Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => Hardware and Software => Topic started by: ebgb on December 28, 2002, 01:12:16 AM
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Had one for a year, the pitch axis started spiking. Replaced it with a brand new Precision 2 last week. After four days, the
system would boot up and not see it. I would unplug the USB
plug and plug it back in and it would work fine. Now two days later, dead as a door nail.
That's $80 or so Mr. Gates will never see again!
g
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Have used a MS FF sidewinder 1 for four years, never a problem til recently the hat button started to stick. Just replaced it with a MS FF sidewinder 2. It's very smooth. If it lasts as long as my previous MS stick, I will continue to be a happy camper.
Have you tried a different USB port?
Of course there are always lemons out there. If you have the receipt take it back for an exchange or get a refund. You may also have some other issues going on with the computer or joystick software itself?
Also some Via motherboards require a patch for these sticks I believe. It is available from the microsoft site.
Hope you get it worked out.
Here is the download section for MS sticks. There are also some FAQ's at this site that might help you concerning USB problems.
http://www.microsoft.com/hardware/sidewinder/downloads/default.asp
Regards
Skyfoxx
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Been using Sidewinder sticks ever since I started playing games. The one time I had a problem, a new one was at my door three days later...good tech support. Don't think i'll ever use anything else :)
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had 3 or 4 wore the pieces of crap out, got alot better when i got a decent joy stick (fine control is alot better on them ). they will work but compaired with what you can get now at the same price they are crap.
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the only time mine isn't recognised is if i unplug it and plug it back in(when the computer is on.) you just got lemons
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CH Fighterstick USB. Microsoft can bite me.
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Re: different ports - my last Sidewinder worked flawlessly for more than a year. After I found the spike in the elevator I went and bought another. With absolutely no change in my setup, that new stick should have worked same as the old one . . . but no. I'm using a powered USB hub and have no problems with any other devices. Plugging the new stick into the same port the hub is plugged in to does nothing. It is simply a piece of crap.
Yesterday I went and bought a Logitech Freedom cordless.
I never really liked Logitech's rudders, they always seem to zero one tick off the center but since AH has it's own calibration it's
not a problem. The rest of the stick is mighty. Tough spring like a Thrustmaster and a good button layout on the grip.
Now I got 2 extra buttons, stiffer springs, a stick that works, and
in combination with my Nostromo Speedpad - a poor man's HOTAS.
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Been using a Sidewinder Precision Pro for 4 years and it still works flawlessly...
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Yeah, the original sidewinder I had was a good stick. Had it for a couple years. It uses different sensors than the new precision 2.
If only they still sold em.
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does precision 2 uses "potensiometer" than "digital optical" to save money on developing it?
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Sidewinder sticks aren't junk, Logitech sticks are junk! Saitek runs a close second with their crap hats :D
First one I bought was 5 years ago, the old Sidewinder 3D Pro. Worked perfectly until I upgraded my mobo (AC97 and M$ don't get along). So I picked up a Precision 2; no problems, no spikes, no "missing stick" glitches. My sole gripe is the loose centering, and that can probably be fixed with a screwdriver and a pair of pliers. I'm gonna try doing it tomorrow cause it's driving me nuts.
As for the tracking system, it's optical instead of pots (potensiometers). I don't know for sure, but I think M$ only uses optical tracking for their hardware these days.
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Flakbait [Delta6]
Delta Six's Flight School (http://www.worldaccessnet.com/~delta6)
Put the P-61B in Aces High
(http://www.worldaccessnet.com/~delta6/sig/end_net.gif)
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the thread starter subject has now become "LOGITECH STICKS ARE JUNK" instead of sidewinder. I owned logitech wingman attack 2 and lasted for only six months.... can you dig it????? I even thought that if i bought the extreme 3d model, it would last shorter than that wingman attack 2. Wingman sticks also have short throws which is not recomended for flight sims.
now i own sidewinder force feedback 2 (i dont use force feedback feature except on other games). This stick is so good that it doesn't need to be calibrated and i landed more kills than than my logitech wingman attack 2. I got this joystick on sale in BestBuy for only $79.99..... What a steal:D SHAME ON LOGITECH WINGMAN SERIES!!!
For those people who wants to skip sidewinder precision 2, you either have to get sidewinder force feedback 2 or just wait till precision 3 comes.
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I had a MSFF1 that starting spiking, it was 2 years out of warranty, phoned MS support, they offered to refund my money (if I sent them the stick back) or send me a new MSFF2 stick if I didn't want to send the old one back. Didn't even have to gripe, new stick on my doorstep 3 days later, absolutely no cost.
