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MilesD

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  1. MilesD
    Assistance with Pimax mount Below is a PDF of the Pimax mount. If anyone has the time, It would be great if you could cut out the AA section view and the side view and see if it fits. If you could take a pic of it taped 90 degrees to show the fit that would be great too. I am trying to ship to some to the initial "slow roll" testers today who use the Pimax Thanks, Miles HMS_Mount_Pimax Template.PDF
  2. MilesD
    Thats a great analogy cordite !!
  3. MilesD
    Thanks for bringing it back up. PointCTRL works with any sim with clickable panels and mouse support. I have briefly tested it with X-Plane and Prepar3d and it functions just like the mouse. IMHO neither of those sims has the refined mouse control of DCS. Los has tested it more with X-Plane and a government entity has been testing it with Prepar3d. There are some small quarks with each sim not related to PointCTRL, but how they implement mouse functions. When I catch up, I will look for work arounds. Thanks Miles
  4. MilesD
    Here is a PDF with dimensions and cutouts for the Generic Mount. Print the PDF not the jpg for actual 1:1 size print for fitting. Thanks Miles HMS_Mount Drawings.PDF
  5. MilesD
    Hey FoxDelta, Awesome work on your AV8 nozzle lever!! The charging jack disconnects the FCU from power so it cant be used while charging. The FCU should last days if you are using it in time-out mode and will probable last 6 hours at 1/3 brightness and always on. As long as you plug it in when you take breaks you should be fine. You can also have spare batteries on hand if you really want to. Thanks for the question, Miles
  6. MilesD
    Hey Dave, Right now I have a generic mount that comes with EVA foam, ABS sheet plastic and extra double sided tape, that should work fine, but I plan on dedicated mounts for all of the headsets. The PCB just pops out so you can move it between units by buying extra mounts. Extra mounts will probably be about $10.00 USD. Thanks Miles
  7. MilesD
    Thanks, Its been a lot more challenging and has taken a lot more time than I expected, Hope to ship the first few productions units on Friday. If everyone, or at least most everyone is happy with the functionality, it will have been worth it. Miles
  8. MilesD
    Hey Chic, I am sorry, I know you asked about this before. I just tested out what you want to try, and it worked pretty well. I mounted the camera to a fixed position, above and behind my head. Calibration was identical to VR. The only difference is your arm should stay the same extended distance as you calibrate at. Its a pretty natural thing to do. If you have track IR you will have to hold your head still while clicking. If you mounted the HMS to your head I think the ratios would be to far off. Thanks for being patient. Miles
  9. MilesD
    No worries, I will probably be in contact with all of the purchasers of the first units anyway. UPDATE: I just posted the first instructional video, I will use a better camera next time, but I think its serviceable for now. Miles
  10. MilesD
    Thanks for the feedback and the great questions. On full brightness, always on, the FCU should last 3 hours on a full charge 1/2 brightness, allays on, the FCU should last 5 hours with a slight loss of cursor resolution FCU on while LED is off 36 hours. Time-out adjustment is in 10 sec intervals up 240 seconds , and then always on. The timer resets with every button press so if it is set to 20 seconds and you press a button you have another 20 seconds before it times out. 40 seconds seems to be a good time-out for me My concern was the early supporters not getting the most features. Based on your feedback, I think I will press on with the FCU's as is. And those that choose to purchase the first units can send them back for reprogramming at a later date if they want to. I am done with College finals this week, so should have more time to start cranking these things out. Thanks again everyone, Miles
  11. MilesD
