If you have an old tablet gathering dust in a drawer, you should know that it can be transformed into the best complement to your sim racing cockpitInstead of investing in an expensive dedicated display, you can build a complete dashboard to view gears, revolutions, fuel, tires and much more, with very little money and some skill.
In addition, many people encounter very specific problems: Tablets that only fit vertically, devices so old they no longer accept modern apps Or perhaps you have doubts about what data to display to actually help with driving. Let's go over all of this calmly, using what you already know about tools like SimHub or Sim Dashboard and combining it with some practical tips.
Why it's worth using an old tablet as a dashboard
A dedicated dashboard might seem like a whim at first, but as soon as you try it you realize that Free the game's main HUD And moving that information to a secondary screen completely changes the experience. You stop having a screen full of distracting icons, bars, and numbers, and you start looking only at what you need, when you need it.
With a good dashboard on a tablet, you can see everything at a glance. fuel, tire condition, delta, flags, gear engaged and any other telemetry the simulator offers. By not relying on huge in-game overlays, the main image is much cleaner and immersion is significantly enhanced.
The best part is that you don't need a specialized display or an extra monitor: an old Android phone, a retired iPad mini, or practically any inexpensive tablet It can serve as a game board. As long as you have stable Wi-Fi and a decent screen, you're halfway there.
There's also a very practical advantage: an external dashboard allows you to unify information between gamesYou can have similar layouts for iRacing, ACC, AMS2, etc., so that you always look at the same area for gear, fuel, or delta, even if you change simulators.
How to address the orientation problem: vertical dashboards
One of the most common headaches is when the space in your rig forces you to mount the tablet verticallyThis happens a lot with 7-8 inch tablets, which fit perfectly on one side or between the steering wheel and the structure, but there is no physical space to put them in landscape mode.
The problem arises when, every time you open a panel in full screen, the tablet insists on switching to landscape mode. Many dashboard layouts are designed for landscape use, and trying to force them into portrait mode will cause this issue. Everything looks tiny, turned upside down, or poorly utilized.making the experience quite frustrating.
The solution involves two fronts: using layouts designed specifically in vertical format and lock the tablet's rotation. Tools like SimHub allow you to create custom dashboards with portrait orientation, rearranging gears, RPM, fuel, and other information to take advantage of the extra height, rather than the width.
If you can't find a theme you like, you can always adapt an existing one: simply reposition critical elements (large gear and tachometer in the central area, the rest of the data in blocks above and below) and make sure that the fonts are not too small for the distance at which you will have the tablet.
Another option, if your app doesn't handle portrait mode well, is to use a browser with the web version of the dashboard (for example, with SimHub streaming over the web) and force rotation from the system from the tablet or with apps that lock the orientation. This way the game or telemetry server thinks you're working horizontally, but physically you see it vertically.
What makes a tablet a good sim racing dashboard
Beyond whether it powers on and has Wi-Fi, several factors determine if a tablet is truly useful as a dashboard. What matters most isn't raw power, but rather the quality of the information. visible, stable and easy to consult at a glance.
Readability is key: a good dashboard prioritizes Big gear, clear revolutions and essential data in a generous sizeThe graphics are very flashy but tiny; they look great in screenshots, but during a race they're not very useful if you have to strain your eyes or look away for too long.
The connection is also critical. If the Wi-Fi drops mid-stint or the dashboard takes seconds to update, it'll be useless. Ideally, the tablet should connect to the same router as the PC, with a powerful and stable signaleither by proximity or by using network repeaters if necessary.
Don't forget about physical support: a poorly secured tablet becomes a source of vibrations, especially if you're using a steering wheel mount with... high torque (direct drive)Any flexing of the stand translates into tremor in the screen, making the information harder to read, as well as adding annoying noises and creaks.
Finally, it is advisable to work with simple and well-differentiated pagesFor example, one page focused on sprint races (the essentials, without distractions) and another designed for endurance, where we add fuel management, tires and pit stop alerts.
Where to place the tablet in the cockpit
The tablet's placement makes all the difference between a useful dash and one you end up ignoring. Most people end up choosing one of three common positions, according to [source missing]. ergonomics, available space and type of simulator that he usually uses.
The most common placement is right above the steering wheel. This provides a very realistic feel, similar to real cars, where the display is usually integrated into the steering wheel itself or the instrument cluster. Because it's so centrally located, the dashboard is easily accessed. a simple lowering of the eyeswithout losing track of the trail or moving your head.
Another very popular option, especially when the monitors are near the steering wheel and space is limited, is to place the tablet between the wheel rim and the screens. In this case, you want the dashboard Don't cover anything important in the gamebut that it remains in the central area of ​​peripheral vision.
The third common position is on the side of the cockpit. Although it may seem less comfortable at first glance, for data you don't need to check every second, such as fuel, tire wear, or temperaturesIt works quite well. In endurance racing, for example, you occasionally glance to the side to monitor your strategy, but you don't need to on every turn.
Wherever you are, if you use a high-torque steering wheel or one with very strong force feedback, it's worth investing in a solid mount. A cheap articulating arm or a 3D-printed mount that's too thin can be problematic. amplify the vibrationscausing the panel to shake and making it difficult to read the data accurately.
What information to show on the dashboard to actually help driving
Many people fall into the temptation of turning the dashboard into a kind of aircraft command center It's full of data, charts, and numbers. The result is that you end up spending more time reading than driving. The key is to prioritize and show only what has a direct impact on driving.
To begin, it's best if the dashboard is based on four fundamental elements. The first is the gear engaged, large and centeredWhen you're pushing the limits, you need to know at a glance if you're going the right speed without having to interpret anything.
