Track IR 5 help

[NavyRigger]

Good morning!

I recently acquired the Track IR 5 system with a part of my tax return and am loving it.  Unfortunately, there was a mix up in the order and I'm waiting for the proclip to arrive so for now I have the track clip duct taped to my head set.  While I really enjoy the utility of the system and what it can do in game, I'm struggling to get it to work in my favor.  Doing things like checking my 6 I have to hit look back in the hat switch and then lean over in the chair to see behind me.  While not normally an issue, after a long day in my feet some days, my back just isn't up to the challenge.  Then there are other thing like look sensativity and it was advised on 200 that I adjust my curves so I don't have to crane my neck to look up.  Right now I set my look mode from default to smooth and it seems to help but it's super sensitive when looking around.  A little too sensitive for my taste to be honest.  If there are any guys out there with the Track IR 5 system that could help me out, I would be eternally greatful!

[Randy1]

You are in a bit of a conundrum.  Start you a new profile so you can wildly experiment.  Set the speed curve to say .5.  Now, go to your curves and make them go up at a very step angle.  On the right side of the trackir screen you can see the 3d heads move around.  Set your curves first by watching those head moves.  Those 3d displays are really helpful.  BTW, I have my speed slider set to .3 but with a stiff neck, .4 would be lowest I would think.

The steep curves and slow speed will slow the sweeping effect but it will take time to get the curves right.

Make sure you do not have "Limit" checked.

[FLS]

Here's a link to my TrackIR5 profile. To look back just lean to one side then turn your head. I set speed to 3 and smooth to 50.

http://www.mediafire.com/view/299k0l918i6ogci/AHFLS.xml

Map a handy key to recenter TrackIR.

[xPoisonx]

I would recommend trying some profiles from other players and adjusting from there, its what I did. I would send you mine but it won't upload for some reason.

[Shrike]

"Make sure you turn on Options->Preferences->View Options->TrackIR Object Relative Move in AcesHigh.

That makes looking around headrests a lot easier."  AKAuger posted this in a similar thread in this same forum.  There are other threads similar you should check out for more information.  Auger's suggestion cleared up my "checking 6" problem.

[FLS]

"Make sure you turn on Options->Preferences->View Options->TrackIR Object Relative Move in AcesHigh.

That makes looking around headrests a lot easier."  AKAuger posted this in a similar thread in this same forum.  There are other threads similar you should check out for more information.  Auger's suggestion cleared up my "checking 6" problem.

pio

There is a similar option in TrackIR called trueview. I have both of them off but it's a personal preference worth experimenting with.

[Randy1]

pio

There is a similar option in TrackIR called trueview. I have both of them off but it's a personal preference worth experimenting with.

Me too.

[The Fugitive]

tip for looking back here

http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/index.php/topic,311822.msg4047939.html#msg4047939

A basic write up I did here

http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/index.php/topic,329017.0.html

and a bunch of profiles I collected here on the boards. Just unzip them to your "...\NaturalPoint\TrackIR5\Profiles" folder. They will show up as available profiles in TrackIR named by those whos settings they are.

http://www.mediafire.com/download/y2flvoev2gzebxb/Profiles.zip

[hyzer]

Navy, the profile I started out with is waaay different than the one I currently use.  Pick one now and get used to it, find what you do and don't like, then you can begin to make changes.  What I found was as I got more comfortable, I began to increased the aggressiveness of the curves.  Less actual head movement for greater sim head movement.  This transition took some months to happen.  Now I can lean my head slightly to one side and look 6 with very little actual head movement.  One of the most import things as FLS said is to map a convenient button to recenter, I find I have to recenter quite a bit in dynamic dogfights.

[WEZEL]

Lots of good info in the thread Fugitive posted, biggest tip I can give you is set one axis up at a time.

[Naughty]

   


        YOU BIGGEST PROBLEM IS THE TRACK CLIP !!

              You cannot have the track clip duct taped to your head set. the axis points are all wrong. the profile for the track clip assumes that the 2 front reflectors are out infront of your eyes and the third, just above your fore head. ALL calculations are then made from those locations. with the track clip completely above your head, it cannot accurately model your movements.  Buy a cheap baseball hat or even a tennis or poker visor and attach it properly. you will notice an instant improvement.

         for "checking 6"  you'll want to work with scaling your X axis speed.  I can move my head side to side about 4 inches each way and reflect normal movement, after that I jacked the speed up so the next inch or 2 gives me double the effect.   so turning my head slightly to see behind me and then move 5 inches in same direction allows me to look over my shoulder and the seat in most planes.

[Traveler]

   


        YOU BIGGEST PROBLEM IS THE TRACK CLIP !!

              You cannot have the track clip duct taped to your head set.

I've found that's just not a true statement.  While the clip is designed to be attached to a hat, I've found over the years that I could attach it to a head set.  The only real requirement is that there be a good light source that originates from behind the camera thingy that sits on the monitor.  Light from the Monitor seems to work just fine.    I've also done the reverse with the clip mounted in a fixed position on the monitor and the camera thingy mounted on the head set, it worked. 

[Drano]

I've found that's just not a true statement.  While the clip is designed to be attached to a hat, I've found over the years that I could attach it to a head set.  The only real requirement is that there be a good light source that originates from behind the camera thingy that sits on the monitor.  Light from the Monitor seems to work just fine.    I've also done the reverse with the clip mounted in a fixed position on the monitor and the camera thingy mounted on the head set, it worked. 

