I got a nice tight fit of the tracker in the box and I'm happy with the results.
ItsIt'not as tidy as yours mind. s
DIY Head Tracker For A Tenner
- Thread starter Dead Fred
- Start date
I got a nice tight fit of the tracker in the box and I'm happy with the results.
ItsIt'not as tidy as yours mind. s
http://www.edtracker.org.uk/index.php/downloads
The document (PDF) there explain it. I've got Vista64, but the 64bit GUI (calibration wouldn't work) so in the end I used the 32bit version.
Just plant your ed tracker in a solid stationary place and run the program... press 3 - same as pressing your button on the head set.
Wait 10-15 minutes and if you've "yawed" press 8 to program that "drift" into the unit.
Press 3 again and wait 10-15 mins and hopefully the drift will be far far less.
Ah, smashing stuff. I didn't see the big "Buy" option in the menu 
Thanks.
Thanks.
Forgive me for interrupting this immensely long thread - which replaced the previously immensely long thread that came after the one that originated in an Alpha backers thread...
How about we start again, again... and if anyone's up to it, update the first post (OP) with all the questions/answers regarding Ed Tracker as they come and ultimately go - ie evolve.
The challenge to follow progress in this amazing project is beyond my hamsters ability and confess mine too.. I got mine working by shear luck and help from another backer months ago.. I daren't tamper with it now as I know not what i do & will never understand!
Please can we have a pseudo 'sticky' first page updated by EDTracker's creators to save wading somewhat confused through the masses of 'this doesn't work' 'how can i' 'what if i do this' 'tried this and it works' and 'has anyone tried drugs' etc
How about we start again, again... and if anyone's up to it, update the first post (OP) with all the questions/answers regarding Ed Tracker as they come and ultimately go - ie evolve.
The challenge to follow progress in this amazing project is beyond my hamsters ability and confess mine too.. I got mine working by shear luck and help from another backer months ago.. I daren't tamper with it now as I know not what i do & will never understand!
Please can we have a pseudo 'sticky' first page updated by EDTracker's creators to save wading somewhat confused through the masses of 'this doesn't work' 'how can i' 'what if i do this' 'tried this and it works' and 'has anyone tried drugs' etc
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Not a bad idea, if the mods are OK with it. I obviously can't update the first post in this thread....
Ultimately the website should be your source; I would prefer this to be the "official" place to go, rather than my personal website or Rob's blog, not that the latter isn't interesting or useful.
You've got ordered sections on building it and using it. There's also a PDF guide in the downloads section for flashing, although it is awkward to have to update two sets of information so I'm not sure how long that will survive over the coming software updates, or I move to just doing the PDFs and make the website instructions very high-level. You can also search it, of course.
In short :
Once you're done, use it and abuse it
Actually, just use it, please. Gyro abuse is an ever-increasing problem in the modern world. Hundred of Gyro's need re-homing globally every month due to mistreatment - being shook viciously, or being starved of exercise. I've even seen some examples of them being strapped down by elastic bands and left for hours on end.
Ultimately the website should be your source; I would prefer this to be the "official" place to go, rather than my personal website or Rob's blog, not that the latter isn't interesting or useful.
You've got ordered sections on building it and using it. There's also a PDF guide in the downloads section for flashing, although it is awkward to have to update two sets of information so I'm not sure how long that will survive over the coming software updates, or I move to just doing the PDFs and make the website instructions very high-level. You can also search it, of course.
In short :
- Build it or Buy it
- Flash It with Calibration Sketch
- Calibrate MPU
- Flash It with Main Sketch
- Calibrate Yaw Drift & Play!
Once you're done, use it and abuse it
Actually, just use it, please. Gyro abuse is an ever-increasing problem in the modern world. Hundred of Gyro's need re-homing globally every month due to mistreatment - being shook viciously, or being starved of exercise. I've even seen some examples of them being strapped down by elastic bands and left for hours on end.
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^^
If I can add one thing. I'd suggest where possible be careful about "technical terms". ie: When you talk about a "Sketch" or "Calibrate MPU," for people like myself who don't have a good understanding, the words/phrases don't really mean anything. So I'd suggest any documentation etc tries to use alternative more generic (friendlier) terms?
ie: When I came to run the calibration software I found all the talk of downloading and using a "sketch" confusing and a little intimidating
Just my take on it.
