Raildriver
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Raildriver is a desktop cab controller that replaces the keyboard for Microsoft Train Simulator and Auran's Trainz. Raildriver gives players the tactile feedback that engineers so heavily depend on when operating real locomotives. Let's take a look at the RailDriver and see how it might affect your Train Simulator experience.
Contents |
[edit] Specifications
The RailDriver "box" is a little over 13 inches (33 cm) wide, about seven inches (18 cm) deep, and just under four inches (10 cm) high. Add roughly 2.5 inches (6 cm) to the height for the control knobs at their apogee. At a little over five pounds (2.3 kg), the unit is light enough to move around easily but heavy enough to "stay put" while you're operating it; here, the rubber feet help out too.
[edit] Controls
RailDriver is designed to fully replace the keyboard with Train Simulator and Trainz. To this end, the RailDriver includes the basic throttle, direction, and brakes as separate control handles that mimic "generic" operation of real locomotive control stands. Frequently used switches for lights,sand, bell, and whistle are also "modeled" with specific switches that give you tactile reassurance while you keep your eyes on the railroad. For operations required by Train Simulator/Trainz, like camera movement and driving aids, the Raildriver has a four-way pan pad with zoom rocker switches and 28 player-programmable buttons, respectively.
[edit] Hookup and Sound
The main RailDriver connection to a PC is via a six foot-long USB Cable permanently attached to the box. There's also a six-foot cable with an 1/8" stereo jack to plug into the PC's sound card. An 1/8" jack on the back of the unit accepts the jack from your speaker system. I wasn't expecting sound capability, so this was a nice surprise. The RailDriver sits in series with the rest of your sound gear and uses the lowest frequencies passed through to give the unit a "rumble" feel. The effect is realistic and yes, your hands will get numb if you leave them on the controls!
[edit] What's next?
The RailDriver is a welcome addition to the railroad simulator community of third-party products and yes, there's room for improvements. Attendees of the 2002 National Train Show that stopped by the RailDriver booth got a hint of what we might expect if sales of RailDriver meet the company's expectations. At the show, RailDriver had a full size GP38-2 cab with a functioning AAR control stand.
