Track IR5 vs Freetrack.

[Bokononist]

I've been running with Freetrack for a few months now, but I'm finding that I have to change the profile all the time to compensate for varying lighting conditions, how low my battery pack is running etc. Plus I have to delete a dll everytime I want to play Dirt 2 or F1 2010 or they won't even launch.
My question is aimed at anyone who has used both systems, how much better is TrackIR 5 than Freetrack?

[Foo'bar]

TrackIR is expensive but it simply works. Well, that's the reason why it is expensive plus theres no competitors.

How I wish that Saitek e.g. was building a head tracker

But until that day take TrackIR. Forget Freetrack. I've tested them both.

[MadBlaster]

Freetrack is better. I never have to touch my profile. My hat plugs into usb port, so no worries about battery. You could also make a hat to plug into a wall socket if you wanted to do that. If your room lighting varies, I suspect you will have problems with either system. Instead of fixing the profile all the time, fix your room. Put some window blinds up or something.

[Dano]

Originally Posted by MadBlaster

If your room lighting varies, I suspect you will have problems with either system.

I have no issues with TIR ever and I fly in all lighting conditions, daylight, artificial and darkness, not once have I ever had to adjust my profile to suit as TIR continues to work flawlessly in each case.

How can you state that freetrack is better when you have never used TIR?

[MadBlaster]

Originally Posted by Dano

I have no issues with TIR ever and I fly in all lighting conditions, daylight, artificial and darkness, not once have I ever had to adjust my profile to suit as TIR continues to work flawlessly in each case.

Try lighting yourself on fire. I bet it doesn't work so well then.

[Dano]

Originally Posted by MadBlaster

Try lighting yourself on fire. I bet it doesn't work so well then.

[Continu0]

Freetrack works pretty well - if it works. Should you go for it, i highly recommend buying a camera that is suggested on the freetrack-website.

I have problems with the drivers of the camera(which wasn´t suggested): They always switch to default settings when i switch to the game.

[JG52Uther]

I have enough faffing about just running CoD, without having to mess around with freetrack all the time. I tried it a couple of years ago, never worked properly for me, and used a hell of a lot of resources.
TiR is ridiculously expensive, but it works.

[Artist]

Using Freetrack on Win7 with 3 Osram SFH487P infrared LEDs (powered by a 4.5V power supply unit) and a Wii Remote (powered by a 3V power supply unit and connected via a Hama Nano Bluetooth USB)

Works flawlessly, smooth and reliable on 97-100 FPS. Because of the Wii Remote it uses less CPU than a webcam-solution.

Was a bit of tinkering, though.

Artist

[SEE]

I have used both FTv2.2 and TIR4 ultra. I prefer FT, with a good webcam (PS3 eye at 100fps), IR filter and the correct wide angle IR leds (SH485) found it just as good as TIR. My FT clip is powered off the USB just as a TIR clip would be. Needless to say I sold my TIR on Ebay.

I have one profile and haven't changed it since CloD was released so not sure why you have to change it at all.

The latest update seems to have caused some problems and FTsometimes locks up when I go into the menu, why it suddenly started doing this I don't know, having said that, no one else is reporting similar issues so it may be the PS3 eye that is conflicting in my OS. Its fine with a standard 30fps webcam.

The biggest advantage for me is that FT allows keystrokes to be assigned to any of the 6 axis and these can be assigned to a POV. In dogfights, or for accurracy, I will often disable two of the unwanted axis.

I personally couldn't see a big enough advantage using TIR over FT. I can change/replace the camera and LED's far more cheaply so the decision for me wasn't that difficult to make.