Aces High Bulletin Board

General Forums => Hardware and Software => Topic started by: Traveler on March 04, 2005, 10:33:59 AM

Title: TrackerIR3 Pro Anyone using it?
Post by: Traveler on March 04, 2005, 10:33:59 AM
Is anyone using the TrackerIR3 from NaturalPoint.   What do you think of it, does it work as you expected?
Title: TrackerIR3 Pro Anyone using it?
Post by: Zaphod on March 04, 2005, 10:53:47 AM
There are a few who are using it.  I just got mine the other day (Tue this week) with vector enhancement.  It is taking quite a bit of getting used to...I turn it off to shoot for the most part actually.

Some folks who have it have said that it tends make them a bit motion sick at first but they soon get over that issue....I didn't have a problem with motion sickness.

It takes a bit of messing with it to get it set up just the right way (height and distance from sensor).  I haven't quite got mine just right yet.

Film viewer doesn't show your Track views as far as I can tell....or I haven't figured out how to do it yet.

Many who have it say it increases SA noticably....for me it reduces it.

My biggest issue is that I have used a hat switch on a joystick since 1992 and it's very difficult to create the muscle memory required to effectively use the track system while ignoring the auto-commands from my brain to move the hat to look around.  It is also difficult for me to know where the view is pointed in relation to where my plane is in a 3D space (this is not an issue with hat switches)

In short I *think* that I can learn to use it but so far it's been more difficult to use than a regular hat switch.  I am not however totally sold on it....and have considered just selling it to someone with a more open mind lol.

Zaphod
Title: TrackerIR3 Pro Anyone using it?
Post by: Ohio43 on March 04, 2005, 12:02:36 PM
If you do a search for other threads about Track IR..there are some that are loaded with opinions about this device
Title: TrackerIR3 Pro Anyone using it?
Post by: Traveler on March 04, 2005, 12:21:48 PM
Quote
Originally posted by Ohio43
If you do a search for other threads about Track IR..there are some that are loaded with opinions about this device


ZAPHOD, thanks for your informative response.  Ohio43, I did that orininally and received no results from the search.
Title: TrackerIR3 Pro Anyone using it?
Post by: Eagler on March 04, 2005, 12:35:31 PM
Quote
Originally posted by Traveler
ZAPHOD, thanks for your informative response.  Ohio43, I did that orininally and received no results from the search.


search TrackIR
Title: TrackerIR3 Pro Anyone using it?
Post by: Siaf__csf on March 04, 2005, 02:37:34 PM
I dont get how it's useful.. How do you get a back view? Won't you need to turn away from the monitor? :)
Title: TrackerIR3 Pro Anyone using it?
Post by: Balsy on March 04, 2005, 07:09:37 PM
Zaphod...

Hang in there buddy.  I had a hard time for same reason you did. The best thing to do, I found, is lighten up on your AH time, only hit it sporadically, and not like you used too.  This "time" allows for an adjustment, and  you can enjoy the benefits of Tir vector breifly, without getting so frustrated you want to switch back to hat views to get some kills ;)>

Now I couldnt think of using hat views, flying is MUCH more natural, the only part thats hard is gunnery... and well... thats always been hard.

What I found interesting was  taht with hat views "set", I had actually learned to fly the airplane well in any one view, because I "knew" the angle I was looking out of the cockpit.. now with that angle changing, I had to "relearn" to fly the airplane into the views instead of "from " them.

(disclaimer... half a bottle of cabernet down my hole if this doesnt make any sense).

Balsy
Title: TrackerIR3 Pro Anyone using it?
Post by: Zaphod on March 04, 2005, 07:38:44 PM
Quote
Originally posted by Balsy
Zaphod...

Hang in there buddy.  I had a hard time for same reason you did. The best thing to do, I found, is lighten up on your AH time, only hit it sporadically, and not like you used too.  This "time" allows for an adjustment, and  you can enjoy the benefits of Tir vector breifly, without getting so frustrated you want to switch back to hat views to get some kills ;)>

Now I couldnt think of using hat views, flying is MUCH more natural, the only part thats hard is gunnery... and well... thats always been hard.

What I found interesting was  taht with hat views "set", I had actually learned to fly the airplane well in any one view, because I "knew" the angle I was looking out of the cockpit.. now with that angle changing, I had to "relearn" to fly the airplane into the views instead of "from " them.

(disclaimer... half a bottle of cabernet down my hole if this doesnt make any sense).

