TrackIR 3

[jalsina]

Anyone with experience using TrackIR 3 in DCSW? Is it possible to use this old version in current 2.7.0 version without any issues? What would I be missing from a newer version like TrackIR 5?

[SSerponi76]

The main difference is the resolution: I haven't found the exact specs of TI3, but here is a comparison between 4 and 5: https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/proxy/0w5CLi-mStbh14NII5uXJCLq20_48ps_sS9TyKDLwiKa6KsT5sfb823rkIyxgJ6w39I1tmltjLYG3YeaNz_j0Hpe4h9OGdFH0f8N2O1D2LdeutWErTXs

I expect that TI3 should be <= TI4 (TI3 already support 6DOF AFAIK).

Can't say anything about TI3 support in DCS 2.7 unfortunately.

[jalsina]

Thank you SSerpioni. 😊
I am not sure how good can be a higher resolution considering the sensor is reading the position of only three IR leds.
Looking at the comparison, the TrackIR 4 is quite below the resolution of the TI 5.
I could get right now a used TrackIR 3 for $70 (relatively near home) which is not cheap.
A new TrackIR 5 seems to be around $200, plus a cost for bringing it home.

By the other side, I am studying the usage of Opentrack either with a cellphone on my head (gyros usage) or by building myself a led device with an ir hacked camera.

[Sandhill]

Originally posted by jalsina:

Thank you SSerpioni. 😊
I am not sure how good can be a higher resolution considering the sensor is reading the position of only three IR leds.
Looking at the comparison, the TrackIR 4 is quite below the resolution of the TI 5.
I could get right now a used TrackIR 3 for $70 (relatively near home) which is not cheap.
A new TrackIR 5 seems to be around $200, plus a cost for bringing it home.

By the other side, I am studying the usage of Opentrack either with a cellphone on my head (gyros usage) or by building myself a led device with an ir hacked camera.

Resolution may be how far one of the reflectors have to move? The resolution with which it is translated into the game?
I would not consider the Track Clip Pro, with LED's, unless I absolutely had to (extremely bad lighting behind your head). It is an inferior product (compared to the basic Track Clip) that you have to pay extra for.
A TrackIr 5 sells for 150 USD plus postage here in USA, I thought I saw someone post recently maybe $165 in Germany... I'd endure the pain and get the TIr 5.

[SSerponi76]

Originally posted by Sandhill:

Resolution may be how far one of the reflectors have to move? The resolution with which it is translated into the game?

Resoution is about how much pixel-precise you can be when moving your head around. So the second you told, not the first.

Originally posted by Sandhill:

I would not consider the Track Clip Pro, with LED's, unless I absolutely had to (extremely bad lighting behind your head). It is an inferior product (compared to the basic Track Clip) that you have to pay extra for.

Sorry but I have to disagree with all of above:

First, active clip cannot help if you have the sun on your back, it helps if you have a lot of diffuse light or other light sources that can be reflected by the standard clip.

Then:
1) It icreases the resolution a bit: the difference is small but noticeable.
2) it allows you to increase the head movement limits, especially when looking above or back since the active clip has a wider emision angle than the standard clip.
3) You don't need to wear an hat... Which is not to be underestimated in summer sessions

Although the standard clip offers a really good experience, the extra 25 bucks for the clip are really worth if one has the budget.
The ony actuall drawback is the extra wire you will have around your head, but on amazon you can find some 100% compatible wireless clones of the clip.

[Sandhill]

Originally posted by SSerponi76:

Originally posted by Sandhill:

I would not consider the Track Clip Pro, with LED's, unless I absolutely had to (extremely bad lighting behind your head). It is an inferior product (compared to the basic Track Clip) that you have to pay extra for.

Sorry but I have to disagree with all of above:

First, active clip cannot help if you have the sun on your back, it helps if you have a lot of diffuse light or other light sources that can be reflected by the standard clip.

Then:
1) It icreases the resolution a bit: the difference is small but noticeable.
2) it allows you to increase the head movement limits, especially when looking above or back since the active clip has a wider emision angle than the standard clip.
3) You don't need to wear an hat... Which is not to be underestimated in summer sessions

Although the standard clip offers a really good experience, the extra 25 bucks for the clip are really worth if one has the budget.
The ony actuall drawback is the extra wire you will have around your head, but on amazon you can find some 100% compatible wireless clones of the clip.

