Not "smooth" at all!

[Wrongway]

I put off buying TIR for quite a while then finally slapped my credit card down and bought the system. Got the package today and ran through the installation.

Near the end of the installation I got the message:

The software you are installing has not passed Windows Logo testing to verify its compatibility with Windows XP.

Continuing your intallation of this software may impare or destabalize the correct operation of your system either immediately or in the future. Microsoft strongly recommends that you stop this installation now and contact the software vendor for software that has passed Windows Logo testing.

So I hit continue. I don't know if this message has anything to do with the problem at hand, but I've included it none-the-less.

Problem: In the game and in the "floating heads" configuration utility the movement of the three bars and the corresponding movement of the floating heads is very choppy. I'd almost compare the experience to extreme fps hits, but MSFS9 shows a steady 40 fps in the game and with the utility I don't notice any system problems.

I've cranked the "smoothing" setting all the way up, hit the precision button and nothing helps. I MAY have gotten smooth performance by turning on my bright desk lamp and holding the TIR headset in my hand and moving the set probably 6 inches from the sensor.

Is my computer hosed? My TIR? What am I doing wrong here? I'll call techsupport tomorrow after work, but jeez, this is such a let down right now.

Mike "Wrongway" Thometz
WWIIOL ... VFA-25
PACFIGHT ... VBF-12

TIR # 44822
TIR version 4.1.028

[ February 17, 2006, 12:16 AM: Message edited by: Wrongway ]

[Coffee999]

No your computer isn't hosed. And that message you got when installing is normal for everyone. Don't worry about it.

It sounds like you are getting interferance from other light sources. Try your system at night with no lights on and see if it helps. If so, during the day you need to close all drapes, etc.

Good luck.

[Oracle]

Make sure you are sitting approximately 36" away from the TrackIR unit. It definitely made a difference for me.

[rodom]

Within the TrackIR Software click "View" then "Tracking" and check to see if there is anything else except the 3 reflectors for the TrackClip showing.

[Wrongway]

Yeah, just talked to you on the phone, Rick. There's nothing else in the view that, just black and three green rectangles. I'm sitting a bit further that 36 inches away from the sensor, but not much (instructions said 2-6 feet is okay).

When I get to within like six INCHES, where the three dots basically fill the view screen, then the motion smooths out. Rick is going to check a few more things to help out, but even after talking to him I'm at a bit of a loss.

I'd like to say that even though this hasn't been resolved, the Natural Point tech support is great, I didn't have to hold, Rick is doing all he can to help out, and I was quite impressed.

If anyone else has an idea I'd love to hear it. Remember the copy machine scene in Office Space? Yeaaaaah, that may be happening to my computer in the near future.

[Coffee999]

That's all and good, but keep in mind, even though you only see three reflectors in thier right positions, doesn't mean that outside light still can't make it jump.

There has been many times that nothing but 3 reflectors shown up in that view, but still jumped all around. Once I shut off the light and closed the door shades that the view was rock steady. So don't be fooled by the fact that there is only 3 reflectors showing. outside light can still affected it.

So if it jumps, do what you can to make it as dark as you can. Then check it.

[Wrongway]

Well, thanks for the input, Coffee, my friend, but the thing isn't really jumping around. I guess I described the motion wrong. You know how things look while flying in WWIIOL after the Rats release a patch? Yeaaah. The horrid frame rate? That's what this looks like. The dots don't jump around as though there's another input influencing my little buddy atop the monitor. No. The dots go where they should, but they move across at like 1 FPS. That make sense?

And I tried turning lights on, turning them off in a completely darkened room, I tried all sorts of combinations. I found that the system tracks okay if I put my hat like six or so inches from the sensor, basically filling the track screen with the three dots.

I'm frustrated, to be sure, but not desperate yet. I have to work this weekend and Uncle Sam doesn't give me a day off until Monday and Tuesday. If I still can't get it to work right with the help here and from the local computer repair guy, I'm going to just have to go rent an 172 and get my Biannual Flight Review done rather than sitting in front of the computer. Probably healthier, though more expensive, than flight simming anyway.

Thanks for the input, guys, really. Why can't Charlie Brown have a normal dog like everyone else and why can't I have a computer that works right like everyone else. Arrrrg.

[Wrongway]

Ton, actually, I fixed the problem. What I did was I boxed the thing up and shipped it back to Natural Point who confirmed that the equipment was faulty. They happily sent me a replacement which I recieved yesterday. I LOVE IT. It works great. Don't stress too much about your computer or you doing something wrong, it's probably a bad device. Call Rick and ask him for a replacement.

Mike "Wrongway" Thometz

[tracktony]

Exactly the same here.. a friend of mine gave his trackIR (trackir pro: 41624) to me, because he couldn't get it to work smoothly ... .. and I can't either. I've tried playing with all settings.. but sampling rate is just dead slow..
When I go real close to the sensor it gets better or when I hold my thumb over 2 of the leds (then it gets really good, but obviously doesn't track anymore)..
I am in a completely dark room and just ran out of ideas..
Any suggestions would be highly welcome!

Thanks.

[ March 15, 2006, 12:59 PM: Message edited by: ton ]

[svenzeus]

Thats great news Mike.
I am the friend Ton is talking about and I had about given up on trackir.
Cant wait till the US wakes up so I can give Rick a call.