Balsy



Makes complete sense....no booze....now I'm scared lol.  I'll keep working at it.  It sure can be frustrating not to hit those shots you figure you shoulda or lose yourself, the nme and the ground until one or both of ya find it the hard way lol.


Zaphod
Title: TrackerIR3 Pro Anyone using it?
Post by: Zaphod on March 04, 2005, 07:42:01 PM
Quote
Originally posted by Siaf__csf
I dont get how it's useful.. How do you get a back view? Won't you need to turn away from the monitor? :)



Actually how your head movement relates to ingame views is adjustable.  It winds up (on mine) so that only about 30 degrees of deflection (side to side, up/down, zoom, pitch etc) gives you a full 180 deg.s of movement.  It just confuses me when trying to keep track of where the plane is in a 3D space.  

I think Balsy hit it right on the head....as far as flying the plane to the view and visa-versa.

Zaphod
Title: TrackerIR3 Pro Anyone using it?
Post by: QQSaint on March 05, 2005, 04:37:07 AM
http://www.hitechcreations.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=144817

Take a look.;)
Title: TrackerIR3 Pro Anyone using it?
Post by: Curval on March 05, 2005, 08:46:26 AM
I have the TIR Pro.  It is sitting in a box which is collecting dust.

Could not get used to it.
Title: TrackerIR3 Pro Anyone using it?
Post by: Siaf__csf on March 05, 2005, 09:14:11 AM
So that's why it's confusing - the screen movement doesn't go naturally with the head. I imagined there must be this kind of problem.

The true track-ir would require a wearable 3D-display now that would rock.

With the price of tft coming down we might actually be able to get something with a reasonable price.
Title: TrackerIR3 Pro Anyone using it?
Post by: Starbird on March 05, 2005, 09:36:13 AM
With the tir its a lot easier for me to track people, and move the plane as I need to while keeping them in sight. I can keep guys in sight all the time while doing close scissor type moves. If he goes below my wing, I can just move my head to where I expect him to come back up. It works great for me, after about a week of motion sickness.

I still end up getting shot down most of the time, but at least I know where the shot is coming from.
Title: TrackerIR3 Pro Anyone using it?
Post by: MOSQ on March 06, 2005, 12:28:31 PM
I've had my TIR3 Pro w/Vector Enhance for 10 days. The jury is still out for me. I keep thinking I'll get used to it.

When I'm just flying around in a low threat environment, it's really cool. I imagine for MS Flight Simulator it would be totally immersive.

But as soon as an enemy con gets close, I have to switch back to my hat switches. I'm just not effective in combat with my TIR3Pro.
Title: TrackerIR3 Pro Anyone using it?
Post by: Balsy on March 07, 2005, 07:02:48 AM
Mosq,

If you can... try to remember when you switched from Keypad views to HatSwitch....It doesnt come all at once.  My best advice is to play LESS AH... actually take some time off, then come back and only play with Tir until you start to get frustrated. Then stop playing a few days and come back...

Trying to play as much as you did with Hat Switches is too frustrating and you wont enjoy the benefits of vector.  Try flying until you have a "OH!!!" experience with vector.. then turn off AH. That way you'll look forward to coming back to it.

For SA now it is completely "normal" for me.. but I went through a month where it was exactly how you described... great for one on ones.. but terrible for me in a furball.  It'll come.

Now after about 3 months of sporadic play for me...(work has interfered with my "real job")  the only thing left for me to figure out is gunnery with vector...

Keep it up...there is light at the end of the vector tunnel.

Balsy
Title: TrackerIR3 Pro Anyone using it?
Post by: Eagler on March 07, 2005, 07:20:50 AM
Quote
Originally posted by Balsy
 Try flying until you have a "OH!!!" experience with vector.. then turn off AH. That way you'll look forward to coming back to it.


is that similar to the "Oh" face talked about in the movie "office space" ?
 :)
Title: Thanks Everyone
Post by: Traveler on March 07, 2005, 10:15:48 AM
Thank you everyone for sharing.  I have decided to give it a try.  I'll keep posting here on how it all goes.
Title: TrackerIR3 Pro Anyone using it?
Post by: Octavius on March 07, 2005, 02:26:33 PM
Quote
Originally posted by MOSQ
I've had my TIR3 Pro w/Vector Enhance for 10 days. The jury is still out for me. I keep thinking I'll get used to it.

When I'm just flying around in a low threat environment, it's really cool. I imagine for MS Flight Simulator it would be totally immersive.