I too disagree, in that the ONLY time I have ever been let down by the Track Clip is if direct sunlight is coming through a window onto the wall behind me, in which case the reflected signal from the Track Clip seems to get swamped by the sunlight on the wall and all hell breaks loose. Perhaps we're just just looking at it differently. I don't doubt that other specific situations favor the Track Clip Pro.

The extra wire is a total deal breaker for me. I wear a ball cap a lot (bald spot vanity) anyway, and I'm never bothered by a cap, matter of fact in high heat it helps control sweat. I agree that the wireless versions of the Track Clip Pro might be the best answer IF you are wearing headphones and don't mind the extra weight and the need to recharge, but if you're a speaker guy that doesn't work out so well, and at that point the extra dough for the Track Clip Pro which is sitting in a drawer is not so well spent.
In our YMMV I just encourage folks to start out with the Track Clip and see if it suits them before investing in additional stuff. Mostly I'd just suggest to OP that if in any way possible going to a TIr 5 is a wiser course that a TIr3. If I could get the 3 for $20 i might say yes, but $70 is a solid NO to me.

[SSerponi76]

Originally posted by Sandhill:

The extra wire is a total deal breaker for me. I wear a ball cap a lot (bald spot vanity) anyway, and I'm never bothered by a cap, matter of fact in high heat it helps control sweat

You luky guy! I was sweating like a pig when wearing the TI hat in summer

Originally posted by Sandhill:

I agree that the wireless versions of the Track Clip Pro might be the best answer IF you are wearing headphones and don't mind the extra weight and the need to recharge,

Actually my wireless clip is quite light and since I sue to play with a pair of Logitech G533 (I'm mostly playing at night) I did't notice the extra weight on my head.
Recarging is not a big problem since with 2h of carge time I can play 7/8h, that for me means a whole week excluding the week-end.

Originally posted by Sandhill:

In our YMMV I just encourage folks to start out with the Track Clip and see if it suits them before investing in additional stuff.

Yep, the Clip can be bought in a second time. For my experience I regret to haven't bought it earlier.

Originally posted by Sandhill:

Mostly I'd just suggest to OP that if in any way possible going to a TIr 5 is a wiser course that a TIr3. If I could get the 3 for $20 i might say yes, but $70 is a solid NO to me.

Never tried ther TI3 (my first expereice was with 4) so cannot tell if really worth 70 bucks.

[jalsina]

By now I agree that buying a used TI 3 for $70 is a no go.
The $200 tag I mentioned above for the TI 5 is a price from Amazon. I believe it includes the no-wire clip. The $150 it is possible to find in USA, I have to add about $50 to $70 for shipping and customs duties to home in Venezuela.

The room lighting where I play is quite acceptable for using IR leds.
In the latest hours I have been looking at many YouTube videos related with Opentrack or Face track NOIR. It seems to work as I would expect and I will try it out, both with a led frame (which I will build) and with the cellphone over my head. That last one could be quite uncomfortable. There is a face head track version but I don´t find the app for Android.

In Amazon there is also this wired version which has a 3D printed frame, in case I wouldn´t build one:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07X2P9JB7?pf_rd_r=5TQVM7JV968S4CRKX06E&pf_rd_p=5ae2c7f8-e0c6-4f35-9071-dc3240e894a8&pd_rd_r=efbe9168-53a7-49e7-b6b7-d9679585e5d0&pd_rd_w=TmbDW&pd_rd_wg=oVqiG&ref_=pd_gw_unk

A wired version is more confortable because it avoids the weight of the batteries in your head.

[Simmonds]

I have had a TIR3 for years and use it in DCS still, while I am considering an upgrade to a 5 it's not because the 3 isn't functional I'm just considering the larger sensor and mounting options of the 5 might better suit my more modern setup these days. The track IR 3 functionally does everything I want it to do with the vector enhancement.

[jalsina]

Originally posted by Simmonds:

I have had a TIR3 for years and use it in DCS still, while I am considering an upgrade to a 5 it's not because the 3 isn't functional I'm just considering the larger sensor and mounting options of the 5 might better suit my more modern setup these days. The track IR 3 functionally does everything I want it to do with the vector enhancement.

Thank you for your answer. That clears up the opening question.
The temptation for the TI 3 is high, but will wait.