TrackIR recommendations

[calan]

Thinking about jumping into the TrackIR scene.

Any up-to-date manufacturer or system recommendations/issues?

Thanks

[Phil]

Fairly new to the game !
M'not a computer wiz. Just know the basics

Purchased the TRACKIR and UNBELIEVABLE !
Many threads with personal setups are available ...
I've adjusted mine and they work perfectly !

As for the game, takes a bit of time gettin' used to it. Espescially when engaging with EA. Head starts spinin' around:rofl
Then when u sight one in, you must position yourself properly behind your gun sights ! (F9 - F12) puts you back in normal game mode)

You can SCAN the skies in a SMOOTH motion at EVERY ANGLES.
You can follow your BOGEY everywhere he goes. You can TRACK him once he passed you on a HEAD ON and watch his next move......

XMAS is not too far !  GET IT !!!!!!

OPP7755
Phil

[Balsy]

lOL

Phil,

Glad to see  you like the Track IR.. I wil lmake one recommendation.. instead of "turning off" your TIR for the shot.

Map a button on your Ch gear to the "Forward view" in AH.  Then all you have to do is hold that button down for the shot, and it will lock your Trackir in the forward view, and not allow any yaw or pitch inputs from TIR. This will allow you to look around the cowling etc.. but ensures your are facing dead nuts forward.


Balsy

[Mace2004]

You can get the TrackIR 3 Pro for $119 but that doesn't include Vector Expansion which you really want.  Without VE your head is in one spot in the cockpit and you just rotate around from that spot, you can't move your virtual "head" up/down or slide left/right to look over the nose, or around the headrest.  IMO, you really should have VE which is an additional $30.  A better option is to get the TrackIR 4 Pro which includes VE.  In addition the 4 has a faster update rate, tracks your head movements better and has a wider field of view.  It's running about $179 now I believe so that's only about $30 more than the 3 with VE.

Be warned though, while there are lots that love the TIR (I'm one) there are some that just never get the hang of it.  When you first start it will be very easy to become disoriented in a fight and, for some, can actually be pretty nauseating.  Some never get over this.  I recommend that you spend lots of time getting used to it in the off-line mode and play with the settings.  You might want to start out with just the standard "Flight" profile and then move up to "Combat Flight" which is a bit more agressive.  I tailored my profile using CF as the baseline.

Good luck.

[llama]

I for one use the TrackIR 3 Pro without the Vector Expansion, and find it to be, to coin an 80's phrase, 'Totally Awsome.'

It *is* possible to get a lot of enjoyment with you virtual head only rotating about a single point.

-Llama

[CAP1]

ok....i was lookin into this and its good to read all the positive feedback........one question though...is it fairly easy to set up, or more of a pain in the u know what?

thanks!!

[Lusche]

Itīs quite easy from a techical point of view. It just took a few days of additional fine tweaking of the settings for me (increasing deadbands & such) while getting used to it.

I may add that I donīt even have a "forward locked" view as described in the threads above. Iīm always in TIR mode while shooting. My gunnery even improved by about 50% after a couple of hours.

[calan]

How far away from the screen/unit can you be?

I have a 55 in. HDTV as my monitor, with a cockpit in front (see avatar). I'm a bit worried that I'll be too far away from it.

[Phil]

I believe you need no further 3ft max.
If you're too far, your sencors on your head will pick up all kind of bouncing signals....
I had a reflecting object few feet behind me and was sending bad stuff to my screen TRACKIR. Move the item away and all went ok !

OPP7755
Phil

[Balsy]

Originally posted by calan
How far away from the screen/unit can you be?

I have a 55 in. HDTV as my monitor, with a cockpit in front (see avatar). I'm a bit worried that I'll be too far away from it.

You can always reverse the camera and mount it behind you instead of in front of you.

balsy

[Mace2004]

Originally posted by calan
How far away from the screen/unit can you be?

I have a 55 in. HDTV as my monitor, with a cockpit in front (see avatar). I'm a bit worried that I'll be too far away from it.

OK, that's an interesting situation.  I did a quick test and I can get good tracking in a dark room out to about five feet.  Beyond that it's pretty unreliable and it looks to me that you're further away from the monitor than that so you'd have problems if you mount the sensor in top of the monitor.  Also, I did my test with all the room lights out, I suspect that any extranneous light would probably create a problem even at five feet.  The idea of mounting the sensor behind you may work but I've never tried it, it would be interesting to see how well that might work.  Another option would be to suspend the sensor on a rod from the ceiling about 3 feet in front of you and slightly above your line of sight to the monitor.

Keep us informed, looks like you've got a really nice setup and if you can get TIR working it would be even better.

[Kermit de frog]

I've noticed that direct sunlight screws up the sensor.

Sun = bad for IR sensor



BTW, I set 3 ft away from my 32 hdtv monitor

[llama]

I have a similar setup, but I use a projector and a standalong open-cockpit. In other words, there's no monitor I can put the TrackIR "eye" on top of.

My solution is:

1. Affix the reflective dot on my headset microphone, which is around my chin.

2. Buy a "ClosetMaid All Purpose Hang Up, Silver #3551." Home depot has them in the "home organization section, but Amazon has them too here.

3. OK, look at the photo at Amazon. Imagine tipping the thing back, so that the large square end acts as a base, sitting on your tabletop or just behind your keyboard. Attach adhesive rubber feet to the bottom.

4. Using Zip Ties, attach the trackIR "eye" to the top of this rack, facing your headset microphone. You'll find the spacing and height is perfect. It is also extremely stable, and it doesn't vibrate.

The only problem with this is that I don't see any way to mount the vector expansion to my chin, which is what this setup would require - it is to low, relative to your face and head, to use the baseball cap, I think. Experimentation could prove me wrong.

Hope this helps,
Llama

[calan]

Originally posted by Mace2004
I did a quick test and I can get good tracking in a dark room out to about five feet.  Beyond that it's pretty unreliable and it looks to me that you're further away from the monitor than that


 

I'm actually only about 3-1/2 to 4 ft away. (The avatar pic is distorted... cheap cell phone pic   )

TrackIR 4 Pro is on the way... should get it towards the end of this week  

[CAP1]

""I have a 55 in. HDTV as my monitor, with a cockpit in front (see avatar). I'm a bit worried that I'll be too far away from it.""

dagnabit!!!!!!!   now i know how/why i get nailed constantly by HO's, and can't seem to avoid other seemingly impossible shots...........


 just kkiddin actually.........only use a 17" here..........