@Colonel - Yes, I also have a ceiling mounted light behind me and off to one side, but thankfully, the Track IR doesn't seem to mind it - which is good, otherwise I would be on Natural Point's back about why they don't mention ambient lighting issues on the site - I haven't seen it mentioned anywhere at least. As it is though, all is good.

@Polarwolf - I'll stick with the cap, as you said, your neck is important. Might get a visor at some point though, can get a bit uncomfortable wearing a full cap in hot weather indoors.

I took an old baseball cap and cut a pair of slits on the side. Clip the Track Clip on, and you're good to go.

I just switched using the Track IR 4 with ordinary Track Clip from a cap with a flat peak to a visor with a curved peak and the field of vision on the Track IR has massively increased - so anyone using a flat peaked cap or visor, bend it or get yourself a curved one! I recommend the visor - far more comfortable in warm weather. The curved peak also appears to hold the clip in place much more securely.

Hi Stuffy,
I've used a Track IR for over ten years and have had the 3, 4 and 5 versions.

You need to work on your profiles. I wear bifocals, so I adjusted the verticle curves to go the range I want so that the bifocal line doesn't go above the top of my monitor. You can adjust the deadzone also.

For flying I use all axis.
DCS A-10C Profile

For racing I turn off the pitch and roll - its too disorienting.


I knew from the Track IR 3 and 4 that they are affected by backlights, like reflections of sunlight off of the TV. I'm in the basement and bought opaque blinds (they aren't cheap) to cut out the sunlight for a true man-cave. I find the Track IR 5 better at rejecting backlights, BTW.

I switch back and forth between the Track Clip on a ball cap and the Track Clip Pro that is on my headphones. For the Track Clip on the ball cap I use one of those small black and silver paperclip things right in the center of the bill to hold it in place and it doesn't come off.

Unfortunately a few weeks ago I was flying around and drinking and managed to break my Track Clip Pro (I hate it when I do that). So in a fit of panic I downloaded a new Track IR 5 bundle with a new TC Pro. I was able to "fix" the broken one with some scotch tape. My wife wasn't using her computer in the man-cave so I took it over for racing (she has a new laptop) - now I have a racing machine and a flying machine. But the point is that the Track Clip Pro is a bit fragile and has to be handled with care.

(I call my online purchases 'downloads' now, the wife hasn't caught on yet)

Wrecking Crew

Hmmm.

The one major drawback for me with the 4 is the aforementioned sunlight issue - I didn't know that the 5 had better tracking, otherwise I would've gone the extra £25 and got a 5; the information I was getting was that the 5's resolution, field of view and smoothness was better than the 4 - but for all of those things, I'm perfectly happy with the 4 - wish one of you guys had told me about the sunlight issue though! Still, thanks to my blinds, I can get good tracking and at night, the issue goes away completely. How good is the tracking on the 5 - can you have bright sunlight and still get good tracking?

Do you know if your 3 is still working? I'm just trying to figure out the longevity of these devices.

I agree about getting rid of pitch and roll for racing, but the other axis add a lot, especially look to apex - makes driving so much more precise (once you've got used to it). For flying, I swear by it now even though I've only had it a short while - outside of the flightstick, it's the best ever invention for flight sims in my book.

Regarding working on profiles, I find it all really confusing - thankfully the default profiles seem to be working OK for RoF and F1 2010.

I finally hooked up my TrackIR 5 (I've had it a since Monday). Gave it a quick tryout.

Technically, its well made and it works.

Easy to install. Easy to download and set up software (generically). Seems quite precise. All 6 axes work as advertised.

Did not need the included Track Clip Pro -- as the passive hat TrackClip works very well in my room (no back lighting).

I have to "get used to it" to a degree. I can't be moving my head around as randomly as before. For example, in Eyefinity, I tend to look at the screen to either side (a normal and natural action) -- that shifts the entire view substantially. I'll have to develop new "muscle memory".

I'll report back after I get more familiar with it.

I got used to it in no time, but it might take you a little longer if you're used to the Eyefinity's movement. Either way, once you're there, you won't look back. Except to check your six.