(CLOSED) Thrustmaster TH8RS or TH8A shifter?

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Watching this review I can say I'm even more certain that the DIN cable is just a rewired USB. This shifter wouldn't have two ICs to communicate through two different protocols, it makes no sense from the engineering point of view. Plus, Darin used the TH8RS software and calibration software, which leads me to think its PID is the same of the TH8RS. In short, I believe we'll see some homemade usb to DIN adapters for those with a TX or T300 wheels and TH8RS shifter :)
 
wprpalmeida
Watching this review I can say I'm even more certain that the DIN cable is just a rewired USB. This shifter wouldn't have two ICs to communicate through two different protocols, it makes no sense from the engineering point of view. Plus, Darin used the TH8RS software and calibration software, which leads me to think its PID is the same of the TH8RS. In short, I believe we'll see some homemade usb to DIN adapters for those with a TX or T300 wheels and TH8RS shifter :)
Click to expand...
I hope so

TJisA1337NOOB
The latest FB post says the mechanical part is the same as TH8RS. It states the difference is the electrical IC and the connections.
Click to expand...
Houston we have a problem...
 
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Here are my two cents on this, as an electrical engineer with some background on electronics (albeit a VERY small company, nothing like TM):

- They have a very solid mechanical base with the TH8RS, so it would be obvious that they would build their new shifter by improving it. However, mechanically it is the same. I suspect this is so they would be able to use whatever TH8RS parts stock they have, since they're the same until the PCB is assembled.

- Since new wheels were being developed, it'd be easier to make the wheels compatible with the shifter, a "disguised" TH8RS. The logic boards are bigger, and much deeper changes had to be done (inclusion of PS4 and Xbox One circuitry), so it makes more sense to include whatever changes were necessary to match these two wheels to whatever specs the TH8RS had (I wouldn't be surprised if they actually looked at mrbasher's SFA1 adapter to implement their solution) in this development cycle.

- Talking about the SFA1, it's not big, but certainly it isn't a cable. The Fanatec ClubSport USB adapter for their new shifter also isn't. It needs to have an USB-host IC to communicate with the USB shifter and DACs to output the converted signal to the Fanatec shifter, which is passive, and all auxiliary elements such as resistors, capacitors and so on. By passive I mean it does not have any fancy communication protocol, it's just a resistance value that changes with the shifter's position, enabling the wheel to tell which gear is being selected. Passive shifters are the most common type as they are cheaper to make, but need a converter if they were to be used as a standalone shifter. And the DIN-to-USB cable shown in the review seems a little too small to house any of this.

- Even if the IC is indeed the same, they would never admit it. They are marketing this as a brand new release, and it would be considered a huge PR failure if they came out saying "oh we just changed the box and the knob color". They had to make that explicit from the get-go, but they opted to market it as a new accessory (perhaps in hope of people buying the TH8A even if they have the TH8RS).


I would love to build a converter, but I'm in Brazil and I don't have a TX wheel nor am I planning to get one.
 
wprpalmeida
Here are my two cents on this, as an electrical engineer with some background on electronics (albeit a VERY small company, nothing like TM):

- They have a very solid mechanical base with the TH8RS, so it would be obvious that they would build their new shifter by improving it. However, mechanically it is the same. I suspect this is so they would be able to use whatever TH8RS parts stock they have, since they're the same until the PCB is assembled.

- Since new wheels were being developed, it'd be easier to make the wheels compatible with the shifter, a "disguised" TH8RS. The logic boards are bigger, and much deeper changes had to be done (inclusion of PS4 and Xbox One circuitry), so it makes more sense to include whatever changes were necessary to match these two wheels to whatever specs the TH8RS had (I wouldn't be surprised if they actually looked at mrbasher's SFA1 adapter to implement their solution) in this development cycle.

- Talking about the SFA1, it's not big, but certainly it isn't a cable. The Fanatec ClubSport USB adapter for their new shifter also isn't. It needs to have an USB-host IC to communicate with the USB shifter and DACs to output the converted signal to the Fanatec shifter, which is passive, and all auxiliary elements such as resistors, capacitors and so on. By passive I mean it does not have any fancy communication protocol, it's just a resistance value that changes with the shifter's position, enabling the wheel to tell which gear is being selected. Passive shifters are the most common type as they are cheaper to make, but need a converter if they were to be used as a standalone shifter. And the DIN-to-USB cable shown in the review seems a little too small to house any of this.

- Even if the IC is indeed the same, they would never admit it. They are marketing this as a brand new release, and it would be considered a huge PR failure if they came out saying "oh we just changed the box and the knob color". They had to make that explicit from the get-go, but they opted to market it as a new accessory (perhaps in hope of people buying the TH8A even if they have the TH8RS).


I would love to build a converter, but I'm in Brazil and I don't have a TX wheel nor am I planning to get one.
Click to expand...
Thanks a lot @wprpalmeida!
I am brazilian too :D

How about the new "firmware" for TH8RS and TH8A:

Full adjustability:

Upgradable firmware and internal memory with [...]

Ref:http://www.thrustmaster.com/products/th8-rs
 
StrongManBR
Thanks a lot @wprpalmeida!
I am brazilian too :D

How about the new "firmware" for TH8RS and TH8A:

Full adjustability:

Upgradable firmware and internal memory with [...]

Ref:http://www.thrustmaster.com/products/th8-rs
Click to expand...