Still can't figure it out.
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I have a microsoft force feedback pro (the origional with built in fan) I'll tell ya what this thing is awsome.
It gets thrown around my desk in anger cigarette ashes get dropped on it and it snaps back wash after wash (kinda like fruit of the loom's).
Never have any problems with it, just an occasional cleaning of the optical strip down the front of the handle and its good to go.
Never spikes never gives me an ounce of problems.
Course now that i say this it will most likely fry in my hand giving me a laser tattoo in the palm.
I prefer the origional over the MSFF 2 because its analog and they removed the shift button for the second version which means you have 8 less key functions.
JustJim
<< DragonHawks >>
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WHAT!!!!!! Are you saying that my sidewinder ffb 2 is an analog, Aw crap:mad: :mad: So is my sidewinder ffb2 uses "potentiometers" than "optical"??? pls tell me so i can still return this stick.
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my FF2 works great, best 90 quid i've ever spent
only thing wrong with it is that the hat switch is starting to fail (i wander if i can get a replacement hatswitch board from M$)
and the rudder is a little loose, which is kinda my fault because i was giving it a good clean, and when i tried to get the thing back together i was thinking, "hmm, why won't this bastard close?"
I later found out that the rudder tension spring had got caught and bent, wander if i can get a replacement from M$....
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Does Sidewinder force feedback 2 uses digital optical sighting or "potentiometers" to detect movements? I really need to know it.
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my sidewinder ffb2 has an insurance (2 year plan from BestBuy for just $10.00) so that if it break or spiking happenens iget a new one.
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Originally posted by flakbait
As for the tracking system, it's optical instead of pots (potensiometers). I don't know for sure, but I think M$ only uses optical tracking for their hardware these days.
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oh yeah, something i forget to mention, check if your control stick came with a disk labeled 'Software Update', or something like that
install that, it has VIA surport drivers
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Originally posted by Ike 2K#
WHAT!!!!!! Are you saying that my sidewinder ffb 2 is an analog, Aw crap:mad: :mad: So is my sidewinder ffb2 uses "potentiometers" than "optical"??? pls tell me so i can still return this stick.
I believe the MSFF 2 is a digital stick not sure if it has the optical tracking or not.
What I do know is you loose 8 buttons with the removal of the shift button on FF 2 and from what I hear (and see) analog doesnt spike as much as digital sticks.
So that could be why I never have spiking problems with my force feedback pro.
Had this one for 5 years now and it takes alot of abuse, been through many games and many profiles which is probably why I bought 2 more just in case seeing as they dont even make them anymore.
Another Note: disable the twisty rudder and get a set of CH Pro Pedals USB (http://www.chproducts.com/retail/usb_pro_pedals.html) They are much better than the twisty rudders.
Been a whole new flying experiance since I got them.
Good Luck,
JustJim
<< DragonHawks >>
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Well hell,
The Logitech stick I bought is just way too funky. Nose bounce leaves me feeling sick to my stomach after only a few minutes.
After a week, I still have no clue how to dial this stick in so it's going back.
So - I pack the thing back up and there in the corner is my Sidewinder that wasn't working. Just for SnG's I plug it in . . . and it works again??? I can only hope it lasts cuz my gunnery is hopeless without it.
FWIW, thanks for the replies. If I had to do it all over again I think I'd get a SW FF2.
g
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Just Jim.
totally agree on the pedals and I added the USB throttle as well.
DJ229
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Originally posted by flakbait
...and that can probably be fixed with a screwdriver and a pair of pliers. I'm gonna try doing it tomorrow cause it's driving me nuts.
Ditto for my PP2. It's getting noticable now and is really starting to annoy me. If you come up with a fix let me know please :)
I'd still be using my original PP1 (5 years old) If I could. That stick was awesome and it doesn't have the funny X Y axis springs that the PP2 does.
Gatso
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if no one else mentioned it (didn't read entire thread), if you lose your USB stick & unplug/re-plug or reboot boot resets it, try a $30 POWERED USB hub.
this corrected my X45/CH Pro Pred - all USB- issues
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ebgb, some VIA-based motherboards have issues with their USB controlloer software. My sidewinder does exactly what yours did on occasion. Whenever I want to reboot my computer, I just unplug my stick, and wait until it's booted back up again. Then I plug it back in. No problems whatsoever.
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sigh:rolleyes:
the lengths I'll go through just to saddle up on a P51. Reboot,
plug, unplug. Runs to the store at 9pm. Adjusting the sliders just one little tick.
2nd day with my PP2 and it's still working