Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => Hardware and Software => Topic started by: moot on January 15, 2009, 05:17:13 AM
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I can't get this Cougar hotas to respond when I get to the firmware update (step 3 here) (http://cougar.frugalsworld.com/faqinstall.php). It doesn't go from this screen (http://cougar.frugalsworld.com/images/foxy/flashversion.jpg) to this one (http://cougar.frugalsworld.com/images/foxy/flashreleasetrigger.jpg). Is the stick dead or is this symptomatic of a specific mistake I'm making?
The axes and buttons work in AH, but the rudders connected to the hotas never calibrate. All they show are max, min, median values.
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Foxy shows all buttons (1-18) on the js are stuck down, if that means anything...
And there's this too.. Not sure if it's related.
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3401/3198311343_96cbcf3e21_o.png)
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What kind of rudders to you have, are you sure the wirings are all OK? Have you tried the upgrading with throttle detached (as is recommended somewhere anyway)?
You do have the new firmware in the same directory where the HOTAS update exe is?
-C+
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They're CH analog rudders, connected on the stick. I haven't opened them yet.. Will check later today. The stick might have some wiring or component failure tho, so it may be what's screwing up the rudders.
All the firmware updates I've done were with throttle detached, except once, on another fresh windows installation. It always fails like I described.
I don't know what the firmware files are. I ran the steps like described on this page (http://cougar.frugalsworld.com/faqinstall.php).. This is what the hotas update.exe's folder looks like:
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3309/3199282926_f86d7472f6_o.png)
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When I had a similar thing happened the pots got killed in a firmware flash. TM sent me a new set of pots for the stick and throttle and I was back up and running in about 10 minutes after reconnect and reflashing with the throttle removed.
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I think the pots are good.. One of em's flakin out to one side, but otherwise they show up fine in the diagnostics...
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i know this is probably gonna be the dumbest of responses, but im gonna ask you anyways. do u have it connected by a powered usb hub? and if so have you tried using a different usb port on your computer? if your are only seeing a loss in usb bandwidth then you may be able to get a pci card that adds extra usb ports and increases the potential band width?
ok so not the brightest of thoughts but some times the biggest problems hide in the dumbest reasons.
FLOTSOM
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I don't have anything else connected to usb, and the power supply is good quality. I think the bandwidth thing is refering to data only. For some reason it came up these last three days, and today it hasn't popped up once. But even now the cougar still doesn't work and the buttons on the joystick still show up stuck down. I reckon the install will never work unless I can get that fixed.
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Can you run the Cougar software at all and if so or if you can run the Foxy program does it recognize anything? Have you opened up the stick to check internal connections? This one is odd since I have never seen this kind of problem with a Cougar.
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Foxy sees it and works like it should, axes and buttons (except the stick's buttons, axes fine). Cougar control panel doesn't open, says firmware is wrong and must be updated.
I don't have any class tomorrow, I'll open the stick and pedals then.
My hunch is whatever (wiring/component) is causing all of the buttons on the stick to stay pressed down is the culprit.
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I would imagine that you have tried clearing the memory within Foxy a few times by now. I wish I could get into the forums over at Frugalsworld so I could look up what I tried with the TM support guys who were working on a new firmware when I had my problems.
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For some reason it worked.. Flashed it and finally opens CCP correctly. Failed every other time. Making windows work is like playing lottery... :lol
Thank you Reschke..
edit - buttons still stuck down on the js.
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Everything works except the buttons on the stick. I can figure that out later.
The rudders calibrate correctly in windows and CCP/Foxy, but AH doesn't see anything but min/max/median values on the axis. I don't get it.
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Yep that part is odd. When I had my problem the axis' would only move a little bit at maximum throw/input or would not move at all. At least you are getting those portions registered. I wonder if it is something with the actual circuit board not allowing/recognizing the inputs.
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moot in the ccp you can individually set the band on each axis. make adjustments in that and then recalibrate when in game. made all the difference in the world for me. just remember DONT NOT USE WINDOWS CALIBRATION!
good luck
FLOTSOM
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Band?
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i cant explain it on here with pictures the way you do. call me and i can walk you through it. ill leave my number in the squad sight.
FLOTSOM
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Moot,
I didn't make the association with the AH Moot on the CW boards :) Frugal's must have been having problems over the weekend and the message boards were down. They are up now.
Take the handle off (unscrew the grey round ring above the base) and make sure the connector looks good. Put it back on and snug up the grey ring. I have seen this before and the problem was with the PS2 looking connector in the base of the handle. The grey ring gets a little loose, and you don't get a good connection to the buttons on the stick.
If your still having problems, leave a message on the CW board. I haven't been checking the forums here much lately.
Gunner
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I haven't tried that yet, will do.. really obvious possibility too. Thanks.
Unplugged hotas, dismounted stick from its base, blew some compressed air into it, put it all back together, and now there's no response at all from the buttons. So this is part of the problem..
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I think your on to the problem. You did get a change, even worse, you might find your problem in this PS2 connector. Make sure your pins are straight and the handle is well seated and snug. To be on the safe side, unplug the USB when taking the handle off and on.
If this isn't working, do a quick cable check to make sure you don't have any signs of a kinked cable that might have a broken wire. Next you may have to open up the handle and take a look in there for any pinched or loose wires. Look close at the base and the PS2 connector. Take care when putting it together that you don't pinch any wires when you put it together. Since all the buttons are failing, I bet it's a bad connection someplace.
Gunner
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"My hunch is whatever (wiring/component) is causing all of the buttons on the stick to stay pressed down is the culprit."
I started figuring that too. I think you need to open the stick part and check that no wires are stuck between any surfaces insulation broken and grounded that way, and as Gunner said check the wirings to stick bottom connector.
Or of course you could just connect the dismantled stick and move the cables a bit and check the reaction from Foxy. The source for the problem should emerge handily.
If you do not find the problem inside the stick check the connector and wiring to stick in the base part too.
-C+