Aces High Bulletin Board

General Forums => Hardware and Software => Topic started by: caldera on October 01, 2011, 10:30:52 AM

Title: weird loss of calibration issue
Post by: caldera on October 01, 2011, 10:30:52 AM
This started sometime after I started using a CH ctick - but not immediately after.  Whenever I log in to the game, my X-52 throttle is uncalibrated.  I can take off, but seem to be operating at much less than full throttle.  In addition, the CH stick sometimes doesn't even register as being hooked up.  None of the controls seem to work.  This part of the problem is frequent, but not everytime as in the case of the X-52 problem.  :headscratch: :headscratch: :headscratch:

If I unplug my controllers from the computer then replug and calibrate in-game; everything works fine.  Kind of a pain to go through this at every log in.  Any ideas?
Title: Re: weird loss of calibration issue
Post by: The Fugitive on October 01, 2011, 10:50:51 AM
get a powered USB hub and plug the controllers into that.
Title: Re: weird loss of calibration issue
Post by: caldera on October 01, 2011, 01:38:39 PM
Must have thrown out the power cable for the usb hub, as I've never needed it before.  Hopefully, that is the problem.  Got a new one inbound from Amazon.  :pray
Title: Re: weird loss of calibration issue
Post by: caldera on October 04, 2011, 08:02:28 PM
Installed 5 amp power plug for usb hub and problems persist.  Anyone else have any ideas?
Title: Re: weird loss of calibration issue
Post by: gpwurzel on October 04, 2011, 08:17:26 PM
Make sure you don't have a slider/rotating bit assigned for rpm and had it moved/moved it yourself. Did that and found I couldn't get up to speed to take off. Recalibrated, same result. Finally remembered I'd mapped a rotary switch for rpm, reset that and up I went.

Wurz
Title: Re: weird loss of calibration issue
Post by: caldera on October 04, 2011, 08:30:14 PM
Have the throttle wheel on the Combat Stick set for rpm.  The problem is that when logging into the game, none of the controls on the stick do anything at all.  The controller doesn't even appear in the controller drop down list.  The X-52 throttle works but for some reason never reaches full power at full throttle.  All the buttons work fine on it.

If I unplug the usb hub the controllers are hooked into, then replug and calibrate in game - everything works fine.
Also tried plugging the controllers into individual slots without the hub and had the same result.

Another thing I noticed is if the war is won, I lose calibration again and have to unplug and recalibrate.  :bhead


Have had this computer for a while and this problem just started a few weeks ago.



edit:  I may have just figured the origin of the problem.  When I first installed the CH stick, my dvd drive didn't work, so couldn't install CH hardware manager (or whatever it's called).  Later, got a new DVD drive and installed the program.  I think that's when this all started.

The problem is I really need that program installed because the "greatest stick you can buy" (sarcasm at 100%) can't hold its center without a calibration from the hardware manager.  Before that was installed, the x and y axis values would jump all over the place when the stick was centered (as viewed in the "map controllers" part of the AH clipboard).  It works fine after I calibrated it in the hardware manager.  But now I have to unplug, plug and recalibrate every time I log on to AH.

So now what do I do?
Title: Re: weird loss of calibration issue
Post by: guncrasher on October 04, 2011, 09:14:01 PM
I got almost the same problem, except mine will turn my plane upside down and nose dive into the ground. I just recalibrate and it will work fine for a while.

Semp
Title: Re: weird loss of calibration issue
Post by: TequilaChaser on October 05, 2011, 12:23:12 AM
caldera,

regardless if you are using WinXP or Win7, you need to go in and make sure your USB host / hb / controllers  ( all USB ports )

are not set or allowed to go idle / asleep if no movement or use is detected for a period of time


make sure all your USB ports are set to be powered 100% full time ,   

it sounds like the USB controller is dropping the power to your game controllers when they are not in use, causing you to have to re-establish them when you want to use them

this might not be the case, but it seems like it


hope this helps & good luck

TC
Title: Re: weird loss of calibration issue
Post by: gpwurzel on October 05, 2011, 12:37:06 AM
Was thinking along the same lines TC - good advice. For info, I dont use the CH control manager, I just mapped everything via AH itself. Drivers might need to be installed if not running w7 etc, but didnt have any issue when using my CH stick with xp either.

