TrackIR is a "cannot fly without it" thing.

I use an older trackIR with the standard cap clip which seems sort of indestructible.

To get mine working really reliably I needed to:

• keep the room dark
• dedicate a CPU core to the trackIR and stop the game using that core
• in my case put it on a switchable USB hub as occasionally my PC loses the camera and it was annoying to reach behind the PC and unplug and replug the USB, now I just hit the switch
• the old hat clip is problematic on a cap I just attached it directly to the top of  my headset
• I got better tracking mounting the camera on a little stand that positions it at the very bottom of my monitor instead of on top, though I needed to tilt and bend the cap clip downwards a bit to get reliable tracking

Never had an issue with pause and F12 .

Some people have reported good results from replacing the default reflective pads with material cut from a hi-vis workmen's vest but I have never tried that. I suppose in theory you could put three strips of fabric directly on your headset, one on top and one on each ear piece, might try that one day.

For me the aircraft that really shines with the TrackIR is the YMF-5  😄

 

 

 

Edited February 26, 20215 yr by Glenn Fitzpatrick

3 hours ago, jpe828 said:

For me the TrackIR is as essential as controls, rudder pedals etc. 

I wouldn’t even call that debatable. I’d say it’s very non essential. It does seem totally unrealistic and over the top. Much rather like PMDG’s idea of wing flexing. 

I uninstalled the software, and installed the version that tech support recommended, fired up MS  2020 and my Mooney and an hour flight in South Florida, was a success. Track IR worked great and no problems. 

1 hour ago, Doug47 said:

I wouldn’t even call that debatable. I’d say it’s very non essential. It does seem totally unrealistic and over the top. Much rather like PMDG’s idea of wing flexing. 

I find that interesting as it is pretty much identical to what you get with VR headsets. 

What version of trackIR were you using and what aspects of it did you find unrealistic ?

2 hours ago, Doug47 said:

I wouldn’t even call that debatable. I’d say it’s very non essential. It does seem totally unrealistic and over the top. Much rather like PMDG’s idea of wing flexing. 

TrackIR? not for me... If I can't look around while flying, taxiing I find the sim completely un realistic. Flying a pattern without being able to quickly look around... scanning instruments, and taildraggers/warbirds... I cannot fly them without it. Nicely demonstrated by @Glenn Fitzpatrick above. I have been using TrackIR for years, and could never go back. To me, it is as essential as flight controls. 

Edited February 27, 20215 yr by jpe828

This is what I use Tobii eye tracker 5 and like the guy in the vid I wear Glasses he has the test tracker on so you can see where he is looking you don`t have that on when using it, you have to use third party software at the moment but a MSFS profile is being worked on, as it already supports P3D, DCS and a ton of other games F1 2020 also, I like the fact you do not need to wear anything on your head you can just get up and leave without a problem and when you come back it still works even drinking my Yorkshire brew does not affect it.

(2) Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 with head and eye tracking. - YouTube

To those that have never tried it, I would say you don’t know what you are missing. You get used to it very quickly and yes, it is as important as a good set of flight controls (for me). Panning around using a hat switch is like flying using the keyboard. Track IR adds another dimension, a sense of realism. Probably the closest thing to VR without having VR.

Edited February 27, 20215 yr by RaptyrOne

I've used TrackIR  for flight simulation for many years and still love it.  I have a VR Oculus Rift S headset, but still like my TrackIR better.

On my other computer with American Truck Simulator, I use the Tobii eye tracker and it works good too.

 

6 hours ago, Bobsk8 said:

I uninstalled the software, and installed the version that tech support recommended, fired up MS  2020 and my Mooney and an hour flight in South Florida, was a success. Track IR worked great and no problems. 

Which version tech support recommended?

I've been flightsimming nearly as long as there have been flightsims and often been tempted to buy Track IR, though never got around to it.  TBH, once I've set up my views to my personal settings on my joystick and keyboard I have no problems looking around the cockpit.  I've set up the views on MSFS in a similar fashion to how I remember setting FSX up a few years back.

I would still like to try out Track IR though, but don't want to spend money in something I might not use enough to make it worthwhile.

3 hours ago, Tomaz Drnovsek said:

Which version tech support recommended?

5.4.2

3 hours ago, cianpars said:

I've been flightsimming nearly as long as there have been flightsims and often been tempted to buy Track IR, though never got around to it.  TBH, once I've set up my views to my personal settings on my joystick and keyboard I have no problems looking around the cockpit.  I've set up the views on MSFS in a similar fashion to how I remember setting FSX up a few years back.

I would still like to try out Track IR though, but don't want to spend money in something I might not use enough to make it worthwhile.

I got 20 years use out of mine and it more than earnt its keep.

Back then it was a no brainer as I flew on IL2 "full real " servers that disabled tab targeting and external views.  These days of course it is a harder decision as there are free alternate options like that eye tracker stuff and also VR is borderline becoming a thing.

57 minutes ago, Glenn Fitzpatrick said:

I got 20 years use out of mine and it more than earnt its keep.

Back then it was a no brainer as I flew on IL2 "full real " servers that disabled tab targeting and external views.  These days of course it is a harder decision as there are free alternate options like that eye tracker stuff and also VR is borderline becoming a thing.

Not tried VR in FS, but a VR rollercoaster ride had me feeling decidedly queasy. Not to realistic though as the rez/detail seemed very low.

My kids have VR headsets, so I will give FS a go if I can pin them down.  We did try over christmas but had a problem using the wrong cable or something and couldn't get it working properly.  Seemed like a bit of a faff to set it up too.

I used trackIR before I went VR. It’s as essential as a yoke in my opinion. And all these other track devices, I used the one and only natural point one. Sure it costs more, but I got mine in 2008, and it’s still going strong. 

6 minutes ago, cianpars said:

Not tried VR in FS, but a VR rollercoaster ride had me feeling decidedly queasy. Not to realistic though as the rez/detail seemed very low.

My kids have VR headsets, so I will give FS a go if I can pin them down.  We did try over christmas but had a problem using the wrong cable or something and couldn't get it working properly.  Seemed like a bit of a faff to set it up too.

The general impression I am getting from people is that neither  VR hardware nor our PC hardware are quite there.  Anything less than an Index or G2 makes reading instruments an issue and running either of those in MSFS hammers even a 10900K/3080 system.   I am still thinking of getting one just for stuff where you do not need to read the instruments like bush bashing.

Edited February 27, 20215 yr by Glenn Fitzpatrick