Anyone have the Steam Link?

[paperfist]

I was thinking of getting one to use with my Xbox One wireless controllers. It looks like you need a 3rd party ap to make the controllers work, not sure if additional hardware is needed.

Also, if you do have just wondering how the streaming quality it? Will it pull in games from Origin? Will it pull in pictures and files I don't want pulled in?

http://store.steampowered.com/app/353380/

Thanks!

 

[[DHT]Osiris]

I have one, it performs as expected (and quite admirably). Basically it connects into your PC and fires up steam big picture mode. You can technically launch non-steam stuff from there but sometimes it's flaky. For instance you can't alt-tab from the steam link system, gotta go back to your PC and alt tab to say, an explorer window or some other game. You can add some stuff to steam and launch from there (like say, chrome) but it'll often launch it behind the big picture mode window, thus still requiring you to go alt-tab on the main system. Haven't really investigated how to get around that part (next room over for me, so my care level is pretty low). For the record, you also have to leave your monitor on (or at least I did, gtx970 + gsync monitor, freaks out if monitor is off).

I highly, highly recommend you plan to have this wired though. It supports wireless but you WILL notice latency issues. Just flatly expect to run a cat5 to it. Otherwise it's like playing directly from my computer, minus the very occasional flicker, and lack of 2k/gsync/144hz

Cannot comment on the controllers, but i think it'd work right out the box. It just expects you to plug in something before connecting to your computer, for me it's just my kb/mouse wireless dongle.

It doesn't 'pull in' anything though, it literally just mirrors your desktop and forces big picture mode. You can do whatever you want/don't want from there.

 

[Feneant2]

If you are on wireless, don't even bother. It's a complete waste of time and money, I have never even been able to get it to load a single game on Wireless without the connection dropping.

 

[paperfist]

Thanks for the feedback!

I was reading more into it and to use an Xbox One wireless controller it looks like you need an app called Virtual Here and a Microsoft wireless USB dongle.

I'm going to look into building a cheap PC that will run Windows 10 and use a program called Moonlight that will stream games from your gaming PC if it has a GeForce GTX600+ card.

 

[sweenish]

How far away is the controller going to be? I don't immediately see why this other app is needed.

XInput controllers "just work" in Steam Big Picture mode.

 

[paperfist]

How far away is the controller going to be? I don't immediately see why this other app is needed.

XInput controllers "just work" in Steam Big Picture mode.

It's far, TV on first floor, gaming rig on second. Lots of plumbing in between.

From what I've read the xbox one wireless controllers don't work out of the box with Steam Link as they need Window 10 to support them. I guess the other option is to use a USB extension cable from gamer to streamer.

 

[Fenixgoon]

mine works pretty flawlessly with an xbox360 controller as well as a logitech wireless keyboard + integrated trackpad.

steam games stream pretty well, while non-steam games don't stream quite as well (but still decently). streaming crysis 3 at 1080p maxed out isn't terrible.

 

[slightlyhuman]

had a love hate with mine and ended up taking a hammer to it while i was drunk a few weeks ago. got mine last year for xmas. used it with powerline networking most of the time and it worked great. this entire year i've been having issues with it. the wifi never worked for me. if you have a wired connection you'll enjoy it for the most part. it's not the best and freezes/stutters sometimes but for $50 i would try it.

for me, i will just build an HTPC if i get a hankering for gaming away from the PC again.

 

[sweenish]

It's far, TV on first floor, gaming rig on second. Lots of plumbing in between.

From what I've read the xbox one wireless controllers don't work out of the box with Steam Link as they need Window 10 to support them. I guess the other option is to use a USB extension cable from gamer to streamer.

The controller works down to Windows 7.
https://support.xbox.com/en-US/xbox-on-windows/accessories/connect-xbox-one-controller-to-pc

Distance wise, are we talking a story and other side of the house? If the computer is above the TV, I think it would be worth testing if can connect at that distance. Otherwise, running an extension could be considered.

The newer controllers with Bluetooth should have a 30 foot effective range if you use Bluetooth. Although, if using Bluetooth, you are correct that you would need Windows 10. I don't know what the distance is for the wireless adapter, but I would assume it's similar.

 

[[DHT]Osiris]

Err, either I'm confused or others are. The wireless dongle for your controller connects to the link, not to your computer. Link has the following connections: connection to network infrastructure which leads back to your pc (preferably via wired), connection to TV, via i think HDMI or DP? maybe just hdmi, and finally USB connection for your controller, either wired or wireless dongle.


You should be able to just plug in the controller and it 'just works'.

EDIT: Unless this is a 'xbox controller' thing. I still feel like the controller should work. Not like the thing had to install drivers to get my wireless stuff connected.

 

[Sabrewings]

Not quite the same, but I stream to my laptop over WiFi all the time. Works great with an occasional stutter.

 

[sweenish]

Err, either I'm confused or others are. The wireless dongle for your controller connects to the link, not to your computer. Link has the following connections: connection to network infrastructure which leads back to your pc (preferably via wired), connection to TV, via i think HDMI or DP? maybe just hdmi, and finally USB connection for your controller, either wired or wireless dongle.