But as soon as an enemy con gets close, I have to switch back to my hat switches. I'm just not effective in combat with my TIR3Pro.


Yeah, that's the big problem.  You have to set aside a few weeks of non-stop TIR usage and force yourself to learn it.  It's the only way, and you will die... a lot.  

But I wouldn't know, cause I can't break the habit of switching it off for the numpad :D
Title: TrackerIR3 Pro Anyone using it?
Post by: Tapper on March 07, 2005, 04:36:06 PM
- Big increase SA

Mounting the Tracker at 4 feet or more from the head makes for very smooth/fine movement. (Mine is on the wall behind my monitor)
You'll also teach yourself not to depend on    the gun sight so much. Start looking for the little flashes as you ping your foe.

Take Balsy's advice to limit the frustration of changing to a different viewing system.

My old view hat is a real trim button now.

tap
Title: TrackerIR3 Pro Anyone using it?
Post by: Pongo on March 07, 2005, 04:54:14 PM
Mine works great, I got used to it in Pac Fighters and then when the vector expansion came out it worked flawlessly in AH2.
Only loss for me is the Hellcat. Really cant see very well out the back in that one any more and I miss it.

For those who dont know TrackIR Vector is many times better then trackIR no vector.
Title: TrackerIR3 Pro Anyone using it?
Post by: LePaul on March 07, 2005, 10:06:48 PM
Quote
Originally posted by Curval
I have the TIR Pro.  It is sitting in a box which is collecting dust.

Could not get used to it.


Send it my way!  Heck I'll try it!  :p
Title: TrackerIR3 Pro Anyone using it?
Post by: QQSaint on March 08, 2005, 05:19:57 AM
Quote
Originally posted by Curval
I have the TIR Pro.  It is sitting in a box which is collecting dust.

Could not get used to it.


How about sell it to the others?

I believe there will be lots of ppl want it.:p
Title: TrackerIR3 Pro Anyone using it?
Post by: Pongo on March 08, 2005, 10:20:51 AM
For people without track IR at all, don't even dream of buying a non trackIR3 or better one. Dont buy someones old trackIR1 or 2. They are not compatible with vector and they are pretty sad compated to the TrackIR3 with vector.
Title: TrackerIR3 Pro Anyone using it?
Post by: Balsy on March 08, 2005, 10:23:10 AM
Pongo,

I have trackIR 3 pro, vector and have found some unusual behaviour in the F-6.  For some reason my TIR starts out smooth as glass (fps 70-120) and then as I fly the F-6 it gets more and more choppy in the x axis (looking left to right).

I have not found this to happen in any other airplane... curious as to how it reacts with yours.

Let me know.

Balsy
Title: TrackerIR3 Pro Anyone using it?
Post by: LeadDog on March 09, 2005, 02:58:01 PM
I have to say the first day I wasn't sure of my purchase.  The second day I got a little better but still wasn't sold.  The third day I fixed the distance to the TrackIR light gear and fixed the Deadzone so my shots were just like with a hat even if I moved a little.

Now 3 weeks later I would have to relearn hats view.  I fly great with the TrackIR and love it.  I had 3 years of hats view to unlearn so I guess a couple of weeks wasn't bad.  I went to the training arena several times and just tracked planes and flew around them so the tension of scoring combat was absent as I learned.  I also duelled TC and Bovidae and several others as I got more confortable with TrackIR.  The learning curve went quickly after the setup was solid and I spent a couple of days only in TrackIR mode.

BTW I still turn it off to use GVs and ground guns when shooting and turn it on again to scan for new targets.
Title: TrackerIR3 Pro Anyone using it?
Post by: thebest1 on March 09, 2005, 05:11:49 PM
Quote
Originally posted by Siaf__csf


Siaf__csf AMAZING AVITAR lol
Title: TrackerIR3 Pro Anyone using it?
Post by: Balsy on March 13, 2005, 07:20:50 AM
found the stuttering issue... it is the animated water...not Tir 3.

Turned it off and it flys great... the only reason I SUSPECTED the f6 is I spen alot of time over water
Title: update on Tir vector experience
Post by: Balsy on March 13, 2005, 07:29:32 AM
well it took 3 months , 1 month to get comforatable... and a good set up, 1 month to start flying well, and be good at tracking a single target  1 month to get good SA in multilple cons, and now I have my gunnery "back" to where it was.

Thank God...

All in all this makes for a MUCH better AH experience, it was worth the pain and anquish...

Balsy