If I can add one thing. I'd suggest where possible be careful about "technical terms". ie: When you talk about a "Sketch" or "Calibrate MPU," for people like myself who don't have a good understanding, the words/phrases don't really mean anything. So I'd suggest any documentation etc tries to use alternative more generic (friendlier) terms?
ie: When I came to run the calibration software I found all the talk of downloading and using a "sketch" confusing and a little intimidating
Just my take on it.
^^
If I can add one thing. I'd suggest where possible be careful about "technical terms". ie: When you talk about a "Sketch" or "Calibrate MPU," for people like myself who don't have a good understanding, the words/phrases don't really mean anything. So I'd suggest any documentation etc tries to use alternative more generic (friendlier) terms?
ie: When I came to run the calibration software I found all the talk of downloading and using a "sketch" confusing and a little intimidating
Just my take on it.
This is a good and fair point; I will do my best
I'm hoping that we can largely ditch the IDE/sketch approach soon. Not that we are trying to close-source it or stop people doing it, not at all, but it's just more hassle than it's worth and most people don't want it. It'll still be there for those that want to, but I think we can then assume a certain level of knowledge and make the instructions generic and needing far less updates.
So it might be that the Arduino IDE based instructions don't need to be quite so "user friendly" anyway...
Ironically, the USB differential pair (D+, D-) is often nicely protected against both ESD and overvoltage. Shorting the Vcc pin usually isn't though, unless your motherboard has some really good resettable fuses. It's not impossible to damage things (e.g. kill a root hub or worse).
Ian Phillips
Volunteer Moderator
Guys,
can I request a simple calibration guide for people like myself who have zero interest in wading through a load of stuff to find out what to do.
Some thing like
1) Go to WWW.xxx.yyyy website.
2) go to downloads.
3) download ppp.zip and install it, following these instructions.....
3) start program calibration.exe
4) follow these steps to calibrate your device.
At the moment I have found the website and download page. I "think" I have to get the developers tool? Not really sure, and there are 6 things to download, but what are they for? Which do I need?
OK. I get the pdf is an instruction manual for programmers and that there are 32 bit and a 64 bit versions of the programs.
can I request a simple calibration guide for people like myself who have zero interest in wading through a load of stuff to find out what to do.
Some thing like
1) Go to WWW.xxx.yyyy website.
2) go to downloads.
3) download ppp.zip and install it, following these instructions.....
3) start program calibration.exe
4) follow these steps to calibrate your device.
At the moment I have found the website and download page. I "think" I have to get the developers tool? Not really sure, and there are 6 things to download, but what are they for? Which do I need?
OK. I get the pdf is an instruction manual for programmers and that there are 32 bit and a 64 bit versions of the programs.
Thankyou
Got mine working last night - what a fantastic little device
Smooth and fluid motion, minimal response delay - no appreciable yaw drifting, didn't have to reset or touch it (only played for an hour or so)
Thanks Dead Fred for setting mine up, and brumster and pocketmoon for an amazing initiative that makes a massive yet subtle difference when playing
I followed a "players" version of the setup on the edtracker.org.uk website, fairly simple -
install drivers,
run 64bit commandline update tool to flash ESTracker2calib calibration sketch,
run 32bit gui to calibrate (64bit version didn't work,despite 64bit OS)
run 64bit commandline update tool to flash EDTracker2 sketch
run 32bit gui to monitor and check all working
run game, map headlook to analog axis (fiddle with invert axis to get it right), play and look around my sidewinder!
(Yes Dead Fred, I know you had already done all that but I'm an incorrigible tinkerer and can't help wanting to know how it works to make sure I knew what to do if it started playing up )
Cannot wait for 29th now, the ability to watch people blowing me up from many different angles shall be fun
Got mine working last night - what a fantastic little device
Smooth and fluid motion, minimal response delay - no appreciable yaw drifting, didn't have to reset or touch it (only played for an hour or so)
Thanks Dead Fred for setting mine up, and brumster and pocketmoon for an amazing initiative that makes a massive yet subtle difference when playing
I followed a "players" version of the setup on the edtracker.org.uk website, fairly simple -
install drivers,
run 64bit commandline update tool to flash ESTracker2calib calibration sketch,
run 32bit gui to calibrate (64bit version didn't work,despite 64bit OS)
run 64bit commandline update tool to flash EDTracker2 sketch
run 32bit gui to monitor and check all working
run game, map headlook to analog axis (fiddle with invert axis to get it right), play and look around my sidewinder!
