Newb asking for help with Pico 4: DCS not working in VR mode

[2circle]

Sorry in advance for the new thread as I know there's a similar one out there already but unfortunately that discussion is above my head.  I've been running DCS in VR mode on my Quest 2 headset mostly without problem.  Because it disconnects every so often, and based on what I've researched about the Pico 4, I recently purchased one.  Living in the USA, I was able to overcome the Virtual Desktop (VD) download problem, and am able to connect the device to my PC.  Unfortunately, when I try to launch DCS, it never enters VR mode.  Here are my steps:

Verify VR mode is enabled in VR settings in DCS then close it out (I'm playing open beta MT), Launch the streamer app on my PC (1.28.1), connect the Pico to the PC, launch VD in the Pico4.  I double click the DCS icon on my virtual desktop using the Pico controller and although DCS launches, it's like looking at my monitor through the headset - it's nowhere near a full 360 degree VR experience. It's almost like the headset is just repeating what the monitor displays.  The monitor shows the image that I would expect if I were playing in desktop mode (different from what I'm used to seeing with the Oculus where the monitor shows a highly warped image). I've double checked VR mode is still enabled in DCS.  I have Steam installed on the desktop, as well as the Oculus app.  I do not have Open XR as I've never needed it with my Quest 2 in order for DCS to work in VR mode.

I am not a computer science major, just a soon-to-be 50 year old who enjoys VR sims, but also has limited time.  Oculus 2 was pretty much just plug and play, and I'm getting close to throwing in the towel with the Pico 4.  Any help would be greatly appreciated.  Thank you in advance!

[Dunska]

Do you have SteamVR installed?  Virtual Desktop needs SteamVR to run games.  Also, make sure you are running the multi-threaded DCS (from the DCS.exe in the mt-bin folder) as it will be OpenXR by default then.  In SteamVR you can check that the OpenXR runtime is SteamVR.  You should then be able to do as you have been and get DCS to launch in VR mode.

[Qcumber]

Make sure you follow all the setup advice from the VD discord channel. 

https://discord.gg/TfPpH9UD

It can be a pain to setup but most of the common issues are here. 

[2circle]

OK thanks - that helped.  The main thing though was to add the --force_enable_VR in the command .exe line (which I'm guessing I'll need to remove in order to use it on my monitor - for the mission editor for example).  I find the graphics to be superior to my Quest 2 and once I was able to get it to consistently start, it's worth it just to have the cool air blowing on your face while wearing it!

One issue though: when I get to the opening screen when I'm in front of the MIG in the hangar, I'm positioned too high and can barely make out the screen.  I tried the view reset function on the right controller and although it shifts the angle, it doesn't lower the viewpoint to the correct level.  I can click on a mission and then it puts me a few feet above the cockpit (which - fortunately - I can reset using the DCS keyboard command to reset camera view).  Does anyone have any insight here?

As always, thanks in advance!

[Qcumber]

There is a VR view reset keybind in the DCS general VR settings. I would advise launching DCS in 2d and get this and some other basic key binds set up then when you launch in VR you can set the VR position easily. You will find that you need to reset the position regularly so it's worth having this set to a hotas button. 

It might be worth asking for this thread to be moved to the VR section rather than VR bugs. 

[2circle]

PSA for anyone having issues with the start position when inside the hangar in front of the Su-27.  I reset the floor in my PICO headset to be higher than actual when setting up the VR boundary.  That way when you get into the hangar, the position is where it should be.  A far less elegant solution that worked in the interim was to start a mission, reset the camera view, then exit the mission.  When it put me back in the hangar, I was at the appropriate spot.  Hope that helps someone...

As soon as I can figure out how to request to move this thread, I will!

[Dunska]

I just press the DCS recenter view button when the hanger loads and it centers the screen correctly.

[2circle]

Are you referring to the control I have highlighted?  This one only becomes effective once I select FLY MISSION for me.  If not, can you please direct me where to find it?  Thank you!

Edited September 7, 2023 by 2circle

[Jimmy8x]

3 hours ago, 2circle said:

Are you referring to the control I have highlighted?  This one only becomes effective once I select FLY MISSION for me.  If not, can you please direct me where to find it?  Thank you!

 

 

That should be the correct bind. Not sure why it won't work for you, I have the same thing happen on the main menu hangar and I just hit the recenter button. 

 

 

[Dunska]

I use the "View Center" option in General (NUM5 is default).  It works in the hanger and the cockpit.

 

Edited September 12, 2023 by Dunska