Any FFB2 users about?
 

Recently got myself a force feedback 2 joystick, and i've got a problem with it.

The force will randomly cut out (after using it a bit) and the joystick will go loose/wont centre. It happens in and out of game.

Is there a way round this, or do i have a buggered stick?

Update:

Seems a bit worse with it happily staying limp until i start moving it about, also moving the stick in different directions will give different levels of resistance. Also i'm using this with xp.

Have two of them with WIN XP or WIN7 64 as plug&play W/O issues.
Very known problem is loosing force when pressing Alt+Tab while ingame.

gprr

After testing it some more i'm pretty sure its just broken, either a dodgy component or connection, the red light flickers/dims once the power cable is connected so perhaps the motors are getting an intermittent supply.

Yep, sounds like something internal has gone. :(
I´ve used mine since its release and never had any loss of force when alt+tab.
The power connector can be a bit twitchy and rock loose sometimes but thats all.

One hell of a stick though. ;)

MSFF2 has an sensor which activates FF when you hold the stick. It is located just forward, below the trigger. Make sure that nothing is blocking it.

Usually when the light switches on the joystick it happens when it isn't plugged in the socket. Double check the power cable as well.

If the above fails, then there is something wrong internally.


PS: Loosing FF on alt-tab is a known 'bug' with MSFF2. There is nothing you can do about it except hitting re-fly when online / starting a new mission - this will reactivate the FF. Or just don't alt-tab out of the game. ;)

I think it is indeed the sensor, i had no idea there was one, you saved me some hassle there. I wasn't holding it properly while testing it out. Thanks.

Yes there's a laser sensor,

You have to make sure the holes don't get clogged with dust.

There are 2 holes, one at the top and the bottom of the front grip area.

You can make the stick move without touching it if you gently put your fingers around the front of it as the beam is broken the FFB kicks in and the stick moves.

Well there ya go, learn something every day

I'd check the power cable. Wiggle the wire about at the plug end into the wall and at the connector into the base and see if you can get the red light to flicker on and off. I would suspect that as the culprit. FFB2 sticks are built like tanks!

The other thing to watch is the USB power load.

Its not a good idea to stick a FFB2 on an unpowered hub with other high power demand devices such as trackIR and optical mice.