Thrustmaster TSSH SEQUENTIAL SHIFTER & HANDBRAKE Sparco Mod officially announced

[Ricky78]

Rennes, January 26, 2018 — After more than two years of questions from the community via social media, Thrustmaster® is proud to finally be able to make the announcement that people have been waiting for: all the thrills of drifting and rally racing are now right at your fingertips, with the TSS Handbrake Sparco Mod. This product is the latest innovative component in Thrustmaster’s ever-growing racing ecosystem, and offers a choice of two different modes: progressive handbrake, and sequential gearbox. The icing on the cake? It’s officially licensed by Sparco®!

A major, groundbreaking development

Painstakingly developed in close collaboration with Sparco®, the brand that defines standards for racing gear, Thrustmaster’s TSS Handbrake Sparco Mod is the third product to hit the market as a result of this unique partnership. Its goal is the same as that of its two predecessors: transporting gamers right to the heart of an ultra-realistic racing experience. Hot on the heels of a full racing wheel and an add-on rally wheel, the TSS Handbrake Sparco Mod is a versatile new element in Thrustmaster’s racing ecosystem, opening up the following exciting possibilities:


• Progressive handbrake mode, for perfectly-proportioned action; or
• Sequential gearbox mode, for incredibly efficient gear shifting.
• Drifting in GT or rally racing: gamers will love being able to fully explore and master both styles!
• Totally realistic immersion in games and simulations: at 3.3 inches/8.5 cm tall, the handle is a 1:1 scale replica of those in Sparco®’s rally and drifting range.


The TSS Handbrake Sparco Mod’s powerful design is based on cutting-edge engineering:
• The unit is rock-solid mechanically, thanks to the use of extremely high-quality materials – 90% of which are crafted of metal, including industrial flat coil springs with 8.8 pounds/4 kg of resistance.
• It allows for both smooth and abrupt braking actions.
• It incorporates Thrustmaster’s award-winning H.E.A.R.T HallEffect AccuRate Technology™ for ultimate precision that won’t decrease over time, thanks to a contactless magnetic sensor.

Infinite possibilities for all driving styles
• The handle’s height is fully adjustable.
• The TSS Handbrake Sparco Mod’s handle can also easily be turned 90° for horizontal handbraking in GT mode, in addition to the normal vertical position for rally mode.
• The unit features a handy attachment system for cockpits, thanks to its built-in M6 screw threads.
• Gamers wishing to use the unit in a more common way – such as on a table or desk – will be able to opt for Thrustmaster’s related clamp (sold separately), which can also accommodate a TH8A for a complete setup including a progressive handbrake and a shifter.

Full PC compatibility
The TSS Handbrake Sparco Mod has been specially designed for PC gamers, and is compatible with Windows® 10, 8 and 7. What’s more, although it’s been created with owners of Thrustmaster racing wheels in mind (in particular the T150, TMX, T300 series, TX series, T500 RS, TS-PC RACER, TS-XW RACER and T-GT, all of which are sold separately), it’s perfect for owners of any racing wheel from all other brands as well!


• The TSS Handbrake Sparco Mod is now available, at a suggested retail price of £239.99/€249.99/$269.99 (taxes included).

 

[Ricky78]

https://twitter.com/goGreekman/status/958353824858722306

 

[ThierryDee]

i wait for my plate to mount TSS.
available soon.

 

[M D Gourley]

i wait my plate to mount TSS.
available soon.

Do you have your TSS already...if so, does the 'Sequential' mode work when connected directly into the Thrustmaster wheel bases when using a TH8A connection cable?

 

[M D Gourley]

(in my opinion this product shares the same electronic of the TH8A with obviously a different firmware)

I downloaded the latest Drivers for the TSS and installed it...then plugged in my existing TH8A and TH8RS shifters and they still worked with this driver...there maybe a glimmer of hope that the TSS Sequential with the TH8A connection cable may work when plugged into the wheel base...but I will not hold my breath...lol

 

[Ricky78]

Yes, they use the same drivers, this new release includes also a firmware update for the TH8A.

