I lose throttle input mid way through a mission

[PatrickAWlson]

What the title says.  Pretty much every mission.  I cannot find any consistent reason for it.  At some point in the mission my throttle will get stuck and no longer respond.  Every button on the throttle unit works just fine.

 

If I start a new mission (no restart of IL2, just a new mission) the throttle works again.

Flying twin engine,  usually both engines stick at the same time, but sometimes only one sticks and the other continues to respond.

Sometimes the throttle drops to idle, but usually it sticks in place.

No other controls on the throttle unit are affected.

On my better throttle, I have four moving levers.  I have mapped the throttle to each one.  Does not help.

I pulled my old  CH throttle out of the attic.  I have the exact same problem with it.  Based on that it is not the throttle(s) as I doubt the same issue exists in two pieces of hardware.

I have tried plugging into different USB ports on the computer.  No luck. 

Calibration does not help.

 

I am out of ideas and just about ready to walk away in frustration.  Help is appreciated.

[hsthhsth]

I had some weird problems lately. What solved was re-installing various drivers. I think that somehow the latest Windows updates messed up things.

 

Maybe re-installing specific controller drivers?

[dburne]

First thing I would check is what if any software may have been installed and/or changed around this same time - I assume this has just started happening?

 

You might try going into windows devices and printer and find your throttle, and click on properties then settings tab , you will see an option to reset that device to default - choose that option and see if that helps.

 

Edit: Also go into all your USB devices in device manager, make sure allow to sleep is not checked. Mine gets rechecked at times after certain Windows updates.

Edited August 5, 2021 by dburne

[Varibraun]

12 hours ago, PatrickAWlson said:

I have tried plugging into different USB ports on the computer.  No luck. 

 

First, I will tell you that I had problems with my Rhino throttle long ago when I switched to VR.  A powered USB Hub solved all of those issues and none have reappeared with the follow on Virpil.  So, if you are not using a powered USB, it is worth a try. 

 

If that doesn't work, here are a few thoughts to help at least isolate the issue (most of which I am sure you have already tried):

 

-Disconnect the throttle and map the throttle control to the keyboard to see if the problem continues;

-If not, map the throttle control to a button on your joystick to see if comes back;

-If not, then reconnect the throttle, unmap the axis control, and map the throttle control to a button on your throttle to see if it comes back.

 

Maybe that will at least help you figure out where the problem lies.  Good luck...we definitely don't want to see you grounded!

[PatrickAWlson]

Appreciate the feedback. 

@dburne - I unchecked allow sleep on all USB devices.  Hope that helps.  

@Varibraun The powered USB hub sounds like a good idea, whether it solves this particular problem or not.

 

Was speaking with GVL and he suggested it could be a power problem. I do know that the Reverb 2 really seems to put a lot more load on my system than the Reverb 1.

 

Dunno ... not incredibly interested in dismantling a nearly new computer. Let's see what happens with these suggestions.

[Voyager]

I've had good results with Sabrent's 13 port powered USB 2.0 hub. All of my flight controls are docked up to it: 

 

Amazon.com: Sabrent 13 Port High Speed USB 2.0 Hub with Power Adapter and 2 Control Switches (HB-U14P): Computers & Accessories
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00HL7Z46K?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title

 

That said, I got it for cable management reasons, (it's affixed to the table leg by the controllers and has all of them plugged into it) but it's supporting a Warthog stick and throttle, an MFG Crosswinds and a CH Throttle Quadrant all at the same time without any issues. 

[Dakpilot]

There are a lot of very cheap powered USB hubs, although they seem to work experience has led me to avoid like the plague. 

 

Get a well known branded one to avoid frustration 

 

Cheers, Dakpilot 

[PatrickAWlson]

@dburne @Varibraun 

Started with dburne's suggestion to uncheck sleep mode on the ports.  Flying the 110 that made things better.  Usually one engine locked instead of two and one time I even got control back.   On the same day I ordered a powered USB.  That came yesterday.  I had transferred to 109s the mission before.  Since the addition of the powered USB I have flown three flights in 109s without any issues. 

 

What is interesting is that my throttle has long been plugged directly into the computer and not the USB hub.  However, I guess everything is competing for power, and now that my PC does not have to power the USB hub it seems to have enough in the tank to power the rest.  Total guess on my part.  

 

Three flights is not enough to be 100% sure that the problem is solved, but it's a great start.

 

Posting this for others who may experience similar issues.  Both ideas - turning off sleep mode and a powered USB hub seem to help.  

 

Thanks again.

[jollyjack]

USB troubles often boil down to the amount of controller chips.

Most laptops have only one, PCs two if you're lucky.

Ideal is when you have one controller chip for each hardware item.

I never regretted buying an expensive 4 controller USB 3.0 SONNET PCIe card for my work computer.

 

-------------

Tips:

 

First switch OFF PowerManagement in properties for the USB hubs in device manager.

 

Then uninstall the amount of unused drivers installed, often left by an occasional USB sticks or external USB drives.

You can us USBdeview.exe to remove these. The green ones are the active ones.

 

Added: If you have more than one Joystick hardware item etc for your flight sim, re-plugging them can reset the ID# numbers, confusing the software using them.

JoyID.exe is a nice tool for re-ordering them ...

[dburne]

1 hour ago, PatrickAWlson said:

@dburne @Varibraun 

Started with dburne's suggestion to uncheck sleep mode on the ports.  Flying the 110 that made things better.  Usually one engine locked instead of two and one time I even got control back.   On the same day I ordered a powered USB.  That came yesterday.  I had transferred to 109s the mission before.  Since the addition of the powered USB I have flown three flights in 109s without any issues. 

 

What is interesting is that my throttle has long been plugged directly into the computer and not the USB hub.  However, I guess everything is competing for power, and now that my PC does not have to power the USB hub it seems to have enough in the tank to power the rest.  Total guess on my part.  

 

Three flights is not enough to be 100% sure that the problem is solved, but it's a great start.

 

Posting this for others who may experience similar issues.  Both ideas - turning off sleep mode and a powered USB hub seem to help.  

 

Thanks again.

 

You are most welcome, glad it helped.

Just remember to check all those USB ports power management after each monthly Windows 10 update. Sometimes they get reset to allow sleep.

I also have all my flight peripherals plugged into two USB 3 powered Hubs.

[Varibraun]

5 hours ago, PatrickAWlson said:

Three flights is not enough to be 100% sure that the problem is solved, but it's a great start.

 

I hope that solves it for good.  When I was having my throttle issues before the powered hub, one of them was randomly triggering my eject switch - now that will wake you up in VR!

[Gambit21]

My VKB stick powers off in the middle of DCS flights sometimes...weird.

Might try the USB hub thing.