VH and Nvidia Shield

I am planning to buy an Nvidia Shield TV and then install a bluetooth USB dongle to use my Xbox controller for GFE games via virtualhere. I anticipate this will be better for me compared to the native bluetooth implementation of the Shield. A few questions:

1) Will the controller allow me to control the Shield GUI? Or only playing games? I anticipate this will only be in GFE games, but hope I am wrong?

2) If I buy two Nvidia Shield. could it use VH on both Shields and connect them with the same one computer at the same time? And could I switch seamlessly using the same controller on both Shields via bluetooth (both in different rooms)

3) I bought VH for Steam Link and vaguely remember that provides me some benefits with the Shield. Couldn't find anymore where I read this.

#2

1. Only games
2. Yes
3. Dont run the client yourself. Do this: The steam link app detects virtualhere app is installed so there will be a "VirtualHere" section in the app settings. Select the device there you want to use, then in the steam link app start streaming, and virtualhere will be automatically started and the device remotely passed-through

#3

Thanks for your quick reply. I'd prefer to launch games from the home screen rather than the steamlink app. Would this still be possible?

#5

Great. Assuming I buy the Android license for my shield, would the following setup work?

1) Shield USB port 1 connected to Dolphin bar (pass on 2 Wii controllers via VHere)

2) Shield USB port 2 connected to extension cable with splitter (https://www.amazon.com/Monoprice-16-Feet-Extension-Repeater-108489/dp/B…). One connected to a bluetooth dongle (pass on 4 bluetooth controller via VHere) and one FLIRC to control the Shield via IR (not involving VHere)

Sounds like a complex setup. Wondering whether the Shield and VHere could handle this ;-)

#7

I have been reconsidering my setup. Would love to keep things simple and pass-through one USB bluetooth dongle from the Shield to my Windows PC. I am using the second Shied USB port, but no need to pass through.

Given this is just one USB port, do I still need a license? Is there a setup guide for the VH Server on Android and how to select the right USB port for pass-through?

#8

Yes license required also see here https://virtualhere.com/android_server_faq

You dont pass through by port, you pass through by device. When the popup says allow virtualhere to use xxx device just select yes if its the device you want to use via virtualhere.

#9

Got it, thanks! So, even one port requires a license and my steam license won't help me unless I exclusively want to use it from inside the steamlink app? My use case is Shield's native gamestream implementation and moonlight app, so for this I need a new license.

#10

Thats ok i can give you a license key if you've already bought a license in steam. Just start the vh client, (turn on autofind) when you see the Android Hub listed, right click USB Hubs->License...->Copy to clipboard and email to me mail [at] virtualhere.com (mail[at]virtualhere[dot]com)

#11

Thanks, this is very kind. I have purchased "VirtualHere For Steam Link" in steam. It's in my games steam library now.

I had to specify the IP to get Android hub to show on my client.

Will send you the serial number by email.

I may prefer only to pass through one of the two USB ports. Given the USB ports don't have "names", it's a bit of a pain to remove them from the Shield. They have "names" on the VH client, so it may be sufficient just not to "use device"? Can I then still use it natively with the Shield (without VH)?

#12

Correct just ignore the device in the virtualhere client and it will be left alone

#13

Thanks again Michael. I have VH up and running on my Shield.

One weird thing. I have now passed through a USB dongle. So far, the bluetooth controllers are connected to the Shield natively (not the dongle). However, Windows shows 4 paired Xbox controllers once I select "use this device". This is very weird... Any thoughts?

#14

And another issue: when starting the Shield, it asks me whether to pass through and allows a "tick" to do so per default. Even when I click "default", the same message comes up every time I restart the Shield.

Can you turn off the in-build shield bluetooth adapter. Maybe its double picking up the device

I think its a bug in the shield android. VirtualHere doesnt popup that dialog thats from android.

#17

I think it would be difficult to turn it off. How can I then navigate the shield menu?

#18

Just using the normal shield remote, thats what i do. There is an app, cant find the name at the moment that can turn off bluetooth on an android device

#19

Doesn't the Shield remote also connect via bluetooth?

And how do you exit gamestream games back to the shield menu? I realized that the shield menus are not accessible once the controllers are passed through via VH.

#20

Sorry i meant the shield controller connected via usb cable instead, use that. Not wirelessly

#21

I tried the link above to GEForce forums to no avail.
I have My dolphin Bar connected to my Shield TV. In Steam Link app I have Dolphin Bar Activated in the VirtualHere Settings.
I have the 64 bit Windows client running. when I click use Mayflash Wiimote PC Adapter;
it shows up in other devices in Windows settings but it says "Driver Error" under it. I paid for a license and I have no idea what to do.
Just doesn't seem to work. any help would be appreciated.

#22

64-bit windows 10? Did it used to work in the past?

#24

Can you email me at mail [at] virtualhere.com (mail[at]virtualhere[dot]com) and i will try to connect with my client if thats ok.