PICO 4 - Virtual Desktop - Wired Connection
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Hi there,
Since my wifi is not was not fast enough to provide the streaming quality that I was looking for I did some experimenting with wired connection.
There are some suggestions out there and it basically comes down to a few options:- Ethernet connection diretly to the router (works fine but my router is not near my PC)
- USB tethering (works fine until the blue screen appears; must be something with the drivers for such a virtual network adapter)
- Reverse tethering via ADB (works without any additional driver and seems to be stable)
Reverse tethering is easily done with this nice tool:
https://github.com/Genymobile/gnirehtet
Additionally you need the Android Debug Brigde (ADB):
https://dl.google.com/android/repository/platform-tools-latest-windows.zipOn the first launch you get a prompt on the Pico screen. It asks you to allow the connection.
Once the connection is established I can swith wifi on the Pico off and leave it off. The whole network traffic is now routed to the PC.I have now enough bandwidth to stream in Ultra setting without any issues.
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Agree, I have used wired connection for a while until I get wifi6 router.
Everything worked well -
Hey @Razor161!
My router is also too far away to get the desired performance over Wifi, the Extender is not making it much better. But I’m having a really hard time to get it running without bluescreens at the moment via USB tethering (AKA too unreliable for multiplayer). Reverse Tethering sounds like a good idea.
I also thought about using an USB-C to Network Interface on the Pico and connect to the network (or maybe even the computer) directly via CAT-Cable. Is this a good or bad idea? I hope they will improve the Pico Streaming software or make VD work with wired connections some day, that would be awesome.
Have a nice day all
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I bought this USB-C cable:
My problem was that I connected the PC to the internet via WIFI, and then either shared the WIFI connection with the PC and the viewer, or used the cable connection for the viewer. But I don’t know what problem I have with my PC USB, I have been unable to connect via the cable.
The easiest solution was to buy two PLCs, and with that the PC is connected through a PLC to the router, and I leave the Pico-4 connected by WIFI. My router is WIFI-5 and I have plenty of bandwidth (no need for WIFI-6 at all).
As I have the cable and didn’t return it, what I do is use the cable to be constantly connected to the charger, so it doesn’t drain the battery charge. For that it’s perfect, it never goes below 75% charge.
In short: The PC connected by PLC to the router, and the Pico-4s by WIFI-5 to the router, with Virtual Desktop, everything perfect. Note that Virtual Desktop doesn’t work with cable connection (at least that I know of…).
Fresco
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Hey @Dan83,
I tried to connect the PICO 4 to my PC using a CAT cable. You need to have a DHCP server running on your PC and find a way to share the internet connection of your PC with ne PICO. I was not able to do so.
Currently I’m using a similar cable as @Fresco suggested. And I really need it for some of the longer missions on Falcon Events.
Using ADB and a USB-C cable to connect the PICO to my PC and share the internet connection with the PICO (which is requried for VD to run) seems to be the best solution for me. -
Hey @Razor161!
Got it working now!I bought a USB-C Gigabit LAN Adapter with Charging Input (usually for Tablets, etc) and use this as the network interface for the pico instead of Wifi. It works flawlessly for me right now.
My PC is connected to the router via LAN (PowerLAN) anyway, I just added a switch before the PC and connected the Pico to the same switch. Wifi disabled completely. Pico has Internet, Virtual Desktop uses this connection without any complaints. No more bluescreens and VD shows stable 1200Mbit/s.
One drawback I haven’t solved yet: I don’t think the Pico is charging while in use. It does show a charging symbology but gradually discharges slowly, maybe slower than without charging, I don’t know. Charging works while the Pico is off at least. Will report if I can solve this.
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@Dan83 It depends on whether the USB-C cable with charger socket, you connect it to the charger in addition to the USB. The one in the picture in my previous post, in that configuration, that is, connected to both the USB-C and the charger on the side, of course it charges.
The battery starts to drop to about 75%, and then it stabilises. And I’m talking about sessions of more than 2 hours, which would surely have totally discharged the battery of the Pico-4, and if you are running with a very high streaming bitrate, higher power consumption and therefore even higher download speed. -
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@Fish44 Fish, no, I don’t connect via cable, because I don’t know what’s wrong with my USB-C PC, it’s not working properly.
