http://www.engadget.com/2006/11/24/diy-wireless-wii-sensor-bar/ Engadget Comments for http://www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2008 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadget.com/2006/11/24/diy-wireless-wii-sensor-bar/http://www.engadget.com/2006/11/24/diy-wireless-wii-sensor-bar/Nov 24th 2006 12:57PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/11/24/diy-wireless-wii-sensor-bar/http://www.engadget.com/2006/11/24/diy-wireless-wii-sensor-bar/Nov 24th 2006 1:06PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/11/24/diy-wireless-wii-sensor-bar/http://www.engadget.com/2006/11/24/diy-wireless-wii-sensor-bar/Nov 24th 2006 1:06PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/11/24/diy-wireless-wii-sensor-bar/http://www.engadget.com/2006/11/24/diy-wireless-wii-sensor-bar/Nov 24th 2006 1:09PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/11/24/diy-wireless-wii-sensor-bar/http://www.engadget.com/2006/11/24/diy-wireless-wii-sensor-bar/Nov 24th 2006 1:19PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/11/24/diy-wireless-wii-sensor-bar/http://www.engadget.com/2006/11/24/diy-wireless-wii-sensor-bar/Nov 24th 2006 1:38PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/11/24/diy-wireless-wii-sensor-bar/http://www.engadget.com/2006/11/24/diy-wireless-wii-sensor-bar/Nov 24th 2006 1:21PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/11/24/diy-wireless-wii-sensor-bar/http://www.engadget.com/2006/11/24/diy-wireless-wii-sensor-bar/Nov 24th 2006 1:22PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/11/24/diy-wireless-wii-sensor-bar/http://www.engadget.com/2006/11/24/diy-wireless-wii-sensor-bar/Nov 24th 2006 1:38PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/11/24/diy-wireless-wii-sensor-bar/http://www.engadget.com/2006/11/24/diy-wireless-wii-sensor-bar/Nov 24th 2006 1:40PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/11/24/diy-wireless-wii-sensor-bar/http://www.engadget.com/2006/11/24/diy-wireless-wii-sensor-bar/
It provides a point of reference for the wiimote to figure out the relationship between the movement of the wiimote and the screen.

"Nice...it kinda sucks that there using ir emitters tho."

Why? IR is completely safe, and it has the benefit of being invisible--so you don't get blinded by the thing when your playing the game, or annoyed when you watch TV.

It would be interesting to see how far you can put these things apart, and see how that changes the range of the wiimote. Some people were having troubles with their projection displays not tracking correctly--I believe this is that the tiny camera in the wiimote that is looking for the IR emitted by the wiimote cannot distinguish between the display and the sensor bar. By placing them farther apart, you could move back away from the wall/screen and the interference from the screen would be reduced, if not eliminated.]]>Nov 24th 2006 1:45PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/11/24/diy-wireless-wii-sensor-bar/http://www.engadget.com/2006/11/24/diy-wireless-wii-sensor-bar/Does that mean we can increase the Wiimote's effective range (for pointing) and accuracy by placing the IR diodes farther apart and providing slightly more power to them (much like putting an extra quarter of a volt to an LED to increase brightness)? Anybody know?]]>Nov 24th 2006 2:02PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/11/24/diy-wireless-wii-sensor-bar/http://www.engadget.com/2006/11/24/diy-wireless-wii-sensor-bar/And increasing range is a very interesting concept.]]>Nov 24th 2006 2:27PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/11/24/diy-wireless-wii-sensor-bar/http://www.engadget.com/2006/11/24/diy-wireless-wii-sensor-bar/Nov 24th 2006 2:42PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/11/24/diy-wireless-wii-sensor-bar/http://www.engadget.com/2006/11/24/diy-wireless-wii-sensor-bar/
Here. pictures explain better.

[Wii]=-----=[SB] ]]>Nov 24th 2006 3:15PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/11/24/diy-wireless-wii-sensor-bar/http://www.engadget.com/2006/11/24/diy-wireless-wii-sensor-bar/Then you can either plug the sensor bar into the Wii, or connect it to a REGULATED 12v power supply. Make sure you use a regulated supply. On my first attempt at this, I used an unregulated supply and fried the sensor bar. While I was waiting for a new sensor bar from Nintendo I made a new one.

The wire is quite thin, so you might actually want to take the sensor bar apart and solder in a new wire in place of the old one. That's what I did. Here's a link to a photo gallery showing how I modified our sensor bar:

http://www.pbase.com/duncanc/wii_sensor_bar_hack]]>Jan 10th 2007 10:30PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/11/24/diy-wireless-wii-sensor-bar/http://www.engadget.com/2006/11/24/diy-wireless-wii-sensor-bar/Nov 24th 2006 3:02PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/11/24/diy-wireless-wii-sensor-bar/http://www.engadget.com/2006/11/24/diy-wireless-wii-sensor-bar/Nov 24th 2006 3:59PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/11/24/diy-wireless-wii-sensor-bar/http://www.engadget.com/2006/11/24/diy-wireless-wii-sensor-bar/Nov 24th 2006 4:12PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/11/24/diy-wireless-wii-sensor-bar/http://www.engadget.com/2006/11/24/diy-wireless-wii-sensor-bar/Nov 24th 2006 7:07PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/11/24/diy-wireless-wii-sensor-bar/http://www.engadget.com/2006/11/24/diy-wireless-wii-sensor-bar/Nov 24th 2006 7:36PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/11/24/diy-wireless-wii-sensor-bar/http://www.engadget.com/2006/11/24/diy-wireless-wii-sensor-bar/
What would having 2 emitter, one at middle-left and one at middle-right, do? Or maybe one emitter for each corner?]]>Nov 25th 2006 12:35AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/11/24/diy-wireless-wii-sensor-bar/http://www.engadget.com/2006/11/24/diy-wireless-wii-sensor-bar/
i have a projector and it would be SUPER awkward having a wired one.....

i woulda never have guessed that the "Sensor" bar would be just a bunch of IR LEDs that dont even send any info to the Wii.

oh well, makes it easier for a DIY sensor, woot, time to get making the perfect bar, ill attach it to the bottom of my screen so it never gets moved or nocked about.]]>Nov 25th 2006 9:42AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/11/24/diy-wireless-wii-sensor-bar/http://www.engadget.com/2006/11/24/diy-wireless-wii-sensor-bar/Not having a soldering iron handy, I used crimp on telephone connectors (64-3073) by sticking two LED ends in one side and a battery lead in the other then crimp with pliars. Be sure to either install a switch or pull the battery out when not in use!]]>Nov 25th 2006 12:11PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/11/24/diy-wireless-wii-sensor-bar/http://www.engadget.com/2006/11/24/diy-wireless-wii-sensor-bar/Nov 25th 2006 9:06PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/11/24/diy-wireless-wii-sensor-bar/http://www.engadget.com/2006/11/24/diy-wireless-wii-sensor-bar/http://www.wirelesssensorbar.com. Uses a 9 volt battery. We're 250+ orders away from dropping price $10.00, so check us out! http://www.wirelesssensorbar.com]]>Dec 1st 2006 4:18PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/11/24/diy-wireless-wii-sensor-bar/http://www.engadget.com/2006/11/24/diy-wireless-wii-sensor-bar/Jan 5th 2007 5:11AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/11/24/diy-wireless-wii-sensor-bar/http://www.engadget.com/2006/11/24/diy-wireless-wii-sensor-bar/Jan 5th 2007 9:10PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/11/24/diy-wireless-wii-sensor-bar/http://www.engadget.com/2006/11/24/diy-wireless-wii-sensor-bar/
Yea that's what I was thinking. A lot of people have a hard time with the concept that you have to point the Wiimote at the sensor bar and not the TV. I think that'd be a really nice way to avoid confusion, and make things easier. Then you really could just point it at the TV.

One thing's for sure, I'll sure be trying out this mod, and having the sensors on either side of the TV. Nice idea Engadget!]]>Jan 11th 2007 12:23PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/11/24/diy-wireless-wii-sensor-bar/http://www.engadget.com/2006/11/24/diy-wireless-wii-sensor-bar/Mar 16th 2007 6:50PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/11/24/diy-wireless-wii-sensor-bar/http://www.engadget.com/2006/11/24/diy-wireless-wii-sensor-bar/
I have used trigonometry to calculate what angle bulbs that I need to provide optimum distance for all sizes of TVs. It will be small and will attach to a stick-on velcro tab on the side of the TV. That way you could pull it off of the TV and plug it onto a different TV easily.

It will look clean and professional, so you will not be embarrassed by pieces of trash stuck to the sides of your TV.

When I am done with it, I will sell it for a reasonable price from http://www.webdesignermagic.com/wii.

The site will not be up until the sensor is finished. Feel free to email me for updates on how the design process is coming. (designer-w@hotmail.com)]]>Apr 12th 2007 8:28PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/11/24/diy-wireless-wii-sensor-bar/http://www.engadget.com/2006/11/24/diy-wireless-wii-sensor-bar/Thank you!]]>May 22nd 2007 1:52AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/11/24/diy-wireless-wii-sensor-bar/http://www.engadget.com/2006/11/24/diy-wireless-wii-sensor-bar/
I'd be very interested to hear anyone's thoughts on this, even if it's just to tell me how stupid this idea is.

Gracias Amigos and Amigettes ]]>Jun 9th 2007 12:29AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/11/24/diy-wireless-wii-sensor-bar/http://www.engadget.com/2006/11/24/diy-wireless-wii-sensor-bar/
The Wiimote doesn't "triangulate" it's position per say.
It looks at the location of those 2 dots on its camera and decides where to point the cursor.

I already made a homebrew AC sensor bar only to find out that at significant distance (about 14 ft or so), the bar is too short. The two dots appear to close on the IR Cam at a distance, and the Wiimote gets confused.

I'm gonna have to make my own now... the problem is estetics...]]>Jul 6th 2007 10:43AM