Varjo Aero: General guide for new owners

[Parrotnut]

~14.6 +-2.2% are the numbers i have at the moment

[Maksim Savelev]

Thank you. Still more  than 11.3 , but way much better than my 18 to 25

[Hammer3246]

Just received this headset (Varjo Aero) two days ago.  What an incredible improvement over my first three headsets a G2, then Quest Pro (sent it back and ordered the Pico simply because of the cost difference) and finally a Pico4, the resolution in cockpits is crystal clear and outside looks just about as good.  I'm very happy!!!

Edited September 17, 2023 by Hammer3246

[dburne]

37 minutes ago, Hammer3246 said:

Just received this headset two days ago.  What an incredible improvement over a G2, then Quest Pro (sent it back and ordered the Pico simply because of the cost difference) and finally a Pico4, the resolution in cockpits is crystal clear and outside looks just about as good.  I'm very happy!!!

 

At first I thought you were talking about Aero ( probably due to thread title).

 

 

[Hammer3246]

25 minutes ago, dburne said:

 

At first I thought you were talking about Aero ( probably due to thread title).

 

 

Yes, I am referring to the Aero, that's why I posted it here.  I'll edit my post so its a little clearer.

Edited September 17, 2023 by Hammer3246

[dburne]

Just now, Hammer3246 said:

Yes, I am referring to the Aero, that's why I posted it here.

Ah ok when you said "finally a Pico 4" I thought that was what you ended up with.

Good deal, Aero is awesome!

[GPatricks]

On 9/17/2023 at 6:58 PM, Hammer3246 said:

Just received this headset (Varjo Aero) two days ago.  What an incredible improvement over my first three headsets a G2, then Quest Pro (sent it back and ordered the Pico simply because of the cost difference) and finally a Pico4, the resolution in cockpits is crystal clear and outside looks just about as good.  I'm very happy!!!

 

I just ordered an Aero to replace my G2v2, and i'm a bit lost on what I should do with all the stuff from the G2. I actually went back to a post I made in Jan. 2022 when I had an Aero on order (order cancelled after 5 months) about re-setting some stuff in Steam (i'll show it below). I assume I uninstall "Windows Mixed Reality for Steam VR", but leave OpenXR Toolkit alone? Here is what Varjo posted way back when.. please let me know of any other prep things that should be done, then I will go through this thread to properly set up for DCS (and hopefully IL-2).. 

From the Varjo Discord on January 2022:

"If you have had other headsets installed it seems that SteamVR may get a bit "confused" and cause issues. Here is the definitive way to get SteamVR back to a fresh install for the Aero.. https://steamcommunity.com/app/250820/discussions/2/1640917625015598552/

In a nutshell - 

1. Close Steam and Steam VR

2. Delete "default.vrsettings" from x:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\Steamapps\common\SteamVR\resources\settings folder

3. Delete "steamvr.vrsettings" from  x:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\Config folder

4. Delete "lighthousedb.json" from  x:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\Config\lighthouse folder (in my case coming from a G2 the Lighthouse folder was empty)

5. Start the Steam app, be sure Games and Tools are checked so SteamVR shows up in the list. Right click SteamVR then \Manage\UNINSTALL

6.Go back and look in x:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\Steamapps\common\SteamVR\ folder, delete all contents under it.

7. Go back into Steam, select SteamVR, click the big Blue INSTALL button.. Done."

Edited September 21, 2023 by =LD=Icer

[Hammer3246]

3 hours ago, =LD=Icer said:

I just ordered an Aero to replace my G2v2, and i'm a bit lost on what I should do with all the stuff from the G2. I actually went back to a post I made in Jan. 2022 when I had an Aero on order (order cancelled after 5 months) about re-setting some stuff in Steam (i'll show it below). I assume I uninstall "Windows Mixed Reality for Steam VR", but leave OpenXR Toolkit alone? Here is what Varjo posted way back when.. please let me know of any other prep things that should be done, then I will go through this thread to properly set up for DCS (and hopefully IL-2).. 

