Using a 46" LCD TV?

[PoleCat]

I have begun setting up to fly again using my 46" LCD TV as a monitor. I will purchase my third and final copy of FC3 and my first copy of the Mi-8 beta this week during the excellent 60% off sale going on from Sept 20-28th.

 

I can't find a good spot for TIR at this time. On top of TV is too high, below it too low. I need to be able to slide a chair in front of the TV and rudders and quickly get the HOTAS running in NASCAR pit crew like record times. Any ideas for a quick easy modular setup options would be appreciated. Photos please, particularly of mounting the HOTAS controls. No desk shots or Akers Barnes photos though, I already have a these and ruled them out. This setup is for use in a living room in front of a TV only. I need to be able to move it into and out of place easily.

 

Thanks and I am looking forward to any suggestions you may have.

 

Out

[159th_Viper]

On top of TV is too high....

 

TrackIr 5?

 

Reason for the question is that TrackIr 5 has an adjustable mount so as to enable it to be bent quite a ways forward. Might be able to jimmy that to work for you.

[MTFDarkEagle]

TrackIr 5?

 

Reason for the question is that TrackIr 5 has an adjustable mount so as to enable it to be bent quite a ways forward. Might be able to jimmy that to work for you.

 

That can get dangerous when the angle because too big. When you subsequently look down the trackir may confuse the lights (talking about the trackclippro anyway in this case..)

[cichlidfan]

If you put the TIR camera behind you, upside down and reverse your head gear, it should work just fine.

 

MTFDarkEagle is correct about the problem with leaning the mount over from the top of the TV, it will be fine until you try to look down.

[mhe]

I use such a setup and I have made very good experiences by putting the TrackClip upwards. So not to the side of the head, but move it so the complete contraption hovers above your left ear. That should be enough to offset it higher and keep it in the camera's field of view at a reasonable angle at all times.

[metalnwood]

I know you said no ackers etc but I will post this anyway.

 

I made an ackers many years ago so I know the size of it, its too big. This is Flims seat built from his plans. It's light and the footprint is just the base of the seat, you dont need to attach the floor for the pedals.

 

It slides along the floor very easily so it's no problem to move in front of the tv and then pull away.

 

I am using a 42" screen with the TIR on top. When a short person tried it I had to push the TIR forwards and it picked up the leds fine. Actually, more than forward, I had to use a bit of tape to lift the back feet up so it pointed down a bit more than it could from its own base. Easy to do though.

 

Flims seat can have two shelves, one for throttle and one for whatever else you want to put there. Small footprint.

 

[metalnwood]

Also just saw this option in another thread.

 

http://www.simsit.biz

 

Not exactly looking the same part but functional.

[71st_Mastiff]

My track-clip pro is attached to my left side headset. The camera is placed per instruction from natural-point, place the camera on the top left side of the monitor point the camera towards where you are sitting. Adjust the software settings to your head movement style.

[eaglecash867]

Hi Polecat,

 

I have a situation very much like your own, so here is what I came up with. The whole thing sits on a rolling tool dolly that has swiveling casters on one end. When you get it into place, you flip the orange handles up on the dolly and it settles nicely onto the floor with its rubber feet. Then its just a matter of plugging everything into the 10-port USB adapter. I have a 24 inch touch screen mounted to it on what was intended to be a ceiling mount, so I just turned the mount upside-down to make it a floor mount. Construction is all birch plywood (birch has a really smooth natural finish to it, so it requires no extra work to make it look decent) and 2" black ABS pipe and flanges. I used plywood that was readily available in dimensions close to what I needed, so I didn't even have to cut the plywood. Just had to drill holes to accept the threaded inserts that I used for securing everything with bolts and screws and had to cut the pipe with a hack saw. The only oversight I had is the width of the dolly, so it won't quite make it through the door of the room I was planning on storing it in. Its OK though, the footprint is only 24" X 24", so I just put it in an unused corner in my dining room so its out of the way. I am using the HDMI input on the touchscreen monitor, so its quick and easy to connect and disconnect the video cable.

 

Depending on the height of your 46" TV (mine is also 46"), if you swing the arm on your TrackClip so its perpendicular to your head and put the LEDs in a vertical configuration, it works well when sitting in the seat. For my seat, I'm just using a rolling office chair with no armrests.

 

Hope this gives you some ideas.

 

[Thick8]

I had very similar requirements as well when i used to play on the living room TV. the unit had to be stow-able so as not to interfere with the "flow of the room while at the same time be configurable for the different games I play. So I used a foldable second rom seat from a Windstar. I got it for free but one can be had for less than $50. This was mounted on a PVC frame that has interchangeable and removable components. Here it is in front of my 3 screen setup. If you're interested I can take some more pictures of it. I also have a CAD drawing of the PVC frame.

http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=109693

[sslechta]

I play occasionally on my 46" Sony TV. I mount the TIR5 clip on top of TV just about a foot left of center since my TIR5 Pro Clip is on the left side of my head. I do angle the TIR slightly downward from where it sits on the TV. No issues.

[AhSoul]

The problem with the big TVs is the resolution compared to screen size. You get very big pixels (I guess depending how close you sit), and sometimes overscan issues as they're not designed for computer use so much.

 

I was using a 30" LCD tv but the game resolution I ended up with was something like 1260x680 which was too small for the main menu to work properly and had so few pixels that the game looked crap :)

 

Currently using a 22" @ 1680x1050 but I think multiple screens is really the way to go, not one big one as you get loads more pixels to play with.....

[TimeKilla]

The problem with the big TVs is the resolution compared to screen size. You get very big pixels (I guess depending how close you sit), and sometimes overscan issues as they're not designed for computer use so much.

 

I was using a 30" LCD tv but the game resolution I ended up with was something like 1260x680 which was too small for the main menu to work properly and had so few pixels that the game looked crap :)

 

Currently using a 22" @ 1680x1050 but I think multiple screens is really the way to go, not one big one as you get loads more pixels to play with.....

 

That's what I was thinking using a TV the resolution won't be great but then again the more expensive or mid range TV's might be better and if so what does that mean for the PC monitor in the future. I know when I use my cheap 32 Inch TV even at 1900x???? the text is fuzzy and hard to read depending on the size and the color looks abit off no matter whats done to correct it.

[AhSoul]

You're better off buying 3x 27" LED monitors for £200 each than buying a big TV for £500-600. Better picture, more pixels and you can arrange them how you want.

 

The downside is you'll need a decent PC to run them......

[Thick8]

You're better off buying 3x 27" LED monitors for £200 each than buying a big TV for £500-600. Better picture, more pixels and you can arrange them how you want.

 

The downside is you'll need a decent PC to run them......

 

I think you missed the part where he already owns the TV

[AhSoul]

No, I was just slightly OT and talking about big TV screens in general :)