TrackIR test run

[toprob]

If you've seen my site lately you'll know that I'm working on a review of TrackIR. The only way to really show what this can do is with a video, so I'm trying to figure out how to get something useful out of my tired old system. FRAPS tends to slow it to a crawl, which explains the poor frame-rates here.
But here are a couple of my favourite things together, the Realair Spitfire and TrackIR. Oh, and Tauranga:)

TrackIR movie -- 40MB

[creator2003]

Oh that track is good isnt it ,ive seen acouple now one was a track and a chinook "very cool view and i want one"
music is awesome and very unexpected from you , ,very cool !!!!!
what rock music was that i dont remember that one ?
looks like flight at your house is to much fun and ill be reading up more on ya thoughts after you fin your review
from what ive seen this morning

[ZK-MAT]

I'll have to wait till I get home from work to watch it (I'm trying to get it at work, but the connection speed here is shocking - 8kb/s)

Quite a few of the IL2 guys use Track IR and swear by it. I can see how it would assist in looking around for bogeys in cockpit view, but wonder how much use it would be in normal Flight Sim, that is, a straight and level flight where you aren't doing much more than sitting back as the plane flies itself. It would be great for choppers though.

Nice choice of city and plane btw

[toprob]

what rock music was that i dont remember that one ?

Symphony X -- King of Terrors. Progressive metal from the US.

[toprob]

I can see how it would assist in looking around for bogeys in cockpit view, but wonder how much use it would be in normal Flight Sim, that is, a straight and level flight where you aren't doing much more than sitting back as the plane flies itself. It would be great for choppers though.

Good point, which I'll cover in the review. TrackIR won't suit everyone, for that very reason. However when the plane IS flying itself, wouldn't it make sense to look around at the view?
However for people like me who never fly straight and level, it's great.

[Charl]

Haha those dam' taildraggers, at least now you can see when you've clipped the shed in passing!
Thanks for posting that, gives a great insight into the TrackIR.
Lots of questions:
- What happens to head latency in the RealAIr Spit?
- How far do you have to turn your head to look out over the wing?
- I think I read the fov is 170 degrees? For setting up the base leg, you need to look over your shoulder:

Can you pick up with the hat switch where the TrackIR stops?
- I like to set up the approach viewpoint like this

(using <Ctrl-Shft-Enter> and <Shft-Enter>) and then pan using the hatswitch.
- How far over can you lean? Right out of the cockpit?

- And what about the hat? Are the reflectors sensitive to exact spacing? or could you mount them on funky feelers or a set of horns

[ZK-MAT]

Home for lunch now and watched the movie - looks awesome there Robin!

I have the same questions of Charl plus two more lol.

What happens when you take the hat off say to leave the PC and then put it back on.... do you have to re-calibrate it?

Was it cheaper all up to get from the US rather than say from VR concepts in NZ?

Cheers!!

[toprob]

Ok, maybe I should just finish the review:)

The Spitfire head latency just gives it an extra wobble, I should just switch that off, but it doesn't really bother me. I like the shake when you start the thing up.

Calibration is as simple as sitting down comfortably and hitting F12 to centre the view. There is no messing about trying to get your head in the right place, whatever you are comfortable with becomes the default centre when you press F12.

This is handy for me, as my old clunky CRT sits off to the side of my desk, rather than directly in front of me, but still works the same even though it isn't aligned well with my head.

When you come back to the screen you may have to F12 again. For some aircraft I sit a little forward before pressing F12, so that sitting back gives me a wider view. Others I sit back a bit so that it takes less forward motion to see the gauges. With TIR I don't have to constantly change the actual angle of view (set with +/-)

The only real negative is that the IR sensor can be fooled by sunlight. I need to shut out the sun during the day.

Right at the start of the video the view is outside the cockpit, I was trying to simulate stepping into the plane... You can stick you head out the window enough to see directly below you, and it's designed to accentuate your natural head movement -- turning your head about 45 degrees allows you to see your tail. I love the ability to glance over my shoulder for the base leg, and know that I can go directly back to a view of the gauges without fiddly over-shooting with the hat switch.

