EDTracker Pro Wireless reviewed.

Globusdiablo · Aug 20, 2017

Important note to consider is that the EDTracker isn't affected by light/mirrors/glas/windows, meaning that you can play in a fully lit room. A factor that is key for me.

[video=youtube;DQu13lvpWdo]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQu13lvpWdo&feature=em-comments[/video]

jasonbarron · Aug 20, 2017

Globusdiablo said:
Important note to consider is that the EDTracker isn't affected by light/mirrors/glas/windows, meaning that you can play in a fully lit room. A factor that is key for me.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQu13lvpWdo&feature=em-comments

I love the idea of my ED Tracker Pro in theory, but I quit using it because I couldn't stand the cord adding to my already cumbersome headphone cord. I'm pretty excited about a wireless version, naturally.

Crank Larson · Aug 20, 2017

I got the wireless model as soon as it came out. Excellent piece of kit. I've attached it to a pirate hat (as I don't use headset). My setup is projector with full surround system, so I also didn't want any wires. The tracker is worth every penny.

Though I think I've lost my battle not to buy the Rift while it's reduced, so I may not get full use out of the tracker for long!

Carradin · Aug 20, 2017

Thanks for that review. I've had the wired version for a year or so and am very happy about it, but the cable does get in the way sometimes. I'll probably be picking up one of these.

Globusdiablo · Aug 20, 2017

CMDR Crank Larson said:
I got the wireless model as soon as it came out. Excellent piece of kit. I've attached it to a pirate hat (as I don't use headset). My setup is projector with full surround system, so I also didn't want any wires. The tracker is worth every penny.

Though I think I've lost my battle not to buy the Rift while it's reduced, so I may not get full use out of the tracker for long!

I use TV and full surround as well. HOTAS and bucket hat in my favourite chair smack in the middle.

I actually had a Vive and was initially blown away by the immersion factor. But be it Vive or Rift, they're both 1. generation and I was disappointed with resolution and FOV and ease of use (any kind of flip function (Sony VR) would make either VR tolerable in real life. So I sold it and bought EDTracker Pro Wireless instead. The best of both worlds.

Holding my breath for next generation VR though. If specs and pricing is right I'll be jumping straight back in.

jasonbarron · Aug 20, 2017

VR isn't an option for me given my family life, so a tracker and a top end monitor is going to be as good as it gets. I'm actually kind of excited about this version of the ED Pro the more I consider it.

Globusdiablo · Aug 20, 2017

jasonbarron said:
VR isn't an option for me given my family life, so a tracker and a top end monitor is going to be as good as it gets. I'm actually kind of excited about this version of the ED Pro the more I consider it.

It's amazing how quickly one becomes used to that camera control. Looking around (AND TARGETING!) becomes second nature.

Zeeman · Aug 20, 2017

Mine arrived a few days ago, and I've put in one session (about 2 hours) at a Compromised Nav Beacon.

I've also got a Track IR, and an Oculus Rift.

Now, I, for some reason, find myself getting nauseous with the EDTracker. Track IR allowed me far more freedom in terms of adjusting the curves for looking around. I like the centre to be quite dead, so that the screen is not moving around because I scratch my nose or yawn or something.

The wireless thing, however, was very nice.

I suspect I need to spend a little more time messing with the software and settings, though I suspect the fact that it acts like a joystick in ED may be the reason I can't make the adjustments I'd like. I'll keep messing with it, but perhaps Opentrack is the way to go to make better use of it.

Z...

Zeeman · Aug 20, 2017

Globusdiablo said:
It's amazing how quickly one becomes used to that camera control. Looking around (AND TARGETING!) becomes second nature.

I find the advantage of being able to visually track your target in a combat situation a big one. My K/d ration in CQC doubles with any sort of head tracking.

Z...

Maxmilian Czhilli · Aug 20, 2017

Zeeman said:
Mine arrived a few days ago, and I've put in one session (about 2 hours) at a Compromised Nav Beacon.

I've also got a Track IR, and an Oculus Rift.

Now, I, for some reason, find myself getting nauseous with the EDTracker. Track IR allowed me far more freedom in terms of adjusting the curves for looking around. I like the centre to be quite dead, so that the screen is not moving around because I scratch my nose or yawn or something.

The wireless thing, however, was very nice.

I suspect I need to spend a little more time messing with the software and settings, though I suspect the fact that it acts like a joystick in ED may be the reason I can't make the adjustments I'd like. I'll keep messing with it, but perhaps Opentrack is the way to go to make better use of it.

Z...

Opentrack is the way to go when using EDTracker with ED.

I use custom curves and filter settings to get a super smooth and natural feeling response. It's also in OpenTrack that you can do pseudo 6dof hacks. I use this only lightly in ED to make it feel like head movement rather than pointing a camera.

I also have a Rift but prefer to use the EDTracker for longer sessions. The Rift can't be beat for combat and technical flying but the EDTracker still does an amazing job in helping to give good positional information.

