Hardware & Technical looking for advice from x55 owners

maximumpanda

M
---FIXED---
see http://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?p=717705#post717705
-------------

hi,

I recently bought an x55 and set it up with some of the preset keybinds that were posted here (also changed a few things to better suit my natural play style).

there seems to be a problem with sudden jerking with the controller, specifically either quickly rotating left or rolling left.

the issue used to happen every 10-20 minutes, but it seems to be getting worse as its starting to become a problem trying to land. (specifically rolling upside down while I'm trying to land :D ).

not sure if this is a software or hardware issue, but it seems like a massive bummer to be dealing with either.

I'm using the controllers plugged into a powered USB 3.0 hub
windows 8 64
latest drivers/ H.U.B.

video of the problem:

ingame: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Ya2gkZq84U&feature=youtu.be
H.U.B: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5lcBSSOEPOI

edit:
and now it gets weird: removing the stick from the base fixes the movement detection (although not really a fix as reattaching the stick breaks it again)

stick detached: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlv0oAfLUaw

stick attached: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gKR0WknBp0

edit 2: problem narrowed down to the z axis. if at 100% or 0% turn, everything works properly. with a little fannegling I can get it to function properly at 50% (center) but even the smallest amount of twist clockwise (51%+) will cause it to break again.

appreciate any help
 
Last edited:

Hermit

Hermit
You may need to increase the deadzones in the controller settings.

Edit: no, scratch that, that doesn't sound like the problem you're having.
 

Half Giant

H
Is it possible you've made an unintended change to the key bindings? For instance some people add something in the Flight Landing Over Rides section then the ship behaves oddly when docking. I think by default everything can be empty in that section. Maybe try the default, uncustomised, settings for that stick for a while to see if it goes away.

Or maybe something unconnected, I had some features not working intermittently and it was a cable trailing over the shift or control key occasionally.
 

SuperGhostMaster

S
maximumpanda said:
hi,

I recently bought an x55 and set it up with some of the preset keybinds that were posted here (also changed a few things to better suit my natural play style).

there seems to be a problem with sudden jerking with the controller, specifically either quickly rotating left or rolling left.

the issue used to happen every 10-20 minutes, but it seems to be getting worse as its starting to become a problem trying to land. (specifically rolling upside down while I'm trying to land :D ).

not sure if this is a software or hardware issue, but it seems like a massive bummer to be dealing with either.

I'm using the controllers plugged into a powered USB 3.0 hub
windows 8 64
latest drivers/ H.U.B.

appreciate any help
Click to expand...


Could be a driver conflict. Common with mice, too. Try uninstalling the device & make sure to remove the driver and software, too. Make sure when you use Device Manager to uninstall the device you check the "remove driver" box.

You should be sure to install the driver, then attach the device after rebooting Windows. Once Windows installs the device, reboot again, then install the software.

Common mistake is letting Windows install the driver at the same time as adding the device. Almost always results in a device conflict until reboot, and sometimes a corrupt driver as a result.
 

SuperGhostMaster

S
SuperGhostMaster said:
Could be a driver conflict. Common with mice, too. Try uninstalling the device & make sure to remove the driver and software, too. Make sure when you use Device Manager to uninstall the device you check the "remove driver" box.

You should be sure to install the driver, then attach the device after rebooting Windows. Once Windows installs the device, reboot again, then install the software.

Common mistake is letting Windows install the driver at the same time as adding the device. Almost always results in a device conflict until reboot, and sometimes a corrupt driver as a result.
Click to expand...

I just noticed you said you were using a USB 3 hub.

Two issues:

1) Peripherals generally only require a USB 1 or better. USB has a higher data rate and signal frequency that can negatively impact devices designed specifically for USB 1 or 2.0/2.1.

2) A USB hub should NEVER be used to attach peripherals (keybords, mice or controllers, particularly) because it can interfere with the signal path and timing of control signals (i.e. one device signal may be delayed for x# of ms to send a different device signal).

