Trackir...........

[alandc10]

Im seriously thinking of buying one, but as always i have a few questions.

1. does it have any affect if in windowed or full screen mode

2. is there any massive advantage of getting the pro clip

3. will i notice a massive difference between the 4 and 5 models

Im sure i will have more to ask, but thats it for the minute

Alan

[cianpars]

Me too. Also, is there any affect on framerates? Can anyone else provide some pros and cons?
Thanks
IAN

[Propane]

1. It works both in fullscreen or windowed, no problems there.
2. It really useful if you don't want to wear a cap every time you use it.
3. Not sure about that, some people claim massive improvements, others say their model 4 is fine and will do the same as model 5.

Framerates: Not really any effect, but if you have a framerate that does not give smooth gameplay you will notice it more because of the camera movement.

[PrivateCustard]

I bought v.5 a while back. It's a great gizmo, and I'd definitely recommend TrackClip Pro as it's a lot more sensitive and accurate. The software has profiles for many games, as well as options to create your own.

As far as framerates go, TrackIR is a small piece of software, so framerates really don't seem to suffer at all, unlike some of the free options that you have to build yourself, using modded webcams and LEDs.

Pros

Once you have it dialled in properly, it's brilliant fun.

If you're in a light aircraft, circling a strange airstrip, it's a lot easier to turn and look at times when you can ill-afford to take your hand off the stick to use the mouse.

Cons

Landing in general I found to be a lot harder. When your vision isn't fixed forwards and the camera is basically unleashed from its bonds, judging flare, bank and the sweet spot down the middle of the runway can take some getting used to



All I can say is that I don't use it all the time, but sometimes, all I want to do is go for a flight and have a good look around. I guess that makes it a pretty expensive toy!

v448WtjAvjQ

[Goatman24]

I'm considering it as well. Wish it was in the Pilot Shop.
Mitch

[alandc10]

Im buying it......................spent the past few hours looking about the web and youtube etc. Ive got a UK supplier that has it in stock and is having a Jan sale.WOOHOOOO

Alan

[n85988]

Im seriously thinking of buying one, but as always i have a few questions.

1. does it have any affect if in windowed or full screen mode

2. is there any massive advantage of getting the pro clip

3. will i notice a massive difference between the 4 and 5 models

Im sure i will have more to ask, but thats it for the minute

Alan

I have TrackIR4, so hear is my opinions:

1: It works the same in windowed and non-windowed,

2: I heard that the pro clip is a little more consistant in movement, but that it is very easy to break, so I never bought one,

3: You won't notice much difference at all between 4 and 5, but 4 uses the same software for 5, and I think 5 is a little bit more accurate (precise)

I love my TrackIR4, wouldn't give it up for the world. It makes such a difference in flying, especially pattern work. They wouldn't give owners of TrackIR4 any kind of discount to upgrade to 5, so I stayed with 4, since it still works perfectly. No need to replace what still works great. I've had it for six years now without a single problem.

Monica Duerr

[lnuss]

Landing in general I found to be a lot harder. When your vision isn't fixed forwards and the camera is basically unleashed from its bonds, judging flare, bank and the sweet spot down the middle of the runway can take some getting used to

For times when I need it still, I have the PAUSE function (locks view in place, as far as TrackIR is concerned) assigned to a button on the joystick -- I use it all the time, for part of the landing approach, for operating certain things in the cockpit, or just when I want a drink of coffee/water and don't want my view to fly around while my head is dealing with the drink. It works quickly, and soon becomes automatic. Granted there is some getting used to certain things with TrackIR, but the advantages (to me) far exceed the mild learning curve.

All that being said, I have a friend who has trouble using TrackIR -- he just sees things in a different way from what I do (literally, it seems), so he prefers the default viewing actions.

[tommchowat]

I found it really, really annoying. After the initial 'wow this is cool' factor wore off I got tired of it. Having to stick it on your headset, then pause it when you didn't want it to look around with you, setting up the default viewpoint... irritating. It's in a box under the stairs and that's where it shall stay!

[abrussell]

I have had mine for several years. I won't take off without it. Like inuss I have the pause button mapped to my yoke. After a while it becomes automatic to move my head slowly and to pause when dialing in radio frequencies etc.
Bruce

[rpembert]

I was with an aerobatic team called the Blue eagles and we flew tight formation. We were sponsored by Natural Point (makers of TrackIR) and it makes a BIG difference. I would say its the difference between flying with a mouse as opposed to a joystick!. I dont fly without it now. Here is a video i made awhile ago showing me using it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2YioE6DxKyA&feature=plcp&context=C3aa6221UDOEgsToPDskKLy4XCe5bDjMOjXtqN4vwj

Thanks,
Joshua

[madmouse]

ive had trackir for a few yrs now ,its awesome,,however ive had to reinstall fsx and now trackir wont work on it,,no blue lite,,anyone know why?

