A dedicated dashboard sounds like a luxury — until you try it. Once you can glance at fuel, tyres, delta, flags, and gear without turning your main HUD into a Christmas tree, it’s hard to go back.
The good news: you don’t need an expensive screen. Plenty of sim racers use an old Android phone, an iPad Mini, or a budget tablet as a SimHub dash.
What makes a “good” SimHub tablet dashboard?
- Readable at a glance: big gear + revs beat tiny graphs.
- Stable connection: Wi‑Fi that doesn’t drop mid-race.
- Rig-friendly mount: positioned so it doesn’t block your wheel or monitors.
- Simple pages: one for sprint races, one for endurance.
Where to mount the tablet
Most people end up in one of three locations:
- Just above the wheel: best for quick glances and a “real car” feeling.
- Between wheel and monitors: good when your monitors are close and space is tight.
- Off to the side: works for endurance data (fuel/tyres) you check less often.
If you’re running a high-torque wheelbase, avoid flimsy mounts — any flex becomes vibration, and vibration becomes unreadable.
What to display (so it helps you drive)
Start with these four
- Gear (big, central)
- RPM / shift lights
- Fuel remaining (or laps remaining)
- Delta / lap time (optional, but powerful for practice)
Then add endurance essentials
- Tyre temps / pressures (if your sim provides it)
- Brake temps (useful in longer stints)
- Flags, penalties, pit reminders
Tip: If you find yourself “reading” the dash for more than a split second, simplify. It should feel like checking mirrors — fast and automatic.
Connection and reliability tips
- Keep the tablet powered: long sessions can drain batteries fast (especially bright screens).
- Improve Wi‑Fi signal: router placement matters more than you think.
- Close background apps: older devices run smoother when they’re not multitasking.
- Don’t chase refresh rate: for dashes, stability matters more than “FPS”.
Rig-friendly options
- AlphaTecRacing Touchscreen Dashboard Formula V2 — a purpose-built dash alternative if you don’t want to use a tablet.
- SimXPro PC keyboard tray — makes setup changes and menu navigation easier (especially when you start running longer races).
Once the dash is working, it’s tempting to add “just one more thing”: overlays, LEDs, tactile feedback… If that’s you, read the cable-management guide below before the upgrade spiral begins.
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