DIY Head Tracker For A Tenner

[pocketmoon]

Given it a try -- no joy. Thanks for the suggestion, though.

I've tried uninstalling opentrack and virtualjoy in case they're conflicting -- don't seem to be. All I can think of left is to reset all the ED config files tomorrow and do all the keybindings again.

Perplexing.

-BW

Hmm.. indeed perplexing. So are you using EDTracker through opentrack ? If so ensure 'center on start-up' (under options) is disabled. That will conflict with the EDTracker reentering.

[edit] Ignore me - I misread the bit about uninstalled opentrack!

 

[Loriath]

Not done yet - tonight

Gotcha. Will test tomorrow and let you know.

 

[lordshadowfax]

It looks like I am using the exact same MPU-92/65 for my build

My problem though is it works okay after calibration, but after a few days the Yam axis will start becoming unstable and reading just started to jump and I have to recalibrate again.

Also as I have previously reported, the GUI won't reconnect to the tracker after flashing the firmware, or if I unplug it from the USB port and reconnect to the same port (use a different USB port will work), unless I restart my computer (Windows 7 64-bit)

 

[Loriath]

Not done yet - tonight

Tested and confirmed working. Thank you.

 

[Andy_Pipkin]

EDTracker Pro, UI 2.0.1.0:

Whenever I change my smoothing-setting, it will only save for the current session.
I clicked Apply Settings, and saved it to the default profile.
Even saving it to a custom profile, makes the smoothing setting revert to the old value, when I start a new session.

 

[brumster]

Works ok here for me - you are clicking "Profile -> Save" right? You must be, I take it. No error messages?

 

[brumster]

My problem though is it works okay after calibration, but after a few days the Yam axis will start becoming unstable and reading just started to jump and I have to recalibrate again.

A re-center doesn't fix it?
Failing that, an auto-bias doesn't either? You're having to do the mag calibration again?

Also as I have previously reported, the GUI won't reconnect to the tracker after flashing the firmware, or if I unplug it from the USB port and reconnect to the same port (use a different USB port will work), unless I restart my computer (Windows 7 64-bit)

So if you unplug and re-plug, does the COM port show up in Windows Device Manager?
If yes, are you saying that if you click "Scan ports" that COM port doesn't show up in the EDTracker DIY GUI, so you can never connect to it?
Irrespective of COM ports, does the joystick part show up on re-plug (in Windows USB Game Controllers)?

 

[brumster]

Well, my Hobby Components kit came today, so I've just soldered it all up, flashed the 9250 4.0.3 firmware into it and... it's absolutely fine (on initial test, at least). I'll do some extended play testing over the next week or two, problem is I don't actually play anything at the moment that makes use of head tracking, but I'll try and force myself to use it in something and check it works correctly over a sensible period. But so far, so good - which possibly isn't helpful to some of you, sorry!

 

[Szyslak22]

Oooo, on protoboard and without the tactile switch. Any chance you recorded it or have a few more pics? I've been slowly reading through this monster thread for a couple weeks to try and figure out how to do what probably took you 20 minutes to knock together

 

[Andy_Pipkin]

Works ok here for me - you are clicking "Profile -> Save" right? You must be, I take it. No error messages?

Yes, that's what I did.

But upon shutting down ED this afternoon, and closing the EDTracker UI from my taskbar (I always do that before I unplug it), I got a message saying that some settings got changed and if I wanted to save these.
I clicked Yes, the UI closed.
So I left the tracker in the usb port, and fired up the UI again.
Same old smoothing value set, not the one I had been playing with?

Win7 64bit, playing on Administrator account.

 

[Zplintz]

For the last 18 months I have been using a TrackIR5 + Pro Clip. It worked well.

Then the camera stopped working. It had been treated well and has no moving parts (on the camera) - I was a tad disappointed that it only lasted 18 months.

I wasn't prepared to buy another (they have always been overpriced IMO).

So I read up on the EDTracker (for less than 1/2 the cost). I expected it to not be as good as the TrackIR but hoped it would do the job....


Not only does it seem to track as well in normal circumstances but it doesn't suffer from needing to be recalibrated after turning your head further than the camera can detect. The movement seems more accurate, no camera on the monitor (1 less cable), no sticky out, fragile pro clip on the headset.

I so wish I had bought one of these instead of the trackir.

Thanks Guys.

 

[brumster]

Oooo, on protoboard and without the tactile switch. Any chance you recorded it or have a few more pics?

I certainly did watch this space! Or YouTube channel

Same old smoothing value set, not the one I had been playing with?

