Alright, VR newbies and seasoned pros alike, if you’re here, you’re probably itching to experience the latest AAA VR games. Whether it’s dancing in a VR Chat nightclub or playing a cursed feet-only Beatsaber mod, high-quality tracking is actually pretty cool. In this guide, we’re cutting through all the nonsense and explaining how to set up HTC Vive base stations.
Define Your VR Play Space
I know you’ve read this a thousand times and hear it when you turn your VR headset on, but hear me out! For lighthouse tracking to work correctly you need to have a space you’ll use to game every time. You’ll want a space that’s at least 2m x 1.5m, ideally with some kind of marker you can feel whilst in VR (Pro Tip: Rugs are great for this). You’ll also want to clear away anything you might bump into or smash while in VR… No one needs a repeat of the Wii remote going into the TV.
Location Location Location
For mounting, make sure to plan out any cable routes beforehand so everything can reach your PC. There are generally two main factors you’ll need to ensure you fulfil for the best experience.
- Mount High: Place the two base stations at opposite corners of your play space, about 2 meters off the ground. The higher they are, the better they can cover your play area.
- Angle Towards the Centre: Tilt each base station down at a 30-45-degree angle, aiming towards the centre of your play area. This ensures that they can track your VR headset and controllers without any blind spots.
Secure Your Base Stations
Before all your base are belong to me, you’re going to want to choose just how permanent you want this installation to be. If you rent and don’t want to pay huge damage repair costs when you move out or just don’t fancy scuffing up your walls, don’t panic as you don’t need to mount VR base stations to your wall.
- Use Tripods: If you don’t want to drill into your walls, tripods are a great option. Simply mount your base stations on top of the tripods, adjusting the height and angle as needed.
- Wall Mounts: For a more permanent solution, use the wall mounts included with your HTC Vive. Make sure the mounts are stable, as base stations need to remain still for optimal tracking.
Power On and Sync
Finally, the home stretch! Once your base stations are in place, plug them in and power them on. The HTC Vive base stations should automatically sync with each other when properly placed. However, you may want to use the included sync cable for enhanced tracking or if you encounter any issues.
Calibration
After mounting the base stations, it’s time to calibrate your VR headset and controllers:
- Open the SteamVR app and follow the on-screen prompts to calibrate your system.
- Walk around the play space with your VR headset on to ensure the base stations track your movements smoothly.
- Test your controllers by moving them around the space. They should track fluidly with no stuttering or delays.
Ready To Game?
Whether you’re a full-body tracking god or a stationary VR gamer, Overclockers UK has your back with a huge range of VR gaming PCs, Headsets, and more!
HTC VIVE PRO 2 Full Kit – HD VR Headset, Controllers, Base Stations
- Explore VR content in brilliant clarity and bring out the finer details with a combined 4896 x 2448 resolution.
- 120° horizontal field of view (FOV) expands your visual experience and better aligns with the human eye, letting you see more naturally.
- Stay in the moment with precision SteamVR™ Tracking that provides 360-degree coverage of your movement to the millimeter.
HTC VIVE XR Elite All-in-one XR and PC-VR Gaming System
- Convertible form factor. Detach the battery cradle for enhanced portability.
- Vivid passthrough. Blend physical and virtual worlds. Expand play. New possibilities.
- Lightweight XR. A sleek, compact headset that goes where you go.
- Finely tuned viewing. Adjustable IPD and diopter dials for the most natural and clearest visual experience.
At Overclockers UK, we have our exciting range of pre-built PCs – Refract Gaming – and they have been updated with shiny new tech!
OcUK Gaming Empath – AMD Ryzen 7 7700X, RTX 4070 Gaming PC
- AMD Ryzen 7 7700X Eight Core Processor with 5.4GHz Boost
- 32B DDR5 5600MHz Dual Channel Kit
- Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 12GB Graphics Card
- 2.5Gb LAN, WIFI 6 & Bluetooth
- Ideal For VR Gaming
OcUK Gaming Rapier – AMD Ryzen 5 7600, GeForce RTX 4070 Super Gaming PC
- AMD Ryzen 5 7600 3.8GHz (up to 5.1GHz Boost) Six Core Processor
- 240mm AIO Liquid Cooler
- 32GB DDR5 5600MHz Dual Channel Kit
- Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 Super 12GB Graphics Card
Do you use Base stations?
We’ve come a long way since the OG days of early Oculus and Steam Index VR headsets, with Meta, Pico, and more not requiring base stations to track you. Do you still use VR base stations? Let us know in the comments.
- 5 min read
Robert Mullane
Author
When not working, you'll find me in VR or losing in bottom-tier Valorant matches. I write about all topic's tech and gaming with a particular focus on representation in gaming, virtual reality, and LGBTQ+ themes. If you're still not fed up with me, you can also catch me over on the Overclockers UK TikTok and YouTube accounts.
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