« previous next »
Pages: [1] 2   Go Down

Author Topic: If I go straight and level, dont shoot! :)  (Read 922 times)

Offline Dago

  • Parolee
  • Platinum Member
  • ******
  • Posts: 5324
If I go straight and level, dont shoot! :)
« on: December 21, 2002, 09:51:23 AM »
Some of you may notice that from time to time while in a good dogfight, I will suddenly cease all manuevering and become a fat juicy target.

There is a reason for this, and its not me reaching for a beer.

A while back I built a new computer, high speed everything.  Very shortly there afterwards, my old analog CH gear started causing the "dont move your controls so fast" warning and control loss that is causing me to stop manuevering.  CH tech support tells me I need all new USB gear, I just haven't felt like blowing in excess of $300 to replace my current stuff.

So, for the immediate future, I am putting up with the occasional spiking and the control lockup.  I am sure you will all understand, take pity on me and not shoot me down. Yeah right!  :)


dago
Logged
"Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, martini in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming "WOO HOO what a ride!"

Offline VOR

  • Gold Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2313
If I go straight and level, dont shoot! :)
« Reply #1 on: December 21, 2002, 10:23:12 AM »
I won't shoot at you...my controls will probably be locked up too if one of us is chasing the other.

:eek:
Logged

Offline GScholz

  • Plutonium Member
  • *******
  • Posts: 8910
If I go straight and level, dont shoot! :)
« Reply #2 on: December 21, 2002, 10:32:39 AM »
If we were to find ourselves on opposite sides ... fly straight and level for more than a few secs and I'll be 'ing you on chanel 1 as I watch you go down in flames.  *evil grin*

Seriously tough, there are many low cost USB controllers out there. You should look in to it. I fly with a CH F-16 Combat stick USB, but ... I also have the old Scitek X35 hooked up for the throttle. You can use more than one joystick with Windows and AH.
« Last Edit: December 21, 2002, 10:44:35 AM by GScholz »
Logged
"With the first link, the chain is forged. The first speech censored, the first thought forbidden, the first freedom denied, chains us all irrevocably."

Offline culero

  • Persona Non Grata
  • Gold Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2528
If I go straight and level, dont shoot! :)
« Reply #3 on: December 21, 2002, 10:42:04 AM »
Where's AKAK? I betcha he might be able to help you out on this.

culero
Logged
“Before we're done with them, the Japanese language will be spoken only in Hell!” - Adm. William F. "Bull" Halsey

Offline Drex

  • Nickel Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 627
If I go straight and level, dont shoot! :)
« Reply #4 on: December 21, 2002, 11:09:23 AM »
Thats when you open up with MGs only and force him to turn down his volume.

Drex
Logged

Offline gofastrlt

  • Zinc Member
  • *
  • Posts: 19
$300???
« Reply #5 on: December 21, 2002, 11:30:37 AM »
Man, maybe that's why I suck sooo bad, I only paid $19.95(after rebate) for my Saitek USB Cyborg.   Naw, I just plain stink at dog fighting, but that makes it all the sweeter when I do get an occational kill. Would a really expensive controller make much difference?

Gofast and turn left with GAS Racing #99
Logged

Offline Innominate

  • Gold Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2702
Re: $300???
« Reply #6 on: December 21, 2002, 11:50:53 AM »
Quote
Originally posted by gofastrlt
Would a really expensive controller make much difference?


No.  A new stick may be more comfortable, or offer more features, but really when it comeas down to it, it's not all that important, provided you have a working stick with a working POV Hat, throttle, and rudder control.  