Win7 64bit, playing on Administrator account.

Ok, I've mentioned this to Rob, he's going to try and recreate. I noticed the smoothing value has a bug where it doesn't come back as the correct value, it comes back incremented or decremented by 1.

I so wish I had bought one of these instead of the trackir.

Thanks Guys.

Aww thanks buddy, it's feedback like that that makes it all worthwhile!

 

[Szyslak22]

I certainly did watch this space! Or YouTube channel

Ah, fantastic! Thank you sir I'm sure it will save me some agony, and hopefully others that come late to the project but still want to try a DIY build with the latest components.

I will say that reading through this thread has given me a new appreciation for the massive amount of effort you guys have put in to get to this point. Kudos and thanks all around.

 

[Andy_Pipkin]

Ok, I've mentioned this to Rob, he's going to try and recreate. I noticed the smoothing value has a bug where it doesn't come back as the correct value, it comes back incremented or decremented by 1.

Ok, thx.
Indeed, it's on 4, and if I set it to 5 it always reverts back to 4.

 

[lordshadowfax]

A re-center doesn't fix it?
Failing that, an auto-bias doesn't either? You're having to do the mag calibration again?

Re-center and auto-bias again won't help, and I have to do the mag calibration again to fix it.

So if you unplug and re-plug, does the COM port show up in Windows Device Manager?
If yes, are you saying that if you click "Scan ports" that COM port doesn't show up in the EDTracker DIY GUI, so you can never connect to it?
Irrespective of COM ports, does the joystick part show up on re-plug (in Windows USB Game Controllers)?

The COM port (say COM3) will show up again in Device Manager. Tried 'Scan Ports' but won't help. If I connect to another USB port (say port B), it will be seen again in a different COM port (say COM5) and able to connect. However if I disconnect it again, that USB port B will not work. I will have to find yet another port (say port C) to make it work again. This can reset after reboot. Windows USB Game Controller can see it connected all the time (also work in game), just GUI cannot connect.

I have included some screenshots for reference:
1. This is after I unplug and re-plug it.

2. This is after I plug into another USB port. Note Yaw axis reading is drifted from center, this time isn't the worst case, I had seen the reading jump up and down continuously.

 

[SentineI]

@brumster
Is this a known problem, and is there likely to be any fix for it?

2. If I put my headset down on the desk FOR A WHILE (which means my ED Tracker is rotated 90 degrees forwards), then I find that when I put it back on the tracking is very poor, and even pressing the reset button doesn't help. I have to physically unplug & replug the USB cable (and wait for the 20 sec recalibration) etc before I can reliably use it again.

I thought I remembered someone else reporting this as well...

 

[pocketmoon]

@brumster
Is this a known problem, and is there likely to be any fix for it?


I thought I remembered someone else reporting this as well...

Clicking the Auto Gyro Bias should do the trick (that's what happens when you plug in in). You can do this with it on your head if you keep still, only takes 12 seconds or so.

 

[NeilF]

2. If I put my headset down on the desk FOR A WHILE (which means my ED Tracker is rotated 90 degrees forwards), then I find that when I put it back on the tracking is very poor, and even pressing the reset button doesn't help. I have to physically unplug & replug the USB cable (and wait for the 20 sec recalibration) etc before I can reliably use it again.

This sort of rings a small bell for me from time gone by... But I've not encountered it for a long time. That said, I rarely put my headset down now:-
1) I store it on a hook mounted behind my monitor, so it's upright. Benefit being it's even basically aligned correctly, ie: direction is as if I were facing the screen
2) If I'm leaving it just for a short while (eg: wee break) I tend to just hang it over the top of my joystick, again in an upright position.

 

[FusionGb]

I do the same as NeilF, keep it upright.
I flashed my 9150 with EDTracker2_9150 4.0.4 , no problems, shouldn't Lordshadowfax try that and why is the temperature in the screencaps showing zero ?

@Brumster.. If I wanted to build a second tracker would a 6150 be a bad idea ( so cheap on Ebay right now ) ??

 

[badwolf77]

Hmm.. indeed perplexing. So are you using EDTracker through opentrack ? If so ensure 'center on start-up' (under options) is disabled. That will conflict with the EDTracker reentering.

[edit] Ignore me - I misread the bit about uninstalled opentrack!

Sorry, I was back in OS X and then been away for a few days and haven't had time to try anything further. Suffice to say I don't believe it's anything wrong from the EDTracker end, I was just hoping someone had seen a similar phenomenon.

Cheers,

-BW.