flashing grey screen

[Dave0590]

I just played for 1h15-1h30 today and started to get the grey screen with the new 3-in-1 cable HTC sent me.

 

It looks like I'm in the same situation as you . 

[AGR-13]

Hi everybody

 

Like others here I'm in contact with John and today I received an HMD from HTC Regenersis (Repair station Romania) after sending mine in for testing in the Lab in Taiwan - the exchanged unit has the same serial number like my old one, but it seems to be an exchanged HMD unit (serial No. sticker is not in the same position). The cable seems to be the same (3in1 with my marker).
There is a firmware upgrade recommended, but I didn't do the upgrade until now. 
I tested 30min and also 60min (didn't have the time for 2h+, had to watch my kids today ;) )

 

environment:
- room temp is around 23.7°C (around 3°C lower than my last tests with my original unit)
- I tested with the "old" firmware, that came with the exchanged headset 
- I tested one session 30min with the old cable and 60min with the new cable I received from HTC
- no changes made in software, except a windows update yesterday (should have no effect)
- no HW changes
- no covering of reflective surfaces
- same chair, monitor and furniture as ever (same environment)
- no changes in position of the lighthouses
- tested with all HOTAS controllers like last time
 
Here is the result:
- no issues detected during both tests (30min and 60min Eve: Valkyrie) - I couldn't reproduce the error, but I have to test it again for 2h+ 
--> no issues in tracking
--> lighthouses were never grey in SteamVR overlay
- HMD is still getting hot during the test, but still no issues detected 

Here some detail info regarding the HMD firmware versions:
 
NEW report of the EXCHANGED HMD device from today (2017-08-11):
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
<Devices>
Device 1 - LHR-901853DF Headset Vive MV HTC
Firmware:  1462663157 steamservices@firmware-win32 2016-05-08 FPGA 1.6/0/0
Hardware Revision:  product 128 rev 2.1.0 lot 2000/0/0 0
Hardware Id:  0x80020100
Firmware Update:  Update necessary
Watchman Firmware:  1462663157 / 1462663157 (2016-05-08)
Watchman FPGA:  262 / 262 (1.6)
Camera Firmware:  8590262285 / 8590262295 (Version: 02.05.0D Date: 2016.Feb.26) (Update necessary)
Display Firmware:  2097432 / 2097504 (Update necessary)
Display FPGA:  57 / 57
Display Bootloader:  1048584 "0x0000000000100008"
Display HW Revision:  19 "0x13"
Audio Firmware:  3 / 3
VSync to Photons:  0.0111111
Display Frequency: 90
User IPD (m): 0.0609
Current Universe ID: 1499985803
Previous Universe ID: 0
Dongle Version:  02BF2D3EDC Version: 1461100729 / 1461100729 (2016-04-19)
Dongle Version:  81AE76616C Version: 1461100729 / 1461100729 (2016-04-19)
 
 
OLD report of the OLD HMD device from 2017-07-17:
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
<Devices>
Device 1 - LHR-88365322 Headset Vive MV. HTC
Firmware:  1462663157 steamservices@firmware-win32 2016-05-08 FPGA 1.6/0/0
Hardware Revision:  product 128 rev 2.1.0 lot 2000/0/0 0
Hardware Id:  0x80020100
Watchman Firmware:  1462663157 / 1462663157 (2016-05-08)
Watchman FPGA:  262 / 262 (1.6)
Camera Firmware:  8590262295 / 8590262295 (Version: 02.05.017 Date: 2016.Jul.19)
Display Firmware:  2097504 / 2097504
Display FPGA:  57 / 57
Display Bootloader:  1048592 "0x0000000000100010"
Display HW Revision:  51 "0x33"
Audio Firmware:  3 / 3
VSync to Photons:  0.0111111
Display Frequency: 90
User IPD (m): 0.0602
Current Universe ID: 1499985803
Previous Universe ID: 0
Dongle Version:  862C94A052 Version: 1461100729 / 1461100729 (2016-04-19)
Dongle Version:  B0DBD37E6C Version: 1461100729 / 1461100729 (2016-04-19)

At the moment I'm waiting for information about what the exchanged HMD exactly is and if there is news about the root cause and if they where able to reproduce the issue with my HMD, that I sent in.

I will do some stress tests over a longer time when I have a time slot. Could take some days until I can do a real 2-3h test.

 

all best
AGR-13

 

 

Just for information to all users, that are affected: I also informed the HTC CEO and the Head of HTC Creative Labs about this thread - just to be sure, that there is enough attention to a possible design mistake. 

[Synthesis]

 

Thank you for the information! Glad you got your new headset and it's working. We'll have to see when you give the longer test run, but I'm remaining positive.

Have a good weekend, everyone!
-John C

[Squando]

I'm finding it impossible to believe that HTC have been unable to reproduce this issue and cannot figure out what it is. I bet they know what it is but don't know how to fix it and haven't owned up to it. This thread alone has been around for too long for the issue to still be "a mystery" to their engineers. Give me a break.

[jagibson]

Thank you  for your comments.  I may have missed it in the thread, were you experiencing the same issues as well? 

 

To address your comment, yes, we are investigating this still and making sure all due dilligence is applied.  

 

If you have issues not related to this, please feel free to start your own thread and we will assist.  If you are experiencing these same symptoms, then please get in touch with me.

 

Thanks!

 

John

[Squando]

Yes, I am experiencing the exact same issue. Thanks.

[Aidarpro]

Hello everybody!

Dear HTC staff,

What news? What results have you achieved in recent times? Please do not be silent.

[Aidarpro]

Hello !

Did you succeed in testing more?

[Vildan]

Hello  is there any news about your new HDM? Is it Ok or it has the same problems?

[AGR-13]

Hi everybody

 

First, let me thank John and other HTC employees in the background for your support - even if this is a painful road to go. But it feels good to go it together. 

 

 

Yesterday I had time to test the exchanged HMD again for 2h with the old firmware and then around 2-3h with the new firmware. 

 

environment & other variables:
- the same than last time - no changes
- tested EVE: Valkyrie and some games in seating position with and without Vive controller
- room temp was around 26.9°C - so again warmer than last time

 

results:
- no issues during the whole playing time 
- no issues also in the steamVR overlay (no greyouts of the lighthouse symbols)
- new Vive is also getting hot (measured by touch on front) - I assume even a bit hotter than the old one, but I didn't test the old one such a long time - but still no issue. 

 

conclusion:
- I seems, that heat alone is not responsible for the issue to happen. It needs also a factor more - maybe one ore more faulty sensor(s) - to make the issue happen in combination with heat. 
- I was never able to play that long time with my old HMD during the last months - so I assume, that the exchanged HMD is OK (it still needs to prove over time). I now have a better feeling.

 

-> so, this seems to be good news for the moment - I keep my fingers crossed! :manvery-happy:

 

I still expect answers to what's going on in the lab at HTC now

 

best, AGR-13