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HTC Vive Link Box?
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42 reviews of this product found across Reddit:
I wound up buying the vive link box and haven’t looked back. It’s waaay more expensive now but it was less than $50 when I got it. Only have to reconnect hdmi once in a blue moon.
HTC Vive Link Box https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LXR6DKV/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glc_fabc_GRK7S0GFRMKGDVAAESKC
You will need a usb a to a cable and a power adapter as well.
You have to buy a power adapter.
I bought if off Amazon, and the recommended purchases with the Vive link are the power adapter and male-to-male USB cord; so you'll need to get all 3 for a functional unit.
Been using them since March after I built my Uber Gaming Rig. I dont notice any glitter at all. The only thing I do notice, unrelated to the cables, is the horrible black levels in certain games - Hellblade's dungeon/cellar scenes are a dark grey and I was stuck in that level for an hour or so (was gonna rage quit the game, but I figured the puzzle out) and didnt notice any glitter.
Maybe it's my bad eyeballs? I think I need readers (but cant go the DRs bc of the human malware); however, the side benefit is that I no longer need to wear contacts or glasses in VR.
For my O+, I use this bc the previous exntensions I purchased caused those sparkles you were talking about as well as random white noise/static from the audio. This fixed that right up: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01LXR6DKV
Again,. my Index is glitter free.
I use the Vive Link Box, which has a miniDP input as well as an hdmi. My card only has once hdmi out and I need it for my projector so I use the minidp and it works like a champ. It's an active repeater (psu sold separately) made for VR and works great with Rift.
First check your HDMI and/or Display Port goes through the dGPU... otherwise you're gunna be hella disappointed when Rift won't work at all.
(on a laptop with nvidia, open nvidia settings, go to the PhysX section, and you will see a box with '<name of dGPU>' and '<name of iGPU>' and there will be a line pointing to your ports. if the line from HDMI or DP goes to the dGPU you're good, though you will need an adapter if through DP, obviously)
On my laptop (which the HDMI goes through the 1060), this is the only way it worked:
Vive Link box on one USB 3.0, which the HMD HDMI and USB plugs into
Powered USB hub plugged into the TB3 (USB C) port
One sensor and all peripherals plugged into the powered hub
One sensor plugged into the other USB 3.0 port
Third sensor plugged into USB 2.0 port
Any other setup and I just ran into all kinds of issues (seeming related to power) and couldn't even have two sensors. Now and then there were still hiccups, but it worked 90% of the time.
(moved Rift setup to a PC and only use WMR on the laptop now which works way better)
For the first I can only speculate because I am also a new owner and have no idea of your specs either... but try an HTC link box: https://www.amazon.com/HTC-Vive-Link-Box-pc/dp/B01LXR6DKV/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1526483592&sr=8-1&keywords=HTC+link+box (will need to get power for it as well)
For the second, go to your library and check 'uninstalled' -- they should show up there. (I thought I'd not gotten free games either, but they're there!)
Some folks are saying they bought the Vive breakout box and use it as an extension and bluetooth controller. YMMV
Check out the comments on Amazon:
Note, you still need male-to-male USB and HDMI cables to connect to the breakout box.
I bought a HTC Vive Link breakout box on Amazon for $30.
Many Rifters say it works as a repeater, and it seems it may give the additional safety benefit of acting as a box to take the brute of the force (instead of your gpu), if the cable ever got yanked out.
I'll have it Monday, so I'll update then
HTC Vive Link Box https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LXR6DKV/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_ihllAbRS0ZJKC
If the headset does not work connected directly in HDMI port of your video card this might be a video card issue. Did you try to connect a TV or monitor via HDMI to see if it works?
I'm still waiting for the 1.12 update.
I think is better to extent the cables using a vive linkbox. (you can use the HDMI or the Display Port)
I bought a Vive Link Box to use as a signal/power booster in the middle, and it works great. This cured all my dropouts and audio glitches, as well as giving my system a Bluetooth radio.
This setup works great:
- Vive Link Box
- Vive Link Box Power Supply
- 12 ft Power cable extension for Vive Link Box
- 10 ft USB 3.0 extension cable
- 10 ft Amazon Basics HDMI cable
- Wire wrap to keep everything tidy
Make sure you power cycle the Vive Link Box whenever you plug or unplug anything into it to for it to reinitialize and detect the headset.
I really wish there was a more elegant solution, but so far this works the best for me.
I had the same problem with my Vive. First, I tried to replace the cable with the 3-in-1 and it did not fix the problem.
For me it was the link box that fixed it for me. $30 on amazon: https://www.amazon.com/HTC-Vive-Link-Box/dp/B01LXR6DKV/
A few things:
Please be specific about what you did to fix your issue. It's a personal pet peeve of mine, but I hate looking for the solution to a problem, finding my exact problem listed, only to see the comment "Never mind, I tried something and it worked!" AARRGGHH!! What did you try? :-) Future readers searching on Inspiron or Max Q may thank you. Maybe even put it as a separate thread? It won't be highly upvoted, but it will be more searchable.