I only use the cable to power the Pico 4, at least for the moment (I’m thinking of installing a USB-C card connected to a PCI-Express port on the PC motherboard).
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@Fish44
The latency look similar to my system with AMD 6800XT. -
@Dan83 I would love to open some dialogue:
I have been all through the woods on this and still can’t figure out how to get the gigabit connection running through the ethernet (instead of wireless) from the pico.
Check my lyrics:
https://www.reddit.com/r/PicoXR/comments/125y5kt/using_pico4_with_ethernet_adaptor_totally/I want what you got working, PLEASE tell me how.
Pico running on pure ethernet after the adaptor, to the router (not direct to PC) and power plugged in too (and HDMI and USB and Cards work too! Nice).You say you cracked this?
I’ve been through streaming app to Virtual Desktop, from Wireless to USB, from USB to ADB spoof, then from all that to getting an adaptor. Slowly my network latency is coming down… but I want 5ms max, not 45ms max, and all the decoding numbers will come down too.Please tell me the secrets? Hmu! Cheers!
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@Fresco beware. I got one, PCI express, SATA power jack on it or whatever it was (not just powered from motherboard), and the bastard still doesn’t work really.
Somehow it’s hard to find a device, internal OR hub, that really wants to transport DATA and POWER in any sufficiency… and I’ve had this problem time and time again, even sending bits back or biting bullets on ebay… not to mention weeks of banging my head against a wall.
So careful about your choice. Make sure she’s got plenty of power and other people reviewing her for your intended purpose. Good luck. -
@Jester428 said in PICO 4 - Virtual Desktop - Wired Connection:
@Fresco beware. I got one, PCI express, SATA power jack on it or whatever it was (not just powered from motherboard), and the bastard still doesn’t work really.
Somehow it’s hard to find a device, internal OR hub, that really wants to transport DATA and POWER in any sufficiency… and I’ve had this problem time and time again, even sending bits back or biting bullets on ebay… not to mention weeks of banging my head against a wall.
So careful about your choice. Make sure she’s got plenty of power and other people reviewing her for your intended purpose. Good luck.Hi jester
I found a much easier solution: connect the Pico directly to the ethernet network, connecting a network cable to one of the router’s ports.
If you do not have the possibility of connecting the glasses to the router, because it is in another room, or far from the point where you use the Pico, you can use a PLC and connect the Pico there.
I have it now like this, and it works perfectly.
The materials used are those of the video,
- A USB-C Gigabit Ethernet adapter, with charging port:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ethernet-Charging-Thunderbolt-Chromecast-Chromebook-Grey/dp/B09MQDWP6H?crid=3Q5U1YNH8XW7Y&keywords=usb+c+ethernet+adapter+power+delivery&qid=1676672778&s=electronics&sprefix=usb+ c+ethernet+adapter+power+delivery,electronics,57&sr=1-3&linkCode=sl1&tag=dayvreamer-21&linkId=e63ccdb8662c93edaa185eea3830815d&language=en_GB&ref_=as_li_ss_tl
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A network cable of sufficient length, at least Cat 6 or higher, of the length you need
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A right angle USB-C, USB-C to USB-C adapter
Fresco
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@Fresco thanks for the input!
I’ve been through both of these videos. They do a decent job of unboxing and saying “I connect this to that” - but then they say nothing about how to use the thing in the PCVR context, using Virtual Desktop etc.
Now…
I am aware that VD needs an internet connection, which it gets on wifi no issue.
I am aware that with ADB I get some DECENT networky, talking 15-45ms.
I have SEEN others (like the sim racer guy) getting 1-5ms on Gigabit! I want this.
I have seen PICO 4 as a device on the BT SmartHub 2 router I’ve got (on wifi AND ethernet port), so it’s clearly compatible with the adaptor etc.
I have then run VD, which connects to the PC via wireless, I get up to 866mbps reading out, and my gameplay is jarry as all hell.
What DOESN’T happen, which DOES happen with the ADB is that I don’t get a “Hey, there’s a new connection here, would you like to make it a private one?” notification. Course, because it’s not a ‘new connection’ to the PC, it’s in the router.
