a few questions about trackir....

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a few questions about trackir....

Postby sk8z27 » Thu Dec 28, 2006 8:50 am

does anybody use this and is it framerate intensive?  i saw a video about it and read a review about it.  is this a must have?  it seems like this is one of those hidden gems that's been around for a while but you don't hear much about.  also, it seems like it would be annoying to turn your head but have to keep your eyes glued right to the screen unless you've got a multiple monitor setup.  can anybody elaborate?  i just might get this today, and does anybody know if any stores sell it like best buy or circuit city?  
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Re: a few questions about trackir....

Postby pepper_airborne » Thu Dec 28, 2006 9:32 am

I love this device, check out there video's and you will see you actualy need to turn your head very little, it is also a very natural movement, eventualy you will use it without thinking what to do.

I didnt see any framerate hits, so i doubt it does cause such things, it will work as good as your computer, so sometimes it will stuter a bit when you swing the view from the left to the right, because it needs to build up the scenery(POV hat has same prob).

I wouldnt know where to buy it, i geuss the prices are not too far apart. make sure you get the laters version though, i heard it is a great improvement!
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Re: a few questions about trackir....

Postby FridayChild » Thu Dec 28, 2006 9:36 am

I've been intrigued lately by this kind of software, so I've read a couple of reviews. It looks like a minimum head movement is required in order to have TrackIR react to the head movements; that is, you don't have to turn your head fully to the left to pan the view fully to the left. That said, I think that it could be confusing to have to keep your eyes on the monitor while you turn your head slightly, changing the pan view accordingly. And it could be annoying to have the pan view reflect every movement of your head, whether you want that or not. My decision was to leave this stuff alone for now, but I admit that if TrackIR worked with any webcam I would probably try it.
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Re: a few questions about trackir....

Postby sk8z27 » Thu Dec 28, 2006 10:28 am

not to sound like an idiot, but what does the webcam have to do with it.  do people use this with a webcam???
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Re: a few questions about trackir....

Postby pepper_airborne » Thu Dec 28, 2006 12:11 pm

That has nothing to do with it, let him talk.

You can easily recenter, change to zoom mode, or stop/pause with a single keystroke, so that shouldnt hold you back, and really there is nothing annoying about it, i hardly ever fly without it anymore!
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Re: a few questions about trackir....

Postby Isak922 » Thu Dec 28, 2006 12:58 pm

I just received TrackIR 4 Pro for Christmas, and I already love it. On the maximum sensitivity, very little head movement is required (1/4 of an inch left, right, up, down, etc)
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Re: a few questions about trackir....

Postby sk8z27 » Thu Dec 28, 2006 1:05 pm

just one more question before i make the plunge.  do you have to wear the hat every time you fly?  i read in the trackerir 3pro you just used a single dot.  is the three dots for 4 for depth perception fore and aft?  can you just go with a dot on your mic or forehead with the newer version(4)?  
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Re: a few questions about trackir....

Postby FridayChild » Thu Dec 28, 2006 1:17 pm

That has nothing to do with it, let him talk.

First off, to answer sk's question, some tracking applications use a webcam to track head movements.
As for the quoted sentence, I will just say that lately these boards have been changing, not for the better I'm afraid since kindness seems to be going downhill somehow. In the future I will be more careful when giving out personal sensations and advice.
Last edited by FridayChild on Thu Dec 28, 2006 1:18 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: a few questions about trackir....

Postby sk8z27 » Thu Dec 28, 2006 1:24 pm

no worries frch.  i was just didn't know how that worked with webcams.  keep up the responses!!
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Re: a few questions about trackir....

Postby sk8z27 » Thu Dec 28, 2006 5:39 pm

just orderred my trackir pro 4 and should get it tomorrow.  are there any vc's that are better then another.  i've got the feelthere erj 145 and pmdg 737.  anybody know how they are in functionality?  i usually use the 2-d screen when making changes to a/p or radios, since the vc is harder to pan and tune at the same time.
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Re: a few questions about trackir....

Postby Isak922 » Thu Dec 28, 2006 6:08 pm

just orderred my trackir pro 4 and should get it tomorrow.  are there any vc's that are better then another.  i've got the feelthere erj 145 and pmdg 737.  anybody know how they are in functionality?  i usually use the 2-d screen when making changes to a/p or radios, since the vc is harder to pan and tune at the same time.


Well, I'm not sure about the models themselves, but I know for a fact that PMDG makes fairly good VC's. As long as it's modelled with moving gauges you'll be fine. You'll have to find tune it a bit, so it moves how you like (Something I havn't figured out yet...).

As for the hat, the TrackIR4 version I got comes with a free hat and the hat clip. You have to wear the hat, unless you feel like holding the hat and moving that around.

And, Chances are you won't regret investing in it  ;) Definitely worth the cash
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Re: a few questions about trackir....

Postby Gypsy_Baron » Thu Dec 28, 2006 8:41 pm

just orderred my trackir pro 4 and should get it tomorrow.  are there any vc's that are better then another.  i've got the feelthere erj 145 and pmdg 737.  anybody know how they are in functionality?  i usually use the 2-d screen when making changes to a/p or radios, since the vc is harder to pan and tune at the same time.



For FS9 or FSx you can't go wrong with Dave Matlby's BAC 1-11 series and his Tridents.
Also, Rick Piper's HS.748 has a great VC.

Some minor adjustments need to be made for the VC textures to appear correctly
in FSX but they port over nicely.  Matter of fact, last evening I spent some time
adding three of the new FSX "camera" views to those aircraft so that I can move
to the right seat or have a close-up of the overhead or pedestal with a flip of my
sticks #2 POV hat.

    Paul
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Re: a few questions about trackir....

Postby FCAIR » Fri Dec 29, 2006 3:15 am

http://www.naturalpoint.com/trackir/                            I have been using TRKIR with the vector expansion for a couple of years flying IL2 in combat you can get no more realistic views than just turning your head and looking where you want to see, I wouldn't fly any sim without it.   Flying FS9 espically taxiing the Vc is much more realistic being able to turn your head and see what your looking at compared to panning with a button or mouse.     I like to fly props so if you want a great VC take a flight in the Howard 500,awesome plane exellent VC.
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Re: a few questions about trackir....

Postby sk8z27 » Sat Dec 30, 2006 11:05 am

just got my trackir 4 pro and have got to say it's pretty cool, and can see the potential, but after messing with the settings i've got to say that i'm still dizzy.  does anybody have some good settings to use?  i tried linear, smooth, and the rest, but still can't seem to get the right one.  i also tried to customize also, but still having problems trying to operate the switches and fly at the same time with the screen moving all over the place.  i only got about two hours to mess with it, works getting in the way, but would appreciate any advice.

thanks,
rich
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Re: a few questions about trackir....

Postby Gypsy_Baron » Sat Dec 30, 2006 2:19 pm

just got my trackir 4 pro and have got to say it's pretty cool, and can see the potential, but after messing with the settings i've got to say that i'm still dizzy.  does anybody have some good settings to use?  i tried linear, smooth, and the rest, but still can't seem to get the right one.  i also tried to customize also, but still having problems trying to operate the switches and fly at the same time with the screen moving all over the place.  i only got about two hours to mess with it, works getting in the way, but would appreciate any advice.

thanks,
rich



I suggest that you map a stick or throttle key to the TrackIR "Pause" command....that can be
re-defined in TrackIR to any unused keystrokes....then, when you need to make an adjustment
just get that part of the panel in view, hit the "Pause" button, make your adjustment and
then resume the normal panning.

Having the "Re-Center" caommand mapped to someplce handy is also helpful.

   Paul
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