Before downloading our FREE DEMO or PURCHASING our sim and many add-ons, you need to meet some minimum hardware requirements.  These are shown below.  Any questions on hardware, please get in touch through our CONTACT page.

Gaming PC – required

We do not guarantee the sim will work correctly with lower end laptops with INTEGRATED graphics cards.  Some work, some don’t.  Business laptops from Dell for example are known to not work correctly due to their custom drivers to prevent gaming.  If you are unsure what you have and want to know if the sim will work, give us a shout here.

We do have a recommended laptop page, where you can buy our laptops.  These laptops are very high end, but you don’t need to spend that much or have such a high spec as our ones if you don’t want to.  As long as you meed the minimum requirements, you’ll be good to go.

Minimum specs required.

Windows 10 64bit
Intel i5 Quad core / AMD Ryzen Quad Core 2.5Ghz
4GB DEDICATED / DISCRETE Graphics card 1080p
8GB DDR4 RAM
DirectX 11
8GB HD space
Internet connection
Laptop / desktop
DOES NOT WORK ON MACs

Recommended specs required.

Windows 10 64bit
Intel i7 Quad core / AMD Ryzen 5/7, 6 Core 2.5Ghz
6GB DEDICATED / DISCRETE Graphics card 1080p
16GB DDR4 RAM
DirectX 12
8GB HD space
Internet Connection
Laptop / desktop
DOES NOT WORK ON MACs

PBS Camera – required

You will need our PBS High Speed Camera to detect your laser shots.

Normal webcams or LASR’s High speed camera does not work with our sytem.

If you already have SMOKELESS RANGE or SIM RANGE and camera, you will not need to purchase our camera, as PBS can be run as an App, within Laser Ammo and Laser Shot ranges.

Our camera comes with a high quality mini tripod, but can be mounted on any standard larger tripod if needed, or from the ceiling.  Our camera has standard mounts top and bottom.

The camera is USB2, can run up to 120fps and can detect RED and IR lasers, including recoil pistols.  IR lasers are recommended, but IR is essential for recoil.  Our camera can be modified easily by the customer to detect RED, IR, BLUE and GREEN.  But by doing so, you will lose the ability to detect recoil, but can be modified again to detect recoil if needed.

Our camera has a high quality 2.8 – 12mm variable zoom lens, with manual aperture.  Similar to a DSLR camera, giving you much better optics, control over camera position and ease of use.

Projector – recommended

A good projector is a must for running PBS with the best quality, immersion and accuracy.

You can use amazon $100 LED/LCD projector specials, and it will work.  But DLP or Laser projectors will always be recommended, but come at a higher price point.

You will not regret investing in a better quality DLP projector, the differences between LED/LCD and DLP are literally night and day.

You can get ‘normal throw‘, ‘short throw – ST‘ or ‘ultra short throw – UST‘ projectors, depending on the size of room you are using to set the range up in.  Just plan that your shooter is not in the beam of the projector, causing a shadow.  Any advice needed, please give us a shout here.

Minimum specs required.

LED / LCD technology
At least 720p native
Ratio 16:9 native, NOT 4:3
1080p compatible
3000 lumens min
Projection size at least 60″
White or light coloured wall to project on
Projector screen

Recommended specs required.

DLP technology
Laser technology (for MASSIVE setups only)
High Dynamic Range
At least 800p native
1080p compatible or native
Ratio 16:9 native, NOT 4:3
3000 – 4000 lumens min
Projection size at least 100″
Projector screen

Recommended brands: BenQ or Optoma

Ambient lighting or reflections off items in the camera’s view will affect the performance or the simulator.  We highly recommend being in a light controlled room, so sunlight is kept off the screen and you can turn off any lights that will reflect onto the projector screen.

LED TV – not recommended

Our PBS range can be used on a large screen TV, but is not recommended.  TV’s have an inbuilt filter, to help it absorb ambient light.  This causes issues when shooting the TV with visible lasers, as our camera cannot detect it.

IR lasers work fine with TV’s.  We recommend putting the camera off to the side as the various layers in the TV screen can cause ghosting and the camera may pick up a reflection of the laser dot, and put your bullets in the wrong place, within the sim.

If you are really on a tight budget, already have a TV and only have red lasers, you can buy CHEESE CLOTH from Amazon etc, and place tightly over the screen (not fouling the hot heat sinks and vents in the TV).  This allows the red laser to be detected by the camera.  If the room is dark (as it should be anyway when using sim) you don’t notice the cheese cloth.

Other simulator companies recommend using materials such as shower curtains.  We don’t recommend that, as is much easier to use cheese cloth.  It’s cheap, easily replaced if damaged, and can be taken off easily.  A pack of cheese cloth and clamps works out about $15 total.  But, again, we do not recommend using a TV, projector only.

You will have to make sure your TV is running true 1080p without over scanning (cutting sections off the desktop on the TV).  It should be exactly the same as your desktop, or it wont work.

You may have to lower the backlight on non OLED screens, and adjust the brightness.  Once you find the sweet spot, it will work just fine.

Foot Pedal – recommended

A three pedal USB switch is highly recommended, but not essential.

When shooting a course of fire, you can shoot the left or right arrows on screen, to move to the next part of the course.  This works fine, but if using gas recoil guns, it’s a waste.  On top of that, if you miss the arrow, it will affect your score and accuracy.

Using the pedals means you can press the left of right pedals to move onto the next part of the course.  The middle pedal is useful for starting the course, or restarting a course.  This allows the shooter to be holstered and ready.  If you don’t use a pedal, you will have to shoot the ‘ready’ button.  This is fine, but it means you have to shoot ready, then holster, then re-draw on the buzzer.  It is so much better to be holstered, ready to go, press the middle pedal and await the buzzer, then draw.

At the end of the course of fire, there is no rush to shoot the final red arrow on the screen, you can take your time, holster your firearm, then press the right or left pedal to end the course.  Our courses are timed by shot, so your final shot ends the timer.

If the foot switch needs mapping, map the left pedal to left arrow keyboard key, the right pedal to the right arrow keyboard key, and the middle pedal to the space bar key.

Highly recommended!

This is the one we recommend.  Just Google ‘3 pedal USB switch’ and you should find it.

Kinect v2 – optional

Our simulator is inbuilt with a very unique motion capture feature.  This allows the sim to detect the shooters hands, head, and feet.  When activated, the shooter can physically move, and the sim will mirror the actions, allowing the shooter to duck behind cover to reload, or to negotiate barriers in IPSC courses.

To use motion capture, you will need a Kinect v2 and a Kinect to USB3 convertor.  You will also need USB3 ports on your PC, and if needed, a USB3 extender.  You cannot use Kinect on PC or use extenders that are USB2, it will not work.

To activate the Kinect, you holster your firearm, then hold out your hands out in front of you, like you are riding a motorbike, fists clenched and palms down.  Arms bent to 90 degrees.  It will instantly recognise your hands, and trigger the course of fire.

You can use the sim as normal without the Kinect being triggered.  The Kinect system will passively wait for the “motorcycle” motion to activate, then it will use the Motion Capture on that course of fire run.  To end, sling or holster your firearm, then stand with your arms down by your side.  The Kinect will then end the course of fire and show the score / time.

The video provided will be updated soon with better examples.  The first course of fire is not using the Kinect.  The 2nd course, the Kinect was placed incorrectly.  The other courses thereafter showcase the Kinect better.