DIY Head Tracker For A Tenner

magillag

magillag
My 9150 works great! Thanks for all the great work Brumster, et all !!!

I've got a couple questions though:

If my 9150 gets accidentally unplugged the GUI doesn't respond. ((After plugging it back in and waiting for recalibration) (I run it with a USB extension cable and it's still a bit too short)) The only solution i've found is to restart my PC...
Is there another fix for this?

I remember reading somewhere that the GUI should be closed after the initial pc startup (because it will log everything and eventually dump/crash).
Is this correct?
I'm asking because I've been leaving the GUI open & minimized so that I can use the 'reset headlook' key shortcut. I've found that If I close the program entirely then I can't reset the headlook. Additionally & interestingly: I use Voice Attack and set it 'Elite (client)' which, as I understand it, should only effect Elite. However in game I can speak 'reset headlook' and it will reset (if the Tracker GUI is running). I use this function regularly because my gaming chair isn't too good...
 
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Matt168

M
Just wanted to say that I assembled my own EDtracker with minimal experience of soldering and made a good enough job to get a working unit with no trouble at all. It took me longer to faff about with the enclosure than any other part of the assembly and spent more time than that finding the right settings for my own preference of how to use the device in a live setting. It really adds to my enjoyment of the game now. How I ever used to play ED without it, I'm not sure.
 

pocketmoon

P
magillag said:
If my 9150 gets accidentally unplugged the GUI doesn't respond. ((After plugging it back in and waiting for recalibration) (I run it with a USB extension cable and it's still a bit too short)) The only solution i've found is to restart my PC...
Is there another fix for this?
Click to expand...

Closing the UI, plugging the EDTracker into another USB port, and running the UI should work.


magillag said:
I remember reading somewhere that the GUI should be closed after the initial pc startup (because it will log everything and eventually dump/crash).
Is this correct?
Click to expand...

Running the UI minimised is best. When not minimised the EDTracker is sending data to the UI as well as the PC (as a joystick). This has a small performance hit. When minimised the UI only handles 'hot-key recentre' and that is virtually zero CPU usage.
 

{SAS}Stalker

{SAS}Stalker
pocketmoon said:
If the tracker is left laying down for any length of time it will loose it's drift compensation. You just need to rest the headphone upright, level and stationary and do a 'auto gyro bias'. Mag calibration should be fine, even if you stick it next to a phone, speakers etc, and you shouldn't need to redo mag-cal unless the envirnment changes (e.g. you move some speakers or change headphones).

At the moment drift compensation is done assuming the headphones are upright. I hope to add three-axis compensation so things stay stable even when the headphones are placed down but it's super-tight for space on the Pro Micro and easily sorted by the 20 second auto gyro calibration.

Or stick a pencil in your desk draw and hang your headphones on that :)

Rob
Click to expand...


Thanks Rob, Its good to know that its expected behavior.
 

AnTwanChi

AnTwanChi
Meet my friend 'Ed'...

2015-03-17-09.00.jpg

Handy use for an old ornament. Boot up UI, Auto Gyro Bias, 20 seconds, close UI, boot up Opentrack, play ED.

I don't always have to do this, but I like to know that all is working at its best. Having come from FaceTrack (which is a good starting point), I've just come on here to say that this is an amazing piece of kit. Keep up the good work! :)
 

NeilF

NeilF
AnTwanChi said:
Meet my friend 'Ed'...

View attachment 21915

Handy use for an old ornament. Boot up UI, Auto Gyro Bias, 20 seconds, close UI, boot up Opentrack, play ED.

I don't always have to do this, but I like to know that all is working at its best. Having come from FaceTrack (which is a good starting point), I've just come on here to say that this is an amazing piece of kit. Keep up the good work! :)
Click to expand...

If the UI could simpy have an option (tick box) to boot up straight into minimised mode that would be super useful. You could obviously just put it in your Start Up folder to start with your PC, so job done! ie: Nothing to manually run at all. Just ready to use!

ps: Not sure if you've done this, but a couple of small cable ties to bind the headphone cable and usb cable togethor along their lengths works very well. ie: So the cable becomes a single cable rather than two. You can sort of see it here - http://s13.postimg.org/fomwgh31z/DSC03695.jpg
 
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NeilF

NeilF
Any of you guys mounted the EDTracker on something other than headphones? ie: If you didn't have a headset (& mic) and just wanted a means to put the thing on your head, what would you use? And no, you can't just duct tape it to the top of our head!
 

tooterfish

T
NeilF said:
Any of you guys mounted the EDTracker on something other than headphones? ie: If you didn't have a headset (& mic) and just wanted a means to put the thing on your head, what would you use? And no, you can't just duct tape it to the top of our head!
Click to expand...
I can't stand wearing headsets for extended periods, so I bought a cheap alice band from amazon... and duct taped it onto that.
 