Now… what happens if I plug it into the PC directly? Nothing also. Doesn’t act like a host, a new connection, doesn’t do the dance ADB does, DOESN’T give me speeds that I like. WHEN I turn off the wireless in either case, of course I lose connection.
I haven’t a clue how to make VD say “ok, I’m plugged in to a router, oh THERE’S the PC with VD running on it, let’s go. Ethernet, ethernet ethernet!”
It just stays on the wireless connection. Naturally.
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SO NOW I have the pico through the adaptor, it’s showing up on the router, all the USB and ports on the adaptor work nicely (HDMI, cards, etc), and I can ping it sweeeeeeetly from my PC, command prompt for eg.
SO HOW do I now get Virtual Desktop to recognize the connection TO IT, THROUGH THE ROUTER, and give me that creamy 1-5ms (or in your images <15).What’s the NEXT STEP? Cos yeah, I’ve done what these videos are telling me, and need the next steps!
Cheers again! Very excited you got back to me! -
@Fresco get a Gigabit USB adaptor, or basic down to a 80W USB hub.
Nothing you can strap into PCI-Express, that I’ve found, has 25W+ that the Pico needs to stay upcharged.
I’ve got a USB QC hub with sata power going to it, it fails miserabley, so look out for one with at least PD. This standard gives you 20-100W. Likely hard to find an internal one. Then you have the problem of cords and hubs that don’t give you the connection you need (have you noticed some just don’t?)
Let me know if there’s anything else I can do/tell to help. -
@Jester428 The setup is absolutely simple.
You connect the network cable to the Gigabit access point, and the Gigabit access point to the USB-C ports of the Pico. The Gigabit access point I linked to earlier has a separate power socket, up to 60W, which is more than enough to keep the Pico’s battery charged. I power the access point from the Pico charger itself.
You turn on the Pico, and once inside you go to the configuration menu, to the network, and tell it to disconnect the Wifi.
You leave this menu, go back to the general menu of the Pico, and there you open, for example, the shop. You should see all the titles there, as if you were connected to the Wifi.
Now you use the normal procedure, you run Virtual Desktop, and you will see as if you were connected via Wifi.
You don’t have to download or run any external program neither on the Pico, nor on the PC.
Both in VD and SteamVR, increase the bitrate to the maximum, as well as the quality, now you won’t have any bandwidth problem in the connection between the Pico and the PC. -
@Fresco
well excellent! Actually this is grand. However I need to try this all out again to be sure…
I think I got no internet connection on the Pico, hence I will try sharing the wifi to that connection and try again.
I think I got nothing coming up on VD or SA when asking for the gigabit connection without wifi on.
I think I got ethernet showing up on PC AND in Router when Pico is plugged in so to confirm, Pico drivers, adaptor and cable integrity IS there…Let me try using my router as a passthrough and jam Pico and PC into THAT followed by router. If that works, a switch will also negate the issue of leaving my computer ethernet port dedicated to this…
Let’s see what gives tomorrow, starting with trying your input here once again.
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Hi , question to guys using USB ethernet adapter with PD.
I’m using this usb-ethernet adapter with Pico4 (latest firmware): https://www.amazon.pl/dp/B09MQDWP6H?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_detailsUSB ID: 0bda:8153 Realtek Semiconductor Corp. RTL8153 Gigabit Ethernet Adapter
Can you guys have both battery charge and network connection going at the same time?
Here if power cable is plugged into adapter it just charges (no network), if I unplug power headset will connect to the network but it won’t charge battery even if power cable has been plugged in again after network connection has been established.
Problem with ALVR glitching and crashing on wired connection is just extra annoyance. -
@Xeno I have the same adapter. I had it plugged into the headset and attached to the headset , then a long cable for power. That worked for both Ethernet and charge at the same time, but I wanted just one cable as having Ethernet and usb to the headset was a bit heavy/kept catching on things.
If I move the Ethernet adapter off the headset and use a long cable for usb c, as soon as I power it, the Ethernet dies.
I tried a usb c cable with separate power too and had the same problem, and the same with. Usb c hub.
I got a new usb hub with gigabit and power delivery and it now works as expected - the usb hub sits nexts to my router, and a long usb c cable to my headset. Charge and Ethernet work at the same time.
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@rubbra Thanks for an answer can you link which USB hub you’re using?