in an album on my profile here:
http://www.vrcworld.com/member/photos.aspx?member=42009&album=1234&sort=1#photos
I used a Plugable 2-port USB hub (
http://www.amazon.com/Plugable-USB-2-0-Port-Hub/dp/B005HKIDF2?SubscriptionId=AKIAJ27KPV45VTL2XA5Q&tag=plugabltechno-20&linkCode=xm2&camp=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=B005HKIDF2) which is a nice, tidy and compact hub. It's also one of only two hubs I could find with just 2 ports.
Because the ports of the hub are so close together, I did have to file the finger depressions flat on one side of each of the VRC adaptors so that they butt up nicely together when both are plugged into the hub at the same time. The plastic is quite thick and I haven't actually gone through it. I even used some fine emery to polish out the file marks. So to the untrained eye you cant really tell that I've done it. I probably could have got away with not doing this but I wasn't comfortable with the misalignment and strain the USB connections.
(Admittedly the guys at VRC would probably spot it - so I've likely invalidated any warranty!)
The Bentley is a 1/24th scale die-cast model from my local toy store.
The Bentley would not have been my first choice but it was either that or a BMW Mini (bit hairdresser), a Porsche (too VW Beetle) or a Lamborghini Gallardo (in a horrible yellow and probably would have been too small to house everything).
I've stripped out the interior and cut out the centre section of the plastic sub structure inside to make space for the hub and VRC adaptors. I then drilled a couple of holes in the plastic chassis so I could use a cable tie around the USB hub to secure it inside the car.
A small hole was drilled and notched into the rear edge of the chassis for the USB cable to pass out underneath the car.
The Rx isn't fixed in any way, but its quite tight inside so it sits in snugly and doesn't really move, although I can just about pull it out through one of the opening doors if I need to.
I was going to mount an antenna tube, but the antenna cable lies right next to one of the side windows so has almost clear line of sight to my Tx and the signal isn't noticeably affected. Since all this sits nicely in clear view on my desk and my Tx is never more than 2ft away I don't think it will ever need it.
The windows were clear and have been blacked out from the inside with black acrylic paint.
It might get some VRC decals too!
Happy Racing!
Cheers, Mike
Edited by author: 25.1.2014 21:36:23 GMT
Edited by author: 25.1.2014 21:41:23 GMT
Edited by author: 25.1.2014 21:50:43 GMT
Edited by author: 25.1.2014 21:53:26 GMTEdited by author: 25.1.2014 21:58:50 GMT
