Varjo Aero advice

[WIS-Redcoat]

My Varjo Aero just arrived!  Does anyone know if there has been any specific advice or guidance given with setting this up for use with il2?  I know DCS requires some adjustments.

 

Thanks

[dburne]

Are you in the states? Mine is still in clearance delay hell.

[SCG_motoadve]

40 minutes ago, WIS-Redcoat said:

My Varjo Aero just arrived!  Does anyone know if there has been any specific advice or guidance given with setting this up for use with il2?  I know DCS requires some adjustments.

 

Thanks

I would ask in the Varjo Discord, you must be one of the first who will use it in IL2 though.

Let us know ?

 https://discord.com/channels/839478779256897546/852037268264058902

[Drum]

Redcoat....  Your silence is killing us!   <G>

[chiliwili69]

look this:

 

Also, the Varjo software has several PixelPerDegree modes as explained in their page:

 

https://varjo.com/use-center/get-to-know-your-headset/getting-the-perfect-image-quality/

 

For the Aero with IL-2 it will use OpenVR , so the modes are:

 

 

I don´t know what graphic card you have but you can try different modes (and leave SteamVR SS% at just 100%). To see performance vs quality.

 

 

 

[WIS-Redcoat]

So, I got it set up and going.  I did a quick mission and took off, flew around the field.  Here are my quick initial thoughts as a former G2 driver.

 

My bottom line is that this is a next level headset.

 

1.  It worked perfectly in il2 without a single issue.  I didn't expect this and nothing more to say here.

 

2. Frame rates were fantastic and the FOV seemed larger (actually much larger).  I think this is because the clarity might give better presence.  

 

3. I noticed things in the cockpit that I have never noticed before.  For example I went up in the 109 F-4  and the first time I fired the guns, the counters startled me with the spinning.  I swear it almost looks as good as a monitor.

 

4. The distortion was indeed there.  When I first launched the headset I was worried about it but once in the actual game I never noticed it.

 

5. Its very comfortable but complicated to wear correctly.  I am convinced it will be perfect once I master all the sizing configurations.  Its not as easy as it sounds because there are a lot of variables and its hard to tell if it’s a good until you wear it a bit.  You will see.

 

6. Software was very nice and easy to use.  I will not miss WMR. 

 

Yes, it's very expensive and you need base stations (which I didn't mind because my G2 was giving me some tracking fits) but if flight sim's are your passion and you can afford it... this is the future.

 

P.S.  I don't know how to turn it off yet... ?  

 

12 hours ago, dburne said:

Are you in the states? Mine is still in clearance delay hell.

 Yep, showed up early this morning and no issue with the reported customs thing.  All good here.

Edited January 25, 2022 by WIS-Redcoat

[Charlo-VRde]

@WIS-Redcoat this is very intriguing! 

 

Do you use VRNecksafer? (https://forum.il2sturmovik.com/topic/67985-simple-tool-to-check-your-six/ ) Can you get it to work with the Aero? Lots of us VR flyers use VRNecksafer and are eager for any Aero owners to tell us if they work together.

 

(I've seen a mention in the Varjo Discord that VRNeckSafer doesn’t work yet with the Aero, though I would expect it to since it ties into SteamVR.)

 

I'm also waiting for WidmoVR or VROptician to start making lens inserts compatible with the Aero (VROptician says something like "Coming Soon").

[WIS-Redcoat]

47 minutes ago, Charlo-VR said:

@WIS-Redcoat this is very intriguing! 

 

Do you use VRNecksafer? (https://forum.il2sturmovik.com/topic/67985-simple-tool-to-check-your-six/ ) Can you get it to work with the Aero? Lots of us VR flyers use VRNecksafer and are eager for any Aero owners to tell us if they work together.

 

(I've seen a mention in the Varjo Discord that VRNeckSafer doesn’t work yet with the Aero, though I would expect it to since it ties into SteamVR.)

 

I'm also waiting for WidmoVR or VROptician to start making lens inserts compatible with the Aero (VROptician says something like "Coming Soon").

I do not.  

