Does FreeTrack work with BS?

[Grinix]

I'm confident freetrack will find a way to work with the new interface BS uses. That's just my opinion though.

[Quarrion]

DCS: Black Shark FreeTrack Fix:

 

http://forum.free-track.net/index.php?showtopic=1255

[Doggy]

Great, it just made my day :)

Now I'm ready for BS arrival...

[Boberro]

So I guess it works? If yes so as I said NP monopoly is "destroyed" :D

[Iceketic]

It works!:)

[deviletk]

So is it worth to get Freetrack instead of TrackIR? I mean is it much cheaper but works equally good? Im getting one or the other along with CH HOTAS very soon.

 

Regards

Alex

[sobek]

So is it worth to get Freetrack instead of TrackIR? I mean is it much cheaper but works equally good? Im getting one or the other along with CH HOTAS very soon.

 

FreeTrack has the advantage of being much cheaper at the disadvantage of loading your cpu a little (minimal in combination with the right webcam). I cannot really tell you how they compare because i never tried TrackIR, but IMHO FreeTrack works really good, especially the newest version. Tracking is very responsive and accurate.

[Doggy]

Yes,I can confirm that. yesterday I installed the v2.2. It is huge difference against the v 2.1 which was already on satisfying level for me.

[deviletk]

As i understand it you have to open up things and play surgent right? Solder and things like that. I will look at their site and gather some info. Havent been looking so much because i was going to buy TrackIR. Im going to be set back a bit with $$$ as im buying so much to be ready for 2009, so freetrack might be my starter tracking device. :)

 

Thanks Sobek!

[sobek]

As i understand it you have to open up things and play surgent right? Solder and things like that.

 

Nothing really complicated here. If i can do it, you can do it as well ;) Should you need some advice at building the cap or modifying the cam, feel free to ask me, although the free track-forum has a really comprehensive amount of knowledge, even videos on how to build the stuff.

[Doggy]

I think the v2.2 has reached the TrackIR accuracy and responsiveness. Definitely worth to try.

From my point of view it is even better solution as it is tracking device and webcam in one ;) Just turn on what's needed

[Grinix]

I bought the "Quick cam orbit / sphere mp" cost a little over 100$ but i didint really have to modify any of the hardware just change some settings (brightness, saturation, etc...) that and place some negative photo film over the lens (3 dark layers to be exact) so i thought it was very economical considering how just by removing the negative photo film it could be used as a webcam (and a rather good one at that!)

[sobek]

place some negative photo film over the lens

 

You can also use an old floppy disc and cut it in a shape that fits your webcam. Works very well.

[urze]

http://www.leftside-limited.com/projects.html

Scroll to this two videos:

 

DIY 3 Point Clip for FreeTrack

In this video I show you how to built a 3 Point Clip for FreeTrack in 20 minutes.

 

FreeTrack tutorial

In this video I show you the basics to run FreeTrack properly.

 

And by the way:

I'm using FreeTrack in the "BlackShark at LLTM'08 -Preview" : http://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/index.php?end_pos=133&scr=products&lang=en

Edited October 26, 2008 by urze

[Grinix]

Actually with the specific webcam i used that didint work to well it was to dark and couldnt see the infrared LEDs. that could of been due to the fact that i didint wire them well or something but i doubt it. with three small snipets of negative photo film i had to spare from some old photos i was able to use the cam alot better, farther distance and better tracking.

 

I'd also like to add that it works very well on a Q6600 cpu (intel Quad core 2.4ghz) and i did not see much difference on my pentium4 2.8ghz cpu either.

Edited October 26, 2008 by Grinix

[CAT_101st]

Im using a logitech WC and yellow LEDs on a 3 point head set. I didn't have to use photo film or mood my MC and it works great. Just got the 2.2 freetrack and need to spend some time dilling it in. But it does seam to be improved over the 2.1 version. I have a few youtube freetrack 2.1 videos http://www.youtube.com/user/CAT101st

[deviletk]

Thanks Urze for the links!

[urze]

Actually with the specific webcam i used that didint work to well it was to dark and couldnt see the infrared LEDs. that could of been due to the fact that i didint wire them well or something but i doubt it. with three small snipets of negative photo film i had to spare from some old photos i was able to use the cam alot better, farther distance and better tracking.

 

I'd also like to add that it works very well on a Q6600 cpu (intel Quad core 2.4ghz) and i did not see much difference on my pentium4 2.8ghz cpu either.

I use sandpapered (to have a greater beam angle) red Leds and haven't tweaked my cam on the hardware level. I did only the software adjustments i show in the video.

And I want to add that I changed the dimensions of the 3point tracker to the ones of the NP TrackIR Pro Clip. See below: (screen caps where taken with Freetrack2.1)

Edited October 26, 2008 by urze

[hitman]

Dorks.

[sobek]

Dorks.

 

WTF??? Unbeliever ;)

[nscode]

Well excuse us, Hitman, for not wanting to pay 200$+ for a simple web cam with an IR diode :P

[Grinix]

I use sandpapered (to have a greater beam angle) red Leds and haven't tweaked my cam on the hardware level. I did only the software adjustments i show in the video.

And I want to add that I changed the dimensions of the 3point tracker to the ones of the NP TrackIR Pro Clip. See below: (screen caps where taken with Freetrack2.1)

 

I also sandpapered my LEDs and placed them directly on a cap with a power supply that uses two double a batteries and a switch, all wires are hidden very nicely with only diodes showing in very similar places as those suggested by freetrack (much like the caps the guy at freetrack forum makes and sells). Even with sandpapered / polished diodes i found the negative photo film better than the floppy disk solution, in fact my glasses and the cap i used for tests, which was white, reflected lots of light that got through the floppy disk. all this was fixed with the photo film and switching to a black cap. i'm interested though, in the Wii mote / ps3 eyecam alternatives.

[urze]

Wii mote- works flawless !

CPU consumption is nearly 0 and steady 98-100 frames/sec. Had no problems. I just had to exchange my Red leds with Infrared ones.

[Grinix]

Wii mote- works flawless !

CPU consumption is nearly 0 and steady 98-100 frames/sec. Had no problems. I just had to exchange my Red leds with Infrared ones.

 

Yes but what about the ps3 eyecam? which is better? i'd like to know before deciding. but glad to hear the Wii mote out performs webcams.

[Quarrion]

wiimote uses less cpu than trackir :P

 

if you've got cpu to spare definitely go for the ps3 eye, otherwise stick to wiimote