HTC Vive Wireless Adapter
| HTC Vive Wireless Adapter | |
|---|---|
| Basic Info | |
| VR/AR | Virtual Reality |
| Type | VR Accessory |
| Subtype | Wireless video adapter |
| Platform | SteamVR |
| Creator | HTC |
| Developer | HTC, Intel, DisplayLink |
| Manufacturer | HTC |
| Announcement Date | January 8, 2018 (CES 2018) |
| Release Date | September 24, 2018 |
| Price | $300 USD (Vive); +$60 Vive Pro compatibility pack |
| Website | https://www.vive.com/us/accessory/wireless-adapter-full-pack/ |
| Versions | Vive/Vive Pro adapter; Full Pack (Pro/Pro Eye/Cosmos) |
| Requires | Compatible PC with free PCIe slot; HTC Vive, Vive Pro or Vive Cosmos; QuickCharge battery pack |
| Predecessor | None |
| Successor | None |
| System | |
| Operating System | Windows 10 (64-bit) |
| Chipset | Intel 802.11ad WiGig |
| Storage | |
| Display | |
| Display | N/A (accessory) |
| Resolution | N/A |
| Refresh Rate | N/A |
| Image | |
| Field of View | N/A |
| Horizontal FoV | N/A |
| Vertical FoV | N/A |
| Optics | |
| Optics | N/A |
| Ocularity | N/A |
| IPD Range | N/A |
| Adjustable Diopter | N/A |
| Passthrough | N/A |
| Tracking | |
| Tracking | N/A (uses host headset tracking) |
| Base Stations | N/A |
| Eye Tracking | N/A |
| Face Tracking | N/A |
| Hand Tracking | N/A |
| Body Tracking | N/A |
| Audio | |
| Audio | Passes through headset audio |
| Microphone | Passes through headset microphone |
| Camera | N/A |
| Connectivity | |
| Connectivity | 60 GHz WiGig wireless link (PC to headset) |
| Ports | PCIe x1 WiGig card (PC side); USB power input (headset side) |
| WiFi | Intel WiGig (802.11ad), 60 GHz band |
| Bluetooth | N/A |
| Power | External QuickCharge 3.0 battery pack |
| Battery Life | Approximately 2 to 2.5 hours |
| Charge Time | Several hours (QuickCharge 3.0) |
| Device | |
| Material | Plastic housing |
| Headstrap | N/A |
| Haptics | N/A |
| Color | Black |
| Input | N/A |
| Compliance | SteamVR / Vive compatible |
The HTC Vive Wireless Adapter (also styled VIVE Wireless Adapter) is a virtual reality accessory developed by HTC that removes the tether between a PC and a compatible Vive headset, allowing the headset to receive video, audio, and data over a short-range wireless link. It was first shown at CES 2018 and went on sale on September 24, 2018 at a price of $300 (EUR345 / GBP300).[1][2] The adapter is the product of a collaboration between HTC, Intel, and DisplayLink: it streams the headset feed using Intel's 802.11ad WiGig technology over the 60 GHz band together with DisplayLink's XR compression codec, which together were designed to deliver high bandwidth at low latency.[3][1] The base adapter was designed to work with both the original HTC Vive and the Vive Pro, with a separate compatibility pack required for the Pro, and support for the Vive Cosmos was added in 2019.[1][4]
History and development
HTC first publicly demonstrated the Vive Wireless Adapter at CES 2018 in January 2018, alongside the announcement of the Vive Pro headset.[3][5] The device built on earlier wireless VR prototypes that Intel and DisplayLink had shown in 2017, and HTC positioned it as a first-party alternative to third-party wireless kits such as the TPCAST adapter.[5] At launch the company committed to supporting both the original Vive and the new Vive Pro, and HTC originally targeted a Q3 2018 release window.[3][5]
After several months of development the adapter reached retail on September 24, 2018, with pre-orders having opened on September 5, 2018.[1][2] HTC sold the unit at $300 for use with the original Vive, and Vive Pro owners needed an additional compatibility pack priced at $60 (EUR75 / GBP65) that added a Pro-specific connection cable, foam padding, and a mounting attachment.[1][2] Early buyers were also offered a two-month trial of the Viveport subscription service.[1]
In November 2019 HTC extended wireless support to the Vive Cosmos. Because the Cosmos draws slightly more power than earlier Vive headsets, it required a dedicated Cosmos Compatibility Pack containing a 21 W power bank, a connection cable, and mounting pads. The pack was sold for $49 on its own, or bundled with the adapter for $350; the combined product was later marketed as the VIVE Wireless Adapter "Full Pack" covering the Vive Pro, Vive Pro Eye, and Vive Cosmos series.[4][6]
Technology
The Vive Wireless Adapter transmits the full headset signal (video, audio, and tracking data) over a wireless link rather than the standard tether. The link uses Intel's 802.11ad WiGig standard operating in the 60 GHz band, which provides a large, interference-resistant block of spectrum, paired with DisplayLink's XR codec for video compression.[3][1] HTC and DisplayLink stated at CES 2018 that the combination could stream high-quality visuals with less than 7 milliseconds of latency.[3]
Because 60 GHz signals do not pass through walls or solid objects well, the system relies on a direct line of sight between the headset-mounted antenna and a transmitter or sensor placed in the room.[2][5] HTC quoted a broadcast range of up to six meters and a 150 degree field of view from the sensor, supporting a play space of up to roughly 6 m by 6 m (20 ft by 20 ft).[1][2] In a CES 2018 hands-on, Road to VR found the connection robust, reporting that the link did not stutter during about 20 minutes of play and only dropped when the antennas and transmitter were deliberately blocked at the same time; the same hands-on, however, noted perceptible latency compared with a tethered headset, which the reviewer suspected was a trade-off made to improve connection robustness in the demo unit.[5]
Hardware and design
The adapter ships as a multi-part kit. On the PC side it includes a WiGig expansion card that installs into an internal PCIe slot (a PCIe x1 interface), to which an external wireless sensor or transmitter connects by a single cable.[6][2] On the headset side, a T-shaped wireless module attaches to the top of the headset and receives the signal.[7]
The headset module itself contains no internal battery. Instead it is powered by an external QuickCharge 3.0 battery pack that the user typically clips to a belt or pocket and connects to the headset module by cable.[1][7] Reported runtime varies by source and by battery pack: reviewers measured roughly two hours of play with the bundled pack, while HTC's own 21 W power bank (9,750 mAh) was quoted at up to about 2.5 hours.[7][6] The dependence on a removable, swappable battery means runtime can be extended by carrying spare packs.
