How to build a freetrack 3 led hat

[anildhan123]

can i connect 3 led lights in 'series' through a usb power(5V)?

[CAT101st]

@anildhan123 yes

[Moxyz1]

i made a device very similar to this one and it worked fine ''but in the end i just bought the 'track clip pro' on its own for about £30 which i clip onto my headphones, and i use the freetrack software with it and a cheap webcam with the ir filter removed. it looks so much better now than before when i had the homemade cap, same as a full Track IR setup but at a fraction of the cost. Plus the track clip has a usb connection so no more changing batteries. Nice video for beginners CAT101st +1

[Shibidibo]

just so im understanding your video correctly, you connected the + battery wire to the switch and only mounted those to the pcb board, and took your long + wire and put that on the resistor correct? and just sodderd the two - wires together to complete the connection?

[CAT101st]

@Shibidibo The + goes thrue the switch then the diod and off to the LED's and back to the battery.

[Shibidibo]

@CAT101st by the diod im guessing your reffering the to resister?

[CAT101st]

@Shibidibo Yes Yes.. Sory about that I am building matrix brakeout boards for the Xkeys IO DIY matrix board. Building 10 of them and each has 128 diod's.

[Shibidibo]

@CAT101st one last question and sorry about this, but do you run the + wire from the battery connecter through both the pin holes on the on/off switch or just one? i just want to make sure i got everything right before i start this project.

[CAT101st]

@Shibidibo The batery wire goes to one post. Then run a wire from the other to the LED's. Also the LED's can only thake power from one direction. Make sure you test as you go or nuthing will work.

[Shibidibo]

@CAT101st thank you very much, i got them working :)

[ChiefRedCloud01]

Have you tried it on Rise of Flight? You have a slower platform but it really tests your neck/tracking movements. Incidentally Rise of Flight is FREE to play now. Incidentally, nicely done video. Perhaps, as already mentioned, a list of items would be nice.

[HereticExA]

I am sorry CAT101 but that hat looks so getho lol, good concept though, one question for you buddy, does freetrack work with a-10c? I have heard different responses.

[94rainbowx33]

Where i can find LED ... Fuck it ....

[CAT101st]

@94rainbowx33 RaidoShack

[94rainbowx33]

@CAT101st

I have already found an electronics store in Paris where i can found my Ir leds , wire , .. , but Thanks !

[fxdesca]

thats the most geeky stuff I've ever seen

[94rainbowx33]

@fxdesca

Sure lol

[Pilotbrate6435]

do you need for this web cam?

[magicstorm1]

it would be cool if you can list all the materials needed in the vid's info so i dont have to replay back and forth to make out what you say. Just a suggestion =)

[CAT101st]

@magicstorm1 I will get to it at a latter date. but good idea

thanks

[gimmieanamestupid]

what type of webcam do you have? mine looks similar and I just tried it for the first time with falcon 4.0 af, and I made mine for my headset and it sucked pretty bad....I am thinking that I am going to have to try it again which I really don't want to do cause it will be a big waste...

[CAT101st]

@gimmieanamestupid F4 AF is not the best sim to use FT with I tryed it last year and did not like it. I would sujest that you look at the DCS: A-10C beta that is for sale. A much better sim than F4:AF. I hope you dont give up on FT it is a great pice of Free softwair.

[freakyflow]

You can also make the frame out of the tubes of pens ..just need a heat source to heat and bend them and run the wires in them and the LEDS at each tip I'm getting all the parts soon SFH485P IR LEDS and 880 mn and a forward current of 100mA And viewing angle of 160* and 2 AA batteries in a case

I tryied to do the Resistor calculator to see which ones i needed ..looked all greek to me would you happen to know off hand what i should look for? maybe run a 9v battery? Great video and thanks

[13knifethrower13]

is it possible that you could make a video with a headset instead of a hat?

[CAT101st]

@13knifethrower13 All you have to do is mount the 3 LED's in the form you want using the same wiring setup. Just place the LED's where you want them.

[13knifethrower13]

@CAT101st ok, thanks. if i do end up doing this, im going to post a video response...probably do it this summer with my dad...thanks for answering!

[moviedout]

why yellow?

[CAT101st]

@moviedout It is best for FT to see. white makes too big a spot and windes up making FT stutter. If you dont mind moding your webcam then the IR LED is the best to use. I just don't like taking apart a good pice of hardware.

[ellonylj]

Im dumb..how do i print out the illustration on pdf full size so I can get the right shape wire set up?

[CAT101st]

@ellonylj I don't have a PDF on here to print out. If you found one on another location you need adobi reader to open it and print it.

