I've been using TrackIR for about a year, but I honestly didn't use it that much because it really required concentration, and I found it was easier to use Active Camera. You had to keep your head pretty still, or the view would go wacky.The vector expansion has COMPLETELY changed my perception! This is the way is should've worked from day 1. I feel this is the closet you can get to a head mounted display for under $2000. It's amazing! I like the fact that you don't have to keep your head still. On takeoff for instance, when the nose of the plane is high, you can't see over it. Well with this, you just "sit up" and voila! You can peer over the nose like on a real Cessna. I have the settings turned down, so it really only looks about 45 degrees in any direction, but this is MORE than enough for visual flying, and it doesn't make you sick. The default profiles are kind of annoying- any normal turn of the head would have you looking back 180 degrees- maybe good for a combat sim, but not for FS. It kind of made me sick. You can now peer around control columns, lean back and up to see the overhead panel, etc. The smooth 3D movement makes the world feel more alive- It actually gives you depth perception which you don't otherwise have. Incredibly natural feeling- The learning curve is 1/10 of what it was without the vector expansion. My only gripe is the price for new users- I think if it was $100 for the TrackIR and it came with the vector expansion it would be a real bargain for anyone who likes to fly from the VC. Very, Very cool. If you've been on the fence, then this will really change your mind. I'd give it 8 out of 10. The two lost points are because the price is high, and every once in awhile, if you move your view to far, it goes wacky and points straight down- this is resolved with a quick press of the F12 key, and doesn't hamper the experience- not nearly as much as it adds to it!I would equate the experience I just had flying patterns out of KTPA in the Cessna, at least along the lines of the first time I flew FS98 from the VC view- It makes FS a whole new experience again! Things I've done 1000 times feel new. Anyway, I apologize if I just caused your wallet to shrink, but for us simmers that love that feeling of immersion- this is a MUST HAVE.

Hi thereI have had mine for a few days now and agree with you that it is much easier than the Track IR on its own, one tip for you if you are using the track hat cover its reflector with a bit of tape as at wide angles of view it can cause interference although the software seems to be able to ignore it when you are looking mostly ahead.This really is how the track ir should have been from the start, If they start to include this with the Track IR and do some deals with the leading Payware developers for rebate vouchers this thing will kill off 2D panels in no time at all.

Chris,Do I have to uninstall Active Camera for using this.My order is on its way.Can't wait. :) BTW.. I have never used the earlier version..but I love Active Camera.BTW..how can I assign that F12 to my CH Yoke button?

I refuse to bad talking any version of TrackIR because all have been so many times better than pov-hat or mouse view. But of course I have this on it

Manny- I'm not sure if you HAVE to disable active camera- I think you can just disable it via the menu option. I tried it with it on, and exited once, and disabled active camera to see if it was in fact interferring. I found no difference, but this was only for a minute or so.I don't remember the last time I adjusted menu options in active camera, but I think the way you adjust things has changed. It took me a little while to figure it out, but no manuals needed. One thing I noticed is that ROLL mode is disabled by default, and if I turned it on, the VC went a little wacky- must be a problem with the interface there. I had no intention of using roll mode anyway- I can do that with my eyes. The default values were WAY too aggessive, so you'll probably want to adjust those- unless you're an "expert" user. Kind of like the Quake gurus who have the mouse setup to spin 1080 degrees for every inch of mouse movement. I found it too much for me- I want it to be realistic so that my head movements correspond to real-life angles. One gripe is I think they need to add more micro adjustments- even at low levels it moves a bit too much.Anyway, let us know what you think when you get it! If you liked it before you will LOVE it now! FedEx screwed up the delivery, so you may want to call them to specify arrangements so they don't try to deliver it, leave when nobody is home (but don't leave a note), and then just put it in your mailbox on the second attempt (weird). BTW, it came in a large envelope, and not a box. The activation was easy- and you need the serial number off your trackir unit (it's on the bottom). Once that's done, there are just two license files you drop into a directory. I like that, since it seems it's not "machine specific"- I hate add-ons like that, since I upgrade and reinstall semi-frequently.It really is an outstanding product- I'm sure when AVSIM does a review it will get 4-5 stars- probably 5 if the reviewer liked the old trackir.Also, the hat is really high quality- I was expecting a cheesy gift store hat- I would wear this one out- it looks cool and fits nicely.

OK- I just tried the vector expansion in GTR- WOW. So much smoother. It doesn't support X,Y, and Z axis movement, but at least your view doesn't spin all over when you adjust your seat. It was so natural I forgot I was using it. You just naturally look into the apex of corners, and it really helps with your situational awareness and avoiding other cars.The more I use it, the better it gets as I tweak the profile. It is up to a 9/10 now. Absolutely, undeniably impressive.And I was able to clear something up in FS, which made it even better-It does work along with active camera. Yes, you should disable the internal cockpit view, and/or turn off the head latency effects, but with it running you can still use the active camera hotkeys to jump to views. This means you can leave the sensitivity turned down (the way I like it), and still be able to get to the overhead/mcp/center console easily. If you like virtual cockpits, skip a few addons and save up for this- it is the ultimate toy for FS, and also GTR.

The only thing that interferrs with trackIR and Active camera is the head latency function. You can have internal cockpit and everything enabled except head latency and everything will work fine.

sounds good! I have two questions though:First, do you think it's usefull when flying airliners? And second, I saw you have quite a system, as opposed to mine ;), would slower framerates be a big problem in respect to the immersion factor?Cheers!Michiel http://members.home.nl/mjagersma/pics/HollandJumpin.gifhttp://members.home.nl/mjagersma/pics/sig.jpg

Well you will always find ways to kill framerate in FS 2004 regardless of computer ;).TrackIR in itself don

Well, yeah framerates are good- But I really didn't find any problems even at lower framerates- just a little lag. It's not like your wearing an HMD, so you don't really get nauseous if it lags a little. It would be worth turning down your video settings a little bit.For Airliners, yes it's good- but you really have to use active camera as well- the hot keys to jump to views is quite necessary. I like the trackIR settings to be subtle, and that does not allow me to view all the panels just by moving my head. You might like it like that though- with the settings turned up, you can see all the panels.

>Well, yeah framerates are good- But I really didn't find any>problems even at lower framerates- just a little lag. It's>not like your wearing an HMD, so you don't really get nauseous>if it lags a little. It would be worth turning down your>video settings a little bit.>>For Airliners, yes it's good- but you really have to use>active camera as well- the hot keys to jump to views is quite>necessary. I like the trackIR settings to be subtle, and that>does not allow me to view all the panels just by moving my>head. You might like it like that though- with the settings>turned up, you can see all the panels.I adjust TrackIR so it can track all the way in the Tracking window. That allows me to look 180 degree while still being smooth and precise. Otherwise if you get the Vector expansion you can just about disable the internal cockpit option in it really. May be an idea to get a chair with wheels as well and that you can rise and lower. Can

Thanks Chris,I'll post what I think of it..from a newbie who has not used their product before.Its good to know that those parameters can be tweeked. I am the kind of guy...who don't hack stuff normally... beyond the first default setups. and If I didn't like it as the default I tend to drop it. I'll play with its parameters a bit before I try discard it. And yes..I concur with your assessment of software that is tightly coupled with the hardware. I have a desktop and two laptops and I intend to get another desktop too.. Yeah..I know what you mean.:)