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FrodoHobbits

FrodoHobbits
NeilF said:
If the UI could simpy have an option (tick box) to boot up straight into minimised mode that would be super useful.
Click to expand...
A while ago, pre reinstalling my OS.
I created a batch file on my desktop that when double clicked would launch ED, VoiceAttack and the Tracker UI all at once. I used /min to start the UI minimised.
Worked a treat (don't know why I haven't done this again)
 

Avago Earo

Banned
Avago Earo
NeilF said:
Any of you guys mounted the EDTracker on something other than headphones? ie: If you didn't have a headset (& mic) and just wanted a means to put the thing on your head, what would you use? And no, you can't just duct tape it to the top of our head!
Click to expand...

You could do what I did and get the head band from an old pair of headphones. I did this with the band from an old pair if Seinheiser's that were broken with my DelanClip attached via a velcro pad. Without the ear cups I hardly notice it. I swap between that and headphones when I feel like it.

You could buy cheap ear defenders from Screw Fix or a similar trader and remove the cups

http://www.screwfix.com/p/comfort-ear-defenders-29-8db-snr/41054

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Proforce-...301?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item565ed4bb25

At first you may think that the head band won't stay in place without the ear cups but in my case there's no movement at all. Best try them on first though.

And I don't care what I look like when I'm gaming. That helps :)
 

Vorg

Vorg
In the setup guides, the sensitivity slider starts to the right and is moved to the left until you get count change. On mine, it started on the left and started changing at ~3/4 to the right.

Another question, Does the GUI need to be left running to use EdTracker ether as a joystick output or with OpenTracker?
 

brumster

brumster
Vorg said:
In the setup guides, the sensitivity slider starts to the right and is moved to the left until you get count change. On mine, it started on the left and started changing at ~3/4 to the right.
Click to expand...

Ah, you know what, that was fixed in the 4.0.4.0 GUI update but I do now need to update the guides to match...! Doh! Thanks for letting me know, I'll get that done sharpish....

Another question, Does the GUI need to be left running to use EdTracker ether as a joystick output or with OpenTracker?
Click to expand...
Nope, the GUI is only needed for flashing, calibration and (if you want to use it) the re-center hot-key function. Otherwise close it - or at least MINIMISE it.
 

Bad Nooz

B
Oh... My... God...

Got my EdTracker today after ordering it on Friday. Staps it to my headphones. Download the required stuff, follow the instructions (simple to follow) plug her in and set her up and.....

Oh... My... God...

Used FaceTrackNoIr previously and that is just.... meh, compared to EdTracker.

I cant paraise this product enough folks. Seriously.
 

cherny_prapor

cherny_prapor
So guys, any plans for a wireless version? I'm no expert at electronics, but shouldn't it be relatively easy to implement? Wouldn't, say, a small bluetooth UART board (like the HC-05) do the trick?
P.S. Please pardon me for trying to be a smart-ass :D I built a wired 9150 version, and I absolutely love it, however a wireless version would still be a 1000 times cooler :)
 

Nexolek

Nexolek
NeilF said:
Any of you guys mounted the EDTracker on something other than headphones? ie: If you didn't have a headset (& mic) and just wanted a means to put the thing on your head, what would you use? And no, you can't just duct tape it to the top of our head!
Click to expand...

Yup! When I'm not using voice chat I typically use speakers, so putting it on a headset isn't ideal for me.

So, I found a baseball cap, some velcro and a piece of styrofoam and stuck it on the front. A little binder clip to keep the cable from moving (cause it's THAT sensitive) and it's perfect!

IMG_0776[1].jpg
The magnets in my big headphones are far too powerful and make it go bonkers unfortunately. I thought it was defective at first but nope, just the headphones. Now I use my in-ear phones if I need them.

The foam is to make a nice flat surface to stick it to. It also raises it up to near head level. Took about 5 minutes and I use it near every day. It also looks incredibly silly :D
 
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