The second section is the RPM gauge and the shift lights. A well-designed tachometer, with clear bars or LEDs, allows you to synchronize gear changes without depending on the engine sound, which can vary between cars and simulators, or be affected by the overall volume.
The third key piece of information is the remaining fuel, or even better, possible laps with the current fuelThis way you can adjust your pace and decide when to save or push without constantly doing mental calculations.
The fourth very useful element, especially for training, is the delta or lap time. Seeing in real time whether you are better or worse than your reference lap helps you to correct your line and brake at the right pointwithout waiting to look at the replay or external telemetry.
Once you have the basics, you can expand with typical resistance elements: tire temperatures and pressures (if the simulator displays them), brake temperatures, flags, penalties, or pit stop reminders. All of this is vital in long races, where mechanical management is just as important as pace.
A good trick: if you find yourself "reading" the panel for more than a moment, the dashboard is poorly designed. It should feel like consulting Rearview mirrors: quick glance, clear information, zero doubtsIf not, simplify sizes, colors, and amount of data.
Connection and reliability tips for tablet dashboards
Having the best layout in the world is useless if your tablet runs out of battery, the app crashes, or the Wi-Fi fails you mid-race. It's worth taking some time to ensure the system is... Robust and stable during long sessions.
The first thing is trivial but very important: keep the tablet plugged in during the sessions. Dashboards at full brightness, with Wi-Fi active and constant data updates, can melt the battery of old devices in a relatively short time, especially if they are already somewhat degraded.
Wi-Fi signal quality is another critical point. It's not enough for the internet to "reach" you; you need constant communication between your PC and tablet without micro-interruptions. Sometimes, simply having a good connection is enough. move the router closer to the cockpit area Or, by using a repeater in the same room, you can eliminate disconnection problems.
On older tablets, closing background apps is almost mandatory. The less multitasking they do, the better. Only load the dashboard and essential apps, and prevent them from running in parallel. browsers, social networks, or heavy services that may slow down the system or cause sudden shutdowns.
Finally, don't obsess over the dashboard's refresh rate. It doesn't need to match your in-game FPS. For a data panel, stability and lack of lag They are more important than updating a thousand times per second. A reasonable and constant refresh rate is usually more than enough.
Reusing very old tablets: the case of the first generation iPad and similar devices
It's quite common to find a first-generation iPad or an old iPad mini in a drawer that still works perfectly. The battery lasts for days. It's not used too much... but it struggles with modern apps. It's tempting to turn them into touch HUDs, but that's where the compatibility battle begins.
For example, many people want to use Sim Dashboard because it offers screens already designed for certain gamesThis includes less typical titles like Farm Simulator 25, where official telemetry is more limited. The problem is that the iOS version for those iPads is no longer compatible with the app, or the App Store simply doesn't allow its download.
If you only run traditional car simulators (iRacing, ACC, AMS2, etc.), you always have the option of migrating to SimHub on your PC and outputting the dashboard through a browser window accessible from the tabletIn that case, the operating system version weighs slightly less, provided that the browser includes support for the modern web.
The problem arises with games like Farm Sim 25, where SimHub doesn't have a dedicated HUD or the game doesn't display easily integrable telemetry. In those cases, using Sim Dashboard would be ideal, but the older tablet becomes a bottleneck, and there doesn't seem to be an easy way to install the current app.
Given this, several possibilities arise. One is to resign oneself and use the tablet only for low-power auxiliary functionsIt can be used as a navigation app with maps, a spreadsheet for pit stop strategies, or even as a monitor for Discord or notes. It's not the perfect dashboard, but it saves you from throwing it away.
Another option, if the hardware is still working but the operating system is outdated, is to consider whether you can repurpose the tablet for a purpose other than sim racing (photo frame, home automation panel, security camera display, etc.). It won't be a racing HUD, but at least it won't end up as electronic scrap.
In some Android ecosystems, it's possible to install older versions of apps or use alternative app stores, but this should be done with caution. Downloading APKs from dubious sources can compromise device security, and on very old tablets, it might even cause problems. The app doesn't even work properly. even if you manage to install it.
Advanced use: using the tablet as a rearview mirror with SimHub
Beyond the data dashboard, you can turn the tablet into a digital rearview mirror using the screenshot function of tools such as SimHubThere are configurations where the secondary screen displays a portion of the game image, cropped and adapted to act as a virtual mirror.
In practice, the process usually involves configuring SimHub to capture a specific part of the game screen (typically the area where the simulator displays a mirror) and sending it as video source to the tabletThat tablet, mounted on top of the cockpit, acts as a panoramic rearview mirror.
Users who have tried this system say the result is quite convincing, and that once the cropping and latency are adjusted, the virtual mirror is Perfectly usable in online racesFurthermore, you don't depend as much on the game's own mirrors, which can sometimes steal a lot of performance.
Setting something like this up requires a bit of tinkering with the capture and positioning options, but once configured, it becomes quite seamless. You can even combine them on the same tablet. a mirror-like area and another area for basic data, if the screen size and resolution allow it.
It's a good example of how to get even more out of a secondary screen: from the typical dashboard of numbers and bars you go to a visual integration much more similar to that of a real carwhere the mirrors and panels are distributed around the pilot instead of having everything compressed on the main monitor.
Overall, repurposing an old tablet to create a sim racing dashboard saves money, enhances immersion, and allows you to utilize hardware you'd forgotten about. A careful analysis of the Needed guidance, the type of information you want to see, connection stability, and the limitations of an older deviceYou can get a panel that improves your driving and makes managing sprint and endurance races more comfortable without filling the game's HUD with annoying icons.
