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Oculus provided the first consumer-grade VR headset on the market, and Oculus Rift S is their second-generation headset released on March 20th, 2019. It is basically an upgraded Oculus Rift CV1, but it has the same price. Besides the price; simplicity, portability, and low PC requirements make Oculus Rift S a great selection.
With the new Rift S, Oculus ditched external sensors and delivered a new tracking system. The Inside-out tracking system uses five sensors mounted on the headset, so you don’t have to deal with a complex setup with sensors and cables all over the room. Halo headband design offers a new ergonomic touch; however, this isn’t the most comfortable headset. With decent weight distribution, it’ll give you a good experience while using it for a longer time. The cable that runs from the headset has been extended from 13ft/4m to 16.4ft/5m. That is a slight improvement; however, you’ll need an extension if you have a large area to move around, and maybe even a replacement if something breaks.
How to extend Oculus Rift S Cables
Oculus Rift S uses a 16.4ft/5m headset cable with USB 3.0 and DisplayPort connector on one end, and an Oculink connector on the other. All of that connects Oculus Rift S with the PC.
To extend Oculus Rift S cable you’ll need two cables, the DisplayPort and USB-A. The first step is to plug the male DP cable end from the Rift S into the female end of the DP extension cable. Then you plug the DP extension cable into your PC. The second step is to plug the male USB-A cable end from the Rift S into the female end of the USB-A extension cable. To finish the process, plug the USB-A extension cable into your PC.
There are some downsides to this headset that we could argue about, but the major downside is the limitation of mobility. That is the issue with every other VR headset since they are all cable connected devices. Having that in mind, investment in the extension cables is a smart choice. Last thing you want while immersing in the VR world is worrying about cable tug damage or getting tangled up. Until Oculus finishes Project Santa Cruz, a wireless version of the Rift, we’ll concentrate on a selection of the best extension cables.
Best Oculus Rift Extension Cables
As previously mentioned, the original cable is 16.4ft/5m long, which might sound sufficient but it’s not. If you want to move around freely you’ll need some extra length to it; however, there are limitations to that as well. If you have a cable that is too long, the signal quality will degrade. The maximum for the extension cable length should be 10ft/3m which will ultimately provide you a total of 26.4ft/8m. Don’t forget for the extension you need two cables, a DisplayPort extension cable, and a USB extension cable.
Rankie DisplayPort Extension Cable
Rankie DP extension cable provides high definition audio and video transmission. It supports video resolution up to 4K, 3840×2160, Ultra HD. The audio pass-thru is flawless. It comes in the size of 6ft, and it works perfectly with the Oculus Rift S. Setting up this cable is easy; plug the male end from the Rift into the female end of the Rankie cable then the extension into your PC.
Gold-plated connectors, bare copper conductors, along with cable shielding are ensuring superior performances. With this cable, you won’t have any signal degradation or perceivable input lag issues. The nice finishing touch on the cable is latching on connectors, so make sure to press the release button when you decide to unplug it.
HIGHLIGHTS
- 6ft long
- Low price
- High definition audio and video transmission
Cable Matters DisplayPort Extension Cable
Cable Matters DP extension cable has a selection of two sizes, a 3ft and 6ft. It used to offer a 10ft long cable; however, efficiency was questionable if you didn’t have enough USB power.
Supported video resolutions are up to 4K (3840×2160), including 1080P (Full HD). Just like video, the audio transmission is also high definition, and it supports a variety of channels including 7.1, 5.1, and 2-channel.
Manufacturing materials are like with Rankie DP extension cable. You get gold-plated connectors, bare copper conductors, and foil and braid shielding. Safety is ensured with latches and a molded strain relief plug.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Selection: 3ft and 6ft long cable
- High definition audio and video transmission
- Molded strain relief plug
Cable Matters USB Extension Cable (USB 3.0 Extension Cable)
Cable Matters USB extension cable is a multipurpose extension. It can be used not only for the VR headset but also for the USB hub, hard drive, card reader, keyboard, and mouse. It is a high-performance extension that comes in three sizes: 3ft, 6ft, and 10ft. It is a universal USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 compatible.
This cable has everything needed to maintain a high-quality signal; gold-plated connectors, bare copper conductors, and foil and braid shielding. Data transfer speed is high up to 5 Gbps, which is more than enough for superior performance.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Selection: 3ft, 6ft, and 10ft long cable
- USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 compatible
- Data transfer speed up to 5 Gbps
AmazonBasics USB 3.0 Extension Cable
AmazonBasics USB 3.0 extension cable is a respectful passive cable with a competitive price. When it comes to cable size there are several options; from 3.3ft to the maximum recommended 9.8ft/3m (3.3ft, 6ft, 6.5ft, 9.8ft) . Some sizes are coming in a 2-pack, and a 10-pack so make sure to double-check your order while placing it.
Connectors are gold-plated and corrosion-resistant, which is a standard if you want to have the best possible signal quality. Additionally, it features shielding that protects against noise from electromagnetic and radiofrequency signals. Not only that your signal is clear with this cable, but it can handle up to 4.8 Gbps.
Overall, it’s a reliable and cheap solid performer.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Selection: 3.3ft (10-pack, 2-pack), 6ft (2-pack), 6.5ft (10-pack), 9.8ft, 9.8ft (10-pack)
- EMI/RFI protection
- Data transfer speed up to 4.8 Gbps
How to extend Oculus Rift S Cables for more than 6ft
If you are looking for extensions longer than 6ft you need additional help to keep the signal quality. You need a repeater that connects to the DP extension cable and boosts a signal. With a repeater, you can extend your cable to 32ft while the signal quality remains perfect.
Cable Matters DP repeater is one of them, and it supports high-bandwidth to up to 32 Gbps while providing 8K video. It also supports 5K, 4K Ultra HD, and Full HD. The only thing that it requires is an external power supply.
Conclusion
Oculus Rift S is a great headset for beginners and previous Rift owners. Both Rift and Rift S share the Oculus Store, so if you are looking to upgrade you’ll get all the content. With the new tracking system, Oculus is providing more freedom in movement with the price of having flaws in the accuracy of the tracking.
If we are going to analyze the downsides of this headset; we could agree that integrated headphones and microphone could be done better, just like IPD adjustment (Inter Pupillary Distance). However, the major downside of this headset is like with every other; and that is a limitation in mobility. Fortunately, extension cables are a quick fix for the problems, and we have selected the best ones to make things easier for you.