Is VRDongles Still Alive? A 2025 Update from the Creator
If you’ve landed on this page wondering whether VRDongles is still alive in 2025: yes, it is. 🙂
I’ve gotten a number of emails lately along the lines of:
- “Is this site real?”
- “Are you still shipping dongles?”
- “The last blog post is from 2021… is this project dead?”
Totally fair questions. This post is here to reassure you, explain what’s going on behind the scenes, and point you to the best, most up‑to‑date setup resources.
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## Why the blog looked “dead”
The short version: once things were working reliably, I stopped blogging and focused on actually building and shipping hardware, answering support emails, and keeping up with SteamVR and the MixedVR community.
The News section still shows posts from 2020–2021 because that’s when the initial launch, cases, and early how‑tos were written. After that, the dongles just quietly did their job and most of the ongoing changes were happening in firmware and documentation elsewhere rather than on this blog.
If you’re seeing this post, it’s your confirmation that:
- The site is maintained.
- I still read and respond to messages.
- VRDongles is not an abandoned, dusty Shopify relic.
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## Quick refresher: what VRDongles actually does
VRDongles sells pre‑programmed SteamVR “watchman”‑style USB dongles that let your PC talk directly to SteamVR‑tracked devices without needing a full lighthouse HMD plugged in.
Each dongle pairs with **one** device, and is designed to work with:
- Valve Index Controllers Â
- HTC Vive Trackers Â
- HTC Vive Controllers (wands) Â
- Logitech VR Ink Pilot Â
- Tundra Labs SteamVR HDK & Tundra Tracker Â
- Triad Semiconductor Shoto HDK Â
- etee Controllers Â
You plug the dongle into your PC (ideally via a USB hub/extender so it’s closer to your playspace), open SteamVR, go to **Devices → Pair Controller**, and pair just like you would with an official watchman dongle.
On the hardware side, the dongles are built around the nRF24LU1P chipset with carefully chosen RF components for good 2.4 GHz performance, and each unit is individually tested before it ever leaves here.
If you want to protect them, you can also grab a 3D‑printed case using the CAD files linked on the homepage, or one of the community‑designed cases featured in the older News posts.
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## Ordering, shipping & returns
A big part of “is this real?” boils down to “If I give you money, do I actually get a dongle?”
Here’s how things work:
- **Shipping** Â
 Orders placed through VRDongles are shipped with USPS First Class Mail with tracking by default (unless you pick another option at checkout). Most orders go out within about **24–48 hours** on business days, as described in the shipping policy.
- **Returns & refunds** Â
 There’s a **30‑day, no‑questions‑asked return policy** for purchases made on VRDongles.com. If you decide it’s not for you, you can contact me within 30 days of receiving your dongle for a return.
- **Warranty** Â
 Dongles are covered by a **2‑year warranty** against manufacturing defects and normal‑use malfunctions (for example, if a dongle just stops working or the USB contacts wear out). Intentional or accidental damage (like snapping it in half) isn’t covered, but if something fails under normal use I’ll repair or replace it when possible.
If you ever run into a problem, reach out and I’ll do my best to make it right.
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## “Are there any real reviews?”
If you want third‑party opinions before buying, you don’t have to take my word for it.
On the product page you’ll find links to several detailed user write‑ups on Reddit from folks in the HP Reverb G2 and MixedVR communities. These go into real‑world experiences, hub setups, troubleshooting, and long‑term reliability.
You’ll also see a handful of short testimonials on the homepage from people who are using their dongles with different hubs and mixed‑reality setups.
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## Where to find the most up‑to‑date setup instructions
SteamVR and Windows Mixed Reality have changed a lot since the first “How to Use Valve Index Controllers with HP Reverb G2” guide I posted here.
Rather than constantly rewriting that blog post, the community‑maintained **MixedVR** guide has become the best place to get current instructions:
- It covers WMR + SteamVR hybrid setups in detail.
- It’s updated as SteamVR and related tools change.
- There’s an active troubleshooting FAQ and links to community help.
You can find the setup link on the **“Instructions How To”** quick link in the footer and on the product page. If you’re pairing Index controllers, Vive trackers, or similar devices to your PC using VRDongles, that guide will almost always be more current than any single blog post.
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## Common questions I get by email
**“How many dongles do I need?”** Â
Each dongle pairs with one tracked device. Two Index controllers = two dongles. If you add trackers, each tracker needs its own dongle as well.
**“Do I still need base stations?”** Â
Yes. Valve Index controllers, Vive trackers, and similar lighthouse‑tracked gear still rely on SteamVR base stations for positional tracking. The dongle is the wireless receiver, not a replacement for lighthouses.
**“Will this work with my headset?”** Â
If your headset works with SteamVR on PC (for example: HP Reverb G2 or other WMR devices with the right drivers, Index, Vive, etc.), you can generally integrate SteamVR‑tracked controllers/trackers using dongles and the MixedVR/SpaceCalibrator workflow. The exact steps depend on your headset and drivers, which is why the MixedVR wiki is the recommended reference.
**“What if my dongle arrives and doesn’t work right?”** Â
First, double‑check the MixedVR guide and SteamVR pairing steps. If you still have issues, email me with your setup details (headset, controllers/trackers, hub, OS version) and I’ll help you debug it. If the hardware itself is faulty, the return policy and 2‑year warranty have you covered.
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## How to reach me
If you ever have questions, ideas, or run into a problem, you can contact me directly:
- Email: **vrdongles@gmail.com** Â
There’s also a contact form on the **Contact** page if you’d rather write from the site.
I do read my inbox, even if the blog hasn’t historically been chatty. If you’ve emailed me asking “Is this site real?” – thank you. You’re part of the reason this post exists.
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## What’s next
Going forward, I’ll use this News section for occasional updates when:
- There are important changes to the recommended setup process.
- There’s a new batch of cases, accessories, or related hardware.
- Shipping or warranty policies change in a meaningful way.
In the meantime, if the store is open and you can add a dongle to your cart, the site is alive, the hardware is real, and there’s a human on the other side making sure your setup works.
Thanks for being here, and thanks for supporting a small, very niche corner of the PC VR world.
– Jonathan / numbfx