[LoneStar]

@WIS-Redcoat

 

Congratulations on your new Varjo Aero!

 

What are your system specs?

[WIS-Redcoat]

1 minute ago, OCA_LoneStar said:

@WIS-Redcoat

 

Congratulations on your new Varjo Aero!

 

What are your system specs?

Brand new computer.  3090 with an intel 12900k.

 

For the Aero I had everything on ultra and it flew like a champ.

Edited January 25, 2022 by WIS-Redcoat

[Drum]

Thanks for your first thoughts, Redcoat.  The fact that it just works out of the box (so to speak) without any problems is very telling, it's looking like a good buy to me.

[WIS-Redcoat]

If I had one early complaint it’s that you cannot lift the headset up (to look at the keyboard etc) without it cycling some sort of short calibration.  Perhaps it’s indicative of the active lenses but it is annoying while in flight.

[chiliwili69]

8 hours ago, WIS-Redcoat said:

the FOV seemed larger (actually much larger).  I think this is because the clarity might give better presence.

 

This is interesting. Acording to some early reviews the FOV was not great. A bit below than G2 specially in the vertical.

 

I think you also had a Index, how the FOV compares to the Index?

 

Congrats and thanks for your review. It is great that it works flawlessly at first shot with IL-2.

[NiiranenVR]

As i understand you really mean it's a big step up the scale in VR Sims 

 

I started with the Oculus  cv1 and its was great ( I have never played on a flat screen ) , but its was difficult to spot plane and Id them .... Then I got the Reverb G1 and it was really a great big step up .... It was woooow ... ?. - then next I got is the G2 ..... It's better but ....meeeh

 

How the aero about spotting and Id  ... And the clarity outside the cockpit ?? 

[Freycinet]

Hej med dig i Aarhus, dit engelske er fint nok!  ?

[dburne]

11 hours ago, WIS-Redcoat said:

 

 

 Yep, showed up early this morning and no issue with the reported customs thing.  All good here.

 

Congrats! You got very lucky, mine still stuck in Customs.

Sounds very exciting!!

[NiiranenVR]

1 hour ago, Freycinet said:

engelske er fint nok!

Mange tak - herinde tænker jeg også før jeg skriver ?

Du er måske fra samme landsdel ?? 

 

[firdimigdi]

13 hours ago, WIS-Redcoat said:

the FOV seemed larger (actually much larger).  I think this is because the clarity might give better presence

 

Practically it is if you can see clearly out of the edge of your eyes then the actual usable FOV drastically increases. One of the reasons I use VRNS any more is not so much because I can't look behind me IRL but that IRL I also look out of the corner of my eyes which with the G2 is just not 100% clear.

 

Enjoy! Looking forward to reading more about it if you have time after you've had a good go.

[WIS-Redcoat]

9 hours ago, chiliwili69 said:

 

This is interesting. Acording to some early reviews the FOV was not great. A bit below than G2 specially in the vertical.

 

I think you also had a Index, how the FOV compares to the Index?

 

Congrats and thanks for your review. It is great that it works flawlessly at first shot with IL-2.

I use VR almost entirely for flight sims.  My headset life cycle  was:

Oculus Rift, Vive Pro, Odyssey Pro, Pimax (for one day), Index, G2, Aero.

 

I haven't used the index in well over a year, so I have somewhat forgotten what that felt like.  I can say that while it technically has a smaller FOV compared to the  G2 I absolutely don't get that feeling when wearing it.

 

Viewing things at distance are much better than anything else I have ever used.  We have come a long way since the oculus rift.  I almost wish I still had my original headset to see how far we have come.

 

 

[dburne]

2 hours ago, WIS-Redcoat said:

I use VR almost entirely for flight sims.  My headset life cycle  was:

Oculus Rift, Vive Pro, Odyssey Pro, Pimax (for one day), Index, G2, Aero.

 

I haven't used the index in well over a year, so I have somewhat forgotten what that felt like.  I can say that while it technically has a smaller FOV compared to the  G2 I absolutely don't get that feeling when wearing it.