You should be able to just plug in the controller and it 'just works'.

EDIT: Unless this is a 'xbox controller' thing. I still feel like the controller should work. Not like the thing had to install drivers to get my wireless stuff connected.

In my case, I simply don't know. I don't own a Link, but I do use an Xbox One controller wirelessly. I saw that the Link has USB ports, but it only has a network connection back to the computer. Maybe it does "just work." I couldn't say. I would doubt it very much, but this is a case where I'd be glad to be wrong.

 

[paperfist]

The controller works down to Windows 7.
https://support.xbox.com/en-US/xbox-on-windows/accessories/connect-xbox-one-controller-to-pc

Distance wise, are we talking a story and other side of the house? If the computer is above the TV, I think it would be worth testing if can connect at that distance. Otherwise, running an extension could be considered.

The newer controllers with Bluetooth should have a 30 foot effective range if you use Bluetooth. Although, if using Bluetooth, you are correct that you would need Windows 10. I don't know what the distance is for the wireless adapter, but I would assume it's similar.

They are in close proximity just a level apart. I suppose to look at it another way Wi-Fi works fine between levels. I know that it's a stronger signal. I guess I'll test it out.

 

[paperfist]

Err, either I'm confused or others are. The wireless dongle for your controller connects to the link, not to your computer. Link has the following connections: connection to network infrastructure which leads back to your pc (preferably via wired), connection to TV, via i think HDMI or DP? maybe just hdmi, and finally USB connection for your controller, either wired or wireless dongle.


You should be able to just plug in the controller and it 'just works'.

EDIT: Unless this is a 'xbox controller' thing. I still feel like the controller should work. Not like the thing had to install drivers to get my wireless stuff connected.

Just for clarity this is the adapter I'm talking about: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00ZB7W4QU/ref=od_aui_detailpages00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I read somewhere else that it was only compatible with Windows 10, but that description says 7,8 & 10.

Where I'm confused is that the Steam Link is a form of Linux and not Windows so the thought there is even though the Link has a USB port it doesn't support Windows. I'm not sure since it's streaming from your gaming rig to the Link is that eliminates the Linux vrs Windows problem.

From this on Steam https://steamcommunity.com/app/353380/discussions/0/451852225135818029/#c353916838206648714 it says you need the program VirtualHere in order to use the Xbox One adapter.

 

[[DHT]Osiris]

Just for clarity this is the adapter I'm talking about: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00ZB7W4QU/ref=od_aui_detailpages00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I read somewhere else that it was only compatible with Windows 10, but that description says 7,8 & 10.

Where I'm confused is that the Steam Link is a form of Linux and not Windows so the thought there is even though the Link has a USB port it doesn't support Windows. I'm not sure since it's streaming from your gaming rig to the Link is that eliminates the Linux vrs Windows problem.

From this on Steam https://steamcommunity.com/app/353380/discussions/0/451852225135818029/#c353916838206648714 it says you need the program VirtualHere in order to use the Xbox One adapter.

Bizzare, I know it's a '*nixy thing', but I wouldn't imagine it would have drivers for my random logitech keyboard/mouse combo either. I guess user experiences trumps my assumptions, but this is the kind of thing that a link purchaser shouldn't have to worry about. Valve's suggestion would probably be to get one of their controllers (which would 'just work') but it'd be nice if most given hardware would just work out of the box.

 

[CuriousMike]

It's on sale now for $20 which seems like a steal.

 

[mundane]

It's on sale now for $20 which seems like a steal.

Debating picking up a second unit (upstairs/bedroom).

I have noticed the encoding does impose a minor overhead, so I cannot use the same level of graphics as when I'm sitting in front of my PC. To be fair, this machine is showing its age.

 

[shortylickens]

I got one a while back. Did not like it.

Wired only runs at 100mbit and thats not fast enough to stream 1080p at a reasonable frame rate with perfect image quality.
I replaced it with a 50 foot HDMI cable and it looks SO MUCH nicer. Add in wireless game pad and you are basically set.
And if I ever get a 4k TV then I'll buy a 50 foot DisplayPort cable too.

 

[paperfist]

Well I ended up buying a Intel NUC for cheap and added the Microsoft adapter and wireless KB/Mouse all in one. It's working pretty well except that the adapter keeps dropping the controller and you have to keep pairing it.

All this so my nephews could play my PC games in the living room without blowing up my PC for turkey day

 

[[DHT]Osiris]

I got one a while back. Did not like it.

Wired only runs at 100mbit and thats not fast enough to stream 1080p at a reasonable frame rate with perfect image quality.
I replaced it with a 50 foot HDMI cable and it looks SO MUCH nicer. Add in wireless game pad and you are basically set.
And if I ever get a 4k TV then I'll buy a 50 foot DisplayPort cable too.

Eh? I run everything at 1080p @60fps on mine just fine. There might be some compression involved or something but I can't notice it, maybe if I got up close or somethin. Frame rates are fine though.