[tones777]

If you have a webcam, there is freeware face-tracking software that is worth trying. It is not as sophisticated as TrackIR, but it will, at least, give you a taste of using a head tracking device. Get it here: http://facetracknoir.sourceforge.net/. I simply downloaded the 160 Beta full version and it worked fine in FSX with my Microsoft webcam. Takes a bit of getting used to, and this probably needs more tweaking than TrackIR would, although it does come with default FSX and FS9 profiles.

Tony
MSFS Gateway
http://www.btinternet.com/~tony.smiths/

[MoeWoodworth]

Had the IR5 now for a couple years. Won't take off without it. A couple points not mentioned yet.

1. You can lean forward to get that detail on instruments when you need it, like setting altimeter.

2. You might find it not respond. If so it ain't broke but likely overheated. An ice cube against it will solve this in 10 sec or you could keep a small USB fan on it.

Moe

[lnuss]

Had the IR5 now for a couple years. Won't take off without it. A couple points not mentioned yet.

1. You can lean forward to get that detail on instruments when you need it, like setting altimeter.

2. You might find it not respond. If so it ain't broke but likely overheated. An ice cube against it will solve this in 10 sec or you could keep a small USB fan on it.

Moe

Leaning forward and also to the side, or up and down, to see over or around obstacles such as a yoke or throttle quadrant is normal operation with TrackIR. You can also lean back to view more of the cockpit at once.

I have yet to run into any non-response with TrackIR 4, but the software does make it seem to freeze when you reach the edge of its tracking coverage, then if you stay there long it may go to a forward view, until you get back in range, then it's where you want it again. But that tracking coverage includes (for example) most of a T-34's cockpit (or that of the L-39).

[scottb613]

Morn'n Folks,

What a timely topic... I blew the dust off my TrackIR 4 this past weekend and I'm still having issues with it... First I upgraded to the new software suite but the movement is still a bit jerky... I watched Joshua's video above and that seems a lot better than when I use mine... Is there some special setting to use or is good performance just a matter of technique ??? One other issue I find quite often - is all of a sudden - the movement takes a tumble while I'm looking around and where your head turning left and right previously controlled the rotation on the Y axis as it should - it now controls the head tilt from side to side - like your sticking your head out of the cockpit to look along side the nose of a tail dragger... If I look to the extreme in one direction - the view seems to take a tumble again and then it reverts back to norrmal... I've tried both the F9 and F12 keys when in the abnormal state and it doesn't seem to fix it... Has anyone else experienced this ???


Regards,
Scott

[lnuss]

Did you upgrade to the TrackIR 4 or 5 newer software -- there are both available, and I often find with my TrackIR 4 that version 4 works better for me. At the extremes you will potentially jump around, so get it working properly without quite getting to the extreme.

You talk about jerky movement, but I'm not sure whether you mean it jerks all the time in every direction, or perhaps it sort of pauses when you get back to the center. If the latter, that's certainly adjustable in the edit mode, watching the "gauges" (graphs) to get a smooth curve with less dip in the middle (this is with the version 4 software). Version 5 has a bit different display, but the same basic functions available.

If it's not the above, then is it akin to a very slow frame rate (3-8 frames per second in FSX)? Or perhaps a bit better description of "jerky."

As to the tumble -- I see that when I look down too much, so looking down too much again straightens it out.

[jimrandazzo]

This is the single most immersive piece of equipment I have seen for FS. I wouldn't fly without it.

[hanss]

All,

I have bought the TrackIR 5 recently. It works fine except for the "tumble. I don't know how to get rid of it a. It is rather important to get to the lower switches in the cockpit. From your remark it seems that you, Inuss, have the answer, however I don't understand how it straightens out as you say?
Could you clarify this to me, please?

Regards

Hanss

[lnuss]

The "tumble," which leaves me looking down at the seat, generally happens when I look too low on the panel. So I do the same thing again, and it recovers to normal use. Note that sometimes, depending on the aircraft and your physical seating position, it helps to scrunch down in your seat and/or to move the yoke (or click on it, for those which disappear) in order to get at the lower switch panel. And sometimes I can position myself almost looking down far enough (just before the "tumble"), then "pause" the TrackIR and use the hat switch to look down the rest of the way. This latter works especially well when I lean well forward to look behind the yoke.

[hanss]

Hi Larry,

I'll try and report back.

Thanks

Hanss

[hanss]

All,

Yesterday I got it working. TrackIR 5 set on speed 1,4 and smooth 20. Default mode.
However when I started to move up and down, it started "tumbling" again. I read somewhere else that reflection can be the cause of "tumbling". So I closed the window shutters and after that no problem at all.
It is really fantastic.

Regards

Hanss

[lnuss]

Another odd thing I've had happen is odd behavior when the sun hits the room behind me, and also when I turn on my halogen floor lamp. This is just because the sensor gets confused.