Trouble with HOTAS and Vive

[Sebkoe]

Hello everyone,

I have been playing Elite for over a year and have slowly added new devices to my rig. I've been using a X52Pro for about six months (and love it!). A few weeks ago, I added a Vive headset. Here is my problem:
as soon as I go into the game, I am unable to select any menu items. I can use the hat toggle to move across the horizontal tabs, but the other buttons that normally work to navigate the menus and select items will not work. I know that I must be missing a setting in the options for either the vive or the menu selection, but for the life of me can't figure it out. Any commanders have some advice (for the most part, I am using the X52 pro with default settings).

Because of this, I am only able to do the training missions in space (I can point and shoot). I can't even successful undock from the stations. If I unplug the Vive, I have no problem selecting menu items and playing normally. Any ideas?

 

[HecklerThrob]

Greetings Sebkoe,

I'm using an x52 Pro with the Vive without any issue. I'm using the same binding as when i play on my screen.

Some questions :

- is the Elite window (on your desktop) have the focus ? Sometimes i have to click on it with the mouse to have the x52 working
- have you tried to reset your HMD position (bind a key to it in the command menu)

Maybe you should try to rebind your x52 buttons ?

EDIT : I find a post on Reddit with an howto configure the x52 Pro :

https://www.reddit.com/r/EliteDangerous/comments/4hnt87/saitek_x52_pro_elite_setup_video_series/

Maybe this can help you.

 

[BoggiBlanko]

I had similar problems after almost every update. Since I renamed my bindings to XXX.binds I had no problems!

It sounds like your bindings are reset to regular bindings, after you switch to the HMD...

 

[Lestenio]

Also have similar issues if my Vive controllers are on while the hotas is active. Seems to be a usb clash in my case. Resolved by turning off the controllers or hotas when not in use

 

[shadragon]

Also have similar issues if my Vive controllers are on while the hotas is active. Seems to be a usb clash in my case. Resolved by turning off the controllers or hotas when not in use

I have a USB Powered hub I use to charge devices, phones, Vive controllers, etc. It is plugged into the wall, but not connected to my PC. Great way to recharge devices without having them interfere in your PC's operation.

I have to unplug my HTC Vive nightly or I get a "no keyboard installed" error on boot.

 

[VR_Yata_PL]

dont open steam vr before play elite - there was some post on redit that x52 pro drviver messing with vive controlers..
Or turn off vive controlers..

 

[Sebkoe]

Thank you for your suggestions. I thought that maybe it was a USB issue, but this weekend I upgraded my processor and the motherboard and the issue continues. I never have my controllers on when trying to play Elite, so I don't think that is the issue.
I will try to rename my bindings to something else, maybe that is the issue. I initially didn't think that could be the issue because each time I would unplug the Vive, everything would work normally. But, I suppose it could be going to some strange binding (even though when I look at all the bindings in VR, it looks the same to me). I really don't want to lose my custom bindings, it takes a while to set back up.

I appreciate your help...happy flying

 

[cygnusa]

X55 owner here..

A few observations which may help.. which took me a while to figure out...

1>
Ensure the ED game window is selected as primary on your desktop when in VR, as its running in windows mode. Sometimes I move the mouse around in the Galactic Map or the UI when docked. If the mouse somehow ends up outside the active game window and if I somehow manage to click on the desktop or another window (such as an open browser), the window loses focus and the HOTAS no longer responds. Clicking back on the main game window returns focus and control.

2>
The throttle, at least for the X55 can send goofy signals. If you open up SteamVR/Desktop this can send phantom keypresses/joystick moves to the interface. If the steam desktop starts going 'chung chung chung chung' and if you can't effectively click or do anything. This could be the case. A workaround is to 'zero the throttle'. Move your throttle to zero it (move it up if you are at full stop, or back if you are at full throttle) until it settles.

3>
When recalibrating your HMD position, I find it best to first move your seat physically back ever so slightly from your normal play position. Calibrate at that position. Then move your seat physically forward just a little bit. This effectively puts your head slighly 'ahead' of the in-game character's head. This feels less obstructed and more comfortable. Don't go too far forward, as then the UI (such as the comms panel) may be closer than you'd like.

Some quirks...

I don't find the Galaxy and System maps all that well tuned for VR. It gets quirky if you try to use the mouse to find and target a star, for example, to navigate to. A 2D space mouse has problems properly selecting stars in a 3D space. I heavily rely upon the search function. Even then it can sometimes take a bit of messing around to get the plot course button. With time I have become more use to the quirks and its less of an issue now. But there could absolutely be some design improvements.

Future hopes.

I wish I could pop-up an ingame window of something on my Windows desktop. Such as a browser window. Unlikely to happen, but it'd be nice to fire up Thrudds trade tool to have it pop up in the in-game UI. Or heck.. it'd be nice to have an in-game notepad that I could plug reminders into. I'm hoping v2.1 bookmarks can help with this a little bit... but probably not quite enough (yet).