Gladiator EVO Omnithrottle LH + SEM randomly disconnect

[Jack]

Hi:

I have recently purchased left handed EVO Omnithrottle + SEM but I am having random disconnects:

Issues observed:
(1). Random disconnects, either getting "Error read CPUID" dialog on VKB Device Config and/or "USB device not recognized" Windows message. Once it happens, all lights on the EVO/SEM turns off, and need to replug usb cable to make it appear on VKB Device config again.

(2). Random disconnects, once it happens EVO/SEM disappear from VKB Device Config, all lights off then on andd it re-appeared agin.
(3). If I click Test -> External Devices on VKB Device Config, "Err-Stat Active" will start appearing on VKB Device Config, SCG-L and SEM will randomly become disconenct (displayed X symbol) (click for gif animation)

. If you test axes after "Err-Stat Active" the movement starts to jitter (click for gif animation)

(4) EVO/SEM sometimes stay disconnected when Windows boots. Need to unplug/replug it to make it connect.

Configuration
* AMD Ryzen 1700/32 GB ram with Asus Prime X370 Pro motherboard, with lastest USB driver and BIOS
* VKB Device Config 0.92.17 (NJoy32 firmware v2.08.0)
* MCGU v2.2025 MK2
* T-Rudder v2.025 mk2
* NXT EVO L SEM XT v2.100

Troubleshooting already tried:

* Follow the setup video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nTQYgCPW0d4 to setup EVO/SEM. Since I don't change the detents so I press A1 -> B2 then A2 -> B2, C1 to save SEM config. Tried several times issue still persists.
* Press F1 + F2, plug in USB cable, release F1 + F2 to reset USB profile
* Change USB cable: I tried the USB cable that is currently working correctly on the T-Rudder.
* Change USB socket: I tried the USB that is currently working correctly for T-Rudder and other available USB on my motherboard.
* Change computer: Installed VKB Device Config on Leonovo Thinkpad P1 and connects EVO/SEM to it.
* Disconnect SEM and only test EVO: problem persists.
* Openup and make sure every cable is connected correctly. Here is the screenshot of wiring

Thank you for your help.
Jack

[Ron61]

Show the Global-External tab.
The Err-Stat -Activ line indicates that error statistics are enabled, everything is fine.
Try turning off other devices and leave only the GNX. How are joysticks connected to USB - front, back, HUB, port version (2.0, 3.0...)?

[Jack]

Hi Ron:

Thank you for your reply:
* Here is the Global external view

* Unpluggged MCGU and T-Rudders and only leave EVO does not fix the issue. If I leave it on without touching it it still disconnect after awhile. The time for disconnection varies, sometimes it would disconnect a couple of seconds later and sometimes it can stay connected for 10 ~ 20 minutes.
* I tried only plug in MCGU or only plug in T-Rudders but in each they work fine.
* I tried plugged EVO directly to front USB, directly from back of mother borad (including the ones that MCGU and T-Rudders can work properly), both USB 2.0 and USB 3.0, to the USB hub of the monitor, but none worked

Any other thing worth trying?

Thank you again,
Jack

[Ron61]

And in JoyTester what picture does it show? Are there shutdowns?

[Jack]

Run joy tester a couple of times did not get disconnect. Will keep trying to see if I can replicate the issue using

This is me running joytest and randomly moving axes on the EVO
joytester

[Ron61]

When disabling the module, using only the GNX joystick, does the issue recur with disabling?
Do not press any buttons on the base after connecting.
Run the configurator, reset to default and only then click the Find & AutoConfig button.
After that, calibrate.

[Jack]

Hi Ron:

Thank you for your quick reply.

* I disable the SEM module by removing the cable connecting SEM and EVO (whithout physically separating the EVO + SEM, I guess that is ok?), reconnect USB cable, leave it for awhile, and I got disconnection couple of minutes later.
* Should I do the "configurator" -> "reset to default" -> "Find & Auto config" test with SEM or only EVO alone? Please let me know and I will test it out.

Regards,
Jack

[Ron61]

Since only the GNX is connected to the system, then do it for him. When the module is connected, you still need to press this button for the correct configuration.
Check the grip cable connection, it may be affecting this.

[Jack]

I did what you suggest:

Do not press any buttons on the base after connecting.
Run the configurator, reset to default and only then click the Find & AutoConfig button.
After that, calibrate.

So far so good, it's been around 1x minutes without disconnection. I'll leave it overnight and check if I get disconnection again.

[Jack]

Update:

* The connection seems to be getting better, but still disconnects. Try playing DCS for a couple of sessions it still disconnects but the frequency is a lot less than before.
* I have noticed that even though it is disconnected but I didn't see any red bars in the communication level window on Device Config UI, from my naive analysis it seems to be that the disconnection was caused by issues between the stick and the computer and not the stick itself.

Anything else I can try?
Jack

[fallout9]

Try this too please.

[Jack]

Tried the 11 steps but disconnection still happens. I'm checking the rest of the threads (some is not applicable to my situation). Tyring to make sure I don't have simular issue.

1. Download software v0.92.31 and the attached firmware. Unzip them both in the same folder, same as the bootloader.
2. Launch VKBDevCfg as Admin and click the Bootloader button under Tools tab;
3. Navigate to the firmware file and load it up;
4. Unplug from USB, connect the THQ to the EVO, plug back to USB;
5. Launch VKBDevCfg and click the Default button under Tools tab;
6. Navigate to Global/Devices/External Devices and press the Find&AutoConfig button;
7. Go to Test/Axes1 tab and click on the Start Calibr button;
8. Move your pitch, roll and yaw axes all the way, slowly at the end;
9. Move the mini-throttle up and down;
10. Press the A1 ministick center button and when the LED turns red move the ministick all over;
11. Press the End Calibr button.

[fallout9]

Fill up a service ticket please and add a link to this thread to it.

[Jack]

I found and fixed the problem just before openiing a support ticket. Thank you very much for your support!

To those who are having simiar disconnect issues, I document my troubleshooting steps and hopefully can be helpful to you:
1. I reboot the computer and noticed that EVO always need to be re-plugged before it can be recognized, which is a change after I did the all the previous troubleshooting steps.
2. I noticed that there is "device descriptor failing" error on the device.

3. I searched the forum and followed a previous ticket remedy to fix usb connections (viewtopic.php?t=5267).
4. I found that if I plug it in USB3 port and reboot the device can be recognized upon reboot, but USB2 ports are still having problems. On USB3 ports I also don't get any disconnections anymore.
5. Out of curiosity I tried to plug it to the other laptop (intel) but it does not disconnect evern without step (3)
6. I conclude that this is a USB compatibility issue between the EVO and AMD motherboard. All other VKB devices I own that has a blackbox does not have the issue.

Jack

[fallout9]

Glad the issue has been fixed and many thanks for the detailed resolve!