This just says that the firmware is upgradeable, but I don't think they ever relased any. It's functions are not complex at all, so less chances for bugs and smaller room for improvement.
 
Here are my thoughts on this thus far...

Based upon the apparent size of the cables, I do not believe there is anything special going on in them. Not to mention the cost of having them special made with such circuitry molded in. It's doable, but unnecessary. That is to say, I wouldn't go that route.

I won't say yet what exactly I think it is they are doing here because I don't want anyone breaking their wheel trying crap. However, I can say that I do not believe they are using the typical x/y coordinate system for assigning/outputting gears. (like a Fanatec or Logitech shifter does)

As well, I find it doubtful they have the wheel acting as a USB host device, or that one is encased in the USB/DIN plug wire. Again, this is just too much work. BUT, I also don't think they made much of a change to the electronics in the shifter... wrap your head around that one. :D I'll explain more when I have more info.
 
mrbasher
Here are my thoughts on this thus far...

Based upon the apparent size of the cables, I do not believe there is anything special going on in them. Not to mention the cost of having them special made with such circuitry molded in. It's doable, but unnecessary. That is to say, I wouldn't go that route.

I won't say yet what exactly I think it is they are doing here because I don't want anyone breaking their wheel trying crap. However, I can say that I do not believe they are using the typical x/y coordinate system for assigning/outputting gears. (like a Fanatec or Logitech shifter does)

As well, I find it doubtful they have the wheel acting as a USB host device, or that one is encased in the USB/DIN plug wire. Again, this is just too much work. BUT, I also don't think they made much of a change to the electronics in the shifter... wrap your head around that one. :D I'll explain more when I have more info.
Click to expand...
Thanks a lot @mrbasher!
For now, I will not throw away my th8rs: D
 
Well... I'm not sure it will end up working with the TX without some form of adapter, not unless Thrustmaster releases some kind of firmware update for it which I doubt. Hard to say without having a TH8A in my hands to compare the two. Sit tight with your shifter though, hopefully something can be done.
 
mrbasher
Here are my thoughts on this thus far...

Based upon the apparent size of the cables, I do not believe there is anything special going on in them. Not to mention the cost of having them special made with such circuitry molded in. It's doable, but unnecessary. That is to say, I wouldn't go that route.

I won't say yet what exactly I think it is they are doing here because I don't want anyone breaking their wheel trying crap. However, I can say that I do not believe they are using the typical x/y coordinate system for assigning/outputting gears. (like a Fanatec or Logitech shifter does)

As well, I find it doubtful they have the wheel acting as a USB host device, or that one is encased in the USB/DIN plug wire. Again, this is just too much work. BUT, I also don't think they made much of a change to the electronics in the shifter... wrap your head around that one. :D I'll explain more when I have more info.
Click to expand...

All that matters to me is that you're all over it. :) I have one of your CPX adapters for my TX wheel and Fanatec Elite pedals and its a very nice piece of gear. It just works without any fuss and I love that about it. I'd be in for a TH8RS adapter if it was cost feasible for you to build one.
 
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Blkout
All that matters to me is that you're all over it. :) I have one of your CPX adapters for my TX wheel and Fanatec Elite pedals and its once very nice piece of gear. It just works without any fuss and I love that about it. I'd be in for a TH8RS adapter if it was cost feasible for you to build one.
Click to expand...

Me too! Too bad it no longer sends to Brazil: (
 
StrongManBR
Me too! Too bad it no longer sends to Brazil: (
Click to expand...
I'm going to be changing my policy on that. The requirement however will be that items be shipped priority international. This ensures proper tracking. Amazing how things that can be tracked don't get lost but things that can't almost always do... Bummer.
 
Hello Everyone .. I'd like to ask about an issue that happened .. I just bought a new TH8RS Shifter and it's not detected on any USB port on my PC, Laptop & even PS3 .. I've contacted the Thrustmaster Customer Support about this case and they told me about the Boot loader method .. and it still doesn't work (not detected) .. so I told them about that defect and they said that they will send me another electric board for my shifter .. but did anyone try to find what is wrong with that Version 1 electric board ?!! and what is the difference between that board and the version 2 board?!! is it all about the IC's ? and is there any probability that I can fix this defected board till the new one arrives?! Thanks for your cooperation :)
 
@Blkout Can you try with the new firmware v2
http://ts.thrustmaster.com/eng/index.php?pg=view_files&gid=1&fid=2&pid=367&cid=15

This driver package is compatible with the T500RS, T300RS, T300 Ferrari GTE and TX racing wheels.

** On PC, the USB sliding switch on the T300 RS racing wheel’s base must always be set to the PS3 position!

PS3_Switch.jpg




Changes made in new driver version 2014_TTRS_2:

- Fixed conflict detected on the previous version (2014_TTRS_1) between the racing wheel and the TH8RS Shifter in some PC games like rFactor 2.

- Added new firmware V43 (for the T500RS)

= We strongly recommend that you update your PC with this new driver version.


This driver includes the previous changes:

(2014_TTRS_1)
- Added compatibility with the T300RS and T300 Ferrari GTE racing wheels.
- Added new firmwares V42 (for the T500RS) and V47 (for the TX Racing Wheel)

With and without th8rs driver, using a female usb to a male p2 adapter.
 
Something happened on the xbox one, after updating the Forza 5, the pedals do not work when used with the adapter th8rs
 
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