DIY-Project: SmallTV Ultra WiFi SimHub Display Integration

This DIY project, based on the affordable SmallTV Ultra, proves that a display for additional information on your rig doesn’t always have to cost a fortune. By combining the compact hardware with a specially developed SimHub plugin, you can easily bring important telemetry data such as tire temperatures, deltas, and spotter signals directly into your view. The setup is very simple, so the rig can be expanded with this practical gadget in just a few minutes and without any prior technical knowledge. The telemetry data is rendered in real time and transmitted directly to the display via Wi-Fi.

Bill of Materials

The list of materials needed for this small DIY project is once again very short. All you need is the display (sold under the name SmallTV Ultra), which comes with a compatible USB-C cable. If needed, you can also 3D print a mount for the Sim-Rig.

You should also have the following tools or screws on hand:

• Screws
  • M2 x 8 mm (2x): For attaching the SmallTV Ultra to the mount
  • M6 x X mm (1-2x) + slotted nut: For attaching the mount to the rig

3D-Print

If you want to mount the display directly on the rig, you can use one of the three solutions provided.

• Standard: Bracket for mounting on aluminum profiles from above.
• 90°: Bracket for mounting on vertical aluminum profiles.
• Angled: Bracket for angled vertical aluminum profiles.

Mounting

There are two simple options for mounting the device on the rig, depending on your personal preferences and the layout of your cockpit. If you prefer a quick and flexible setup, you can attach the SmallTV Ultra directly to the wheelbase or any smooth surface using sturdy 3M double-sided tape. For a more secure and professional integration, a custom-made mount is available as an alternative. This is screwed onto the aluminum profile for the optimal viewing angle. To do this, the two standard screws on the display must be removed and replaced with two M2 screws.

Software

The software component of this project is divided into two parts. On the one hand, there is the software running on the SmallTV Pro, which is configured as a weather display, and on the other hand, there is the SimHub component, which is responsible for displaying Sim data.

SmallTV Ultra

You can set up the display following the original instructions. After that, one additional step is required.

• During the initial setup, you must connect to the Wi-Fi network provided by the device.
• Next, use a smartphone to connect the SmallTV Ultra to the network that also includes the SimHub PC. This requires a 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi network.
• The assigned device IP will then be displayed directly on the screen after a restart.
• You can then access this IP via your browser and configure the settings there. Under the Pictures tab, you must delete the existing images by clicking Clear and disable automatic playback.

SimHub

Once the SmallTV display has been successfully set up, you can move on to setting up Simhub. This also takes just a few minutes and involves the following steps:

• Copy the SmallTV.SimHubPlugin.dll file to the SimHub installation folder.
• In SimHub, enable the plugin under Add/Remove Features.
• Enter the IP address of your SmallTV Ultra in the settings.
• Sync the settings using the button.

This means there is no need to reflash the display. Instead, the built-in photo album feature is used to display data from SimHub.

Features and Settings

Here is an overview of the display’s features. The individual screens are refreshed at a rate of about four frames per second. While this allows for various visual effects, the display is not suitable for displaying high-frequency data such as speed or RPM.

• Dynamic Dashboards: Multiple pages (time, delta, tire temperatures, tire pressure, fuel, electronics, lap times, session info).
• Live Effects:
  • Spotter Integration: Red bars on the sides warn of vehicles to the left or right.
  • Flag effects: Visual warnings for yellow, blue, white, or green flags directly on the display.
• Driver Mode
  • Display of driver number and name
• Settings:
  • The order of dashboard pages can be adjusted directly in SimHub
  • Dashboard pages can be enabled and disabled
  • Driver name and start number can be customized with different colors.
  • Adjustable brightness
  • Smart mode management (Idle / Active):
  • Assignable buttons for switching between dashboard pages.

Conclusion

With the SmallTV Ultra and the custom plug-in, you get an extremely versatile secondary display for around 10 euros that integrates seamlessly into your SimHub ecosystem. It bridges the gap between expensive high-end dashboards and the lack of telemetry data in your field of view, without requiring in-depth DIY or programming skills. An absolute value-for-money recommendation for any sim rig that still has room for a smart upgrade.