Will keep thinking,

Wurz
Title: Re: weird loss of calibration issue
Post by: dkff49 on October 05, 2011, 01:48:36 AM
caldera,

regardless if you are using WinXP or Win7, you need to go in and make sure your USB host / hb / controllers  ( all USB ports )

are not set or allowed to go idle / asleep if no movement or use is detected for a period of time


make sure all your USB ports are set to be powered 100% full time ,   

it sounds like the USB controller is dropping the power to your game controllers when they are not in use, causing you to have to re-establish them when you want to use them

this might not be the case, but it seems like it


hope this helps & good luck

TC

that would be set in the device manager through the control panel correct?

Title: Re: weird loss of calibration issue
Post by: guncrasher on October 05, 2011, 03:25:21 AM
in win7 is control panel>select power plan>high performance>change plan settings>change advanced settings>usb settings              and whatever else you want to change there.

i think it's the same thing in win xp


semp
Title: Re: weird loss of calibration issue
Post by: Bruv119 on October 05, 2011, 04:52:14 AM
make sure you haven't accidentally moved the CH wheels.  They move the centre point of your X/Y axis.
Title: Re: weird loss of calibration issue
Post by: ImADot on October 05, 2011, 12:46:32 PM
Doesn't the CH Manager install USB drivers that the CH stuff uses?  So even if you don't use the manager, you should install it?  I only use the manager to calibrate - rarely need to even do that. All button functions are set up inside AH2.
Title: Re: weird loss of calibration issue
Post by: TequilaChaser on October 05, 2011, 03:01:16 PM
that would be set in the device manager through the control panel correct?

heya haxxor,
for WinXP systems do the following to set your PC(OS) to where it will not power down your USB port(s)


START> Control Panel > System > Hardware > Device Manager > scroll down to  Universal Serial Bus Controllers and click the + symbol

then "right click" on each "USB ROOT HUB" entry  and click the "Power Management" Tab

uncheck the top box , which says: "Allow Computer to turn of device to save power"   ( <--- might not be word for word but it is close enough  )

then click the "OK" tab at the bottom........

if a person is savvy enough, and can figure out which USB ports are tied to which USB ROOT HUB, they only have to do this for their game controllers, if they can figure it out..... ( one can figure it out through Trial & Error )

but I would just  uncheck that box  on all of them..........

hope this helps


TC
Title: Re: weird loss of calibration issue
Post by: TequilaChaser on October 05, 2011, 03:06:20 PM
Dot,

I have used my CH controlers on Windows 7 perfectly fine with out installing the CH Control Manager program,  Win 7 has the drivers included, this is also listed on CH Products website concerning  game controller drivers for their products on the win 7 OS........


I did have to install it back when I used windows XP though........ when I finally moved from using speed keys & my analog gameport CH stuff on WinXP.......

A person can use their CH Controllers without the CH CM, or they can install it ........ to me it is user preference...... I do have one Win 7 system with it installed, though...


hope this helps

TC
Title: Re: weird loss of calibration issue
Post by: caldera on October 05, 2011, 10:18:48 PM
caldera,

regardless if you are using WinXP or Win7, you need to go in and make sure your USB host / hb / controllers  ( all USB ports )

are not set or allowed to go idle / asleep if no movement or use is detected for a period of time


make sure all your USB ports are set to be powered 100% full time ,   

it sounds like the USB controller is dropping the power to your game controllers when they are not in use, causing you to have to re-establish them when you want to use them

this might not be the case, but it seems like it


hope this helps & good luck

TC

Checked all that and problems persist.  :cry 
Title: Re: weird loss of calibration issue
Post by: TequilaChaser on October 06, 2011, 01:00:15 AM
Checked all that and problems persist.  :cry 

hmm.......

have you posted or can you post your DXDIAG report  info for your PC

and list how many processes you have running,  list how many USBdevices/periphals you are using, and your computer specs & PSU

also, do you use a powered hub


stuff like this can become tedeous to track down and figure out.....

you could be starting to lose a Serial bus controller or channel on the MB could be starting to go south on you.....

hell, it could even be a cord on one or both of the  game controllers  got pulled/stretched/yanked, etc.... ( like stepping on or roling over them with your chair, etc... )

not that it is any of those things........ but need more info  at this point


TC
Title: Re: weird loss of calibration issue
Post by: caldera on October 07, 2011, 11:39:15 AM
All usb ports were set at full time power on status.  Somehow though, the front set of ports are the only ones acting erratically.  I plugged the usb hub into a port in the back of the case and all is well (so far  :noid).  Thank you all for your help and suggestions.