VR - the hidden gem in ED.

[pFVD]

I've recently switched from Open Composite back to SteamVR and Virtual Desktop so I can spend more time in ED in VR utilizing Desktop+. Being able to pop up another monitor with EDMC and the colonization plugin right into my cockpit is handy for tracking commodities.

I also very recently upgraded from a Quest 2 to a Quest 3, and while I admit I'm enjoying the mixed reality games, I bought the Quest 3 for the lenses to better enjoy Elite Dangerous.

I've found the Quest 3 is too power hungry for my older Kuject cable, and rather than update the cable I've switched to Virtual Desktop, which in combination with SteamVR allows me to run Desktop+, and with the keyboard tracking feature of the Quest 3/Virtual Desktop, along with VD's hand tracking, I don't really need to remove the headset for anything now. I'm considering trying out a power injected USB Ethernet adapter which apparently allows for a cabled internet connection to the headset that even Virtual Desktop can use but to be honest I'm not really having any issues with the wifi. And again, all these thoughts are aimed at improving/refining my Elite Dangerous VR experience.

As I'm pretty sure the majority in this forum would agree, I wouldn't be playing Elite Dangerous as often or likely at all if it wasn't for VR; it's just not the same without it.

 

[lasvideo]

I've enhanced my ED VR experience by integrating voice attack and ED copilot into the simulation. In addition I'm using OVR tool kit to allow me to see both Internet and ED copilot screens. ED copilot not only is a wonderful encyclopedia of data but when I'm hunting pirates in RES areas, her salty commentary on my adversaries ads a lot of fun to the bounty hunting. I haven't explored another option which would be to add an AI service to allow me to have conversations with my ED copilot. There are minimal charges for the service and it looks a bit involved to get set up. But adding these to my VKB controllers really has completed the experience very nicely. I just wish the legs portion of ED was fixed. I get the feeling it never will be.

 

[lasvideo]

I just installed Covas:Next which is an AI chat bot that works with voice attack and ED copilot. So now instead of just being able to verbalize ship control commands to ED Copilot, I can now have conversations with the computer which add to the immersion and entertainment. She's got a salty rowdy personality that's lots of fun.

 

[aXeL]

WiFi on the BC Snapdragon headsets is good but powered and tethered USB is better IMO. I did some cable in/cable out EDO comparisons with VR Desktop and a WiFi 6x hotspot on the PC itself, so nothing else used the same channel. It's hard to tell the difference except the occasional frame glitches on WiFi which, in the end, were enough to send me permanently back to the cable which itself is thin and light and just drapes over the top of my monitor so the right angled connector aligns perfectly. I never notice it when playing. There's a YT vid out there somewhere where someone compares cable, WiFi, USB to ethernet adapter. I don't recall the link but I do recall USB was the best latency, WiFi was very close and USB -> ethernet traded blows with WiFi.