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Let's Loop n' Roll!
 
     
  You've reached the support site for the Tom's RC simulator cables. The cable can be used with a variety of free RC flight simulators. Installation and Operation details are available here.

So what is an RC Simulator?

  • The Trainer (buddy) Port.

    The traditional training cycle (besides the endless crash and repair cycle) involved using transmitters equipped with a trainer port. The main transmitter is in the hand of an experienced flyer (instructor), the other is used by the beginner (student). Connecting the two transmitters is a trainer cable. Following the safeguards of the trainer port (this varies between transmitter manufacturers) will ensure only the instructor's transmitter will emit any RF (radio frequency.)

    Typically the instructor will perform the difficult maneuvers (take-off and landing) and the student will have control at various times during mid flight (at a comfortable altitude.) The transfer of control is done at the instructor's transmitter using the trainer switch. With this trainer feature, the instructor can transfer or regain control of the craft at will. When the instructor transfers control, the stick positions from the student's transmitter (via the trainer cable) are used to control the craft.

  • The RC Simulator and Interface Cable

    The RC Simulator is a program running on your PC featuring a virtual Model (plane) in a virtual landscape. The program uses the same 3D graphics engines made popular by 3D games (DirectX) and 3D engineering graphics workstations (OpenGL.) The user can fly (and crash) this virtual model to practice the needed flying skills without the cost and frustrations of crashing the real thing.

    An interface cable connects the trainer port on the transmitter to the PC via a variety of interfaces. Commonly used are the USB and Serial ports. The software interprets the stick positions sent by the transmitter and applies this to the virtual model.

    Accurate RC simulation involves a range of complex computational dynamics to simulate the real world (such as aero and collision dynamics.) The models in the simulator usually range from simple (lazy) trainer to advanced (twitchy) crafts; all designed to train different eye-thumb reflexes.

  • The (new) Training Cycle

    With the RC Simulator, the critical first (baby) steps can now be done at your PC. Training with an instructor (via the trainer port) is still a good idea but no longer necessary. The RC Simulator and the small electric (almost) ready-to-fly "park flyers" are making the entry into this wonderful hobby even more effortless.


There are only two kinds of RC fliers: those who crashed, and those who are crashing . . . !

  
     
     
 
New USBg Cable (May 2009) Posted Monday 25 May 2009 - 15:33:22
 
     
  As of May 2009, Tom's RC is now shipping a new version of the USB cable. The sticker should say USBg (vs. the older USBc or USBf).

The new USBg version will install directly as a gamepad/joystick device under all popular operating systems (no drivers needed). The USBg will work with any software that takes input from gamepad/joystick. At this time, we've tested the USBg on the following following OS:
  • Windows:
    • XP (Home and Pro)
    • Vista (32bit & 64bit)
    • 7 (32bit & 64bit)

  • Linux 2.6.x (tested on latest Ubuntu 9.04 and Fedora 11 preview)

Although the cable works with the OS, getting the RC Simulator running under each environment may take some preparation. In most cases, just set the software to "joystick" should get you started. The main task for each software package is mapping and calibration: assigning stick movement to the correct control and calibrate the range of motion.
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Welcome to the new Tom's RC Simulator site. Posted Tuesday 15 April 2008 - 21:17:46
 
     
 
Much has changed in the past few years. Tom's RC has finally shed the "Simulator" from its name and is on its way to becoming a full fledged online shop for RC components, thanks to a dedicated (small) staff. However, Tom's RC Simulator will continue here. This was the place where it all started, and it will continue as long as my thumbs can push those two sticks around (well . . . I do have a couple single stick radios.)

I'm am not as active in RC as I should and have not seen Coyote (glider) Hills in a while. With the cholesterol level climbing to the stratosphere, I need to get off my a.. and squeeze in some time for activities and exercise.

This sim site is now part of the new tomsrc.com domain name, instead of piggy backing on my day job's site. Due to challenges of that career, I've been neglecting this site for a few years. Surprisingly, much of the information regarding FMS is still valid. And I will start to add other sims to the list of sims to be supported. The only (self-imposed) constraint is the sim must be freeware or open-source. Whenever possible, I will dedicate some time to go through the open-source code and make any improvements I can.

So browse around, drop a message in the forum (sign up first.) The original support pages for the sim cables are here, redirected from the original link. New content will be added as time goes on.

Let's loop and roll . . .
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