This is the HTC Link Box. It extends the HDMI and headset's USB port, giving you a bit more cable length and acts as a powered adapter (taking some power load off your system. Note that it does not come with an AC adapter so you'll need to buy one separately. You should find a link for a working adapter on the Amazon page.
You may be running into USB power management issues. Download Oculus Tray Tool and turn off the USB power management options. What may be happening is that the laptop is putting your USBs into low power mode to reduce heat, causing disconnects. Otherwise, perhaps you have a bad cable or headset? If it still happens, (a) check your BIOS/UEFI setup options to turn off any USB shutdown related settings, and (b) test your Rift on a friend's desktop system to see if it has the same problem.
I'm glad you're having fun! It's an amazing experience, and try to win over those skeptical friends of yours! Playing coop or even social experiences like watching a movie or talking in BigScreen are amazing.
A few games that seem great for people susceptible to motion sickness include:
SuperHot (you stand in one place)
Chronos (fixed camera position in a 3rd person adventure)
Eleven: Table Tennis (ping pong simulation, 1:1 physical movement only)
BigScreen (not a game, but lets you screen share with friends or join public rooms)
Pinball FX2 (if you like pinball this is a great sim)
I Expect You To Die (an "escape the room" game with great quality and humor)
Wilson's Heart (a stylized "film noir" story/puzzle/adventure game with fixed teleport positions)
The Unspoken (become a Dr. Strange-like mage in 1v1 or single player magic battles; I haven't played the single-player campaign but the PvP only uses teleport to fixed spots)
Star Trek Bridge Crew (you're seated on the bridge of the Enterprise)
Space Pirate Trainer (physical movement only; you're too busy dodging bullets to get sick)
That should give you a good start! Welcome to the future!
Edit: Some people swear by the VR Cover replacement facial interface, but I haven't used it. I've also heard great things about the WidmoVR cover - it covers the standard Rift facial interface with a replaceable soft cover that may make it more comfortable. You may want to check it out as a slightly cheaper alternative.
No, it also has an DP input. See this pic: https://www.reddit.com/r/oculus/comments/4elfhk/powered_hdmi_and_usb_breakout_box_can_you_find/
It's #4 on that diagram. So that can be DP->DP (Vive box), then the output side of the Vive box is HDMI. I use this setup with my Rift because HDMI is a shitty connector and tends to break or bend pins. DP doesn't have that problem. The only reason they all use HDMI is for copy protection, it's an genuinely awful standard.
BTW: It's possible to buy these Vive breakout boxes standalone from Amazon, so it's an OK solution. I'm fairly sure at this point that the blackout problem is because Rift draws too much power, and is not a bandwidth problem.
https://www.amazon.com/HTC-Vive-Link-Box/dp/B01LXR6DKV/ref=sr_1_31
I see it for sale on Amazon.
The one on Amazon does not include any cables nor does the one on HTC's website. There is, however, an extended power adapter which is a bit pricey, so, here's the power adapter by itself. Then, all you're need is an HDMI cable of your desired length and a USB 2.0/3.0 Male to Male type A connector.
had a similar issue with my 1080ti and believe it or not the easiest fix was to buy a htc vive link box. i tried tons of repeaters and other adapters and nothing worked. got the link box and suddenly my oculus can easily run even the cable listed here:- https://www.bestbuy.com/site/insignia-9-vr-extension-cable-black/5706844.p?skuId=5706844 which is notorious for not working on most gpus. you can buy the link box on amazon here:- https://www.amazon.com/HTC-Vive-Link-Box-pc/dp/B01LXR6DKV but keep in mind that you will have to get the power adapter seperately. i'm using this one with no issues whatsoever:- https://www.amazon.com/12V1-5A-Supply-Adapter-Switching-Cameras/dp/B018JL0YIY/
Oh if it will run off HDMI then the vive breakout box may work. It is a powered repeater and handles the USB3 extension fine. Odyssey + is usb 3.0 and works no problem on it. I am not trying to go 40 feet. I have 6 foot extensions to the breakout box then stock cable from there.
This is the breakout box. It also needs a power adapter which you can order as well. If I ever sell my Vive I am going to have to buy another box because it is very handy for getting the vr connections out front.
