So if you went for the Valve Index or any other VR headset coming from a HTC VIVE, then
you probably have some HTC VIVE Controllers lying around somewhere.
Not using it anymore.
Like us.
So why not use it for something else?
You can actually very easily transform these into VIVE Trackers.
Which are these.
So that you can use them as body trackers.
As feet trackers or waist trackers.
Whatever you would like.
Well, at least in games that support it.
Like in this game..
But how do you do this?
This is where this video comes in handy.
This is going to be a guide for transforming your HTC VIVE Controllers into VIVE Trackers.
This is coming up!
Subscribe if you haven’t yet to see more VR videos like this one.
Ok, so what do you need?
You will need four things.
First: SteamVR tracking in place.
Second: your VIVE controllers.
Third: a Steam Controller dongle per controller.
You can get a Steam Controller dongle for 13 US dollars.
I will link it below.
And lastly: Velcro or something else to attach the controllers to your body.
Now, let’s get started with the guide!
I’ll put the timestamps per step below in the description.
In this guide, I will assume that you already have SteamVR tracking in place, which you
probably already have if you have the VIVE Controllers.
So in the first couple of steps, we will convert the VIVE Controllers to act like VIVE Trackers.
So in Step 1.
We will turn off SteamVR.
Now disconnect your headset and other SteamVR devices you might have connected.
And then launch SteamVR again.
Turn on the Controller you want to convert and plug it in your computer with a USB cable.
We now need access to the Controller’s configuration.
So let’s move on to Step 2.
Find the lighthouse_console.exe application.
It is located in your Steam install folder.
So mine is here in My PC.
C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\SteamVR\tools\lighthouse\bin\win64
Yes, we’re finally here.
Now open the lighthouse_console.exe application by double clicking it.
If you see this then its correct.
It has opened a VR controller.
Now here type in “downloadconfig”.
This will create a file in the same folder which is the configuration for your controller.
We need to edit this file and change a couple of values.
But before we do that, let’s make a copy and back up the original settings.
I’m just going to do that by right-clicking it.
Pressing copy then paste.
It’ll automatically make a copy which you can rename by appending with “.backup”
or something or just leave it as a copy.
In Step 3, we are editing the configuration.
You can open it with Notepad or Notepad++, so let’s right-click it.
I’m using Notepad++.
And then, you can use the finder to find “device_class” or usually its already on like line 12 here.
Here.
As you can see.
And here we have to change this value “controller” to “generic_tracker”.
Make sure you do the underscore.
And also a quick note here, make sure this device_class says controller and not something
like HMD.
If it isn’t a controller, you should not change this file and recheck if you unplugged
everything first and probably redo step 1 first.
You should have no VR headset cables in your computer.
Now use the finder by going to search > find or using CTRL + F. And search for “model_number”
and here you have to change these three lines to this.
I have it copied already.
I will paste this down below in the description as well so you can just easily copy paste
it.
Just make sure you copy every including this comma at the end.
Now you can just save this file by using CTRL + S or using save here.
You can close it.
We now need to upload this new configuration back to the controller.
So in step 4 go back to the lighthouse_console window which we haven’t closed yet and type
in “uploadconfig”.
Add a space and then the name of the config we just edited, so I’m just moving it here.
And in my case it’s “LHR-FF68B940.json”.
Press enter.
And it’ll upload that config back to the controller.
And now you can just type in “poweroff” and then “exit” to exit this application.
Now also unplug the controller and make sure to power it off too.
You can repeat step 1 – 4 for every Controller that you may have.
I have two HTC VIVE Controllers, so I did this twice.
Now if you have already updated your Steam Controller Dongles or have a different SteamVR
USB dongle, then you can use them with the HTC VIVE Controllers that you just configured.
They will show up as HTC VIVE Trackers in the SteamVR window now.
If you don’t know what I’m talking about, I will explain how to update your Steam Controller
Dongles in the next steps.
While you are watching this video, do please leave a like if you found this video helpful
so far.
So let’s move on.
In the next steps, we will update the firmware on the Steam Controller Dongles.
Because straight out of the box, the Steam Controller Dongles do not detect the VIVE
Controllers, so we need to convert them to what Valve calls the Watchman Dongles.
If you have a Steam Controller Dongle lying around and don’t use it for anything else,
then great, you can just use that.
Just please be aware that currently you cannot convert them back to normal Steam Controller
Dongles so if you need the Dongles for something else, don’t convert them.
Buy new ones instead for this purpose.
So time for step 5, we will be needing the latest Watchman update.
To get them, you need to install the SteamVR Tracking HDK.
