As builders gain experience with Sim Hub, many eventually reach a point where standard devices are no longer enough. Rev lights, vibration motors, pedal haptics, wind simulation, dashboards, and LED indicators provide tremendous flexibility, but advanced builders often begin asking a different question:
“What else can I control?”
This is where custom serial devices enter the picture. Custom serial devices allow builders to create entirely new forms of feedback, displays, automation, and hardware integration using information from Sim Hub. For many DIY enthusiasts, this is where the hobby begins to evolve from assembling hardware into creating it.
WHAT IS A CUSTOM SERIAL DEVICE?
A custom serial device is any external device that receives information from Sim Hub through a serial connection and performs a specific action. In simple terms:
Racing Simulator → Sim Hub → Serial Data → Custom Device
Instead of using a predefined Sim Hub output, builders can create hardware that responds to telemetry in unique ways. The possibilities extend far beyond traditional immersion hardware.
WHY CUSTOM SERIAL DEVICES EXIST Sim Hub already supports a wide variety of hardware. However, every builder has different goals.
Some want additional visual feedback. Others want physical feedback. Some want entirely new functionality that does not exist in commercial products. Custom serial devices allow builders to create solutions tailored to their specific needs.
COMMON CUSTOM SERIAL DEVICE PROJECTS
Examples include:
• Custom gear displays
• Flag indicator systems
• Shift lights
• Spotter displays
• LED matrices
• Dashboard screens
• Button boxes
• Warning indicators
• Telemetry displays
Many builders start with simple projects before expanding into more advanced concepts.
ADVANCED CUSTOM PROJECTS
As experience grows, builders often experiment with:
• Seat belt tensioners
• Active pedal feedback
• Dynamic cooling systems
• Motion accessories
• Ambient lighting systems
• Race control panels
• Multi-display information centers
The flexibility of custom serial communication allows builders to create hardware that would otherwise be unavailable.
THE ROLE OF ARDUINO
Many custom serial devices are built around Arduino-compatible controllers. Popular choices include:
• Arduino Uno
• Arduino Leonardo
• Arduino Pro Micro
• RP2040-based controllers
These boards receive instructions from Sim Hub and translate them into physical actions. The controller acts as the bridge between telemetry and hardware.
CUSTOM DEVICES ARE ABOUT COMMUNICATION
One mistake builders sometimes make is creating hardware simply because it is possible. A more effective approach is asking: “What information am I trying to communicate?”
For example:
-A gear display communicates current gear.
-A flag display communicates race conditions.
-A pedal haptic system communicates traction and braking information.
-The most useful custom devices solve a communication problem.
WHEN SHOULD YOU BUILD A CUSTOM SERIAL DEVICE?
Not every project requires custom development. For many builders, standard Sim Hub outputs already provide everything they need.
Custom serial devices become valuable when:
• Existing hardware cannot provide the desired functionality.
• A unique idea requires specialized hardware.
• Multiple functions need to be combined into one device.
• Learning and experimentation become part of the goal.
The journey itself often becomes as rewarding as the finished hardware.
BUILDING A COMPLETE IMMERSION ECOSYSTEM
Custom serial devices often become the final layer of an immersion ecosystem. Once builders understand SimHub, haptics, wind simulation, LEDs, dashboards, and controllers, they gain the ability to create entirely new experiences. Rather than adapting to available hardware, they begin creating hardware that matches their vision. This is one of the reasons DIY immersion continues to grow.
THE REAL PURPOSE OF CUSTOM SERIAL DEVICES
Custom serial devices are not simply electronics projects. They are tools that allow builders to transform telemetry into meaningful information.
At GSC Immersion Lab, we believe the most powerful aspect of DIY sim racing is not the hardware itself—it is the ability to solve problems, create new experiences, and build systems tailored to your own driving style.
Custom serial devices represent the point where builders stop asking what products exist and start asking what they can create.
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