index base station flashing red

[Dimwit Donald (very high IQ)]

I bought the whole index set 3 years ago. Never really used it much, just occasionally. Now one of my base stations, that's just been hanging on a wall all the time, suddenly started blinking red. It's no longer shown in steamVR. Unplugging it doesn't do anything. Is there anything I can do now or do I have to throw 160€ into the trash just like that and buy a new one? 160€ is a lot of money for a small device that just destroys itself like that...

Don't know if it's even worth it with good VR titles being so non-existent. Maybe I should just do with the remaining one until the rest of the set spontaneously destroys itself, too.

[StealthMode℠™©®]

Well....
Three years, environment may have damaged them.
I know some threads mentioning the dongle+base+controller/headset has to all be turned on before loading stuff for it to show up correctly.

Red lights, sounds like an error code.
Outside of Warranty.
Others are having issues with Steam Index.
Might be manufacturing defects, like poor sealing of the boards, bad solder joints.
Might be Oxidation of components, or solder joints. Causing shorts.
Lot of things it COULD be.
With no/little information to go on.

However....Far as VR gaming. Keep in mind, its still an emerging/developing market.
And a NICHE MARKET.
Some like it, others dont.
Myself? Never would ever use VR. Ruins your eyes over time.

[Elizorg]

https://help.steampowered.com/en/faqs/view/1AF1-670B-FF5C-3323
This link says that you need to contact steam support(button to contact them is also in the link), and they "will happy to help get your equpment replaced"
For some people just re-positioned base station to be in the opposite corners of the room and re-ran the room setup is sometimes enough but it works so rarely that I have seen such a solution to the problem in 3 years from only two users

[Dimwit Donald (very high IQ)]

I put it in another location. First it rapidly flashes blue, then steady green for a moment, then it goes to flashing red... Maybe I'll try contacting the support, whatever good may come of it with expired warranty...

[Bob Loblaw]

Replace it. A broken one can be sold on ebay for parts, or saved for when you need the parts.

[Dimwit Donald (very high IQ)]

Originally posted by Bob Loblaw:

Replace it. A broken one can be sold on ebay for parts, or saved for when you need the parts.

Ok, thanks for the tip. Gonna see what support will tell me first.

[Loshom]

kl

[loppantorkel]

Originally posted by StealthMode:

Myself? Never would ever use VR. Ruins your eyes over time.

You've got anything to back this up with?

[Dimwit Donald (very high IQ)]

They are going to replace the station, even though the warranty has expired. I guess there's hope for humanity after all...

Anyway, I was wondering if I should unplug both my stations and my headset when I'm not using them. Sometimes I do, sometimes I don't. Will that generally increase longevity? Since I'm not using VR very often, I think it might be better.

[Cheezus Crisp]

Originally posted by Mel Schlemming:

They are going to replace the station, even though the warranty has expired. I guess there's hope for humanity after all...

Anyway, I was wondering if I should unplug both my stations and my headset when I'm not using them. Sometimes I do, sometimes I don't. Will that generally increase longevity? Since I'm not using VR very often, I think it might be better.

There's a theory that unplugging or using smart plugs to shut off your base stations is harmful and that when you properly put the base station to sleep, it has a shut down sequence to properly spin the rotor down. I would recommend using the sleep functionality if you intend to not use VR for long periods.

[ʟǟֆȶʟɨʋɨռɢքօɛȶ]

Originally posted by loppantorkel:

Originally posted by StealthMode:

Myself? Never would ever use VR. Ruins your eyes over time.

You've got anything to back this up with?

Of course they don't