USB controls...problem?

[Biggles]

Since switching to USB flight controls less than a year ago, I've noticed that once in a while (actually, frequently) when I'm in a dogfight something in either the hardware or software of my computer will seem to "grab" the controls and prevent smooth flight. This isn't in-game compression or over-control that I'm talking about.  It's almost like some sort of "governor" kicks in and tries to impede smooth reaction to my control inputs. Has anyone experienced this who knows of a fix? Could it possibly be background programs polling my USB hardware (at the worst possible times), or something like that? Any suggestions would be appreciated. Perhaps there's some third party software that I can use to start up AH, that temporarily turns off all unnecessary background programs that might be running?  Again, any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

Biggles2

[gyrene81]

what are your system specs and what version of windows are you using?

what kind of joystick do you have and what other usb devices do you have plugged in to the system?

[Biggles]

what are your system specs and what version of windows are you using?

what kind of joystick do you have and what other usb devices do you have plugged in to the system?

I should have included all that in my post. I have a Core I7 950 64-bit 8 gig of ram, Windows 7, 1-gig ATI Radeon video card (HD 5700). I have CH joystick and pedals, both are USB (using CH Control Manager). I also use a USB keyboard, mouse. I have a webcam plugged in that is unused 98% of the time.

That should cover it. Any thoughts? I could switch to a regular mouse and keyboard for testing purposes, and unplug the unused webcam.

P.S.  I have the system tweaked for FSX, where I get very good, smooth frame rates, and none of these control problems.

[morfiend]

 Biggs,  I'd suggest you try a powered usb hub for your flight controls.Some JS use more power than most usb port can put out,depending on MB and PSU.

  Most players who use X52 equipment find that a powered usb hub stops the constant loss of calibration. If you have CH,warthog or an x52 a powered hub is most definitely the best way to go.



   YMMV.



   

[Biggles]

Can't hurt, so I'll give that a try and report back. Thanks!

Biggs,  I'd suggest you try a powered usb hub for your flight controls.Some JS use more power than most usb port can put out,depending on MB and PSU.

  Most players who use X52 equipment find that a powered usb hub stops the constant loss of calibration. If you have CH,warthog or an x52 a powered hub is most definitely the best way to go.



   YMMV.



   

[bj229r]

Biggs,  I'd suggest you try a powered usb hub for your flight controls.Some JS use more power than most usb port can put out,depending on MB and PSU.

  Most players who use X52 equipment find that a powered usb hub stops the constant loss of calibration. If you have CH,warthog or an x52 a powered hub is most definitely the best way to go.



   YMMV.



   

I HAD mine ( CH Combat stick) plugged into a hub initially, then moved it to one of the mobo spots. Got rudders, always work fine, but the stick....some days it's fine, some other days, I'm reduced to mere suggestions about what I'd like my plane to do. Noticed having my phone charging off the powered hub exasperated things, so I leave that off now. At times, elevator works fine, other times, I pull on stick, plane acts like I'm compressed in a 500 mph dive, then, after a second or two, plane will lurch up. I DID have a USB headset, so I killed that and went back to standard audio....little change. Game has been largely unplayable for weeks, driving me nuts. (problem wasn't there last night, as I could tell) CH  said to calibrate it with their software, which seems an improbable solution at best

[TequilaChaser]

I HAD mine ( CH Combat stick) plugged into a hub initially, then moved it to one of the mobo spots. Got rudders, always work fine, but the stick....some days it's fine, some other days, I'm reduced to mere suggestions about what I'd like my plane to do. Noticed having my phone charging off the powered hub exasperated things, so I leave that off now. At times, elevator works fine, other times, I pull on stick, plane acts like I'm compressed in a 500 mph dive, then, after a second or two, plane will lurch up. I DID have a USB headset, so I killed that and went back to standard audio....little change. Game has been largely unplayable for weeks, driving me nuts. (problem wasn't there last night, as I could tell) CH  said to calibrate it with their software, which seems an improbable solution at best

you know, a while back ( in the 90's ) those combat sticks had a little design flaw where I think it was the "green wiring" was pinched in between the 2 joy stick side halves..... ( or between some 2 piece part??? )

I had the same problem you are experiencing now, back then........ an that is when I first met AKAK when he was the CH products tech rep and we both told each other we played AW while on the phone trying to figure my problem out......

now I do not know if they ever remedied that production design flaw when going from game port to USB model......... but it is a possibility I think

edit: I also recommending going in and taking a set of pliers or wire crimpers and clamping down on the terminal wire connectors to get rid of any erratic spiking issues

I found back in the gameport days of CH products that sometimes the female spade connectors would be loose and would move when the stick was moved in different directions and this would cause sporadic & eratic little spiking issues


food for thought

TC

[gpwurzel]

Had a similar issue with my combatstick - if I plugged it into a powered hub, it gave me a nice delay between me moving the js and onscreen doing what I wanted.

