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How to set up an Oculus Rift developer kit

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How to set up an Oculus Rift developer kit
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If you decide to take the plunge and splash out for a VR headset, setting up your brand new Rift might be a bit daunting.

There's a quickstart guide in the box that should help you get it working, but we've put together a brief guide here for you to follow step by step.

01 Opening the box

You'll probably be looking at a box just like the one above. First things first: check you've got everything you should have in the box:

  • Your Rift headset with detachable cables. Two sets of lenses, (A) and (B), and a cleaning cloth.
  • Positional tracking camera, positional tracking USB and Sync cables.
  • A DVI to HDMI adapter, and power adapters for UK, US, AU, and EU.

If you've got everything on the above list (and an internet connection), you're good to go.

02 Getting the right software

Make your free account by clicking here, and then download and install the latest Oculus Runtime from this downloads page.

Once that's installed, run the newly installed "Oculus Service" executable and right click "Oculus Manager" on the system tray before selecting "Oculus Configuration Utility". Run the configurations and select "Show Demo Scene" to make sure you've got it positioned correctly.

03 Setting up the headset

Pop the cover on the front of the headset to make sure your cable is inserted securely to the ports located on the front of Rift. Once these are attached, close the flap again.

Unwrap the cabling attached to the headset. The end of the cable has a HDMI connector and a USB connector. Slot these into the relevant ports on your computer. If you've only got one powered USB, don't use that one here.

If you want to use the USB accessory ports on the headset, plug the barrel connector of the power cord to your cable connector box.

Tracker Setting up the positional tracker

The positional tracker is used to track the position of the headset in 3D space.

You can attach the position tracker to a tripod or the top of your monitor, but ensure it has a clear line of site to where you'll be playing. For ideal results this needs to be totally stable and you'll need to position yourself about 5 feet (1.5 metres) from the tracker.

04 Success?

By default, the headset should be turned on at this stage. The screen inside your headset should already be lit up.

If the headset doesn't turn on check that all of the cables are firmly connected. If you're still having trouble, check out the LED on the headset.

If it's orange then the headset is powered on but doesn't have a video signal. If the LED is glowing blue then the headset receiving the signal loud and clear.

Final tips and tricks

You're basically ready to go at this stage. Adjust the straps so that the headset fits snugly.

Two different pairs of lenses are provided. The lenses are designed to be swapped using an inert-turn and lock-in-place mechanism and the "A" set of lenses come pre-installed.

The "A" lenses should work for most uses as they're designed for moderately nearsighted users and users with normal vision. If you are very nearsighted than the shorter "B" set will be better suited.

You can adjust the distance between your eyes and the lenses by turning the screws on either side of the headset using a coin. Make sure to adjust both sides equally. This can help you with focus but can also help with glasses, too.

Now you just need to launch a Rift compatible application and start enjoying your headset. We've already recommended 10 Rift games you can play now, but the list is growing by the day.

Jake Tucker
Jake Tucker
Jake's love of games was kindled by his PlayStation. Games like Metal Gear Solid and Streets of Rage ignited a passion that has lasted nearly 20 years. When he's not writing about games, he's fruitlessly trying to explain Dota 2 to anyone that will listen.