 

[M D Gourley]

My NEW Thrustmaster TSS Handbrake SPARCO Mod finally arrived and once I unboxed it the first thing that struck me was...gosh, this is big...lol...also weighty, although not that much heavier the the TH8A that it was replacing, but substantally beefy and well made...definitaly looks like it could take a beating.
I have previously downloaded the 'Drivers' for it so when I plugged it in, it was instantly recognised and I was able to see the 'Handbrake' working correctly in the 'Control Panel Test Input' dialogue box. Next up, I started the 'Thrustmaster Handbrake Calibration Tool' which is also available for Download from Thrustmasters Support website...just pulling on the TSS calibrates it very easily.
The resistance when pulling on the TSS is fantastic (personal opinion) and found it to be just right. Fired up 'Automobilista' and it showed up in the 'Controls' info area...mapped it...and I was away laughing.
The resistance was very good and found it quite easy to remember the right amount of pressure (muscle memory) to get the right skid, so to speak....as before I was using the TH8A Shifter as a Handbrake, which has no resistance at all and it was alot more difficult pulling it back to the right distance to get the desired skid, and was mostly always going to far and spinning the cars 180 degrees....this was the same in 'Raceroom' the TSS Handbrake was excellent and I was able to control the skid but with the TH8A it was very difficult to control the amount.
Dirt Rally was amazing both on Gravel and Tarmat, feeling very natural...Tarmat being the most improved with a more controlled skid amount etc compared to the TH8A set up in Handbrake mode which always (for me anyway) either to much and I would spin out or not enough. I found it to be very quiet using it in 'Handbrake Mode', only the odd creek from my rig could be heard
These are may initial testings and I will still have to practice with it to get my 'Muscle Memory' working right, but thumbs up so far.
I then adjusted the 'Mechanical System Screws' that are on both sides of the unit, flicked the switch to 'SEQ' and then plugged it back in to my PC....it was also instantly recognised and I was also able to see the 'Sequential Mode' working correctly in the 'Control Panel Test Input'.
Fired up 'Automobilista' and it again showed up in the 'Controls' info area...awesome work Reiza...mapped it and it worked flawlessly.
In 'Sequential Mode' though, it was very noisy with the clicking 'Upshifts' and 'Downshifts' it made a very positive click and I felt assured that I had changed gears without any problm, but comparing this to the TH8A Shifter set up in Sequential mode which has little or no noise what so ever....this is only because I am not used to the machanical noise the TSS makes.

Now for the slight disappointing side...this is only my thoughts on what my existing Sim Rig set up gives me.
You can connect the DIN cable connector of the TSS Handbrake to the other end cable of the TH8A cable that plugs directly into the Thrustmaster Wheel Base so you could have the TSS set up in 'Sequential Mode' and be able to have the 'Paddle Shifters' on my TS XW Racer and the TSS in Sequential mode working together as I can with a TH8A Shifter connected ...I WAS SO HOPING THIS WOULD WORK...LOL...sadly NO...NO IT DOES NOT....come on Thrustmaster, this would have been a perfect upgrade option. I would have purchased 2 of these if I could do this.
So as it stands now if I map the 'Shift Up' and 'Shift Down' in the Sims I have with the TSS, I miss out having the 'Paddle Shifters' as well...although the work-around would be to set up different profiles for each and load them up when you change cars etc...not as convenient....only my opinion on this as I have the luxury of this option now with the TH8A plugged directly into my TS XW.
All in All a well built, sterdy product from first impressions, easy set up and worked flawlesly in the Sims I tested Automobilista, Raceroom and Dirt Rally...will test out Assetto Corsa, Project Cars 2, Rfactor 2, iRacing, Wreckfest at a later date, but I am sure there will be no problems setting the TSS up.