System requirements and compatibility
The Vive Wireless Adapter requires a desktop PC because its WiGig card must be installed into an internal PCIe slot; this makes it incompatible with gaming laptops, which generally cannot accept such cards.[7][2] The software runs on 64-bit Windows 10.[7] HTC and reviewers also noted that the adapter works best on Intel-based systems, and HTC documented compatibility problems with certain AMD AM4 and TR4 socket motherboards, at one point advising affected users to wait before buying. The issue was prominent enough that Tom's Hardware titled its review "No Tether, No AMD."[8]
The following table summarizes the supported headsets and the parts needed for each.
| Headset | Wireless support | Additional pack required |
|---|---|---|
| HTC Vive (original) | Yes | None (base adapter) |
| Vive Pro / Vive Pro Eye | Yes | Vive Pro compatibility pack (cable, padding, attachment) |
| Vive Cosmos series | Yes (from November 2019) | Cosmos Compatibility Pack (21 W power bank, cable, mounting pads) |
Pricing
| Configuration | Price (at launch) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Vive Wireless Adapter (for original Vive) | $300 / EUR345 / GBP300 | Announced August 21, 2018; on sale September 24, 2018 |
| Vive Pro compatibility pack | +$60 / EUR75 / GBP65 | Adds Pro cable, foam padding, attachment |
| Cosmos Compatibility Pack | $49 (standalone) | 21 W power bank, cable, mounting pads |
| Adapter + Cosmos pack bundle | $350 | Available November 6, 2019 |
Reception
Reviewers generally regarded the Vive Wireless Adapter as a genuine quality-of-life upgrade that delivered on the promise of untethered room-scale virtual reality, while criticizing its high price, setup complexity, and platform restrictions.[7][8] Pocket-lint described it as "an impressive bit of kit" that provided a "superb experience" and praised its near-zero perceived latency in normal use, but it scored the product 3.5 out of 5, citing the cost, the limited battery capacity, and the involved installation.[7] Tom's Hardware similarly recommended the adapter mainly to owners of Intel-based desktops, warning that the internal PCIe card made it unusable with laptops and that AMD systems could run into compatibility trouble.[8] A recurring theme across reviews was that the freedom of wireless play came at the expense of a more complicated, more expensive setup than a simple plug-in accessory.[7][8]
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 "HTC VIVE Cuts The Cable With Debut Of Vive Wireless Adapter". August 21, 2018. https://www.vive.com/us/newsroom/2018-08-21/.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 "Vive Wireless Adapter Priced at $300, Launches September 24th". August 21, 2018. https://www.roadtovr.com/htc-vive-wireless-adapter-release-date-price/.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 "DisplayLink Enables Vive Wireless Adaptor From HTC at CES 2018". January 8, 2018. https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180108006936/en/DisplayLink-Enables-Vive-Wireless-Adaptor-HTC-CES.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Vive Cosmos Wireless Adapter And Compatibility Pack Now Available For $350". November 6, 2019. https://www.uploadvr.com/cosmos-wireless-available/.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 "Hands-on: Vive Wireless Adapter Debuts With Robust Connection but Latency Too". January 2018. https://www.roadtovr.com/ces-2018-vive-wireless-adapter-hands-on-robust-connection-latency-too/.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 "VIVE Wireless Adapter". https://www.vive.com/us/accessory/wireless-adapter-full-pack/.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 7.6 7.7 "HTC Vive Wireless Adapter review: Wireless VR dream or overpriced nightmare?". 2018. https://www.pocket-lint.com/ar-vr/reviews/htc/145456-htc-vive-wireless-adapter-review/.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 "HTC Vive Wireless Adapter Review: No Tether, No AMD". 2018. https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/htc-vive-wireless-adapter,5857.html.