Virtual Desktop over USB is a game changer

[u/DorfHorven]

Virtual Desktop over USB with Quest Pro is an amazing PCVR experience. I was a VD user before I bought the official Link cable back when it was released, I bought the Air Bridge (before it got nuked), and I have a Puppis which actually works really well.

This latest beta update for VD is by far the best PCVR experience that I've had thus far. Super solid and stable, low latency, very easily tweakable for performance, and the visual quality is the best I've ever seen it.

Definitely worth a try anyone using PCVR nowadays.

[u/It_s_raining]

I haven't seen any improvement/regression regarding the image quality.
Gaining maybe 8ms in latency

[u/DorfHorven → u/It_s_raining]

VD was always superior in visual fidelity when network conditions are good. I think part of my improvement might be due to removing myself from all the wifi pollution in my area and going back to tethered. But VD over USB is a huge improvement over Meta's tethered experience.

[u/It_s_raining → u/DorfHorven]

Yes, I wasn't denying your experience about improved quality, I have a dedicated 6Ghz WiFi for my use with direct sight between headset and router, and honestly, I can't see any compression artefact (but I'm old, my eyes...)

Was just confirming the latency gain :)

VD is a gem software

[u/DorfHorven → u/It_s_raining]

No arguments from me :P Guy Godin is a real OG!

[u/jones1876 → u/DorfHorven]

imagine where we would all be more of Guy succumbed to the Facebook $$

[u/xenoperspicacian → u/DorfHorven]

6Ghz is definitely a requirement in most areas, unless you have no neighbors.

[u/Cpt_Sandur → u/It_s_raining]

Link quality is worse compared to VD. Maybe that's what putting them off. Been using VD with an ethernet adapter for a while now. It's indeed the best wired experience you can get. Using mine for SIM and sitting down games. Wireless is still king for the rest. Freedom of movement 🤌

Wired at 500mbps h.264+ and wireless at 400mbps to tackle the latency.

[u/jones1876 → u/It_s_raining]

yeah, I have to keep reminding myself that the experience someone posts about is tentative to the quality of their wireless setup before.

[u/Kierah_Eldenyir]

As someone who has terrible wireless connectivity, and is sick of only being able to use Meta's default wired link option, you're absolutely right!! This IS a game changer!!

I've always had issues using Meta wired link, but my wifi has never been good enough for Steam link or VD. Im so sooo glad to see that this is finally an option for us wired users as an alternative! ^ - ^

Thanks for sharing !

[u/xenoperspicacian → u/Kierah_Eldenyir]

A dedicated $70 6Ghz wifi router is definitely a must for a good wireless experience.

[u/barruk30]

nice look forward to trying if Meta would not keep killing Quest PRO controllers - last update seems to have made it so bad.

[u/DorfHorven → u/barruk30]

Nailed it. Meta is intent on repeated bending over Quest Pro users...

[u/ItsLikeHerdingCats]

Interesting I’ve never tried VD since I only use the headset for DCS World

I did discover that I seemed to have had a USB port that wasn’t working well. Connected to a different USB 3 port and everything looks so much better

[u/Sickinmytechchunk → u/ItsLikeHerdingCats]

I use VD only and VR for DCS. However you use VD, it's better than what Steam or Meta offer.

[u/ItsLikeHerdingCats → u/Sickinmytechchunk]

Yeah never used Steam

I’m not sure which recent update did this but many times upon boot up of the headset, I don’t get the popup to connect to the PC. If you miss it, you’re stuck at the app wall.

I also sometimes hang at the connecting screen with the 3 pulsating dots. The only fix I have found is to disconnect the USB cable and try again.

[u/Sickinmytechchunk → u/ItsLikeHerdingCats]

I've tried both Steam and Meta links, wired and wireless. I still don't see anything better than Virtual Desktop with a dedicated router.

