Attached is a sample of my .bat file (renamed to .txt)

So should I have a separate install folder for each LFS instance?



I am currently only using one install folder on each computer.
It is easier to maintain files, car setups, track layouts, custom billboard graphics etc... with just one.

I have a .bat file that renames a player1.cfg to autoexec.cfg, then starts up the player 1 instance.
Then it renames a player2.cfg to autoexec.cfg, then starts up player 2... same with player 3 and 4

Each loads a different driver name and car color...

I then drag each instance to the same monitor as before and hit Shft F11.

Then I go through and select the wheels/headphones that match the cockpit, by listening and turning the wheel back and forth until I get the right one.


I plug everything in before turning on.

SCAWEN,

I wish I could drive the trailer to your location so you can test it out and see how it is all working. I will have to settle for making a video in the future.

At this time, I have to set it up each time I boot up windows or restart LFS.
This may be due to me doing something wrong. But I always have to choose something, as it is often set for a default wheel, or main system sound device.

I do not understand enough how windows handles all the devices the devices, and how it numbers them when all the digital IDs are the same on each device. Which is likely the case with these things.

Thankfully LFS only shows the 4 that are plugged in! And not all the extra ghost devices from previous boot ups. And now that I think of it, the last few times I set it up the headphones were mostly the same Device ID numbers in LFS. So, maybe it IS working, but I still have to go through and pick them for each seat.

Each of my instances of LFS is loaded up from command prompt with a different driver name.
Is it, or can it save the wheel/audio device with each driver as well? If LFS is remembering the right devices, then having the driver saved with the right wheel/sound device might be enough to make it do it automagically.








I remove the computer from the trailer and take it home, as it is also my main PC that I am using now to type this... and I don't want to leave it in trailer. So, all of the cables get unplugged and mixed up from the PC. I have some color coded, but not all. I assumed plugging into the exact same USB port would not really matter. I have a LOT of usb on the back of this PC.

Last edited by SimulatorRental.com, Thu 19 Oct 2017, 17:02.

So it is due to obsolete Direct X code that will never get fixed, by MS.
And LFS just does not know what to do when it happens...

Only reason it is a problem, is when I restart everything it takes me 30 or more minutes to setup all the wheels and audio to the right devices. This can be 10-25% of a clients entire paid event time.

So if you ever do work on this, it would be better to just work on getting some automation or device memory on that then actually fixing any direct X stuff... It is likely impossible though because each device ID changes every reboot, I have tons of "old devices" even though its the same device, although I guess I could get in the habit of clearing them all before rebooting.

Bottom line though, I would rather you work on more important parts of LFS.. like cars tracks, tire phys etc...



I have tried a few different graphics driver versions... I am afraid to go back because some had stability issues that are worse than the black screens. Only JUST now got those sorted. I also read on some site to change it to "full pannel" instead of maintain ratio, but I think that was to avoid a different type of black screen.



If it only goes out 1 or 2 times per event its not too bad... but I wish I knew what triggered it, as there might be something I could do different to try and avoid it.




Any noticeable increase in downloads of LFS in the USA yet? lol
Lots of people say they will check it out and download it, but I doubt anyone even remembers by the time they get home.

Trying to spread the word of LFS. Working on getting it setup at the 2018 Detroit Grand Prix... maybe at a Michigan NASCAR event as well. Depends what they charge me for space... or if I can get them to hire me.

The black screen issue has returned, and disrupted the last 3 events.

While I previously thought it to be the graphics cards getting too hot, I am not totally convinced of this anymore. With the LFS, and GPX card settings I use, the cards rarely go above 60 degrees. Unless the temp sensor is wrong on BOTH computer systems.

When one of the computers does this, I just reboot and set it all up again, and it often works fine for the rest of the event, but sometimes it will do it again, or the OTHER computer will do it.

I have noticed that the computers or displays are NOT crashed when this happens, only LFS is black.
I can usually ALT tab or SHIFT F11 back to windows which is still working fine.
But no matter what, the LFS windows that are black stay black.

The AI cars, if any, that were controlled by the instance on the black screens, are still going around the track on the good screens, so LFS is actually still running. The player cars can even be controlled still... as long as you can see one on the other players screen.

I have noticed the last 2 or 3 times, that LFS froze for a few seconds before going black. And the on the other computers that remained operational, the LAG ### text showed up on those cars until those cars went black, then they started moving again...

I think somewhere LFS is the cause, it is getting confused operating on the same system as itself.

I currently have a separate .exe file (renamed) for each instance I start up, for Affinity purposes.
Would it be better if I just used the same .exe file?

First, for those that do not know, my situation is unique, because my setup has 4 (or more) G29 wheels plugged into ONE multi-player computer. You can find more about this in other threads... try to keep this thread about the G29 wheels or force feed back in LFS.


In my use, I have noticed a few things. I am posting them in hopes that maybe it leads to improvements in LFS development, etc...


When I use just 1 wheel, as is normally expected, force feed back seems normal, the wheel is stiff and you have to fight it a little while driving.