To be able to, you need to apply as a developer on Steam.
Now go to partner.steamgames.com which I’ve already done here and login with your Steam
account.
Which I’ve also already done here.
Click on Sign up for the SteamVR Tracking Licensee and then read and fill in all the
information that they need.
I’m going to do that and skip through that.
And if you reach this page that says: You are now a Steamworks Partner!
You’re ready.
Now the SteamVR Tracking HDK will automatically show up in your account on Steam under Library
> Software.
As you can see here: SteamVR Tracking HDK.
Now install the app.
Once installed, we can move on to Step 6, open the HDK’s local files folder by right-clicking
the SteamVR Tracking HDK in Steam.
Then go to Properties > Local Files > Browse Local Files.
This’ll automatically open the install folder.
Step 7.
It’s time for the update!
So grab a Steam Controller Dongle that you want to update and plug it in your PC.
Open a Command Prompt in the SteamVR Tracking HDK install folder by clicking on this bar
over here.
You can delete the path and then type in “CMD” here.
Press enter.
This’ll neatly open a command prompt in just the right folder that we need.
Now to update the Steam Controller Dongle, type in this command:
tools\bin\win32\lighthouse_watchman_update.exe -D firmware\dongle\watchman_dongle.bin
I will also copy and paste this command down below to make it easier.
But you can also type it out yourself.
Once you’re done press enter.
Ah.
I need to exit Steam first.
So let’s do that first.
All right.
Let’s do this command again.
Also, make sure you use a capital D and did not mistype anything.
Once you press enter it will start updating.
If you see something like “Succesfully converted firmware”, then it worked!
Right now you’re seeing this here.
It’s skipping because I already updated my Steam Controller dongles.
I already did these updates with the Steam Controller Dongles in a different tutorial
before, that’s why I’m seeing this.
But I will show you the screen that you should see now.
So you can repeat step 4 to 6 for every Steam Controller Dongle that you have.
Just make sure to plug in only one so that it doesn’t confuse which one to update.
Now in step 8, we can start SteamVR again!
So let’s start it right now.
Here, make sure you have the right Steam Controller dongles plugged in already.
And start SteamVR.
And oh yeah, don’t forget to plugin your headset and everything else again.
So I’m just going to do that.
So I just plugged in my headset again.
Now I”m going to start SteamVR again.
You can now pair the HTC VIVE Controllers by right-clicking SteamVR window by going
to Devices then Pair Controller.
Now you want to click on “I want to pair a different type of controller”.
Because you want a HTC VIVE Tracker now so not the HTC VIVE Controllers.
But you want this one.
Now, it’ll ask you to press and hold the System button so one button only, but on the
VIVE Controllers, you have to press the Menu and System buttons at the same time until
you see the blue blinking light.
It’ll now be paired as a VIVE Tracker instead of a HTC VIVE Controller.
As you can see here, the icon for the VIVE tracker has appeared on the SteamVR window.
You can close this by pressing done.
Or pair another HTC VIVE Controller.
And now you can even right-click this, go to Manage VIVE Trackers and you can identify
each Tracker to see if it’ll vibrate.
If it vibrates, then its done!
So you can do this for both HTC VIVE Controllers and you can start playing any game with body
or feet tracking.
Using the original VIVE Trackers is definitely still better since they are lighter and they
come with straps.
But hey, if you have the HTC VIVE Controllers laying around, why not use it for something
else and getting a bit creative on how to mount it on your body.
Like here, I’m using some kind of random velcro attachment to mount the VIVE Controllers
on me.
But I’m thinking of 3D printing something out to attach it on me instead.
Also, here are some quick notes.
If you have the Valve Index base stations, then the original HTC VIVE Controllers do
not work with them.
Only HTC VIVE PRO controllers will work with them.
I made it work with the original HTC VIVE Controllers because I am using the original
HTC VIVE Base stations.
So if you run the same setup, then you can do it too.
If you have the HTC VIVE PRO controllers and the new Index Base Stations, then you could
probably do this too, but I have no way of testing that for you.
And if you want to go back to Controllers, you can.
Just follow steps 1 to 4 again, but instead of uploading the new configuration, upload
the original configuration file that you backed up in Step 2.
So that was it.
I hope you enjoyed this video and let us know down below if you are going to try this out.
And in what games you are going to try some body tracking with.
We would love to know!
A special thanks goes to artArmin, our right-hand Patron, and a special shout out goes to his
Patreon page –
Everyone, thank you so much for watching once again and see you in the next video!
And as always VR on!
[Bloopers]