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Looks like those buttons are proprietary (at least on vive pro 2) and I have a sneaking suspicion (after trying to search for them online) that it will be a pain to replace if you are going to try and source the original ones. I'd just go the easy route and get busted ones from eBay and then use those as a donor. www.ifixit.com/Guide/HTC+Vive+Controller+Grip+Buttons+Replacement/98361 You could also try to crack the metal casing of the button and attempt to replace whatever actual button they soldered on the PCB (since it's already broken, why not eh?), but that might end up being a massive waste of time because putting the metal casing back on (even if you manage to solder off the old button and put on a new one) would be pretty hard if not impossible. Aliexpress seems to have no parts, sadly (unless I didn't look hard enough) As for any tracking issues. Ever since I did this mod, I pretty much had none. The controllers have so many sensors on them that they are pretty much not bothered if one or two are obstructed slightly. The only issue I had so far are the battery wires coming off at the solder joint because the metal was bending and twisting too much. I mitigated that by simply supergluing the insulation of the wire to the battery casing so that it's more secure and moves less. I also had an issue with the tape that I used, it was not strong enough and in very active games like "Space Pirate Trainer" the battery casing became loose and unstuck. I fixed that by using a glue called "UHU Max Repair Power" to glue the battery casing to the controller. Now it's very secure and hasn't budged since. However, a crazy friend of mine did manage to put so much momentum into his swing that a battery simply came out of the casing and flew off into a wall. Truth be told, this is an extreme scenario because he is a normie with no VR experience, so he started swinging the controllers as if he was fighting for his life or something. In retrospect, though, I could have used a more expensive battery casing that is way more snug and has more "lips" at the top to stop that from happening. Over all, I'm pretty satisfied with how it performs. The only tracking related issue you may encounter if the battery wrapper is a bit too reflective and the IR light might do weird bounce off its surface and confuse the controller. But you can just use a variety of materials to make the battery less glossy to stop that from happening.

@@TheVoidBun Yeah im buying v1 controllers to canabalise! Dude thanks so much for the writeup! Im going to try aftermarket batteries and if that doesnt work Ill be back with waaay more questions :D

In theory, this is possible with any device. With the index controllers there might be a complication though, because it's a bit more sophisticated than the wand controllers. I would suggest either extensively watching some index teardown videos/tutorials to make sure you are up to the task and can perform a disassembly and reassembly without issues. Or get yourself a somewhat busted one from eBay or something and use that one as a practice dummy so that you don't ruin your controllers. Also, this kind of mod definitely will void your warranty, and I am definitely not going to be held responsible if the mod fails. It's also worth mentioning to make sure you do not mix up the + and - because the controllers may not have a protection built in for reverse polarity and thus may kill the controller if you mix up the wires. Happy modding 👍

@@TheVoidBun At least with Vive wands this could help for the years to come since they’re less likely to break fast than the index controllers. Everyone’s been talking about the joystick problems on youtube

@@SpringChickensOnlyMan True, these things are built like a Nokia 3310

@@TheVoidBun I hope in the future a person on CZcams discusses all the major problem with the index controllers and how to address all those problems without valves help because instead of actually helping they send you another fragile controller. And I’m pretty sure there’s people ME who don’t wanna keep spending $270 on a few months on controllers just for them to keep breaking it’s nothing but a waste of money. Wish companies would stop messing around and make vr controllers and headsets for pcvr that are actually good

@@TheVoidBunare there any scary risks like the green battery exploding or anything like that? I honestly would rather attempt to solder and pull something like this off with the index controllers instead of buying two of them because these things are not cheap and once the lithium batteries you buy for the mod severely degrade you can just recycle those and buy new batteries instead of a $270 pair of controllers

It beeps when you press the button. It can reveal itself if someone accidentally press the button.

@@mao73ayes it beeps but you must press the right spot and not only accidentally a sweb over the button. I must press it hard to beep

To use it as a car tracker so criminal can't make it beep before they steal your car.. you can track it stealth

@@johnnyp8051 that is only on Apple that it beep after a time

Breaking the traces like that is also an option I guess.

Please make a video showing how

Thank you so much, I did the same thing.

Interesting approach, I like it

Guess that is also an option.

Useless comment.

I did warn you that it was "dirty style" video :)

Professional thieves can activate the speaker and find the tracker after they... procure your vehicle and drive off with it.

