Hi,
Great product you have developed here. I just picked it up and so far its been working great. I use it primarily for IL2. I have an HTPC so im using this on a large HDTV. The only problem i have is that i sit pretty far away, so i fabricated a "boom" to stick out off the top of the TV to decrease the distance between me and the IR unit. I may end up mounting the device behind me, but i was just wondering if there is any type of reflective tape that i could pick up that would be more reflective than the stock tape on the clip now....? This way i may be able to sit the IR unit on top of the TV and get rid of the "boom". I currently sit about 6 feet from the TV and the boom is about 2 feet, closing the distance to 4 feet between me and the unit. Thanks in advance if anyone can help....
really neat product....
Increase TIR 4 distance?
Re: Increase TIR 4 distance?
Hi capttrob
What you may be able do is attach micro LED lights on the reflectors. You may have to go into 'Profiles/Edit/Tracking (window) settings' and un-check the 'Camera LEDs On' option.
Here's the blurb from the manual:
Camera LED's On
This checkbox turns on or off the TrackIR camera's internal Infrared LEDs. This box is checked by default and must be checked when you are using reflective material to have your head movement tracked. If you are using battery powered LEDs for tracking instead of reflective material, you will want to turn the TrackIR Infrared LEds off.
Also here's the blurb about distance:
Distance between the TrackIR and the user :
The optimum distance between the user and the TrackIR in Dot tracking mode is 18-24 inches, in Vector tracking mode the optimum distance is 24-36 inches. Using the TrackIR within these ranges will achieve the best balance between range of motion and tracking precision. We recommend having no more than 4 feet between the reflective target and the front of the TrackIR.
It might work further using LED's but I haven't seen anything posted for or against.
The only other option is your idea about mounting the IR unit behind. You'll have to reverse some or all of the axis though.
What you may be able do is attach micro LED lights on the reflectors. You may have to go into 'Profiles/Edit/Tracking (window) settings' and un-check the 'Camera LEDs On' option.
Here's the blurb from the manual:
Camera LED's On
This checkbox turns on or off the TrackIR camera's internal Infrared LEDs. This box is checked by default and must be checked when you are using reflective material to have your head movement tracked. If you are using battery powered LEDs for tracking instead of reflective material, you will want to turn the TrackIR Infrared LEds off.
Also here's the blurb about distance:
Distance between the TrackIR and the user :
The optimum distance between the user and the TrackIR in Dot tracking mode is 18-24 inches, in Vector tracking mode the optimum distance is 24-36 inches. Using the TrackIR within these ranges will achieve the best balance between range of motion and tracking precision. We recommend having no more than 4 feet between the reflective target and the front of the TrackIR.
It might work further using LED's but I haven't seen anything posted for or against.
The only other option is your idea about mounting the IR unit behind. You'll have to reverse some or all of the axis though.
Re: Increase TIR 4 distance?
hmmmm.. infrared LED's... thats a pretty good idea... sort of like the LED's in your remote control. You could probably get up to 10-15 feet away like a remote. Anyone have experience with this? The only thing i could see as impractical would be to have AA batteries on your head... Wonder if they make LED's that would last on something like a hearing aid battery....
Re: Increase TIR 4 distance?
I think they're just normal LED's not infrared. The IR screen picks up normal light sources too.
So if you keep to micros you could probably get away with using one or two AAA batteries. Nice and light.
So if you keep to micros you could probably get away with using one or two AAA batteries. Nice and light.
Re: Increase TIR 4 distance?
Or for another option. You can buy some raw material from our store and create slightly bigger reflectors that will work further back.
The main issue I've seen is that the further back you are the smaller your reflectors will get and then harder for the TrackIR to see and track. But if you double the size of the reflectors on the clip you may get away with a bit more distance.
Right now we have a 52 inch screen setup in our lobby area and we sit about 4-5 feet away using the standard clip with little to no issues. With you using the bigger reflectors on the clip you should be able to get away with 6 feet. It's worth a try atleast.
Heck if you give me some time I'll test it here before hand. Let me know.
The main issue I've seen is that the further back you are the smaller your reflectors will get and then harder for the TrackIR to see and track. But if you double the size of the reflectors on the clip you may get away with a bit more distance.
Right now we have a 52 inch screen setup in our lobby area and we sit about 4-5 feet away using the standard clip with little to no issues. With you using the bigger reflectors on the clip you should be able to get away with 6 feet. It's worth a try atleast.
Heck if you give me some time I'll test it here before hand. Let me know.
Re: Increase TIR 4 distance?
quote:Originally posted by NaturalPoint - Rick:
Heck if you give me some time I'll test it here before hand. Let me know.[/QB]That sounds fantastic. Let me know the furthest distance you can get and with which reflectors i need to get. I didnt realize you had a store with bigger reflectors. I just got TIR4 2 days ago. Still doing my research. Also if you could let me know how you mounted them?
Thanks Rick!
Im going to go check out the store now...
Heck if you give me some time I'll test it here before hand. Let me know.[/QB]That sounds fantastic. Let me know the furthest distance you can get and with which reflectors i need to get. I didnt realize you had a store with bigger reflectors. I just got TIR4 2 days ago. Still doing my research. Also if you could let me know how you mounted them?
Thanks Rick!
Im going to go check out the store now...
Re: Increase TIR 4 distance?
Just looked at the store. Would i get the 1 inch strips? And does it come with 3 strips as shown when clicking on the picture? Or would i go with the 52 dots page and use the square reflectors.... not sure of their dimensions...
Also, is there any possible way of boosting the output of the IR LED's in the unit? Im not a pc expert, so im not sure if there is a way to increase voltage to one USB port and/or by how much without damaging the unit.. If so, that may be another way....
[ February 27, 2006, 05:47 PM: Message edited by: capttrob ]
Also, is there any possible way of boosting the output of the IR LED's in the unit? Im not a pc expert, so im not sure if there is a way to increase voltage to one USB port and/or by how much without damaging the unit.. If so, that may be another way....
[ February 27, 2006, 05:47 PM: Message edited by: capttrob ]