investigating HMCS alignment sometimes fail in VR

[YoYo]

This is not a new topic and is not often updated too, but does anyone finally have a solution for VR users? Unfortunately, sometimes I have Align OK and sometimes Fail. 

I only fly in VR and honestly it's hard for me to tell why the align process sometimes works and sometimes doesn't, since I always repeat the same procedure (cold start only).

VR screen:

Edited December 30, 2024 by YoYo

[BIGNEWY]

please add a track replay showing the issue

thank you 

[YoYo]

3 hours ago, BIGNEWY said:

please add a track replay showing the issue

thank you 

Track included. Because the recording is in VR there is no same perspective here, but additionally you can also see much more vibrations and even heartbeats   which is normal. I think that in some way it is visible during the leveling process for HMCS and ultimately it spoils the proper completion of this process. It does not matter whether the symbol is marked on both eyes or just on the right one.

2D screen:

Generally this topic should be in Bugs and problems, I don't know why it's here but I didn't want to duplicate it.

test.trk

Edited December 30, 2024 by YoYo

[YoYo]

I think that there is currently some problem for VR users (maybe some patch moved something here). The previous 2 screenshots show that the fit is perfect, and this is a discovery from a moment ago. When I give "aiming" a little lower, below the cross, I have the Align OK! information. The problem is that it is not in the center.

VR screen:

Currently it is the case that 100% of aiming at the center of the cross results in fail.

Btw. It's also possible that 2D is currently affected too. Someone would have to check with TrackIR. On the recreated 2D track but recorded in VR I can see that both crosses are in place and centered, and yet there was an "Align Fail".

Edited December 30, 2024 by YoYo

[YoYo]

Today, even looking below, I couldn't align it. I have the feeling more and more that this is some kind of bug that appears randomly. I should point out that I don't touch the seat position, so it's at the default level of the seat.

[YoYo]

@Lord Vader any news about this issue? Please also moving this topic to Bugs and problems corner. TY!

[BIGNEWY]

Ive split the topic as the previous one wasnt VR related and was 2 years old. 

I will try to reproduce but I have not noticed any issue with my headset and alignment that I can recall. 

Some things I do is ensure the head set is correctly set in the software for its room position. 

Start DCS and make sure I am facing forward then press numpad 5 to calibrate centre. 

Then I will do the alignment as usual. 

 

 

[Nedum]

On 1/2/2025 at 2:44 PM, YoYo said:

@Lord Vader any news about this issue? Please also moving this topic to Bugs and problems corner. TY!

As a VR user, the Helmet alignment fail will now happen if the lines are not overlapping or the angle of the two crosses is too big. With one of the older patches, you have not to be as good as possible to overlap the crosses in the middle, the lines of the crosses have to be as parallel as possible.

I can always align, but I have to move my had in such a position that the lines are in the best way parallel to each other. A little angle doesn't matter (as you can see in your screenshot where you can see the Align ok text), but if the cross of the Helmet and the HUD cross have a too big angle, the alignment will always fail, no matter if you have centered the crosses or not.

Try to move your Head so the Helmet cross lines and the HUD cross lines are as much parallel as you can get, and your alignment will always be ok.

 

Edit: but I don't know if this is the same as in RL. That's the way it works for me by 100 %!

Edited January 4 by Nedum

[YoYo]

34 minutes ago, Nedum said:

As a VR user, the Helmet alignment fail will now happen if the lines are not overlapping or the angle of the two crosses is too big. With one of the older patches, you have not to be as good as possible to overlap the crosses in the middle, the lines of the crosses have to be as parallel as possible.

I can always align, but I have to move my had in such a position that the lines are in the best way parallel to each other. A little angle doesn't matter (as you can see in your screenshot where you can see the Align ok text), but if the cross of the Helmet and the HUD cross have a too big angle, the alignment will always fail, no matter if you have centered the crosses or not.

Try to move your Head so the Helmet cross lines and the HUD cross lines are as much parallel as you can get, and your alignment will always be ok.

 

Edit: but I don't know if this is the same as in RL. That's the way it works for me by 100 %!

Interesting observation, I will verify it. 

[YoYo]

On 1/4/2025 at 2:40 PM, Nedum said:

As a VR user, the Helmet alignment fail will now happen if the lines are not overlapping or the angle of the two crosses is too big....

I'm back after a few days of testing with this idea and I have the impression that this is it . Since I pay attention to the angle too (so I not only place the cross in the center but also tilt my head slightly, even though it is not natural) everything is ok and I always have "Align OK". This means that this function also applies to the angle adjustment, and not just the center of the cross with this option (remember that with alignment we also have the angle adjustment as the last test). People using Track IR don't have this problem, but with VR, especially if you only use your left or right eye, there may be a slight angle shift. However, this has nothing to do with the fact that @BIGNEWY writes about it here. I have the headset aligned 100% well and there is no problem at all. It's a matter of different line behavior in VR, especially if we have HMCS on one eye selected in the options. This information may be useful to others, it may even be added to the F-16 manual I think.

COARSE alignment, also adjust angle (VR picture):

Edited January 7 by YoYo

[Chibawang]

The question is then, does this negatively impact alignment with your head in a natural position, after the DED alignment process? I've always instinctively rolled my head to fix the error during alignment, but at times I've noticed some larger errors in the HMCS afterward.