TrackIR worth it?

Bleddyn · 29 October 2009, 10:51 PM

I debated for years on TIR, finally bought it for Rise of Flight.

In the first 5 - 10 min I had a sinking feeling that I had just wasted hundreds of dollars. Then I got a few setup things tweaked, and the motion in game started to become second nature. Now I would find it impossible to fly without.

So to directly answer "is it worth it?" Well, all I have to say is find me an unhappy TIR customer......

I'll be waiting

sightreader · 30 October 2009, 05:59 AM

Thanks for all the feedback guys! I did buy it, but I'm still trying to get it to work right.

The main problem I have at the moment is that I keep running into limits of how far I can turn my head before my "virtual head" freaks out. At first, I couldn't look more that 45 degrees up - the camera just freezes. I tried sliding the receiver (i.e. my monitor) up and down and also messed with the orientation of the headphone attachment. After a bit of this, I got it to look up, but then introduced a new problem - if I turn to the right, then after about 150 degrees my "virtual head" suddenly flips upside down, even though the little green dots are still moving about quite smoothly.

Between the two, I think I prefer the view freezing when I look up, despite it being impossible to "reel" in a guy I'm turning in after. The other one is just deadly after a head-on pass: you're tracking a guy zooming past you, then suddenly you've got this close-up of your seat cushion and can't tell how to adjust your head to find him again!

I'm still fiddling with it. There are pretty tight restrictions on the height of my monitor, as I have a bad neck and back so really can't afford to move it more than an inch or two up or down.

GregorySharp · 30 October 2009, 11:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sightreader

Thanks for all the feedback guys! I did buy it, but I'm still trying to get it to work right.

The main problem I have at the moment is that I keep running into limits of how far I can turn my head before my "virtual head" freaks out. At first, I couldn't look more that 45 degrees up - the camera just freezes. I tried sliding the receiver (i.e. my monitor) up and down and also messed with the orientation of the headphone attachment. After a bit of this, I got it to look up, but then introduced a new problem - if I turn to the right, then after about 150 degrees my "virtual head" suddenly flips upside down, even though the little green dots are still moving about quite smoothly.

Between the two, I think I prefer the view freezing when I look up, despite it being impossible to "reel" in a guy I'm turning in after. The other one is just deadly after a head-on pass: you're tracking a guy zooming past you, then suddenly you've got this close-up of your seat cushion and can't tell how to adjust your head to find him again!

I'm still fiddling with it. There are pretty tight restrictions on the height of my monitor, as I have a bad neck and back so really can't afford to move it more than an inch or two up or down.

Just trust it's a fantastic product and you will get it at some point to your liking.

I can't wait to get the Sopwiths and the Fokker DrI.

Bleddyn · 30 October 2009, 01:23 PM

I found I had the same issue at first sightreader. I found it was caused by my monitor being a bit too low, leaving the TIR sensor at about eye height. I elevated it a bit by putting it on a little stand which now has the sensor just above my head. I realize you are limited as you said, but raise it up as much as you can.

Also, in a pinch if you just can't get the sensor higher, look into your lap a little bit (not too much) when you center. Then it will take less head motion to look 90 degrees up etc. I also had to learn not to move so much in my dang seat.

I am in a bit of a rush as I am posting.. but I will check back later and see if you need more help with setup.

sightreader · 30 October 2009, 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bleddyn

I found I had the same issue at first sightreader. I found it was caused by my monitor being a bit too low, leaving the TIR sensor at about eye height.

That's what I suspect as well, although it's the reverse situation for me: I need to have my monitor high, and it seems to behave better if I lower it. I think I'll probably be fiddling with this for a while... LOL

stevedrew · 30 October 2009, 10:09 PM

sightreader,

Perhaps Homeboy's guide to TrackIR can help you understand it better, and therefore assist you in tweaking the setup to your particular needs.

Setting Up TrackIR

Hope it can help

Steve

sightreader · 30 October 2009, 10:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevedrew

Perhaps Homeboy's guide to TrackIR can help you understand it better

Thank you so much for the help! I'm slowly starting to figure out it's limitations: basically, I'm starting to learn that you can't afford to let the green dots pass each other or TrackIR gets confused which dot is which, resulting in the view flipping catastrophically over after passing a certain point. In my setup, the monitor has to be unusually high for my back/neck problems and abnormally tall frame, meaning that it's a lot easier to get into extreme viewing angles, thus making these adjustments a lot more sensitive.