I would never use anything other than a direct connection for controllers.

Source: I'm an EE, for NE and PC nerd.

**edit**
From Newegg:
Minimum System Requirements:
PC: Windows XP (32- and 64-bit) and Higher; 2 USB 2.0 Ports

Probably not a USB version issue, but the fact that it's a hub is bad.
 
Last edited:

Hooplah

Hooplah
Logging in to the server without any adjustments on the X-55 using their default setup and I found the deadzones way too sensitive. Go to Flight Assist off and if you are all over the place trying to stop your rotation then adjust the Deadzones one click each in the Options/Controller page to see if it corrects the problem. It still takes some flying skills to do this but at least you will know with one click in each Deadzone it will be your flying skills and not the controller messing you up.

Still you mention a "sudden jerking" after 20 minutes. I haven't seen that or seen anything else on the forum about it. But with so many buttons maybe you are hitting something when you don't realise it. Spend some time in the Controller page verifying all your X-55 inputs and also use the Windows tests to ensure all of them are working. I was using a button it when suddenly quit working on the X-55 in the game and figured it out in the Windows tests.

I know the problem and can fix it but I will have to open the throttle to make the repair. Press hard and it works. Press slightly and it doesn't work. It is a distance travel after some break-in to complete the circuit. So I'm not too impressed with Saitek's quality control for their $200.00 toy.

USB 3.0 doesn't really matter with controllers as I have seen. Most late model computers are running with USB 2.0 and they work great on my X-55 as well as more higher resolution $1000.00 controllers I use in X-Plane.

I don't agree that you cannot use a powered hub for controllers. Maybe some are better than others but many serious pilots who spend $2000.00 setting up X-Plane 10.25 with Saitek avionics have no problem with this adding dozens of USB connections to a powered hub with all the gear they are connecting.

Still if you are troubleshooting a problem a direct connection is best to eliminate all other issues.
 
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Vlodec

Banned
Vlodec
Both my X55 controllers (joystick & throttle) are plugged into USB3 ports and I have no problems worth mentioning. You should be aware however that X55s have been plagued by quality control deficiencies from the beginning. Perhaps you just have a bad one.
 

maximumpanda

M
ok to update.

I've tried plugging it direclty into the mobo in both 3.0 and 2.0 slots, as well as reinstall the drivers, no real fix.

I just disabled legacy support in the bios and will report back on how that works out.

thanks for the ample replies, already harboring a good community is great to see in such a game.
 

Obsidian Ant

Obsidian Ant
maximumpanda said:
ok to update.

I've tried plugging it direclty into the mobo in both 3.0 and 2.0 slots, as well as reinstall the drivers, no real fix.

I just disabled legacy support in the bios and will report back on how that works out.

thanks for the ample replies, already harboring a good community is great to see in such a game.
Click to expand...


Just to be clear - these jerking motions you are getting, are not the joystick itself physically sticking or jerking?
 

maximumpanda

M
Granite said:
Just to be clear - these jerking motions you are getting, are not the joystick itself physically sticking or jerking?
Click to expand...

nope. i can leave the stick sitting still, and suddenly my ship will start spinning like a rifled bullet or turn 90% and fly in another direction. always left.

turning of legacy usb support did not fix it, neither did reinstalling drivers.
 

Commander Debic

Commander Debic
This may seem to be a little stupid but you are not referring to needing to give an extra push to the controller as it seems to sometimes become a little stiff to overcome the spring then it suddenly jumps free and so the craft jerks.

If this is a problem it appears to be one that the x55 seems to suffer from in varying degrees.

My partner took mine apart and very, very carefully took a small amount of plastic away from the two flanges on the bottom of the stick and the base it rests in, using a Dremel with a little abrasive polishing soap with cloth polisher, and constantly checking and moving the polisher around. This improved things a lot but still occasionally stuck slightly but not as bad.