    UPDATE: Everything is back to normal after losing my SSD applications and I have about 10 units ready to ship, and a lot of sub assemblies already done, so I am hoping to knock out lots of 10 units every few days to start. Once the process is defined and running smooth I will be hiring some help for manufacturing and I should move through the list quickly. When I was doing the first video, I did some tests to provide guidance on power consumption reference IRLED brightness and time out. I found that the HMD would pick up the IRLED at very low brightness settings, but not track very well. This led me to a dilemma, I said I was done with improvements, but this latest data provides an opportunity to add a desirable function. As of now, you are able to set the IRLED time out which turns off the IRLED after a certain period of time passes since the last button press to save battery power, This also allows not seeing the cursors when they are not being used, but are in your peripheral vision. Currently when the IRLED is off you have to press any of the three buttons to turn it on and see the cursor. I believe, if I take a few days I can have the FCU Poll the HMS a few times a second to see if the dim IRLED is visible in the center portion of the sensor. If it is visible, it will then turn on the IRLED to full brightness for cockpit interaction. The led timeout will them be tied to how long it has been since the cursor has left the field of view. I know that was long and convoluted. Basically, instead of having to turn on the FCU IRLED manually by pressing one of the three buttons you will only have to move the FCU in the center area of your FOV and it will turn on automatically, and off automatically when it leaves your field of view. Since this functionality is on the FCU, I can't make it a firmware upgrade at a later date, as that is limited to the HMS. Thoughts? PS, I going to chill on the live stream until units are shipped and feedback has been provided. Miles
  12. MilesD
    Here is the generic one, it comes with EVA foam some ABS sheet plastic, as well as double faced tape. You can order extra mounts if you have multiple devices and just want to change out the PCB. Miles
  13. MilesD
    PointCTRL Live Stream ? Hey Mariner, I find it interesting you mentioned this because my son said I should do a live stream to mark the launch of PointCTRL. After he explained to me how it worked, I didn't think it would be all that interesting to people, but who knows. If a few people are interested we could do a random drawing to give away a PointCTRL. If you guys are interested let me know. If we ask FireCat nicely, he can probably make a list and figure out the best time for everyone. Miles
  14. MilesD
    @ Lt Jaeger, I will continue to sell and improve PointCTRL until something better comes along for flight sims and there is no more interest. UPDATE I think I have everything sorted now. In anticipation of shipping production units next week, I am going to make some short, subject specific instructional videos. The intent is to keep them short so users can easily reference required information. I am going to try and have a few posted by Sunday. Video Subjects 1) Concept of operation 2) Mounting the HMS 3) FCU on/off and setting IRLED timeout 4) DCS windowed vs full screen mode effect on PointCTRL 5) Setting cursor boundaries and movement ratio 6) Zooming with FCU 7) Future planned functionality Thanks, Miles
  15. MilesD
    UPDATE: Just got the automated programmer finished so "Household Six" can reload the new firmware on the production FCUs when ready. Testing the future proofed FCU firmware next!
  16. MilesD
    Now that is impressive Mariner, The talent and skill sets of people on this forum never ceases to amaze me. The fact that you were able to accomplish your work so quickly despite clenching a KA-BAR between your teeth the whole time is impressive. I think your front panel will be the perfect test bed for PointCTRL-Contact. PointCTRL-Contact will send a left mouse click relative to the current cursor position when finger contact is made with a surface. Basically touching the flat panel to your front would replace pressing the forward button on the FCU. The FCU would still function normally, Point CTRL-Contact is just an add on to be used in conjunction with PointCTRL. Chanting out loud I will not be distracted until I fill the DCS Forum orders. I will not be distracted until I fill the DCS Forum orders. I will not be distracted until I fill the DCS Forum orders. I will not be distracted until I fill the DCS Forum orders. I will not be distracted until I fill the DCS Forum orders...….. edit: I thought I saw a clear panel in the front, but it was a cord.