From the Varjo Discord on January 2022:

"If you have had other headsets installed it seems that SteamVR may get a bit "confused" and cause issues. Here is the definitive way to get SteamVR back to a fresh install for the Aero.. https://steamcommunity.com/app/250820/discussions/2/1640917625015598552/

In a nutshell - 

1. Close Steam and Steam VR

2. Delete "default.vrsettings" from x:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\Steamapps\common\SteamVR\resources\settings folder

3. Delete "steamvr.vrsettings" from  x:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\Config folder

4. Delete "lighthousedb.json" from  x:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\Config\lighthouse folder (in my case coming from a G2 the Lighthouse folder was empty)

5. Start the Steam app, be sure Games and Tools are checked so SteamVR shows up in the list. Right click SteamVR then \Manage\UNINSTALL

6.Go back and look in x:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\Steamapps\common\SteamVR\ folder, delete all contents under it.

7. Go back into Steam, select SteamVR, click the big Blue INSTALL button.. Done."

 

I didn't really do much of anything (I was coming from a pretty clean Windows install)  other than install Varjo Base, setup the headset and used one lighthouse for tracking.  I'm sure it wouldn't hurt to uninstall things that are no longer needed headset wise.

 

As far as OpenXR toolkit that depends.  If you use Varjo Foveated the toolkit is not compatible and needs to be uninstalled or suspeneded.  If you use mbucchia's Quad View Foveated then you're fine to use it.  Just be sure to turn off in DCS Bloom effect under the VR tab and Lens Effect under the System tab.  ***Disabling these two items is a must!!!!***

[GPatricks]

3 minutes ago, Hammer3246 said:

I didn't really do much of anything (I was coming from a pretty clean Windows install)  other than install Varjo Base, setup the headset and used one lighthouse for tracking.  I'm sure it wouldn't hurt to uninstall things that are no longer needed headset wise.

 

As far as OpenXR toolkit that depends.  If you use Varjo Foveated the toolkit is not compatible and needs to be uninstalled or suspeneded.  If you use mbucchia's Quad View Foveated then you're fine to use it.  Just be sure to turn off in DCS Bloom effect under the VR tab and Lens Effect under the System tab.  ***Disabling these two items is a must!!!!***

Thanks! Any opinion on which Foveated is better? How are you finding the tracking using 1 Lighthouse? 

Edited September 21, 2023 by =LD=Icer

[Hammer3246]

Just now, =LD=Icer said:

Thanks! How are you finding the tracking using 1 Lighthouse? 

So far so good, I think I need to put it up a little higher yet, I have the Next Level Flight Sim setup and strictly do Flight (no standing) I placed the lighthouse directly in front and about 7' up.  I'll lose tracking if I turn my head too much but it picks it up again fast.

[GPatricks]

6 minutes ago, Hammer3246 said:

So far so good, I think I need to put it up a little higher yet, I have the Next Level Flight Sim setup and strictly do Flight (no standing) I placed the lighthouse directly in front and about 7' up.  I'll lose tracking if I turn my head too much but it picks it up again fast.

I was going to center it where the laptop screen is in the pic, raised up just below the monitor..

[Hammer3246]

12 minutes ago, =LD=Icer said:

I was going to center it where the laptop screen is in the pic, raised up just below the monitor..

This is my first experience with using a Lighthouse and that position might work, but I think if you only use one it should be high and pointing down so it has a good field of view.  Having only one, and sitting low would make tracking difficult when turning your head.  Again this is just my opinion, I'm sure someone else here knows better.

Edited September 21, 2023 by Hammer3246

[GPatricks]

Thanks, guess I will see what happens!

[fastf1nger]

I put my stations in many different positions, looking directly at me. It doesn´t really matter how low or how high

they are in the room, thats my experience. Right now my 2 stations are about 45 degrees left and right, about 9ft

away from me and about 1-2 feet above the ground, sitting on a lowboard. Worked fine in all positions until today,

never had connection issues or drops or anything. I think as long as they "see" you, its fine.

[GPatricks]

Still wondering the +/- of using the Varjo FR (OpenXR Toolkit Disabled) vs. the Quad-view w/OpenXR Toolkit. As I fly IL-2/race in iRacing I currently use OXRTK with the G2.

[Rodeo]

7 hours ago, =LD=Icer said:

Thanks! Any opinion on which Foveated is better? How are you finding the tracking using 1 Lighthouse? 

I have no issues but I did find an extension arm to get a little better adjustment over my monitor. I have a Trak Racer sim pit (one day I will do a review) and my seat sits little low so it did take some time getting my adjustments fine tuned but with help from the extension no issues now. 

