Brand new Oculus Rift lands on my doorstep tomorrow, what do I need to know?

[Happy Shrapnel]

OK, I've been wanting a VR headset since the early 80's and now at the age of 51 a brand new Oculus Rift (with touch) lands on my doorstep tomorrow. It will be for use with Elite. PC is well above recommended/suggested specs.

What do I need to be aware of to get it all working?
are there companion apps I probably should get (already use VoiceAttack and have a wireless headset up and running with an X52 HOTAS for control)

Any pitfalls I should expect or can avoid

Any help greatly appreciated.

CMDR Happy Shrapnel.

 

[Paul Bambury]

Prepare to have you mind blown!! [big grin]

Setup on the oculus is an absolute doddle, but make sure you have plenty of space. The sensors have to be a minimum of three feet apart (the farther the better) and it can be a bit fiddly to get them right in confined spaces.

Download the Oculus software now (https://www.oculus.com/setup/); you don't want to be staring at a download bar after the postman's been!

To get Elite running in Oculus you need to enable content from unknown sources within the Oculus control panel (https://support.oculus.com/632287656943461/).

For some reason, Elite doesn't get the camera position right when it starts; you'll need to reset the view in game (tap the universal menu button on the touch controller)

If you haven't already, setup your X52 button bindings on the galaxy and system maps.

Also useful to have is the Oculus Tray Tool. This is third party app that will let you tweak various settings to boost the quality over the out of the box experience.

 

[Jon flint]

From my own experience as a VR noob a few weeks back, it's all pretty easy, just follow the oculus setup instructions, get your sensors placed correctly, you may need usb extensions depending on your room size/layout. Make sure you get usb 3.0 extensions if you do have to buy some.

Beware Display port to HDMI adapters. My gfx card only has 1 HDMI port which I use as my main display out so I figured I'd buy an adapter so I could plug the oculus into a display port, unfortunately most of these adapters simply don't support the required resolution. I've been through 3, and none of them supported more than 1080p/60fps output which is too low for oculus. Right now I have to plug the oculus into my main HDMI port and have a 1080p desktop via the display port adapter. Not ideal but workable. If you don't already used your gfx card's HDMI port then this won't be an issue for you

As for the rest, im not sure, I'm still new

 

[TorTorden_VR]

You would need an "active displayport-hdmi" adapter. a passive one will only work up to 1080p@60 or 4k@30 in a pinch for 2d. and these cost at least $40-$60 a passive adapter is significantly cheaper, but is also much less capable.
Now even active adapters might not work for vr, but will definitely work for a monitor.

The rift really prefer to directly plug into the HDMI. and honestly a proper monitor does not.
Using a tv as a monitor is not something I would recommend.
Unless you want it as a dedicated htpc.

in fact just having a tv display hooked to a computer introduces all kinds of bugs with windows and Nvidia/amd drivers.

There might be very little difference in the actual display tech on a tv and a monitor.
but the processing electronics in tvs and monitors are two different worlds .

 

[Boff]

Also consider the routing of the cable to the Oculus! If you sit on an office chair it can be quite easy to roll over the cable.. Do that too many times and you'll need a new one!

Found out the hard way!.. On a plus note the replacement is about £50 and i got it within a week of ordering it!

Boff

 

[Boff]

I also add that moving the headset just a little bit on your face can make a massive difference to the quality, so experienment.. Sometime you don't realise the headset tilts back and forward around the central axis.. Can make a major difference to picture quality

And you won't believe how big the stations are...

 

[Faded Glory]

I'm sure you will be wowed with the VR experience. Elite is made for it.

What the other posters have said. Download the Oculus software, set up the rift and away you go. The rift has a microphone and headphones which are good quality so you probably won't need your current headset.

You will want to play around with the graphics settings in the game to get the best quality. The two main (important?) settings are supersampling (which can tax the rift, even with a well specced PC) and HMD Quality. Personally I have supersampling set to X1.0 and HMDQ at X1.5 (I have a GTX 1080), and that gives me a nice smooth ride. Also, if you have any issues when starting the game check that the 3D setting in graphics is set to use HMD.