Also, a new joystick is virtually guarenteed to make you a hell of a lot worse for the first dozen or so hours of flying with it.(While getting used to it)


Dago,
You might want to try adding a bit of dampening.  If the spikes are quick it could stop the freezing controls.
Logged

Offline fuzeman

  • Aces High CM Staff
  • Plutonium Member
  • *******
  • Posts: 9010
If I go straight and level, dont shoot! :)
« Reply #7 on: December 21, 2002, 12:03:20 PM »
Dago, with age the CH stuff will show some wear and tear, thats's the bad news.
The good news is that CH does sell parts that 'may' help you out.
My experience follows.
The lower hat on my CH FX was going haywire and that was my 6 view. I went to their websight and ordered 2 switches, they sent me 4, and I replaced the offending switch. Worked like a charm and acted like a new stick again.
My throttle was occasionally going full with no change from any movement of my throttle. I opened it up and there was a loose connection in there causing an open circuit. I tightened it up and no more full throttle when it wanted to.
Now my rudder occasionally goes hard left no matter what I do. It behaves the same as the throttle did when a connection opened and I assume I will have to open it up and do 'exploratory surgery' and fix that too.
The rudder glitch occasionally makes me do the autopilot also.
They work very well when it's 'guts' are in good shape. I venture to say it would be worth your while to investigate the dark interior of your controls.
I have a full CH setup; FX stick, Pro Throttle and Pro Rudders; none of which is USB.

Sidenote- Could I use one of those USB adapters to get my FX stick connected to USB stuff if I ever win the lottery and DO move up to USB controllers?

fuzeman
« Last Edit: December 21, 2002, 12:07:18 PM by fuzeman »
Logged
Far too many, if not most, people on this Board post just to say something opposed to posting when they have something to say.

"Masters of the Air" Scenario - JG54

Offline eskimo2

  • Platinum Member
  • ******
  • Posts: 7207
      • hallbuzz.com
Re: If I go straight and level, dont shoot! :)
« Reply #8 on: December 21, 2002, 12:32:09 PM »
Quote
Originally posted by Dago
Some of you may notice that from time to time while in a good dogfight, I will suddenly cease all manuevering and become a fat juicy target.

There is a reason for this, and its not me reaching for a beer.

A while back I built a new computer, high speed everything.  Very shortly there afterwards, my old analog CH gear started causing the "dont move your controls so fast" warning and control loss that is causing me to stop manuevering.  CH tech support tells me I need all new USB gear, I just haven't felt like blowing in excess of $300 to replace my current stuff.

So, for the immediate future, I am putting up with the occasional spiking and the control lockup.  I am sure you will all understand, take pity on me and not shoot me down. Yeah right!  :)


dago


Me too, ever since I got me new machine.

However, I'm due for some new pots... that usually does the trick.
Usually it gets me on final aproach as I'm trying to scrubb off speed to land, so I hit Auto pilot, wait it out and go around.

Anyway, get some new pots, they're a since to replace.  I've had my stick for years and just replace the pots every 6 months or so.

eskimo
Logged

Offline akak

  • Silver Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 986
      • http://www.479thraiders.com
Re: If I go straight and level, dont shoot! :)
« Reply #9 on: December 21, 2002, 06:50:38 PM »
Quote
Originally posted by Dago
Some of you may notice that from time to time while in a good dogfight, I will suddenly cease all manuevering and become a fat juicy target.

There is a reason for this, and its not me reaching for a beer.

A while back I built a new computer, high speed everything.  Very shortly there afterwards, my old analog CH gear started causing the "dont move your controls so fast" warning and control loss that is causing me to stop manuevering.  CH tech support tells me I need all new USB gear, I just haven't felt like blowing in excess of $300 to replace my current stuff.

So, for the immediate future, I am putting up with the occasional spiking and the control lockup.  I am sure you will all understand, take pity on me and not shoot me down. Yeah right!  :)


dago


Make sure to tell me where you're flying at, I can use all the help I can get :D

Do the controls spike when you try to calibrate in Windows or only in Aces High?

Go to Radio Shack and pick up some electrical contact cleaner and clean the contacts on the potentiometer(s).  

