Inquiries about the Steam Link
Inquiries about the Steam Link
I understand the situation. The Steam Link is currently 70% off, which makes playing Skyrim from home quite appealing. I only have my Xbox One wireless controller, not the Bluetooth version or the original controller with the Windows dongle. I’m unsure if using Virtualhere is necessary since it costs money and reviews aren’t great. But I’m curious—can I connect my wireless controller directly to the Steam Link via a microUSB cable without using Virtualhere? Would that function properly? Also, any advice from others who’ve used the Steam Link or Virtualhere would be appreciated. Thanks!
I don't believe the USB cable on the Xbox controllers is meant for data transfer; it seems primarily for charging. The Xbox 360 controller with its dongle works well with my Steam Link. For streaming over a wireless connection, I strongly caution against it. Even with a strong nearby access point, the video appears grainy and stutters significantly on WiFi. I recommend using an Ethernet cable instead. Although it's only $15 USD, you might want to give it a shot. You can lower graphics settings if needed, though this will affect the overall experience.
The steam connection uses a simple, closed system that doesn’t support general USB devices. It mainly handles mouse, keyboard, and gamepad inputs. For better compatibility, especially with advanced controllers or racing simulators, use the official dongle or plug the device directly into the link via USB, making sure the latest firmware is installed for proper recognition.
I understand that the USB microbus cable functions properly, which means it should be compatible with the Xbox One controller. Valve also supports this device.
I don't have the setup to connect directly via Ethernet. My router is far away and I can't run cables through walls or drill holes. I'll try using WiFi—it's strong on the 5GHz band—and I'm hoping it works well. Cheers! Virtualhere is on the PC, not the Link, so it should share wireless devices across the network. You can check the store link for more details. If you want a wired option, plugging it into the Link via microUSB might be possible.