Oculus software has a new feature called Dash, which allows you to pin windows from your desktop (for example a web browser) inside your cockpit. You can use Dash if you are running ED from the standard launcher, but it does take you outside of Elite when you pin the windows, and the windows are not interactive. If this feature is useful to you, you will want to run ED from Oculus which means getting a key from the Frontier store and installing ED (downloading it) into your Oculus library as that allows you to pin windows while still in your cockpit, and the windows are then active and can be manipulated with the touch controllers.

Lots of other useful info in this forum, and if you have any specific issues just pop in and ask.

 

[VR Morgan Grimes]

Heed the warnings about letting sunlight get to the lenses...
Get a fan of some description to combat the fogging on the lenses which will happen when you first start using the rift unless you have left it on long enough (plugged in, oculus software open, or as I sometimes do with a cloth covering the proximity sensor so the rift is actually displaying something) for it to be thoroughly warmed up.
Be aware that the headset tilts up and down on the headband, you can close the nose gap and make it more comfortable to wear by adjusting this and many people don't realise it.
Prepare to feel a bit queasy, if you do feel bad take the rift off and try again later, you will build a resistance to it.
Change your HUD colour to make it easier to read, my go to is: <MatrixRed> 0.25, 0, -2 </MatrixRed><MatrixGreen> -2, 2, 2 </MatrixGreen><MatrixBlue> 2, 0, 0 </MatrixBlue>
Do download and play Robo Recall which is free when you have set up your touch controllers.

 

[Happy Shrapnel]

thankyou all for your input. Nice to know the rift has a built in mic, was a little worried my headset would not fit with rift in place. ...cant wait

 

[VR Morgan Grimes]

thankyou all for your input. Nice to know the rift has a built in mic, was a little worried my headset would not fit with rift in place. ...cant wait

It'd fit just fine, you can remove the built in earphones that are attached to the rift with the supplied screwdriver though I put mine back on after turning sharply and losing my wireless headset to the floor lmao. You might need to set the default output device to the rift for audio from Elite to play through them depending on how you launch Elite though.

 

[WindWpn]

Once in, simply get up out of your seat and walk around the bridge of your ship.... take an up close look at panels, look under stuff.... simply wow, enjoy!

 

[Sweet&Dandy]

Clear your calendar... four years later, I am still flying most days!

 

[seanguzzi]

If you ever utilize Wings in-game...be aware that voice comms are enabled by default, so every local noise, including lewd comments, meowing cats, bodily venting [noob] will be broadcast via the Rift HMD to your wingmates. There's an option to turn it off in the comms panel, furthest right submenu.

Enjoy, and welcome!

 

[TorTorden_VR]

If you ever utilize Wings in-game...be aware that voice comms are enabled by default, so every local noise, including lewd comments, meowing cats, bodily venting [noob] will be broadcast via the Rift HMD to your wingmates. There's an option to turn it off in the comms panel, furthest right submenu.

Enjoy, and welcome!

Or ditch in game coms, that has always sucked.

use Discord or some other third party service with noise cancellation, dynamic compression and a surprisingly good automatic, etc all built in so a sneeze won't destroy the ears of four+ people.
Also ED coms for the dumbest of reasons adds a ton of static and distortion making people even less legible than voice coms already are.

And of course the chief reason why I never consider using in game voice chat is simply if the game crashes, you can still be in contact.

 

[mp4x]

Welcome, and enjoy

 

[Jon flint]

You would need an "active displayport-hdmi" adapter. a passive one will only work up to 1080p@60 or 4k@30 in a pinch for 2d. and these cost at least $40-$60 a passive adapter is significantly cheaper, but is also much less capable.
Now even active adapters might not work for vr, but will definitely work for a monitor.

The rift really prefer to directly plug into the HDMI. and honestly a proper monitor does not.
Using a tv as a monitor is not something I would recommend.
Unless you want it as a dedicated htpc.

in fact just having a tv display hooked to a computer introduces all kinds of bugs with windows and Nvidia/amd drivers.

