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EthanTX
New Participant
December 22, 2023
Solved

VR should be fun, not frustrating - Steam VR PC Link problem

I am trying to build my VR (Quest 2) library by adding Steam VR games. Unfortunately, these games require a USB cable or 'air link' to run. I prefer the cable, so I bought a good quality - active - USB 3.x cable to connect my Quest 2 to my Windows 11 PC.

Normally my procedure for playing a 'tethered' VR game on my quest 2 is this:

1. Plug the cable into my PC's USB 3.2 port and to the Quest 2.

1a) Power up the Quest 2 and wait it to boot up.
2. Start the Oculus app on the Windows 11 PC. Check that it recognized the Quest 2 headset

3. Start Steam. Select the VR game I want to play, then hit Play.

4. Put on Quest 2 headset.

I see the game starting, but somewhere during game play, everything goes blank and I get the message 'pc disconnected'.

So the first thing I did was to place the velcro cable management strap over the Quest 2 band so that it keeps the USB C cable in place. The connection feels good, and wiggling it during game play (when PC link is working) does not disconnect.

The spontaneous disconnect appears to be a software/firmware glitch, and not a connector issue.

It has occurred in multiple Steam VR games.

I tried a Google search, and saw something about an alternate connection driver, but I wasn't in the mood to fiddle with the PC - I just wanted to enjoy some VR!

Is there an alternate to Oculus Windows app when playing Steam VR games on the Quest 2?

Thanks for your help

Ethan_TX

    EthanTXAnswer
    New Participant
    December 26, 2023

    I am using Steam Link now, and so far it is working. Since all of my PCVR games are on Steam, Steam Link seems to be my best option. Since it's WiFi, I don't need the tethering cable, which is nice.

    The link cable I purchased is the Kiwi 16ft with signal amplifier. I had good luck with the cable when I first bought it, but it was only recently that I started having trouble.

    Honestly, I prefer the wireless link that Steam Link offers, so, until I start playing non-Steam VR games on my Quest 2, I will stick with Steam Link.

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    7 replies

    MetaStoreHelp
    MetaStoreHelp
    Community Manager
    December 24, 2023

    Hey Ethan_TX! We understand you are having an issue linking your PC to your Quest 2. We know issues like this are not ideal, and you deserve to experience VR the right way with no issues. We would love to take a look to see what we can do to help you resolve this issue so you can get back to PCVR. We have a few questions to ask in order to understand how to resolve the issue.

     

    1. Is the USB 3.2 cable a linking cable or is it a charging cable? (We recommend using the linking cable available on the Meta Store website to get the best experience with PCVR.)

    2. What other troubleshooting steps have you attempted to resolve this issue?

    3. Did this issue start when you purchased the new USB cable?

    4, Have you checked the Requirements to use Meta Quest Link?

     

    We looking forward to your response.

    If you're the author of a thread, remember to mark a reply as the Accepted Solution to help others find answers!
    kojack
    kojack
    Honored Contributor
    December 24, 2023

    I've had issues with cables connecting/disconnecting because they were only borderline compatible, the signal just wasn't reliable. But better quality cables worked consistently.

     

    As for alternatives:

    - Link: usb cable, can access all of Rift and SteamVR libraries. Uses the Oculus Desktop App.

    - Airlink : wifi only, can access all of Rift and SteamVR libraries. Uses the Oculus Desktop App.

    - Virtual Desktop : wifi only, can access all of Rift and SteamVR libraries. Costs money to buy.

    - SteamLink : wifi only, can access SteamVR only.

    If you want cable based Quest PCVR, there's no real alternative to Link.

    Author: Oculus Monitor , Auto Oculus Touch , Forum Dark Mode , Phantom Touch Remover , X-Plane Fixer Hardware: Threadripper 1950x, MSI Gaming Trio 2080TI, Asrock X399 Taich Headsets: Wrap 1200VR, DK1, DK2, CV1, Rift-S, GearVR, Go, Quest, Quest 2, Reverb G2, Quest 3
    MetaStoreHelp
    MetaStoreHelp
    Community Manager
    December 25, 2023

    Hey again, Ethan_TX! We hope you're having a good day so far. We just wanted to check in with you and see if you were still having issues with the Steam VR PC Link problem. If you still need any assistance, please don't hesitate to get back to us so we can continue working towards a resolution with you! Have a phenomenal day!

    If you're the author of a thread, remember to mark a reply as the Accepted Solution to help others find answers!
    EthanTXAuthorAnswer
    New Participant
    December 26, 2023

    I am using Steam Link now, and so far it is working. Since all of my PCVR games are on Steam, Steam Link seems to be my best option. Since it's WiFi, I don't need the tethering cable, which is nice.

    The link cable I purchased is the Kiwi 16ft with signal amplifier. I had good luck with the cable when I first bought it, but it was only recently that I started having trouble.

    Honestly, I prefer the wireless link that Steam Link offers, so, until I start playing non-Steam VR games on my Quest 2, I will stick with Steam Link.

    MetaStoreHelp
    MetaStoreHelp
    Community Manager
    December 26, 2023

    Awesome Ethan_TX! We are so glad you got it all figured out. Please don't hesitate to reach back out to us if you have any further questions or concerns. We are always here to help!

    If you're the author of a thread, remember to mark a reply as the Accepted Solution to help others find answers!
    EthanTXAuthor
    New Participant
    December 28, 2023

    Interesting note on the cable connectivity:

    This afternoon I decided to try adjusting the resolution using SideQuest, and needed to connect my USB cable from the PC to the Quest 2.
    I used the same active cable I was using the other day when I had trouble, but today I had no issues.

    I'm wondering whether I might have accidentally hit one of the controller buttons while moving around. I'm not sure if doing that would have disconnected the Quest Link or not.

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