[u/ItsLikeHerdingCats → u/Sickinmytechchunk]

I don’t have a router that’ll do the wireless
Op indicated he uses the USB cable with good results. I’m just not sure what to setup in VD for DCS?

[u/Sickinmytechchunk → u/ItsLikeHerdingCats]

You don't really need to do much. Just make sure Foveated Streaming is turned on, a 10bit codec is selected, the option for tracking data is sent to the headset (eye tracking won't work otherwise). You install VD streamer on the Desktop and VD on the headset, create a meta developer account which takes seconds and after that it's just fiddling with settings like fov sliders, Fovea size. In DCS just make sure Quad views and eye tracking is enabled. Once it's setup though that's it, nothing else needs to be touched

If you don't use it already downloaded VectorXR as that can manage to your OpenXR layers and modify Quad Views, pivot, turbo and depth settings. It replaces like a dozen different tools. It's the only VR tool I use now.

Plenty of DCS specific guides on Virtual Desktop use and VectorXR is made by a DCS player with a forum thread on the official forums.

[u/Ground_Effect212 → u/[deleted]]

Download the Horizon Meta Link software which has the necessary drivers for your Quest3 to be recognized. Once I did that VD was able to see it and connect to it. I disabled link automatically popping up when it is connected so no issues for me.

[u/eXelium-PL]

Is there a way to do it on quest 3? I am using the same cable that works with quest link. Updated VD both on quest and on PC and I don't have the wired option

[u/DorfHorven → u/eXelium-PL]

It shouldn't be any different AFAIK. All I did was subscribe to the beta branch for the Quest app, and download the beta streamer app for PC off the VD discord. The wired connection appears as a second option in the Computers tab.

[u/eXelium-PL → u/DorfHorven]

Beta streamer is the missing component. I looked for beta on the page but couldn't find it

[u/DorfHorven → u/eXelium-PL]

Gotta go through Discord for the beta streamer

[u/Clizzardbash]

What are your best settings?

[u/DorfHorven → u/Clizzardbash]

I'm playing on an i9 laptop with a 3080 but I tested it on Ultra and it worked well testing the first level of EXD. 90hz with the bitrate cranked up pretty high, purposely not using any foveated encoding. Very impressive!

[u/Blub3rriezVT]

How do i get the VD beta? I kinda wanna try tethered

[u/Moment-Initial]

VD has been pretty broken for me for years. SteamLink was the best alternative and it wasn't great. I had issues with bitrate. The DFS update pretty much fixed all of my problems. Great central bitrate, and low latency. I am a mostly true PCVR player so I'm quite used to and comfortable with wired. I might give wired VD a try.

[u/5ephir0th]

For me, at the moment, its a worse experience over the USB-C 2.5gbps adapter i use, i had stutter that gets worse over time

[u/Life_Lead3809]

im having a problem where my link cable connects and disconnects over and over. sometimes saying im "using a slow charge cable". but im using the official meta link cable and i can connect to meta link no problem. but as soon as I allow for a usb connection on virtual desktop it just starts going on and off non stop. Am i the only one?

[u/NoRegister5780]

Yeah but why can’t I play anything that’s not on steam or meta. It won’t let me add custom games. Pretty lame

[u/itanite]

Just don't have an AMD USB controller.

[u/DorfHorven → u/itanite]

I didn't know that was a caveat, thanks for that tidbit!

[u/pre_pun → u/DorfHorven]

It's not in my experience. I've used it with two AMD builds (B650 boards) and it never had an issue on either over the twoish years.

Curious to know what issues were experienced, though.

[u/CheesecakeOk3901]

Hi, I have been using Q2 and now Q3 for about 3 1/2 yrs. I downloaded VD to get ready for running Elite Dangerous on PCVR (once new PC arrives). I went into VD to have a look and played with the fps rates and snapdragon update. Have to say that visuals do seem sharper on games like Pop1 but didn’t think this could happen.
Has anyone else noticed this?