There might be very little difference in the actual display tech on a tv and a monitor.
but the processing electronics in tvs and monitors are two different worlds .

Spoiler tagged because I'm straying off topic from the OP's question...

Spoiler

2 out of the 3 adapters I tried were active and advertised themselves as capable of 4k/60 (and hdmi 2.0 spec). Neither actually were, one wouldn't even allow the hdmi cable from the oculus to be plugged in (although other HDMI cables worked?!?).

In the end my work around is just about acceptable to me, if a little inconvenient to have to switch my main display around everytime I want to use vr.

+Yep, i game on a 4k TV via hdmi, and yes it is a htpc/console replacement. It's honestly not too bad as a monitor, in it's game mode it supports sub 5ms response times (not that that matters to me, my own response time is measured in minutes!)

 

[sneakygloworm]

You may also get an error during setup which says, "you're sensors are to close\far apart, they need to be at least 3 feet apart, etc...". As long as you have a decent space between them and they can " see" the headset, just skip on and don't get hung up on that part of the process.

I tried to correct that part many, many times to no avail. I eventually rage skipped. It still worked without a hitch. I always skip that part now if I reinstall. You can also calibrate from the main oculus hub if you re position the sensors anyway.

Also, use older nvidia GPU drivers. Oculus forum recommends 388.59 to avoid display issues.

Sometimes, sound switches back and fourth between soundcard and rift audio (when you start and stop vr apps\games) and may need to be changed manually back to rift audio using the little speaker icon in the bottom left corner of windows desktop.

Some VR apps\games seem to hang when you launch them. Be patient....they will load up...eventually.

Don't barrel roll too much in ED unless you've got a strong stomach.

Take regular breaks every 15 or 20 minutes when you first start out. Don't try to punch through VR motion sickness. You won't win. Try the app "first contact". That will ease you in and blow your mind. Do all of the demo apps. They're awesome.

 

[Laste]

Find out what your inter pupillary distance is and set it on the rift using the slider on the bottom. It makes a big difference on the depth and nausea.
I actually had someone use a ruler to determine mine. Sometime your glasses guy will know also.

 

[dunno]

Using a tv as a monitor is not something I would recommend.
Unless you want it as a dedicated htpc.

in fact just having a tv display hooked to a computer introduces all kinds of bugs with windows and Nvidia/amd drivers.

I have my TV hooked up to my 1070Ti with no issues at all in VR, its perfect for 2D, stunning detail and colours. 1070Ti Display Port > HDMI, cable no adapter.

My simplified instructions are;
0). Do Not Use the Main Board Integrated Graphics Ports to a Monitor.
1). Install ED for PC.
2). Plug in controller and setup bindings on TV/monitor. ensure ED can be played on TV/monitor.
3). Close ED.
4). Install CV1 software.
5). plug in CV1 headset and go through several minutes of HMD setup
6). If no audio through Rift, ensure Windows audio is being sent to Rift Audio Device. Click speaker in system tray.
7) Open Oculus, go to Options, and enable apps to run from unknown sources
8). Start ED, go to Graphics settings, set 3d to HMD (Headphones)

 

[[VR] Mad Mike]

i always use a tv to game on (70 inch monitors are too pricey!!)

i use dvi-hdmi cable for tv (remember to select 1:1 pixel mapping or full aspect ratio in nvidia settings) snd then i use the proper hdmi out for my rift.

if you were glasses consider getting contact lenses..... oculus claim you can use glasses in the rift.... you can... but only if they are very small. my giant head means the rift cant accommodate my specs, and it is not like i wear Dennis Taylor glasses!.

ED is amazing in VR but there is a whole list of apps you should consider getting.. i can list them here if you want, it depends if you consider it on topic or not. Many are free

(but DO consider pCARS2 & From Other Suns (pCARS2 is the shining example of racing game in VR (free demo on steam) and From Other Suns proves that FPS gaming can work in VR, and would be a good fit for ED (in areas where there is gravity). Lone Echo is a good example of how zero G can work in VR.