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SETUP / INSTALLATION
The TrackIR 3-Pro needs to
sit at near eye level with the user, such as being pearched on top of your
monitor. For LCD monitor owners, the TrackIR 3-Pro comes with a mounting clip
that will stick onto the back of the monitor and hold the TrackIR in place. The TrackIR
3-Pro is a USB plug and
play device. The only stipulation is that the software drivers get installed
before you actually plug the TrackIR into your computer. If you don't happen to
catch that note in the Quick Start Guide, a red sticker next to the USB plug
will also warn you about the software installation steps. Another note in the
Pre-Installation section of the of the Quick Start Guide will also recommend going to
the support section of the Natural Point webpage and downloading newer drivers
if they are available. Version 3.11 shipped on the provided CD and version 3.12
is available on the webpage, so the newest driver was downloaded and utilized.
Once the driers were installed, there is a minor amount of configuring to do.
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The TrackIR
must have its control module (shown above) running at the time you wish to use
the TrackIR which is pretty straight forward. After you finish customizing the
way the TrackIR will act, you simply minimize the program and then run what ever
program you wish. The TrackIR has two basic modes of function, mouse emulation
and TrackIR Enhanced. Mouse Emulation mode puts the TrackIR in charge of mouse
movements, as your head moves so does the mouse cursor - even at the Windows
Desktop! This mode is made for games that offer no native TrackIR support, but
for those games that do, the TrackIR Enhanced mode is the way to go. Through the
Profiles menu you select the game you wish to use the TrackIR with and then hit
LOAD. The only issue I found with this is that the assigned HotKeys (shown
above) are the same for every profile. Key assignments for the TrackIR
override any setting made in the game, so if the HotKey is the same as an
important function in the Simulator you're driving/flying, you will want to
change the assignment to another key. The Left/Right click assignments are for
mouse emulation mode. The Center, Enable and Motion Mode are most important.
Center: This is very much like a calibration function that must be
performed when the unit is first turned on. This establishes the center,
or home position that you will use when you are "looking straight
forward" This hotkey is useful to have bound so you can perform a CENTER
command at any point of the action in whatever game you are playing.
Enable: This acts as a toggle to turn on or off the TrackIR
sensor, leaving you to fend for yourself in view panning. This is QUITE
handy in the beginning as you learn to adapt to the innovative style of
view panning.
Motion Mode: This is where you switch from Mouse Emulation to the
TrackIR Enhanced mode. Several games and simulators already have native
support for the TrackIR so the Enhanced mode will definitely be the way
to go. However, at any time you strike the Motion Mode hotkey and switch
back and forth between the two modes.
The
TrackIR 3-Pro needs to see special sensors in order to convert your
movement into directional commands. It will ship with the pattern of
dots and squares you see on the left in the original retail package.
These are self-adhesive and can be placed on any manor of things as long
as the sensor can "see" them. Natural Point has suggested things such as
the microphone of your headset as a perfect location for one of the
sensors. It only needs ONE sensor for operation, and using more will cause more confusion
instead of providing a stronger target for
tracking. The hat on the right is Natural Point's own Track Hat. In a
one size fits all style, the Track IR can lock onto the Track Hat via
two strategically placed IR reflective strips, much like the
self-adhesive dots. One is placed directly in the
center on the leading edge of the hat's bill. The other sensor is
located on the back of the hat on the Velcro sizing strap which would be
handy if you choose to mount the TrackIR 3-Pro behind you, instead of on
your monitor.
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The
Tracking tab of the software driver is where you will want to make any
last minute checks before you start your game. The yellow dot represents
the aim point or location of the view pointer. There are many different
motion presets to use, which determine the amount and range of motion
required. There are even settings that allow you to increase a dead
zone, which is very handy in the early days of learning.
One
last note: Direct sunlight is bad! I have my computer setup so
that my back faces a window which is about 6 feet away from the sensor
of the TrackIR. If the curtains are completely shut and there is no
sunlight bleeding through the TrackIR offered solid and jitter free
tracking. All of that changed when someone decided to move a curtain and
look out the window. The TrackIR became very jittery and unresponsive to
movement commands. This is an issue that is addressed on the Natural
Point support page under Common Problems and Errors where it is
explained to avoid sources of direct light being fed into the sensor.
Simple solution: close the curtains. Or, the TrackIR does have a setting
in the driver called: Camera Threshold which will make the unit more
tolerant to backlighting or direct sunlight. The TrackIR
3-Pro had NO problems tracking in a normal environment with overhead
lighting.
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