Major Improvment DOT MOD

[Toad465]

Edit this thread of 2003 has lost the pictures, but you can still view them from this sight.

http://dangerdogz.com/forums/topic/4498 ... p-needing/


S! All

Here ya go, this works GREAT! I have some pics of needed supplies. 3/4 inch wooden balls ( I think 1/2 or even 1/4 inch ones would work too I just haven't found any yet) .99 cents at hobby store and some reflective tape. You can get it from TrackIR or a Mechanics tool dealer and who knows where else. Mine is from my SnapOn tools infared digital tach. And some sort of glue I used my Wifes Hot glue gun. Also an old pair of glasses mine are some cheap fishing glasses that had scratched lenses, I popped them out. This made such an improvment from the Dots for me I just had to let it out. I'm sure there is some sort of tweaking left to it. Or even different mounting of ball, to hats or Tongue peircings or what ever If you try it I hope it impesses you as it did me.

Here are pics.

http://home.mchsi.com/~tagalong/suppliesflash.JPG

http://home.mchsi.com/~tagalong/Front_view.JPG

http://home.mchsi.com/~tagalong/Frontflash.JPG

http://home.mchsi.com/~tagalong/Back_view.JPG

http://home.mchsi.com/~tagalong/Backflash.JPG

http://home.mchsi.com/~tagalong/Bottom_view.JPG

And here is a track of it being used. (UPDATE) both tracks have been tested outside of my machine they both work now. I had to compress them for online storage, they got corrupted somehow when not. (make sure you veiw them with the manual view switch off , down position to see what I see)

http://home.mchsi.com/~tagalong/TrackIR_mod_demo.rar

And if that didn't work try this one

http://home.mchsi.com/~tagalong/TRACKIR_DEMO_.rar

I was going to post a movie but found out it was going to take more time than it was worth Fraps stored it a little over a gig LOL If I get time or someoneelse takes the trak and makes a movie of it let me know. I'd like a copy of it.

This is way easier than the Infra red LED Mod, besides I havent seen any instructions on it anyways. Guys post stuff but seldom give the details, I'm from Missouri the SHOW ME STATE. It works in the daylight and Dark too. I recorded track at 2pm with the sun shinning into the room.When you do it you will find that the TracIR stock setup on Deadzone is all you need, I have enough room to back away from sensor 5 feet and it never skips a beat.I was 2 1/2 foot from it duirng the track.

Well good luck enjoy and keep me posted on how it works for you.

Here is a thread thats getting feedback on all this. http://oldsite.simhq.com/simhq3/sims/boards/bbs/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=98;t=002217

[ July 30, 2003, 05:48 PM: Message edited by: T_O_A_D ]

[Toad465]

Ok here are a couple testimonials of this. I had more but SimHG won't let me bring them up says a dead link.

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Hi T_O_A_D! Really nice post on your "trackIR cheap fix"! I watch your demo files and you seem to have been able to adjust the motion speed really nice. I was wondering if you might consider to send me your IL-2 FB trackIR profile? My email is: ==========Thanks in advance! //Jonas
Worked like a charm, made a ball just like yours and i works great! However..i used the ball as an excuse to by me a Killkenny beer with a ball inside - used that when i had finished it lol
Found a good link here with alots of info on the beer: http://student.cs.ucc.ie/~pmk3/html/beer.html The can includes a small plastic ball inside to ensure that the cream is good when u serve the beer. That is the ball i used for trackIR hehe. Btw.. i'm from Sweden

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Hey Dude! I just wanted to let you know, I've had a TrackIR for a few months and it's been taking up space because I didn't know how to set up a custom profile and the tracking just wasn't smooth enough. I had seen your "TrackIR fix" and although it wasn't that I didn't believe you, I didn't think it would make THAT much difference...I was SO wrong. I was using 6 dots in a connected pyramid shape on the bill of a ball cap with very little success. I went to Michaels today (you know, the craft store?) and got some pre-drilled 1/2" wooden balls, 3 ft of 1/8" dowel rod, some reflective tape and velcro strips. The dowel rod fit perfectly and I wrapped the balls with 1/8" strips of the tape. I cut the rod to about 5" and merely attached it to the top of the bill of the cap with the velcro....VOILA! It sticks out about 3" (which is good) and the tracking is very precise and smooooth. All I can say is, I should have done this sooner. I'm sure if more people tried this they wouldn't be getting rid of their TrackIR. Allen "Thunderbolt56"

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I have decided that we will introduce reflective markers that are round, or as some like to call them, reflective balls. Look for them around the end of the year.
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Jim

NaturalPoint
Member Rated:

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That last one should tell you something!
So if you don't make one for yourself as I did and others, by all means buy one of theirs, once released, It will take all the fuss out of setting up TIR for Flight sims. I think but not sure that the smaller the ball the more precise. Thats for First person shooters, but a 3/4 ball will let you sit further away from monitor. Which is just fime in Flight Sims but IN First person shooter you may need to get closer and a smaller ball should work better up close than a larger one.

[ October 31, 2003, 12:16 PM: Message edited by: T_O_A_D ]