Joystick Help

[Raaper]

My stick is driving me crazy!  Help!

My Stick:
The stick is a Logitech Extreme 3D Pro.  I do not have any of the Logitech software installed.  I calibrate in Windows and the throws look good although  at rest the center appears to be slightly off to the right.  

The Problem
Every time I calibrate in AH, I get something different.  Sometimes it is really good for a few minutes, sometimes it is slow (roll rate) but flyable, and most of the time, there is an intermitant jerk (roll) to the right or a lack of travel to the right.  This jerk is enough to pull the plane out of auto pilot. It happens with hands off stick or while I am giving input, the plane will just bank out of control (sucks when it happens on final approach or going for the kill).  When I go into settings for the joystick, I can see the stick graph bouncing to the right without input.  Additionally, sometimes I will calibrate and come back with no throw to the right whatsoever.

Things I have tried
I calibrate and calibrate some more until I can live with it.  Fly until it gets out of wack again.  I have tried raising the deadband and dampining on the roll axis and adjusting the 1-10 sliders, but nothing seems to do the trick.

Any Ideas?

Raaper

[TequilaChaser]

is your joystick USB or game port type?

how old is it?

I was having problem with my ch Stick, I took it apart, and each individual wire connector was sort of loose, I hooked it up and just barely moved a connector to see how it reacted to the wire moving, it instantly lost calibration........after crimping down all wire conncetors to where they were tight and hard to disconnect, I put stick bak together and recalibrated, the response was almost like it was a new stick.....

if you have had it awhile dust, grit, etc......can find its way into the potentiometers ( what controls different axis inside the stick) and cause you all types of problems, also Logitech have been known to go bad prematurely


if it is USB...try to make sure your USB Port/Rot Hub is in the "Always Power On Mode" so it is not going to sleep on you intermitently , this has caused people to lose the calibration during flight

[Murdr]

I hate to add a non-constructive, but observational reply but...I have hung around here long enough to see that logitech sticks have a bad reputation around here.  If you did a bbs search for logitech, I bet 9 out of 10 would be negative comments.
That said go ahead and post the port type (gp or usb) because it isnt always the stick causing the problem (ie. usb on win98se with via chipset=usb problems)

[Raaper]

It is the USB version and it is about 4 months old.  In conversation in the MA, most think that Logitech is a waste.  The recommendations I have received are the Saitek X-45 or the Microsoft Sidewinder.

Raaper

[Raaper]

BTW...using Windows XP

Raaper

[Max]

MURDR - I have the same stick (have owned just about all at one time or another) and the 3D Extreme Pro aint bad for the bucks.

Raaper - When you calibrate in AH, be carefull not to input rudder when throwing for pitch/yaw and vice versa. I use ack ack's stick scale cfg which you can find in Help&Training by doing a search. I get minimal nose bounce with it.

Good Luck - DmdMax

[TequilaChaser]

check the following link it explains how to check for your usb power options in detail on WindowsXP

USB Power on/off fix

http://www.tweakxp.com/display.aspx?id=421

[StarOfAfrica2]

Logitech sticks always had a problem with the calibration info getting corrupted in the registry.  That and the software (especially if you downloaded "upgraded" drivers from the website) causes errors as well.  Buggy interfaces and cheap sticks, in 7 years of sims I've never seen a single Wingman that held calibration or didnt cause other problems.  Maybe a few people have had luck with them, I guess if there's a chance monkeys could write Shakespeare then theres a chance Logitech could make a good Wingman.  But as a previous post suggested, if you search this BBS for references to the Wingman or Logitech in general, you wont find many good posts.  You can make adjustments to live with your sub-standard stick and not get full use out of it, or you can spend the money and buy something else you will get more satisfaction out of.  Just my suggestion.

[ozrocker]

Go to logitech.com/downloads, get and run the clear calibration utility. Should work ok. You have to run it on occasion

[RTR]

Throw it away.

For the same $ you can pick up a Saitek cyborg EVO.

Went through 3 logitech wingman sticks. Finally gave up. They are basically crap and when you get a good one don't expect it to last more than a couple of months. (however there is a monkeys chance i suppose).

Been using the EVO for over a year now and no problems.

RTR

[Clifra Jones]

Originally posted by Raaper
It is the USB version and it is about 4 months old.  In conversation in the MA, most think that Logitech is a waste.  The recommendations I have received are the Saitek X-45 or the Microsoft Sidewinder.

Raaper

X45 is nice setup for the $$. Owned one (still do it's in my closet in need of repairs) for 2 years. The only thing I did not like about it was the gimble stick centering mechanism. I loved the throttle but the rudder control is a bit strange and takes some getting used to. All said it is definatly worth the cost of a new one or you can get a refurb for like $40.00 and I've seen them on eBay for a low as $20.00.

If your looking for a low cost solution I highly recommend it along with some rudder pedals. You could probably find a pair of CH pedals used for a good price.

[nsty1]

Clifra,
If i understood your posting correctly,Do you have any plans for that X-45? If in need of repairs,and to make room in your closet for other,would you consider selling it?
contact me directly here,if interested,
jmalv@qwest.net

thanks