You'll notice that I also 'stand up' while taxiing, giving a better view over the nose. I never got the hang of taxiing the Spitfire without this -- some may say I still don't have is sussed...

I've spoken to VR about their prices. They offer TrackIR without the hat for NZ$299. I paid NZ$265 including shipping, but the hat they sent isn't the 'proper' hat, which has built in sensors. The VR price includes GST of course, which is the main difference. If you bought 2 at once you would get into the pay-GST-upfront position, so be aware that a single purchase saves you a lot of GST.

VR's warranty covers over-night replacement of faulty units, apparently, which would make life a lot easier if your unit didn't work:)

Although the $35 saving was one benefit of ordering overseas, the main advantage for me was that I was able to use Paypal. As I am constantly hitting my head on the payout limits with Paypal -- currently EUR500 a month -- I like to spend Paypal if I can. I know I can get rid of the limit, but I'm trying to cope without going to the extra trouble of meeting their requirements -- i.e. an extra credit card...

Edimensional also have a very attractive affiliate programme, which basically paid for my TrackIR, but that might not be part of the review.

The main thing about TrackIR is that if I sit down without it now I feel like my view is restricted to the extent that I'm just not happy with it. The manufacturers use the word 'natural' as a catch-phrase, but it's more than that, this IS the natural way to look around.

[ZK-MAT]

Thanks Robin .. I think ...

I WAAAAAAANT ONE ..... NOW!!

[Ian Warren]

Thanks Robin .. I think ...

I WAAAAAAANT ONE ..... NOW!!

[Ian Warren]

NOW that was my easist post Thanx MAT I do agree It really looks amazing

[JonARNZ]

Man, I definately want one now!

[ardypilot]

Hi Robin,

I'm stuck on 56k so I have not been able to download your 40mb video yet.

I am just wondering what sort of performance results you get when using this? Does it make any difference in texture loading times or FPS? What sort of system are you running it on?

[Craig]

In 1 week, i'll have my one

[Charl]

Robin thanks for the review which I thought was really informative.
(those that missed it see: http://www.windowlight.co.nz/ )
The last question I had which I didn't see covered: what happens in spot view? Does the view go round and round, or stop when your head stops moving?

I also enjoyed the videos (which incidentally came smoking down the line, couple of minutes for the 38 MB one).
Now I see why I didn't get the "stepping into the cockpit" shot - you were on the wrong side of the aircraft!

Perhaps after a month or so of use, you could post a final "Geek Factor"?

[JonARNZ]

One word Robin, WOW! I wanted one of these, now i REALLY, REALLY want one.

If your learning to fly, this along with the yoke and pedals would make it amazing. Thanks for sharing the video, so much better to see than just read.

[Craig]

In 1 week, i'll have my one

Well, santa will be coming early for me. Should have mine tmw

[RPN]

QUOTE (toprob @ Dec 2 2006, 11:07 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

If you've seen my site lately you'll know that I'm working on a review of TrackIR. The only way to really show what this can do is with a video, so I'm trying to figure out how to get something useful out of my tired old system. FRAPS tends to slow it to a crawl, which explains the poor frame-rates here.
But here are a couple of my favourite things together, the Realair Spitfire and TrackIR. Oh, and Tauranga:)

TrackIR movie -- 40MB

Checked out your video. Great but I was waiting for your perfect 3pt landing.
I am interested in TrackIR and although I have read other reviews I am interested in reading yours. Did you get around to completing this?
Regards Richard

[creator2003]

Review is at http://windowlight.co.nz/trackir.html
i love my one and its a must to fly with now

[RPN]

QUOTE (creator2003 @ Dec 2 2007, 09:35 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Review is at http://windowlight.co.nz/trackir.html
i love my one and its a must to fly with now

Thanks for the link. Looks very comprehensive.
Richard