When I get my multi-player setup going, the force feed back is sort of limp, there is less resistance, so you do not have to fight it, and you cannot really feel it, unless the tire is on a curb a bump hill, or damaged, then you can feel it a little.

So.. I am thinking there is something missing or that gets confused when multiple wheels are being used. This can be seen while setting up the system. I have to go through and pick one of the 4 wheel devices each time the game loads. This requires randomly guessing until you get the right wheel. If I pick wheel 4 twice, the force feed back is totally disabled, and I have to go through and pick them again in the right order without doing the same one twice. It requires some trial and error each time I setup, but I can do this in about 10 to 30 minutes, including doing the same thing with the speakers/headphones.

So for those that have missing force feed back, try disconnecting other controllers and/or reselecting the wheel again.

SCAWEN: Is there anything in there that can be improved with the multi-player wheel force feed back?

Thrustmaster has a new wheel for PC/PS4 that should have been made available today. It is $800 though... no shifter included. Give it 6 months to a year and the price should drop 50%.

Technically I shouldn't get the win. I did not finish either, I just did more laps before calling it. I doubt I would have been able to finish it, due to pedals sliding on floor and wheel constantly popping off of the desk while driving.

Maybe, first find about 8 to 10 people that seriously want to do regular races. Once you have that, Then find a good day or days that those people are able to keep doing it regularly. Then start recruiting people to something that is already taking place.

I would try something like this, when my Simulator Trailer is down for the winter, If I could get people to pay an entry fee to pay for lfs server, time, and PRIZES. Problem is there just is not enough interest in LFS racing any more, and I worry too much about people cheating to win the prizes, or knocking the server down because they lost.

Next event is early in the morning, at M1 Concourse. This facility has Car-Condos. These are $150K to $2M garages with guest space with a view of their own race track just outside the garages.

https://m1concourse.com/

I hope in the not to distant future, (after tire physics) it will be possible to add this track, and facility to LFS. There will be a retail store area, with streets to explore, and it is right off of woodward, a popular cruising highway in Detroit.

Attached is the new price-sign, just $5.00 ditched the $10 option. Doubt I will get enough interest for the Tournament, but I will try.

I have always wondered if one way LFS was heading in the future was to be an X-Car type game, were it is setup to make your own cars and track, instead of just using factory cars and real world tracks.

At events where I charge $ everyone is new and crashing and restarting in the pits. So, I have to have at least 1 AI car in the race, so I can say the race is over, and start the next race.

Local Lan games work just fine.

Although I forget how many licenses you need for how many players...

I think 1 LFS license will allow one other player on the lan?

Each event is indeed a learning experience.

And I am happy with the $300, just wish the insurance for the event wasn't $250 I did have fun doing it though...

Will be doing a food truck rally on WED, but it might rain due to those hurricanes down south, so maybe not.

I was going to save the wrap for the next/bigger trailer, but I may just keep this one for all of next year before I jump into the bigger one.

Still trying to decide what I want to put on trailer...

Obviously logo/phone contact info and something saying it is for hire.

But it needs a photo of the sims... and all of them I have taken are just not good enough for it, and it is difficult to get one while they are in the trailer. I may have to stage some photos outside the trailer in a green screen type photo studio or something....

The ideal photos would have happy people racing on them, and NOT the 3D drawing stuff I keep using.

Also thinking of an abstract logo, of a driver in a simulator that sort of changes to a car... some how, cannot really describe.

If someone one here came up with some thing I actually liked, and used, I would send over an S3 Voucher.

Scawen, A few versions back you made it easier for me to select different audio devices while running multiple instances of LFS on one PC.

In the future, could you take that a step further, and create separate audio devices in each LFS?
Each one could be programed the way we program the audio out device now.

One for the engine and track sounds as we have it now.
We would choose a windows device to send this out of, likely the main speakers with bass.

One for Music, Although I never use that.... some do.

One for voice communications (if this is ever added)
This could be sent to Headphones.

One for Vibrations... road bumps, car impacts, wheel shaking etc...
This would be sent to, and allow BETTER support for, a BUTT kicker device.
It could send ONLY bass sound from YOUR car, not the car next to it, and NOT the wind noise.
It could even include extra bumps from the curbs and wheels tire vibrations all sorts of stuff that could not be sent via the audio we would actually listen too, as it would sound horrible in the speakers. --- has any simulation software done this yet?

This is not high priority, but if there is ever a chance to slide it into one of the future versions.

As some already know in my other threads I talk about using LFS commercially, in a pay to play environment.

It is difficult to teach everyone that they need to shift up once, to get the car moving, after a reset, and race start..

I would like to see an on/off type toggle option for "instant first gear".

When OFF, it would just act as it does now...

When ON, the car would already be in 1st gear, with the parking brake on, when it re-spawns, and at start of race.

So a newbie can just get in and hit the gas pedal, and it shifts into first for them.
Too many people to not listen... I spend a lot of time reminding people to "shift up" when their car is not moving... even though I just told them 6 times a minute ago.



Overall this is actually the most difficult part of doing events with LFS and Newbies. The rest of the software, including its compatibility with running multiple instances on ONE pc, is working out great so far.