[ellonysman]

Cat...what did you use for the black hat rods, is that like a wire case or something?

[CAT101st]

@ellonysman A coat hanger

[xJaMeSxdAxdKx]

Will a 100Ohm .5Watt resistor work?

[xJaMeSxdAxdKx]

@xJaMeSxdAxdKx Oh and id the PCB 100% necessary?

[plavins1]

can i use regular leds instead of IR ones!!?? please reply!

[CAT101st]

@plavins1 that is what I am using, yellow LED's

[plavins1]

@CAT101st

and what webcam?

[nvidiapcgaming]

@plavins1 yes you can, i am using regular leds works fine :)

[plavins1]

@nvidiapcgaming

and what webcam your using?

[nvidiapcgaming]

@plavins1 i am using the xbox 360 motion camera, it is wery good and has like 50 fps so no lag.....

[CAT101st]

@plavins1 any web cam will work. Just have to have the settings right to block out all light but the LED's

[imthentertainer]

So you need a led hat for using freetrack in flight simulator... Great just great it's going to take me forever to get thsi stuff...

[CheckMySix]

Hi

Dont bother making light set GO TO lights4fun and buy 10 LED Red light set with AA Battery module attached and ready to use [just cut off LEDs you dont need from end] and ONLY £2.99[ex batteries] BARGAIN and works perfect with Freetrack.

Good Luck

CM6

[lancashireladbiker]

@CheckMySix - top advice. Many Thanks.

[choppchopp007]

i have one question how did you make the frame to hold the leds?? thans nice vid

[CAT101st]

@choppchopp007 I just bent the coat hanger to fit the hat. and hot glued it all together

[choppchopp007]

@CAT101st ok yh i get that ...how did u glue it to the hat?

[CAT101st]

@choppchopp007 I used a hot glue gun and The two ends of the coat hahger are pinched around the outside edge on the bill of the hat.

[Zanith50]

also my web cam has night vision so it has IR LEDs around the web cam in theory could i use reflective stuff to reflect the Light back at the cam then i wouldn't need to use LEDs etc

[CAT101st]

I would give this idea a try first befor building the LED hat

[PrettyPinkPwnies]

No... That would be impossible as then the only point at which the infrared would reflect directly back to the camera would be at 0 degrees. What would be the point of it.

[Zanith50]

use that stuff that bicycle reflectors are made out of but domed shaped ?

[PrettyPinkPwnies]

If it were domed the camera would not read it. It wouldn't reflect back to the camera...

[Zanith50]

but the ir light would light the reflector up

[PrettyPinkPwnies]

I see what you mean, using a retro-reflector similar to a bicycle reflector. That may be possible with a little hard work and a lot of tweaking.

[Zanith50]

if i wanted to plug my LED hat into usb what Ohm resistors would i need?

[NORIRAFGEYMIR]

can I only use one led?

[CAT101st]

yes you can but you will not have 6DOF just 4DOF. left right up down.

[CaNxYoUxStoP]

okay ill buy everything!! thank you nice vid 5/5

[CaNxYoUxStoP]

does the LEDs work on an dell integrated cam

[CAT101st]

I don't see why not. Its free software ony cost about $12 to build. very worth the try.

[DroehnIng]

Yeah that Vid really helped ;) Gonna build one for myself soon.

BUT:

I saw you play DCS:BS too. I heard there is this wierd decryption-code for the latest TrackIR that makes it impossible to use any other trackingsystem (e.g, freetrack)

I wonder if there is a fix or somewhat because I'm gonna build this ONLY for DCS:BS (at least ATM)

[hamelkarl]

it works with it, the only one I had trouble with is ArmA 2 but found a way by tricking the config of ArmA.

[ImmortalPravoslavac]

thx man u r the best.... !!!

Hey can u show me how did u set these leds on that vire man i have hard ttime to set them up exactly like yhey sho in mm on the program :(.....

well for now I'm using only 1 IR leds.. but no zoom in and out... :(

[ImmortalPravoslavac]

GOD BLESS U!! Can u give me a hand I have problem with my thing its not tracking leds the way it should be. I have Labtec webcam which I took it apart and took out th IR filter and now I know I cant put it back to be able to reuse it again but what kind of leds u suggest me to take. I have ultra high brightness 10mm led and its not working because it gives me big dots and when I move my head that disapears and movment its going crazy all over the place.:((( Thank U!!

[CAT101st]

For the web cam you need to use IR LEDs due to the mood you made. Shuld still work fine that way. As for your curint LEDs they are probly too bright. I am only using 720mcd (how bright they are) LEDs I would sjust 800-850 mcd no brighter and no darker than 720. I will try and make a video on setting's for everyone if I find the time.