Base Stations

This page is a stub, please expand it if you have more information.

Beacons, also known as Base Stations, are devices that are part of the Lighthouse positional tracking system for the SteamVR. Developed by Valve, the small rectangular boxes are placed in the tracking area and serve as reference points for any HMDs and input devices tracked by the Lighthouse. Beacons perform this function by constantly flooding the room with a non-visible light. The receptors on the tracked devices would intercept the light and figure out where they are in relation to the Base Stations.

In the current SteamVR system, 2 Beacons are placed in the opposite corners of a 15 by 15 feet room, near the ceiling, to maximize tracking volume and minimize occlusion. Additional Beacons can be placed in the tracking area to further increase the tracking volume and reduce occulusion.

How Does It Work?

See the section on Lighthouse