CH Problems & Questions

[SKJohn]

I have a CH fighterstick.  It sometimes seems like it goes out of calibration - works really fast on the left side, and normal on the right.  Same way with the elevator controls - really super-dooper quick one direction, and normal the other.

I know that I've read about using a powered USB hub, and I've tried that and it doesn't seem to work all the time.  My questions is: if the USB hub is an old one that was made for the older USB connections (1.0?), and my computer has the newer USB connections (2.0?), would that be creating the problem?  If not, any ideas on what could be causing this?

I have calibrated the stick in both the CH contoller manager as well as the AH control setup area, and it still does it.  I know that CH joysticks are supposed to be top of the line, so this is really puzzling me.  Thanks in advance for any ideas and/or suggestions!

John

[SIK1]

Make sure the trim pots are centered before you calibrate, and haven't been moved.

Also I don't think the usb 1.0-2.0 compatibility should be an issue. What I would be concerned with is that the powered part of the hub no longer works.

[ImADot]

Yeah, what SIK1 said.

Make sure the two trim wheels are centered to the detent and leave them alone - then recalibrate in the CH manager and in-game.  I taped a small piece of wood next to each so I don't accidentally bump them while flying.

USB 2.0 ports should be backwards compatible with USB 1.0 devices, but the throughput suffers - might make a slight difference in response time.  Best way to test if the hub is still providing power is to power off your PC and see if the LED on your stick stays lit.  I might recommend getting a newer powered hub - they're cheap enough.

[Ack-Ack]

The Figherstick being USB 2.0 isn't going to degrade its performance if its connnected to a USB 1.0 powered hub, when it comes to controllers, the 1.0/2.0 standards isn't going to affect your controllers.  What will affect the controllers is insuffient voltage from the USB ports.

I'd do what SIK1 suggest and I'd also recommend you clean the contact leads on the potentiometer as well to ensure that the potentiometers aren't the problem.  If you try another powered USB hub and the problem still exists, try the controller by itself on another computer if possible but without the powered USB hub.  If the stick still does it, then connect it to the 2nd computer again and use a powered USB hub.  If the problem still exists after making sure the trim dials are centered, you've cleaned the contact leads on the pots and have tried it on another system with and without the powered USB hub then the problem is a dying potentiometer.


ack-ack

[lyric1]

I had a couple of times at the beginning of the month all my stick settings just disappeared so after much frustration reloaded every thing back per plane & it happened again? Turned out there was a driver update that I did not know about well infact I had missed several, loaded the new driver & problem solved.

[SKJohn]

Thanks for the ideas everybody!  I'll try them out tomorrow and hopefully find one of them that solves the problem.

[SKJohn]

Ok - I feel like a total idiot!

The trim wheels were not centered. (just at the right height for a roving 4 yr old to play with them . . . )  Centering them and re-calibrating seems to have cleared up the problem - it's now acting like a real CH joystick again.

Thanks again for the help and suggestions - I shall now return to being the target for all of you in the skies of AHII.

[Bino]

SKJohn, don't worry: you are not the first CH Fighterstick owner whose kids twiddled with those trim wheels!  Welcome to the club! 

[SIK1]

Sure blame the kids. 
 

[Getback]

Go to CHhanger (google) They have had this problem posted before.

[SKJohn]

Sure blame the kids. 
 

Honest - it was him!  And when I get shot down, it was him flying!  You gotta believe me!

[usvi]

Macgyver builds all my stuff.