Thanks for viewing
UPDATE: Tried the software 'JoyToKey'... and it finally recognized the TSS...absolutely brilliant...so now I can map my TSS in Sequential, Map the Paddle Shifters and TH8A in Sequential which is connected to my TS XW and map them all together in Sim to the 'Shift Up' and 'Shift Down'...they all work together...you can use all three Shifters while driving if you what to ...LOL...awesome...Thanks 'JoyToKey'

 

[Ricky78]

Thanks for the review, I really appreciated it!

 

[M D Gourley]

Well, I have gone and done it, went down to the local Computer Superstore and purchased a 2nd 'Thrustmaster TSS Handbrake SPARCO Mod' so I could replace my TH8A set up in Sequential...LOL...absolutely awesome these TSS's are (only my opinion coming from a TH8). Spent the day going through all my Sims re-mapping all the controller functions...Phew...what a job.
All the Sims re-mapped extremely well, except for Assetto Corsa...I still was able to map the TSS Sequential Shifter, but would loose the function of the TS XW Paddle Shifters and TH8A set up in Sequential...and vice versa, even with the 'KeyToJoy' software activated....but all other Sims I have...Raceroom, Automobilista, Wreckfest, iRacing, P Cars2, Dirt Rally and even Simbins Race Injection worked well with the 'JoyToKey' activated, so I could just map the 'Shift Up' and 'Shift Down' in Sim to a key on the Keyboard which allowed all three shifters...Paddle, TH8A in Sequential and the TSS in Sequential to be used in Sim...money well spent on that software.
The TSS Handbrake usage in Sims was a mixed bag, although I am still getting used to it...stand out Sims were 'Dirt Rally' (just awesome on gravel and tarmat)...Wreckfest (feels naturally very good)...Raceroom was great to a definite improvement over the TH8A set up in Handbrake mode and a surprise to me was Project Cars 2 on the Rally Cross circuits (extremely good and controlable)
...again the Thrustmaster TSS Handbrake SPARCO Mod is absolutely fantastic...only my opinion.

Small Update: Have been trying out the TSS Sequential in Raceroom in the GT3 cars and I would have to say it feels amazing...the TSS has a very weak initial pre click before it's clicks up against the stopper bar when you finally change gear, you can feel this through the handle...in Raceroom you can hear the same initial pre click when driving some GT3 cars before the gear changes and vibrates the wheel slightly...so you hear it in Raceroom and feel it in the TSS Sequential shifter and in the TS XW wheel rim when the gear changes...OMG, this is AWESOME...lol.
All in all the TSS in Sequential Mode has a great feel and for me anyway the right amount of resistance.

 

[Elaphe]

Is the handbrake linear or progressive. I mean: same force at the beginning of the travel and at the end or does it increase with the travel?

 

[M D Gourley]

Is the handbrake linear or progressive. I mean: same force at the beginning of the travel and at the end or does it increase with the travel?

...Hmmm...I think the same force at beginning and at the end...although it does say 'Progressive' on Thrustmasters website....as below

Progressive handbrake and sequential shifter by Sparco: master your drifting technique!

Officially licensed by Sparco
2-in-1 product: lets you change from the shifter (+/-) position to the progressive handbrake position and vice versa.
90% metal: steel and aluminum.
Handbrake lever adjustable in horizontal position (GT mode) or in vertical position (Rally mode).
High-grade components: technical bushings made in Germany, industrial-class flat coil springs with 8.8lbs/ 4kg resistance.
1:1 scale replica gear knob (3.4’’/ 85mm in height): crafted of aluminium, from the Sparco rally and drift range.
Lever adjustable in height.
H.E.A.R.T HallEffect AccuRate Technology ™:
- precision that won’t decrease over time (contactless magnetic sensor)
- no tact switch or potentiometer (for an unlimited product lifespan)
Attachment system for cockpits and mounts: built-in M6 screw threads.