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Can't save any profile without starting red light blinking.

Posted: Tue May 19, 2020 13:25
by Fri13
I have had this problem from the begin really.
I can not save any profile without blackbox (orange) starting to flash red light on "Stick".

I have MCG PRO grip, Gunfighter II base with 20 cm extension and Mk IV pedals. All connected to one same blackbox.

If I want green light to lit up so that everything is correct, I can achieve that only by going Tools > Default, and re-calibrate axis.
That is only way how the blackbox doesn't blink its red light.

If I would even just Set that current default profile back to blackbox, it starts flashing red.
If I make any change to settings like "enable MCG PRO Trigger" and Set it to blackbox, it starts blinking red.

I have gone through firmware versions from 96, 97_7 and now 98_F for _Blackbox_GF_MCG_PRO that I have.
I have as well used VKBDevCfg_C versions of:
89_7_6
90.56
91.10
91.22

But nothing helps. The red light just keeps blinking.
So far up to this day nothing was problem in the joystick, but today first time the X axis started to fluctuate in the center, but this was after moving the stick USB cable from usually used (I mount/unmount it almost daily) on front, to one at rear. So I thought that was the problem. I ran the calibration and everything is fine again, except that red blinking light.
So I thought now as I have again time to try to fix it completely I would update firmware, configuration software and try to Set profile back. But it just keeps flashing and can't get it stay "ready" as green light if not on default mode.

Of course one will understand that using a MCG PRO without possibilities to configure it at all, especially to use that flip-up trigger, is not worth much of the money. But as so far it has been 100% functional regardless the light state, I haven't cared about it. But now when the stick is permanently connected, the blinking red light starts to annoy me.

I have the 20 cm extension, and the problem exist even with or without it.
I have taken the base apart from extension and grip and wiped the three contacts clean with dry cloth. Checked a confirm contact between them.
As well the cable from base to blackbox and from pedals to blackbox.

I can make any profile I want and it works, but red light starts blinking first thing when profile is Set to blackbox.
What I yet have to be test is to swap the blackbox that came with Gunfighter II and swap it to one that came with Mk. IV pedals (same orange box).

Update:

Digged up the pedals box where I had left the second blackbox (orange) in its state as VKB sent it. Can't connect to it, can't flash it, can't do much with it. It does detect the pedals through it, but not the Gunfighter II base or the stick.
It does show only three axis and two buttons from the pedals (don't ask more, don't know). And got it once show all the axis from MCG but nothing moved when physically moved joystick in axis, but buttons did work.
After starting to flash its 1.96D firmware to newer one, the bootloader program said that it doesn't recognize the device and exits.
So it looks like it is a semi-dead blackbox out of the box.

Re: Can't save any profile without starting red light blinking.

Posted: Tue May 19, 2020 14:10
by Fri13
Here are the profile and the device report.

Profile and Report.zip
Profile with 1.98F firmware flashed to GFmk2 original blackbox.
(954.86 KiB) Downloaded 281 times

Re: Can't save any profile without starting red light blinking.

Posted: Tue May 19, 2020 14:14
by Ron61
With MCG installed, show screenshots of the Global-External-Leds, Test-External Devices tabs. And a photo of BB. Are both BlackBox orange?
If you click the Default button, how does the behavior of Leds change?
p.s. I am sure that after a reset to default, your problem will be solved. I can definitely guarantee this after downloading and viewing your profile.

Re: Can't save any profile without starting red light blinking.

Posted: Tue May 19, 2020 15:37
by Fri13
VKB_External2.jpg
Test -> External Devices


VKB_External1.jpg
Global -> External


Blackbox_Reset.jpg
After Reset to default the three lits up, Pedals + Stick are green, System is Blue.


When the profile is reset to Default (Tools > Default) the three lights lit up. And everything is perfectly fine.
Stick and Pedals are solid green.
System is solid blue.


BUT, after even setting the default profile that was just defaulted back to blackbox, the System is constant blue and Stick starts blinking red. And it is not constant blinking but like a morse code.
So NOTHING can be changed at all after reset to default, no new profiles creation, no loading own previously made. Nothing. It will instantly lead to blinking red on Stick.
In other words, it is impossible to configure stick at all after reseting to Default and running calibration for axis. That is only situation when "all are green".

Re: Can't save any profile without starting red light blinking.

Posted: Tue May 19, 2020 15:44
by Fri13
VKB_blink.zip
short video, about blinking red Stick light.
(136.12 KiB) Downloaded 259 times

Re: Can't save any profile without starting red light blinking.

Posted: Tue May 19, 2020 15:45
by Ron61
You did not show the Leds tab, since there are no extra lines in the zconfig.ini file. Add as in the picture and provide the missing screenshot.

zconfig1.png


I advise you to upgrade to the latest firmware to be in the same conditions. Take it here.

Re: Can't save any profile without starting red light blinking.

Posted: Tue May 19, 2020 17:00
by Fri13
Firmware updated to latest behind your link, that was "_BlackBox_GF_MCG_PRO_v1_99_6.vkb"
And sorry didn't understand that LED part but found it, here is it:

VKB_Global_External_LEDs1.jpg

1-8 events
VKB_Global_External_LEDs2.jpg

5-12 events


And the new Misc from TEST tab too.
VKB_Misc1.jpg


After firmware update, reseting to Default. The same LED behavior continues. After Defaulting and Calibration all leds works correctly, but instantly when going to Set even the default profile without changing anything (or loading custom one as uploaded previously) the Stick LED start to blink red like on the video.

Re: Can't save any profile without starting red light blinking.

Posted: Tue May 19, 2020 17:21
by Ron61
All the troubles come from the fact that your profile says abracadabra. Compare the values after default and yours.
default leds.jpg

If you turn off the line of the blinking 2nd led (6 line), putting in the External events, then everything falls into place. It stops blinking and lights up in green. Settings are made for the three Shifts - although the buttons do not have a single Shift. Strange enough, don’t you?

Re: Can't save any profile without starting red light blinking.

Posted: Wed May 20, 2020 11:39
by Fri13
So in your opinion, is there any other problems in the profile than LED programming that goes crazy?
As I find it just challenge to not get any profile working, as the red light starts blinking by setting default profile back with simple one gun trigger change.

As I have not found any operational problems in the use, than just that visual red LED blinking. Why I have kept ignoring it to this far.

In next few days I am going to try to get the second blackbox (orange, identical as that one) flashed with new firmware from the VKB installed 1.96D or something. As it is rejecting the 1.97, 1.98 as compatible for it that this in-use one does accept.

Re: Can't save any profile without starting red light blinking.

Posted: Wed May 20, 2020 13:55
by Ron61
Try it this way - reset to default and configure only the buttons, without touching Leds. We show a screenshot of the settings for the buttons, the trigger if something does not work, as we would like.