Pico 4 experience and settings
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@TUAF-Ripper oh jesus and you asked about OpenXR Runtime:
So think of steam as a funhouse of all kinds: It does steam things, it does advertising and analytics, it does marketting. It does a games library and the updating, the friends and such, all the home Lounge area it gives you for comfort, but it’s always running that crap and it’s HEAVY. It likely does a bunch more too. THEN it creates a 3D space and talks between your headset and computer… right?
Well openXR was designed (and it’s in/compatWith/drivingNatively) to do the last bit. Just the last bit. SO long story short, you get a MUCH more streamlined platform, and generally the same capabilities regarding that bit (compression, resolution, field of view, controller stuff, mic use, etc).
Also it’s free…
What used to be called OpenComposite (and actually that’s a word still used) is now the OpenXR project, and it’s doing well. DCS natively runs in OpenXR until someone feeds it steam or pours on some aweful Winshits Realparody. Their layers on top make gaming sad.
So in DCS I got my raging latency down from about 180 to a decent 70something between the ADB hack and the OpenXR, and it was very much both of them that did it, as well as depending on Virtual Desktop, the world’s leading streamer visa vie lower latency.So I hope this helps you all. NOT AT ALL SURE if this part (openXR) is applicable to Falcon.
Let me know so I can advise better in the future…and if anyone wants to invite me to Falcon, I’ll check it out. I need other study-level sims, for rotary, if that’s what this is.Now… what do you need to OpenXR?
- OpenComposite Runtime Switcher
- OpenXR Companion Toolkit (optional but a no-brainer)
- SOME proggies you want to make a post-command in the execution (create a shortcut and use that to run the program), --force_VR --force_OpenVR or something like that.
Then what happens is OComposite steals anything asking to run Steam VR and uses OpenXR instead. No lounge, nice lightweight everything, it’s a real step up.
You will miss your steam controller profiles and may need to redesign some of that stuff. you can always bring them over from steam… ahem, the only games I had this issue with I had… ahem… begotten for previewing purposes.
I honestly can’t think of any other compatability issues I’ve had. -
@TUAF-Ripper
Now… is this complicated? Too complicated?Well this entire discussion has been about getting Pico, a natively Stand-Alone VR kit, to PLAY VIDEO AND SOUND as nicely as some other gear with HDMI for crying out loud. Why bother? Because the Pico blows ALLLLLL the other gear out of the water with it’s specs. Now I’m in DCS with a latency of 90 (my computer is potato), of which 15-25 is networking, 15 encode, 15 decode, and yeah my PC needs about 40 to run game. I like it much better when in SP it’s 50-70, but I’ll give you my MP numbers.
It’s JUST playable. I dig it. And I am LOVING the Pico’s specs.So how complicated?
ONE piece of software (Virtual Desktop) because it’s BEST in latency.
ONE or TWO pieces of software to run OpenXR (free)
2x 3m USB QC PD Cords, 1x USB Hub, 1x Gigabit Adaptor with Frills (18 GBP)
1x script that I can give you in a batch file.
ON RUNTIME:
Double click OpenComposite and check OVR is selected.
Check connections of USB all the way up. Make self comfy in cockpit.
Double click on the ADB batch file, select exit, hit USB TETHER.
Reload Streaming software (VD)
DISABLE WIFI IF YOU WANT TO PROVE HARDLINE
Run GameOkay, so it’s got some stuff you need to work on, some very specific hardware/software, a little config, a little expense.
But - and certainly the runtime part - is easy enough.You don’t just negate the Pico’s HDMI trouble with the gigabit (USB Steroids),
You also get the all you can eat HDMI, Cards, USB, Ethernet package
You also get OpenXR working nicely instead of Steam Chunks
You also get a much longer cord with this setup. Those 2m cords are nonsense.Oh - that’s in case I didn’t mention that if you have more than 2 cords, or the total length is more than 5 meters, ADB Tethering - if not entirely the USB connection - does not work.
This is to be noted in your designs and again, one of the reasons I’m here to fix stuff up I hope we’re in this together.Pico is beautiful. She deserves the respect. She’s an unwanted stepchild for not having HDMI (like wtf people) but I do believe we’ve got what we need to work around this.
And frankly for all the issues she’s got getting her top notch - she still shizzzz liberally on all the other headsets for the price.
I really won’t have it cussed out when it can be fixed up…
WE HAVE THE TECHNOLOGY.Again, sorry for the novels.
Thoughts? -
@TUAF-Ripper as for you in wherever you are, i’m really sorry. that is just wrong.
Maybe get a VPN and sort that? Or look into darker apks that people have cooked, just be careful.
And if I can do anything to help (send you the APK?) then let me know… though I have a feeling the distrib I have will likely bark from your national IP range.
Lmk if I can help though, and I certainly wish you luck… that stinks, brother. -
@ipetter said in Pico 4 experience and settings:
Tried Streaming Assistant again, settings maxed and with the bitrate set to 100-125 mbps via manual edit of the config-file for it. While the GFX is on par with or slightly better than VD, there’s something that looks like a “zoom-stutter” using this, and it’s very annoying! The performance is also worse, and bitrate seems more unstable with some stuttering.
My conclusion is that Virtual Desktop is superior on the Pico 4. Also, there’s no warping that Quest 2 users have been reporting with VD.
