The Vive discussion Thread

Qubit, the small boxes can be taped or otherwise stuck to a wall. I might use NoMoreNails sticky pads. Some variants are removable.
 
I pre-ordered the vive yesterday and just realised I do not have anywhere to mount the lighthouses, and cannot drill holes in the walls (rented accomodation). After a little bit of research I think I have found a relatively cost effective way to purchase two tripods and ball head brackets from Amazon.co.uk.


I have Amazon prime, so the items I chose included free one day delivery (I am not sure what the non-prime delivery charges will be)


The tripods I have purchased extend up to 2M (78") are being sold as a pair for £18.88:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00899801A?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s01


I purchased two of these 1/4" tripod ball brackets for £6.99 each:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Eggsnow-Tri...d=1456881505&sr=1-6&keywords=1/4"+tripod+ball


Total cost: £32.86


Note: The description of the tripod does not specify what the thread size is, but these are the best price I could find. Someone mentioned they have a 1/4" thread size in the comments, but I cannot confirm this until I receive delivery on 3rd March. (Worst case will be the need to purchase a couple of adapters.)


Hope this helps others who are trying to find a cost effective way to mount the lighthouses.

Mounting tape from gorilla brand. http://www.amazon.com/Gorilla-60550...6908834&sr=8-1&keywords=gorilla+mounting+tape

No holes, will not fail and easily removed if used sparingly. I use it for my HOTAS to keep it planted on my lapboard. Four very small pieces on the bottom and I can lift the entire (about 5lbs) thing up by the handle and it rock solid. Super easy to remove if necessary too. If you use a lot though, good luck.
 
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I'm wondering how significant any wobble in the lighthouse mounting will be for the tracking. It shouldn't affect ED (this season ;)) but may make a difference in other games - think lightweight 2m+ tripods, active/heavy user bouncing around the room, a bit of flex in the floor joists and you might find yourself or the controllers "moving" in strange ways.
 
I'm wondering how significant any wobble in the lighthouse mounting will be for the tracking. It shouldn't affect ED (this season ;)) but may make a difference in other games - think lightweight 2m+ tripods, active/heavy user bouncing around the room, a bit of flex in the floor joists and you might find yourself or the controllers "moving" in strange ways.

mount on the wall... problem solved ;)
 
I pre-ordered the vive yesterday and just realised I do not have anywhere to mount the lighthouses, and cannot drill holes in the walls (rented accomodation). After a little bit of research I think I have found a relatively cost effective way to purchase two tripods and ball head brackets from Amazon.co.uk.


I have Amazon prime, so the items I chose included free one day delivery (I am not sure what the non-prime delivery charges will be)


The tripods I have purchased extend up to 2M (78") are being sold as a pair for £18.88:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00899801A?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s01


I purchased two of these 1/4" tripod ball brackets for £6.99 each:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Eggsnow-Tri...d=1456881505&sr=1-6&keywords=1/4"+tripod+ball


Total cost: £32.86


Note: The description of the tripod does not specify what the thread size is, but these are the best price I could find. Someone mentioned they have a 1/4" thread size in the comments, but I cannot confirm this until I receive delivery on 3rd March. (Worst case will be the need to purchase a couple of adapters.)


Hope this helps others who are trying to find a cost effective way to mount the lighthouses.
Qubit I would also order a couple of these to reduce wobble and maximize stability:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/StandBagsDi...6911971&sr=1-1&keywords=weight+bag+for+tripod
 

Slopey

Volunteer Moderator
Also can we stop with the one thread for all things Vive its silly now its only a month away so we may as well stop that now theres been several valid posts that have been shut down and shoved in this messy thread.

It's much much neater than 30 people all creating "I ordered a Vive! Yay!!! Here's 10 points which are in all the other topics about the same subject!". :)

Also, we don't merge now, we tend to close and point people at the most appropriate thread, so Mods won't have "shoved" anything in.

Once the Vive is out and people have specific queries, separate topics will be fine. But for now, a central topic for all Vive chat is a good thing.
 
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So how are you all going to run the cable to avoid damage/injury ?
I am thinking of running it up and along the ceiling to a spring balancer i have laying about, so if i accidently go too far or fall A over T it wont damage the cable.
here's the one i have (i take it i can post a link) http://springbalancers.co.uk/aero-motive/tool-positioner/


EDIT: Does anyone know the cable length?
 
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Slopey

Volunteer Moderator
So how are you all going to run the cable to avoid damage/injury ?
I am thinking of running it up and along the ceiling to a spring balancer i have laying about, so if i accidently go too far or fall A over T it wont damage the cable.
here's the one i have (i take it i can post a link) http://springbalancers.co.uk/aero-motive/tool-positioner/

I think I'll need to wait until it arrives to see how complicated it's going to be - how long/what weight are the cables etc. For the most part, I'll be using the Vive sitting down (the room tracking isn't a killer feature for me at the moment), but it's probably going to be fiddly. The spring balancer looks like a good idea, depending on cable length, but the ceiling in the room I'll likely use for that sort of thing is probably too high.

The wall sensors will be going on poles as per others though - I'm not fixing those to walls because I'll want the ability to move stuff around, and to take them other places also.
 
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It's much much neater than 30 people all creating "I ordered a Vive! Yay!!! Here's 10 points which are in all the other topics about the same subject!". :)

Also, we don't merge now, we tend to close and point people at the most appropriate thread, so Mods won't have "shoved" anything in.

Once the Vive is out and people have specific queries, separate topics will be fine. But for now, a central topic for all Vive chat is a good thing.


