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popsuk #1 23/03/2013 - 10h11

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Hi
Just want to know do the IR Led's have to have a 80° viewing angle? its just that all local shops to me only seem to have those with a 40° viewing angle and i don't want to waste my time buying those if they are no good, and all the online place want stupid money to post 3 IR Led's & 3 Resistors.
thx
Stormrider #2 23/03/2013 - 12h05

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Hi Popsuk,
In the freetrack manual you can read the following:

The LEDs fade away when I turn my head only a small amount.

The viewing angle of your LEDs is too small,  increase the viewing angle by filing the LED lens tips down flat, almost to the metal part and then make the final finish transparent matte (not too shiny, not too rough). Alternatively you can buy wide angle IR LEDs like SFH485P or equivalent (+/-40 degrees half angle). These LEDs are unlikely to be available from consumer electronics shops, instead try major distributors like Farnell and RS Components or through a specialist like LumiTronix.

I can't find SFH485P LEDs or the shipping costs are more expensive than the LEDs themselves!

Just use standard, widely available infrared LEDs, their viewing angle is too narrow for head tracking but this is easily fixed by filing the lens tips down flat. This reduces their brightness due to a wider emission angle but they're still no less bright than commercially bought wide angle LEDs like SFH485P.

I hope this answers your question.

Greetz Stormrider
Edited by Stormrider on 23/03/2013 at 12h05.
popsuk #3 23/03/2013 - 19h14

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Right i have ended up with LD271 infrared emitter from Maplins

and 3 of those resistors and 1 9v battery box with switch will those parts iv'e bought be ok?
all i need now is to decide how what materiel's to use.
thx
popsuk #4 23/03/2013 - 19h17

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Right i have ended up with LD271 infrared emitter from Maplins
http://www.maplin.co.uk/ld271-infrared-emitter-2262#specification
and 3 of those resistors http://www.maplin.co.uk/metal-film-0.6w-resistor-2162#specification and 1 9v battery box with switch http://www.maplin.co.uk/9v-switched-battery-box-36603 will those parts iv'e bought be ok?
all i need now is to decide how what materiel's to use.
thx
Stormrider #5 23/03/2013 - 20h46

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Hi popsuk,
those LD271 are good for freetrack(after filing them down).With one of my first setups I also used  batteries.I changed
it later for 5v usb.Batteries run empty after a while and it always happens in the heat of battle. But that is something you have to decide for yourself.
Maybe this is useful for you to read ;
http://forum.free-track.net/index.php?showtopic=3564

greetz Stormrider
Steph #6 24/03/2013 - 17h11

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Hi Popsuk,

this is what you need:

Posted Image
popsuk #7 24/03/2013 - 19h46

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Hi
Thx for replies but I think I have balls this up already, started to wire it up today and after the first LED think got the - & + wrong anyway I continued and because the software keeps crashing am not sure if wired up wrong or not.

Here what I've done so far, will have start again wiring up with new led's I think

Posted Image
Edited by popsuk on 24/03/2013 at 19h47.
popsuk #8 24/03/2013 - 19h51

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Steph @ 24/03/2013 - 18h11 a dit:

Hi Popsuk,

this is what you need:

Posted Image



Thx steph but am going to start again but this am going to use USB for power, because I used 9v battery box for the led holder.

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