If the controls still spike after cleaning the contacts, it could be that the potentiometers are finally starting to fail.  You can call CH and order replacement potentiometers (at $12 bucks each) or get them here (100k linear POT215) or direct through CTS (CTS Series 295).

If at all possible, can you try your CH gear on another computer?  This is one way to help eliminate other causes like a slow game port, which also could be the problem.  As you know, analog gear don't like slow game ports and unfortunately most game ports are rather slow and can cause analog controllers to spike.  If you have Win98/ME, you may want to see about getting a game port to USB adaptor, like the one from Rockfire.  I stumbled upon this thing will still at CH and ever since then it's replaced my Gamecard 3 Auto and I swear by it and at $20 bucks it's a steal and can still be used with SpeedKeys.

Quote
CH tech support tells me I need all new USB gear,


The latest crop of CH techs unfortunately couldn't find their way out of an open room.  They even tried to tell me my Jane's Combat Stick wasn't a CH product, friggin' morons.  They sure went into the crapper after Jon and I left.


ack-ack
Logged

Offline akak

  • Silver Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 986
      • http://www.479thraiders.com
If I go straight and level, dont shoot! :)
« Reply #10 on: December 21, 2002, 06:55:07 PM »
Quote
Originally posted by fuze


Sidenote- Could I use one of those USB adapters to get my FX stick connected to USB stuff if I ever win the lottery and DO move up to USB controllers?

fuzeman


Yes you can use a gameport to USB adaptor for your ForceFX but I'm pretty sure you won't be able to use the feedback because the USB gameport will use its own driver for the stick and you won't be able to use the DX ForceFX drivers, unless AH supports legacy I-Force 1.x feedback which I don't think it does but it might.  For that you'd have to ask HiTech.


ack-ack
Logged

Offline Dago

  • Parolee
  • Platinum Member
  • ******
  • Posts: 5324
If I go straight and level, dont shoot! :)
« Reply #11 on: December 21, 2002, 07:00:38 PM »
Thanks for the advice guys, but been there done most all of that.   Put new pots in (still had some spares on hand back from the old MF and AckAck in MOL days), tried all kinds of dampening changes, tried the USB to controller adaptor, etc.

AckAck, when I run jcenter, I get numbers averaging in the mid 400s.  CH Tech weenie tells me that is way too high.  You tell me if that is bad, I dont know.

Will keep working on it, but I am thinking new controllers probably gotta come down the road. Now if I just hadn't bought that new custom made flight jacket!  :)

dago
Logged
"Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, martini in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming "WOO HOO what a ride!"

Offline weazel

  • Parolee
  • Silver Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 1471
Same here
« Reply #12 on: December 21, 2002, 10:09:51 PM »
It began last version, I thought it was the new CH drivers.
Logged

Offline Dago

  • Parolee
  • Platinum Member
  • ******
  • Posts: 5324
If I go straight and level, dont shoot! :)
« Reply #13 on: December 21, 2002, 11:10:34 PM »
Quote
It began last version, I thought it was the new CH drivers.


Never thought about that, I did load the latest ones, but I still have the originals on disk. Maybe I will try going back to them.

dago
Logged
"Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, martini in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming "WOO HOO what a ride!"

Offline GScholz

  • Plutonium Member
  • *******
  • Posts: 8910
If I go straight and level, dont shoot! :)
« Reply #14 on: December 22, 2002, 01:44:48 AM »
I simply don't use  the CH drivers, just the standard Win2000 "gaming options". Works like a charm as a 10-button 3-axis joy w/hat. No problems at all.

If your contemplating on spending big bucks on a new setup, I would go for the Thrustmaster Cougar HOTAS system. Supposed to be awesome. CH has a better internal design though imho. Never changed much from the original CH Flightstick.
Logged
"With the first link, the chain is forged. The first speech censored, the first thought forbidden, the first freedom denied, chains us all irrevocably."
Pages: [1] 2   Go Up
« previous next »