Final settings (for now):
BMS Config:
set g_nVRHMD 1 // Enables the OpenVR (default 0/false). set g_fVRZOOMFOV 60 // Field of view in degrees for VR ZOOM (default 60.0). set g_nVRHMCSEYE 0 // HMCS renders, 0 Right eye, 1 Left eye (default 0/false). set g_fVRResolution 1.3 // VR resolution multiplier. 1.0 by default. set g_bVRParallelRenderThread 1 // Enable Multi-Thread optimization for VR set g_bVRNoPresent 1 // This will not display the companion window in VR (only HMD will show image in 3d).
Also turned off environment mapping, but left shadows on.
Steam VR:
- World scale 120%
Virtual Desktop:
- Quality: High
- Bitrate: 125 mbps (go higher if you can, this is my max ATM)
- Refresh: 90 Hz (has to be enabled on the headset first)
- Sharpening: 30%
- Everything else is on default/auto.
Since I have an AMD Radeon GFX-card, VD uses H.264 encoding for better performance. Nvidia users will most likely want HEVC, and VD will probably select it automatically. This will improve the image slightly, at the cost of a bit more latency.
YMMW, so if anyone else is using the Pico 4 do please share your experiences, settings and computer specs
This conditions just work nice. Thank you.
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@bluesharp
He’s Aces on the codec information there.
Why go SA?
Why 120 instead of 140? en/de-coding? Sure.
AND thank you for the latency info on the nVidia/HEVC issue. As with top line (codec intel) it’s good to learn more each day.
LATENCY happens to be my issue. So it’s good to know I’m dealing with that while comparing diags to others online with radeon cards.
a little info here and there… Thanks guys. -
Here’s a short video demonstrating how to interface with BMS and tools while using the PICO 4 and virtual desktop. It includes all my settings at the end of the video.
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You’re not getting an optimal wireless experience with a Wi-Fi 5 connection especially using TP-Link equipment. Asus Wi-Fi 6 routers are generally recommended. You can get a cheap Asus 1300 Wi-Fi 6 router specifically for your Pico 4 to connect with. Make sure your PC is connected by a LAN cable to the router you’re connecting to the Pico and you’re off to the races.
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@mikelimtw said
You’re not getting an optimal wireless experience with a Wi-Fi 5 connection …
That’s why I use a Wifi 6 router. (TP-Link AX3000 M)
Asus Wi-Fi 6 routers are generally recommended.
I’ve had no issues with my TP-Link router, in fact it replaces an Asus Wifi5 router, which gave me endless trouble having to reboot regularly. Ive been using TP-Link switches for years without issue.
Make sure your PC is connected by a LAN cable to the router you’re connecting to the Pico and you’re off to the races.
That’s exactly how i’m connected, and thanks for the tips.
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Hello !
I tried to improve things without touching any falcon_bms.cfg line or usb tethering settings.
Just using the “vanilla settings” and keep things simple and stupid.-
I plug my headset with a GOOD usb cable
(no USB Tethering… I’m just connecting into Streaming Assistant wired. I don’t even understand the utility of tethering and can’t find the option anyway). -
I set 90hz into the headset settings menu.
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I update Streaming Assistant on the computer, and i set display mode to “HD” or “ULTRA”, and 90hz (don’t really see the difference between these two actually).
Now, Falcon looks just fine, i’m able to read my instrument into the cockpit
Running on a 3070ti, I’ve got 70 fps anyway and nothing is set “carrefully” for now.
I should be able to improve FPS, having a look at graphics option, “fine tune” my graphics options, active the line “set g_bVRNoPresent 1 // set to 1 to disable companion”, this kind of things.Works just fine now, i can finally read my MFDs/ded and the cockpit is even more impressive !
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Question on upscaling & nvidia settings.
So, got a Pico4 but still running an old setup (i5-4670K CPU, 8GB RAM , 1TB SSD, GeForce GTX 1080 Ti).
When running it with my simpit (4K main screen, 3x 10.4" + 1x 4" screens) I usually get a pretty descent FPS (70-90) with ok settings (shadows or environment mappings not disabled or anything).However, in VR my FPS is terrible. Around 25-30 max with all stuff disabled that is mentioned in this thread.
So I’ve been reading this topic and some other forum posts on ideal settings in steamVR, Pico streaming assistent and I’m a bit confused now on what I should alter where.Upscaling.
Keep BMS at 1.0, SteamVR at 100%, Streaming assistent at high instead of ultra? VR Performance Toolkit to 0,7 or 0.9? Or set BMS to 1.4, steam vr at 60% for example.
So many places I can set an up- or downscale I’m not sure what is best and I’m not doing stuff double or triple.Nvidia settings.
As I understand it, BMS renders and sends to SteamVR, SteamVR sends to Streaming assistent, and that sends it over my UBS cable to the VR headset.
So what application do I need to chose to start fiddling with anti alias etc? BMS, Steam, Streaming assistent? -
One thing i have noticed after having a pico 4 for around 2 weeks is that turning battery saver to ON in the headset under settings my image gets even better again. Its like it provides AA to the mfds and hud and they become so clear.
I honestly couldnt believe it, it makes no sense at all, and i see noone else talking about it!!!
Edit. Ive just seen it drops to 72hz in battery saver so i was seeing a clearer image as its 1/3 less traffic from pc >pico