Is TrackIR really worth it?

Ray Nova

Ray Nova
Hello everyone.

I'm thinking about buying a TrackIR system for a long time now. The ability to look around ingame using my head as the 'controler' sounds pretty awesome and can be very handy.

However naturaly that comes at a price and Im not sure if Im willing to pay it if the product Ill be getting in return breaks on me.
The reviews I have red praise the accuracy of TrackIR but allso curse its cheap plastick frame. It sounds like itll break the first time ill put it on.

I know a lot of you probably allready use TrackIR so I would like to know:
Will TrackIr break under normal gaming conditions?

I do not slam my headset on the floor usually so i dont need a product made out of tanksteel but it would be terrible if it desintegrates while I try to attach/dettach it to my headset or when i put the headset with the tracker attached on the table.
 

AhSoul

A
I'm using facetracknoIR, a modified PSeye cam I had lying around and a 3 IR LED clip I bought off ebay. Total outlay <£25 and worth it just to be able to look left and right to trigger the side cockpit panels and look around the cockpit :)
 

Vasea Azure

Vasea Azure
It's a fenomenal tool well worth getting for Elite and any other sim. I use it every day and cant fly Elite with out it - you will get easy acces to every menu panel in the ship and will have a great situational awareness.
 

stevie

S
I use track ir for years n all different knd of sims/games.

My 2 Cr:
Get trackir with the trackclip (5 pro) and save the hassle with webcams or other stuff.
 

Flip

Flip
I've been using a TrackIR for years and nothing ever broke. I think what you refer to with "cheap plastic frame" is the active TrackClip Pro (or what it's called). I have one , but I don't use it (first because it attaches to the side of the headset, so when you turn your head in that direction, the TrackIR quickly loses track of it, and second because it takes another USB port and that's one more cable attaching you to the computer). Instead, I use the passive three reflectors thingy that came for free with the TrackIR, and I've always been very happy with it.

Anyway, I read that the TrackClip Pro has been improved and is now much less fragile than it used to be. Can't comment on that myself, though.
 

Casimyr

Casimyr
You can use FaceTrackNoIR to use a webcam to face track, it works alright but can be a bit wonky here and there. You'll also want decent lighting to assist the camera with "seeing" your face.

You can also use FaceTrackNoIR as an IR tracker. If your camera can see IR, which many can or can be tweaked to see IR, and buy a IR tracker clip from Amazon/Ebay for $20 or so, or build your own if you are handy and can do basic soldering/electronics. I built my own and it cost about $7 and gave me enough parts to build 4 IR trackers.

You can also search these forums or Google EDTracker. It is a tracking device specifically for Elite and has been getting some great reports. You can buy their printed board and solder on the components yourself for a few dollars or buy a built one from the, which takes longer to receive, and you just have to follow their FAQ to get it working and set to go in game.
Right now there is delays due to holidays, since they build the things in their spare time outside of their normal jobs so they're taking a break for the holidays.

If you're going to play a bunch of other games that are sims or whatnot, then yes, TrackIR V5 can be worth the purchase. If you are thinking of it only for Elite then you have a couple other options to explore.
 

prasak

prasak
My tracklip pro holds together on a basis of vast ammount of duct tape, but it still works :D Anyway untill I had children, it was surviving pretty well and never broke. If price is your concern, you may search for other similar tracking devices which are available for ED.
 

Sandmann

Sandmann
I use EdTracker, so I can't speak to the actual Track IR product, but is head tracking worth it? Heck yeah... it adds quite a bit to the game and it's very intuitive to use, feels natural.

If you're concerned about the cost of Track IR, look at the Ed Tracker instead. If you're not confident enough to build it yourself they'll do it for you for about 25 UK pounds.
 

stevie

S
Flip said:
it attaches to the side of the headset, so when you turn your head in that direction, the TrackIR quickly loses track of it
Click to expand...

I actually never lose track - ever - with the track clip. The reflectors did though (looking up).
You did place the IR on the top side (left or right) of your screen right?
 

Captain Zoe E Summers

Banned
C
Ray Nova said:
Hello everyone.

I'm thinking about buying a TrackIR system for a long time now. The ability to look around ingame using my head as the 'controler' sounds pretty awesome and can be very handy.

However naturaly that comes at a price and Im not sure if Im willing to pay it if the product Ill be getting in return breaks on me.
The reviews I have red praise the accuracy of TrackIR but allso curse its cheap plastick frame. It sounds like itll break the first time ill put it on.