I use one button on my wheel as a SPECTATE button, so when a player gets up and leaves during a race I can quickly press it and kick that car out of the game, so it is not sitting dead on the track. On the Logitech G29, I use the red wheel dial, as not everyone realizes this rotates at first. So those that mash any and all buttons are less likely to press it, however it still happens, when people suicide-knob the wheel and bump it and accidently turn it, and kick themselves out.

I would like to be able to press 2 buttons together, to get the same function. So it is more difficult to press. Programing one as /press Shift, and one as /press S, does not work together.

To those that are about to type about using the mouse/keyboard, keep in mind I use 1 keyboard for all 8 player screens in my mobile trailer. see: VirtualRaceways.com

Last edited by SimulatorRental.com, Mon 11 Sep 2017, 21:45.

Well the first event that I tried to charge $5/$10 a race is over.

Friday was very slow, not many people, had 0 races sold.

Saturday, was the main event day, was packed, in a large park, sports field and parking lot was elbow to elbow, and thousands of pre 70's cars.

Sunday, was slow again, but I sold a few races.

Only sold about $300 in $5.00 races.
Event cost me about that, if not more, in vendor space, gas, and insurance.

A few things contributed to the low sales.
* Trailer is still just WHITE, no wrap, or signage on the side.
* I was in one of the two exit/entrance paths, so only about 50% of the people that where there saw me, the rest likely came in and went out the other side. And even those that did see me were hurrying in to their spot, or already decided to hurry up and leave.
* Not many wanted to pay $5.00/$10.00 (I did have two pairs of people each buy $10 races though)
* There was a Mobile 1 Race Trailer there, with a $8000 single-player simulator, with small actuators, running iRacing, for FREE. My only saving grace there was they were only letting people do 1 lap on a small nascar oval, so it was about 30 seconds. I was told there were no other games or rides of any kind, that I was the only one, I suspect Mobile may have copied me after day 1... they had it setup in the back of their semi trailer.

Many people asked about the software I was running, and liked it, maybe a few will download and install the demo of LFS, maybe some will actually buy S1,2,or 3.

Among my many sketches of trailer plans, are designs of the simulators in RV's and Buses. I REALLY want to cram or hide some living space in there some where, a crapper, shower and bed, does not have to be fancy just usable and hidden when doing races.

For now, I opted to go with a shorter vehicle and a lower cost to get started. That meant this trailer...

There is a guy down south, I forget what state, but he has 8 Simulator seats in a bus running nascar software, likely Iracing. I think it was called RaceDayBus or something. I thought about a bus, but while the bus itself would have been cheaper, getting it cleaned up and fixed so it looked nice enough to do events, would have cost way too much cash and time.

The trailer offers a lower floor, although my trailer it may actually be TOO low. I can take the two rear most seats off of the cockpit, which should allow a wheel chair to access the rear two simulators, although the Fender may be in the way, or the cockpit may be too wide to fit between the wheels of some wheel chairs. Just gave away the wheel chair I had in the garage for testing, before I got the trailer ready (poor timing).

I will be doing another fairly large event next weekend, this will likely be the first time I charge per-race. I was going to charge $5.00 for a 10 minute race, but I think I am going to change gears, and charge $10 for a 20 minutes of racing, divided up into 5 separate 3 lap races. This way if they crash early or screw up it is not too long until they can restart at the start line. It is surprising how few people can get OUT of the pit and onto the track......... without pretty much doing it for them.

I guess I need to add more pylons and arrows on the pit lane... showing the way out.
When you FIRST see black woods pit exit it is down a hill in a blind spot, everyone instead heads toward the little dead end next to the exit where the gas pumps are.

I also need to find a way to have the car start in 1st gear, after it is reset or a race starts... takes too long to tell people to shift up once before the car will move.

Where will this be located?

I have delayed plans to attempt one in Michigan.

Currently just using a trailer.

http://www.VirtualRaceways.com

I got around to trying this...

/Join
/press enter or /ready

works,
However,

/press space

does not work...
Is /press space different syntax or something?

Forgot to mention, there was 1 guy there that actually knew what LFS was

I was curious, so went through replays...

This was the first 8 Player race.
Before this was just one kid and myself.

Completed first event with trailer.

I setup at a food truck rally in Royal Oak Michigan, to test everything out in software, hardware, cargo tie downs, setup, player flow, and my routine... I discovered there are lots of little bugs to work out and changes to make, including that dang black-screen issue which popped up about 5 minutes before it was time to shut it all down.

I did NOT charge anything, a lot of people were very surprised at that.
However one guy paid me $5.00 anyway, which will be the first $5.00 the trailer has made, so it will be put up on the wall in there somewhere.

Thanks,

I think I already have my first paying client. One that pays me to setup and offer free races, or they sell them, intead of me paying to setup and selling races.

I also have about 12 other Pending events lined up where I may or may not be paying to setup. All before winter returns.

If I get them ALL, and they ALL do WELL, I should have enough to buy the better Trailer 2 by 2018.