some initial thoughts on free track

[humble]

A few (or more) of the guys in my squad use track IR and swear by it. I've always been curious but haven't really seen the need or felt like it wouldn't end up gathering dust in the closet somewhere. Since I've been considering it as a christmas present to me when freetrack 2.2 came out I figured why not see what its all about.

So...

1st and formost it does work remarkably well at 1st glance once (and its a big once) you actually get it set up. I'm not a good "wait" guy, so on something like this it gets done now or it doesnt happen. As a result I cobbled this together quickly. I used radio shack 5mm LED's (pt# 276-0143) and my POS logitech STX. Now I found the "right" LED's for $.50 (min 10) and the recommended VC is cheap online so you can do it better for minimal coin (but you'd have to wait). Now it took 30-40 min to build the hat, an hour to chainsaw the camera (and yes you 100% have to remove the ir filter IMO) and it worked but sucked...I mean SUCKED.

So...back to reading...

1) U need to file the LED's flat...period
2) U need to build the cap to "spec" or measure and input correct distances
3) U need a baseline of inputs (thank you very very very much fulmar )

And presto...

It is 100% rock solid with no runs ,glitches or drips in offline mode just looking around the cockpit. That does not mean its perfect great or track IR (which I have no experience with). What it does do is let you look around very normally to a large degree. It'll go nutso if you get out of range or push the limit but within a large range of motion its very very good. I've got a bunch of work stuff so more formal online "testing" will wait for the weekend.

I am in no position to tell anyone if this measures up to track IR or not, what I can say with a fair amount of certainty is that it is functional and will give you a good testbed for functionality. Just playing with this for 15 minutes off line made it pretty clear to me that either I get this to a point I'm 100% comfortable with it or I'll buy track IR....I perceive as much difference as going to a Hotas setup or more.

If your reasonably comfortable with basic electronics (no soldering gun needed if you use telco butts like I did) you can build the hat easy. If you get the cheap camera they recommend removing the IR filter is pretty easy) and use fulmars profiles (in another thread here) you can have it up and working reasonably well in 2 hours or less.

[Fulmar]

I'm glad those profile inputs worked for you as I'm was tweaking them.  I built my FreeTrack for a few reasons.  I can't bring myself to budget myself (money wise) to spend $150-$200 on Track IR.  My $40 Saitek AV8R HOTAS doesn't let me have the freedom I want in views so I have a hard time tracking planes in a dog fight.  I also can't budget myself to get an X-52 etc., mainly because 20-30 hours at the most a month of game time for me doesn't justify the cost.  Also I can be seasonal with the game taking breaks etc.  And it's the only flight sim I spend my time on (some times Flight Sim X for a few hours, but I grow bored of it).  So on the money end, I'd rather spend that money on upgrades on the computer itself.

So the $20-$30 I spent on rigging up my FreeTrack was well worth the time I think, about 2 hours to get it assembled.  And I thought at the time when I did it, if I really liked it that much, maybe I'd buy a TrackIR later on if it was really better.  If I failed at making it work, I was only out $30 at the most.  I had fun assembling with the exception of measuring out the distances between LEDs.

What Web Cam did you use humble?  I know going through that site that some can be a pain in the butt.  The VX-1000 I used was done in less than 5 minutes.  My friend I help build his 1 LED hat with was a different story.  His Logitech took at least 30-45 minutes getting the IR filter out (which broke during removal, didn't matter) and then reassembling it as it was very picky on how it went back together.

I'd only recommend FreeTrack to people who at least know some basics in electronics, like to take things apart, and know their way around the soldering iron depending on your build.

I stopped using FreeTrack (after I did my first build of it in March 2008 IIRC) because I couldn't solve the jerkiness/FPS hit I was receiving from it.  Though it was a neat to play around with.  I'm glad I learned about 2.2 as it solved the jerky/FPS issues I had and it's very smooth and has me using it once again.  I believe the FPS issues were due to my webcam only outputting at 20 FPS and the new FPS multiplier really helps in version 2.2.

The jury is still out on whether or not it makes me a better pilot.  I know I can track planes a lot easier in a dog fight, but I have sacrificed a quick check six view in the process.  Occasionally I do get disoriented when landing as if I'm moving in my chair I cannot gauge when I'm about to touch down sometimes.  My near ground hits in low dog fights has increased as I find myself tracking a plane and say "Hey look theres the ground!"

[humble]

its an STX , sounds like the one your friend has or similiar. I just flew an offline hop in a pony and was impressed and a bit motion sick:). I'll have to look thru the available documentation a bit. No real stutters but I lost my "center" a bit and was some how sitting a bit cockeyed in the cockpit at times. I'll play with the smothness and variables a bit. I did follow the drones thru a bunch of moves with no problem and had reasonable 6 views. What I like is that in the frontal views its easier not to lose stuff in the blind spots.

[Fulmar]

Shift + F12 is auto recenter.  When im in my chair I move around and if I find myself in a comfortable spot in game, I hit Shift F12 and FreeTrack now makes where my head is pointing the new center.  You can change the key command if desired.  Also, when I check my six (I use my HOTAS for this) I then move my head closer to the webcam (simulating moving towards the front of the plane but you're looking backwards) and then rotate my head about 30 degress (per my profile sensitivity settings) as it lets you kind of see around the tail.  This doesn't work great on all planes and I hope you don't like flying the F4U much as it's pretty tough checking your 6 and high 6 with both FreeTrack and TrackIR.

[lowZX14]

Do you have to build a hat?  I'm not too keen on wearing one when I'm playing.

[Fulmar]

Well you don't have to use a hat, there is a 3 point clip design that you can attach to your headset/headphones.

[lowZX14]

Hmmmmmmmmmmm decisions decisions.  Maybe I need to stop by radio shack on the way home and tell the wife later. 

[humble]

you can map the pause and reset to your controller anywhere you want (or keyboard). Played with the curves a bit between business calls and it certainly appears to give a lot of control. I think the key will be to find the right combo of curve "smoothness and raw settings to get what you want. I found I can get a portion of my views just about perfect for offense but then the rear side views are a bit jerkier as I get away from one part of the curve and to the steep part. So far its flawless offline with out any frame rate or other issues...