Well okay may i suggest a simple fix and have sub sections for the Vive, Rift, and one for Homebrew and other makes.
Because this forum sub is going to get a lot bigger now VR has gone to retail.
 
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So does anyone know if we will be able to use the tracked controllers to pilot our ships? 2x 6 dof joysticks sound to good to pass up.
 
Don't know if people have already seen this (game reviewer totally losing his poop while playing the Aperture Robot Repair Simulator) but it's pretty funny!

WARNING: contains major "Aperture Robot Repair Simulator" spoilers

[video=youtube;XCrnEbxOR60]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XCrnEbxOR60[/video]
 
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Well, that was an expensive lunch break! I've just gone ahead and pre-ordered the Vive. I will still keep my pre-order for the Rift. Both expected May delivery. I will most likely use them both for to see which I would use the most, and then sell on the other.
Over the last few days I've been seeing more and more videos on the Vive and I think this would be fantastic for me and the family! (I just have to explain to the wife that she will enjoy it as much as me!)
The last one I watched was the one shown above, and it clinched it for me. It was hilarious.
 
Well okay may i suggest a simple fix and have sub sections for the Vive, Rift, and one for Homebrew and other makes.
Because this VR section is going to get a lot bigger now
Well okay may i suggest a simple fix and have a sub sections for the Vive, Rift, and one for Homebrew and other makes.
Because this forum sub is going to get a lot bigger now VR has gone to retail.

That would be the perfect solution
 
So how are you all going to run the cable to avoid damage/injury ?
I am thinking of running it up and along the ceiling to a spring balancer i have laying about, so if i accidently go too far or fall A over T it wont damage the cable.
here's the one i have (i take it i can post a link) http://springbalancers.co.uk/aero-motive/tool-positioner/


EDIT: Does anyone know the cable length?

I believe the length from the computer to the break-out box is 1 meter, and from the box to the HMD is 4 meters.

At VRLA, at the Raw Data demo, they had the cable attached to the ceiling with a bungee cord keeping tension. Maybe my straps were too loose, but I found with fast head movements the HMD got pulled off center, and I had to readjust a few times. It may not be an issue with the final version, as I understand it has rigid head straps.

If you do go with ceiling mounting under some tension, I'd suggest having the cable attack (meant attached) to something on your belt or back (back pack?) first, and have a slacked connection from there to your head.

Here's me in that Raw Data setup
[video=youtube;qwynZ1KMB2w]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qwynZ1KMB2w[/video]


I'm probably just going to leave it on the ground but clip it through a carabiner on my waist, and not to move too quickly.


So does anyone know if we will be able to use the tracked controllers to pilot our ships? 2x 6 dof joysticks sound to good to pass up.

Intriguing idea, but I'm not sure the controllers have enough buttons for the ships functions. It would be really cool if you could use the motion controllers like a 3D mouse selecting menus in the cockpit, which could compensate.
 
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I pre-ordered the vive yesterday and just realised I do not have anywhere to mount the lighthouses, and cannot drill holes in the walls (rented accomodation). After a little bit of research I think I have found a relatively cost effective way to purchase two tripods and ball head brackets from Amazon.co.uk.

Devs seem to be using builders 3rd hand braces mounted floor to ceiling as less of a knock-able footprint than a tripod plus stiffness from floor to ceiling mount. I may use shower rails (room dividers) sprung floor to ceiling (260cm) and (if info correct) just make a backing clamp for the 'supplied bracket'
 
Thanks, it looks a lot like the setup use during kaleidoscope VR wich was perfect. I'll keep the link!
Yeah, it looks lke a relatively simple set-up. Glad I could help.


Qubit, the small boxes can be taped or otherwise stuck to a wall. I might use NoMoreNails sticky pads. Some variants are removable.

Mounting tape from gorilla brand. http://www.amazon.com/Gorilla-60550...6908834&sr=8-1&keywords=gorilla+mounting+tape

No holes, will not fail and easily removed if used sparingly. I use it for my HOTAS to keep it planted on my lapboard. Four very small pieces on the bottom and I can lift the entire (about 5lbs) thing up by the handle and it rock solid. Super easy to remove if necessary too. If you use a lot though, good luck.

I had considered tape, but actually mounting them to the walls in my living room, due to its shape, isn't actually ideal. If I owned the place instead of renting I would have considered ceiling mounting.


I'm wondering how significant any wobble in the lighthouse mounting will be for the tracking. It shouldn't affect ED (this season ;)) but may make a difference in other games - think lightweight 2m+ tripods, active/heavy user bouncing around the room, a bit of flex in the floor joists and you might find yourself or the controllers "moving" in strange ways.

The living room floor is concrete, so its quite stable (more stable than the walls). Also, the way the room is set up I can place the tripods where they are unlikely to be knocked.


Qubit I would also order a couple of these to reduce wobble and maximize stability:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/StandBagsDi...6911971&sr=1-1&keywords=weight+bag+for+tripod

Thanks for the link. I will consider these if I find I have trouble.



Devs seem to be using builders 3rd hand braces mounted floor to ceiling as less of a knock-able footprint than a tripod plus stiffness from floor to ceiling mount. I may use shower rails (room dividers) sprung floor to ceiling (260cm) and (if info correct) just make a backing clamp for the 'supplied bracket'

Yeah, that does sound like a more rigid solution. However, I expect that will end up costing quite a lot more (unless you can find a good deal somewhere)


Thank you everyone for your input. I hope others also find these ideas useful.

My tripods should be delivered tomorrow, so I will let you know how sturdy/flimsy they are, and confirm the thread size.
 
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