Considering Track IR

[JN_]

Late reply, but here goes...

Overpriced, fragile piece of crap plastic (trackclip pro), breaks easily. But... totally worth it if you can afford it. I would not fly without it.

Disclaimer: I only fly VFR, and only have a single monitor. I also use saitek panels for manipulating radio controls and switches, which alleviates much of the difficulty with the view bouncing around.

Some suggestions for use:

It can be difficult to manipulate switches/controls with the mouse with the view bouncing around, so definitely map a button on your yoke/controller for freezing the camera.

Also, the center position of the view sometimes drifts a little, so definitely map a button on your yoke/controller for resetting the center position of the view. With this set up, sit in a comfortable position in your chair, look straight ahead, and invoke "reset view". Repeat as necessary over time. This should prevent you from getting the neck cramps that somebody else mentioned.

Also, the out-of-the-box configuration is very sensitive (I use x-plane). Definitely tweak the motion curves to massively scale back the sensitively. I also recommend decreasing the sensitivity even further near the center position so that subtle movements when looking straight ahead only move the view very slightly. When tuned properly, this should prevent most people from feeling motion sick.

My trackir 5 curve is attached here: viewtopic.php?f=3&t=2670&p=17344&hilit=trackir#p17344. I use x-plane and a single monitor, so I realize this may not be appropriate for all uses.

[Cyrus]

Waking this old beast up again...

I just received my shiny new TrackIR 5 unit and a dying to get cracking later tonight. Can anyone point me to a quick-n-easy FSX profile? Or maybe screenshots on what settings work best....?

Thanks in advance!

(I'm running 1920 x 1080 resolution)

[Cyrus]

Nevermind.....

I found this video and it seems to have everything I need (including integrating with EZDok):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kaxdff_5IzQ

(the magic TrackIR 5 profile on the Natural Point website seems to be "Seth - Flight")

[Ryan B]

That's the one I use... Can't get it working as well in XP though... XP is just weird with TIR... Like I slide all over the cockpit.

Anyone have a better idea?

[Pieces]

Grab the PilotView plug in. It's a pain to configure, but it fixes the awful default movement in X-Plane.

[Calvin Waterbury]

The key to function and keeping good health is using the freeze function. Don't just leave your TIR on all the time. Teach yourself to unfreeze it when it makes sense refreeze when an outside view is of little use (read: flying at FL350). This way you will always have your instruments available and you won't need to go to the chiropractor. Even if you are doing pattern work get in the habit of freeze/unfreeze/freeze. Once you train yourself pushing your freeze/unfreeze will be second nature. You won't even know you are doing it. This technique also reduces and/or eliminates resets.

My $0.02.

[Cyrus]

Thanks for the advice, Calvin.

Just to clarify: are you saying that it's good to be able to pause ("freeze"?) the TIR in order to make fine adjustments on small knobs, e.g. OBS, altimeter, etc.? If so, I was actually wondering how folks did that with a TIR - and now that you mention it, a "freeze" option seems to make a lot of sense. I've also got EZDok, so things should get interesting... but the video posted above seems to shed light on how to make them work in concert.

I wasn't able to get going with the new gadget last night .... but hopefully tonight.

[Ryan B]

Oh goodness without the freeze function (especially in XP10) I'd throw my entire PC out the window. Most clickspots in XP are a tiny nightmare and some for FSX are as well. With the freeze (I use keyboard F7, some use joystick buttons etc) I can make quick adjustments.

I tried that pilotview plugin didn't like it at all... and yeah the setup was a nightmare. Maybe I'll try it again sometime. I see they just released an update.

[Pieces]

I see they just released an update.

Where do you see an update?

[Ryan B]

Sorry to get your hopes up - it was XView not pilot view argh