Following Virtual Desktop's implementation of the feature, the latest Public Beta release for Valve's Steam Link on Quest adds support for wired USB PC streaming.
Meta Horizon OS 2.5 and later includes Android USB networking (NCM) support, meaning that apps can request a direct network link to a connected host computer over USB after the user approves the system-wide permission required to enable the feature.
In the case of Steam Link, this works by simply plugging a data-capable USB-C cable into the headset after launching the app. An active USB connection is currently indicated by a cycling Wi-Fi signal on the SteamVR dock.
11 Comments
brsrklf@jlai.lu · 5 pts · 20d
I meed to try SteamLink/SteamVR again. It's been completely unusable for me for more than a year, so I had given up on it for a while.
I went for Vietual Desktop on windows and WIVRn on linux. VD worked perfectly, WiVRn was buggy but at least functional. SteamVR got utterly broken in an update and removed access to the previous functional build, Very shitty support for months.
I hope they finally got their shit together, because, they're not doing that as a gift. They're selling the games. Them fucking with compatibility of previously functional hardware for months was terrible.
Blackmist@feddit.uk · 3 pts · 20d
It's odd because I've found the official steam stuff to be great on my Quest 2/3, but was actually unusable for streaming regular flat screen games to a TV...
brsrklf@jlai.lu · 1 pts · 20d
At the time the SteamVR forum was flooded with reports of connection errors, mainly Quest 3, I think some 2 too. Nobody seemed sure what caused it exactly.
Some were adamant it was a bitrate/stream quality problem, but I reduced it till it was instant vomiting-level of quality and still couldn't keep a connection for more than 5 minutes.
Some said it was a wifi bandwidth issue, but I ended up using a dedicated wifi 6 router with only the ethernet-plugged PC and wireless Quest 3 on it, at like a 4 meter distance with no obstacle and it was still not working.
The exact same hardware and configuration were flawless with VD, even better than SteamVR when it still worked.
So yeah, I'll try again, if for no other reason because I need something that works better with linux. Unfortunately no VD there.
Blackmist@feddit.uk · 2 pts · 19d
Yeah, it may well be my settings are really low so it's not troubled on bandwidth or performance on the headset end. By all accounts, I should have no end of problems with a 1060 GPU, and a max of 1Gb/s ethernet to a big standard wireless router that serves the whole house.
It struggles a bit with two headsets connected to the WiFi, but still playable.
That's computers for you. Nothing has really made sense and probably never will.
Euphoma@lemmy.ml · 2 pts · 20d
idk steamvr has been buggy for years on windows
plateee@piefed.social · 4 pts · 20d
Damn, probably not supported on the quest 2019 edition.
I just picked one up for sub $200 to try and de-meta it.
bjoern_tantau@swg-empire.de · 2 pts · 20d
FWIW that did work for me with ALVR. I forgot the details but I do remember using it wired.
plateee@piefed.social · 2 pts · 20d
I'll give it a shot then.
I tried ALVR on Linux, but the lag was so bad it made me feel sick. WiVRn has been great though.
bjoern_tantau@swg-empire.de · 2 pts · 20d
Might be that I had the computer act as a network interface over USB. That should work with basically everything.
NutinButNet@hilariouschaos.com · 4 pts · 20d
Fucking finally. This has been so unreasonably difficult on Linux trying to work with whatever quirk there is in WiFi connections and trying to rely on community alternatives has been a nightmare.
Hond@piefed.social · 4 pts · 20d
I'm still really curious how well the Frame will actually work. Because like others in this thread i havent made any good experiences with SteamVR or Steam Link.
SteamVR is just a broken mess under Linux and to be avoided at all cost. Under Windows it was alright but if there was an easy way i would try to avoid it because of the negative performance impact.
Steam Link is the only software for streaming PCVR to a standalone headset which i got never working. Not even once. ALVR, Pico Connect, Virtual Desktop, wiVRn all just work out of the box on the same setup and maybe need a bit to a lot of tweaking to make the best of it. But atleast they work.
Yeah and now comes this Linux based standalone headset which everybody is hyped for. IDK man. I'm really curious for the experiences of people after the honey moon phase in like 3-6 months after the release.