 

Viewing things at distance are much better than anything else I have ever used.  We have come a long way since the oculus rift.  I almost wish I still had my original headset to see how far we have come.

 

 

 

That last part right there is what really sold me on ordering the Aero, how things at a distance are sharp as well. That is something I have not seen yet in a flight sim in VR. One early You Tuber kept emphasizing that in his experience. Cockpit clarity means a lot and if it is as good or even better than G2 or Vive Pro 2 I will be pleased. But looking off in the distance is where I hoping for the most improvement. 

Edited January 25, 2022 by dburne

[SCG_motoadve]

On 1/24/2022 at 7:26 AM, WIS-Redcoat said:

My Varjo Aero just arrived!  Does anyone know if there has been any specific advice or guidance given with setting this up for use with il2?  I know DCS requires some adjustments.

 

Thanks

A few questions if you can please answer.

Any ghosting?

How do the far away planes and ground objects look? easier to ID?

Was the setup any complicated?

[WIS-Redcoat]

3 hours ago, SCG_motoadve said:

A few questions if you can please answer.

Any ghosting?

How do the far away planes and ground objects look? easier to ID?

Was the setup any complicated?

No ghosting for me.

 

View distance and colors are much better

 

Setup was easier than I expected, software is simple and feels relevant.  Essentially the opposite of WMR.

 

Two points

The headset never turns off.  I have read they are fixing this. 

 

This is the first headset where I actually use the virtual desktop.  It is very easy to access and very clear.  However, the distortion in this mode is really at it's worst and will indeed scare you (Its the first thing you see).  Hopefully they tighten this aspect up. 

 

As a side note, this headset has some setup issues with DCS.  It almost made me sick.  There is a way to fix some of the warping and there is a rumor that this is being addressed in the next update.  In IL2 the Aero worked perfectly out of the box.

Edited January 26, 2022 by WIS-Redcoat

[SCG_motoadve]

22 minutes ago, WIS-Redcoat said:

No ghosting for me.

 

View distance and colors are much better

 

Setup was easier than I expected, software is simple and feels relevant.  Essentially the opposite of WMR.

 

Two points

The headset never turns off.  I have read they are fixing this. 

 

This is the first headset where I actually use the virtual desktop.  It is very easy to access and very clear.  However, the distortion in this mode is really at it's worst and will indeed scare you (Its the first thing you see).  Hopefully they tighten this aspect up. 

 

As a side note, this headset has some setup issues with DCS.  It almost made me sick.  There is a way to fix some of the warping and there is a rumor that this is being addressed in the next update.  In IL2 the Aero worked perfectly out of the box.

Sounds promising, thanks for taking the time to reply.

[Guest deleted@134347]

finally got mine and tested it out today.

 

Guys, if you want to FEEL the game in all it's glory and be inside it this headset it the shizznit. The dogs bollocks. The best of the best.. with honors!

 

but seriously. The picture is freaking amazing. It's like looking at a 4k monitor. Super smooth and clean. IL2 really shines at 2950x2500 per eye (or something like that). My god. I think the last time I got this kind of a "wow" factor was when I got VivePro+gearVR mod.

 

It's not without its minuses though. The picture sort of 'wobbles' in the corners and the outside periphery when moving the head. But I'm so mesmerized with the center of the screen so much that I just forget those wobbles exist. It's like a proper 2nd generation VR. Well, it's almost there, maybe it's like VR 1.9 ?  They just need to fix those "wobbles" and increase the FOV, but again even with those blemishes this HMD hits hard. The display screens they use + aspherical lenses is the proper path for VR.

 

As far as the software setup - make sure you've got the latest everything:  update Win10 to the latest release, update your mobo chipset drivers, get the latest graphics driver (nvidia in my case). I usually refrain from using the latest stuff so I wasted couple of hours troubleshooting the software when all I needed was an update.

 

Tracking is a bit finicky though, but only at the beginning, i.e. when I start the 'base' software the HMD powers up but can't see the satellites/base stations for some reason. I have to cover the front of the HMD for it to reset itself and start seeing them, after which tracking stays 100%. Maybe I'm missing something in my config, but this isn't a deal breaker since it's easy to 'fix'.

