Anyone with experience using TrackIR and laptop?
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I’m considering getting myself a TrackIR, but currently most of my gaming is done via laptop, including Falcon BMS.
So won’t money spent on TrackIR be a waste considering that laptop’s screen (15.6") is nowhere near my PC LCD (which is 23") which means:
a) my head movement radius will have to be much smaller so I won’t get an eyestrain looking sideways
b) placing that thing somewhere because laptop screen is probably too thinAnyone here playing BMS on a laptop with TrackIR? What are your impressions?
Also will the default reflective cap clip be enough, I’ve heard horrors about trackclip pro’s reliability and I do know there are sturdy alternatives, but I’m not using headphones when I game, unless MP which is not often, so will have nowhere to put those led clips on
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I have almost exactly the setup you ask, the only exception being the 17" screen of my laptop.
Getting the TrackIR is really a must. Once you get used to flying with it, you’ll wonder, how you were able to manage it before without. This happened to me; initially, I didn’t have a TIR. Then I got it; first I made a simple tracking system with the FreeTrack and a simple led mounted on a cap, and after that I got the TrackIR. Nowadays it would be much harder to fly without a headtracking system of some kind.
The screen size affects really the experience with TIR especially with lower-sized screens. For example, I have to be very careful with rotating my head in order to not become disoriented. In particular, dogfights are tough: things happen quickly and you need to make relatively large head movements in relation to your screen to keep tracking your adversary travelling across your canopy, and still you have to glance your instruments to check items such as the adversary’s speed read-out (from FCR) or to check remaining fuel. I’m slowly getting used to it, but using the relatively small laptop screen may not be the most adequate setup for virtual flying in general. I have found it helping to enlarge my FOV in the cockpit as wide as possible during dogfights to not become disoriented while maintaining sight on the adversary.
I’m considering getting a larger screen to be attached to my laptop. However, I would definitely recommend you getting the TrackIR.
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The clip that holds the TIR sensor on the monitor has 3 arms, 2 in front, one in back, and can secure to any thin vertical surface fairly well with a few exceptions of course. It will sit on your laptop or LCD just fine.
The TrackClip Pro’s reliability (and the sensor for that matter) depends on the light level of the room, and any light sources behind you that could be misinterpreted as one of the 3 LED’s on the TrackClip Pro - I used to get this when I had a window behind my desk, but the solution was simply to draw the shades when I was playing. It’s reliability as a tracker is not the issue as much as it is to be careful with the little TrackClip so as to not break the little arm. I broke mine once, had to use a little glue to fix it, and then it was in a fixed position from then on. I’ve since dropped another $40 on a new clip, and I’ve been much more mindful of it since then. I feel the TrackClip is worth it and is better than the hat clip - I had more tracking issues with the hat clip than I’ve ever had with the TrackClip Pro.Also, as far as functionality and looking sideways: the included software is great for configuring your setup. The best advice I got was from Hard~Deck who said to set it up so that when I move my nose to point at the left or right side of the monitor (the plastic edge just past the actual screen), my TrackIR should view that as the max limit of my movement (looking behind me) even though I’ve only moved my nose/head less than 45 degrees. So, you use the software to set the sliders to match this, there are visual references and everything to help. The next step is to set a dead zone in the middle to allow minor head movements to avoid neck strain from holding still. Finally, you set up an easy to reach Pause Button and a Recenter Button for your TrackIR (or if you use VoiceAttack like me, you set those to voice commands) so you can take a break or recenter during a tense moment without looking at your keyboard.
Like most things, the better you set it up, the better it will work for you. I think you’ll have no problem with your laptop using this, though I’d recommend setting your laptop on a stand so you are not playing while looking down 20-30 degrees. For the least neck and eye strain (regardless of head tracking) your display should be eye level about 18-24" from your eyes. Also, get the TrackClip; it’s worth the extra $40 - just be very careful moving your hands around your head while wearing it, it’s easy to forget you have a plastic fork hanging off the side of your head. I broke mine swatting at a fly like some deranged Pink Panther, and ended up having to play MacGyver with a bottle of glue for 2 hours before I could go back to my games. But it wasn’t too big of a deal, I’ve been 100% more careful with my 2nd one here, and it’s been almost 2 years without incident.
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Usual plug for the DelanClip, facetrackNoIR and as ps3 eye webcam setup: the build quality is much better than the trackIR clip (sturdy metal instead of cheap plastic), it only costs 1/4th of what trackIR will set you back and will leave you with plenty of dosh to spend on other goodies for your deskpit (or make a donation to the FaceTrackNoIR developers).
If you’re so inclined you can also build the clip yourself from about $10 worth of parts.
All the best, Uwe
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Ordered TrackIR… eh… hope I won’t regret it and it’s more precise and usable with what I have than FTNoIR
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It’s actually quite OK with laptop. In fact when it comes to Falcon BMS it has taken my game to an entire new level like right away.
Using HMCS was next to impossible with POV hat and padlock helps only so much - but now dogfighting is incredibly enjoyable - in fact managed to kill two bandits with a cannon in first few hours of using it - and even BVR engagements became better because I can now approach enemies from the side, while keeping track of them with HMCS.Good fun!
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