Cosmos · Aug 20, 2017

Its been interesting to see the ED tracker go from a startup niche diy project to fully commercial success, particularly for the guys who created it. I remember the days when the they had the drift problem, and tinkering with the code myself hehe. I still have my breadboard version, and still works a treat.

Zeeman · Aug 21, 2017

Maxmilian Czhilli said:
Opentrack is the way to go when using EDTracker with ED.

I use custom curves and filter settings to get a super smooth and natural feeling response. It's also in OpenTrack that you can do pseudo 6dof hacks. I use this only lightly in ED to make it feel like head movement rather than pointing a camera.

I also have a Rift but prefer to use the EDTracker for longer sessions. The Rift can't be beat for combat and technical flying but the EDTracker still does an amazing job in helping to give good positional information.

My plan is to use the Rift for combat, and EDTracker for when am am doing stuff that requires lots of keyboard interaction/galaxy map interaction.

I have bound my HOTAS to the Galaxy map, but it's still nowhere near as efficient to plot a route as a KB+M. I do wish there were a "flatten galaxy map" option for selecting routes for VR (make it work like in normal 2D mode).

Thanks for confirming my Open Track suspicions - I'll be downloading it tonight and having a good go. Hopefully, I can get it acting like how I have the Track IR setup, which doesn't make me nauseous.

I'm all excited for giving it another crack tonight!

Z...

jasonbarron · Aug 21, 2017

Zeeman said:
My plan is to use the Rift for combat, and EDTracker for when am am doing stuff that requires lots of keyboard interaction/galaxy map interaction.

I have bound my HOTAS to the Galaxy map, but it's still nowhere near as efficient to plot a route as a KB+M. I do wish there were a "flatten galaxy map" option for selecting routes for VR (make it work like in normal 2D mode).

Thanks for confirming my Open Track suspicions - I'll be downloading it tonight and having a good go. Hopefully, I can get it acting like how I have the Track IR setup, which doesn't make me nauseous.

I'm all excited for giving it another crack tonight!

Z...

I'm very curious to hear how that works for you. I wasn't able to get Opentrack working for my wired version

dreadspectre · Aug 21, 2017

I've had the Wireless ED Tracker for about 3 weeks now and it plays extremely well with OpenTrack (I'm using v2.2). I'm still playing with my curves in OpenTrack but it's been excellent from day 1.

The only downside (for me) is that I still get occasional "jumps" with the tracking (i.e. it twitches). I'm putting this down to possible Wireless interference, so I'm playing with different Wireless channels and also where I'm placing the USB dongle.

Andy_Pipkin · Aug 21, 2017

Still using the wired EDTracker Pro here (gonna order the wireless soon), but I don't think that twitch is related to the device.
I sometimes get a single twitch (1 frame jump, for a micro second) in SC or in RES-sites...it somehow feels like it's connection related.

Crank Larson · Aug 21, 2017

Globusdiablo said:
I actually had a Vive and was initially blown away by the immersion factor. But be it Vive or Rift, they're both 1. generation and I was disappointed with resolution and FOV and ease of use (any kind of flip function (Sony VR) would make either VR tolerable in real life. So I sold it and bought EDTracker Pro Wireless instead. The best of both worlds.

I did exactly the same thing. Pre-ordered the Vive, played with it for a couple of weeks, then sold it on (for a fair bit more than I paid for it, as it turned out). I also thought the resolution was a little low - didn't like having to lean forward to see the UI panels.

But for £400? I spent more on my graphics card, so at that price it becomes a different offer entirely. And I did finally lose my battle this morning and am expecting the Rift to arrive tomorrow.

Though I'm not allowed to take it out of the box until I've finished decorating my bathroom and front room! Had the Vive been reduced to £499, I may have been tempted by that - but £599 is still slightly high, in my opinion.

Globusdiablo · Aug 29, 2017

A quick heads up regarding "drifting/nodding off". I've found that giving left/right axis and up/down axis 3 clicks each in the in-game Dead zone setting gives that perfect smooth snap (if there is such a thing?) back to center.

The Dead zones can be found by expanding the 2 axis control settings.

NeilF · Aug 29, 2017

Zeeman said:
My plan is to use the Rift for combat, and EDTracker for when am am doing stuff that requires lots of keyboard interaction/galaxy map interaction.

I have bound my HOTAS to the Galaxy map, but it's still nowhere near as efficient to plot a route as a KB+M. I do wish there were a "flatten galaxy map" option for selecting routes for VR (make it work like in normal 2D mode).

Thanks for confirming my Open Track suspicions - I'll be downloading it tonight and having a good go. Hopefully, I can get it acting like how I have the Track IR setup, which doesn't make me nauseous.

I'm all excited for giving it another crack tonight!

Z...

Open Track makes the EDTracker just plug and play in any game that supports the TrackIR. It means no mapping need be done at all for ED... Definately worth using it...

Here's my curves if they help...

Connolly91 · Aug 29, 2017

Would be interesting to see how it stacks up to the new Tobii 4c integrated head and eye tracking.