 

cheerios.

On 1/26/2022 at 11:47 AM, WIS-Redcoat said:

As a side note, this headset has some setup issues with DCS.  It almost made me sick. 

for DCS you gotta enable their VR debug tool, check out this post. Once in game, you'll see the tool on the main screen, in there just click on "swap top and btm" on both left and right side, then save. That's it.

 

https://forums.eagle.ru/topic/214525-wmr-debug-tool-cross-eye-alignment/

[WIS-Redcoat]

Another happy flyer.  I’m glad you are pleased.

 

Personally I am very thankful that this headset works so well in il2.  Gold star to the devs for their VR implementation over the years.

 

I do wish they would tidy up the small head limits in some of the cockpits and the swaying gunner views in Tank crew.

[dburne]

Yeah same here , it is absolutely incredible!

Flew in IL-2 all day Friday, flew in DCS all day yesterday ( using debug tool is a must for DCS), hope to try out MSFS 2020 today.

[SCG_motoadve]

Question for you guys.

I am running my Vive Pro 2 with just one base station and no controllers (Only play Flight Simulators) works great in Il2 and MSFS.

 

Are you guys using one or two base stations?

Are the controllers a must have for the Aero?

[dburne]

4 minutes ago, SCG_motoadve said:

Question for you guys.

I am running my Vive Pro 2 with just one base station and no controllers (Only play Flight Simulators) works great in Il2 and MSFS.

 

Are you guys using one or two base stations?

Are the controllers a must have for the Aero?

 

I run two base stations mainly because I got them with my Index Kit so already had them. Tracking for me is solid as can be.

No I would not think controllers are a must have.

[WIS-Redcoat]

I have two base stations.  I bought index controllers but have not turned them on yet.  So no, it doesn’t seem like you need controllers.

[Guest deleted@134347]

2 hours ago, SCG_motoadve said:

Question for you guys.

I am running my Vive Pro 2 with just one base station and no controllers (Only play Flight Simulators) works great in Il2 and MSFS.

 

Are you guys using one or two base stations?

Are the controllers a must have for the Aero?

 

- it'll work with a single station as well

- controllers aren't required, it's an optional thing if you want pair them or 'skip' to finish the install.

3 hours ago, dburne said:

flew in DCS all day yesterday

 

hi, dburne, what's the SteamVR resolution you run with DCS?

 

DCS is pretty in Aero as well, but a lot jittery than the VP2 at the ground/deck level.   I think mine was 2500x2100 something. In VP2 the steamvr resolution is a squared, i.e. height/width are the same and I was running at 2400x2400 something. With Aero rendering in a rectangle I thought the impact would be less but it's definitely a lot more jittery. I'm using a single mod from 3dmigoto to bump up the sharpening/saturation.. not sure I need to start getting in to all of those texture mods...

[dburne]

2 hours ago, omicron_21 said:

 

- it'll work with a single station as well

- controllers aren't required, it's an optional thing if you want pair them or 'skip' to finish the install.

 

hi, dburne, what's the SteamVR resolution you run with DCS?

 

DCS is pretty in Aero as well, but a lot jittery than the VP2 at the ground/deck level.   I think mine was 2500x2100 something. In VP2 the steamvr resolution is a squared, i.e. height/width are the same and I was running at 2400x2400 something. With Aero rendering in a rectangle I thought the impact would be less but it's definitely a lot more jittery. I'm using a single mod from 3dmigoto to bump up the sharpening/saturation.. not sure I need to start getting in to all of those texture mods...

 

I was running at the default Steam VR resolution of 150%.

Just lowered to 130% which gives me 3580x3068 per eye in Steam VR. This allows me to maintain 45 fps in DCS and really to me it is pretty darn smooth.

Just finished a campaign mission in the Hornet off the Super Carrier and it was stunning really.

IMHO it royally spanks my Vive Pro 2.

