Hi All,

I've been simming for going on 15 years and have never tried the Online experience, my loss I'm sure :(. I'd like to give it a go now but need some instructions on how and where to go about it.

Can anyone point me in the direction of some tutorials or directions on what I need to do to get going? I'll list my specs below and would also like to know which sim would be best to dive in with, I have rFactor, GTR2, GT Legends and ARCA should be here in the next day or so.

Specs:
E6600 Dual Core, 512 ram
nVidia 9600GT 512mb
Intel NIC and SMC
SMCWBR14-N Router

Thanks in advance for your help!
Doug

Dive in with rFactor, since it's the simplest.

1. Start rFactor.
2. Click on JOIN in the GUI.
3. Let the server list update, then click on "Server name" to sort the list alphabetically.
4. Scroll down to "SimHQ Motorsports" or "Smooth is Fast". If it's not there, press the green button with arrows to refresh the list.
5. Select the server by clicking on it.
6. Press the RACE button at bottom right.
7. Type the password; for both servers it is "Motorsports".
8. Pick your car skin (whatever is selected is probably what you want anyway).
9. Press RACE and you will join the server.


That's it. It's really really easy. Before you join the server you will need to have the active mod installed. You can find links to these mods, as well as other server information, in this forum and in the F1 sub-forum.

If you log on during the week, you may or may not catch people practicing. If you log in before a race, you can either participate in the race, or simply sit and watch if you're not comfortable online yet.

Thanks Joe, this is much easier then I anticipated!
I thought I had to monkey around with my Router settings, have TS installed and so on!!

Question, do hardware and software firewalls cause problems?

Thanks

dford8,

I believe Doug requires TeamSpeak for on-line races, but not for practice sessions.

TeamSpeak is very easy to install, and I believe the instructions are in a thread here somewhere. They include screen captures to enhance the instructions. It's not hard at all.

You don't have to have a microphone to race, but you have to be able to hear the comms from the race director.

TeamSpeak is not daunting, it's rather easy to get working. And rFactor has some of the best on-line code out there. Really smooth. I recommend observing the mod and track being used by either Smooth-is-Fast or SimHQ Motorsports. Then, Alt-Tab rFactor, open up SimHQ's forums, and look for the thread about that race series. In the first post you'll find links to the car mod and track being used. Exit rFactor, install the mod/track, and re-start rFactor. Enter the Smooth or SimHQ server, and you're ready to go!

But, go to a practice session or two before a real race, just to make sure you've got everything working and installed. Teamspeak with a microphone can also help for that real-time tech support from the other drivers, not that it should be needed in most cases.

Happy racing!

Great info, Thanks Chunx!

One of the nice things about online rFactor is that you don't have to muddle with your router settings.

TeamSpeak info

Welcome Doug. Once you've logged into Rfactor with the right mod installed for whatever series/mod is running, we often will 'type' tech support type questions to each other in the 'in game' chat window in Rfactor. Teamspeak is so much easier tho, and most of us use the 'push to talk' function to communicate. It's really easy and adds that personal touch to the online experience. It's also a lot quicker than typing.



Welcome again, and ditto what chunx said, it's good to get online before the race to make sure that there are no problems with the connection part before the actual race day.

Most of all, have fun!

Doug, before you can join the SimHQ or Smooth servers, you have to also have the current mod and track that the servers are running and the 1255 patch for rFactor. The mods and tracks are normally listed in the current series topics in the SimHQ Motorsports forums...or at http://rfactorcentral.com/ .

*edit* Oops, I didn't read all of Joes post. He already said that.

I'm also hoping to see a possible ARCA server in the near future. I recently got it and would love to race with folks I know. No downloads are needed as of yet since there are no mods.

Hope to see you online!

Thanks for all of your responses! I ordered a headset so I'll go with TS and also ordered ARCA so hopefully there will be a server.

Once I'm ready to go I'll be back with a few last minute questions just prior to joining in!

Thanks again and look forward to running with you!

BTW, I dl'd and installed the MMG F1 server edition mod. Is this the one you are currently using?

Oh yeah, AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
OMG are those things fast!

Is there a seperate race the speed impaired?