Mondo's Hardware Guide

Hardware

Controller Mods

• Mamut Grips for Rift S/Quest1/2 - Makes the controllers "grip free"
• VRcover Controller Grips for Quest 2 - same as above, with optional padding for the straps

Headstraps

• Elite Battery Strap, Meta's own solution. Contains an extra battery. Known to break easily.
• BoboVR M2 Plus for Quest 2 - similar design to the Rift S headstrap, very comfortable but slightly wobbly. Comes with clip-on battery pack as a counterweight

Audio Mods

• Logitech makes earbuds with a custom cord length so they don't dangle on headsets
• ModMic Wireless; Bluetooth microphone for any VR headset, connects directly to Quest 1/2

Misc Mods

• Use a big rug if you need help with your playspace
• Halo Protector, hard rubber protectors for the IR rings on the Quest 2's controllers

Oculus/Meta

• Oculus debug tool - can turn off proximity sensor

Oculus Go

• $250 new on Ebay (as of 7/2022)
• Works withtout wires
• VERY limited on what it can do
• VERY limited controller
• Just don't

Oculus Rift

• $350 new on Ebay (as of 7/2022)
• Needs base stations
• Connects to computer to run
• Old technology
• Decent cheap option for just starting to get into VR

Oculus Rift S

• $550 new on Ebay (as of 7/2022)
• Requires Displayport or Mini Displayport adapter on PC
• Doesnt need base stations
• Needs light to function
• Connects to computer to run
• Basically a non-wireless Quest 1
• Firmware awful and doesn't work half the time
• Can order prescription lenses

Oculus Quest / Quest 2

• $299+ retail
• Completely wireless, doesn't need a pc
• Needs light to function
• Can hook to computer for EXTRA power via Airlink
• Quest 2's power > Quest 1's power
• Quest = Black, Quest 2 = White
• Comes in several sizes of storage
• Can order prescription lenses
• Needs bulky Oculus software open to run
• Can skip bulky software using Virtual Desktop
• Weight distribution is odd
  • This comfort strap can help
  • Quest 2 Disassembly
  • BoBo VR Strap and Battery

Meta Quest 2

• $399+ retail
• This is just a rebranding of the word "Oculus" and is otherwise identical
• Got a $100 price increase in July 2022 due to "component shortages"
• Unpopular Facebook requirement to be dropped some time in August 2022

Virtual Desktop Vs Airlink Vs USB Cable

Virtual Desktop

• Virtual Desktop is a WIRELESS ALTERNATIVE to the bulky Oculus software, that is MORE STABLE than a WIRED connection!
• With wired your PC is spending extra resources to encode/decode over the wire. When you go wireless that processing gets offloaded to the headset itself and frees up your computer. I actually get better performance over wireless. Virtual Desktop also has supersampling/spacewarp built into it as well and is much easier to tweak compared to using the Oculus debug tool for that stuff.
• PC being used is PREFERABLY hard wired with an ethernet cable
• Quest 2 is the ONLY device on the 5GHz band
• Try to be somewhat close to the router due to the shorter range of 5GHz
• WiFi 6 router is preferred but WiFi5 will work
• A really good router

Airlink

• Airlink uses Wi-Fi to wirelessly connect to your headset using Oculus Software.
  • To connect your Quest 2 to PC, have Steam open, as well as the Oculus software. Connect your Quest 2 whilst it's on to a USB 3.0 slot (USB-C is better if you have it but it may struggle on 2.0 or less).
  • Go into your settings menu on the Quest and click the newly appear Oculus Rift/Link button. You will have a white menu (you may wish to turn Steam Home off in your Steam settings, and Oculus Home off in Oculus settings.)
  • Open Steam from this and it will open SteamVR. Open your chosen game via the menu once you have loaded in. IF YOU HAVE LAG (likely): Open your Device Manager. and open the section called Universal Serial Bus Controllers. You will likely have several that say something like Root Hub. Right click on those, and then click Properties > Power Management > and ensure that 'Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power' is turned off. Do this for each Root Hub (the amount will vary depending on the about of usb slots you have).
  • Afterwards, search your pc for Power and Sleep (may vary depending on OS), click additional power settings, and click Change Plan settings for the one you use. You should now see a Power Options panel. Click USB Settings > USB Selective Suspend Setting > and ensure that the setting is disabled. This should solve any lag issues.

• Line-of-sight with the target router, and an ethernet cable plugged from it into the host PC, is highly recommended

USB Cable

• USB Cables can be used to connect your Quest to your PC to get the FULL PC experience!
• Not all cables are created equal. Some may not charge while you play.
• The official cable is $79, and -not worth it-. Plenty of cheaper cables do the same.

Legit Cables

• This one works fine

Misc Guides

• Index Knuckles on Quest

Valve

Valve Index

• $999 for the kit retail
• Requires Displayport or Mini Displayport adapter on PC
• Uses base stations
• Connects via PC
• Very powerful
• Can order prescription lenses
• Manually adjust eye-width
• Knuckles controllers track finger proximity and does not require to be held all the time
• Has glare in eyepieces for some users
• Teardown Guide

Valve Index 2

• Currently patented
• Rumored to be wireless, similar to the quest

Vive

Vive

• $499 retail
• Uses base stations
• No built in audio

Vive Pro

• $1,399 retail
• Uses base stations
• Backwards compatible with Vive base stations

Vive Pro Eye

• $1,599 retail
• Same as Vive Pro, but with eye tracking

Vive Cosmos

• $699 retail
• No base stations needed
• Uses your computer wirelessly (Like Quest's Airlink)
• Tracking issues

Vive Cosmos Elite

• $749 retail
• Needs an adapter to be wireless
• Less tracking issues

Vive Pro 2

• $799
• Uses base stations
• Connects to pc
• Needs Vive Console and Steam VR open to run Steam VR games

Vive Flow

• Completely wireless, doesn't need a pc

Full Body Tracking (FBT)

3.0 Trackers info

Magnets effect the 3.0 trackers. a magnetic detachable usb tip is too powerful for it

Slime Trackers

• More advanced
• Open source
• Datdus' 3D PrintedSlime Cases

HaritoraX Trackers

• $270
• Bluetooth based
• HaritoraX Guide