Edited January 30, 2022 by dburne

[Guest deleted@134347]

1 hour ago, dburne said:

 

I was running at the default Steam VR resolution of 150%.

Just lowered to 130% which gives me 3580x3068 per eye in Steam VR. This allows me to maintain 45 fps in DCS and really to me it is pretty darn smooth.

Just finished a campaign mission in the Hornet off the Super Carrier and it was stunning really.

IMHO it royally spanks my Vive Pro 2.

 

I think once Varjo adds motions smoothing it'll spank VP2 twice as much.

[dburne]

2 minutes ago, omicron_21 said:

 

I think once Varjo adds motions smoothing it'll spank VP2 twice as much.

 

Yeah I am sure - I am surprised how well it does without it.

[Freycinet]

On 1/25/2022 at 1:00 PM, J5_NiiranenVR-Gfr said:

Mange tak - herinde tænker jeg også før jeg skriver ?

Du er måske fra samme landsdel ?? 

 

 

Fra Silkeborg.

[dburne]

On 1/30/2022 at 11:04 AM, omicron_21 said:

 

- it'll work with a single station as well

- controllers aren't required, it's an optional thing if you want pair them or 'skip' to finish the install.

 

hi, dburne, what's the SteamVR resolution you run with DCS?

 

DCS is pretty in Aero as well, but a lot jittery than the VP2 at the ground/deck level.   I think mine was 2500x2100 something. In VP2 the steamvr resolution is a squared, i.e. height/width are the same and I was running at 2400x2400 something. With Aero rendering in a rectangle I thought the impact would be less but it's definitely a lot more jittery. I'm using a single mod from 3dmigoto to bump up the sharpening/saturation.. not sure I need to start getting in to all of those texture mods...

 

I would also mention I changed my Virtual Reality Pre-Rendered frames to 2 in Nvidia Control Panel. Seemed to help smooth out some of that jitteriness to me.

Even without motion reprojection I am finding the Aero to be smooth for the most part now. I am 5 missions into a Hornet campaign flying off the Super Carrier. No issues at all.

Edited February 3, 2022 by dburne

[Patricks]

11 hours ago, dburne said:

 

I would also mention I changed my Virtual Reality Pre-Rendered frames to 2 in Nvidia Control Panel. Seemed to help smooth out some of that jitteriness to me.

Even without motion reprojection I am finding the Aero to be smooth for the most part now. I am 5 missions into a Hornet campaign flying off the Super Carrier. No issues at all.

 

Funny, just checked so I would have it done if I ever get my Aero delivered, and VR pre-rendered is already set to 2.. maybe I tweaked it for the G2 when I had it.

[SCG_motoadve]

11 hours ago, dburne said:

 

I would also mention I changed my Virtual Reality Pre-Rendered frames to 2 in Nvidia Control Panel. Seemed to help smooth out some of that jitteriness to me.

Even without motion reprojection I am finding the Aero to be smooth for the most part now. I am 5 missions into a Hornet campaign flying off the Super Carrier. No issues at all.

There is a YouTuber recommending 4 Pre Rendered frames and says its super smooth, has anyone tried it?

[Drum]

I will tonight you bandit, hope you're not just yanking my chain though.  ?

[firdimigdi]

I find that going over 2 adds a tiny bit of "is it there, or is it not" latency which I perceive when moving my head around, specifically when doing small quick motions, there's always a tiny sense that the image is playing catch-up and after a while it gets tiring. It's weird because we're talking 1 or 2 extra frames so in effect it's miniscule timespans but I guess it adds up. No idea if it's down to personal sensitivity or whatever but I've tried it over a period of time and always come to the same conclusion. YMMV.

[Drum]

Same, just tried it tonight on the Combat Box and it really is smooth.  But as you said though, too smooth.   I got into a low fight with Danborleg who slowly turned the fight against me then finished me off low and slow.  Long fight next to a town and didn't notice any frame loss and spotting seamed excellent, the sweet spot was crystal clear.  Think I'll try 3 for a night because I've never been able to track targets that easily.  High or low over the trees, it didn't matter they were always instantly visible.