I thought that I had finally found a joystick manufactuer that was free of major bugs. I have had my CH Pro Pedals for a couple of years, they have worked well. I have had my CH F-16 Fighterstick for about 3 or 4 months. It worked well untill I bought my CH Pro Throttle about 1 month ago. Since then when I start my computer the CH software (Speedkeys) cannot find the joystick. Sometimes on start-up Win. 98 can't find the keyboard. Friends have told me to unplug the joystick and throttle overnight (This worked). In a prompt responce to an E-mail CH told me to do a hard reset on the throttle. After realizing that I need to do a hard reset 75% of the time, I have been doing a hard reset at each start-up of the computer. I then redownload speedkeys and everything works fine untill I shut the system off. Most of the times that I have done a hard reset, speedkeys has been able to find the joystick. About 10% of the time the system can't find the keyboard. At that point the on/off switch won't work and I must unplug the main power supply. About another 10% of the time speedkeys cannot find the joystick and I must restart/ re-hard reset the joystick/throttle. Today this is what has happened, except that speedkeys could not find the joystick on the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, and 9th tries. I am very frustrated with CH Products and am concerned with how much wear and tear I am putting on my system with all of the restarts/unplugs. My computer is fairly new (P-2 450), and I didn't have similar problems before I bought the CH Pro Throttle. My PDPI gamecard has always worked well. CH also said in a later E-mail question responce:
"The problem may be related to your keyboard or the voltage being supplied by your gameport. If there is any fluctuation in your gameport
(if it ever drops below 5 volts) the throttle will cease to work. Also, if your power supply in your case is anemic (230W or less) that could
cause inconsistent power output which would also lock up the throttle."
I don't think that CH can blame this on anything other than their products. I told CH that I planned on posting my problems with CH on the AH bulitin board if an reasonable solution to my problem was not presented to me. I am dissapointed that CH is willing to leave it's customers high and dry with faulty products or software, and no solutions. I have talked to many CH Products users (in person and by E-mail/posts) that have had similar problems. My problem is not new or unique. I am recommending to potential customers that they do not buy CH Products since I have had serious problems that have not been reasonably fixed by CH. I also anticipate trying a different joystick system soon if a solution is not presented to me by CH.
eskimo