FSX FreeTrack head tracking test

My first FSX video, again I'm uploading something completely different lol

http://www.free-track.net

Just testing out my new head tracking equipment, built from scratch, requiring soldering and other stuff, too much DIY for one night though (almost burned myself again with the soldering iron).

This is a lot of fun and adds a lot of realism to a flight sim, and it's very helpful to be able to look around at will without having to use keyboard controls or a HAT stick. It's nice to be able to get at some angles you weren't able to get at before, especially rotating your head so you can still be looking level while your plane isn't (i.e. a steep banked turn in an Extra 300-S).

If you want to know my computer specs, they are on my channel. Also, if anybody wants to see a picture of my setup (as ugly as it is) then just leave a comment or PM me and I'll upload a picture and link it to you.

Category:

Gaming

Tags:

• FSX
• Flight
• Simulator
• 10
• Gold
• Deluxe
• Acceleration
• Expansion
• Pack
• flying
• simulation
• head
• tracking
• FreeTrack
• Free
• Track
• software
• gaming

[izrosszi]

can i use it with just a webcam ?

[EkkuZakku]

@izrosszi That's exactly what I did, although I had to modify the webcam. I removed the IR filter and added a normal light filter (just cut out a piece of the black floppy disk from inside the plastic on a floppy disk), and made my own hat with IR LEDs on it I bought from Radio Shack.

There is some head tracking software out there that does track just your head from an unmodified webcam, but it isn't nearly as effective imo.

[cctoide]

Do you notice lag between moving your head and the ingame result? I'm going to try and build a FT model and so far the only con of FT vs. TrackIR seems to be the ~0.5 second lag between movement and ingame result that I see in demo videos. I'm not particularly bothered by that, I'm just trying to figure if that's the result of the worst-case 30 millisecond lag (due to webcam framerate) or something else. Thanks for the video.

[EkkuZakku]

I didn't notice too much lag, a little bit that it's noticeable at first, but once you're focused more on other things (like flying) you don't even notice it. I think the fact that FT is free makes it worth even a little bit of lag.

[cctoide]

Yup, I ended up building a setup with a VX-1000. I removed the filter from mine, though. Works great in DCS Black Shark, which I built it for. Also works perfectly in FSX, but I've found it rather annoying to use it in that due to the constant stuttering (from FSX, not FreeTrack). I'm not sure, but I don't think SimConnect helps much either.

[ranny528]

I've just installed freetrack and use single point led and have microsoft vx3000 webcam and have no lag at all, bloody amazing bit of kit. Without the purchase of webcam (which most people have) this cost me £0.99p sterling for a bike rear light from a discount store.

And no need for ir filter removal as shown on other vids.