CH Combatstick 568 twitchy inputs

[Getback]

By any chance have you touched the pot centering wheel for the problem axis on the stick's base?

I used to get a similare problem with my fighter stick x-axis because my hand sometimes would rub against it and move it slightly, then I'd recalibrate thinking the pot was going bad. Or my USB port or hub.

I've known players who get those wheels set correctly then tape them in place becasue of this. Don't worry about the CH calibration window numbers 0 and 255 when you attempt to get the wheel centered if that is the problem and removes your jitter. After you get the wheel set and your pot to stop jittering the numbers, your calibration may have one side at 1 and the other at 249.

DIView is a great way to look at the real raw buffer info rather than CH's version of the buffer.

Yep that causes untold misery.

[Brakechk]

I'll try these suggestions...thanks.

As a note on scaling (i.e. user inputted spiking) I tried that and tested by watching the sliders in AH (Control Map Advanced) and it really didn't effect the spikeiness at all.  It just effects response vs throw on the stick.  The spikey movement is still there.  It was one of the first things I did because I assumed it was me and not the new stick initially.

[Brakechk]

Update:

My usb power settings were such that they were set to shut down the usb ports after a certain time.  I disabled that, I also disabled that in the advanced power management.  So I went through all usb hubs individually and as a group.

I restarted the computer and followed ack acks directions regarding lastest CH software (had it already) and calibrated there, then each axis in AH then overall calibration routine in AH.

It seemed to help...I'll let ya know as I have more time to mess with it.  There is still some spike when moving the controller shown in AH but doesnt seem to be as much.

Thanks for the advice all!

[Brakechk]

Flew all night tonight.  These last suggestions seemed to help although for some reason the spikeynes came back a couple hours in.  I calibrated the pitch axis alone then recalibrated all axis in AH and that seemed to fix it again.

Thanks for all the help everyone.

[Getback]

Have you made sure it's not plugged into a blue port?

[Brakechk]

Have you made sure it's not plugged into a blue port?

Yep....Actually I've tried it both ways.  The blue one didnt seem to make a difference.

[Ack-Ack]

If you calibrate it correctly and it fixes the problem for a short time and then starts to spike again, its time to look at the hardware as the possible issue.  The first thing you want to do is make sure contacts are cleans and the potentiometer wires are firmly connected to the contacts.  Remove the bottom base and if you have cleaner, clean the contacts and then connect the potentiometer wires to the contacts and make sure they connect firmly (do not push too hard so you don't bend the contacts).  Put the base on the stick back on and recalibrate in Windows and in AH and see if the controllers start to spike again.  If they do, you may want to try an external powered USB hub to see if that removes the spiking, if it doesn't then I would point the culprit at bad potentiometers.

ack-ack

[bj229r]

BTW, for anyone thinking of paying $200+ for one of their products:

From: XXXXX [mailto:XXXXX@aol.com]
Sent: Saturday, January 05, 2013 12:50 PM
To: Level Two
Subject: repair

Have an older Combatstick, 8-way Hat going. Do I need an rma first or something before I send it in?

Hi XXXXX,
I am sorry but we no longer repair our products unless they are under the 2 year warranty.  I am very sorry for any inconvenience this causes.

Sincerely,

Jon Soucy
Inside Sales Representative

CH PRODUCTS
970 Park Center Drive
Vista, CA 92081
Ph#: 760-598-2518
Fax#: 760-598-2524
Email: jsoucy@chproducts.com
http://www.chproducts.com

[Ack-Ack]

To be fair, CH has extended its warranty period.  It used to be only a year 

ack-ack

[Brakechk]

Yet another update....new stick works occasionally, most times not.  Got the old 568 out and it works much better, no spiking.  I'll be sending CH an email as it's only 2 months old.  Hopfully they will honor the warranty and fix or preferably just replace it.

The old stick is 10 years old and has wore out springs and a finicky hat switch but thats way better than the spikey responses of the new one.

[FLS]

Save the old stick and use the potentiometers in the new one if they go bad out of warranty.

[bj229r]

BTW, for anyone thinking of paying $200+ for one of their products:

update: they're gonna sell me a hat switch for $5....I might buy a few!

Hi xxxx,

I spoke with my manager and I was able to get approval to set you a hat switch.  They are $5 each, and we can postal mail them.

 

Sincerely,

 

Jon Soucy

Inside Sales Representative

 

CH PRODUCTS

970 Park Center Drive

Vista, CA 92081

Ph#: 760-598-2518

Fax#: 760-598-2524

Email: jsoucy@chproducts.com

http://www.chproducts.com

From: xxxx [mailto:xxxxxx@aol.com]
Sent: Friday, January 11, 2013 10:31 PM
To: Jon Soucy
Subject: Re: repair

 

You're killin me.....I can't buy a hat switch?

 

Sent from my Verizon Wireless 4G LTE DROID



Jon Soucy <jsoucy@chproducts.com> wrote:

Hi xxxx,

I am sorry but we no longer repair our products unless they are under the 2 year warranty.  I am very sorry for any inconvenience this causes.

 

Sincerely,

 

Jon Soucy

Inside Sales Representative

 

CH PRODUCTS

970 Park Center Drive

Vista, CA 92081

Ph#: 760-598-2518

Fax#: 760-598-2524

Email: jsoucy@chproducts.com

http://www.chproducts.com

From:xxxxx [mailto:xxxxxx@aol.com]
Sent: Saturday, January 05, 2013 12:50 PM
To: Level Two
Subject: repair

 

Have an older Combatstick, 8-way Hat going. Do I need an rma first or something before I send it in?

 

[Mak333]

I know this thread is extremely old, but I'm also having the same issue with my CH Combatstick.

I've had the thing for probably close to 10 years now and it's always been twitchy.

After flying over the last few weeks, the problem has increased to not only the Z axis (throttle) being twitchy when maneuvering the X axis, but now actual BUTTONS are not functioning when the X axis is in a certain position.

Definitely a hardware issue in my opinion and troubleshooting experience.  I opened up the bottom and found some dust inside... trying to clean it out.  I have some contact cleaner that I plan to use on some of the terminals, but here is my MAIN QUESTION:
Can I use electronic contact cleaner on potentiometers?  Or will it damage them?

Thanks in advance.

[The Fugitive]

As long as the stick isn't plugged in you should be ok. I know they say you can use some of them with power, but I never could do that. If it would be a problem for pots it would say so on the can.

From your description tho it sounds more like a broken wire or two.

[Mak333]

After spending an hour trying to troubleshoot, and after spraying cleaner on the contacts and POTS, I didn't see any improvement.

Since I've had the Combatstick 568 since 2004 or so, I'm not disappointed or upset.  It probably had thousands and thousands of hours on it over a decade's time, so I suppose it shouldn't be of any surprise that components were starting to fail... especially when it comes to a device with moving parts and multiple potentiometers.

Long story short, even though I truly believe I was having similar issues to other owners of the Combatstick, I got my money's worth and upgraded to a new CH Fighterstick... I should be back in action tomorrow or Friday.

Thanks.