Your SimHub dashboard shows no data when SimHub cannot read the telemetry of your game. In most cases the cause is simple: the wrong game is selected, telemetry output is switched off in the game, SimHub runs on another PC, or Windows blocks the connection. Fix these four things in that order and almost every dash comes back to life within a few minutes.
This guide walks you through each check step by step. You learn what SimHub needs from every popular sim, why overlays sometimes vanish, and how to spot the difference between "no data" and "slow data".
How does SimHub get its data?
First it helps to know where the numbers on your dash come from.
SimHub does not invent anything. It reads the telemetry your sim already produces, for example through shared memory or through UDP packets. Shared memory is a small block of data that the game writes on your PC and that SimHub reads on the same PC. UDP is a network stream that the game sends to an address and a port. When either link breaks, your SimHub dashboards stay frozen on zero.
That is why the fix always starts at the source. Check the game first, then SimHub, then Windows. Johan Akkerman, CEO of SIMGASM, worked as a technical specialist and workshop manager for brands such as Mercedes-Benz and Jaguar before he moved into sim racing. A workshop mindset works here too: test one part at a time and change one setting at a time.
Step 1: is the right game selected?
The most common mistake is also the easiest one to fix.
Check the Games tab
Open SimHub and look at the game list. The game you drive must be selected, and the status at the top must change to "game connected" once you sit in the car. If SimHub shows a banner with "Fix automatically", click it. SimHub then writes the right telemetry settings into the game files for you.
Switching between sims
The free version of SimHub does not switch games by itself. Automatic game switching is one of the features of the paid licence. So if you raced ACC yesterday and start iRacing today, select iRacing manually. Otherwise SimHub keeps waiting for a game that never starts.
SIMGASM | Hobby Aluminum Sim Racing Cockpit - Black
Step 2: is telemetry switched on in the game?
Every sim handles telemetry in its own way, so check the setting that belongs to your title.
iRacing and Assetto Corsa Competizione
iRacing is the easy one. SimHub reads the data automatically as soon as you are in the car. ACC also uses shared memory, so SimHub must run on the same PC as the game. On the SimHub forum the developer explains that SimHub only gets the full ACC data when the game runs on the same computer. Editing the broadcasting file alone does not solve it, because the broadcast stream is only a small part of the telemetry.
Automobilista 2
In AMS2, open the system options and set shared memory to "Project CARS 2". Many drivers on forums report that this fixes a dead dash right away. Leave UDP off unless another tool on a second PC needs it. If you do use UDP, start with a frequency of 9 and lower it only when the connection stays stable.
F1 games
The F1 games send their data over UDP only. Switch UDP telemetry on in the game settings and make sure the port in the game matches the port in SimHub. If you also run another telemetry app, both tools need to share the stream, or one of them sees nothing.
Step 3: are your overlays hidden by the game?
Sometimes SimHub has data, but you simply cannot see it.
A SimHub overlay is a transparent window on top of the game. SimHub does not hook into the graphics of the sim. So when your game runs in exclusive fullscreen, nothing can sit on top of it and the overlay disappears. Switch the game to windowed or borderless windowed mode and the overlay shows up again. Our ACC graphics settings guide shows where to change the display mode without losing frame rate.
G-Sync and FreeSync are another hidden cause. They sometimes block the way Windows draws SimHub windows. Set G-Sync to fullscreen only, or add an exception for SimHub in your graphics driver panel.
SIMGASM | Core Top monitor stand vesa 75/100 Core - Black
Step 4: does Windows block SimHub?
When the game and SimHub look fine, Windows itself is often the last hurdle.
Firewall and network
A dash on a phone, tablet or second PC talks to SimHub over your home network. The Windows firewall must allow SimHub, and both devices must sit on the same network. The SimHub installer adds the firewall rule for you, so keep those boxes ticked during the install. Some security suites, such as Avast and Norton, can still get in the way.
Game boosters and admin rights
Tools like Windows Game Mode, Process Lasso or a game optimiser push every other program to the background. That slows SimHub down or stops it completely. Switch them off as a test. If your overlays still do not hook correctly, start SimHub as administrator.
No data or just slow data?
A laggy dash is not the same problem as an empty dash.
The free version of SimHub drives displays, Arduino devices and shakers at up to 10 frames per second. The licensed version raises this to 60. So if your RPM bar moves in small jumps, SimHub works fine. You just see the free update rate. A heavy dashboard with many effects also costs CPU and GPU power, so start with a light stock dashboard to rule that out. Our guide to sim racing telemetry for beginners explains which numbers are worth showing at all.
A clean, stable setup also helps. When your screen mount wobbles or cables hang loose, a USB dash loses its connection more easily. SIMGASM develops its own aluminium cockpits and accessories from its base in Wijk bij Duurstede, with integrated cable passthroughs on the Sport and Pro tiers for tidy routing.
Ready to give your dash a solid home? Browse the sim racing monitor stands and find a mount that fits your screen and your rig.
Frequently asked questions
These are the questions we hear most about a SimHub dash without data.
Why does SimHub say "game not running" while I am driving?
SimHub is set to a different game, or the game writes its telemetry somewhere SimHub does not look. Select the right game and click "Fix automatically".
Do I need to run SimHub as administrator?
Not always. Try it when overlays do not appear on top of the game or when a plugin cannot reach its hardware.
Can SimHub read ACC from a second PC?
Not the full data set. SimHub needs to run on the same PC as ACC to read the shared memory.
Why is my dash choppy but working?
The free version updates displays at up to 10 frames per second. A licence raises this to 60 for a smooth RPM bar and shift lights.
Want to learn more? The SIMGASM experts are happy to help.
