Just a note to explain my massive AWOL status for the last few months.

Short explanation…I was holed up in a herion den/whorehouse somewhere in the bowels of Bangkok looking to “find myself”.        

Not really…hehehe.

Work issues (home for a grand total of four days in six weeks), but that has lessened back to a dull roar (thank God), but now I seem to be “blessed” with HOTAS Warthog issues. I’ve been working trying to resolve them for the last many days (I took Thanksgiving off to see my Cowboys kick some Washington “Foreskin” ass!), but after three straight days of fkking with this, it seems I’m back to square one.

Problem:

No issues at all with the TM Throttle, but after using the TM Joystick for a minute or two (acting normally), then the buttons/switches/trigger go completely wonky. Back out of the game (tested in “DCS World”, “Rise of Flight” and “IL2-Sturmovik”), check the controllers in the Windows “Game Controller” window. Again, throttle normal, joystick porked all to hell (for instance, when pulling the trigger, it activates ALL of the little red lights! Lovely….). Sounds like a simple Firmware update…right?

Yeah…riiiiight. Like ANYTHING in the computer software/hardware/peripheral world is easy! Are you high?

(side note. I have a complete “spare” TM Warthog HOTAS sitting in a box in my office. It belongs to a friend, and I used his Joystick to verify some of these results.)

Ray Charles could see this coming, but the Joystick failed the Firmware update. “Bootlegger” message. Tried their “Bootlegger Procedure” a zillion time…. No joy. Tried three more times with my buddies joystick…no change.   BTW…I tried many different USB ports on the rig…no changes.

Got the brilliant idea to update the Firmware on the ol trusty lappy that I’m typing on as we speak, and it worked like a charm. Back onto the desktop, and TM Firmware program showed the Joystick now loaded up with the latest Firmware. Unfortunately, when back in game(s), had same wonky results. Checked again in Win7 “Game Controllers”…same things a before (trigger inputting to all buttons/switches, etc).

Hmmmm….

USB issues? Updated Mobo BIOS, installed some utilities to help keep all the mobo drivers (USB, etc), etc up to date. It got weird, and for a couple of hours I had NO MOUSE SUPPORT AT ALL! (lovely…ever try installing/uninstalling shite without the use of a mouse? About as fun as a proctology exam by a linebacker for the Bears.) FINALLY got that straightened out with the help of the Win7 disk “repair” function (me thinks that issue may have had something to do with a “powered USB hub plugged in).

Next on the hit parade was Windows loading up the “Bulk Drivers” for both the throttle and stick, but they not showing in the “Game Controllers” window. There were MANY uninstall/installs of the TM drivers, dumping the powered USB thing-a-ma-jig, and VIOLA!, they finally showed up.

SOOOOOO….that’s were I am after about 4 days of FKKING with all of this. TM Firmware program shows that they both have the latest firmware installed. Windows seems to love them. They work just fine in all flying games I have installed…BUT…I’m still getting the “pull the trigger, and the view changes” type bullsh*t happening! My fix? I moved the “fire guns” command over to an input from the Throttle. Kinda sucks for all the other things I have programmed into my Joystick (padlock, chaff/flares, etc)…

Oh well….I guess you just don’t get much for your $500 anymore, do you?

Thanks for allowing my to vent/rage against "the man"! Any thoughts gents?

Maybe just take up XBox and PS4?

     

Make sure x bax controller not plugged in. Chic and I both had problems. Hope you fix it soon

Open a support ticket with Thrustmaster? Your stick should still be under warranty...providing you've had it less than 2 years. They would pay for the s&h back to their shop and fix it and it would take a while to get it back...but thrustmaster support is almost second to none with these sticks.

Yeah, I'll probably go that route.

Two issues though:
1) Still not convinced it's the stick. The wonky inputs it sends out happens when I have my stick plugged in, and when I swap it out with my buddies unit...so I'm not really leaning toward the replacement area.
2) Like all "good" flight sim addicts, I bought my rig the first week it was released. SOOOO, the warranty ship has already sailed.

Still scratching my head on this one. I'll probably go ahead and open a ticket with them, shoot them all my findings, and let them try and sort it out for me. I've reshearched ALGore's internet ad nauseum, and haven't really seen anything helpful.

Thanks for the help though...

Sorry to hear about your HOTAS and mouse problems... over the years I have used a quite old program (probably called an App now) called DIView.  I think it was originally a Logitech or Thrustmaster tool... but it is absoultely mustard for checking and viewing the actions of game controllers, Joysticks and anything that has buttons or axis controls.

Download it from the Leo Bodnar site... this prog has saved my arse more times than I care to count!

http://www.h-engineering.net/support/sim-pedals-pro/

Scroll down about half way and you will see a 'save to disc' option, then unzip.  It's only a small program... open the drop down menu file option, tick the devices you want it to analize and then test all your controller axis and buttons for correct operation.  I mainly used it years ago with analogue pots on controllers to see if they were getting flaky or intermittant; but with Hall effect sensers now that's not such a problem... but you still need to see that they are working.

Short update on my TM HOTAS battles.

First of all, a big "thank you" for all the help! I have indeed figured out this issue.

In a word, my TM Warthog Joystick has had a nervous breakdown.

I was testing (and getting the same results) using both my joystick head AND the one borrowed from my buddy....using the same base since it was attached to my HOTAS stand.  I finally pulled out my friends base, attached his joystick head, and plugged it into my rig. It worked perfectly...so it IS in fact, my joystick that's porked and in need of repair.

I opened a dialog with Thrustmaster through their "SUPPORT" program, and after our first correspondence, I'm now awaiting instructions from them as to where I can ship my unit to them for repairs.

So all is now good back in "BBall world", and as soon as "life" gives me a much needed breather, I'll be back online with you muggers and mal-contents soon!

Thanks again guys!