Fixed it by leaving everything else on the hub, and plugging the combat stick directly into a usb slot on the back of my computer.

Wurzel

[Biggles]

Things are better now, maybe 95% improved. I switched to a PS2 mouse and keyboard, now the only USB items plugged into the MB USB ports are the CH stick and rudders, and my Dell printer. Much better in AH now. I may get a powered USB hub and plug the printer into that (and trackir, when I use it, and the webcam) and see if things get even better.  

Biggles2

[morfiend]

Bigg's plug the stick into the hub,that way it will get the power required!  Been using a powered hub for years,have a 8 year old X52 that still works great.






   

[Ack-Ack]

Biggs,  I'd suggest you try a powered usb hub for your flight controls.Some JS use more power than most usb port can put out,depending on MB and PSU.

The problem isn't that some joysticks "use more power", that's not the case.  Joysticks are made to the industry standard and use 5 volts, the problem is that some motherboards (usually among the inexpensive or bargain brands) do not output the necessary 5 volts needed for the controllers.  This is the reason why some need a powered USB hub for their controllers to work properly.  The problem can also arise if the player has too much hardware connected to his PC without a sufficient power supply to keep up with the increase power demands of the system.

ack-ack

[Bizman]

the problem is that some motherboards (usually among the inexpensive or bargain brands) do not output the necessary 5 volts needed for the controllers power demands of the system.

I once told a simplified theory on another subject, and this explanation  carries the same symptoms... Nothing personal, just clarifying for those less knowing than I am, but wanting a little bit more than your explanation.  (Gee, but it's terribly difficult to be polite and accurate at the same time typing a foreign language!!!)

Now, according to my very little knowledge of electrics, all motherboards output 5 volts from e.g. USB ports, and that 5 volts mostly comes from the PSU through the motherboard. The question is, how much, and it's measured by amperes. Now as volts multiplied with amperes roughly results watts, the need of amperes can be calculated by watts divided by volts. So, we do know that USB outputs 5 volts and if we can get the information about the combined wattage of our USB devices, say e.g. 15 watts, we get the following: 110W / 5V = 22 amp. If the PSU label claims the max for 5V is more than that, you should be fine. Remember, though, that there is a 5V line (the red wire) going to most every drive in your computer, too. Like every hard disk drive, optical drive and even the old floppy drive.

[TequilaChaser]

The problem isn't that some joysticks "use more power", that's not the case.  Joysticks are made to the industry standard and use 5 volts, the problem is that some motherboards (usually among the inexpensive or bargain brands) do not output the necessary 5 volts needed for the controllers.  This is the reason why some need a powered USB hub for their controllers to work properly.  The problem can also arise if the player has too much hardware connected to his PC without a sufficient power supply to keep up with the increase power demands of the system.

ack-ack

I agree with this somewhat....

a post I made in another thread:

a few years back in one of these threads discussing USB controllers, MB USB ports and using USB hubs ( powered/non powered ).....

I had asked a question wondering if certain Mother Board manufacturer's had better quality components and drivers USB controllers ( programming wise )

for the simple fact, is I have never used an USB hub powered or un-powered......... and have always used the back I/O panel of my MB for any controller I have ever used.......

I have yet had a gaming controller( stick/pedals/throttle etc.. ) go bad on me outside of just wearing out and becoming sloppy......

although, I do research which USB host controller is controlled by which bus & IRQ and I also research and watch how many components are sharing the same IRQ at the same time.......

some said that it is a good possibility that certain MB's had better quality and their for might perform alot better and with less problems over other MB manufacturer's.......

of course this is all on personal views and opinions, which everyone has


TC

Bizman,

you posted:

Now, according to my very little knowledge of electrics, all motherboards output 5 volts from e.g. USB ports, and that 5 volts mostly comes from the PSU through the motherboard.

I would be willing to say that the USB port (hub/host controller) on MB's gets every bit of its power ( the 5 volts ) from the PSU and nothing else

it is how the MB Manufacturer has designed the MB to divide it out and provide each PC component the needed power which is the problem

edit: for spelling

cheers

TC

[Bizman]

Thx for correcting me, TC. This shows one shouldn't comment on anything if he can't express himself correctly in the language given.

What I tried to say, was that the 5V from the PSU for USB's and other ports comes through the motherboard, but that there are also 5V wires going directly to some devices like drives. The "mostly" was intended to direct to the point of dividing the 5V line two different ways.

[TequilaChaser]

my bad, Bizman.....I was not trying to correct you

I understand though now about the having to deal with translating from your native language to our's here in the US

I was just expressing how I viewed the USB port powering subject


is all good

<S>

TC