Tristarcaptain 282 Posted June 25, 2016 Report Share Posted June 25, 2016 Hi all. I bought the TRAKIR 5 about a week ago. I heard that it was (almost) the best thing since sliced bread, but I am not so sure that I like it! Am I missing something? I have used the hat switch on the top of the joystick prior to my purchase, and I love being able to zoom in and out whilst in the cockpit, plus do the same when I have an outside view of the aircraft to watch the scenery. All this disappears with TRAKIR. I cannot look around the aircraft using the hat button (OK...I use that a lot to get my bearings whilst flying as I have not mastered instruments yet) and also loose the full use of the 'F9- F12' range of buttons on the keyboard as they should be used. I cannot see the side consoles when I look down and to the side, but my understanding is that you can tweak how much you see in different axis in relation to how much the head moves. (Am I right here?) Overall, I am very disappointed so far.....what do you guys think of this devise? Link to post Share on other sites
allardjd 1,853 Posted June 25, 2016 Report Share Posted June 25, 2016 Not sure what's going on with that. You can use the hat switch as before when you switch to 2D mode to get fixed views at 45 degree increments, but you can't use it to pan the 3D view as before. You do the same by just turning your head in the direction you want to look. You can zoom in on the panel instruments by simply leaning in a little closer. You can reprogram the TrackIR keys so they don't interfere with the F9-F12 keys. I also don't understand why you cannot see the side consoles looking down and to the side. Are you using the reflective hat clip, or did you go for the TrackClip which clips to your headphone and has active IR-LEDs for the TrackIR camera to track? The latter is much better, but it's an extra purchase. Something's not right with the way this is working for you. It IS the greatest thing since sliced bread. Have a look at these YouTube videos. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6V7IbKaJxbk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H2s32ik63gk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ORTrV_3rb48 This is the kind of experience you should be getting. If not, somethings broken or not set up right. Let us know. John Link to post Share on other sites
Captain Coffee 2,030 Posted June 25, 2016 Report Share Posted June 25, 2016 (edited) I use my hat switch while Track Ir is "Paused". While Track Ir is active it disables the hat switch because Track IR becomes the hat switch..and seat position keystrokes...etc. It takes over the Head Position features of the Sim until you Pause TIR....then the normal buttons/functions should work as normal. If you can't swivle your head view enough while TIR is on, it will probably require adjustments of the various Axis...there are Six of them...Yaw, Pitch, Roll, X, Y, and Z. Each Axis can be individually adjusted either "Coarsely" by simply adjusting the "Curve" (icon of Two Green Arrows just above the lower left side box that shows the Axis Curves...or by manualy tweaking the curves themselves...ie...adjust the "rate of turn" to be faster per the more you move your head to one side or the other. Mine required lots of tweaking to accommodate my unusual seating position on my sailboat...unless you are working from a smaller boat than I, I am confident you will be able to adjust yours. Things to check...is your TIR "Head device" showing as being Well Centered in the "Camera" window (top left of the main grid view window). Check the distance between the sensor device and your head device...too close and it will act buggy because of the reduced field of view of the sensor...give it some space...at least 2.5 - 3 feet away. Ensure that no stray light sources are shining on your Hat Clip...a typical issue that can cause false readings for the sensor. Im not sure why your f9-f12 buttons disabled...mine were never affected in any way...you should check the key assignments in the Sim to ensure those are still set up correctly. And yes...it is the greatest thing since homemade freshly sliced and buttered bread. Edited June 25, 2016 by Captain Coffee Link to post Share on other sites
Tristarcaptain 282 Posted June 25, 2016 Author Report Share Posted June 25, 2016 Wow! I hope that I can get it working like the YouTube videos. I guess that I need to do some more tweaking and reading of the dreaded manuals. I will also have to work out how to pause TRAKIR, which will help me do some of the views that I am used to. By the way, I have the version that clips onto a baseball hat. A big thanks to your replies so far and for giving me hope. Martin Link to post Share on other sites
allardjd 1,853 Posted June 25, 2016 Report Share Posted June 25, 2016 I thought looking at those videos might give you a point of reference for how it ought to work. The TrackIR software lets you reset their hot keys (e.g. pause, re-center) to other ones. I think their default key settings are in the F9-F12 range but can be easily reset to something else. If you can afford it I really recommend their TrackClip. It requires using a headset and requires a wire to the computer (just for power for the LEDs) but it does a much better job and is more immune to stray light sources, reflective objects in the room, etc. It has three IR-LEDs on little "stalks" and provides active points of light for the TrackIR camera to track instead of reflections from the hat clip. Some have reported success plugging the Trackclip into a backup battery pack in their pocket or Velcro'd to the top of the headset bow but I haven't been able to do that. Every one I plug it into lights up the LEDs for about 30 seconds and then shuts them down again - the smart-charging feature of the power-packs seem to interpret the LEDs as a device that's already fully charged - - - or something like that. That means I'm still wired to the computer even with a wireless headset, but I'll solve that sooner or later. Stick with it. That thing is magic once you get it working right and you won't regret it. If we can help we will. John EDIT: There is a key for toggling the pause feature of the TrackIR. I think the default is F9. When paused one of the LEDs on the camera goes amber. Link to post Share on other sites
