Must re-calibrate every time I start a game

[GFShill]

Windows 7, CH Products Fighterstick USB, with Pro Pedals.

When I start a game, AH won't recognize inputs from my joystick nor any of the buttons and switches unless I unplug/plug it back in.  Then, I have to recal so that it will recognize the stick inputs.

Solution?

[SAJ73]

I only know I have to put my USB in and let the computer recognize it BEFORE I load the game, otherwise my Logitech stick will not respond at all.. Forgetting the USB and trying to put it in halfway into gameload will only result in no stick action. So I just have to load the game all over again..

[Skuzzy]

The stick always has to be plugged in before the game starts so the game can detect it and load the stick settings.  That is part of DirecX (DirectInput) which requires everything that is going to be used in the game to be installed before DirectInput is initialized.

GFShill, sounds like the CH stick is being dropped from the USB bus and thus getting another ID when it comes back online.  Not an unusual issue.  It is highly recommended to use an externally powered USB hub for CH Products as they tend to draw the power limit of the USB bus and most computers USB bus cannot supply it, or cannot supply it very long.  This holds especially true when you have something else (even a mouse) plugged into the USB ports of the computer.

Another possibility is you have Norton or McAfee installed (just installed) on the computer and they are interfering with the games ability to update its configuration files (i.e. the files get marked read-only or the write is just not allowed by those programs).

[SAJ73]

Hmm.. I have McAfee installed, and running. I have my Logitech stick USB plugged in, and I also have a USB for my mouse plugged in while I play AH..
On a Asus laptop.

Never experienced any problems with stick or mouse falling out during gameplay.

I only experience the mossie lag issue, but that's another thread in here.. 

[Skuzzy]

Just wait.  It will happen one day and you will be back in here wondering why it has happened.  It is the nature of the beast.

McAfee and Norton are no better than the viruses they are supposed to block.  Huge resource hogs and not really all that effective as well.

A stick dropping off is the power on the USB bus crowbarring due to to high a load on the bus.  If yours does not do it, great, but not all USB buses are created equal.  Combine that with the fact you have no idea how many actual USB busses you have in your computer that are being shared via the attachment ports and you have a nice situation where anything it possible.

[SAJ73]

Yes, I am sure you are right. I don't have any deepgoing understanding about the USB port or any other inside part of my pc for that matter, I guess I'll be in trouble any day because of it.. Crawling back here for problemsolving

So, I should get rid of McAfee then.. And get me some external powered USB port of some kind to be on the safe side?!  

[Skuzzy]

I cannot tell you what to do.  If you want more opinions from other players, then try asking about virus protection software in the "Hardware and Software" forum.

[GFShill]

You may be right about the USB bus. Mine is loaded up to the brim with keyboard, mouse, printer, stick, and everything else.

[guncrasher]

try the self powered usb hub, they're less than 20 bucks are new egg including delivery. 

semp

[Changeup]

I went and bought a powered USB and the stick still falls out of calibration.  I am "chatting" with Norton now.  I may have put it in an overloaded bus anyway but so far, notta...

Changeup

[Changeup]

Ahhh, Skuzzy was correcto! (not that I doubted him).  You need to set up a rule in any of your anti virus software to allow the HTC server IP addresses to communicate with your computer, unimpeded.  Norton's chat walked me through it and I stayed in calibration all evening.  Magic I suppose....and I had been turning off my firewall prior to this so disabling your firewall IS NOT ENOUGH if you have Norton 2010.

V/r

Changeup

  Skuzzy

[doc1kelley]

Ahhh, Skuzzy was correcto! (not that I doubted him).  You need to set up a rule in any of your anti virus software to allow the HTC server IP addresses to communicate with your computer, unimpeded.  Norton's chat walked me through it and I stayed in calibration all evening.  Magic I suppose....and I had been turning off my firewall prior to this so disabling your firewall IS NOT ENOUGH if you have Norton 2010.

V/r

Changeup

  Skuzzy

Well if you want a quality powered USB hub, go Belkin as CH gear likes it!  Not all powered hubs are equal and don't displace the correct voltage.  As far as magic is concerned, Norton or McAffee are in my opinion, viruses themselves!  Norton is almost impossible for the casual computer user to be exterminated from their machine without a clean install of everything and McAffee isn't much better.  I suggest a freeware virus scanner like clamware anti-virus or something along that line that doesn't spider itself throughout your system.

All the Best...

    Jay
 awDoc1

[Changeup]

To all...now a new problem with calibration:

The stick calibrates just fine for each axis before I take off from any base but after I engage the auto-pilot (level flight or max climb) the minute I take it out of autopilot, its back to its original, uncalibrated, nose-wobbling, wing-ripping, touchy self.  Interestingly enough, when I fly in the DA its worse than the MA.  Any suggestions?

Stick - Logitech 3D Pro
Externally powered USB - YES

[Changeup]

Nevermind....Norton has been blown away and replaced by Microsoft Security Essentials and MalwareBytes AntiMalware Suite (very awesome and both free) and stick is fine....thank God.

V/r

Changeup