Edited September 21, 2023 by Rodeo

[GPatricks]

On 9/22/2023 at 12:54 AM, Rodeo said:

I have no issues but I did find an extension arm to get a little better adjustment over my monitor. I have a Trak Racer sim pit (one day I will do a review) and my seat sits little low so it did take some time getting my adjustments fine tuned but with help from the extension no issues now. 

 

I went ahead and ordered a 2nd Base station direct from Steam, was €40 less that the "discounted to €199" base that I ordered direct from Varjo with the Aero... will play with different placements, may end up hanging them from my (sloped) ceiling. Ideally I can figure out a way to place them on my monitor mount somehow.. 

Edited September 23, 2023 by =LD=Icer

[Rodeo]

How is VRNeckSaver currently working for Aero? I haven’t downloaded it yet because if memory serves me several of you were having issues with one of the OB updates a few months back. 

[GPatricks]

4 hours ago, Rodeo said:

How is VRNeckSaver currently working for Aero? I haven’t downloaded it yet because if memory serves me several of you were having issues with one of the OB updates a few months back. 

I have the same query except about XRNeckSafer..

[witwas]

Received my varjo aero last weekend, great product.

I have been playing with some settings, eye tracking works fine. The only small issue I have is without motion reprojection I get 90 fps and then sometimes it drops to 75 or so, but even with 75 fps it get’s a bit choppy (like micro stutters every 2 seconds). If I engage motion reprojection they are gone but also the smoothness is gone.

Is there a solution? Or do I have to accept motion reprojection

  

[dburne]

58 minutes ago, witwas said:

Received my varjo aero last weekend, great product.

 

I have been playing with some settings, eye tracking works fine. The only small issue I have is without motion reprojection I get 90 fps and then sometimes it drops to 75 or so, but even with 75 fps it get’s a bit choppy (like micro stutters every 2 seconds). If I engage motion reprojection they are gone but also the smoothness is gone.

 

Is there a solution? Or do I have to accept motion reprojection

 

  

 

 

I run vsync on in Varjo Based forced to 45 fps, no motion smoothing.

You might give that a try. I do not get noticeable stutters unless fps drops below 45 fps which is very rare for me running eye tracked DFR.

 

[Shein]

Hi all, just set my Aero up today. WOW! What an INSANE improvement over even the valve index! I am totally blown away. 
I have 2 questions... 

1. I'm trying to run the DFR mod, I installed it, is that it? just runs automatically? I didn't see anything else about making it work.

2. I ran the mission "Sitting ducks" mission for A-10 and noticed a jeep disappears at certain ranges. I mean literally POOF its gone. I dont know if this is a varjo thing or a DCS thing. Can anyone confirm? 

EDIT: Checked in 2d. The jeep disappears too so its a DCS thing not a varjo thing. 

Edited September 26, 2023 by Shein

[dburne]

1 hour ago, Shein said:

Hi all, just set my Aero up today. WOW! What an INSANE improvement over even the valve index! I am totally blown away. 
I have 2 questions... 

1. I'm trying to run the DFR mod, I installed it, is that it? just runs automatically? I didn't see anything else about making it work.

2. I ran the mission "Sitting ducks" mission for A-10 and noticed a jeep disappears at certain ranges. I mean literally POOF its gone. I dont know if this is a varjo thing or a DCS thing. Can anyone confirm? 

EDIT: Checked in 2d. The jeep disappears too so its a DCS thing not a varjo thing. 

 

 

See this thread for everything you need to know about DFR and Aero

 

[Ready]

On 9/23/2023 at 2:24 PM, GPatricks said:

I went ahead and ordered a 2nd Base station direct from Steam, was €40 less that the "discounted to €199" base that I ordered direct from Varjo with the Aero... will play with different placements, may end up hanging them from my (sloped) ceiling. Ideally I can figure out a way to place them on my monitor mount somehow.. 

I find having the base stations on my desk sometimes makes them lose track and having to sync. When using the throttle or some movement on the desk stuff shakes just a little bit too much for them to stay synced. So I am going to putthem on a wall.

[GPatricks]

16 hours ago, Ready said:

I find having the base stations on my desk sometimes makes them lose track and having to sync. When using the throttle or some movement on the desk stuff shakes just a little bit too much for them to stay synced. So I am going to putthem on a wall.

I just found out the actual size of these, they are a LOT smaller than I thought! 3.625 inches (9.21cm) by 2.75 inches (7cm).. think I will have to devise some sort of stands for them, or devise a method to hang them..