Captain Coffee 2,030 Posted June 25, 2016 Report Share Posted June 25, 2016 14 minutes ago, allardjd said: I thought looking at those videos might give you a point of reference for how it ought to work. The TrackIR software lets you reset their hot keys (e.g. pause, re-center) to other ones. I think their default key settings are in the F9-F12 range but can be easily reset to something else. If you can afford it I really recommend their TrackClip. It requires using a headset and requires a wire to the computer (just for power for the LEDs) but it does a much better job and is more immune to stray light sources, reflective objects in the room, etc. It has three IR-LEDs on little "stalks" and provides active points of light for the TrackIR camera to track instead of reflections from the hat clip. Some have reported success plugging the Trackclip into a backup battery pack in their pocket or Velcro'd to the top of the headset bow but I haven't been able to do that. Every one I plug it into lights up the LEDs for about 30 seconds and then shuts them down again - the smart-charging feature of the power-packs seem to interpret the LEDs as a device that's already fully charged - - - or something like that. That means I'm still wired to the computer even with a wireless headset, but I'll solve that sooner or later. Stick with it. That thing is magic once you get it working right and you won't regret it. If we can help we will. John EDIT: There is a key for toggling the pause feature of the TrackIR. I think the default is F9. When paused one of the LEDs on the camera goes amber. Regarding F keys...you are correct sir. I forgot that I had reasigned the Pause and Precision modes to my Keypad "0" and "1". Regarding the battery packs and wireless headset set up. I had the same issue till I found a cheep pack at a Radio Shack that didn't have a "Smart Charge/shut off" feature. Works perfectly, cost less, and is quite small and lighter weight than the "Smart" ones. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
allardjd 1,853 Posted June 25, 2016 Report Share Posted June 25, 2016 3 minutes ago, Captain Coffee said: Regarding the battery packs and wireless headset set up. I had the same issue till I found a cheep pack at a Radio Shack that didn't have a "Smart Charge/shut off" feature. Works perfectly, cost less, and is quite small and lighter weight than the "Smart" ones. Thanks for that, Matt. Our local Radio Shack went belly up, but now that I know what the problem is I'll be looking for a dumb battery pack. John Link to post Share on other sites
Tristarcaptain 282 Posted June 26, 2016 Author Report Share Posted June 26, 2016 TRAKIR 5 UPDATE Okay...At the start of the weekend, I was on the verge of sending my TRAKIR 5 back to where it came from and getting a refund! Thanks to your encouragement and advise, I now have it working!!! I am glad that it was pointed out that F9 is a pause key, as I am so used to using that as a hot key to get the virtual cockpit (yep...I wondered why TRAKIR stopped working when I pressed a certain key!) It's also good to know, as I can now pause it and get other default views that I am used to when I have the need. Flying with TRAKIR is a learning curve and is taking some getting used to. For example, some planes respond to the range of F5 thru F8 keys for the flaps, and some don't. So I am having to learn where the flap switch is in some cockpits! (Of course, this is useful as if I fly across the Atlantic in a real 777, and the pilot becomes incapacitated, and the stewardess (sorry, cabin crew!!) asks if anyone plays Flight Sim, I will know where the flap switch is as I am not sure that there will not be a computer keyboard with an F7 button in the cockpit!!) I still have a lot to learn with this device, but thanks so much for your help so far....this is what this site is all about. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
allardjd 1,853 Posted June 26, 2016 Report Share Posted June 26, 2016 Attaboy! If one of the LEDs on the camera is amber, it's paused. Just a comment on my own experience with it... when I first started with it I'd experience a mild discomfort after a few minutes - not exactly nausea, but something milder, headed in that direction. As I used it more that effect went away entirely and I can use it continuously for hours now. If you find difficulty holding your head still to click on hot spots, it's pretty easy to create panel pop-ups for high-use items that require multiple clicks, e.g. tuning radios. Those remain stationary. Those can also be un-docked and dragged to a separate monitor so they're always visible, if you have one. If you would like to do that and need help, this is the place.... Congrats on the progress so far. Link to post Share on other sites
brett 2,314 Posted June 27, 2016 Report Share Posted June 27, 2016 Lots of folks with a high tolerance for hair pulling also use TrackIR alongside EZDOK with great success. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Captain Coffee 2,030 Posted June 27, 2016 Report Share Posted June 27, 2016 (edited) I cope with hard to click spots in the virtual cockpit by looking at the general area...hitting my easy to reach custom "pause track IR" button on the keypad (the fat Zero key)... And then zoom in if necc.with zoom buttons assigned on my yoke ...easy peasy. Brett...i have a full head of hair and no EZ Dock...and plan to keep it that way. Edited June 27, 2016 by Captain Coffee Link to post Share on other sites
Carliolian 2 Posted June 28, 2016 Report Share Posted June 28, 2016 If you have EZ DOK correctly set up with Track IR then you have perfection. You can move the view point with the hat switch, which moves the current viewing point, then you can look around that part of the cockpit with Track IR. No need to pause or press any buttons. Zoom works as well. I have a 'reset' button to return the view to the original view point. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
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