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RSS >  Wiimote settings, Why isn´t it smooth
tomten_alle #1 27/01/2009 - 20h59

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Hi,
I am trying to get freetrack to work smoothly. As it is now, i cant see the instruments because it just flipps upp and down. I have made a youtube video where i show how bad it works. The wiimote is located under my screen but it works even worse if i tape it to my 24" screen. I thought the wiimote was smoot, but it doesnt seem so.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n3gqjLUg0Sg
CyBerkut #2 28/01/2009 - 01h22

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tomten_alle @ 27/01/2009 - 20h59 a dit:

Hi,
I am trying to get freetrack to work smoothly. As it is now, i cant see the instruments because it just flipps upp and down. I have made a youtube video where i show how bad it works. The wiimote is located under my screen but it works even worse if i tape it to my 24" screen. I thought the wiimote was smoot, but it doesnt seem so.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n3gqjLUg0Sg



In the early part of that video, you clicked through various configuration screens in FreeTrack.  Two of those screens have settings for smoothing, etc.

You need to "Read The Fine Manual" to obtain an understanding of what those items are adjusting, and then start tweaking.  Your Wiimote is almost certainly fine (except that you may find it works better on top of the monitor, once you getthe setings tweaked in better.

Rejoice!  You got past the "hard" part for most folks (Getting the Wiimote communicating with FreeTrack).   :)   Just keep plugging at it!
Quarrion #3 28/01/2009 - 03h24

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The tracking display shouldn't be flashing like that and the points look far too small, especially for the very low threshold setting you have.  You need to use infrared LEDs with a wavelength around 940nm (SFH485P) to get past the Wiimote's filter. Note that the LEDs in the TrackClip Pro are a shorter wavelength and don't penetrate the Wiimote's filter enough.
tomten_alle #4 28/01/2009 - 07h41

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Quarrion @ 28/01/2009 - 03h24 a dit:

The tracking display shouldn't be flashing like that and the points look far too small, especially for the very low threshold setting you have.  You need to use infrared LEDs with a wavelength around 940nm (SFH485P) to get past the Wiimote's filter. Note that the LEDs in the TrackClip Pro are a shorter wavelength and don't penetrate the Wiimote's filter enough.


Oh, now i understand. It´s my brothers wiimote so maybe i buy a webcam and tweak it.
tomten_alle #5 28/01/2009 - 16h12

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I have a new question. If the wavelenght is not gret for wiimote tracking, will it work with a ordinary camera with a photographic film in front of the lens? How is it solved in the natrual point hardware?
Please explain!
Edited by tomten_alle on 28/01/2009 at 16h17.
Volans #6 29/01/2009 - 06h42

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Maybe. Depends, what clip do u actually use? Is it a TIR clip, or a hand made one with visible led light? Various materials have various ir 'transparency', and an filter made from exposed photographic film will be weacker than wiimote filter (the dark piece of plastic in front of the wiimote). If the wavelenght issue is true, then natural point is simply using a plastic filter with a greater 'transparency' for ir radiation.
 As far as your original question, I can see from the very begining of the movie that your leds from the clip are seen way too little by the wiimote, with multiple parasitic reflections, so freetrack will see only two points(wrong), or four points(wrong), and rarely three points (correct), and this is causing that amount of roughness tracking. Untill this problem is not solved there is NO USE to try other program settings (as sensitivity/curves/smoothing..etc)
 I have to mention that "threshold" option will not have any effect when using a wiimote.
......So, what clip do you actually use?
Edited by Volans on 29/01/2009 at 06h52.
tomten_alle #7 29/01/2009 - 07h54

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Volans @ 29/01/2009 - 06h42 a dit:

Maybe. Depends, what clip do u actually use? Is it a TIR clip, or a hand made one with visible led light? Various materials have various ir 'transparency', and an filter made from exposed photographic film will be weacker than wiimote filter (the dark piece of plastic in front of the wiimote). If the wavelenght issue is true, then natural point is simply using a plastic filter with a greater 'transparency' for ir radiation.
 As far as your original question, I can see from the very begining of the movie that your leds from the clip are seen way too little by the wiimote, with multiple parasitic reflections, so freetrack will see only two points(wrong), or four points(wrong), and rarely three points (correct), and this is causing that amount of roughness tracking. Untill this problem is not solved there is NO USE to try other program settings (as sensitivity/curves/smoothing..etc)
 I have to mention that "threshold" option will not have any effect when using a wiimote.
......So, what clip do you actually use?