Finally we decided the red tension spring which was the shortest and therefore lowest strength spring was still too strong and was pushing the flanges together too tightly. I wanted it to have a little centering action so we applied a plastic electrical tie to the three middle turns of the spring and pulled it to compress the three turns slightly. It took about 4 ties to get it right as if its adjusted too tight you need cut it then apply a new one.

Eventually it worked a treat. We tried two ties 180 degrees apart but they quickly work around to the same side so even though it looks a little uneven it works fine.
 

maximumpanda

M
Commander Debic said:
This may seem to be a little stupid but you are not referring to needing to give an extra push to the controller as it seems to sometimes become a little stiff to overcome the spring then it suddenly jumps free and so the craft jerks.

If this is a problem it appears to be one that the x55 seems to suffer from in varying degrees.

My partner took mine apart and very, very carefully took a small amount of plastic away from the two flanges on the bottom of the stick and the base it rests in, using a Dremel with a little abrasive polishing soap with cloth polisher, and constantly checking and moving the polisher around. This improved things a lot but still occasionally stuck slightly but not as bad.

Finally we decided the red tension spring which was the shortest and therefore lowest strength spring was still too strong and was pushing the flanges together too tightly. I wanted it to have a little centering action so we applied a plastic electrical tie to the three middle turns of the spring and pulled it to compress the three turns slightly. It took about 4 ties to get it right as if its adjusted too tight you need cut it then apply a new one.

Eventually it worked a treat. We tried two ties 180 degrees apart but they quickly work around to the same side so even though it looks a little uneven it works fine.
Click to expand...

nope although I changed the springs too.

I can be turning right, or not even touching the stick at all, and my ship will start spinning like a top, and it is always left no matter what.
 

Pannad

Pannad
The first X55 I received had a faulty USB connector. It was so loose that it would not detect unless pressure was put on one side.

Tho it was the stick that had the dodgy USB, I got random inputs from the throttle - reverse, boost, landing gear deploying, sometimes all at once - and tho I never noticed it at the time, thinking back it was probably about every 20 mins.

I sent I back to Saitek and got a replacement. Apart from the hat and castle sticks being slightly sticky in the up position on the new one, which I hope is just because it is new, it is working fine now.

Also, I tried every port on two different PCs and a laptop, a mix of 2s and 3s, and it made no difference, so I don't think that is your problem.
 

Obsidian Ant

Obsidian Ant
maximumpanda said:
nope. i can leave the stick sitting still, and suddenly my ship will start spinning like a rifled bullet or turn 90% and fly in another direction. always left.

turning of legacy usb support did not fix it, neither did reinstalling drivers.
Click to expand...

Sorry if you have already answered this, but does the this also do this in other games?

Another thing you can try is the following:

1) Go to Game Controllers in Windows Control Panel
2) Open Properties for the X55 Stick
3) Leave this properties window open, don't touch the stick - and see of any of the axis move on their own.

This will at least give you some indication if it is the stick / inputs or some issue with Elite.
 

maximumpanda

M
Granite said:
Sorry if you have already answered this, but does the this also do this in other games?

Another thing you can try is the following:

1) Go to Game Controllers in Windows Control Panel
2) Open Properties for the X55 Stick
3) Leave this properties window open, don't touch the stick - and see of any of the axis move on their own.

This will at least give you some indication if it is the stick / inputs or some issue with Elite.
Click to expand...

this is what the windows test looks like :(

http://imgur.com/VfVQoP1

just to demonstrate the issue I have 2 videos. it looks like i've narrowed it down to an issue with the top right corner of the strick.

vid1: in E : D

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Ya2gkZq84U&feature=youtu.be

vid2: in H.U.D.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5lcBSSOEPOI

I contacted support through live chat, and the guy basically told me to unplug it, plug it in, and if that doesn't work, return to whoever sold it.
 
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