Add one of these
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2803865
and you have a nice front mount VR port for your PC.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01LXR6DKV
This works flawlessly with WMR
Would this work? HTC Vive Link Box https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LXR6DKV/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_W-atFbH2RGB21
One quick suggestion in case you need to add an extension cable - you may run into issues with longer HDMI/USB cables (6ft or longer) as the signal will need to be boosted/repeated or it wont display properly and the sound may cut out (this happened to me making me think it was a defective headset at first). After researching multiple solutions, I came across the HTC Vive Link Box which works perfectly with my O+. Added bonus: built-in bluetooth and mini-DP ports (I've never used/tested either though as I do not need them). If you or anyone decide that they need one, remember that it does NOT come with any cables or power supply.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01LXR6DKV
https://www.vive.com/us/accessory/link-box/
https://www.vive.com/us/support/vive/category_howto/about-the-link-box.html
I'm not sure which will receive priority, but even if you do this you'll still have to switch the USB cable between PCs, at which point you may as well just switch the DP or HDMI cable over as well.
Another possibility is to just pick up a second Linkbox: https://www.amazon.com/HTC-Vive-Link-Box-pc/dp/B01LXR6DKV/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=vive+link+box&qid=1577695369&sr=8-1
Adding a powered HDMI - USB3 extender box like the Valve Link Box really helped me.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01LXR6DKV/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
I had issues with certain ports, then I tried a Vive Link Box, but instead of using a 12v 1.5a dc adapter it requires, I DIY'd a SATA power extension cable to use the 12v line, wired to a 2.5mm dc power jack mounted to a pci slot backplate, then DIY'd a power cable to plug into both the Link Box and the 2.5mm dc power jack. The SATA cable apparently gets 4.5a, but I'm not sure how much of that is actually feeding the USB port. I just know it doesn't work without the power feed, and it works on ports that gave issues without it. For the few ports that did work without it, it drained the internal battery 25% in an hour...so ~4hrs worth of gaming, but with the Link Box, it drained 5% in 30 minutes...so ~10hrs worth of gaming.
The HTC Vive Link Box is also a good choice since it extends both HDMI and USB 3:
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Also, when I wake the PC up from sleep, if I get an error message from the WMR portal, I just remove the DC power for a second and reconnect and all is fine without messing with USB / HDMI cabling.
It's pushing the limit for passive cabling. I myself use the Vive Link Box, which is a powered/active HDMI/USB repeater that can accept miniDP or HDMI in, made for VR. Doesn't matter how far from the computer. Mine is in my bedroom but I use my Rift in the living room and it's a tidy solution that frees up the only hdmi port on my card. I also use a passive 6' hdmi/usb (CableMatters hdmi and cheapo usb2.0) to get the extra reach beyond that.
I just doublechecked and off of Oculus' website, the Nitro 5 is definitely listed as a supported laptop. That's bizarre then - I have a laptop, a Dell Gaming Inspiron that has the specs but wasn't officially supported. It turned out with my laptop, the HDMI port wasn't providing the power the headset needed, so it turned out I needed to purchase an add-on, technically meant for the Vive. Without it, the headset would play audio, but I wouldn't get video. Hopefully you don't have to go that route and you make some headway with Oculus support.
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If you feel like trying it out, This is what I ended up picking up. It doesn't come with any cables though, so you will need an adapter like this one, and of course another HDMI cable and USB 3.0 cable such as this to connect the box to your laptop. There was an old Oculus forum post about this - I'll see if I can dig it up.
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Edit - I forgot about the displayport trick as well, if you have one on your laptop. Might be able to pick up a display port adapter for pretty cheap off of Amazon, which would be cheaper than the Link Box + cables I linked earlier. I found a lot of posts on Reddit about laptops and VR, and numerous fixes that talk about displayport adapters, the Link Box, drivers, etc. Posts like this one. Hopefully that helps a bit!
I found that the Odyssey and Odyssey+ are really picky about extension cords. So I bought a Vive Link Box to use as a signal/power booster in the middle.
This setup works great:
- Vive Link Box
- Vive Link Box Power Supply
- 12 ft Power cable extension for Vive Link Box
- 10 ft USB 3.0 extension cable
- 10 ft Amazon Basics HDMI cable
- Wire wrap to keep everything tidy
​
HTC Vive Link Box https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LXR6DKV/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_kD1JBb5FQR8HE
AC to DC 12V 1.5A 12V1.5A Power Supply Adapter Switching for Cameras DVR NVR LED Light Strip DC3.5*1.35mm UL listed FCC https://www.amazon.com/dp/B018JL0YIY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_ZD1JBbVM7W102
UGREEN USB 3.0 A to A Cable Type A Male to Male Cable Cord for Data Transfer Hard Drive Enclosures, Printers, Modems, Cameras (6FT) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00P0E394U/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_lE1JBbG15KXT3
And it still needs a hdmi cord. Note, the USB cord is a Male to male cord
>Just looking at the Vive link box... What's with the 'no power adapter' business? Now how do I know what power adapter to buy and if it'll fit properly? And the right voltage and amps output? Kinda stupid.. =/
100% agree. It just shows the incompetence of HTC (no wonder they're in such financial trouble).
