Connect your radio to your computer
To drive an RC simulator with your real radio, the computer has to see it as a game controller. Some radios do it on their own. Most pistol-grip radios don't. Here is how to tell which case you are in, and what to buy if you need to.
Prices and stock checked in July 20261. Start by testing, it costs nothing
Before buying anything, check what your radio already does. The test takes two minutes.
- Plug your radio into the PC with a USB data cable, not just a charging cable.
- Switch the radio on, then open the simulator in Chrome.
- Open the settings menu, bottom left.
- Move the wheel and the trigger, and watch the axis bars.
- If the bars move, you're done. Run the calibration and go driving.
2. Does your radio plug in directly?
A radio plugs in directly when it can pass itself off as a game controller. That is common on aircraft radios, and rare on pistol-grip radios.
Plugs in over USB, nothing to buy
A plain USB data cable is enough. The browser sees it as a gamepad.
Worth testing, it might work
Same platform as confirmed models, but we could not check it.
No direct connection, adapter required
Their USB port is there to charge the battery or update the firmware. Nothing more.
3. The three ways to connect the others
If your radio is in the last category, you need something in between. There are three kinds.
The receiver adapter
It's a small USB box you plug your own receiver into. The receiver stays bound to your radio, exactly like in a car. The box reads its two channels and turns them into a gamepad for the computer. It's the only solution that works with any brand of radio.
The trainer port cable
Many radios have a 3.5 mm jack socket, known as the trainer or DSC port. A cable links it straight to a USB port on the PC. It's the cheapest solution. Careful though, these cables are designed for flight simulators on Windows.
The brand's own wireless dongle
Futaba and Spektrum sell a USB dongle that picks up their radio's signal directly. No receiver, no cable, nothing complicated to bind. On the other hand it only works with that one brand.
4. Where to buy
The market is tiny, and things go out of stock often. Here is what was really on sale at the last check. The Driver column says whether the manufacturer guarantees it works with no software to install, or whether we are only assuming it. The “our pick” badge goes to the only model that says so in black and white. The first one on the list is French, so easier to receive, but it does not say.
| Product | Price | Shop | Driver | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RcBalade, VRC Pro USB-C adapter Receiver adapter | €39.99 | rcbalade.com | Not stated | Made in France, 2-year warranty, USB-C cable included. No customs and shipped within 2 days. |
| 9TURBO RC-USB RX6SOUR PICK Receiver adapter | $40, plus shipping | rc-usb.com | Confirmed, no driver | The safest choice, and compatible with every brand. Ships from Thailand, customs at your expense. |
| 9TURBO RC-USB RX6 and RX6.1 Receiver adapter | $39, plus shipping | rc-usb.com | Confirmed, no driver | The previous version, still on sale. Same principle as the RX6S. |
| 9TURBO RC-USB RX5 Receiver adapter | $35, plus shipping | rc-usb.com | Likely | The old model. Its page is still up, but we could not confirm it is still being made. |
| Multi-connector simulator cable Trainer port cable | €19.90 | intermodel.fr | Not stated | The cheapest, and sold in France. Comes with Esky, JR, Spektrum and Futaba tips. Last few pieces. |
| Spektrum WS2000 Wireless dongle | €49.90 | intermodel.fr | Confirmed, no driver | For Spektrum radios on DSMX or DSM2. Discontinued by the manufacturer, only leftover stock. Last few pieces. |
| Futaba WSC-1 Wireless dongle | €42.99 | lindinger.at | Not stated | For Futaba radios on S-FHSS, except the 3PRKA and T6L. Advertised for Windows only. |
- Team Associated VRC-3NT, discontinued by the manufacturer.
- RC-USB Interface V3, permanently out of stock.
- MFTech USB-Interface III, no longer listed.
- PPM2USB, which was never sold: it's a do-it-yourself build.
5. Not working?
The problems hit by the drivers who tested the simulator, and what fixed them.
I plug in my radio and nothing happens
The culprit is almost always the cable. Many USB cables only carry power, not data. Try the one from a hard drive or a recent phone. On radios with two USB ports, like the TX16S, it's the top one you need to use.
My radio is recognized but nothing moves in the game
Check the USB mode in the radio's menu. On EdgeTX, you have to pick Joystick and definitely not Storage. In Storage, the radio shows up as a USB stick.
The car accelerates on its own or steers on its own
That's normal the first time you plug in. The axes are neither centered nor at full travel. Run the calibration from the simulator's settings menu. It is saved per device, you won't have to redo it every time.
My steering turns further one way than the other
Set your radio back to neutral before calibrating. Travel, expo and trim at zero, dual rate at 100%. Then redo the calibration, going all the way to full lock on both sides.
With a 9TURBO adapter, the trigger doesn't respond properly
This adapter wants the throttle travel set to 50/50. And after changing the servo mode, unplug the USB and plug it back in. Without that it keeps its old setting.
Which browser to use
Chrome, on Mac as well as PC. Safari handles generic gamepads poorly. That is often the only difference between a radio that works and a radio that doesn't.