Does the smart tag 2 make some sound when someone is around it, e.g. with them in the car if they steal it. I want to put it in my car, but if i have it on power saving mode wont it still make some sound to notify someone when they are around it? How do i disable this sound so that it doesn't make any sound ever, is opening it and disabling the speaker the only way?@@bornblindgames

I recently disabled mine successfully, the first time. Just use the stiff blade shown in the video. I started at the hole end and gently rocked it back and forth and pried a bit at a time. It took a bit of time but I was cautious. After I got the top off and unscrewed and removed the mother board, I put a tiny bit of res construction sheathing tape over the 2 speaker contacts. I can always pop it off if I want to restore the speaker. Before you do that you may want to try a silicone cover to cover the speaker hole and see if it mutes it enough. Rather than glue the cover back on I'm going to put mine in a silicone cover to hold the top on.

There are some legitimate reasons and some quite scary reasons....

@@LeChimp-jg6fh thanks, after looking into it, i can understand why someone would want to disable the speaker.

im trying to use this on my ebike(to have tracking if it gets stolen) to my understanding this device starts beeping after a while and then the thief gets informed about it. or did i get this wrong?

Doesn't the smart tag 2 make some sound when someone is around it, e.g. with them in the car if they steal it. I want to put it in my car, but if i have it on power saving mode wont it still make some sound to notify someone when they are around it? How do i disable this sound so that it doesn't make any sound ever, is opening and disabling the speaker the only way?

@albertmonsieur7832 Smart tag2 does not make any sound even if left following someone for atleast 5 days as I tested. But you can get notification that an unknown tag is following you if you have Samsung device, only if you have enabled the unknown Smart tag detection feature in Smartthings app. By default, this is turned off. So you can put the tag in power saving mode for longevity and place it in your bike without any worry.

@albertmonsieur7832 no, Samsung tags do not make any sound even if left following and cannot be detected by any device except Samsung devices with unknown smart tag detection turned on from Smart things app. Chances are low that thief has samsung device and he has turned on smart tag detection on his device. Also, once you enable power saving mode, it automatically disables the ring feature as well. Apple airtags take privacy little too seriously and they start beeping in 1day of unknown following irrespective of whatever device you own (iphone or other).

ok, what happens after the 5 days? would it then make a sound after following someone longer than 5 days? For example, if it was in my car and the car was stolen the Smart Tag 2 is following with them in the car, after 5 days would it now make a sound or notify them or something? Because if i car was stolen i may not get it back within 5 days it may take longer right, may take a couple weeks e.t.c.@@shivampaliwal8499

no problem, sharing is caring

Can't really tell you quite honestly. Yes, there is nothing stopping the tag from notifying people around them of its presence via notification. But I don't think they can pinpoint the tag with AR so precisely that they will 100% know where its hidden. Also, you must remember that not all people upgraded to phones that are capable of AR or UWB detection. My Note 10+ for example can't do that at all.

The only time the speaker makes a sound is when you ask it to ring when you are looking for it. Why disable this valuable, helpful feature?

Doesn't the smart tag 2 make some sound when someone is around it, e.g. with them in the car if they steal it. I want to put it in my car, but if i have it on power saving mode wont it still make some sound to notify someone when they are around it? How do i disable this sound so that it doesn't make any sound ever, is opening it and disabling the speaker the only way?@@tomhudson8763

no it doesn't. this is what airtag is doing.

I ended up just using some "uhu max repair power" and held it together with small plastic clamps until it cured. As for the "stuffing" it could theoretically work, but you must remember that the speaker itself is much larger than that little opening on the back. What might end up happening is that the sound might be absorbed by the casing. It might become a bit muffled, but not gone completely because it will reverberate through the casing itself. Only way to figure that out is by trying, I guess. Good luck.

Thanks. Ill look for some uhu. Is that a permanent type adhesive or like silicone?

When it cures it becomes rubbery and firm. Pretty sure if you would like to open it again with a blade, you'd have no issue.

​@@TheVoidBun I successfully temp disabled my smarttag2 speaker. Is there any way to pm me as i have some questions about testing speaker mute.

@@TheVoidBun The best method is to destroy the speaker wires through the battery slot so you don't need to put anything back together.

But VERY annoyingly it will help the thief by notifying them that the device is there. So instead of you being able to catch the thief red-handed with the car, the thief will either find the tracker after being notified and destroy it, or if they can't find it they'll get mad and push the car into a lake / destroy the car before getting away. So irritating to have a device that could catch so many bad guys, but instead it helps the bad guys.

I ended up just using some "uhu max repair power" and held it together with small plastic clamps until it cured

That is also an option, that's why I put "nondestructive method" in the title.

Glad to help, and thanks!

Glad to help 🐇👍