(Yes Dead Fred, I know you had already done all that but I'm an incorrigible tinkerer and can't help wanting to know how it works to make sure I knew what to do if it started playing up
)Cannot wait for 29th now, the ability to watch people blowing me up from many different angles shall be fun
Grab a wiimote, bluetooth adapter and cheap usb sensor bar, free glovepie software and you can use that with zero electronics knowledge. Attach the wiimote to the top of a cap/hat of some kind.
Thankyou Guys
Ordered my ED Tracker Thursday night and arrived Sat afternoon. Followed the instructions, made some mistakes and boom...in game and looking around
Spent this morning delving around for a small box and modifying it to take the board. I've now spent the rest of the afternoon playing combat 1.0 trying to hone my skills before Tuesdays release (If only I could stay on target, I'd be superb!).
Thanks to the guys for all your efforts in getting this out to us and especially to Dead Fred for the excellent service offered (although watch out for the hard sell on the pink usb cables, I don't think he can shift them so salesman tactics are deployed!!!!)
I have one question, can the range of head movement be altered on the x-axis (ie turn the head less to achieve full backwards glance)? It works well, but my personal preference would be to be facing the edge of the monitor so that my eyes easily can look back at the centre of the screen. I saw something earlier mentioned for version 1 but 1) can't find it again and 2) not seen anything mentioned for v2
Once again, many thanks Ian (aka Squiffy101)
Ordered my ED Tracker Thursday night and arrived Sat afternoon. Followed the instructions, made some mistakes and boom...in game and looking around
Spent this morning delving around for a small box and modifying it to take the board. I've now spent the rest of the afternoon playing combat 1.0 trying to hone my skills before Tuesdays release (If only I could stay on target, I'd be superb!).
Thanks to the guys for all your efforts in getting this out to us and especially to Dead Fred for the excellent service offered (although watch out for the hard sell on the pink usb cables, I don't think he can shift them so salesman tactics are deployed!!!!)
I have one question, can the range of head movement be altered on the x-axis (ie turn the head less to achieve full backwards glance)? It works well, but my personal preference would be to be facing the edge of the monitor so that my eyes easily can look back at the centre of the screen. I saw something earlier mentioned for version 1 but 1) can't find it again and 2) not seen anything mentioned for v2
Once again, many thanks Ian (aka Squiffy101)
have you set the edtracker to exponential mode? you can to this in the edtrackerutil.
Finally got round to updating my prototype with the new sketch code.
Got the 64bit command line util and Java loaded.
Wiped EEPROM
Flashed Calibration
Couldn't get 64bit GUI to work, White main screen and Java Console window searching for the EDTracker.
32bit GUI worked fine though.
Calibrated with board temp steadyish at 56.5, but temp kept slowly climbing, decided I needed ventilation on my project box.
Project box duly ventilated then flashed the Main sketch.
Device eventually stabilized at 59 degrees C. So I then set the drift compensation, job done.
Just one note when trying to get the 64bit GUI working I notice it launches 2 console windows looking for the EDTracker one is placed behind the other. Is this possibly what is causing the issue?
Got the 64bit command line util and Java loaded.
Wiped EEPROM
Flashed Calibration
Couldn't get 64bit GUI to work, White main screen and Java Console window searching for the EDTracker.
32bit GUI worked fine though.
Calibrated with board temp steadyish at 56.5, but temp kept slowly climbing, decided I needed ventilation on my project box.
Project box duly ventilated then flashed the Main sketch.
Device eventually stabilized at 59 degrees C. So I then set the drift compensation, job done.
Just one note when trying to get the 64bit GUI working I notice it launches 2 console windows looking for the EDTracker one is placed behind the other. Is this possibly what is causing the issue?
Currently you have to use the Arduino Programming IDE and sketches to make low level adjustments to how the EDTracker works. Specifically the Exponential values which default at 8. I Have mine at 10 or 12 while I think Brumster in his video set his to 14.
Personally i'd wait. A new version of the sketches and UI tool are supposed to be out soon which should hopefully make everything a bit easier.
Thank you!
Got it working with a few emails from pocketmoon! Many thanks kind sir! Its like the difference between batmans no neck move costume and bales batman, just awesome to be able to look around so freely!
Thanks guys!
Got it working with a few emails from pocketmoon! Many thanks kind sir! Its like the difference between batmans no neck move costume and bales batman, just awesome to be able to look around so freely!
Thanks guys!