The kind of light it sees is the IR in TrackIR. IR being infrared light. You can't see it but the camera in the unit can. There are 4 IR LEDs surrounding the camera that project the light onto the reflectors and that's what the camera is looking for. You can vary the intensity of the IR LEDs from the settings in the TIR software. That would be a far better source of light than a monitor or anything else you might come up with. Switch to camera view in the software and you'll be able to see what I mean. Tweak the settings until the reflectors are nice and bright. The problem you may be having is light sources that are in the room behind you. In that camera view you should only be able to see three dots. They'd represent the light coming back from the reflectors. If there are any other dots you're going to either move that light source, block it somehow, or you can possibly tune it out by adjusting the light filter slider in the settings.

I don't see why you couldn't attach the ball cap clip to your headset. As long as it is oriented as it would be on the bill of a ball cap it'd work. I built a better mousetrap for mine and actually put IR LEDs into a ball cap placing them in the same pattern as the ball cap clip reflectors.

[Naughty]

   

I don't see why you couldn't attach the ball cap clip to your headset. As long as it is oriented as it would be on the bill of a ball cap it'd work. I built a better mousetrap for mine and actually put IR LEDs into a ball cap placing them in the same pattern as the ball cap clip reflectors.

I've found that's just not a true statement.  While the clip is designed to be attached to a hat, I've found over the years that I could attach it to a head set.  The only real requirement is that there be a good light source that originates from behind the camera thingy that sits on the monitor.  Light from the Monitor seems to work just fine.    I've also done the reverse with the clip mounted in a fixed position on the monitor and the camera thingy mounted on the head set, it worked. 

      You'll note in the settings there are 2 "profiles" to choose from, "track clip" and "track clip pro"   there are differences in the the positions of the motion tracker points.  Track IR works by measuring the proximity of these points to the sensor, as well as each other.  using the track clip, from the sensor's point of view...  when you turn your head to the left  the sensor "sees" the 2 lower points moving closer together, while one is getting closer to the sensor, and other is moving further from the sensor. it compares these new positions to where they should be at "center" and calculates the new position of your head.  these positions are mapped out assuming that the reflectors are a predetermined distance in front of the AXIS of movement.   for example..  if my clip is on the bill of a ball cap and I turn my head 5 degrees to the left the 2 front reflectors will travel 4 inches to the left and the top reflector will travel 1 inch. Now with the clip attached to my headset (basically centered on my head's axis) the same head movement will only cause the front reflectors to travel 2 inches while the top stays stationary or may even be pivoting the opposite direction.

       while the Track IR system will still function, but will not be nearly as precise as it should be.  And light source has nothing to do with it. so long as your monitor or sunlight isn't so bright that it's flooding out the sensor's ability to see it's own Infrared light that it is transmiting to the reflectors

[Drano]

   

      You'll note in the settings there are 2 "profiles" to choose from, "track clip" and "track clip pro"   there are differences in the the positions of the motion tracker points.  Track IR works by measuring the proximity of these points to the sensor, as well as each other.  using the track clip, from the sensor's point of view...  when you turn your head to the left  the sensor "sees" the 2 lower points moving closer together, while one is getting closer to the sensor, and other is moving further from the sensor. it compares these new positions to where they should be at "center" and calculates the new position of your head.  these positions are mapped out assuming that the reflectors are a predetermined distance in front of the AXIS of movement.   for example..  if my clip is on the bill of a ball cap and I turn my head 5 degrees to the left the 2 front reflectors will travel 4 inches to the left and the top reflector will travel 1 inch. Now with the clip attached to my headset (basically centered on my head's axis) the same head movement will only cause the front reflectors to travel 2 inches while the top stays stationary or may even be pivoting the opposite direction.

       while the Track IR system will still function, but will not be nearly as precise as it should be.  And light source has nothing to do with it. so long as your monitor or sunlight isn't so bright that it's flooding out the sensor's ability to see it's own Infrared light that it is transmiting to the reflectors

They aren't so much "profiles" as they are modes of operation. It's either cap clip (passive) or track clip pro (active). In cap clip mode the TIR camera unit is shining IR light at your face looking for the passive reflection coming back from the clip. It's providing it's own light source, four IR LEDs surround the camera. In track clip pro mode it's looking for the active IR shining at the camera from the LEDs on the clip. When it's in this mode the LEDs on the camera are off. You may get a reflection from the ball cap unit from other light sources in the room such as a desk lamp, which contain some IR I'm sure, but there are some problems with this. For one, the IR light just happening to shine on the reflectors won't be all that bright as it's not full on IR light which is the only thing the camera sees. It doesn't see other wavelengths of visible light which is why it's called TrackIR . This light is likely coming from directions other than straight ahead which would be a problem as you move your head causing shadows. That's one of the reasons why they advise you to place the camera even with the top of your head about 2 feet away. You still get shadows with IR light even tho you can't see them. The camera can. That would interrrupt tracking. Lastly, the ball cap clip and the track clip pro have a different pattern which the software is specifically looking for in one mode or the other. Simply cocking the ball cap reflector 90 degrees isn't going to work accurately because the track clip pro lights are in a different pattern. Triangular yes--but different. All of these things will give you problems with accurate tracking trying to use it this way. This is why I built mine the way I did. Basically what I've done is built a ball cap with active IR LEDs in the same pattern as the ball cap clip, use TIR in that mode with a mask on the camera that has about a 5/8" hole in it to cover the LEDs on it. I wear glasses when flying at night and was having problems with the camera's LEDs reflecting off those causing extra "dots" being tracked effectively throwing my view all over the place although only momentarily. Couln't have that. It sounded like the track clip pro was a better idea but just super flimsy so I built a better mousetrap and a lot cheaper too. I'm tricking the software by using active LEDs in the same pattern as it's expecting to see reflected in ball cap clip mode. It's bright, consistent and tracks prefectly.Problem solved.