I know a lot of you probably allready use TrackIR so I would like to know:
Will TrackIr break under normal gaming conditions?

I do not slam my headset on the floor usually so i dont need a product made out of tanksteel but it would be terrible if it desintegrates while I try to attach/dettach it to my headset or when i put the headset with the tracker attached on the table.
Click to expand...

Yes, and it will always be much better than the 'Rift, because you don't lose your presence and you can do other things without leaving the game world.

It's amazing and worth every penny.
 

Zenicetus

Zenicetus
I've used TrackIR5 for a couple of years, mostly in Rise of Flight and X-Plane before I bought the ED Beta last summer. It's so useful and so much fun, that I wouldn't play any of these games without a head tracker of some kind.

However, I will say that it's only about 50% as useful in ED as it is in an air combat sim with an open cockpit like Rise of Flight, or a modern jet fighter sim with a bubble canopy where there is far more view area, including being able to "check six" on your tail. In ED, I have to keep glancing at the scanner to maintain full situational awareness for ships out of view. But ti's still better than a fixed view, or panning with the joystick hat.

There isn't anything likely to break if you use the standard hat clip reflector. The TrackClip Pro *is* a bit flimsy, and I did manage to break mine at the lower hing area, after about a year. But a little Superglue and electrical tape fixed it, and it still works fine. I'm always on headphones when I'm in an ED gaming session where I'm likely to get into extended combat, so it's no big deal having an extra wire taped to the headphone cord. YMMV, and the standard reflector clip is a reasonable option if you don't have bright lights behind you.
 

Flying Penguin

Flying Penguin
Is some form of head tracking worth it? Hell yes!

Now there are cheaper options, but the most plug & play and widely supported solution is TrackIR. Yes it's more expensive than other options but I found it worked much much better for me than the face tracking options.

One tip though, don't get the TrackClip Pro, they are flimsy pieces of junk. Instead buy a DelanClip from this guy: http://www.delanengineering.com/ They are sturdy (metal!) and fully compatible with TrackIR, just press the TrackClip Pro button in the provided TrackIR software.

Once you get set up with head tracking, you won't want to play without it.

- - - - - Additional Content Posted / Auto Merge - - - - -

Zenicetus said:
The TrackClip Pro *is* a bit flimsy, and I did manage to break mine at the lower hing area, after about a year. But a little Superglue and electrical tape fixed it, and it still works fine.
Click to expand...

http://www.delanengineering.com/

Waaaay better than supergluing it repeatedly :)
 

Casimyr

Casimyr
Sandmann said:
I use EdTracker, so I can't speak to the actual Track IR product, but is head tracking worth it? Heck yeah... it adds quite a bit to the game and it's very intuitive to use, feels natural.

If you're concerned about the cost of Track IR, look at the Ed Tracker instead. If you're not confident enough to build it yourself they'll do it for you for about 25 UK pounds.
Click to expand...

To add on this, I ordered an EDTracker as well and since they have been getting good reports, two from people that I trust and are using it, I opted to have them build it for me to provide more cash.
It was $40 USD, including shipping. If anyone in America was curious of the "pre-built" costs.

I did not opt for the "upgraded" MPU-9150, as the drifting issue isn't really an issue to me. I have to push a button once every few hours? OH NOES!
My current IR tracker gets weird here and there and I have to recenter it as it is.
 

The Gael

The Gael
Ray Nova said:
Hello everyone.

I'm thinking about buying a TrackIR system for a long time now. The ability to look around ingame using my head as the 'controler' sounds pretty awesome and can be very handy.

However naturaly that comes at a price and Im not sure if Im willing to pay it if the product Ill be getting in return breaks on me.
The reviews I have red praise the accuracy of TrackIR but allso curse its cheap plastick frame. It sounds like itll break the first time ill put it on.

I know a lot of you probably allready use TrackIR so I would like to know:
Will TrackIr break under normal gaming conditions?

I do not slam my headset on the floor usually so i dont need a product made out of tanksteel but it would be terrible if it desintegrates while I try to attach/dettach it to my headset or when i put the headset with the tracker attached on the table.
Click to expand...

DO NOT get the cheapy homemade ones. I'm aware not everyone can afford it, but TrackIR is no comparison to the others. For good reason too. Naturalpoint put a lot of good tech in the trackir.
Can't play without it.
 

Oheck

Oheck
I've had a trackir 5 for years, and it has never had any issues. couldn't recommend it highly enough really. it's made for this type of gameplay.
 
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