I have read a few posts here that describe problems with TrackIR. I have been looking at this technology to improve my sim experience, but don’t want to bother with it if it requires constant care and feeding.
Being a student pilot IRL, I want to be able to look around freely and the hat switches are not always the best way to do this. I am not yet seriously considering VR, but may do that as well.
Thank you!
I can absolutly recommend it.
One of the products (hardware&software) where I had almost no problems!
It locked up about 2x in the last 3 years. If it locks up (crash) then you need to restart the sim.
And make sure the sun does not shine through the window BEHIND you. It will track any source of heat/strong light behind you.
@vIrning2fly, I don’t know if TrackIR is something you want to invest in, especially with VR on the radar for Tuesday. I have been using a free app called opentrack (https://github.com/opentrack/opentrack) on my PC and a $10 app on my iPhone called SmoothTrack to get head tracking while waiting for VR. It works surprisingly well and its only a $10 investment. There are several threads in the forum describing how to do this so i wont be redundant.
Highly recommend. There are some videos that show how to set your curves. Watch and learn as someone elses settings may not be right for you. It does not take long.
Absolutely, I love using it. Where I have a setup with switches, panels and buttons, VR will not work for my setup.
I think VR is by far the best budget solution for beginners. Otherwise you are looking at TrackIR, triples, full on home cockpits and then it’s difficult to turn back. Of course if you have that already then this choice is more difficult. I’ve had TrackIR for a while, it’s somewhat convenient but I packed it away as soon as I tried VR for the first time - it was an easy choice for me as I only have a simple HOTAS setup perfect for VR, TrackIR has been gathering dust ever since.
I would totally recommend it. Only aspect to keep in mind is to avoid direct sunlight. Otherwise very stable and reliable. Haven’t had any trouble with it, well worth the money in my opinion.
I have been using TrackIR. Fantastic when it works but too many times going wonky and skewing the cockpit image 90 degrees that I couldnt recover fromjust when I was about to land.
I’ve just ordered Tobii 5 eye tracker.
Let’s see if this gadget is any better. Will let you all know.
I love my TrackIR. Works great in MSFS. Having the TiR pause and reset button on the yoke is a good idea. Sometimes, I only want it active when looking around, not all the time. There are keyboard keys for pause and reset but having them on the yoke is more convenient. Zooming in on the gauges is so much easier. Highly recommended.
More than likely, you will want to fine tune the motion curve (easy to do within TrackIR) for your preference. Some pilots prefer a fast motion… some like it slower. I have mine with a bit a centre null zone to keep the centre view more or less solid until I intentionally move. Fine tuning takes some trial and error but it’s not onerous. Then save the profile so it autoloads whenever you start TrackIR.
The only downside I have is the window behind my desk. It acts as a light source making the receiver confused. Even with the camera sensitivity lowered, it doesn’t work well. So I either close the blinds completely or only use it at night.
I too have to shut the window blinds.
VR a budget choice? My setup with a Delanclip and opentrack cost something like $60, and some people get by cheaper.
Triple screens is clearly very overkill for a beginner anyway. If you know you’re going to sim for years, VR might be a good choice, but since you explicitly said “for beginners” I strongly disagree.
Thank you for your suggestion. Is Oculus Rift a good set up to go with? I can order mine right away.
Flight Simulator is getting a significant update on Tuesday that will include support for a wide variety of VR headsets.
I have a TrackIR setup and like it. Although it’s not a perfect solution. None are of course, and will all have their limitations. With TrackIR, sometimes I feel like I’m intentionally using my head to push a camera around, rather than it being a totally natural head movement. I also sometimes feel like my monitor is a little window looking into an airplane, and I’m moving all around trying to see what’s inside. Using a widescreen monitor might help with this.
For these reasons, I’m jumping ship for VR. That too is going to have its own limitations of course, like not being able to see the controls anymore, the introduction of an entirely new display system and all of its quirks, and more demanding hardware requirements.
Maybe start with a DIY head tracker first if you have the time and patience, see if it works for you, and go from there?
If is going to be part of the platform and supported by MS, then that seems to be the way to go.
What VR gear do you recommend?
I have never used VR before so I’m not the best person to ask. I have a Reverb G2 on my desk that I haven’t taken out of the box yet. However, I have been following the reviews and recommendations of others. That headset is one of the latest and greatest, but also one of the most expensive and hardware demanding. Maybe not the best option for a student pilot on a budget? I went for it, however, because one of my main concerns is being able to read the gauges. Its 4k-like resolution should help quite a bit there with its increased field of view that would otherwise lower the detail you can see.
Thank you for that suggestion,
Thankfully, I have a full time IT gig and flying is a hobby, so I can (maybe) drop some money on VR gear.
I didn’t have chance to read any posts, but it works perfectly for me since day one
Absolutely. TrackIR in the UK is 180 pounds and the Rift S is 300 pounds. But when you factor in an ultrawide or triples to make TrackIR more comfortable then already TrackIR becomes more expensive.
Right, but TrackIR doesn’t have to mean the TrackIR brand. The comparison for a beginner should be a small setup, so head tracking might be $30-$40 vs VR at $405 USD (converted from 300 GBP).
I too use smoothtrack and opentrack on my android phone, it works flawlessly, for £10 you can’t go wrong.