I use this one.
Posted Image
Thanks for the reply.
Volans #8 30/01/2009 - 06h48

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Ok, I see....Well looks like is true, the wavelength of the TIR clip diodes cannot penetrate enough wiimote  filter. So, you have 3 posibilities:

1. build yourself a new tracker (either clip or cap), using some conventional ir diodes (such the osram SH...)....can be very pleasant and relaxing to do some DIY....This way you may use wiimote.

2.Buy a webcam (preferably one with a ir filter easy to be removed, see the "webcam removal filter" section of the site). Take away the ir filter (yet another pleasant DIY..:)), and then play with different materials for blocking enough visible light, and yet leting pass the ir radiation of the TIR diodes: a piece of photographic film, a pice of an floppy disk, etc, untill you will find a sweet spot. Now, this way you may use the TIR clip...

3.Be brave, surge the wiimote.It's only an object after all....:)).Do some DIY>>>>..:) Open the wiimote cover, then remove the black piece of  plastic from the front (that is the light filter). Replace it with various other filter types (photo film, floppy..etc), untill the TIR diodes are clearly seen. If you keep the wiimote filter, you may even "repair" the wiimote any time. This way you can use both the clip and the wii...

Now, I have both a modded webcam and a wiimote, and despite usual restrictions of the wii(runs on batteries, need bluetooth connection), I am VERY pleased with the wii, and will never go back to the webcam.
Your choice.
Grumbleputty #9 05/02/2009 - 21h47

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Here's an additional, much cheaper option, which I'm about to try. Pick up one of these- it's basically a set of self-contained IR LEDs, which are already calibrated to get through the Wiimote light shield. All you should need to do is crack the case, position the LEDs inside into the 3-point configuration, and the Wiimote webcam should see it clear as day.

I'll be attempting this tomorrow afternoon, so hopefully I can report back with good news, but the two devices are made to work well together, so what could possibly go wrong?  :unsure:
Falstar #10 05/02/2009 - 22h03

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Grumbleputty @ 05/02/2009 - 21h47 a dit:

Here's an additional, much cheaper option, which I'm about to try. Pick up one of these- it's basically a set of self-contained IR LEDs, which are already calibrated to get through the Wiimote light shield. All you should need to do is crack the case, position the LEDs inside into the 3-point configuration, and the Wiimote webcam should see it clear as day.

I'll be attempting this tomorrow afternoon, so hopefully I can report back with good news, but the two devices are made to work well together, so what could possibly go wrong?  :unsure:




Dimensions (W x D x H): 10.2 in x 1.3 in x 0.8 in

You do know it is almost 10 1/2 inches long?  Are you going to cut it down in size to attach to your headphones or what?
fearlessfrog #11 06/02/2009 - 06h22

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You do know it is almost 10 1/2 inches long?  Are you going to cut it down in size to attach to your headphones or what?



I imagine he's going to crack it open and just reuse three of the LEDs - otherwise he'll have a big stick taped to his head :-)
djzentar #12 06/02/2009 - 11h07

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fearlessfrog @ 06/02/2009 - 06h22 a dit:

I imagine he's going to crack it open and just reuse three of the LEDs - otherwise he'll have a big stick taped to his head :-)



WE NEED PICS OF THAT!  ;D
Edited by djzentar on 06/02/2009 at 11h19.
Grumbleputty #13 06/02/2009 - 15h44

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Fearless Frog is right, I've cracked open the case and started isolating 3 of the LEDs from one side of the bar. There are six total, three on each side, with the left and right ones pointed out at a slight angle from the center.

I'm installing the Wiimote camera now, then I'll finish wiring the headset and report on the results later.
Grumbleputty #14 06/02/2009 - 18h43

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Sigh...

Well, the good news is that the LEDs from the Wii light bar work quite well with my current camera- the bad news is that getting the Wii remote to show up on my XP machine is turning out to be a nightmare. My bluetooth adapter (a targus mini) doesn't work with either the default windows stack or Bluesoleil- it apparently works with older versions of WIDCOMM, but those drivers are "temporarily" off the Broadcomm site! :angry:

Why does this have to be such a pain???!!!!
Grumbleputty #15 06/02/2009 - 21h19

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After further evaluation, the angles on the LEDs from the Wii sensor bar are pretty narrow- back to the drawing board I guess!

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