For all you joystick gurus

[Max]

I can't seem to make heads or tails out of this:

A few weeks back I noticed drifting issues with my CH Fighterstick. I bought a powered usb hub and things seemed better and then back to the original problem. So I take the usb hub out of play and everything's fine; and then the same things happens again. A call to CH tech support results in me sending the stick back for inspection...bad pots perhaps? btw...CH does NOT recommend powered usb hubs for their gear.

While waiting the return of my Fighterstick, I hook up a MS Sidewinder Precision Pro 2 USB. This stick was smooth as a baby's butt. Now it's spiking and drifting. I just tried replacing the PP with a Saitek EVO.and while the flight characteristics are OK, I notice the Y axis numbers are bouncing around a bit.

My rudder peds and throttle are fine. I find it hard to believe that all 3 sticks have the same problem. My power supply is a PC Silencer 610 continuous. And yes, in each case I've done calibration in Windoze before botting AH and calibrating in-game too.  Any ideas?

Thanks in advance.

[Denholm]

Have you tried cleaning out the area with the axis ball inside? Not very familiar in this field, just a suggestion. Another idea might be your, "abusing," the stick. If you whip it around in a pattern eventually it will encounter a fault similar to your description.

[Ghosth]

The fact that you were able to get the sidewinder to do the same thing amazes me.

That points to something unique to you, or your computer thats causing it.

I've had prec pro's and prec 2 usb sticks go 2 or 3 years without even having to calibrate.

[Max]

That points to something unique to you, or your computer thats causing it.

I'll wait to see how the CH Fighterstick checks out at the factory. Meanwhile I'm thinking maybe it's a driver issue? To the best of my knowledge tho, the MS PPro is a plug n play device. Would some other set of corrupt drivers cause it to wobble and drift? Then I'm thinking it's some kind of power surge in the mobo or PS but why would it only affect one device and then only X & Y axes? I'm stumped.

[ImADot]

Was your joystick (and then the powered hub) plugged into a certain USB port on your PC?  Did you try plugging into a different port - perhaps swapping the rudder or throttle with the joystick to see if they start to malfunction?

Sounds really odd that it will work for a little while and then start to crap out.

[BaldEagl]

Dust in your usb port?

[Roscoroo]

ok this is gonna sound wierd , but it happens to mine.

You got a Sub woofer under your desk ??? or thumpy stereo ? and is it on ??

mine spikes my stick every time , it even tossed it off auto pilot a few times.

[Max]

To the above...

yes I'vre tried moving the joystick usb cable to different usb port on the motherboard. There are a couple more (PCI card and top case access) that I haven't used for the CH Fighterstick, tho I did have the Sidewinder connected via the top case port.

Nope, no speakers anywhere near the computer. Mrs Max confined me to headfones many moons ago 

[SIK1]

The fact that two differant sticks did the same thing would lead me to believe that it is an issue with your computer, be it the usb port or mobo, or some connection in between.

[Krusty]

It could be a controller chip on the motherboard, or possibly some of the power capacitors that feed the USB bus specifically on your motherboard.

Do you see any cracks in the board, and swolen bits/pieces that look out of place? Any broken resistors/transistors?

Best bet is trying to minimize the effects, if you don't have a spare motherboard lying around that you can test out.

Are you SURE your rudder pedals and throttle are fine? Or do they just look fine? Have you checked their calibration to see if their numbers are spiking?

Try removing one of them (peds/throt) and plugging the joystick into their slot. See if it still happens.

[OOZ662]

I used to have an issue where X45s would last less than a month plugged into my computer. After Best Buy bought 7 of them for me () I replaced my power supply. That X45 lasted the 3 months until I got an X52, which I plugged into a powered hub. Only problem since was pot wear.

[llama]

My guess would be flakey USB ports, and I would try a PCI USB card.

-Llama

[BaldEagl]

My guess would be flakey USB ports, and I would try a PCI USB card.

-Llama

Could be a loose connection at the USB header on the motherboard.