This is confusing. HTC Vive cannot work with v2.0 lighthouses, because they are not compatible, neither could be said lighthouses configured as “B” and “C” as v2.0 lighthouses use “channels” (and corresponding channel numbers).
So I assume that you have v1.0 lighthouses (from HTC Vive set).
This is not correct. Bluetooth is used only to control the power management (powering the lighthouses on or off remotely), but does not impact tracking. The reason why Bluetooth does not work with Pimax is that the only Bluetooth device supported by SteamVR is the one built in a link-box of Vive (or Vive Pro). Pimax does not have compatible BT device and is not supported. Trying other BT adapters will not help either.
Since Vive tracks ok, the LHs are ok. The problem is in Pimax tracking. Have you tried deleting the lighthouse database?
I did delete the base station files from C:\ProgramData\pimax\runtime\config\lighthouse.
No effect.
I still need Bluetooth to work since I don’t want the base stations to remain on all the time.
Please explain how Pitool, or SteamVR, would detect the base stations without any communication between them. That part is a bit obscure to me.
Bluetooth is used just to remote power off the stations (which you CANNOT do with pimax - pretty annoying but Im used to it by now coming from a vive). They are purely passive, they emit IR into the room, the headset sensors (and controller sensors) receive the IR and, along with gyro data, this is used to triangulate the headset’s and controllers position. I haven’t spent the time to understand this fully but I’d imagine the voltage reading of each sensor on the HMD can be used to calculate the angle and distance of the incoming IR beams.
There are posts about mods people have made to remote power off the stations, but I don’t know much about that.
I’ve had the same issues as you’re having… very frustrating and I’m sorry for you. When i first got the HMD it took me an hour to get it to track. Now this only happens to me if I update pitool, and restarting my computer fixes it every time. I’ll keep thinking about it and see if there’s anything I did specifically to sort this out.
Thanks Thall. That clears up my misunderstanding of this technology.
I find it strange though that some users here on the forums claim that their LH wasn’t detected until they hooked up the Vive’s link box.
Never mind. Your explanation makes sense to me.
I filed a ticket with support. If anyone should be able to debug this issue it’s them.
Some versions of PiTool/drivers have more trouble initiating tracking than others. I used to have a lot of trouble with this, ~4-6 months ago, so Pimax has made software improvements.
Have you tried the following procedures? One or the other has always succeeded for me.
Try hiding the headset completely away from the basestation(s). I hide mine under my desk. Wait a few seconds, then hold the headset ~2 m from the basestation.
Try holding the headset ~0.5 m from a basestation and slowly moving it further away (watching the monitor to see if PiTool connects). Turn the headset left and right (so that each top front corner faces towards the basestation. Do this until you get to 3 m or have to stop due to a wall or furniture. Move it closer again. You might need to repeat the procedure a few times. Eventually, you may be able to locate the headset’s “happy spot” and you can just hold the headset there and rotate it a bit left and right to initiate tracking with a minimum of effort.
Also make sure there aren’t any shiny surfaces (glass, mirrors, metal, etc.) which might cause interference with the infrared light beams from the basestations.
Thanks, I suppose that’s what people call the Pimax dance. I’ve tried it.
The ideal spot for my headset is at equal distance from each base station (1.8m) because that’s the only place in the room where you can actually stand. My home is tiny.
Have you tried plugging your headset into different USB ports on your PC?
Sometimes, this issue can be triggered by USB problems. In particular, some brands of motherboards don’t have very good USB ports. (They can exhibit electrical noise, power limitations, sharing issues with other devices, etc.)
If that doesn’t help, I hope Support can diagnose and fix your connection problem.
Yes I did that too.
Full disclosure, I’ve spent every evening of the past week including the weekend reading the forums and trying out every possible trick because my kids are harassing me.
My computer is brand new, bought it 3 months ago, mobo is a Aorus X570 Master, has some of the best VRMs on the market, all drivers are up to date, all 12 USB ports work like a charm and no warnings in Windows’ device manager.
The Pimax is the only newer element in the equation.
Last weekend my neighbor brought his Oculus Rift, we plugged it in, set up the sensors right next to my Vive base stations, set up the software and everything worked on the first try. Now that 2 different HMDs work seamlessly on my PC I think it’s safe to assume the problem is not my computer or my room setup.
Yesterday while I was at work I received a message from tech support in the middle of the afternoon to ask me to allow them to remote debug the issue. Too bad I wasn’t WFH. Will have to make an appointment for next week.
This is a long shot, but I can only get My 5K+ 204 to see the LH by running Pitool, then after a minuet or two, press and hold the power button on the HMD untill it turns off, wait about 20-30 second and then press the power button again, but dont hold it down, move back from My LH about 2-3m and rotate the HMD showing the LH`s each side of the HMD, it some time takes a wile.
Hello, I feel your pain I’m exactly in the same situation like you. I’m been dealing with this before the Chinese new year and still no FIX! I’m in contact with tech support and again is very difficult since they are 15 hours ahead of me. I hope Pimax have soon a better way of handling this site of their business.
I just finished the online session with support… and I’m floored. I have no idea what they did. We just turned everything on and it worked. It didn’t work flawlessly but in the end it worked: my base stations and my controllers are detected and operational. I can’t F*** believe it.
I’ll try again later in the evening to see if it still works.
I played 5 songs on Beat Saber and there things are not so glorious:
the headset blacks out randomly when my hand/arm/controller comes near one of the sides of the HMD, and by the time it recovers of course I failed the game.
when the 2 controller come closer together one of the two stops tracking. It’s hard to reproduce on purpose but it happens often while playing Beat Saber.
Well, my wife and kids are going to be very disappointed. Getting a better fov and clarity in Beat Saber was one of the reasons for us to upgrade from the Vive, but if tracking is so flaky it breaks the deal.
The last issue, but that’s really not for this thread, is the total lack of comfort.
Now I’m on the fence. Selling this unit on eBay right away, or waiting for the new delux headstrap people are raving about and giving Pimax a chance to fix the tracking stability issue with time.
I need some time to think it over. Meanwhile the HMD goes back in the box.
I’m surprised to hear you’re having tracking issues. Unless I completely cover the headset I do not experience ‘gray outs’. I will say, I have found it a little bit less stable if a single sensor is covered than the vive but nothing i notice in BS or other games.
I did have single controller drop outs, unrelated to tracking however… it was a USB power problem remedied by using a powered usb hub. Comfort wise yeah, the headset is not great. it’s light as a feather, but it hurts the top of my head badly after 30 mins to an hour.
I have since installed the vive DAS on my pimax using 3d printed adapters and I find it to be just as comftorable as the vive if not more comfortable actually - but this is an investment of time and $. I hope your experience with the headset improves!
There’s definitely something wrong with your headset or the way you’ve positioned the basestations. When a Pimax headset loses tracking the screens should go gray, not black though.
I’m thinking could this be a cable or a USB problem.
My headset lately has been flaky, and has trouble connecting. If I press the cable back in the headset very firmly, I can alleviate this. Maybe this could help you too.