On Amazon, it lists the HTC Vive Link Box and a commonly used power adapter to use with it ("Frequently Bought Together" box). I just bought the recommended Amazon items for the Link Box. Be aware, the USB cord that goes from the Link Box to the PC is a Male-to-Male cord (so you'll probably need to buy one).
this is the HTC vive box
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01LXR6DKV/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
and this is the power adapter for it
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B018JL0YIY/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
I needed to extend my Rift too and didn't want to have issues so did homework just as you. After getting a recommended HDMI repeater that didn't work (not sure if it was the cable or repeater but I think the cable was bad) I looked again and discovered I could use a Vive Link Box w/this psu, which definitively works well.
It's an active HDMI/USB repeater made for VR and is also not finicky about cables or long runs or what gpu you have or what you ate for dinner last night. As a bonus, it also has a mini displayport input as well as hdmi which is what I use since I only have 1 port on my card and it's running to my projector. Very nice to have a clean breakout box to plug into in my living room as my computer is in the bedroom.
Thank you. I think I'm going to try the Vive Link. I'm reading how it's worked for Rift users, as their cords are short like the WMR cord:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01LXR6DKV/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
I needed to extend my Rift so I use a Vive Link Box w/this psu, which works great. It's an active repeater made for VR and is not finicky about cables or long runs or what gpu you have. It also has a mini displayport input as well as hdm. Very nice to have a clean breakout box to plug into in my living room.
You will need to deal with USB extensions as well. The HMD is not finicky about that and actually doesn't need USB3.0 if you are limited on bandwidth but you can use whatever usb cable for that (the Vive link box has a USB port for this too). For extensions for the sensors though I recommend Ugreen active USB3.0
I use dp to hdmi for my headset, but it's not passive, it's the Vive Link Box w/this psu, which works great. It's an active repeater made for VR and is not finicky about cables or long runs or what gpu you have. It also has a mini displayport input as well as hdmi.
needed to extend my Rift so I use a Vive Link Box w/this psu, which works great. It's an active repeater made for VR and is not finicky about cables or long runs or what gpu you have. It also has a mini displayport input as well as hdm.
I'm short on HDMI outputs on my gpu so I use a dp > mini dp cable along with a usb. It's nice to have a clean/functional breakout box to plug into in my living room where I use it even though my computer is in my bedroom.
The HMD is not finicky about USB and actually doesn't need USB3.0 if you are limited on bandwidth (more important than how many ports you have) but you can use whatever usb cable for that (the Vive link box has a USB port for this too). For extensions for the sensors though I recommend Ugreen active USB3.0 which are fine even at 30ft. I would not even bother with passive cables regardless of length for these although some folks get away with 10ft or less but imo not worth wasting money buying things that might work...
Yes, 2 sensors on USB3.0 and one on 2.0... this saves bandwidth and compute overhead and there are not really any gains I know of by using all 3.0. the HMD is technically supposed to have 3.0 but 2.0 works for most folks just fine.
I needed to extend my Rift so I use a Vive Link Box w/this psu, which works great. It's an active repeater made for VR and is not finicky about cables or long runs or what gpu you have. It also has a mini displayport input as well as hdm.
I'm short on HDMI outputs on my gpu so I use a dp > mini dp cable along with a usb. It's nice to have a clean/functional breakout box to plug into in my living room where I use it even though my computer is in my bedroom.
You will need to deal with USB extensions as well. The HMD is not finicky about that and actually doesn't need USB3.0 if you are limited on bandwidth but you can use whatever usb cable for that (the Vive link box has a USB port for this too). For extensions for the sensors though I recommend Ugreen active USB3.0
I needed to extend my Rift so I use a Vive Link Box w/this psu, which works great. It's an active repeater made for VR and is not finicky about cables, use whatever ones you want. It has a mini displayport input (and hdmi, either work) so I use a dp > mini dp cable along with a usb. It's nice to have a clean/functional breakout box to plug into in my living room where I use it even though my computer is in my bedroom.
so its the linkbox? what did fix it so i can add it to my portfolio of fixes. maybe its just the cable between the link box and the pc thats faulty. a new link box is around 30 bux https://www.amazon.com/HTC-Vive-Link-Box-pc/dp/B01LXR6DKV
its for the vive but it works for oculus too.
HTC Vive Link Box https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LXR6DKV/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_Fc5BzbR8ZT28F
You will need this.....
https://www.amazon.com/HTC-Vive-Link-Box-Pc/dp/B01LXR6DKV
And this......
https://www.amazon.com/12V1-5A-Supply-Adapter-Switching-Cameras/dp/B018JL0YIY
HTC's shipping rate is insane. Amazon Prime link and Microsoft Store with free shipping.
[edit] The power adapter, HDMI and USB are sold separately. They also cost more than the box itself.
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