Track Clip Pro

[bruceb]

Interesting recent review on the Track Clip Pro on Avsim. Having powered LEDs as the tracking targets makes sense and may assist with hassles I have with Track IR pro. However I'm not attracted to having yet more wires on my already very cluttered computer desk. Never-the-less, it seems to me you could achieve something quite similar without the wires by adapting the design of battery powered LED headlight torches popular with campers and back packers (eg those made by Petzl). As with the design of headlight torches, the LED unit could be attached to the users head by means of a broad elastic band worn around the head and the batteries (two rechargeable AAA's should be sufficient) enclosed with LED unit or in a separate enclosure behind the users head.

Bruceb

[Catch22]

This has already been suggested.

I found this post in the TrackClip Pro forum:

Vincent:

We could have gone with battery power for the TrackClip Pro, but we felt that having the lightest weight device possible was paramount. Also, if we had done gone the battery route, we would have needed a status light to tell you it was "on", then a switch, then replaceable batteries, or a charging system, and then it just got to be more expensive and complex, so a wire it was, and lightweight it is. You can make it battery powered quite easily, just cut the cord or solder something to the clip part, very low power, like 16ma, so a battery could last for 24 hours, I am sure someone will make something, if the market demands it!

Link

[VincentG]

correct......

[bruceb]

Understood though I very much doubt that weight would be a problem at least based on the weight of my Petzl headlight torch. A charging system is also not an issue as recharging cradles for a variety of battery sizes are readily available at modest cost and many prospective users would already own one.

[VincentG]

The weight though, can add up very easily.