  17. MilesD
    Update: As I mentioned a few days ago, I am front loading future functionality to the FCU before shipping the first units. Well, I went to upload the new firmware which had not changed in months, and I realized that I lost all the mods and moded libraries in my programming IDE specific to the FCUs 328PB micro controller. I had my data backed up, but not the mods in the apps. At 0230 this morning I finally had success and was able to resume work. I hope nothing else pops up as a result of losing my SSD. l keep you posted on todays progress. Some of the waiting components
  18. MilesD
    You have a good memory Mojo, Los is not just my "Pal", He was my Team Sergeant and mentor in Special Forces before he retired. Now he is my friend and adviser to all things simming. Los is out on Facebook so no OPSEC violation here. His experience in training, computer simming, and as a pilot has been invaluable in developing PointCTRL. While the dials and knobs do function as Los discovered and described, its purely by coincidence, not by design. It is also dependent on how the mouse is mapped to the control in DCS. Some dials are mapped requiring left press and hold followed by mouse movement horizontall to rotate, and some dials are mapped requiring vertically mouse movement. If you rotate you hand in a manor where the IRLED on PointTRL moves in an arc, it is seen as lateral or vertical movement. Since Los told me about it, I found that if you pivot your wrist with you hand remaining at a slightly upward angle it works well. In the past I modded the LUA files to non toggle functions, so I am sure we can standardize the knobs for consistency. Same LUA moding goes for L/R mouse clicks. An example the FA-18 hook toggles up and down on left click but the landing gear requires left click down, right click up. I always forget that when operating the landing gear on the FA-18.
  19. MilesD
    Great question Deano, Right now firmware updates are done manually, You unzip a file and then go into the folder, press the reset button on the HMS twice quickly and then click on the batch file called update. The HMS firmware then automatically updates. For subsequent updates you just copy the new firmware.HEX file to the same directory and use the same process as above. The FCU's require a programmer and a special connector fixture to update. I updated the FCU firmware for all of future functionality I could think of. Since the HMS can communicate directly with the FCU we can activate new functions as they are completed on the HMS side. A GUI is not required or complete now, but its on the list. I am trying to expedite shipping units, but I want to avoid customers having to send back the FCU's to implement new functions. Thanks for asking, Miles
  20. MilesD
    I took everyone's advice and made an additional generic mount, Thank you for your advice. The generic mount will include extra double sided tape, 2 sections of EVA foam, and 1 piece of sheet ABS plastic. Both of these materials are easily cut and shaped with a utility blade or scissors, and should make custom fitting easier. I will continue to make manufacturer specific mounts for each HMD. If you have 2 HMDs that you want to switch between with PointCTRL you can just purchase extra mounts and swap the PCB. I redesigned the HMS mount so it only takes seconds to remove and put in another mount. Extra mounts will probably be around $10.00
  21. MilesD
    Hey Guys, Sorry for the comms blackout, but I have spent the last 4 days making new HID descriptors because the latest windows update broke PointCTRL. In the end, its better code, and when I finally found the bug I was surprised it was even functioning in the first place. Anyway, I am updating the firmware on the built HMS units tonight and it looks like I may be able to start shipping. Here are some pics of the production units as shipped. Thanks, Miles
  22. MilesD
    Just got back from the City and checked this forum, and I have to say, this is great. In the time I was gone, some questions were asked, a problem identified, and a interim solution presented and agreed upon. Thanks for solving the problem, and I will try and do what ever everyone feels is best. The Rift mount is as about generic as can be, I will just take out the radius and make it flat like Deano suggested. Eventually I will have all of the HMDs modeled, and its easy to snap the PCB out and put it in another mount when they become available. Thanks for the suggestions and advice, I hope to have this calibration procedure locked in by tomorrow. Miles
  23. MilesD
    There only a few units out to testers who have been providing feedback. I have gone through a few iterations of calibration methods based on their feedback, The general consensus was it was confusing. Los gave me a good idea last night that I added to Joe S's. Production is happening now and I am adding the final touches to the new calibration procedures today. I am off to NYC now to a viewing party for a Korean Television show. My daughters KPOP crew just got back from Soul and won an International dance competition. I will be back later tonight and hopefully have things locked in so I can start shipping next week. I only have mounts completed for the Rift, Vive, and Vive Pro. The PCB can be removed and put in other mounts as they become available. Just Look at FireCats list to see where you are, and we will post "now boarding up to row 50, etc. Miles
  24. MilesD
    Thanks for the preview Matt, Do you know if the upper camera is for controller tracking only and not headset tracking? I thought I read somewhere it was, and if that's the case I will just make a mount for PointCTRL that covers it. Thanks, Miles
  25. MilesD
    "He hates these cans, Stay away from the cans" I know, I know, "Stop with this foolish trivia nonsense and make my damn PointCTRL" Miles
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